For You
This has to be my mind conjuring him because I miss him.
“Or because you’re getting a little too friendly with the reaper.”
There it is again … Luke’s voice. No matter the chastising nature of his words, I long for it to truly be him.
I swing around, searching, silently praying, and there he is. His face is locked in fury and his body tense, but he’s here, and that’s all that matters.
The sight of him brings instantaneous tears to my eyes. My hands fly to my mouth as I cry out his name. “Luke.”
There’s so much I want to say. So much I want to do … with him. All the jumbled, errant thoughts flash through my mind, causing the room to spin a bit.
“Victoria.” My name from his mouth clears the light-headedness, and for the first time since I arrived here in Hell, all is right with the world.
Everything and everyone around me disappears. It’s only him and me. His anger melts away and I can no longer stay in place. I run to him.
He pulls me in, crashing me against his chest. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here sooner, Victoria.”
The tears trickle down my cheeks in a mixture of relief and apprehension. What if this is yet another trick that Hell is playing on me? I might break if that’s the case.
“It’s me, Victoria. I promise. It’s me.”
A sob heaves from my chest but I don’t push it down. I need to feel this moment.
“Hold on to me,” Luke whispers, but I didn’t need him to tell me twice. I couldn’t let him go if I wanted to.
When my eyes open, we’re no longer in the dark, cavernous lair we’d just been in. Sunlight gleams through the windows of my loft. I’m home.
“How, when—”
“Shh. It’s all right. You’re safe.” Luke coos into the top of my head, running his hands down my arms before wrapping them around my front.
We’re lying on my bed, my back to his chest, and it’s the most content I’ve ever felt.
I soak in his touch, forgetting the world and all the troubles that await us. In this moment, it’s only him and me. Finally.
I don’t want to waste another moment. It’s well past time I give myself fully over to the only man I’ve ever loved.
“Victoria.” Luke’s voice is hesitant, if not a little pained, as though it’s taking everything in him to walk this line carefully. “We can just enjoy this moment of quiet. Together. We don’t have to—”
Twisting to look at him, I shake my head. “No more waiting.”
His eyes close on an exhale and when they open, the hesitation is gone, and all that’s left is a determination that lights a fire within me. One that can’t be contained.
I’m not sure who acts first, but I’m lifted under my arms and flipped over onto my back, with Luke hovering above of me.
“Tell me no, Victoria. I’ll only ask once.”
My head shakes and that’s all the reassurance he needs.
Our hands grab and pull, dislodging our bodies from the material covering what stands between us finally being one. The belly shirt is lifted from over my head and discarded in the corner. “If I never see that again, it’ll be too soon,” he snarls.
He simply snaps his fingers to rid me of everything else.
A mischievous grin spreads across his face at my shocked expression, but when his eyes lower to my naked chest, all playfulness evaporates. His eyes darken to an unnatural black as he takes in my body that’s completely bared to him.
He swallows, eyes moving back to meet mine.
“Victoria. I … I don’t …”
“Kiss me, Luke.”
His lips meet mine tenderly at first, but as my mouth opens for him, his control slips. I welcome it. I need him to not treat me with kid gloves. I’ve waited too long for what only Luke could ever give me.
Passion.
He groans into my mouth before pulling away.
I whimper in response. “Why are you stopping?”
His forehead rests against mine as he breathes in deeply. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Something like a strangled laugh bubbles out of me. He puts some space between us, looking down on me with furrowed brows.
“I’m serious, Victoria. I’ve waited so long for this. For you. I want it to be special, and I feel like we’re rushing into this because of what you’ve been through. Emotionally, I’m not sure this is what’s best for you.”
All laughter on my part stops at his sincere words. I know that being vulnerable doesn’t come easy for Luke and in this moment, he’s willing to be just that for me.
“I can wait. I want to know you’re in the right headspace. You’ve been through a lot, Victoria.”
“And that is exactly how I know this is right,” I say, placing my had to his cheek. “I appreciate the fact you’re taking what I’ve gone through into consideration, but I know what I want. I’ve never been more sure of this. Of us. Please, Luke. Trust me.”
