Hope in Love (11 page)

“What are you doing here?” Ram was in no mood for bullshit
but it sat on his patio in the form of one of the nastiest motherfuckers he’d
encountered.

“My, my,” Uriel said. “And you think I’m nasty.”

“Uri, I don’t have time for your crap. Stay out of my mind.
What
do
you want?”

“Where’s Osce?”

“How the fuck should I know?”

Ram should have known. But right now he didn’t care. He’d
swept Yael from the dance floor and returned to his bed without thinking about
the other couple. Osce would take care of Patricia. There was no question about
that. Only problem was how might he do it. Not any worse than Peter, that’s for
sure.

His concern was how to get Yael back. Into his home and his
bed. Shit, what a mess. Why couldn’t he leave it alone? She did have a right to
friends of her own but not like the bastard who hit on her at the club. He’d collected
from his mind every detail of what he wanted to do to his sweet Yael. And Ram
would have none of it. It was what every man would want to do with her and he
couldn’t stop it.

She belonged to him.

When had he started to feel that way? He was aware of how
Michael and the Father felt about angels meshing with anything other than
another angel. That alone should have stopped him from losing control.

It didn’t matter now. She was gone.

Why in the Lord’s name did he give her the power to
dematerialize? Sooner or later she was bound to use it. Ram just never thought
she would use it to escape him. Especially after the way she’d been tonight.

God, he never imagined Yael could be so damn good that he’d
be unable to pull out. His cock had found a home and it didn’t want to move.
Even now it jumped against his leg as he thought about her. In a million years
he wouldn’t have believed she could be so fierce in bed. Yael had taken him.
And he loved it.

He needed to get her back.

“Ramiel, tell me you have not meshed with an exulted?”

“Shut. The. Fuck. Up.” Ram’s voice was so low, so full of
menace that Uriel sat back in his chair with a look of pure fear. He wasn’t
afraid of Ramiel. They were on equal footing as far as strength and magic.

What caused the fear in his eyes was the fact that this
archangel would tear the world asunder to have the woman he’d carelessly fallen
for.

Thing was, Uri didn’t think Ram knew it. Yet.

The Great Whore was done for.

He smiled, knowing many angels would be pleased to have that
information. Including himself. He never did understand why all women fell at
this one’s feet. What was special about him? Shit, he almost wanted to check it
out firsthand. His body stirred at the idea but Ram wouldn’t stand for that. He
doubted if anyone could have Ram like that ever again.

Unless their name was Yael.

“How did you break my shield anyway?” Ram asked, calmer now.

“I’ve never known you to be so sloppy with your protection
before. What’s happened to you?”

Uri wanted to hear him say it. Ahh, the fun he’d have with
this information. Michael and the Father would be pissed. And so was he. The
last thing he needed was more Nephilim bastards using the Earth as a
playground. He already had enough trouble with them and Luke.

What were the Fates up to this time? It had something to do
with Gabe and EZ for sure. But what? Uri would keep a close eye on the outcome
of these events.

Whenever the angels fucked up, he got stuck with the
fallout. Usually in the form of some crazy-ass being that would end up on his
end of the spectrum to be dealt with.

Repentance wasn’t easy to come by from him these days. Tired
of the crap from above, Uri had begun to flex his own muscle. Michael always
seemed too busy lately to offer assistance. Shit, Luke wreaked havoc on earth
and he was the only one left to handle it. Which reminded him of why he was there.

“Look, Ram, you got a serious problem, my friend. You know
it won’t be long before Michael is aware of what’s happened. I’d suggest you
take care of it, and fast. Meanwhile, where is Osce? Something’s come up and I
need him, like now.”

“My lord and master, how can I fucking serve you now?” Osce’s
eyes gleamed with hatred when he appeared on the patio with Patricia, who
scurried away like a scared rabbit to hide inside Ram’s home.

“What the hell is wrong with everybody around here?” Uri
asked. “A maudlin bunch of shits. And watch your tone, Osce. I’ll not be kind
and you know it. I have a small problem I need you to handle.”

“What would that be?”

“A slew of Luke’s light demons escaped and they’ve ravaged
the western part of the States with fires.” Uri’s head slanted toward Ram, one
dark brow raised in question. “It seems his helper has been reassigned to the
Basque area for some unknown reason.”

