7 comments/ 14898 views/ 28 favorites Windswept Ch. 01 By: indiglowblue Twenty Years Previous The pregnant woman was going to die. Ryder couldn't stop that -- but if he wanted to, he could postpone it. He could give the baby in her womb a chance to live. He had explained that to her, but he had left off a very important piece of information. That was why he was hesitating. "Please," the woman whispered. Ryder gazed sadly at her, looking past the skin and seeing the cancer growing in her cells. If he didn't heal her, both she and the baby would die. "Please," she said again. "You have to understand something," Ryder began. The woman shook her head. "Anything," she hissed between clenched teeth. Her fists balled the sheets of the hospital bed. "Anything is better than this." Ryder closed his eyes. The woman had given him permission. He had no reason to withhold his help. "Very well," he said. He turned and stuck his head outside the door, peering through the darkness of the hallway to make sure he wouldn't be interrupted. Satisfied that they were alone, he closed the door and returned to the woman's side. He took her wrist in his gentle hands and plucked the IV from it. Rubbing his thumb over the drop of blood that came from the hole, he sealed the wound. He looked around for a chair, but finding none, perched on the edge of her bed. "I need to know your name," he said. "Your full, given name." The woman swallowed, and for a moment, Ryder believed he was too late. Then her lips parted and she breathed out. "Anna McCallum." Ryder let her name flow through his ears, listening to its unique melody. "Anna McCallum," he said, and the air sparked with his power. Even Anna, in her terribly weakened state, sensed his power and tensed her body. He saw fear dance in her eyes for a moment, as if she was regretting her decision to let him help her. He murmured reassuringly, pressing her hand between his. Gradually, her pulse calmed and he was able to move forward. He sought for the connection that would allow him to banish the cancer. He reached out mentally, gently probing the recesses of Anna's mind. He found the connection there, weak as it was, and clamped his mind on it. He began forcing power through the connection. It was still raw at this point, pure and unfettered, tearing through her system to cleanse her of the disease. If he had been better trained, he would have been able to refine it and perhaps give her a few years to live, instead of a few months. But he was still young, and Anna was his first charge. Anna jerked, almost tearing her hand away from him. He leaned against her hip, trying to keep contact with her skin and keep her from moving at the same time. She could seriously hurt herself if she jerked the wrong way with his power flowing through her. Her body bucked, and Ryder closed his eyes, feeling the energy reaching its breaking point. He steeled himself, and as he pushed a final time, the back of his shirt ripped with an obscene tearing sound. If Anna had been in a healthier state, she would have noticed that a large pair of jet-black wing had appeared out of Ryder's back. He slowed his breathing, willing the power flow to stop. Gradually, it trickled off, and Anna sank back into the sheets, gasping for air. Ryder got to his feet and smoothed his rumpled clothes. He sheathed his wings with a sigh. "I'm finished," he said, turning his back and walking toward the door. He paused, his hand on the doorknob. "Thank you," Anna said. "I thank you with all my heart. And my child does as well." Ryder felt a pained smile cross his face. As he stepped out the door, he wondered if her child really would thank him, when the time came. Or if she, for the child was a girl, would hate him for what was to come. He put his face in his hands, leaning against the wall. "What have you done?" Present Day Angel peered over the top of her sunglasses at the man sitting at the bar. He looked nervous, out of place, and generally alienated from the rest of the clientele. A slow grin spread over Angel's face. He was just the kind of man she was looking for. His jet-lagged face told her he was most likely a West-Coaster, and his clothes said his annual income was over three hundred grand. She was surprised he didn't already have a posse of girls around him. Ignoring the look she got from Jordan, her associate, she went up to the bar and pulled a chair out beside the anxious-looking man. He did a double-take when he saw her, which Angel was used to. She smiled at the man, then turned to the bartender and ordered a Cosmo. When he'd gone to mix her drink, she propped her head on her hand and swiveled in her chair to look at him. He was about thirty, and of the business class. Here on vacation, she guessed. She smiled again and extended her hand. "Angel," she said, and shook his hand when he offered it. "Jim." He put his hand back on the bar when she let go. Angel let her body shift closer to him, and when he didn't tense or lean away, she leaned against him. She could smell the alcohol on his breath, and she mentally calculated how long this was going to take. "Off from work?" she asked when the bartender had brought her drink. She turned her head up to look at Jim. He managed a smile down at her. "Yeah. Three fucking days in New York City. As you can tell I'm having one helluva time." Angel put her hand over his on the bar. "Well maybe I can help with that." Jim met her eyes with a harshness that surprised her and almost made her flinch. "I'm married, you know." Angel shrugged, making as if she was going to get up. Jim grabbed her arm. "Hold on there, sweetie, I never said no." She turned back, flashing that radiant smile. "Come on, then. Let's blow this joint." She looped her arm in his and guided him off the barstool. Her eyes met Jordan's as they walked past his table, and despite his previous mood, he nodded at her, getting up to follow. Once outside, the rest happened quickly. Jordan came up behind them and stuck a gun in Jim's back. He demanded the businessman's money, which he got after Angel begged him not to let her get hurt. Then Jordan put the gun to Angel's head and pulled her away, telling Jim to keep quiet if he wanted the girl unhurt. When the turned the corner, he dropped the gun to his hip and stuck it in his pocket. He handed her the wallet. "Count it, why don't you," he said. "Since this one was your idea." Angel pulled a thick wad of cash from the genuine leather folds. She whistled softly. "Unbroken hundreds. We hit the jackpot." She looked at Jordan. "Still irritated I picked him?" Jordan snorted, meeting her eyes. "What can I say? You're a natural." He looked away. "If not a little disturbing." Angel shrugged. She was used to that. She had naturally strawberry-blond hair, which since she hadn't bothered to cut it for months, hung in her eyes and fell around her shoulders in a very attractive way. Her eyes were more violet than blue, by far her best feature. Jordan had told her more than once that she had a very angelic look about her, which was why their marks trusted her almost implicitly upon meeting her. Also, that was why she'd picked the nickname Angel. She felt herself about to go off into a reminiscing trance. She shook herself, pocketing the wads of cash. "Five hundred seventy-two," she said. Jordan mimicked her whistle. That one take was more than they made in three weeks, most of the time. "What's it after Whit's take?" As good as she was at putting her marks at ease, Angel didn't have a head for numbers. "Four hundred and change," Jordan answered. He squinted, looking up. "Four hundred and forty cents, to be exact." Angel grinned, patting the fabric of Jordan's weathered jacket. "We can get you some new threads." Jordan smiled back at her, and for the first time in a long time, Angel felt like things were finally going her way. Then all hell broke loose. A hand clamped over Angel's mouth, and at the same time, her knees went out from under her as someone viciously kicked them. She struggled, but before she could do any damage, her hands were flexi-cuffed behind her back and her attacker pushed her to the ground. In the dim glow of the streetlights she could see that Jordan was tied up like her. His eyes met hers, and the look there scared her more than being tied up. There was one thing Jordan was scared of. She swallowed. "Look at this, two trespassers." Angel winced at the sound of the unfamiliar voice and the caress on her face that accompanied it. She turned away from the hand, but all that earned her was a slap. "We're not trespassing," Jordan said. "It's joint territory. You know that." The man who'd slapped Angel laughed. His partner remained silent and immobile. "Hornet," Jordan continued, "let us go before you really fuck something up." The laughter stopped and Angel's eyes barely registered a flash of silver before she heard Jordan cry out in pain. "If we say it's trespassing, then it's trespassing, kid," the voice growled. Jordan whimpered, curling away from the knife. Angel wished she could see who their attackers were, but the lights weren't positioned right to show their faces. She cursed herself for allowing them to sneak up on her and Jordan. If she got out of this alive, she promised herself, she'd be more attentive. Now she just had to work on getting out alive. The sharp point of the knife on her throat pulled her out of her head and into the current situation. "Hey girlie," the voice breathed in her face. She could see the outline of the man's face, but no details. His hand came up to her face, and traveled down her neck, coming to rest cupping her right breast. She squirmed under him as his knees straddled her waist. "Get off me," she hissed. The man chuckled. He leaned forward, and Angel felt his erection press against her. She felt a scrap of fear in the back of her mind, but she didn't allow herself to be scared. Fear would paralyze her, she knew. Anger wouldn't, so she let herself be angry. "Get the hell off me," she said louder, bucking her hips up. The man shifted, and then he flew backwards off her. Angel just stared, because she hadn't had that much force in the movement. As she sat up, she saw two figures wrestling on the ground, hissing and swearing at each other. She didn't have much time to watch her rescuer, though, before the second attacker jerked her to her feet and pushed the cold metal of a gun barrel to the nape of her neck. "Walk, blondie, or I'll blow your brains out." Angel swallowed, her fear rising up and taking over her mind. The gun was too real, too solid, and too dangerous. She took a step forward, but a grunt behind her and the removal of the pressure to her neck stopped her. Slowly, she turned. Two figures lay on the ground, obviously unconscious. Now that they were in the light of the streetlight, Angel could tell that they were Quinn's thugs, her boss Whit's enemy. Their street names... she thought hard. Hornet and Reaper. Off to her right, Jordan was also on the ground, although his intermittent moans told her he was still alive and conscious. Angel saw all that in one or two seconds, and then her sight was filled with the image of her rescuer. Before she could get a good look, he spun her around and cut the ties at her wrist. She rubbed them and turned back. "Are you okay?" he asked her. She looked up, surprised by the tenderness in his voice. His gorgeous voice, her mind corrected. She shook herself slightly. "I'm better than I was, thanks to you." She flashed a little smile. "I'm Ang-" "I know who you are, Jenna." Angel froze, her violet eyes widening. She took a step back, and then another one. "How do you know that?" she asked, almost whispering. As a general rule, people who knew her real name were after her for bad things. That was why she went by Angel. She'd tried to disappear. The man brought a hand up to her face. Angel sucked in a breath at his touch. His fingers felt like fire on her cheek, making the skin there tingle. She turned into his touch, pressing his hand against her cheek before she realized what she was doing. Even when she did, she didn't want to stop. It felt so good. "I know a lot about you," he said. His voice was closer, right in front of her face. She felt the tingling on her cheek and imagined how it would feel on her lips. The small part of her mind that was till sane tried to rouse her, but failed. Hesitantly, she leaned forward, pressing her lips against his. His mouth opened to welcome her. The pleasant burning spread to her lips as their tongues collided. She moaned in his mouth, and all of a sudden her back was against the alley wall and he was pressed against her, her breasts crushed to his chest. He nipped at her lips, cupping the back of her neck with one hand and pulled her head into him. His other hand encircled her waist, pulling her body against him. She felt the heat of his body through her clothes, she was surprised at how much it excited her. The pleasant burning captured her neck and back as her hands found the bottom of his shirt and crept up under it. The man moaned involuntarily as her hands touched the bare skin of his stomach. He growled deep in his throat and Angel felt the vibrations on her lips. She heard another sound, and it took her a moment to realize that the man in front of her wasn't making it. She tore her mouth away, meeting his eyes. His pupils were huge with arousal, and she knew hers were as well. She almost leaned back into him, but she remembered why she'd pulled away to begin with. "Shakespeare's hurt," she said, her voice rough and straining. She swallowed, trying to regain some of her composure. What the hell had this guy done to her? She pointed at Jordan, her hand shaking. "They did something to him." She could feel the man's reluctance, but he slowly pulled away from her. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice as coarse as hers. Angel felt the tingling fade as his hands left her, but she resisted the urge to press against him again. She knelt by Jordan, and the man followed her, cutting his ties with a long, wicked-looking knife. Angel pulled him up into a sitting position. "Shakespeare," she said softly in his ear. "Hey, Shakespeare. They're gone, it's ok now." She went to put an arm around his waist to help him to his feet, but stopped cold when her arm encountered something wet and sticky. Her heart dropped into her stomach. Jordan's shirt was covered in blood. Oh, gods. While she'd been getting to know their rescuer, he'd been bleeding out on the ground. Angel closed her eyes and felt the man's hand on her shoulder. "We'll get him taken care of. Come on." Jordan's limp figure was lifted from her arms. She opened her eyes and looked up, seeing the man holding Jordan as if he weighed nothing more than a child. "We can't go to the hospital," Angel began. "I know. I have a friend who will look after him. Follow me." The man's friend lived only three blocks away. At three a.m., there weren't too many people around to see the strange trio, and they got there without having to answer any uncomfortable. The walk gave Angel some time to think about what had just happened. Who is he? She asked herself it over and over again. She felt like she should know him. She touched her lips unconsciously as she remembered the passionate kiss they'd shared. Hell, she felt like she did know him. And he knew her given name, which meant he came from a part of her past she didn't want to remember. The man's friend let them in and quickly got Jordan laid out on a table. He examined the knife wound to his side, which looked fatal to Angel. He quickly explained that it looked worse than it actually was. "He's lost a lot of blood, sweetie. That's what makes it look so bad. I'll get him stitched up and he'll be fine. I promise." The man put an arm around her shoulders while they waited for the doctor to finish sewing Jordan's wound closed. After a few minutes she turned to him, intending to thank him again for everything. As she turned, his scent assaulted her nose, pulling a low moan from her. He smelled like sweat and leather and smoke, an intoxicating combination. His arm tightened around her at the sound. "Thank you," she managed to say. "Thank you really doesn't begin to cover it, but it's about all I can do right now." She took a breath. "You're going to have a hell of a lot to explain in the morning, you know." She felt his chuckle in his chest. "I'm aware, Jenna. Or Angel, if you prefer. I'll explain everything. But right now, you should sleep." As soon as he suggested it, Angel felt her eyes grow heavy. "Good idea," she murmured. The last thing she saw before she fell into dreamland was a pair of the most stunning blue eyes she'd ever seen in her life fill up with huge black pupils. She snuggled closer to him, feeling safe in being close to him. He wrapped his other arm around her, and like that, she was asleep. Windswept Ch. 02 (Thanks for the favorites, comments, and ratings!! I'm really excited that my story was so well received... I was worried I was writing too much haha. I'll keep the chapters coming as fast as I can. Thanks. ~Blue) *** Angel awoke slowly, luxuriating for once in the feeling of coming to at her own pace. She felt, in order, a pair of arms around her, the feel of soft, silk sheets against her skin, and then the lack of clothing on her body. The last sensation jerked her awake and all her senses became violently aware. Someone was pressed against her back, the body that belonged to the arms that were under her head and over her waist. The quiet, steady breathing she heard told her that her bedmate was still asleep, but she didn't know how long that would last. Slowly, the memories of the night before filtered in, and some of her panic went away. No doubt the man behind her was the same that had rescued her and Jordan. She breathed out quietly and moved to slide out of bed. As she turned, her leg moved back. She made to pull it away, but froze. She had by now realized that she had on her lingerie, and she'd assumed that the man had on shorts or briefs, but her leg had encountered the bare shaft of his manhood. She trembled slightly, even more eager to get out of the bed. Even if he had saved her life, what kind of person slept naked with a girl he'd only known for an hour? She slipped out from under his arm as gently as she could and put one foot on the floor. He shifted towards her in his sleep, aware that she was no longer next to him. For the first time, she got a good look at the man who had rescued her and Jordan. His hair was blonde, but darker than hers, and chopped short. It was messy, but in an incredibly sexy way. She shook her head. What was wrong with her? As she slipped out of the bed, she took in the rest of his physique. His facial features were strong, his lips full. Her eyes slipped down over his muscular chest, hairless and firmly toned. His arms were corded and sculpted. She looked farther down, but the rest of his body was hidden under the sheet. She couldn't stop the little disappointed "aw" that came from her mouth. "Enjoying the view?" the man asked. Angel started, jumping to her feet and pulling the sheet around her. Mistake, she thought, and swallowed. His lower half was now painfully visible. Angel felt her eyes widening as she took in his size. Nine inches, if not more. She'd seen plenty of naked men. Her partnership with Jordan guaranteed it. While she'd never had to let one of them take her to bed, they'd cut it close a few times. She'd protected her virginity fiercely, as had Jordan. Now the thought crossed her mind. This man could force her to... to... She backed away, refusing to even think about it. The man sat up, reaching for a bathrobe and pulling it on all in one fluid motion. He stood, his arms extended to the side. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said softly. "Trust me, Jenna. I'd rather put a bullet through my head than hurt you." His voice put her at ease a little bit. Keeping the sheet wrapped around her frame, she let him approach her. He put a hand on her cheek, then ran it up and through her hair. The pleasant tingling returned, and Angel closed her eyes, enjoying his touch. She felt the terrycloth of his robe in front of her. "You had some questions, I believe," he said in her ear. His voice startled her and she jumped back. "Yeah," she said, trying to inject some assurance into her voice. "Like, um, who you are. And how you know my name. And why you saved me and Shakespeare, and why I feel like nothing would be better than to get back into bed with you." Angel bit her lip, blushing furiously. She hadn't meant to say the last part out loud. She watched his eyes for a reaction, but he just smiled, motioning for her to sit on the edge of the bed. "Believe me, pet, I feel the same. I'll explain, everything, I promise." Hesitantly, she sat next to him. She felt a little ridiculous keeping the sheet wrapped around herself, but the other option was walking around in her bra and panties, so she kept it. The man ran a hand through his hair, messing it even more. "Where to begin," he mused. "Name," Angel said. "Let's start with who the hell you are." He laughed out loud, the sound filling her ears. "Very well, love. My name is Ryder." "Ryder," Angel repeated, and as soon as his name left her lips his whole body tensed. She shrank back, wondering what she'd done wrong. Ryder breathed, forcing himself to relax. He'd forgotten what hearing his name could do to him. "It's all right, love. No one's said my name in a long, long time." Angel nodded. "Ok, so now I know you're name. But I still don't know who you are." She cursed at herself. Her voice sounded meek and nonthreatening. She was trying to demand answers but she was coming across as gentle. Ryder's lips curved up into a hint of a smile. "I'm your guardian angel, Angel," he answered. She matched his smile. "I said thank you. I appreciate it. But seriously. Who are you?" He shook his head, standing. He took her elbow and raised her up as well. Gently, he worked one of her hands out of the sheet, tucking it in under her arm afterwards. If she wanted to shelter herself, he would let her. He wouldn't force her, and he certainly wouldn't allow any more episodes like the night before. He almost flushed in embarrassment at his lack of self-control. He took her hand and brought it up to his neck. She flexed her fingers that were no doubt tingling as much as his were. He pressed her hand to the back on his neck. "Really. I'm your guardian angel." He pressed on her hand again, and his wings unfolded behind him in all their nine feet of black-and-violet feathered glory. Angel jerked her hand away, letting out a small cry as she stumbled back. She blinked, trying to comprehend what she was seeing. Ryder had wings, the man who'd rescued her and kissed her in an alley and gotten Jordan help had wings and they were real. "Oh, shit," she said. She felt the wall against her back and swore again. "Oh, shit. Please, I'll give you whatever want. Shakespeare and I have some money put away, just please, please don't hurt me. I'll get you the money or.." Ryder cut her off by pressing his lips against hers. She had to admit, it was highly effective. She stopped talking as the tingling returned to her lips. His tongue flicked against her bottom lip, tracing her mouth delicately. He pulled away, leaving Angel gasping for breath. She stared up into his eyes, shaking slightly. "I'm not going to hurt you," he said firmly. "Remember what I said? I'd rather put a bullet through my brain. I mean it." Ryder made to step back, but Angel grabbed his arms and pulled herself to him. "Hold on. You're my guardian angel? An actual angel?" Ryder looked bemused. "In the flesh," he answered. Then, almost as an afterthought, "And the feathers." A smile parted Angel's lips. "Can I..." she began. He nodded, dipping his shoulder so she could touch his wings. She reached her hand out hesitantly, pausing before she lightly brushed her fingers against the feathers on the ridge of his wing. Ryder moaned deep in his throat, a shudder ripping through his body. He clenched his fists at his side to stop himself from taking her then and there. His reaction surprised him. It must have something to do with that damn Bond. "Jenna," he rasped, "Jenna, you don't know what you're doing to me." She heard the tone in his voice, but she wasn't quite done. She ran her hand down the length of his wing, down to the tips of the flight feathers. She was surprised at how soft they felt. Standing on her tiptoes, she ran her hand down the back of his wing, close to where they connected to his body. The feathers were smaller and softer there, and she ran her fingers through them. Ryder let out a sound that sounded like a squeak as his self-control melted away. With an almost feral growl he tore the sheet away from Angel's body and pushed her onto the bed. She landed with a yelp that ended as soon as he captured her mouth in his. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and explored every crevice inside. He felt his erection press against the hot place between her spread legs, the realization that she was almost as turned on as him only increasing his stiffness. Angel pressed her hands against his chest, trying to get in a breath. She squirmed underneath him. Ryder moaned in her mouth as she caused delicious friction between his member and her legs. She was unbelievably perfect, more than he could have ever imagined, and yet something was wrong. He sensed her fear, guarded in the back of her mind. The fear of the kind of touch he wanted to use to please her until the ends of time. That realization shocked him back to his senses. She was well on her way to becoming scared of him. With a snarl at that thought, he tore himself away from her. Angel's frightened bright eyes met his. He loathed himself for causing that. He'd had three hundred years to practice self-control, but this one girl had taken it all away. He ran a hand through his hair, slowing his breathing. "I'm sorry, Jenna," he said. "The Bond is making it difficult for me to, ah, stop myself." Angel watched mutely as the god of a man standing in front of her apologized. Her mind was still frozen in fear as the memories danced in front of her eyes. Not Jordan, not ever, but Whit had tried. She shut her eyes against the memory of how his hands had felt on her body, his dick in her mouth. Nausea swept over her and she turned, curling into a ball and the memories ravaged her mind. Immediately, she felt a pair of arms around her. The moment Ryder's hands touched her, the wave of memories abated. She felt soothed and calmed, though the tears that had sprung to her eyes still fell down her cheeks. "I'll kill him," Ryder growled. "Who is he, Jenna? I'll kill him, whoever he is." Angel shook her head. "It's, it's nothing. Don't worry about me." She tried to pull away, ashamed that this man knew that she was damaged goods. He held her tighter. "That's my job, love." He kissed her cheek, stroking her hair gently. "You don't have to worry about what I think of you." His grip tightened again. "You should hate me. Not only should I have protected you from him, but I shouldn't have tried to make you mine so soon. Please forgive me." Angel pressed her face against his neck. She couldn't bring herself to hate this man, who was going out of his way to make sure she felt safe. "Why am I feeling like this?" she asked softly. Her tone melted Ryder's core. He ran his lips across her cheek, tangling his hand in her long blonde locks. "Your mother was going to die, Jenna. I was assigned to protect you, and she was going to die before