His hand lifts, brushing a piece of hair out of my eyes. “I love you,” he says, before finally bringing his mouth back to mine. His fingers run through my hair and down my back as my tongue collides with his.
Luke rests his other hand over my breast, his fingers kneading and pulling at my pert nipple.
My back bows, pushing my chest further into his palm, begging for more of everything he’s doing.
His lips move from my lips down the curve of my neck and over one breast before he settles his mouth over the other.
He pulls my nipple into his mouth and sucks.
My head falls back with a moan. I love what he’s doing but want so much more.
His tongue circles round and round as his hand slips down over my stomach, landing at the apex of my thighs. One finger runs through my wet folds and I’m barely refraining from begging him for more. It’s not his hand I want, but it still feels so good.
He circles his thumb around my most sensitive part and I buck at the pleasure it delivers.
“Luke … I need—”
He shakes his head. “Not yet. Let me do this, Victoria. I won’t …” His head dips. He looks almost embarrassed. “I won’t last long. I need to make you come.”
“Okay,” I say breathlessly. It’ll be a miracle if I last long myself, but I’m willing to give him anything.
He doesn’t hesitate, answering my consent by inserting one, then two fingers inside of me, curling the digit just right.
“Oh, Luke, yes,” I cry out.
My body burns with desire at his fingers’ welcome assault.
I press myself into his hand, needing the friction. A bolt of pleasure courses through me as his expert hand pulls my body’s strings, making it work for him like none before him.
An orgasm builds in my core and his fingers work faster, pumping into me at a pace that only furthers the pleasure.
“Victoria,” he groans. “Come for me.”
I rock into his hand, chasing the orgasm he’s demanded while his fingers do magical things inside of me. His mouth crashes to mine as I fall over the edge, continuing to press against his hand, drawing out the orgasm.
When he pulls away from me, I feel the loss immediately. “Need you,” I say unintelligibly, grabbing at his pulsing cock straining against my palm.
“Please,” I moan. “Inside me … now.”
He grips my hips with both hands and pulls me toward the head of his erection.
“Are you sure, Victoria?”
I want to scream. I’ve never been so sure in my life.
There’s no need for words—he can read my expression—but I say the word anyway, “Now.”
In one swift move, he pushes into me, sliding several inches inside. I groan at the feeling of him filling me. It’s not enough. I need more.
My muscles clamp around him, stretching to adapt his fullness.
“You’re … perfect, love,” he groans as he begins to move.
He lets out a harsh gasp, his breaths coming quicker.
“More,” I beg, and he obliges, pumping into me harder.
Heat sweeps through me, and I know it won’t be long. He must be on the edge too, because his fingers dig into my flesh as he slams into me over and over again.
“Yes,” I cry out as my orgasm peaks. My muscles spasm and clamp around him, drawing out a guttural cry, signaling he’s falling too.
Thrusting into me a few more time, he eventually collapses on top of me, breaths coming out in staccato gasps.
We lay like this for several minutes, both lost in the aftereffects of that orgasm, sated and exhausted. When he pulls out, it leaves me with an emptiness I’ve never felt before. I never want to be without him.
His forehead rests against mine as his hand caresses my cheek. “Everything has changed. You know that, right?”
He doesn’t have to elaborate. I know exactly what he means. There’s no coming back from this. All thoughts of getting back into Heaven someday are gone.
And I’m fine with that. It’s no longer my dream. He owns every piece of me.
He’s all that matters.
“I know.” It’s all I say, leaning up and placing a kiss on his lips.
“Are you two done?” a female yells up the loft stairs, and I go still.
“Who is that?” I whisper, and Luke grunts.
“Leeanna. We got a bit carried away, and I sort of forgot my promise to Heaven.”
My brow lifts as I sit up, forcing Luke to sit back on his heels. “What’s happening?”
“Come on, you two. This wasn’t part of the deal,” she yells up.
He ignores her. “Get dressed. The archs want a meeting with you. They have some information you’ll want to hear.”
