Undaunted (6 page)

Desperate—he was desperate to be inside her, to feel the tight clasp of those feminine muscles, but it was Jett standing beside him, Jett reaching beneath Addie, supporting her as Locan grabbed hold of Azrael’s thick cock, stroked him once, twice. And then, with Jett holding Addie from behind, Locan placed the broad head of Az’s penis between Addie’s soft folds.

Trembling, fighting the need to force himself deep, to take Addie now that he was so close, Az bowed his head, kissed her lips. Fighting for control, he turned and kissed Locan, and then Jett, and it felt as if he drew each of them deep inside. Made them part of him, and he of them.

“Now, Az. I want you now.” Addie’s fingertips stroked his cheek, and Az slowly, carefully stroked deep within Addie.

Tears burned behind his eyes. Such exquisite pleasure, the smooth, slow glide inside Addie. The heat of Locan’s body pressed against his back. Jett’s soft smile as Az filled Addie. He felt the smooth ripple of her muscles, the wet heat welcoming him impossibly deep. He’d never been so hard, so long and thick before, yet she took all of him, holding him close until her pubes pressed flush against his groin. He held her there, not moving, savoring the connection with this amazing team of hunters, the sense of homecoming he’d not expected, but when he withdrew and entered her once again, it was the collective sigh—the sound of Jett and Locan, of Addie and his own exhalations—that warmed his heart and soul.

Deeper this time, and faster. Harder, until he was moving impossibly fast, and yet Addie was holding him close, smiling through tears of her own as they found that perfect rhythm together. Jett was there, close behind Addie, holding her as Locan held Azrael. He was fully aware of Locan’s erection pressing tightly against his butt, knowing Jett and Locan shared each thrust and retreat, each rippling spasm as Addie’s sheath tightened around Az.

He felt as if he could go on forever, and yet the need to finish, to reach that ultimate peak was growing stronger. Addie’s muscles clenched tighter. He moved faster, harder, deeper, until they were a single creation, the four of them moving together, feeling each singular sensation as part of the whole, and still the pressure built and the need grew, until he felt it, the connection of four minds coming together as one.

The pleasure of three other minds converging on his swamped him. Unique in his experience, this amazing sharing was overwhelming in its complexity—Addie’s sense of fullness as Az filled her, the pleasure Jett found with his thick cock riding between her buttocks, sliding smoothly between the taut curves of her ass, Locan caught in the myriad sensations of Az filling Addie while reveling in the friction he built, the same rhythm he’d created, close against Az.

When they reached their climax, Azrael didn’t fly alone. No, he tumbled in free fall with all of them, with Addie and Jett, with Locan, the four of them gasping and crying out, their bodies shivering and trembling together, coming down together, until only the buoyancy of the mineral-laden water held them afloat.

But it was love, love like nothing Azrael had ever known, that held them together.

Chapter 6

Addie lost track of time as she floated beside her men. Sated didn’t even come close to describing the sense of completion, of wholeness, that filled her. She was only peripherally aware of Jett, Locan, and Az moving off to one side. Aware of the soft words and even softer laughter, the sounds of encouragement, the soft sighs of passion.

A soft moan drew her attention, followed by a hoarse cry of release so rough, so carnal she couldn’t ignore it. She glanced to her left, at the three men at the far edge of the pool. Before she even realized what she was doing, Addie’d started slowly paddling through the warm water, headed their way.

Azrael lay half in, half out of the pool with his hips bent at the edge and his chest on the smooth stones. The water was shallow here, and Jett stood behind him. The slow, rhythmic buck and sway of his hips left nothing to Addie’s imagination. Locan was stretched out on the warm stones, and Az’s cheek rested against Locan’s groin. The smear of white on Az’s lips explained Locan’s cry of release, but Az’s smile was a surprise.

He’d admitted earlier that he’d never been with another man. It appeared her hellhound was a quick study.

Addie reached the guys and looped her elbow on the stone beside Az. He blinked, focused, and then sighed. Grinning, Addie reached under his thigh and found the thick rise of his cock. Azrael was most definitely enjoying this new experience. Taking a deep breath, she dipped beneath the water and came up between his legs. Jett’s thrusts were picking up speed, and the tension in Azrael’s body had Addie’s arousal racing to catch up.