she gave birth. So I extended her life for a few months. That sort of thing requires intense power. It formed a Bond between us." He paused. "I don't understand the extent of it, myself, only that it draws us to each other. Which," he continued, a playful smirk dancing on his face, "may become quite distracting for us both while I'm here." Angel looked up at him suddenly. "While you're here?" she questioned, her eyes wide. "You're not leaving, are you?" Ryder looked surprised. "Of course I am. I don't belong here." Angel shut her eyes, jerking herself out of Ryder's arms. She should have known, she thought bitterly. Why would he want to stay with her? She did belong here, in a world full of Whit's and Hornets and Jordan's. Traitorous tears welling up in her eyes, she locked herself in the bathroom, cleaning herself up best she could. When she stuck her head out to get her clothes, Ryder was gone. *** Jordan came to with a start, raising his hands to fight off his attackers before he realized that it was Angel hovering over him with a worried look in her eyes, not Hornet. He breathed out, letting his body relax. Angel brought a cup to his lips, holding his head up so he could drink. Her heart stirred at the sight of him. He looked so vulnerable. A small smile came to her lips. She didn't need a guardian angel. Jordan and she had managed for this long with just them. She ran her hand through Jordan's dark hair, straightening it across his face. His eyes smiled up at her. "Thanks, Angel," he said. "Where are we? What happened? What time is it?" Angel put her finger on his lips. "Hold on there, Shakespeare. Calm down. Try to wake up before you start the interrogation." To her utter surprised, Jordan captured her hand in his and pressed it to his lips. "I was so afraid of losing you," he whispered. With a grunt, he sat up. Angel moved to stop him, but he just pulled her into his lap. She put a hand to his side, which was covered in bandages. "You're hurt..." Jordan met her eyes. She lost herself in their brown depths, discovering just how beautiful his eyes were. They were flecked with red and yellow and seemed to go on forever. "I'll heal," he said gruffly. Then before Angel could protest, he pulled her into a kiss. Angel tasted blood in her mouth as Jordan's teeth mashed against her lips. She whimpered, trying to pull away, but he didn't let her. She tried to tell him he was hurting her, but he didn't let her come up for air. He bit down on her lip hard enough to draw blood, and she cried out, the sound lost in his mouth. Jordan let out a strangled sound and leaned back. Angel saw two hands encircled around his throat, and looking up, saw Ryder standing behind him, his eyes blazing. With one fluid motion he threw Jordan across the room. "Don't touch her," Ryder spat. Jordan flinched on the ground, but didn't try to get up. Ryder turned to Angel, his finger coming gently to her mouth to wipe away the blood. "Come with me, Jenna. I have to get you out of here." Angel trembled. "Why? Where are we going?" For an answer, Ryder stalked over to Jordan, picking him up by the scruff of his neck. He pushed him toward Angel and jerked his head up so he faced her. "Look at him. Tell me what you see." Angel looked over Jordan's face, and opened her mouth to say he looked the same, but the words froze in her mouth. "His eyes," she stuttered. "His eyes. They're, red." Jordan hissed at her, revealing a set of long, wicked fangs. He lunged toward her, but Ryder pulled him back, cracking his head against the wall before letting him fall to the ground. Angel yelped. "Don't worry, love, he's not dead." "But... he... what happened to him?" Ryder sighed impatiently. "I'll explain everything, I promise. But right now we need to leave." Angel decided to trust him. Something had happened to Jordan, and if she stayed there, she would be alone with him. "All right," she said, and the next thing she knew she was wrapped in Ryder's arms and his wings were keeping them aloft far above New York City. Windswept Ch. 03 (Thanks to my amazing editor cannd for working with me on this chapter. Again, thanks for the faves and comments. Don't forget to rate! ~Blue) ****** They landed for the night on a rooftop in the Bronx. Ryder paced the perimeter for a long time, looking for what, Angel didn't know. She stayed huddled on the roof, her arms wrapped around her knees, trying to stay warm. A cold wind whipped her hair around her face, stinging her eyes and chilling her to the bone. She'd been wearing a pair of jeans and a sequined tank-top when Hornet and Reaper had attacked her and Jordan. She hadn't been planning to stay outside all night. Ryder watched the streets below, searching for any sign that they'd been followed. He'd prepared the rooftop for occasions such as this, so he doubted they could have been followed even if someone was trying. Still, he wasn't willing to take chances. Not where Angel was concerned. It was a good twenty minutes before Ryder realized his charge was shivering uncontrollably. With a curse at himself he sprinted to her side, picking her up and carrying her to a corner of the roof without a word. In the pre-dawn dusk, she could see the angular cut of his features against the sky. As he set her down on a pile of blankets, she felt the corded muscles in his arms move underneath her. He went to tuck the blankets in around her, but held on to him. "I'm c-c-cold-d," she said, her lips blue. "P-please, Ry-d-der." He smiled at her, though the smile looked sad. "Of course, love," he said, lying next to her and pulling the blankets over both of them. She curled to his chest, seeking his warmth. His arms enveloped her and held her close. He turned his head down to kiss her, but she held her head away. "First you explain about Shakespeare," she said firmly. The wind licked around her bare neck and she pressed against him again. He only grinned wider. She'd said "first," implying that something came after it. "I'll tell you what I know, but I'm warning you, it isn't that much." Ryder propped himself up on his elbow. Angel let out a small mewing cry and pressed her head into his shoulder, still trying to warm herself. "When I saved your mother's life, it created a Bond between you and me. That Bond has made us incredibly attracted to one another, but it's also given you some things that you shouldn't have." Angel arched an eyebrow. "Like?" "Your looks, for one. You call yourself Angel, and angelic you look indeed. That isn't genetics. Second, you have an uncanny ability to make people trust you, no?" Angel nodded. Ryder continued. "You know there are angels, but you must also know that there is a yin for every yang. A pro for every con, so to speak. Our counterparts are the daemons, and they want you very badly, Jenna." Angel tensed. "Why? Why me? I don't know anything." Ryder stroked her hair, tucking it behind her ear. "They believe you have a dormant power of telepathy or predetermination." At her confused look, he explained. "They think you can tell the future, and/or read minds." She laughed. "Well, that's really too bad for them. I can't." He huffed against her neck. "Yet. You'll be coming into your powers fairly soon. The more time you spend with me, the faster it will happen. They will come for you eventually." Angel closed her eyes. "And what am I supposed to do? You're going to leave me. There's no way I'm going to be able to stand up against an army of... of..." "Daemons," Ryder finished. "I know. I'm staying with you, don't worry. This was an unplanned situation." "Daemons," Angel repeated. "What are they like?" Ryder frowned as he thought. "They look like us, for the most part. Like I do. They change on will. Except Lucifer. Part of being thrown out of Heaven was the he became stuck in daemon form. He's not a pretty thing to look at." He sensed her next question. "Your friend Shakespeare was turned. It wasn't his fault, although that hardly matters right now. He'll be after you as well. You have to remember that he's not the man you know anymore. His mind has been corrupted." Angel nodded. Ryder leaned down and kissed her cheek, feeling her slight trembling. It was from fear this time, not from the cold. "Anything else?" Ryder asked with a quirk of his mouth. She thought for a moment. "If you're an angel, why aren't your wings, well, white?" He laughed. "Do you know how impractical white feathers are? It's a myth that we all have these ivory wings like some overgrown swan. There's only one of us I know of that does. That's the problem with the human race," he said. "You see one, and you assume the rest of us are the same. "Now," he continued, "I'd get some sleep if I were you. We have a long day coming up." Angel turned to look at him, her delicate mouth drawn into a smirk. "Telepath? Maybe not. But sleep isn't what's on your mind, love." She emphasized the last word, making fun of his constant endearments. He chuckled quietly, but sucked in a breath when she touched the spot on his neck that made his wings pop out. They slipped through the slits in his shirt and unfolded elegantly behind him. Never breaking eye contact, she reached out and stroked them, smiling when his bright eyes rolled with pleasure. "Jenna, are you sure you..." She pressed her mouth against his, their tongues meeting halfway. Ryder shifted, and Angel moved so that he straddled her, his hands on either side of her head. She held his neck in a death-grip, afraid he would leave before they could finish. He broke the mad connection, breathing hard, his eyes dark. "I take that as a yes, love." She looked beautiful, laid out on her back, her hair spread around her like a halo. "I've been told it can feel good," she said softly. "Is it true?" Ryder scooped her up into his arms, holding her slim frame to his. He placed a kiss on her neck, sucking slightly, before he nibbled on her ear. "Oh, darling, yes, yes it can." Without another word, he lay her back down kissed under her jaw, one hand going to her breast. He massaged it gently, teasing her nipple until it hardened under her shirt. Finding the fabric got in the way, he slipped it over her head and tossed it away. He did the same with her bra, taking a moment to admire her body before he kissed and licked his way down her neck and across her collarbone, pausing at the hollow of her throat to stroke the sensitive skin there. She shuddered under his touch as he moved down her chest. His soft caresses were so different from Whit's. She moaned as he took one of her nipples in his mouth, teasing the nub with his tongue and teeth, biting enough to bring pleasure instead of pain. She felt her arousal start pooling between her legs. Ryder smiled to himself as she arched her hips, longing for his touch. He teased the skin of her hip with his fingertip, brushing it lightly across the waistband of her jeans. She wiggled her lower body, trying to get him to put his hand where she wanted it. Leaving her hips, he cupped both her breasts in his hands and leaned in. He captured her mouth with his, tugging on her lips with his teeth. Angel took his face in her hands, pulling him into her, moaning as he squeezed and massaged her pert breasts. Suddenly, her jeans felt too restrictive, and Angel's hands flew to the button, her fingers fumbling. Ryder tugged them away from her body, drinking in the sight of her exposed skin. He fell upon her stomach, kissing every inch of her, probing with his tongue into her belly button. He ran his teeth along her hip bones, nipping gently. Almost regretfully, he pulled his hands away from her breasts and down her sides. He slipped a finger under the hem of her panties, stroking her outer lips agonizingly slow. He pulled the scrap of fabric down, letting it play against her thighs. She moaned deep in her throat as he touched his tongue to her throbbing clit, thrusting her hips up in search of relief. He put his hands on her hips and swirled his tongue delicately as her legs twitched. Still tonguing her clit, he rubbed a finger over her wetness and slid it inside her. He sighed as her muscles contracted around his finger, his erection pressing tightly against his jeans. "God, Angel, you're so tight." Angel barely heard him. As his thumb began tracing circles on her aching clit, she gave herself up to the pleasure. Her moans grew louder as he slipped another finger inside her, pulsing them in and out in time with the motions of his thumb. He let her dance on the edge for a while, enjoying the delightful shudders that ran down her spine. "Please, Ryder," she begged, her voice husky with desire. "Oh, God, please." "Hmm," he said, pulling his fingers out and licking them. He closed his eyes. "You taste marvelous, love." Angel made a sound halfway between a whine and a growl. "Fuck me," she hissed. Ryder looked up in shock, meeting Angel's eyes. She looked as surprised as he did, but she didn't take it back. She pulled him up, pressing her mouth to his with feral need. Her hands gripped in his hair as she tasted herself on his lips. "Fuck me," she said. "Take me and make me yours." Ryder felt a sharp pain in his chest. He wanted desperately to do just that, to make her his and only his. Looking at the need in her eyes and the rapid rise and fall of her chest, knowing he had caused that... there was nothing he wanted more. But like he'd told her earlier, he didn't belong here. He never would. He would always have to leave her, and if he was half the gentleman she thought he was, he would leave this for a man who could stay with her. Especially after what she'd been through, she deserved that. Angel noticed his expression. She caressed his face, and he turned into her touch. "Please," she said softly. Ryder's train of thought snapped at her touch and the sound of her voice. The need to possess her reared up inside him, and he