Beauty Awakened aotd-2 Read online

  After a while, the creatures wandered off, bored with her.

  Koldo approached and gathered her in his arms, tension and warmth radiating from him.

  “Wait. I’m dirty. You don’t want to—”

  “You’re not dirty.”

  She looked down. Of course she was—not. The dirt and stains the elephants had left behind had completely faded.

  “Wearing the robe is like walking around in a shower.”

  “In that case, I might never take it off.”

  “Let’s see if I can change your mind about that,” he said huskily.

  Her blood began to fizz with the same charged need this man always ignited.

  He flashed her to the top of a building. A reeeally tall building, with a flat roof. The sun had set, and the moon was high. The wind offered a gentle caress. There was a patch of grass, with jewel-toned flowers planted all around. In the distance, she could see multicolored, twinkling lights. Soft music played in the background.

  Koldo turned her around, only to tug her closer to him. “Now we dance.”

  “Why would you—” He was giving her all the things she’d said she wanted, she realized suddenly. To travel the world, to pet an elephant. To dance on a skyscraper. What a sweet, sweet man. Tears burned the backs of her eyes and she rested her forehead against his chest. His heart hammered against her temple.

  They swayed together, and though it was obvious neither of them knew what they were doing, the moment was perfect. His hands roved over her back, caressing. He played with the fabric of her robe. He combed his fingers through her hair. Every action seduced her, intoxicated her, leaving her trembling, aching.

  “Koldo,” she said.

  “Nicola,” he said, the sweetness of his breath fanning over her cheek. “I want you to know...have to tell you...I...love you.”

  She stopped, certain she’d misheard, and looked up at him. He peered down at her with hope and need and fierce possessiveness in his eyes.

  “I want to marry you in the way of my people.” He dropped to one knee, in the way of her people. “I want to protect you with my name, my status, my fortune and my future.”

  He...really did. He loved her. Her. Plain Nicola Lane, who’d spent her life in one hospital or another and endured one tragedy after another. And he wanted to marry her. By the world’s standards, she was unexciting, not worth a second glance. And yet, this man loved her enough to give her the desires of her heart. He loved her enough to let go of his past. To want to build a future with her.

  “But I’ll age,” she said, wanting to save him heartache later. “You won’t. And—”

  “No. Your life will be bound to mine, and as long as I live, you will live. As long as you live, I will live.”

  How...how...perfect. He was offering her a life she’d only begun to dream about.

  “I love you, too, Koldo,” she said, voice trembling. She did. She loved him. Loved the man he was, the man he was becoming. The man he would one day be. She loved his strengths and recognized his weaknesses. He was good for her, and she was good for him. “And yes. Yes, I will marry you.”

  His lips lifted in a slow grin. “You will?”

  “I will.” He was the other part of her, a necessary part.

  He was on his feet a second later, flashing her to a bedroom she’d never before seen. He flashed her again, and this time she landed on the large bed, Koldo poised over her, a lacy canopy over him.

  “So confident I would say yes?” she asked with a chuckle, sliding her hands up his chest.

  “So hopeful.”

  Her gaze moved over the room. She saw dark velvets and light silks, Victorian furniture and an old-world aura. The scent of roses drifted on a soft breeze. “Where are we?”

  “One of my favorite homes.”

  “How many do you have?”

  “We have sixteen. I’ll give you a tour of each one. Later.”

  He lowered his head, pressed their lips together, and...sweet heaven. The need they had for each other once again exploded. They were frenzied, eager for more. For all.

  “We won’t stop this time,” he said.

  “Not for a second.”

  “Not for any reason.”

  If they did, her heart would finally give out. Not from sickness but from frustration. They’d just admitted their love for each other. Now she wanted to show him.

  She tugged at the collar of his shirt, saying, “I want your skin against mine.” Need it.

  He helped her out, jerking the material over his head. Her robe was the next to go, leaving her in a bra and panties. A growl rose from him.

  “You are more dazzling every time I see you.”