I don’t miss the shift in Luke’s demeanor. It’s as if everything that just happened between us has been forgotten. He’s cold. Aloof. And it pisses me off.
“Don’t do this. Don’t push me away.”
His shoulders sag as a heavy breath rushes from his chest. He drags me into his chest. “My attitude has nothing to do with you, Victoria. It’s them. I’ve … had to agree to a truce of sorts with them in order to get you back.”
“You were locked out of Hell,” I say, mostly to myself. “Why?”
“Get dressed, and they’ll explain everything.” He stands from the bed, pulling on his pants and turning his back to me.
“No,” I shoot back. “I want to hear it from you.” I cross my arms over my chest, feeling a coldness sweep through me.
Something is wrong.
Luke looks back at me, appearing resigned. “I only know a portion of it. You know Heaven; they’re on a need-to-know basis and I am the devil, after all.”
I shake my head. “Just … out with it.”
He takes a steadying breath. “They claim that you’re the heir to the reaper kingdom.”
My head jerks back, surprise and shock at his mention of the reapers.
“Queen Camille’s missing daughter? They think that’s me?”
“They claim it is you, love.”
All the information that River shared with me floods my mind and lands on one very troublesome piece.
I push it down, unwilling to even think it, for fear Luke is reading my thoughts.
His eyes narrow, confirming my suspicion.
“What are you hiding, Victoria?”
I roll my eyes, jumping from the bed and heading to my dresser to snatch something more suitable to wear.
“I’m not hiding anything,” I lie. “I figure we might as well get this conversation over with. I’m no reaper princess. You and I both know that.”
I pull out a pair of leathers and a black crop top, sliding the shirt over my head.
When I turn back to Luke, he’s fully dressed, hands in his pockets, rocking back on his feet. The pregnant silence causes my unease to grow.
“You believe it?” I ask, voice rising.
“Why would they lie about something like that, Victoria?”
“Why do they lie about anything? You and I both know that Heaven isn’t exactly altruistic.” I shake my head at hearing myself repeat something River had said. “I’m not a reaper. I’m an angel. I had wings to prove it.” I attempt a smile, but I can feel it’s all wrong.
“You’re nervous,” he says, coming to me and pulling me into a tight hug. “Whatever they have to say, I’ll be with you, Victoria. You won’t face it alone.”
My head tilts up. “Do you promise?”
“I promise.” Luke places a kiss on my forehead before pulling away. “There’s something I need to warn you about,” he says, looking at the wall behind me.
“What is it?” I press, when it seems like he’s not sure if he should actually say the words.
“Zeke’s here.”
An awkward tension fills the room. It isn’t about my past with him, but how our relationship ended … or rather didn’t.
“I see.”
“Will you be all right seeing him?” he asks, sounding hesitant.
“I’ll be fine, Luke. Zeke and I have some loose ends to tie up, that’s all.”
And that’s the truth. I don’t feel anything other than unfinished business where he’s concerned. Zeke might’ve lied to me, but in truth, it feels like ancient history.
Whatever we had was built from loneliness and despair. He filled a void and helped me forget how miserable I was. For that, I’ll always care about his well-being, but that’s it.
The only reason I’m angry is because he was in on my falling from Heaven and allowed me to suffer through what I thought were my consequences.
He could’ve been straight with me from the beginning and told me that my fall was for something bigger. Instead, he watched me break down for weeks.
“He owes you an explanation,” Luke seethes.
My hand lands on Luke’s chest. “Simmer down, Satan. I can handle myself.”
His eyes narrow in on me, but not in a threatening way. He’s trying to determine if I’m really going to be okay with this showdown.
“I’ve got this,” I say, leaning up on my tiptoes and pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. “I need you to be there for me, but I don’t want you to interfere. I’m no damsel in distress. I’m an angel, fallen or not. I’m anything but weak. And I don’t need a single one of you to save me.”
Luke pulls me in and squeezes me tightly. “Damn straight, love.”
I smirk. “Let’s get this over with.”
Grabbing his hand, I pull him toward the loft stairs. As we descend the steps, an overwhelming feeling of dread washes over me.
Please let them be wrong.