Fire and Ice (6 page)

Eyes wide open, they took the kiss deeper. The yearning in his soul made her heart squeeze as he demanded her tongue match his, stroke for stroke. He moaned as she slid her hand under his shirt and grazed his lower back with her hand.

The kiss broke off and pain twisted his face. Alexandria pushed him over so she was on top. She unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, freeing his stiff cock for her pleasure.

“We shouldn’t,” Lash said.

“Yes, we should.” Alexandria wrapped her hands around Lash’s cock and pumped up and down twice before lowering her lips to his rod. She teased him, circling her tongue around the tip then flicking the tender spot underneath the head.

Lash bucked his hips up and held her head firmly with his hand, thrusting his cock into her mouth, all the way to the back of her throat. She hummed her approval and began seriously sucking and drawing off, alternating between being rough and a feathery touch.

Before he could come, he pulled her off and flipped her over. He searched his pants for a condom and came up empty. Alexandria searched for her skirt and grabbed a condom from her pocket.

“I came prepared.”

“Yes.” Lash grabbed the package, ripped it open and rolled the condom over his dick.

The first touch of his cock against her pussy sent her over the edge. She grabbed on tight and held him close as her body accepted him and clenched around him. They moved as one, their kisses long and passionate. As she grew closer to another climax, the earth rumbled below them. He shouted her name and came as his cock pulsed deep inside her.

Lash said nothing as he helped Alexandria dress and escorted her back to her apartment. This time his kiss was an extended goodbye, and the sadness in his eyes made her want to beg him to stay.

Something felt final about the kiss. As a chilling wind swept off the mountain and through the town, Lash pulled away. The wind blasted again. Lash turned and walked away, his head down, without looking back. Going after him again would seem too desperate. She’d see him at the station, because, if he didn’t call her tomorrow, she’d make sure she visited her cousin the next time he was on shift.

Lash had no idea how the hell he was going to get Alexandria to fall in love with another man. Thirty-six hours had passed and he still had no clue. Who could God want her to be with? The thought of her mating with another man, a human, made his blood run ice cold. Jealousy combined with anger and pushed him to run faster, forcing this body to perform when it wanted to quit.

The steep climb up West Side Road burned his lungs and made his muscles scream. Slowing wasn’t an option. He would punish this body into exhaustion and submission. The only way to ensure chastity with Alexandria was to be too exhausted to perform sexually.

Of course, wearing out an angel housed in a demon body would be difficult. At least he wasn’t in the other body—then he wouldn’t have been able to exhaust himself enough. Nothing would have held him back from being with her.
Damn, this sucked.

He came to the split where Forest Road climbed up the mountain, but decided to stay on West Side and head up to the Hungry Horse Reservoir Dam. It should take him a super long time to run there and back. His body would be ready to fall into submission after that much exercise.

The wind gusted hard the farther up the road he ran. A cloud had risen over the mountain, threatening rain. Anything that would punish his body was good. He wanted to be spent, exhausted and totally out of it before he saw Alexandria again.

The clouds opened and rain poured from the sky. Lightning traced a wicked path to the ground, striking dangerously close. Maybe God would smite him now and he wouldn’t be forced to torture himself by making Alexandria love another.

A truck rounded the corner before him, and slowed. He was ready to wave the traveller off when he saw Alexandria behind the wheel. Recognition showed on her face and lit her eyes.

Shit, I’m screwed.

“Get in.” She’d pulled to the side of the road and rolled down her window, letting in a torrent of water that soaked her shirt.

He couldn’t say no. He raced around the truck and pulled open the door. The temperature had dropped with the storm, chilling him to the bone. Alexandria turned the heater on before putting the truck into gear and taking off.

“What are you doing up here?” she asked.

“Running. It’s my day off and I wanted to get some exercise in.”

“How many miles so far?”