didn't wait for her to tell him again. He stripped off his jeans and shorts as quickly as he could. Angel's eyes widened as she took in his full length. She wondered how he was going to fit inside her. "If you want to change your mind," Ryder said, his voice sounding strained, as he bent her legs so that her knees grazed his waist, "now would be the time." Angel shook her head violently. Ryder's cock grew as he watched her breasts jiggle, eliciting a low moan from him. Without another word, he positioned himself at her entrance. Angel jerked at the feel of his manhood on her sensitive skin. Ryder leaned down to kiss her. "It's going to hurt, just for a moment," he breathed. Then slowly, he inched his way into her. Angel felt herself widen to accommodate his width. As he continued to push, a bright pain erupted and she cried out. Immediately Ryder's mouth was over hers and he pulled out, only to push back in a second later. As his thrusts grew in speed and in intensity, the pleasure overrode the pain and Angel gasped as the sensations overwhelmed her. Her body jerked and thrashed, coating Ryder's cock liberally with her juices. Her voice rose into a scream as she yelled out his name. He groaned, feeling himself reaching the edge. He went to pull out, but Angel grabbed his waist. Her eyes shone in the aftermath of her first orgasm. "Don't you dare leave now," she whispered, and purposefully clenched her muscles around him. "Jenna, I..." Ryder's protest faded into a scream as he came deep inside her. Angel's voice matched his own, feeling the thick hot spurt of cum. She unconsciously milked him dry and he collapsed next to her, spent. He slipped out as she curled next to him, pressing herself against his chest. Already, he was realizing the gravity of what he'd done. He had risked getting her pregnant with his child. Oh, God... Angel's kiss distracted him from his thoughts. "You don't look happy," she said. "Did I do something wrong?" Ryder reached for the blanket, pulling it over them again. "Oh God, love, no. You're perfect." She smiled up at him, radiating contentment. "Thank you," she said. Ryder returned her smile. "I should be thanking you. You don't realize it, love, but you let me have something precious." When he didn't get an answer from her, he looked down. He chuckled quietly. She was asleep, her mouth slightly open. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Sleep well, angel." Ryder was about to close his eyes when a rush of air and a curse brought him to his feet. He saw a figure get up and shake his russet wings. "Fuck it, omnipresent and everything and all I get is 'a rooftop in New York'. You know how many rooftops there are in New York? And on top of that, do you know how many have people fucking on them? Any idea? God, I've seen enough ass this morning to last me a lifetime." Ryder sighed, pulling on his jeans and stepping away from Angel. He turned to the figure, the young man who owned the russet wings. "Good morning, Tenner." The young man laughed. "Good for you, you lucky bastard. It'd be good for me too if I'd spent my morning with that hot thing." Ryder couldn't stop the possessive growl that rose in his throat. Tenner put up his hands. "Whoa, there, buddy, don't worry. She's off limits." Ryder shielded his eyes against the dawn. It highlighted Tenner's rust colored hair and his frame, which was still more boyish than anything else. "You didn't come here for a social visit," he said. Tenner shook his head. "Nah. As much as I'd like to say I'm here for purely personal reasons, well, I'm not." He paused, and the merriment went out of his voice. "Michael's not happy with you." Ryder ran a hand through his hair. "I can't leave her. We're enjoying some peace right now, but if they get their hands on her, it will mean war. Again. I can't let them use her against us. And I can't let them kill her." "They could do both," Tenner added helpfully. "Or both," Ryder growled. "Until she's safe, I have to stay." "I understand," Tenner said. "Michael doesn't. He thinks you're pulling his leg about this Bond thing in order to get a cheap fuck in." Ryder hissed, his hands forming fists at his sides. "That son of a bitch. He should know." Tenner grinned wryly. "Which is one of the reasons he's bent out of shape about this. He doesn't know, for once, and it's irritating him. But relax for a second. He just wants to talk to the girl to make sure she's on board with it all." "When?" Tenner smirked. "That's why he sent me, Blondie. He wants you post-haste, as in yesterday. Late fee and all. What I'm saying here is let's go. Now." Windswept Ch. 04 Thanks to my editors cannd and HellsBells1890. The story is THAT much awesomer. *** It took Ryder a while to explain to Angel that they couldn't "fly" to heaven. There were protocols and parameters that needed to be followed to a tee. He sent Tenner off to get subway tickets for them while he got Angel dressed. Despite her attempts to appear ok, Ryder noticed the dark circles beginning to form under her eyes. She'd been through a hell of a lot in the past... he looked at the sky -- twelve hours. He stopped in the middle of brushing Angel's hair out with his fingers. Twelve hours. He'd saved her life twice and fucked her once in twelve hours. Angel turned, fixing her deep purple eyes on him. "What's wrong?" He shook his head. "Nothing, love. Just thinking about how busy you keep me." She grinned, rolling her eyes. He watched as she picked up his coat, and, wrapping it around her shoulders, walked around the perimeter of the roof, gazing at the New York skyline. He kept one eye on her, attentive to how close she was to the edge, while he folded the blankets and fit them into a green messenger bag he then slung over his shoulder. He felt Tenner approaching, but he heard Angel before he could call out a warning. "Oh my God!" she cried, half-falling, half-stepping away from the edge of the roof. "Watch where you're flying!" Tenner landed in a rush of wings inches from her face, stumbling back when he saw her. His legs hit the edge and he staggered for a minute before catching his balance. Planting his feet firmly on the roof, he turned to Ryder. "That girl," he said, pointing at Angel, "is going to be trouble. I can already tell. She's that type. Your type. I.E. fucking dangerous." Before Ryder could answer, Angel said dryly, "And you're the epitome of grace and vigilance, right?" Tenner spun, looking the girl up and down. He glanced back at Ryder. "She's sarcastic too. Perfect. You planning to oust me from that position, too?" "Afraid of a little competition, bird-boy?" Ryder looked from Tenner to Angel and burst out laughing. Tenner's feathers were ruffled, his eyes wide open, his whole attitude screaming that he was ready for a fight. Angel, on the other hand, was watching him from under lidded eyes, wrapped in Ryder's coat, which was at least four sizes too big for her. She had to be three inches shorter than Tenner, and at least fifty pounds lighter. He shook his head. "Bird-boy?" Tenner sputtered. "I'm not a bird!" "All right, all right, you two," Ryder said, stepping in between them. "We're on the same side." Tenner pointed at Angel again. "Tell her to stop insulting me!" Angel rose to the bait. "Tell him to stop talking about me like I'm not here!" Ryder sighed. Moving quickly, he got Tenner in a headlock and Angel over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. She pounded on his back, but he barely felt it. "Now," he said. "Listen. We're going to get along, right? We're all mature enough for that. Right?" Neither Tenner nor Angel spoke. Ryder settled in, planning to hold them there for a while. "Fine," Angel finally said. "I'm sorry. I'll behave." Ryder let her down, but she stayed by his side, wrapping and arm around his waist. "So, what's bird-boy called, anyway?" Tenner sputtered, and Ryder shot her a look. She threw her hands up. "Sorry, sorry, couldn't help it." She smiled. Ryder turned to Tenner. "How about you?" "What she said," he said into Ryder's arm. Ryder let him go. "Ok, Tenner, do you have the..." he stopped when Angel slid the tickets into his hand. "Let's get going, huh?" Tenner opened his mouth, feeling around inside his coat. "How did you... Ryder," he said, "you got yourself a pickpocket? Really?" Ryder smiled uneasily. Angel shouldn't have been able to do that to an angel, even a novice like Tenner. Their nervous systems were always on hyper-alert. For not the first time, he wondered exactly how he had affected Angel. "Earth to Blondie. We gonna get going, or just stand here and gawk at the big ball of gases called the sun?" Tenner's voice was playful, as always, but he could feel that something was wrong. Ryder nodded. "Right, we should." He glanced at Tenner's wingspan. "You should put those away. We'll be walking." "But we flew here," Angel protested. "Why can't we fly back?" Ryder started walking toward the door that was in the middle of the roof. "We can walk and talk." He held the door open for Angel and Tenner, and they started walking single-file down the spiral staircase. "Don't get me wrong," Ryder said through clenched teeth. "We'd rather fly, trust me." He forced himself to breathe shallowly and evenly. Without looking, he knew that Tenner, less experienced with the mortal world than him, was having more trouble with the enclosed space. The younger man kept his hand pressed against the wall, as if to assure himself that it wasn't going to move in on him. Angel opened her mouth, but Ryder wasn't finished. "When we're alone, we're cloaked, in a way. People don't want to see a bunch of angels flying around, so they don't. With passengers, though, it's different. It's too hard not to see three people zipping around in the sky." Ryder looked down, relieved to see that the bottom of the staircase was nearing. "So we walk. Public transportation isn't as bad as it's cracked up to be. Except you humans have a damn annoying affinity for tight, closed spaces." The staircase opened up into a hallway. Angel looked around, recognizing the familiarity of brass numbers on doors. They had landed on the roof of an apartment building, which by the looks of it, wasn't exactly the Hilton. Ryder eyed the number above the elevator. "Nine floors," he said. "We can manage nine floors." Tenner turned the color of snow and swallowed. Ryder put a comforting hand on his shoulder and said, "It'll be better. There's more space." Nine sets of stairs later, Tenner let out a whoop and rushed out the double-doors. He jumped about three feet in the air, sucking in the smog-filled air. Ryder controlled himself a bit more, but even he couldn't resist breathing deeply once he was outside the four walls. People streamed past the trio, barely seeing them or ignoring them completely. For once, Angel felt back in her element. The streets were her home, and the crowds were comforting in a strange way. "This way," Tenner said, glancing to the left and the right before stepping into the street. Ryder and Angel followed him, Ryder's arm around her shoulders to make sure she didn't fall behind. She found his concern almost amusing. She'd grown up on these streets. Of all of them, she was probably the safest. Tenner wove through the pedestrians with an uncanny ease that Ryder matched. No one paid any attention to the two tall men, one of whom's hair was the color of fire. Angel was finally able to get a good look at Tenner, and although he wasn't bad to look at, he didn't have Ryder's presence. Tenner flitted; Ryder just was. They reached the steps that led underground to the subway. Very few words were exchanged between Tenner and the ticket master, but when Ryder and Angel walked by, his eyes had a glazed look. Ryder squeezed Angel's shoulder. "Tenner's covering our trail. That man won't remember us, if anyone asks." At her expression, he added, "He wasn't hurt." They'd cut it very close. The bus pulled in almost as soon as Ryder had closed his mouth. Angel hung onto him as they boarded the bus, not very eager to be separated for her protector for any amount of time. The way she attached herself to him almost made him smile, but he was worried. Other than Jordan, a daemon had yet to show its face. Despite this, Ryder refused to be lulled into a sense of false security. The doors slid shut behind them, and the bus lurched into motion. Angel took a seat and Ryder and Tenner stood on either side of her, eyeing the passengers of their car with evident distrust. Angel watched the people around her, too, but with more curiosity than anything else. Her eyes roamed and eventually came to rest on a man across and a little to the left of them. He was handsome, but in a disturbing way. In many ways, he was the opposite of Ryder. His eyes and hair were dark brown, his face drawn around the eyes and mouth in tight lines. As she studied him, his eyes flickered over to her. A disgusted shiver went up her spine as his gaze started at her feet and traveled up her body slowly, clearly taking his time and not worried about being caught. When he got to her face, the corner of his mouth twisted into a sick smile. She recoiled involuntarily. Ryder felt Angel move. He looked down at her, and then followed her gaze. When he laid eyes on the dark stranger, he hissed, moving in front of Angel. The man's smirk became wider. "The warmth in your greeting overwhelms me." He paused, letting his eyes dance back to Angel. "You haven't introduced me to your pretty friend here, Ryder." Ryder hissed again, and Tenner looked at him worriedly. "You're not going to get her," he growled. "You won't win this one." The man laughed quietly. "You can stand down, boy. I'm not going to attempt anything in front of all these people." Tenner glanced at Ryder again, and then back to the man. "You might not, Harlem, but I wouldn't put