Cupping Az’s balls in one hand, she wrapped her other around his cock. She filled her palm with Azrael’s testicles and her mouth with as much of his cock as she could fit. Then Addie sucked. Hard.

The next cry she heard was Jett’s, but Azrael’s roar drowned him out. Water splashed all around as Jett’s final thrusts created their own minor tsunami, but breathing wasn’t an option anyway as Addie’s mouth filled with the sweetly bitter taste of Azrael’s seed.

She licked and sucked, gently squeezed and fondled, and finally, long moments later, separated from Az and popped up in the water beside him. Slowly he turned his head, and he was still smiling, though his eyes were barely open and his muscular body was now lax, his arms stretching out limply on the smooth stones.

Jett pulled free and Locan slipped into the water. Azrael leaned close enough to press his forehead against Addie’s.

“Well?” She grinned at him.

“Very well, thank you.”

Laughing, she kissed his nose. “You know that’s not what I was asking. What do you think? You okay with the guys?”

“Oh. Yeah.” He sighed. “Definitely okay. Don’t know if I’ll ever be able to walk again.” He chuckled. “Or sit.”

“Yeah, but walking’s overrated. So’s sitting.”

“Didn’t know that.” He wrapped his arm around Addie and pulled her close. “Glad to know.”

Long moments later, he sighed. “Do you think I’ll be able to stay? Be part of your team?”

“If Jett, Locan, and I have anything to say about it, you will.” She wrapped her arms around him. “I love you, Az. The guys love you. We’ve already had an assignment, and we were good together.”

“Yeah, but is that enough?”

“I . . .”

A voice filled Addie’s head. The voice they always heard with the coordinates of the latest demon attack. She glanced at Jett, at Locan. “Shit.”

Az blinked. “I just had a voice in my head.”

“Me, too,” Addie said. Just the familiar voice, one command. Telling her, telling Jett and Locan, to wait. “What did you hear?”

“That Naburus is searching for me. That it’s my job to kill him. That if I don’t, I can’t remain as part of the team, because he will always have a hold on me. Naburus claims that I’m his.”

“Not what we heard, but now our message makes sense. I don’t like it a bit, either.” Addie glanced at Jett and Locan before focusing on Az. “We were told to hold back and wait. That must mean you have to fight him alone. Can you do it? Can you kill Naburus?” She thought of the horrible demon, of how huge and powerful he was. Of the fact that he had conditioned Azrael to obey him as his master.

How the hell was Az going to overcome centuries of training?

Azrael shook his head. “I don’t know. But I do know that if I can’t stay with the three of you, there’s no point in existing on this plane. I might as well be dead, because I’m not going back to hell as Naburus’s hound. You, Jett, and Locan . . .” He sighed. “You’ve given me hope. The first hope I’ve had in over two thousand years.”

“How will you find him?” Jett folded his arms across his chest and glared at Azrael, but Addie knew the anger was not with their newfound partner. No, it was with a situation that seemed insurmountable, impossible, and horribly unfair. “You can’t meet him in hell. He’s too strong there. Too sure of himself and his position.”

Az glanced toward the front of the cave. “No. Not in hell.” He glanced at Addie, smiled and shrugged. “Here,” he said. “Naburus is coming here.”

* * *

He grabbed the sword they’d given him earlier. Leah’s sword. The weight of the thing alone should have been too much for any female, but it was perfect for him. Az checked the edges—both sides of the blade were still razor-sharp and the grip was a perfect fit for his hand.

He ran his hands down the snug demon-leather pants Jett had loaned him. Locan’s spare boots fit him as if they’d been made for him, and Addie had found a white leather vest that protected his chest yet left his arms free to fight.

He wondered how he’d know when Naburus arrived. What his strategy should be. If there was any chance at all that he might actually survive a battle against the demon he’d called master for two millennia.

Addie paced, Jett stared out the cave entrance and cursed, but Locan sat in the kitchen and sharpened his swords and checked his knives. Az gazed longingly at the big stove. He’d been thinking of what he might make for dinner tonight, something wonderful to celebrate his addition to the team.

That had certainly been a bit premature. He glanced at Addie just as she lifted her head. The two of them made eye contact and she immediately stopped pacing and stepped into his embrace.