  He made her feel that way. As if it didn’t matter how she fixed her hair or whether or not she wore makeup. As if he would like her no matter how much she weighed. “I feel the same about you.”

  He lifted to his knees, hastily worked at the waist of his pants. But he had trouble and ended up yanking hard enough to send the fabric flying to the floor in pieces. Any other time, that would have made her laugh. Whenever they were in bed, clothes were destroyed. But one look at him, and she lost her breath. He was intense, determined.

  “You make me happy, Koldo,” she said truthfully.

  His weight returned to her, pressing into her, thrilling her. “Hopefully as happy as you make me.”

  “Let’s see if I can make you happier. Stay just as you are. Don’t move.”

  “Why?” he asked, even as he obeyed.

  “I want to learn everything I can about the man I love. Everything you like. Everything you want.” They’d done things before, but this was different. This was a commitment, body and soul. She would give him all that she was, and he would know a satisfaction like no other. She would make sure of it.

  Her hands roved over the muscles of his chest, even tunneled underneath his arms to the tattoos and the softness of his wings. Then she brought them to the front again, moved lower...lower still. The ripples of his stomach. The hairless calves. The smooth bottoms of his feet. Other than the feathers, there wasn’t a yielding spot on him. He was rock solid, the strength she’d always craved for herself.

  And he was silken heat, a smooth whiskey that intoxicated, melting away inhibitions. He was everything. He was light in the darkness. He was...hope.

  “Nicola,” he gritted out. “I don’t want to stay just as I am. I want to move.”

  The jaggedness of his tone caused her to shiver. “So you like what I’m doing?”

  “I love.” A trickle of sweat slid down his temple. “I hate.”

  A breathless chuckle left her. “Then I’m doing something right.”

  “Very right,” he said on a groan. “And very wrong.” His features were strained, his lips compressed. His desperation was growing, just like her own.

  How could she not love this man? He never tried to play it cool, never tried to hide the depths of his feelings or his pleasure or his need. And oh, the smell of sunshine he emitted, a smell her body had begun to associate with pleasure. Now was no different, and stunning need became incomparable hunger.

  “Nicola. I can’t... I must...” One second she was poised over him, the next he was poised over her. “This is all right, yes?”

  With his weight pressing into her, forcing her to revel in her own vulnerability? “Yesss.”

  He was a flurry of movement, smoothing his hands over her, preparing her for what came next, singeing her with the intensity of his heat, wringing gasp after gasp out of her as he gave her what her body so desperately wanted.

  “There won’t be anyone else for you,” he said.

  “Nor you.”

  “Never. I’m so glad I found you, sweetheart.”

  Sweetheart. An endearment sweeter even than his touch. “Me, too.”

  A masculine purr of satisfaction. “You’re so soft. So warm. So mine.”

  “So desperate for you.” For all that he was. Rough or gentle, rushed or slow.

&nb
sp; But he stilled and peered down at her, intense and determined. “I want to be man and wife before we come together.”

  “Here?” she squeaked. “Now?”

  “This very second.”

  Melting all over again.... He was so eager to claim her legally, he was willing to put sex on hold. How many men would do that? “Okay,” she breathed. “All right. But hurrrry. Please.”

  He kissed her before saying, “I belong to you, Nicola. I pledge my life to yours.”

  “I’m glad. Now, if you would just—”

  “Say the words back to me.”

  Oh. “I belong to you, Koldo.” She rubbed her knees against his waist, squeezing. “I pledge my life to yours. Now, do you need me to tell you what to do next or—”

  “Now and forever.”

  “Now and forever. So can we just—”

  Suddenly, though Koldo hadn’t moved, she felt split in two, her back bowing off the bed. She hurt. She burned. And the terrible heat spread like wildfire, liquefying her bones, torching her organs. She was no longer one being, but two, and both parts of her were agonized. But as quickly as the sensations had arrived, they were gone, and she sagged on the mattress, panting.

  “What was that?” she gasped out.