“Nine or so.” Lash cursed himself for getting into her truck. Her sweet scent made his brain fuzz. His tongue curled at the thought of tasting her again. But he couldn’t. They’d already had sex one too many times. Another mistake and God might just send Puriel to get him instead of Michael to warn him. Puriel wouldn’t play nice—no matter how much God had loved Lash before, he would bet the little dude would be allowed to inflict intense pain and suffering. No, this time Lash had to play nice, and be without blame in God’s eyes.

“You driving all the way back into town?” he asked.

“Yep, want me to drop you at the station?”

“Sure, you could come in for some lunch.” Why the hell had he just said that? He didn’t want her anywhere near him. How the heck could he keep his hands off her if he did stupid stuff like invite her to spend time with him?

“Yeah, I would love that.”

The rain picked up, slowing their progress back into town. Lash thought about asking her to pull over and let him walk the rest of the way home, but he couldn’t form the words to get her to stop the truck.

Just being near Alexandria made him want her. How had God thought Lash could ever help her to fall in love with another man? The desire to possess Alexandria as his own clawed its way up his belly, leaving him dissatisfied.

“You’re rather silent today.”

Lash laughed, not wanting to reveal his inner struggle to her. “Sorry, just a bit numb from running. I guess I’m not good company today. You may not want to spend too much time with me.”

“Don’t be silly. I love spending time with you.”

Heck, it was going to be almost impossible to turn her off him and on to another guy. It sucked that he had no clue who the guy was.

Alexandria pulled her truck into the fire station parking lot. Both of them ran for the cover of the front porch, getting soaked on the way. Alexandria fell into his arms, laughing as another round of thunder shook the ground. She looked up, her gaze full of love and caring.

Lash felt like crap. He would have to break her heart, but he doubted he had the strength to give her up.

The door to the fire station opened and Scott stepped out. He stared at Alexandria, dripping wet and sexy in her almost transparent clothes, and a spark of desire fired in the other man’s eyes. Lash’s stomach dropped and his heart stalled. Everything slowed to a standstill. Scott was the man God had chosen for Alexandria.

Lash expected to feel hatred towards the man, but he had none. Scott would make an excellent husband for Alexandria and a wonderful father, too. He actually liked Scott, and now he had to make his lover fall in love with the man. The irony of it sucked.

“Hey, Lash, you with us?” Scott asked.

“What? Oh, sorry. I wasn’t paying attention.”

“You up for pizza?” Alexandria asked, and her eyebrows rose as she brushed a hand down his arm. “You still want to eat lunch together?”

“Sure, as long as Scott joins us.” Damn, why had he asked Scott along with them? What had possessed him to include the guy? He shouldn’t want this interloper to spend time with Alexandria, but God’s command ruled his conscience. He had to obey the request to get Scott and the love of his heart to hook up and become a family.

“Um, okay. Scott, you want some pizza?”

“Sure, I would love that.” Scott’s face lit up as he grabbed on to Alexandria’s arm and escorted her into the fire station.

Lash followed behind the couple, way too aware of the desire coming off Scott and Alexandria’s response. Just last night he’d been buried deep inside her, knowing that he would never love another, and she was already showing interest in Scott.

Maybe he was over-exaggerating their connection. He should be pleased that they had some sort of chemistry—otherwise it would have made setting them up almost impossible. It would make it easier to leave his love in Scott’s care if he believed Scott would love her. His stomach turned and his head ached, but he would do everything in his power to get them together.

Lash gritted his teeth as Scott joked with Alexandria. They would make a cute couple, and their children would be beautiful. Lash’s heart ached and he felt sick. Scott would be wonderful for Alexandria.

Chapter Five

Alexandria couldn’t believe she’d let Lash sneak away. For some reason, Scott had been way more interesting than she’d remembered him to be. She’d known him for so long, but never before had she found him so appealing. Lash had sneaked out at some point, and she wondered if he’d been jealous. Not that he had anything to worry about.

After spending way too long talking to Scott she made her way home, striking out in her search for Lash. The sun set quickly, leaving the apartment building’s parking lot in total darkness. The manager really needed to fix the lights. Sometimes they worked, other times they didn’t, and the inconsistency drove her crazy.

