Forbidden Read online

  He shook his head. “It’s just me. The way I am.”

  “You…didn’t used to be.” She was stronger now. He could feel it. Getting better, but still tired—so terribly tired.

  “Sleep,” he told her. Acting on instinct, he kissed her forehead tenderly and was relieved he had no urge to kiss anything else. See? I can do this. I can heal her without hurting her. He couldn’t believe how good the thought felt. It was better than the first time he’d saved a life as a doctor—better than anything to know he could touch his sister again and not give in to the cravings he’d been fighting for years.

  The cravings were there; he could feel them, just under the surface. But the need to heal Leah was stronger than his desire, stronger than any other feeling he’d ever had. It was as though she was a part of him—his very heart—and he had to keep her safe and close.

  That last thought sparked a decision. Leah wasn’t going anywhere. He didn’t want her to stay in some seedy motel on the wrong end of town where he couldn’t keep an eye on her. She’s staying with me. At least until she finds a place of her own. As he fixed the idea firmly in his mind, Owen felt a sense of peace steal over him. Having Leah close again after all these years—even if it was only for a few days—was going to be wonderful.

  He looked down at her resting quietly in his arms and another surge of love and protectiveness washed over him. She was so frail, so lovely with her pale skin and golden hair. She was almost ethereal.

  Owen told himself he would have to be careful, but at least now he knew he didn’t have to act on his unnatural desire. He might be sick for wanting Leah the way he did, but he wasn’t a beast. He could trust himself not to hurt or abuse her.

  “Oh, Leah,” he whispered as she slept peacefully in his arms. “I love you. Love you so much.” More than you’ll ever know.

  * * *

  “Well, I hope you’re happy. That virus you let her get nearly killed her. You’re supposed to be her guardian angel. You know—protect her from things like that?”

  “Oh, hush. He had to be made to touch her. This was the only way.”

  A soft rustling, like wings being shaken in irritation. “If you say so. But I still think he could have been brought around to it more gradually.”

  An incredulous noise. “The hordes of hell are at our doorstep, and you want to risk doing things gradually? Besides, we tried your way for ten years, and he wouldn’t come near her. There’s no time to go slow anymore.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Grudgingly. A sigh. “Poor Micah. He hates himself so much for what he feels for her. If only we could tell him about the adoption somehow.”

  “You know we can’t. We’re forbidden to give them that kind of straightforward information. We can only hint and push them in the right direction.”

  “I know. But I wish Micah could know how right his need for her actually is. They belong to each other more truly than any other beings in all of creation.”

  A snort. “How can he possibly know anything in that frail human body? It’s a wonder to me that they can exist at all. Anyway, at least he’s awakened to her. She still doesn’t even realize her need for him. That has to change—quickly.”

  “It will.” With quiet confidence. “You heard the vow he made. She’ll be staying with him from now on.”

  “Only until she gets a place of her own.”

  “Leave that to me. I’ll see to it there isn’t a single place in town she’ll be able to take. She’ll have to stay with him. And the closer they get…”

  “The sooner they’ll join and reenter their celestial bodies. Of course.”

  “And Ariel’s visions must continue. I only wish we could give them to Micah as well, but his mind is so much more resistant.”

  “It will be enough if we can get Ariel to act on what we send her. He can deny her nothing—even if he thinks it’s wrong. Will they remember everything at once, do you think? As completely as they forgot when their souls were reeved and sent down to earth?”

  “I don’t know.” Soberly. “I certainly hope so. The fate of heaven may depend on it.”

  “We must watch them carefully. Because you know we’re not the only ones watching. Have you seen that imp Beelzebub sent around lately?”

  “I got rid of him before Ariel got sick, cast him back to the pit. All he knows is that she’s in Micah’s home, not that he’s touching her again.”

  “Good, we need to keep it that way. If the upper-echelon demons even think—”

  “I know. There’ll be hell to pay.”

  “Literally. And you shouldn’t make jokes.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Look, she’s stirring. They’ll be getting up soon. Are you ready?”

  “Of course. You know, I can’t help being excited. After all these years of watching over them, to finally get to speak to them face-to-face…”

  “I wouldn’t get too excited if I were you. This is terribly risky, and you know it. If there were any other way—”

  “But there’s not.”

  “I know.” A sigh and then a thoughtful pause. “Do you think they miss their wings? I can’t imagine life without mine.”

  Softly. “I don’t think they miss them half as much as they miss each other.”

  Chapter Five

  Leah woke in dreamy slow motion with a feeling like everything in the entire world was somehow perfectly right. It was such a good feeling, she didn’t even wonder where she was, though her surroundings were completely unfamiliar. It was dim in the strange room, though the first light of dawn was beginning to show through the window, and the vast bed she was in was warm and comfortable.

  It didn’t matter where she was because of who she was with—her mate. Her other half. The one man in the universe who completed her. She had been there again—in the white marble palace with golden doors. But this time her lover had followed her back into reality. She could almost feel his wings wrapping her in bliss as he held her, and the feeling of rightness at their joining was undeniable.

  Being so close to him felt like coming home. He wasn’t James or Philip or any of the other handful of men she’d dated in her life either. No, he was… Michael? Martin? Leah frowned. No, neither of them, though they were close. Why couldn’t she remember his name? Well, never mind. The name would come to her when she woke up properly. In the meantime, she was currently resting against the broad, bare chest of the man she loved, and he smelled wonderful. Leah’s nose detected a hint of expensive aftershave—something with cedar notes in it—as well as the scent of warm skin.

  Mmm, whatever his name is, he must have been amazing. I’m all worn-out! She snuggled closer, humming with pleasure. It didn’t occur to her to wonder why the idea of sex made her so happy when she usually hated it. She wasn’t a prude or anything; it just felt wrong somehow. But she had never felt more right than she did just now, pressed against the sexy, muscular man who had his arms wrapped protectively around her.

  He stirred against her, and she felt something hot and hard nudging her thigh through the thin pants he was wearing. Hmm, maybe he wanted to go again. In that case, those pants would have to go. Why was he even wearing them in the first place? It bothered her that she couldn’t quite remember the night before, but that was all right. She would have to make the morning after memorable. Just feeling his arousal rubbing against her was getting her excited.

  She could feel her nipples peaking, and she stretched like a cat, rubbing them against his chest in a deliberate display of sensuality. It wasn’t like her to act like this; she never initiated sex. In fact, she usually tried to get out of it, which was one of the main reasons she and James had broken up. But just at this moment, she didn’t feel like herself at all. She felt like a whole different being was waking up inside her and stretching its wings… Leah paused. Just like in my dream. Wings… We both had wings…

  She shook her head. Oh well, who cared how much her mind wandered, as long as her body was right here touching the man