  Koldo braced himself on his elbows. “We are wed now.”

  “Just like that?”

  “Just like.”

  “How?”

  “Our souls bonded.”

  “You mean we’re...one?” Even saying the words filled her with a wild, bone-deep satisfaction.

  “In that way, yes. Now, for the other way.” He kissed her again—a kiss that affected every inch of her, making her forget the pain of before and remember the pleasure to come. “I’m glad we waited for this moment. Now you’ll be mine in every way that matters.”

  “And you’ll be mine.”

  “Nicola,” he said and finally—finally—claimed her.

  She screamed. He stopped, staring down at her. Concern and horror radiated from him.

  “I’m okay,” she panted. “I am. I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to expect, and then it was happening, and now I’m babbling, and you’re not moving, and I’m really sorry. Please continue.”

  “How badly did I hurt you?” he asked, the strain of holding back evident.

  “You didn’t. Promise. Well, not much.”

  He wasn’t convinced. “You’ll tell me if I do?”

  “I will.”

  Hesitantly, he leaned down and kissed her again. Softly, gently. It didn’t take long to renew their passions, and then, oh, then, they wed in body, as well. She yielded to him without reservation, accepting him, burning for him, loving him, enfolding him in her arms, crying his name, begging for more, nipping at his lips.

  “Never get enough,” he rasped.

  “Glad.” It was the only word she could manage.

  He kept a slow pace. Her gaze found his, and locked on. He could have looked away, but he didn’t. He peered down at her as if there was no one else he’d rather see, as if he were utterly mesmerized by her.

  No one had ever looked at her that way before.

  And I get to keep him. Forever.

  In that moment, something profound happened. The connection between them deepened, and her soul sang the most beautiful song.

  He’s mine. He’ll always be mine.

  Thank you. Oh, thank you.

  This love will never die.

  Her heart actually felt like it expanded, welcoming even more love for him. Love and joy and peace—everything he’d ever wanted her to feel, in the sweetest degree.

  She gave him all that she was, all that she would ever be, her breath emerging choppily. He gave her all that he was, all that he would ever be, his muscles knotting underneath her hands.

  “Love you, Nicola.”

  He felt the intensity, too, she thought. He must. “Love. Yes.” Oh, sweet heat... More, more, please more... Her heart was pounding...her body seeming to expand, just like her heart, unable to contain her innermost being. “Faster,” she begged.

  He obeyed, his motions sharp and sure.

  “Yes. Yes! Koldo, I’m going to...” Burst apart at the seams and fly away.

  And that’s exactly what happened.

  She burst. She flew. And wherever she ended up, utter satisfaction slammed through her, at last assuaging the ache that had plagued her since their first kiss. She was suddenly complete, a woman who had survived the worst and found the best.

  In the distance, she heard Koldo’s loud roar echo, masculine contentment at its finest, drawing her back.

  He collapsed on top of her, his heavy weight nearly smashing her lungs. But it was far more glorious than before. She was shaking and clutching at him, this man, her husband.

  “How are you... You feel...” he said.

  “Amazing,” she sighed.

  “Yes. That was... That was... I don’t have words.”

  “I do.” She kissed his neck, his hammering pulse. “That was worth doing again.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  AS THE MORNING SUN crested in the sky, casting rays into the room, Koldo’s mind whirled. Nicola was draped over him, her chin resting on his sternum, her fingers petting through his beard, then along the planes of his chest. He had his hand flattened on her lower back, a possessive hold to be sure.

  He opened his mouth to say thank-you—again—but he sang instead. He hadn’t sung since his childhood, days before his mother removed his wings. He’d never thought to sing again. He’d never had reason. And yet, his low baritone emerged, filling the room, giving Nicola this final piece of himself.

  I’m yours. I surrender all.

  When he finished, she sat up to peer down at him. He’d once again covered her with his essentia, causing her skin to glow the most luscious shade of gold—and his heart to constrict.