“I mean it, Uri. I’m in no mood for your bullshit, man. Raph
can better serve there than playing fireman out west.”

“No problem,” Osce said. “I can give the devil a hand
trapping the demons. Ram, take care, I’ll see you around.” He vanished in a
shower of sparks.

One blazed to life in Uriel’s crotch.

“I
will
kill that bastard one day,” he said as his
pants disappeared from his body along with the fire that burned there.

He glared daggers at Ram, who laughed loud and long at his
predicament. “You could be placed on my death list too if you’d like?”

“No, I’m okay. Got enough trouble of my own, thanks. You
know what, to kill time I think I’ll give Luke and Osce a hand,” Ram said.

“I’ve always kind of liked you, and since there’ll be more
women for me now, I like you even more. But be careful. Take care of your
problem with the exulted. I’d hate to see the Father smite you for bad
behavior.” Uri ran his finger along the scar that traveled from the corner of
his left eye to just below his ear. “Of course it could be better than what
Michael will do to your ass when he finds out.”

Uri watched Ram’s eyes turn dark blue and sad. Shit, it’d
been a long time since he saw sadness in the eyes of the angel of hope. He’d
become one cold bastard. There might be some hope left in the world after all.
He sure wished him luck.

“Look, got to go. Hey, thanks for your offer to help with
Luke’s errant demons. I’ll owe you one.”

“Good, I think I’ll need all the help I can get real soon. I
will call you on that debt.” Ram vanished in a burst of white light.

Uri decided now would be a good time to call on the angel-general.
It had been a while since he visited with Michael. If he was lucky, the Fates
might be in residence. In particular, Morta.

* * * * *

“What brings you from the belly of the earth?”

“Not happy to see me?”

“Uri, what do you want?” Michael asked.

“Damn, Mick, you still pissed off about Northridge?” It was
worse than that, but so what.

“Northridge was the least of it. My concern came with Peru.
Can’t you control yourself any better than that?”

“Hey, talk to the Father on that one. It wasn’t my idea.
Earthquakes are not designed by me. I just carry out orders, man.”

“And don’t call me Mick. I hate it.”

“Sorrrry.”

Uri had tried to get a feel for Michael’s mood. So far it
wasn’t good. He couldn’t tell what the cause of it was, but a good guess would
be Ramiel.

All the archangels were aware he was Michael’s favorite.
They’d stopped fighting about it a long time ago. In fact, for most of them it
was a blessing in disguise. He spent so much time worried about hope, the rest
of them had free rein in their areas of jurisdiction.

Only one thing was on Uri’s mind right now. Low and behold.
He smelled her coming. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Decima
appeared with Nona and Morta in tow.

Yeah. He loved when a plan came together.

“Ladies, such a nice surprise.” Uri beamed at the Fates as
they entered Michael’s office. He faced them from his seat in a comfortable
chair angled close to the desk. A ringside seat to watch Morta’s delectable ass
swing across the floor. His teeth were on edge. Damn, he wanted a taste of that.

She was magnificent. Damn near six foot of pure sex appeal.
Venus had nothing on this babe. Her long, straight, ice-blonde hair fell to her
waist. He couldn’t count the times the curtain of it covered his dick as she
went down on him. Her violet-colored eyes shuttered and sultry as they peered
up at him through thick lashes. The way she would moan when he entered her from
behind…
Shit, enough
.

It hadn’t happened yet, but it would. It was just a matter
of time. And perseverance. He had nothing better to do at the moment.

As she crossed the room to join her sisters, his eyes ate
her up. Closest to him, she stopped feet from his chair. His penis jumped to
life and he did nothing to hide his or its delight at seeing her. Luscious pink
lips were puckered and ready to take him. Hidden from view by the corner of the
desk, no one could see but her that he massaged his hardness to a larger life.

She pulled her eyes from his and they drifted to his lap.
With every bit of his power, he pushed at her mind.
This could be all yours,
baby
.
Say the word.
He watched her cheeks flush.

Oh yeah, just a matter of time.

Morta glanced across the room as she moved to stand beside
her sister Fates at Michael’s desk. Right near where Uri sat.