it past Blondie here. I wouldn't instigate him if I were you, unless you wanted to go back to Hell in a body-bag." Something flashed in Harlem's eyes, and his lip curled into a snarl. "You presumptuous brat," he hissed. "If you think that..." Ryder took a step forward and Harlem stopped. "For all our sakes," he said, "I will not cause a scene." A slow smile spread across his face as the subway came to a screeching halt. Ryder pulled Angel to her feet, putting her between himself and Tenner as they escorted her off the car and out of the terminal. A quick glance behind them told her that Harlem was following them. "Ryder," she began quietly. He threw her a glance that made a cold spot materialize in her chest. His eyes, normally soft, were hard and furious, showing a steeliness she hadn't seen before. She shrank away from him reflexively, even though she knew the look wasn't aimed at her. "I know," he said gruffly. His grip on her arm softened slightly, but he was still firm as he and Tenner led her down one street after another. She quickly gave up trying to keep track of where they were, or where they had been. Tenner stopped suddenly in front of a weathered looking home, looking at it curiously. Some of the tension on his face eased. "Here we are, kids. In you go, hop to it." He opened the door and ushered Ryder and Angel inside, but instead of stepping into an entryway, Angel found herself looking at the inside of the biggest elevator she'd ever seen. The ceiling rose at least ten feet above her. The walls, painted white, were at least seven feet wide on each side. A silver railing ran around three of the walls at waist level. One wall also had a panel of buttons that flashed intermittently, as well as the door. As Tenner closed the door, Angel caught a glimpse of the black-clad man standing in the street, just watching them. When the door clicked into place, Tenner went over to the control panel and pressed a few of the flashing buttons, swearing when his fingers fumbled. Finally, he stepped back, and the elevator jerked into motion. Tenner looked at Angel and then at Ryder. He sighed. "That was Harlem, Angel. You didn't hear it from me, but he's Michael's little brother. He's caused more than his fair share of conflict, up and downstairs." His eyes flickered to Ryder again. "Don't ask me how it all works out. Apparently Harlem's been put in charge of, erm, locating you." Angel felt Ryder's arm hold her tightly to him. "He's a bit of a badass, if you'll pardon my French," Tenner continued. He smirked indelicately. "Then again, so is Blondie here." Angel met his eyes, the humor there making her relax a little bit. "Don't worry, doll. You're safe with us." With that, Tenner stretched out on the floor of the elevator, interlacing his fingers behind his head. Beside her, Ryder moved to do the same. At her questioning glance, he managed a small smile. It was barely a tweak of his mouth and a light in his eyes, but she felt relieved anyway. An angry Ryder was a frightening thing. "It's going to take a while," he said, then pulled her down next to him. Offering no other explanation, he lay on his back and moved Angel's head onto his chest. His hand rested lightly on her stomach. "It's as good a time as any to catch up on rest," he said. Like the last time he'd mentioned sleep, Angel felt her eyes closing. *** She awoke more suddenly this time, when the elevator came to a halt. With a twinge of self-consciousness, she realized that both Ryder and Tenner were awake and standing. Ryder reached out a hand and helped her to her feet. He pushed a stray lock of hair from her face. "We're here." "Heaven?" Ryder's grin was more prominent this time. "The one and only." The elevator door opened then. Ryder took her by the hand. "Come on, Jenna." He led her outside, and she gasped. It was so... so big. Everything. The buildings on either side of the street rose two or three times as high as the skyscrapers in New York that she was used to. They were made of some sort of reddish granite, sparkling in the sun. She shielded her eyes. The sun was brighter here. She continued looking, though. A single building stretched the length of a few city blocks, with doors at least ten feet tall and half that wide. She felt her mouth hanging open a little. "It's all so... big?" she said is an awed voice. Ryder chuckled. "I told you. We don't like confined spaces." Tenner stepped out next to them. His smile was friendly. "Come on, you two. Stop gawking. You look like bloody tourists." Angel smiled. "Well, I am," she said sweetly, directing her smile at Tenner. He just shook his head, although he couldn't hide the grin that popped onto his face. He pointed down the main street, which was the only normal-sized thing Angel could see. "We go thatta-way." *** After what seemed like hours of walking, but couldn't have been more than twenty minutes, Tenner stopped in front of a building. Angel looked it over, noticing the little things that made it different. IT had to cover two or three acres in its entirety, and it was separated slightly from the rest of the buildings. Tenner pushed open the front door, and they stepped inside. The ceiling rose fifteen feet or so, implying there was more than just that one level. Angel realized they'd walked into a giant foyer, or entryway. Passages led off in all directions, winding around until they disappeared into their own pale red curves. Without hesitation, Tenner chose a passage and strode off confidently. Ryder and Angel followed him, the former slightly amused by the sheer look of amazement on Angel's face. Then again, he thought wryly, t's Heaven. Angel chuckled. "It's Heaven," she said. "I'm in Heaven." After the fifth or sixth turn, Angel quit trying to keep track of the path they were following. Not long after that, Tenner stopped in front of a door made of the same pale red granite. He made a mock bow, gesturing at the door. "Your quarters, milord, milady." He laughed, pushing open the door. Angel walked through the doorway, but turned when she heard Ryder's voice. "When do you think?" Tenner shrugged. "No more than a few days. The summons was urgent." Ryder caught Angel's eye and winked. "When Michael wants to see us," he explained. His eyes flickered over her clothing. "And under what conditions." Angel tapped her foot impatiently. "Well? What are you waiting for?" Ryder and Tenner looked at each other, and then back at Angel. "You don't go see Michael dressed like, um, that," Ryder said delicately. She just looked at him. "And besides," Ryder continued, "we can't just walk in. We wait for a summons. When he's ready to see us, he'll let us know." "So we sit around and wait for him?" Ryder's lips curved into a grin. Well, we don't have to sit, he thought. His eyes traveled Angel's figure, feeling himself grow aroused simply by looking at her. "What do you mean, 'we don't have to sit'?" Angel demanded. Her violet eyes blazed. Tenner took an involuntary step back, then paused. "You didn't say..." "I know." Ryder felt a shiver go through his body. "Jenna, I didn't say anything about sitting," he said carefully. She tossed her head. "Yeah, you did. I heard you." Ryder put a hand on her arm. "I didn't say it. I thought it." Angel's eyes went wide. "I... but... I... you..." "I told you the more time you spent with me, the faster your abilities would develop." Tenner coughed. "I have a feeling this, uh, development will get us in to see Michael faster." Ryder nodded, and Tenner left. As soon as he was gone, he felt Angel start to shake. "I heard your thought," she whispered. "That's not normal, Ryder." With a sigh, he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bathroom. She let out a small squeak, but she didn't protest. She was too confused about what was going on. Like the rest of the structures in Heaven, the bathroom was spacious, almost to the point of being cavernous. The ceiling rose twenty or thirty feet above them, it and the walls were painted a soft white that she almost didn't notice. The sinks, shower, toilet, and a bathtub that looked like it could hold fifteen people were all against a wall, leaving a rectangle of space in the middle of the room the size of four or five wrestling mats. Angel looked around in wonder. She'd seen libraries you could get lost in, but never a bathroom. Ryder set her on the edge of the tub and started the water. It instantly formed bubbles. She opened her mouth to say that she didn't need a bath, but Ryder anticipated that. "Jenna, you're going to meet Michael. You know. Michael the Archangel. The one I told you about with the white wings that your kind bases their idea of us on. You're not going to go see him with blood matted in your hair." He stripped her down with quick efficiency, folding her clothes into a pile beside the tub. He tested the water with a finger, and then he helped her into it. With a groan of contentment, she slipped in up to her chin, closing her eyes. It wasn't until she felt Ryder's arm around her waist, pulling her toward him, that she realized he'd joined her in the water. She stiffened. Their rendezvous on the rooftop was one thing. She hadn't planned on being naked with him again... period. End of story. She'd hoped to get some normalcy back in her life, and that didn't involve Mr. Ryder, Guardian Angel. Ryder felt her tense, and reluctantly, he withdrew his arm. "I'm not going to hurt you, Jenna." His kind voice finished her. With a strangled sob, she started crying, crossing her arms on her knees and hiding her face. Her sobs racked her whole body, causing the water around her to ripple. In a moment, Ryder was at her side. He gently turned her so that she was crying into his shoulder. With every sound, his eyes hardened. More than anything, he wanted this girl to be comfortable with him, to feel for him what he was feeling for her. Angel's voice brought him out of his thoughts. "Why weren't you there?" she asked her voice soft, vulnerable. "When Whit..." she choked back another sob. "When Whit was doing those things to me. Why weren't you there?" Her voice tore into his heart. He felt tears coming to his own eyes, and he angrily blinked them away. He breathed out, still holding Angel close to his chest. When he spoke, she felt the vibrations all through her body. "Your life wasn't in danger, so Michael wouldn't let me leave. I tried, you have to believe that. I tried to convince him that someone was hurting you. I could feel it, but he wouldn't let me leave, because he wasn't going to kill you." Windswept Ch. 04 Angel heard the pain in Ryder's voice. "I had to stay here with the knowledge that someone was hurting you badly, and there was nothing I could do about it. I'm so sorry. It was horrible not being able to go to you. I got into a fistfight with Michael more than once. But he wouldn't let me go." Angels sobs had quieted, leaving her with the occasional sniff or choked-off cry. She curled her legs around Ryder's waist, her eyes shut tight. "That means Hornet and Reaper were going to kill me," she managed to say. Ryder felt a shudder go through her body. Then she shook her head and pulled away from him, leaving her legs locked around his waist. She looked him in the eyes, with only traces of the vulnerability he'd heard in her voice left in her face. "You came for me. That's all that matters." Without pausing, she continued, "I want to forget him, Ryder. I want to forget everything he did." She held eye contact with him, and little by little, the steely look in his eyes went away. Ryder cupped the back of her head and pulled her into a soft, tender kiss, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Angel felt his manhood begin to stiffen beneath her. She ground her hips experimentally, rewarded when Ryder groaned in her mouth. She bit down on his lip lightly, feeling him press against her as he lost himself in their kiss and her attention to his growing erection. Then, with a twist of her hips and torso, Angel grabbed Ryder by the shoulders and spun him around, dunking him under the water before he could make a sound. She pushed away from him, taking a deep breath and going underwater herself. Ryder surfaced, sputtering and swearing. His hair lay plastered to his head and he ran a hand through it before shaking like a wet dog. He turned his head, looking for Angel, but before he rose all the way he felt a hand on his thigh. Electricity ran up his leg to his groin as the hand traced circles on the soft flesh of his inner thigh, slowly moving upwards. A finger stroked his balls and he jerked, his cock coming to full attention. Angel surfaced, shaking water from her eyes and then moving him back with a hand on his stomach. She kept her body underwater as he sat on the edge of the tub. Smiling at him, she pushed his knees apart and settled in between them. She ran one of her hands up his torso, circling his shaft with the other. Ryder closed his eyes at her touch, his breath growing shallower. Angel began sliding her hand up and down, using her other hand to touch Ryder's skin just lightly enough to cause goose bumps. As his heart rate increased, Angel pumped faster. "Oh, Jenna," Ryder moaned, his legs jerking involuntarily. He felt himself reaching the edge, but before he lost control, the pressure of Angel's hand left. He was about to open his eyes to see where she had gone when he felt her mouth envelop him. His hips thrust forward as he lost his hand in her hair, all facades of control lost as his cock hit the back of her throat. She pulled back and swirled her tongue around the tip, reaching around to massage his balls with one hand. Ryder knew he didn't have much more left in him. "Jenna," he said, his voice thick and guttural. "I'm going to..." his words faded off into a sound of pure pleasure as she deep-throated him, taking in his