Sinful Things

5

Concern floods her features. "Why?”

“I don’t know, but he said it was urgent.”

“Come in, please.”

My eyes can’t help but travel the length of her body again. “I’d rather not.”

She rolls her eyes. “I won't jump your bones, I promise. I just need a few minutes to change into something else.”

"Probably a good idea.” I step inside the house. Archangel Gabriel’s house. If he knew there was a Fallen standing in his living room, he’d probably teleport here in an instant to eject me from his land. And if he knew I’d slept with his daughter once, he’d probably have my head.

Olivia slips away, and I stand in the living room awkwardly while I wait. The big windows offer a gorgeous view, but I’m more interested in the bookshelves, which are full of human novels. Old classics, written before I was born, and new bestsellers too. The spines on most of them look worn, as if they've been read many times.

"My dad loves to read human books,” Olivia says. “Everything from the tawdriest romance novel to the driest of the classics."

I turn as if barely interested and see she's put on a pair of jeans that hug her curves and a black sweater that dips down in a V and accentuates her breasts. I’m not sure she could wear anything unflattering. All succubi are incredibly sexy, and Olivia is the most alluring one I’ve ever met.

She opens a closet and pulls out a bright red coat with a white fur collar. "Let's go."

I can't help but chuckle. "You can’t be that cold, not with demon blood in you.”

“I’m not overly sensitive to the cold, like an angel, or the heat, like a demon. I’m more like a human in that way. But I grew up in LA, so I’m still kind of a wimp about the cold.” She heads outside and locks the door behind us. “Ready?”

“Are you nervous?”

“A little.” She looks up at me with those mysterious eyes. “I’d be more nervous without you at my side.”

My chest tightens, and I have to look away before I grab her, kiss her, and tell her everything will be okay, I’ll make sure of it. I can’t do that, but as much as I can be there for her, I will. She’s still my student, I remind myself. The most attractive student I've ever seen in my life, but still. Just a student, for two more years anyway.

I have a feeling they’ll be the longest two years of my life.

Chapter Four

Olivia

F

lying next to Kassiel is a wonderful kind of torture. He’s the only other person I’ve met with black wings, which are rare but not unheard-of among angels, and common among the Fallen. Most of the angels in last year’s Flight class had white, gray, or brown wings, and Araceli has the most beautiful wings of all—white with purple, the same color as the streak in her hair. Along with her pointed ears, they’re the only thing marking her as part fae.

As we fly, it’s hard not to steal glances of Kassiel in his sexy black suit, with those silver and black wings spreading from his back, especially when I can still feel his lust for me. His reaction to seeing me in my yoga clothes washed over me before either of us had time to utter a word. His desire for me has given me nice snacks in between meals from Bastien. In all the time we spent together over the break, I never felt him crave any other woman in the library, even though there were several very attractive angels shooting him obvious come-hither looks. He never even noticed.

But he’s not mine. He can’t be mine, not until I graduate from Seraphim Academy in two years. Not unless we want to put his job and everything we’re trying to do in jeopardy.

I’m just not sure how we’ll be able to resist each other that long.

Now I'm flying toward campus with him right beside me, with his lust hovering between us. I’m starting to think facing Uriel might be easier than being around Kassiel without acting on our feelings for each other. Because it’s not just lust we share, but something more. Something I definitely can’t think about right now.

The forest below us gives way, and the gleaming white buildings of the campus greet us, along with the sparkling lake. Spring is in the air and the grounds are a verdant green, with flowers beginning to bloom along the walkways. I draw in a deep breath. I came to Seraphim Academy under false pretenses in order to find my brother, but to my surprise I came to love it here over the last year. When the Princes tried to get me expelled, I pleaded my case so I could stay, and it wasn’t only because of my hunt for Jonah. I wanted to stay here for me, too.

As we approach the headmaster’s house, my stomach twists. Why does Uriel want to see me two days before class starts? Is it to tell me he's changed his mind, and I'm not welcome at the school anymore? What else could it be?

We land in front of Uriel’s Victorian house, which looks too quaint to be a part of the campus. I’ve been in his office a few times before, and it was never a pleasant experience. I hesitate and turn to Kassiel. “Are you coming too?”

“I am,” he says, as he leads the way inside.

That’s a relief. Going at it all alone has been my MO my entire life, and it's nice to have someone in my corner for once. Someone other than Jonah, anyway. My brother’s the only one who ever had my back—and now it’s my turn to return the favor by rescuing him.