Of all the angels who could have been in presence, this was
the one she hoped would not be here. He was a real bastard. And after the
display with Osce, she’d never forgive him. Not in a million years.

But tell that to her disobedient body.

Even now the wetness poured from her at just the sight of
his long legs stretched in front of him. He did nothing to hide the swollen
member behind the zipper of the latest fashion slacks he wore. She wasn’t sure
who would win best-dressed of the year, but it would surely be between him and
Gabriel. They were both clotheshorses.

In looks, there was nobody like Uriel. She hoped the Father
would not take offense, but this archangel looked like a god. In every way.

His broad shoulders filled the chair he sat in and his legs
had muscles she thought could handle the weight of her, and she was no slight
thing. Those arms would hold her hard and tight to a chest that rippled with
definition. She’d seen him in his angel form. Uri’s shaft was blessed with
length and thickness. All of which she desired more than anything else in the
heavens.

She worked hard to mask the scent of sex that escaped from between
her thighs. But she could do nothing to hide the look in her eyes as she met
his. She was sure he’d know what she wanted. Uriel would be the just the one
who could give her all she needed and more.

The scar that ran down the left side of his face only served
to make him even more mysterious and handsome. How had he come by it? Neither
of her sisters had the answer and the Fates were privy to everything. It had to
be the Father’s doing.

His brooding sapphire blue eyes were covered by dark lashes
that didn’t blink at the sight of her. His stare held her still for a moment as
he ran his long fingers through thick hair as black as the bowels of the earth
he protected. She watched, frozen, as his hand moved down to stroke his length
through his pants. Uri did that for the effect it would have on her. She stared
into his eyes and smiled at the words he put in her mind.

The great archangel of the Earth. The antithesis to everything
Morta was. Uriel was darkness and she was light. And she would make certain for
eternity that the two never came together.

But she couldn’t resist a little fun. It would be just
between them. She melded into his mind and stroked his nipples with her tongue.
Her fingers pinched the hard little nubs painfully. He gasped and the air
flowed through her mind. After she gave him the feeling of her tongue and mouth
savoring his balls, she squeezed them. She left them wet. He grunted with lust
and desire in her mind. She let him feel the tightness of her pussy around his
penis and sent him the vision of her taking him deep in her ass. That was all
it took.

Uriel came in his pants.

Bitch.

Bastard.

“What the hell, Ram, there are millions of willing women in
the world. You know that.” Luke was of no help whatsoever. “In fact, when we’re
done here let’s hunt a few up. It’ll be like the old days.”

Ram thought about it and decided he’d just go home. They
were finished here, and watched the human firefighters put out the last of the
flames. The demons were subdued and locked away where they belonged. Until they
escaped again.

He already missed Yael and not a full day had passed. How
could he live the rest of his life without her? What was she doing right now?
Did she even think of him? Deborah would shelter and care for her, so she would
be safe. She was supposed to stay with him until the babe’s birth, and he could
force her hand, but he wouldn’t. Yael needed to come back to him on her own
accord, or not at all.

Ramiel had never begged a woman to be at his side and he
never would.

It was for the best, anyway. Now Michael could not hound him
about meshing with an exulted. He must know of it by now. As long as he and
Yael were separated, Michael would leave them be.

But what of his daughter? He was sure Yael had conceived,
and he’d decided he wanted to take part in rearing her. Or was it just another
way to be near Yael? Well, none of it mattered now. His babe would not be born
for a long time yet. Her care would be dealt with then. Between Deborah and the
Fates, his child would want for nothing.

Something about that bothered him. He’d not allow his girl
to be brought up by women who were bitter toward men. As a savior of men, she
must have an understanding of them. These women didn’t seem fit to pass on that
information. Not one of them had a man in their lives and he doubted they had
any idea of how a man’s mind worked.

Shit, he wasn’t capable of imparting any good knowledge to
her in that area. He’d been one of the basest creatures allowed to walk the
heavens and Earth. What could he teach her?

Morose thoughts ate at Ram’s heart like an infection. He
must do something to lance this wound and not let it fester. Yael had bought
him such joy. Now what? More of the same?

“You with me or not?”