“I don’t want you to fight him alone.”

“There doesn’t appear to be any choice. You’ve been given orders to wait. I’ve been told to fight, and I don’t have any sense that this is a democracy.”

Addie sighed and rested her head against his chest. “It’s never been an issue before. We’ve always just followed orders because that’s what made this team work, but sending you out alone is wrong.”

“Not really.” He’d thought about it, and it made sense. The fight was between Az and Naburus. Addie, Jett, and Locan were innocent bystanders. They didn’t deserve the risk inherent in a fight with such a powerful demon. Az would either win or die. He was okay with that, though he’d definitely prefer to win.

A flash of red caught his eye. Ukopach popped out through Jett’s computer screen and strutted across the floor. “I’m here to help,” he said. His silver eyes flashed, and he swung his tiny sword. “I’m on your side, Azrael.”

Az squatted down so he could speak to the tiny demon at eye level. “Not this time, Ukopach. I’ve got orders to fight Naburus alone, but thank you.” He patted Ukopach’s head, between his horns, and the tiny demon preened. “You’re very brave, Ukopach.”

A sense of impending darkness had Az rising and turning toward the front entrance as Jett took a step back, deeper inside the cave. “He’s here, Az. I see him coming.”

Addie grabbed his forearms in both hands. “Don’t shift. Whatever you do, don’t let him see the hound. He’ll have too much control over you.”

Az nodded. “I’ll do my best, but remember, he’s the one who originally turned me. I might not be able to stop him.”

“Don’t think like that. Imagine winning, Az. Think positive.”

He raised one eyebrow and flashed a cocky grin—or as cocky as he was able, considering. “I’m positive, Addie. Positive he’s going to beat the shit out of me.”

“That’s not funny. Visualize beating the shit out of Naburus. That’s what has to happen. It’s your only option.” She kissed him, and her eyes filled with tears. “Az, I love you. I’m scared.”

“I love you, too, Addie. Please don’t be afraid for me.” He kissed her again and raised his head. “And you, Jett. And Locan. I love both of you just as much.” Then he looked down at the tiny red demon standing beside Addie. “And you, too, Ukopach. No matter what happens to me, remember that I love all of you. Please don’t forget me.”

“Az!” Addie reached for his hand, but he turned away and walked through the opening. Walked away from Addie, from Locan and Jett and Ukopach. Walked out into the dreary gray of
between
to face the one who had been his master for over two thousand years.

Chapter 7

Az walked well away from the cavern entrance. He had no delusions about this fight. Odds were good that Naburus would win, and he didn’t want any of those he cared for to be hurt. Addie had told him he had to think positive. He was definitely positive. There was a slight rise beyond the cavern. Az waited there, sword drawn, feet planted. Positive he would die here.

Though if Addie’s wishes came true, he could win. He tried to imagine winning. Tried to picture himself victorious over the demon, but as Naburus drew closer, as his size and strength became even more obvious, it was all Az could do not to turn and run.

Or shift. He felt the pressure of the demon’s command, the silent yet powerful order to return to his hellhound form, but he fought it. Fought the compulsion with everything he had. He buried the demon’s orders with thoughts of Addie, of the warmth of her love, the sweet taste of her lips. He thought of Locan and Jett, of the love they’d shown him, the adventure they’d promised. Life with the three of them would be everything he’d never dreamed possible.

Dreams. Only dreams, because he knew, at the very center of his soul, that a life free of demonic rule was not for him. Not for Azrael the hellhound, once a husband and father, a gladiator, a centurion, and a damned good cook. No, he was destined to spend eternity as a hellhound, held in bondage by the huge demon coming ever closer. In fact, Naburus was close enough to smell, the stench of demon—a stench that was hard to stomach even as a human. As a hellhound, Azrael’s sensitive nostrils had burned from the sulfuric stink.

“Return to me, hellhound, and I may let you survive. Defy me and you will die. Shift, now. Your work awaits you.”

“Death would be preferable, Naburus.” He had to look up, even though the demon was yet a dozen steps away, below Azrael’s spot on the small hill. “You cannot force me back to hell against my will.”

“True, human.” The snarl lifted a corner of the demon’s thick lips. “But I can kill you and claim your soul. And when I do, you will be mine for eternity.”