entire length until he felt her teeth against his balls. She pulled back and thrust again and Ryder threw his head back with a yell as he came in her throat. She swallowed rapidly, squeezing his balls until he was drained dry. She pulled her head back, licking his shaft clean and swallowing all of his seed. When she finished, she drew him back into the water and lay against him. He wrapped his arms around her and nuzzled against her neck. "You're amazing, love." He kissed her lips, tasting himself on her. He growled deep in his throat, and she giggled. "You can show me how amazing you think I am later," she murmured. "I'm going to fall asleep right here." He slipped an arm under her knees and picked her up, carrying her out of the bathtub. Grabbing a towel off a hook on the wall, he dried her off, starting with her neck and moving down her chest. He lifted her arms and dried them before kneeling to do the same to her legs. As he came up her back, he kissed her shoulder. Stepping back, he quickly did the same to himself. Angel pulled on his shirt and her underwear, watching as Ryder opened a cabinet under the sinks and took out a pair of grey sweatpants. He climbed into them and came back to her, slipping his arm around her waist. "Come on," he said, and led her out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Angel, her eyes drooping, didn't notice the high ceiling and the ornate four-poster bed draped in dark blue shimmery fabric. Supporting Angel with one arm, Ryder flipped back the dark blue sheets with the other. He lifted Angel effortlessly and put her on the bed, slipping in next to her and pulling the sheets over them both. Angel scooted closer to him, curving her back against his stomach and chest. He threw a lazy arm across her frame, inhaling her clean scent. "Goodnight, Jenna," he said quietly. Angel opened her mouth to say the same, but stopped as a thought entered her mind. It was Ryder's. A feeling of pure contentment overwhelmed her, with traces of protectiveness and something between love and infatuation. The strength of his emotions surprised her, but it also put her mind at ease a little bit. Ryder was honest in his apparent devotion to her. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly as she answered, "Goodnight, Ryder." *** Rey stepped away from the outside of Ryder's door, assured that the pair wasn't going to be getting up anytime soon. She muttered something under her breath and walked away. Before she'd taken four steps, a hand took her by the shoulder and turned her. A pair of arms swept her up and a mouth captured hers before she could make a sound. When she was finally released, she drew in a gasping breath and looked up. "Harlem," she said, a smile dancing on her lips. "I wanted to..." He cut her off with another kiss, pushing his tongue into her mouth this time. Rey felt a familiar ache starting between her legs. She met Harlem's tongue with her own, letting out a disappointed cry when he pulled away. "When I get what I need, you will too," he whispered seductively in her ear. The ache grew as she squeezed her legs together. "Michael meets with them tomorrow," she said hurriedly. "He's not sure, but the girl is legit. I heard Tenner trying to convince him of it. She's the one you're looking for." Harlem's eyes seemed to glow red as he processed the information. He patted Rey's head. "Good girl. Tomorrow you'll get your well-deserved reward." His hand stroked down her neck, his fingers dancing on the spot that would make her wings spring open. A corner of his mouth turned up into a smile, but it only made him look more dangerous. "Tomorrow, dearest." With that, Harlem vanished. Windswept Ch. 05 Thanks to my AWESOME editor cannd. And... appologies for being so late with this installment. It took me a while to get the story to flow like I wanted it to. Thank you guys for the favorites, comments, and ratings. Tell me how you like the story!! Feedback makes me write faster :-P *** Angel slid from sleep to consciousness quickly, one moment pleasantly surrounded by her dreams, and the next realizing where she was, and what had woken her. Ryder smirked, running his teeth along her lip. As she leaned against him, she felt his stiff shaft press against her thigh. She returned the smirk, pouting a little. "You woke me up," she complained, raising her arms above her head, stretching. Ryder's shirt rode up around her waist. She knew without looking that he was drinking in the sight of her flat stomach. She sighed contentedly, cuddling back against him. "Sorry, love." His hands ran across her stomach, sending delicious shivers through her body. She grinned, slipping her own hand down his rock hard abs, tickling the skin right above his cock. He huffed against her neck, squirming under her touch. "Tease," he growled. Angel's mouth quirked into a smile. "What are you going to do about it?" She squeaked as Ryder rolled on top of her, pinning her arms to the bed. He leaned down and kissed her, running his tongue over her teeth. He broke the kiss, grinning as her gaze drifted to the tent in his sweats. She raised her leg, pressing her thigh into his crotch. "Like I said," she murmured. "What are you going to do about it?" Ryder scooted back, stripping off his sweats. Angel followed him lazily, crawling on all fours to the edge of the bed before standing herself. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He moaned when she ground her hips into his. Her hands pulled at her panties, and finally Ryder just tore them off her body, throwing the useless scrap against the wall. His cock rubbed against her soaking wet folds, searching for entrance. Angel eased herself down onto him, gasping as he entered her. She was a little sore, but the pain was nowhere near as bad as it was the first time. She settled around him, enjoying the feeling of having him fill her. She squeezed her legs around him, eliciting a sharp, low moan. Ryder pushed her against the wall, pinning her there with his body. In her shock she released her legs a little bit and he thrust deep into her. Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling his head toward her. He eagerly devoured her skin as he thrust, biting and licking her neck. There would be marks there later, but neither of them cared. They marked her as his and only his. Angel's fingers dug into his shoulder as she moaned deliciously. She started meeting his thrusts with her own, little pleasured sounds coming from her every time their movements caused little shots of electricity to run up her spine. "Oh, Ryder, God, I'm com-ming..."" The sound of his name pushed him over the edge. She came milliseconds before him, the spams of her orgasm milking him dry. For a long time they just stood there, pressed against each other, Angel impaled on his cock. Only when he started to go soft did he let her down, both their knees shaking. He wrapped her up in a hug, burying his face in her hair. "Mm. You smell nice." She giggled. "I smell like you." "Good," he said in a very self-satisfied way. Angel slipped out of his embrace, laughter shining in her eyes. "No, not good." She tugged the sheet off the bed, wrapping it around herself. "I like how I smell." She stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm going to go take a shower. You said something about not going to see Michael looking like I did." She paused, looking down at herself in exaggerated shock. She pulled the sheet tighter. "What am I supposed to wear?" Ryder climbed into his pants. "I'll send someone in with something." Angel disappeared into the bathroom, and Ryder stepped outside. He grabbed one of the many servants rushing around and asked her to bring some clothes to his room. The servant nodded, her hair falling over her face, and wordlessly walked away. Some memory tickled in the back of his mind, but he couldn't place it. Rey had no such problem. Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked away from Ryder. She forced herself to stay calm, but he hadn't recognized her at all. "Bastard," she thought. He'd remembered her when he was screwing her every night, but he hadn't called her to his room in weeks. Now she knew why. He'd replaced her with a human, one he'd convinced with some story about a Bond. Rey fumed quietly, biding her time. She found an appropriate dress, a sky-blue draping thing with no back and a leather belt that went around the waist. She took it back to Ryder's room and walked in without knocking. She heard the shower going and realized that the human was inside there. She went to lay the dress on the bed, pausing only momentarily at the sight of the rumpled sheets. Then she went over to knock on the door. "Ryder?" came Angel's voice from inside. Rey stifled the urge to scream at the woman. "No, miss, I brought you some clothes." The sounds of the shower ceased and a few moments later, Angel's head peaked out from behind the door. She gave Rey a once-over, still glowing from her tussle with Ryder but not willing to ignore her instincts completely. She didn't trust the girl. "Thanks," Angel said. When Rey didn't move, she continued, "Is there anything else?" Rey forced herself to smile. "I'll help you get ready." Angel shook her head. "That's all right. I can manage." Rey considered pushing the subject, but Angel didn't look like a pushover. She bowed her head and turned to leave. Angel watched her, but had a thought. "What's your name?" "Rey," she answered. Angel dressed and readied herself best she could, finishing just minutes before Ryder came back. He was wearing a pair of black slacks and a pressed violet button down shirt. Her eyes roved over his body, a small smile dancing on her lips. "You look good." She held out her hand and Ryder spun her around slowly. His hand came to rest on the small of her back, pulling her into him. He kissed her lightly. "You're beautiful, as always." His hand crept up her back, coming to rest on the clasp of her dress. He latched it with one hand. "Hmm. Didn't someone come to help you get ready?" Angel tensed. "I didn't like her. She... I don't know. She wasn't good." Ryder made a noise against Angel's neck. "Who was she?" "She said her name was Rey." Angel felt Ryder stiffen. "She's someone to you," she said said quietly. "That's why she didn't like me." "Used to be someone," Ryder said gruffly. He drew back, holding Angel at arm's length. "Used to be. Before." He slipped his arm around her shoulders and led her out of the room and down the hallway. Slightly surprised at his unwillingness to talk about it, Angel didn't say anything else. They came to a gigantic door, a double oak paneled thing with exquisite engravings carved in it. Ryder pushed it open and Angel followed him into a huge room. It was mostly empty, occupied only by a solitary man pacing at the other side. When they walked in, he stopped and turned, and Angel caught sight of his wings. She drew in a breath involuntarily. His wings were bigger than Ryder's, stretching nearly fourteen feet behind him, and they were pure white. She felt her jaw go slack as she took in the rest of him. His features were chiseled, almost hard to look at. While there was softness in the way Ryder looked at her, there was no emotion or warmth in this angel's gaze. His brief glance at her was cold, sending unpleasant shivers down her spine. Ryder motioned at the angel. "Jenna, this is Michael. Michael, meet my..." he paused for a second. Then he smiled at her. "My Bond. My Jenna." Michael looked at her again, his cold grey eyes scanning her with a thoroughness that made her flinch. He snorted, looking back at Ryder. "You're not lying about the Bond, but you could do better." Both Angel and Ryder tensed. Ryder took a step forward as a smirk cracked Michael's face. "Take a joke," Michael said. He motioned at a set of stuffed chairs Angel hadn't noticed before. "Have a seat. We need to talk." Angel stuck to Ryder as they went over to the chairs. When he sat, he pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms around her frame and holding her close to him. Her scent hit his nose, making a small smile creep across his face. Angel relaxed a little bit. Michael perched on the edge of his chair, his fingers making a steeple under his chin. "Let's start with the basics. The Bond is a connection between two sentient beings, most commonly angels. We don't know the origins, but it creates a fierce sense of loyalty, love, and trust, as well as increasing sexual appetites in both parties." Angel blushed, dropping her head. Ryder kissed her neck, never taking his eyes from Michael. "Ok, but that's not it." "It's rare," Michael continued. "The only other time I've seen it was in my own parents." He paused. "Harlem and I were the products of that Bond." Ryder nodded. "What about Jenna?" "When the Bond happens between a human and an angel, the human starts developing some angelic qualities." He looked at Ryder. "Your influence on conscious thought, Tenner's ability to read the body... these have no doubt affected her." Michael paused. "Have you noticed anything in her behavior?" Slightly miffed that Michael was talking about her like she wasn't there, Angel answered, "Yes. I've been catching thoughts." Michael met Ryder's eyes. "That's why the daemons want her, and that's why we have to protect her." Without taking a breath, he went on. "I secured a safe-house for her. I'll need to take her there as soon as possible." Ryder's arms tightened around Angel. "I can take her there, thanks." Michel's lips curved into a smirk again, and he shook his head. "Your mind will be the first Harlem scours. Your knowledge and presence will put her at risk. My mind is illegible, however. Your Jenna won't even able to penetrate it at the height of her ability. I will keep her safe until the issue is resolved." Ryder let out a low, quiet