Luke’s voice jolted him. Women. The thought of sweet bodies
and mouths had always tugged him in their direction. Not this time. Would he
ever be able to lie with one again and not see copper curls and café au lait-colored
skin? Would he search for her delicious aroma in each of them? Ram sure hoped
not.

“Not this time, Luke. Maybe later.”

“Yeah, right. I’ll see you around.”

Hopelessness enshrouded Ramiel once more.

* * * * *

Yael would remember that night forever. She had conceived.

Deborah left her alone on the patio. Her friend did as much
as she could to comfort her but nothing helped. She was not a whore and how
dare he treat her as such? Simply because someone else might wish to couple
with her did not mean she would want the same. She was not like him. If Ram
were here now, she would smack his face.

There were days Yael imagined she’d seen a new light in Ram’s
eyes. She felt sure now that was just the newness of having a different woman
to conquer. Allowing herself to think otherwise would only bring more pain to
her heart.

This time would have come sooner or later. A time without
him. It was stupid to allow herself to care for him more than necessary to…to
what? Copulate. That’s all it had been for him.

Her hand lay on her stomach. Though it would be months
before she felt movement, she carried their child. She could hardly wait now to
hold her. It would be a part of him. Yael would never be able to look at their
daughter and not think of him. The baby would have her father’s cobalt blue
eyes.

I love him
.

The pain of that admission washed over her. Tears flowed
down her cheeks as she sat and looked at the beautiful blooms on the magnolia
tree in Deborah’s garden. Yael remembered those he planted for her in his
domain here and on Earth. She would never be able to look at them again without
heartache.

Oh my goodness…Patricia!
She had left her alone.
Without another thought, Yael vanished to Florida and the Everglades.

* * * * *

“I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I would have been afraid to go up
there, what with Peter and all, but Osce was sent by Uriel to assist Lucifer
and I had no way of getting to you,” Patricia said.

“I still shouldn’t have left you.”

“It’s safe here. How are you? Tell me what happened?”

Yael saw the book she’d been reading on the table by the
chair Patricia sat in. She didn’t think it would be a problem if she took it
above with her. When she picked it up, she saw the blue and gold twined threads
she used as a marker between the pages. It reminded her of the night she came
back from her walk and found Ram naked on the beach. A deep shade of red
covered her face. Unable to push the thought out of her mind, she did her best
to put it as far away as she could.

“I don’t think I can talk about it. The pain is too fresh.”

“Yael, come back. I believe he misses you. He’s like a puppy
dog with a long face.” Patricia smiled.

She tried to picture that, but with no luck. Somehow Ram
looking like a puppy dog just didn’t work for her.

“He was so mean. I cannot believe he thinks I would jump
into bed with just anyone. I’m not like him.”

“Perhaps he was jealous. You have to understand men. They
often get it wrong when they try to tell a woman how much they care.”

“What do you mean?” Yael’s heart beat with hope and her eyes
lit up with the realization that Patricia could be right. She sucked in air to
calm herself.

“Oh come, don’t tell me your husband never expressed
jealousy in the same way? Men are stupid like that. They don’t know how to say
what really bothers them. I know he was upset when you talked to the guy at the
restaurant.”

“What?” Now that Yael thought about it, Patricia was right.
She remembered wondering what bothered him when he took her onto the dance
floor. He’d seemed so tense.

Patricia smiled broadly. “He said the young man would be
going away. Personally, I think Ram wanted to send him away. As far away from
you as possible.”

Yael went back over the events of that night in her mind.
She did remember him saying that. How could she have been so dense? Other
things had happened between the two of them that could mean—

“I can’t believe that his behavior was out of any real care
for me. He just didn’t want another man to have what belongs to him.”

“Yael, what I’m going to say to you may sound crude, and I
hope you don’t dislike me for it, but here goes… Ramiel has never wanted for
female companionship. He can have anyone he wants in this house, his bed or his
arms.”

Yael’s cheeks flamed at Patricia’s statement. Not in
embarrassment but in anger. The thought of anyone else in his arms made her
blood run cold. Patricia continued.

“You know the stories. I have been part of them. Ram uses
women and discards them like tissues. One has never held him as long as you
have. You need to think about that.”