  “That was so beautiful.” Her eyes were heavy with slumber, wet with tears, her lips swollen and red from his kisses. Beautiful strawberry curls fell in tangles, shielding her breasts. She was the picture of a well-loved woman—one he wanted to love again. “Such a serious expression, my famous warrior. What are you thinking about?”

  He twirled one of her curls around his finger. Sex wasn’t what he had imagined. Oh, he’d known naked bodies would strain together. And because of the kisses and caresses he and Nicola had already shared, he’d expected the pleasure. But he hadn’t expected to have every bit of his sense of self shredded by her. Had he, he would have thought he’d hate it. Instead, he’d loved every second.

  “I would tell you, but I’ve satisfied you too intently for you to have a working brain. You wouldn’t understand.”

  A pause. A gasp. “Did Koldo the Serious just crack a joke?”

  “He hopes not,” he said, trying not to grin.

  She tsked. “I’m thinking someone needs assurance that he did a good job.”

  “He does.” And he wasn’t ashamed to admit it. Her feelings mattered to him.

  “How very human of him,” she said with a grin of her own.

  “It’s fitting. After all, he has a human in his heart now.” He’d expected to go slowly with her, to savor every moment, help her gradually reach a climax so that her body wouldn’t shut down. Instead, his own had urged him to go faster, to do more, to do everything she would allow him to do. He’d been lost in a world of carnality—committed carnality, that is. He wouldn’t have liked doing this with anyone else. He’d suspected before, but he knew beyond a doubt now. He’d been too vulnerable during the act, all of his defenses down.

  “If I had to describe our night together with a single word, I would say...hmm.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Pleasant, I guess.”

  “Pleasant. You guess?”

  A little giggle bubbled from her—the kind he’d wanted her to have. “Yeah. You need practice. Selah.”

  A mock growl rumbled in him. “I’m not pausing and thinking. I’m starting now.” He rolled her over, poised above h
er with a dark scowl. “But before I teach you the meaning of ecstasy—again—you will tell me how you feel.”

  “Perfect.”

  “No weakness?”

  “No. I’m healed.” Her eyes widened. “I am. Koldo, I’m really healed! My heart didn’t act up once.”

  She was...right. Not once had she displayed any symptoms of a defective heart. Her stamina had even surpassed his own. “The toxin is gone.”

  “Yes! But it’s more than that, I think. I feel so clean. So...strong.”

  Yes, that did sound like more had happened. As if a spring from the Water of Life had formed inside of her, creating a well of health and vitality. But that would mean she was a Sent One.

  He’d heard of that happening. But...was she?

  “I’m so glad,” he said.

  “I—” Suddenly she frowned, rubbed at her chest. “Something’s wrong. I need to check on Laila.”

  As many times as he’d sensed the danger Nicola was in, he knew not to discount her instinctual feelings. “Of course.” He stood and dressed in the robe he’d torn. While the garment was once again in pristine condition, it was different than what he was used to. It opened in back and when he shoved his arms through the holes, the material had to fit itself around his wings and weave the seams together around them.

  He tugged Nicola to her feet and pushed her own robe over her head, covering her beautiful curves—a certain travesty. He kissed her temple, and said, “Whatever happens, we’ll get through it together.”

  “I know.” She was steady, her color high—welcome signs of her newfound well-being.

  Koldo flashed her to Zacharel’s cloud, the romance of his home giving way to the functionality of his leader’s. “Zacharel,” he called out.

  “Back here. Hurry. I was just about to summon you.”

  Nicola burst into motion, dragging Koldo with her. In the living room, Zacharel and Annabelle crouched in front of the couch, where Laila still sprawled. Her skin had taken on a yellowish hue, and she was thrashing, moaning, her teeth coated with blood. She must have bitten her tongue.

  Nicola rushed forward, pushed the couple out of the way and knelt beside her sister. “Oh, my love. No.”

  Zacharel met Koldo’s gaze, stood and closed the distance. “Her heart stopped, but I was able to revive her,” the warrior said quietly. “She won’t last long.”