She parked on the far side of the lot and jogged to her front door. A dark figure stepped out from behind a tree, spooking her. She screamed and jumped back.

“Alexandria, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Lash drew closer and she could make out his face. Relief filled her.

“Oh, dang. I’ve been looking for you. What happened after lunch? You took off.”

“I just had some stuff I had to do.”

“Come in.”

Lash shook his head, knowing exactly what would happen if he spent more time alone with her.

“Please. I promise I won’t bite.”

Lash allowed her to pull him into her apartment. He couldn’t help but return her kiss once she started in on him. This would be the last time.

She wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace before her fingers fluttered to his jeans, undoing the snap and pulling them off. He groaned, knowing he needed to say no but wanting her body next to his. She was made to love him. The more he thought about giving her up, the less he could let go.

She stripped off his clothes, then went for hers. Turning her down wasn’t an option, but he had to tell her the truth. Before she could sheath his dick with a condom, he held her at arm’s length and forced her to look at him.

“Alexandria, I have to tell you something.”

“You look serious.”

“I am serious. I need you to know this.”

She raked her teeth across her lower lip, and that almost undid him—his balls tightened against his body.

“Let me guess, you’re married or something like that.”

He shook his head. If only this had been as simple as him being married, but this was so much worse.

“I’m not who I said I was.”

Her brows drew together and she squinted. This girl was sharp and wouldn’t let anything slip through the cracks. He would have to tell her as much of the truth as he could, but Puriel’s punishment still loomed over him.

“I’m not who I seem to be. I’m different. This isn’t my bo—” Pain arced down his left leg and brought him to his knees.

“Lash, are you okay?”

“No. And I’m not La—” Another burst of pain wrenched through his back. Sweat popped out across his forehead.

“Lash, your nose is bleeding.” Alexandria raced away to the bathroom and came back with a washcloth.

He looked up into her eyes, knowing that this would be the end of their relationship. He would end their love affair tonight, one way or another. Then he would set her up with Scott, maybe even beg Cupid for some help. He stood and placed his hands on her shoulders again, fixing her with his most serious stare.

“Whatever you do, you must forgive your brother.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Please, promise me this. I need you to forgive your brother. Find a way to make your relationship right.”

She stood back, eyeing him suspiciously. “How do you know about my brother?”

Lash waved his hands and shook his head, “It doesn’t matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“Talk at the station. Your cousin works there.”

Alexandria sighed and shrugged her shoulders, “Fine, I’ll think about it.”

Lightning danced outside as thunder rolled through the sky. He heard the language of angels under the rumble of thunder. He’d accomplished his task. She would forgive her brother.

Lightning crashed outside and she jumped against him. Her curves melted against his skinny frame. The pain in his heart increased. The truth burned his soul.

With a burst of energy he shouted, “I’m not Lash, I’m Ra—” Lash’s body buckled and they both tumbled to the floor.

Alexandria hit her head, and pain shot through her body. For a moment, all was black. When she came to, she checked the lump forming on her head for blood. Her hand came away clean. Lash had curled into a ball on the floor, his body twitching as if someone were kicking him.

“Lash, what’s wrong? Do I need to call an ambulance?”

“No,” he ground out. “Don’t call anyone.”

After his body stopped twitching he opened his eyes, gazing directly at her, whispering, “I’m not Lash, I’m Ra—” Lash passed out, his eyes rolling up in his head.

Alexandria knew first aid from the training she’d received to work up in the mountains. In seconds, she had Lash laid out and his airways open. With her phone in hand, she started to dial for help but someone pounded on her front door. Maybe a neighbour had heard their distress and called for help.

After checking on Lash’s breathing one more time, Alexandria pulled on her robe and raced to the door, opening it. She couldn’t believe her eyes. “Rafe, what are you doing here?”

“Just came by to see if you—What was that noise?”

Lash moaned and his voice carried from the bedroom. Rafe pushed past her, ignoring her demands that he stop.