Her heart raced at what her friend said to her. Could he
really care for her? They could not have meshed if he had not opened his heart
to her just a little, which was another problem to be dealt with later. Not
now.

“Patricia—”

“I know this is a different time. But you had better use
what you have and hold tight if you want him. I’ll help you in any way I can,”
she said. Yael knew she meant every word of it.

“We are meshing.”

“Holy cow, Michael must be having a shit fit. This will be
spoken of for years to come.”

“What should I do?” She hoped her friend had advice.

“I think everyone knows he’s the angel-general’s favorite.
Use it. And also there’s this thing with you helping out the Fates and those
unfortunate creatures on earth.” Patricia stopped suddenly and then barreled
forward. “I hope his shields are strong enough that we’re not being overheard.
It’s too late now. If the two of you are meshing, Michael will know.”

“I have conceived.” Yael’s face flushed again.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Does he know?”

“I’ve not seen him since I left, but surely he must.”

Yael sat heavily in the chair closest to her. Her legs were
weak and she couldn’t stand any longer. Was it possible that he cared for her?
She wanted him more than anything. Did she have the strength to follow through
to keep him as hers?

And what if they were wrong? What if she was a plaything he
planned to discard when he was done? She did believe his eyes were different.
On occasion she thought she saw happiness there. Joy even. Could it be because
of her?

There were also the times he pulled away from her and would
not fill her with his seed. Maybe he had said, “I want to keep you”. She
thought she’d heard it in the throes of passion.

None of this mattered. She’d decided. Yael wanted to keep
him.

“Hell yes, I do.”

“What?” Patricia’s eyes rose in question.

Yael had not realized she’d spoken out loud.

“I want him. You’re right. I will use every bit of my
womanhood to keep him. But I won’t use my babe to get him or keep him. I can’t
do that.”

“I used to be pretty good at reading men and if I’m right,
you won’t have to. I think he’s already yours. You just need to make him know
it.” Her friend’s mouth curved in a knowing smile and there was a gleam in her
eye. “You are a woman, right?”

Her heart swelled with joy that he might care for her.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Yael loved him. She didn’t stop to think about what
would happen if he never came to feel the same. Could she love enough for the
both of them?

“What are you doing here?”

Yael’s head snapped around at the sound of Ram’s voice. It
pulsed with anger.

Suddenly, she was unsure of every thought she’d had. His
caring about her was too good to be true. The tone he used would brook no
argument she had for leaving as she had. And no matter what, she would not
crawl back like some wanton hussy. She straightened her back in the chair and
mustered all of her courage.

“I needed to make sure Patricia was well.”

“And why wouldn’t she be?”

“She is here at my request and I feel responsible.”

“So what’s your plan for her continued
well
-being?”

“Ram, I…”

“Let me answer that for you.”

The joy at seeing her back in his home did not come through
in his voice. He was in shock and needed to buy time. One thing was for
certain—he would do whatever it took to keep her there. Even use Patricia.

His thoughts raced out of control at the idea of her leaving
again and he had to think fast. Tired after fighting Luke’s wayward demons, his
mind seemed not to function properly. He remembered thinking earlier he wouldn’t
beg but it crossed his mind.

She sat there so regal and so damn beautiful. He struggled
for air. Shit, how had it gotten this bad? Things had gone so far that the
sight of her took his breath away.

Keep her, concentrate on how to keep her, idiot.

He could enter her mind, but he didn’t trust himself to be
careful in his current state, and with the meshing, she’d know instantly.

Her cheeks glowed, which told him she was with child. His
child. Why had she not confirmed that fact to him immediately? Her curls hung
around her face and he wanted to run his hands through them. Cinnamon lips,
that could set any part of him on fire, were parted. He watched as her pink
tongue darted out to moisten them.

“You did invite her here as a guest and I think you should
stay with her.”
Is that the best you could do?
“I’m only thinking about
her best interest until the Fates can deal with Peter.”

“I see.”

“If it will help you to feel better, I’ll stay out of your
way.”

“It’s your home, Ramiel. I wouldn’t presume to tell you when
to come and go. I will stay as you suggest, but it’s I who shall endeavor to
stay out of your way.”

“I’m sure if we both keep out of each other’s way, things
will be fine.”

“Good.”