growl. Angel was sure only she had heard it. She pressed closer to him, taking his hand in hers. "Sorry I'm causing so much trouble," she whispered in his ear. He pulled her against him and she laid her head on his shoulder. "I'll do anything to protect you. I love you, Jenna." Her breath hitched, but before she could answer, Michael cut in. "Would you mind me talking to her for a few minutes, alone?" he asked Ryder. His tone didn't welcome argument. Ryder hugged Angel tightly. "I'll wait outside," he said. He met her eyes, and she hoped he could see her answer in them. He smiled and walked out the door. Tenner waited for him outside. He looked out of breath. "Blondie, you're not going to believe this. It's a reading I just got from Angel." Ryder immediately focused on Tenner. "What's wrong with..." Tenner grinned, clapping Ryder on the back. "Relax, nothing's wrong. Congrats, man. She's pregnant." Ryder's mouth opened and closed a few times as he looked back at the closed door. "Does she know yet?" The red-head shrugged. "Don't know. I don't think so. It's only been a few days. But I can read it." "Pregnant," Ryder repeated. Windswept Ch. 06 Once again, thanks to my editor cannd for helping me out on this chapter. She makes it possible for the stuff in my head to appear here in a somewhat coherent format. Keep commenting! I swear, they're addictive. They boost my little writer's ego. So here's chapter 6. Enjoy. :) ~indiglowblue ***** Rey watched Ryder and Tenner from the shadows, biding her time. She could take them one at a time, but not both of them at once. They would overpower her and the mission would fail. She approached slowly, a chloroform-soaked rag in her pocket. Ryder just stood there, shaking his head while Tenner was grinning madly. In other words, Rey thought, things were normal. She tapped Tenner on the arm. "Niccole requested you attend her," she said demurely. Tenner's eyes lit up and Ryder gave him a knowing look. Ryder's eyes flickered over her and this time she knew that he recognized her, but he still didn't say anything. "I'd say I'd stay," Tenner said, winking, "but I'd be lying." He looked back at Rey. "Where is she?" "Follow me," Rey said. Tenner did, and as soon as they'd gotten out of Ryder's earshot she let herself stumble and fall against the wall, letting out a cry as she did so. Tenner turned immediately to help her, opening his mouth to ask her if she was ok. Rey pressed the rag again his mouth, slamming him up against the wall. She threw all of her strength into the motion, bloodying his nose in the process. Tenner's eyes went wide. He struggled, but the chloroform acted too quickly. He went limp, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. Rey lowered him to the ground, taking a moment to check his pulse before tucking the rag back into her pocket. She rested against the wall for a moment, collecting her wits. She didn't know how she was going to handle Ryder yet. For not the first time, she wished she had someone to help her. "Dammit, Harlem. I could use you right now." She pushed off from the wall and into his arms. She gasped. She hadn't actually expected him to show up, not yet. Not until both Ryder and Tenner were incapacitated. She melted against him, breathing in his scent that was smoky and spicy at the same time. Harlem kissed her neck before untangling himself. He glanced at Tenner's motionless form. "Good girl, Rey." He stroked her face. "One more, doll. Come on, you can do it." He winked at her, and then he vanished. Rey swallowed, steeling herself. She walked back to where Ryder was, but before she got there, she saw Harlem appear in front of the blond angel. "Hey, good looking, miss me?" Ryder leapt to his feet, and Harlem back away, positioning the target so that his back was to Rey. The girl understood. As silently as possible, she crept forward, the rag in her hand. "Leave her the fuck alone," Ryder growled. "You'll have me to answer to. You're smart enough to know that isn't a good thing." Harlem laughed, his brown eyes twinkling. He winked again, and Rey took the signal. She jumped, wrapping her legs around Ryder's waist and pressing the rag against his mouth. He sucked in a deep breath to yell, but he never made the sound. Rey slid off his back as he slumped to the ground. Harlem plucked the rag from her fingers. As soon as it was in his hand, it caught on fire, burning to ashes in seconds. He rubbed his fingers together, wrinkling his nose as he cleaned the ashes from his hand. Rey let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. All of a sudden her knees were shaky, and her head was spinning. Her heart beat a tattoo on the inside of her chest, loud enough that Harlem threw her a glance. "You ok there?" Rey nodded. She willed the anxiety attack to go away, and little by little, the tremors subsided. She gave Harlem a shaky smile, and he swept her up into a hug, crushing his lips against hers. She yielded to his exploring tongue, needing him desperately. He chuckled softly, breaking the kiss. "You were perfect, Rey. Stay with me, huh? Just a little bit longer. Then..." his lips trailed across her cheek and down her neck. She bit back a groan. "Okay. But remember, you promised." He nuzzled against her, breathing against her skin. "Don't worry, doll. I remember." *** Michael studied her for a moment, his eyes resting on her face. Angel defiantly held his gaze until he chuckled and leaned back. "Jenna McCallum, now where do I start with you." Angel flinched at the sound of her real name. She didn't say anything when Ryder called her Jenna, but it wasn't endearing or even tolerable from Michael. The way he said it was taunting. He shook his finger at her. "You're very important, you know. Much more important than you can comprehend. For that reason you must be kept very, very safe." He leaned back, his fingers in a steeple. "I've enlisted someone to help us keep you like that." His eyes flickered to the door, pausing. Then he smiled. Angel felt a somewhat familiar presence, but it wasn't comforting at all. She riveted her eyes on Michael, trying to swallow, but finding that her throat was suddenly very dry. She flinched as a hand came down to rest on her shoulder, gently stroking the skin of her neck. "Her power's getting stronger," Harlem said. His hand trailed down to cup her breast. When she flinched and pulled away he laughed, squeezing it before straightening himself and walking over to Michael. Michael's eyes flickered from Harlem to Angel. Harlem just look confused for a moment, and then he nodded as if realizing something. He winked at Angel, or rather at the space behind her. Before the girl could move, Rey pressed a second chloroform-soaked rag against her mouth. Angel slumped in seconds, her head lolling against the armrest. "Excellent," Michael said, "although you took your sweet time. The boys?" "Taken care of," Harlem answered smoothly. "I cover my bases, brother." Michael rose and stretched, his wings rustling behind him. "Very good. Yes, she is getting stronger. It's bothersome. I could feel her assaults on my mind." He paused. "Make sure she isn't given to anyone who knows anything. It could be disastrous for us." "She will be acclimated with someone completely random," Harlem assured him. "Then we will turn her. All in due time, of course." Michael rolled his neck and motioned at Rey. "Make it look real, yes?" Harlem cracked a grin. He sprang immediately, knocking Michael to the ground and slamming his head against the floor. Rey cried out involuntarily, but Harlem was already gently checking his brother's pulse. He tapped the archangel's cheek lightly and stood. "You'll have one hell of a headache when you wake up." Harlem's eyes slowly wandered over to Rey. She shivered. He was undressing her with those eyes. "Come here," he said, and Rey found herself obeying. Harlem kissed her roughly, tearing her off-white dress from her shoulders. Rey flinched, but she was too caught up in the sensation of his hands on her breasts. She moaned in his mouth, pressing herself to him. She fumbled with the button on his pants and he laughed. "You're so eager," he said quietly, licking her lower lip. Rey squeezed her thighs together. His voice aroused her and she couldn't help the wetness that was pooling in her nether regions. Harlem let his pants slip down his hips. His erection pressed against Rey's bare belly, rubbing his pre-cum into her skin. She made a whimpering sound, unable to form words. She wanted him so badly. He lay her down on the ground, straddling her waist and licking and sucking at her neck. The sight of her naked body made the daemon side of him rear up, but he suppressed it. Rey had never seen him in it. He was afraid he would scare her too much, which wouldn't work at all. She was too good a piece of tail to let go. He cupped one of her breasts in his hand, massaging it while he continued to lathe her neck with his tongue. His cock nudged at her entrance and she moaned, pushing her hips toward him. He growled against her neck, his knees spreading her legs. He felt his fangs lengthen and he growled again, brushing them against her neck. Rey shivered as his teeth brushed her skin. His body felt incredibly hot against hers, and the way he was rubbing against her wasn't lessening any of the sensations. She let out a moan and felt him tense. A moment later, something tickled her sex, rubbing into her folds until it found her clit. She bucked underneath him, crying out in pleasure. Her thoughts of how he was doing that when both his hands were on her breasts fled as she rocked against him. Harlem felt his tail curve out of his body, flicking around in the air before it buried itself in Rey's warm wet folds. He gave up fighting for control and gave in to his daemon. With a feral growl he thrust into her, burying himself balls-deep inside her pussy. Rey screamed but his mouth captured the sound. His fangs pulled at her bottom lip, drawing blood as he pulled out all the way. She whimpered, both at the pain of his bite and the emptiness in her. The sound pushed him over the edge, and he started pounding into her, crushing her mouth against his in a brutal kiss. His tail flicked over her clit in a slow, continuous motion that clashed with his frenzied thrusts. His hands ran over her whole body, leaving a trail of fire wherever they went. Her body felt like it was going to explode. She tangled her hands in his hair, wanting more, needing more. As Harlem felt himself reaching his climax, he pulled out of her and pulled her torso up. Without pausing, his fingers found her clit and started rubbing earnestly. His eyes met hers and she took the hint, sinking down and enveloping his throbbing length with her mouth. Harlem groaned. His tail, almost having a mind of its own, snaked down around Rey's back and in between her ass cheeks. Her breath hitched and her mouth tightened around his cock. That finished him. His hips bucked as he shot ropes of hot, thick cum into the back of her throat. His finger pressed down hard on her clit at the same time his tail wiggled into her tight puckered hole, and she came with a pleasure that sent tremors up her whole body. She convulsed around his cock, swallowing all she could while in the throes of her orgasm. His cum leaked from the corners of her mouth and down her chin. Harlem came down from his high, his breathing ragged and his eyes still mostly black with arousal. He silently watched Rey lick his cock clean and wipe the little white trails down her chin off with her hand. Her eyes on him, she licked her fingers clean, taking more time sucking each digit that she needed to. He smiled thinly. She was a good fuck. What he was about to do almost pained him, if only because he hated to lose such a delectable piece of ass. He dressed quickly, finishing before she did. With two strides he was next to Angel's unconscious form. He let his eyes wander over her. He had to hand it to Ryder, the man had good taste. It was too bad she was off-limits for him. His mouth turned into a dangerous smile. For now, at least. He picked her up, holding her slim form easily in his arms. Rey watched him uncertainly, the first inklings of fear crossing her face. "Harlem?" she asked quietly, sounding more demure than she'd intended. He took a step back. "Sorry, doll. You see, you're a liability." He frowned. "You're also fucking clingy, you know that? Anyways, you bog me down." He hefted Angel's form. "And as you can see, I've got myself a girl now." Rey's eyes went wide, and she screamed, "But you promised! You promised to get me out of here!" Harlem chuckled coldly. "And you trusted me, doll. Tough luck." Then he vanished, taking Angel with him. Windswept Ch. 07 Here's the next installment! Thanks for being patient. Annnd, thanks to my marvelous editor cannd. Keep the comments, ratings, and favorites coming! They make me happy :) ~indiglowblue * Angel woke with a gasp as she was jostled roughly. She immediately realized that her hands were tied behind her back, and when she tried to swear aloud, she discovered she was gagged, as well. She could hear voices, and feel a pair of arms carrying her, but she couldn't see. It took her a minute to realize she was blindfolded too. She groaned, and whoever was carrying her stopped. "The minx is awake!" he shouted, and dumped Angel unceremoniously on the ground, knocking the breath from her. She breathed hard, but the gag prevented her getting a full breath in. She started to panic, thrashing in her bonds. "Aw, fuck." The gag was torn from her mouth, and she sucked in a long, deep breath. "Let me go," she hissed. The man, who by his voice she now recognized as Harlem, laughed. "Why would I do that? You were enough trouble to get down here." He paused. "Give her one to herself. I don't want her touched." Another