Page 79 of Heavensent & Hellbent

“We’re not them,” he interrupted, something like fire in his dark eyes, but it was almost like he was saying it to convince himself. And perhaps he was. Perhaps I should go along with it—for him. Besides, what was the alternative? Accepting our fate and drowning in hopelessness? We would try, and we would die trying for a different outcome, the odds painfully against us.

“Kiss me,” I found myself saying.

Zain wasted no time, like he had been waiting for me to say those words. He pressed his lips to mine, his hands raised to my cheeks as he cupped my face. I opened my mouth for him and our tongues meeting only made me want more. I found myself walking backward until the back of my knees hit the edge of his bed.

I should have been self-conscious, like I had been all my life around boys. And yet, I felt comfortable with Zain. More than that—confident in myself. I lay on the bed with Zain on top ofme. My mouth watered as I reached for the hem of his T-shirt and pulled it off, running my hands down his smooth, broad back, feeling the hard, raised areas where his wings emerged. He shivered against my touch, and it was wild to me that he responded to me the same way I did him.

He hovered over me, and I pressed myself into him, not wanting there to be any distance between us.

“I can’t think properly around you,” he murmured, skimming his nose against mine.

“Is that a bad thing?”

He shook his head, his pupils dilated. The moment too still.

His lips found mine again, though this kiss was deeper, his tongue exploring mine. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and he pressed some of his body weight against me, only slightly, his arms caging me in on the bed.

His hair was all messed up, contrasting with the hardness of his strong body. His muscles rippled as he held himself up, and I briefly wondered if he looked the way he did because he was an angel, whether it was part of their genetics or from his training. Either way, I couldn’t help but marvel at him—that this boy’s soul was somehow bonded to mine.

He kissed my jaw, my neck, just beneath my ear, his trail of kisses running my breath ragged. I had never wanted someone this badly before and I think I must have said what I was thinking because he paused, still with that intoxicated look in his eyes.

“We should probably slow down,” he whispered, with difficulty.

“No thanks,” I breathed.

“Isn’t this why we’re being kept apart?” He rested his forehead against mine, rationale rearing its ugly head yet again.

“I want you.”

“You have me,” he said, eyes locking with mine, snatching my breath as he said, “I’m yours.”

Then he kissed me again, his tongue caressing mine in a way that turned me into a pool of need.

“Whenever I kiss you, I feel like I’m dying,” he whispered, drawing back.

“I make you feel like you’re dying when we kiss?” I quirked an eyebrow.

“It’s too good,” he clarified, before closing the gap between us and robbing me of my breath. And I understood, then, what he meant.

34

“If we were just two human teenagers dating, what would be the first thing you’d do?” I asked Zain later that morning. We were in his car, headed to a gas station so Zain could fill up his tank before we grabbed some breakfast. Zain had washed my clothes so they smelled like whatever detergent he uses. I breathed the scent in deeply. I’d slept soundly in his arms for a few hours, the souls of my past selves sighing at the peace of us being together, for now. Castiel had new information to share with Zain—and while I wanted to go along, I had a shift at the bookstore. And anyway, I hated being around Castiel. I’d rather have whatever he said be relayed to me by Zain.

I wasn’t sure, though, if the outside threats being so quiet was a sign that something was brewing—or whether the potion was really working. It would wear off soon, and we needed a plan. But the Jinn King…his silence was a red flag.

“I’d take you out on a date,” he said in answer to my question.

“Where?”

He thought for a moment. “There’s this incredible Iranian American fusion place in Boulder. Then I’d take you mini-golfing. I think you’d pretend to hate it but enjoy it, like the hike we did.”

“Very true.”

“And then maybe a drive-in movie with lots of popcorn. I’d use the movie as an opportunity for us to make out, before dropping you home by ten p.m. so your dad wouldn’t freak out.”

“You’re so chivalrous,” I joked to mask the sadness I felt knowing we’d never have that. We’d always be looking over our shoulders, unless we solved the issue of everyone wanting to kill us. A small task, I know.

“What about you?” he asked.