pair of hands hauled her to her feet. Angel stumbled forward, and then she heard the unmistakable sound of a metal door being slammed closed. "Fuck you, Harlem!" she shouted. "Ryder's going to murder you!" She heard him murmur, and someone laughed. "You'll be able to soon enough, Angel," he laughed. "As for your concern for my state of health, I'm very touched. I assure you I'm very safe. Ryder isn't going to find me, and he most definitely will not find you. Now, try to get some sleep. It won't do for you to have dark circles under your eyes during your auction." His last word sent a tremor through Angel's body. Auction? She was going to be sold? She swallowed a cry of despair that rose in her throat. Ryder would rescue her. He had to. She forced her trembling limbs to still. "Ryder," she whispered, "Ryder, I need you." *** Ryder's head was still foggy from the chloroform. His eyes would cross themselves from time to time, and if he wasn't careful, the whole world would spin and he'd almost pass out again. Even with all of that, he was up on his feet, beginning to search every possible place that damned girl could be. He had no qualms about what he would do to Rey when he found her. It was going to be long and painful. *** He slammed a closet door closed in frustration. Rey was doing a good job of staying hidden, and it was fucking annoying him. She knew what Harlem was up to, and she knew he needed that information. She'd be fucking lucky if he didn't rip her wings right out of her back. Turning, he saw Tenner walk around the corner. The younger man shrugged. "Not hide, nor hair," he said despondently. He let out a frustrated sound. "She's still here. I can feel her. But we can't find her!" Ryder rubbed his eyes, and Tenner's face changed. "You haven't slept since Angel went missing, Blondie. You can't keep this up." As much as Ryder didn't want to admit it, Tenner was right. The older angel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Two hours. Come wake me up in two hours, ok?" Tenner nodded, and Ryder walked off to his room. In the three days since Harlem had kidnapped Jenna, he hadn't entered that room. All it did was remind him that she wasn't in his bed with him at night. But Tenner had been right. If he was going to be any good at finding anybody, he needed to get some rest. As soon as his body hit the mattress, he was unconscious. *** Angel was pissed off. When someone finally came to collect her, days after she'd been put in the cell, she front-kicked him in the balls, whipping the handcuffs around his neck and cuffing him to the bars of her cell door. "Fucking idiot," she said in his face. "I'm from New York." She walked away from the cell and stopped. "Harlem, now. Get your ass down here." When the placid-looking man appeared in front of her, she lashed out with a back fist, breaking his nose. While he clutched his face, she said, "You better hope to God that Ryder or I never get our hands on you. I'd say I'd kill you, but I'm afraid death would be too fucking easy." She breathed deeply as three daemons appeared behind Harlem. "Your backup's here." Harlem waved them off, pushing his nose back into place. He shook himself, standing up straight and wiping his bloody hands on his shirt. "Your point is crystal clear, Jenna," he said calmly, sounding only slightly nasal. "I regret to be the one to tell you that you will belong to one of us very shortly. Anyway, it's been three days. Shouldn't your prince have come for you by now?" She didn't show it, but his words cut her deep. She did wonder why Ryder hadn't come for her yet, but she assumed he had a good reason. She lifted her head proudly. "Keep deluding yourself, Hell-Boy. It will make it that much easier to take you." Harlem laughed, and Angel allowed him to grab her arm, leading her away from the cells. For the first time, she got a good look at her surroundings, which, she considered, was Hell. The walls were smooth and black, almost glossy, and the floor was tiled with alternating shades of red tile. It was less spacious than Heaven. Apparently, daemons dealt better with small spaces. Harlem led her through a series of hallways, finally coming to stop in a large room, almost like an auditorium. The stage was to the left, filled with people milling about. Angel swallowed. Every one of them had red-tinted skin, fangs, and a tail. She was cruelly outnumbered. He pushed her up the stairs onto the stage and through the crowd to a room offstage. There were three other girls in the room, cowered in a corner. One was sobbing quietly. With quiet relief, Angel realized that they were all human. "Stay here," Harlem muttered, and closed the door behind him, locking her inside. As she looked over the girls, she realized that they were wearing only the skimpiest of clothes that barely covered their breasts and pubic areas. She felt uncomfortably overdressed, as she still wore the long blue dress she'd gone to see Michael in. She knelt next to one of the girls who wasn't crying, holding out her hand. "I'm Angel," she said, smiling in a friendly way. The girl eyed her uncertainly, and then shook her hand. "Tara," she said in a small voice. She motioned at the other two girls. "This is Taylor and McKenzie." "Tara, do you know why they have us in here?" At Angel's words, McKenzie broke into a fresh bout of tears. Tara bit her lip. "Yeah. We're going to be sold. Auctioned off to become slaves," she added helpfully. Angel nodded slowly, sinking against the wall. Ryder, she thought, Ryder, please, I need you. *** She stroked his face, looking down at him with those big deep blue eyes full of lust. "I missed you," she murmured. Ryder sat up and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close against him. He sighed deeply against her neck. He realized he was dreaming... but it was too good to have Jenna back in his arms. He kissed her mouth, gently nibbling on her lip. In response, she curled her legs around his waist. "Please," she whispered, "Please baby, fuck me." Ryder growled, whipping her around so that he was on top of her. Paying little attention to her clothes, he tore them away, leaving her perfect little body bare to his blazing eyes. She smiled up at him and spread her legs. Ryder didn't need another hint. With another almost feral growl, he thrust forward, completely encasing his hard shaft inside her. She barely had time to cry out before he was pounding into her. He threw inhibition to the wind, allowing himself to use her in a way he would never dare to in a state of consciousness. His hands grabbed her breasts, squeezing them almost painfully as he felt his cock swell inside her. "I'm going to fucking cum inside you," he hissed. She was beyond words, her eyes almost rolling into the back of her head. At his words, though, she locked her legs behind his back and met one of his thrusts. With a loud cry, Ryder came. She bucked underneath him as her own orgasm swept through her, intensified by his hot cum spurting into her womb. As his pleasure receded, Ryder collapsed next to her, kissing her mouth. "Thank you," he whispered huskily. She just smiled and got to her feet. She started walking to the door, and then stopped. Ryder's eyes were already closing as he turned to get one last glance at her, but what he saw made him sit bolt upright. "You bitch," he hissed. Rey just smiled. "You forgot my power over the unconscious mind? Hmm. That's too bad." Naked as he was, Ryder leapt up from the bed and stalked over to her, slamming her against the wall. He realized that he was very awake. His hand encircled her small throat and squeezed. "Where is she?" Rey struggled for air. Her mouth opened. "Can't... tell..." He relaxed his grip slightly. "Tell me. Now. And I might not break your neck." "Hell," Rey whimpered. Her eyes were big and scared. She hadn't expected that Ryder would actually wake up. She swallowed. Well, at least this time she had a plan. Tenner burst through the door unceremoniously. "I heard you yell..." he began, and then saw Rey. His face hardened. *** Angel remained mute as a daemon entered the room and gave her a once-over. He shook his head. "Take it off," he said, motioning at her dress. Far beyond large outward signs of defiance, Angel held his gaze while she undressed, glowering as he smirked at the sight of her naked form. He tossed her some clothing similar to what the other three girls were wearing, a red tube that barely covered her breasts and a matching pair of lacy panties. Then he motioned for them all to get up. "Show's on," he said, his fangs flashing. He led them back through the hallway to a place backstage. "You four, stay here. Got that?" They nodded silently. Angel kept her face emotionless, but her stomach was fluttering. She was beyond scared. Her terror snuck into her very bones and seeded itself deep inside in her mind. She was going to be sold to a daemon and... "I'm going to die," the girl called McKenzie groaned. She slid down against the wall, hugging her knees to her chest. Angel opened her mouth to comfort her, but at that moment sounds started coming from the stage. "I don't do introductions boys, so without any fucking small-talk, our first girl. Taylor?" Taylor turned white and stopped breathing. A daemon woman grabbed her arm and pushed her out onto the stage. "Get out there! They called you!" Angel heard cheers and whistles, and then the announcer said, "Let's start off with four for her!" The price, though what they were using for money, Angel had no idea, quickly rose to twelve and stopped there, and Taylor was sold to number 386. McKenzie, the sobbing girl, went next. She sold for eight to a number 777. "This one's a real riot, boys. Angel, honey, come out and give us a show." Angel swallowed. Tara gave her a reassuring look as she walked out onto the stage. The lights blinded her at first, but she could hear the catcalls and whoops quite clearly. The announcer, a daemon with a long, flicking red tail, beckoned her over. "That's a doll. Fucking look at her! She even looks like an Angel! Can we start her out at seven?" Her price almost immediately rose to thirteen, and then steadily climbed to eighteen. With a start Angel realized that one of the daemons bidding for her was the same one she'd handcuffed to her cell door. Oh gods, she thought, please, please not him. "Forty-six." The crowd fell silent, and the announcer scanned the faces. "Forty-six? Who said that? Show yourself if you're serious, man!" Angel searched the crowd too, until she saw a daemon holding up a sign with 914 written on it. She couldn't see his face very well, but the announcer seemed satisfied. "Sold, for forty-six years!" Had she heard him correctly? Years? Angel was taken off the stage in a haze, barely seeing where she was going. The stagehand finally led her to a room with two doors and one chair. "There you go, Angel. Enjoy." He winked, and then he was gone. Not too long after, one of the doors opened, and the daemon with the number 914 came in. He was mostly in human form. Only his long red tail, whisking across the floor slowly behind him, betrayed his real heritage. His face was angular and clean-cut, with a five o'clock shadow that matched the color of his charcoal hair. He stood tall, taller than six feet. Angel felt her hope beginning to fade. The daemon held out his hand. "Don't be scared of me, please," he said softly. "I'm not going to hurt you." He waited until she had steeled herself enough to shake his hand. A small smile turned the corners of his lips. "Nice to meet you, Angel. I'm Faust." With his name, Angel caught a wave of his thoughts. Curiosity mixed in with shards of regret and traces of adrenaline. She met his eyes, confused. "Come with me. I'll explain." Angel barely had time to register that his lips hadn't moved before he had slipped an arm around her waist and was leading her down another set of hallways. His hand felt hot on the bare skin of her stomach, making her press against him. If he noticed, he didn't seem to mind. "Where are we?" Faust ignored her question. They stopped in front of a door which Faust opened, ushering Angel inside. There were two rooms, a small bedroom with a bed and a desk, and a bathroom with a shower. He closed the door and turned toward her. Angel took a step back, suddenly very aware that she was very alone with him. He stopped moving and waved a hand. "Relax. I don't want that from you. I lean the other way." He watched her until he knew she understood. "But... why did you buy me?" Faust motioned to the bed. "Have a seat." She did, but he stayed standing. "I'm a telepath, like you. There aren't many of us, but I can feel one from miles away. Your thoughts are going off like radar pings. Which, by the way, you'll need to fix. This guy Ryder isn't going to hear them, and they're driving me bat-shit." He barely paused. "Don't look surprised. Don't even think about it. Just accept it." "Ryder will come for me," Angel said, though it sounded more like a hiss. Faust waved his hand again as he started pacing. "Yeah, I know. He's already on his way. It takes a while to get from the Bronx to Las Vegas." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. "You really don't know much, do you?" Angel just shrugged helplessly. "This guy is going to bust you out. He's just pissed off enough that he actually might. When he gets here... if he does, I want out too." Just as Angel started forming the her thoughts about his selfish character, he added, "And frankly, Angel, the rest of them would tear you apart, knowing whose you are. I don't have much of a conscience left, but letting them do that would weigh heavily on it." "Thank you," was all Angel could manage to say. *** "Are you sure this was a good idea?" Harlem waved his hand. "She'll be lost in the crowd, Michael. He'll never find her."