“RAEL,” I ASKED HESITANTLY, lifting my head from his shoulder briefly. “What’s your real name?”
Startled, he met my gaze with the fierce intensity I was becoming accustomed to in his presence. “You don’t think it’s Azrael, Angel of Death?”
He was teasing me, but I could sense his curiosity.
“No. I get that you all seem to have names in your motorcycle club.” He chuckled at my words. “But I know that’s not the name you grew up with.”
“It’s not.” He lifted his hand and his knuckles brushed lightly along my cheek. “Ian Braxton.”
“Ian,” I repeated, liking the way it rolled off my tongue. “Nice to meet you.” I held out my hand and he shook it, a light laugh tumbling from his sexy lips. “I’m Nylah Peters.”
The darkness of his eyes smoldered as he tugged me closer. “Now that we’ve been properly introduced, don’t you think we could drop all the formality?”
Arching a brow, I wanted to tease him a little bit more. “Ian, what’s wrong with being formal?”
He snorted, tugging my body closer. “For one thing, I can’t feel how hot and wet you are between those sexy thighs if you’re too far away. And two, the things I want to do to you are hardly proper.”
Giggling, I slipped my arms up and around his neck. “You’re entirely too cocky.”
“Cock? I got all you could want and more.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
His gaze smoldered and I swear my core heated and my libido skyrocketed in response. “I want you, Nylah. If we had more time, I’d show you just how much.”
Rael dropped a kiss on my lips next that ignited the passion between us. I was tempted to throw caution to the wind and let him lay me down in the sand, delivering on all these promises he kept hinting at.
“Just so you know,” I replied breathlessly only a few seconds later. “I feel exactly the same.”
He growled in response, picking me up as we headed back toward his bike. “I have Church. Once I’m free, I’m yours. Don’t stray far. I’ll be looking for you.”
We rode back to the Crossroads and took our time, winding through the empty city streets. He held onto my arms wrapped around his waist as we paused at a red light. It was almost ironic how quickly we became attached to one another. In less than a couple of weeks, I couldn’t imagine my life without Rael in it.
I never asked what happened to that Russian Alexi Voltoy. I was pretty sure Rael would only tell me it was club business and he would be right. It didn’t matter. I trusted the fact that Alexi was dealt with and answered for his crimes. Grateful, I squeezed Rael’s waist and he gripped my thigh, patting it once before we surged forward again.
Rael left me in the hallway after a quick kiss against my lips and I yawned, eager to return to my sister. Naomi was still asleep as I entered Patriot’s room after a brief knock. He was staring out the window but seemed deep in thought. I kicked off my shoes and lay down beside her, stifling another yawn. My eyes closed as the fatigue and stress of the last few days caught up with me. A blanket was draped over my body only a brief moment later.
I reached for my sister’s hand and held it, letting her know I was there if she needed me. Worry for her mental state and physical recovery gnawed at my composure. As a nurse, I was limited in my ability to help. As her sister, I would do everything in my power to ensure she didn’t fall into depression or despair. I wasn’t naïve enough to think there wouldn’t be moments when she would fall apart. I just hoped when they happened, I could pull her through.
Chapter 21 – Azrael
“Church,” Grim announced, leaning against the door that lead into the chapel. His gaze flicked over the guys in the room as he frowned. “Where the fuck is Mammoth?”
There were a few snickers as we heard the toilet flush in the hall – about five times. What followed was a string of loud curses that ended with a bang and then a thud. Mammoth emerged from the main bathroom on the floor, swishing his hand back and forth.
“Plumbing is fucked up again. Stinks like dogshit.”
“Wouldn’t be if you didn’t blow up the damn toilet all the time.” Xenon shook his head. “Cut it off halfway out or somethin’.”
Loud guffaws and chuckles exploded around the room.
“I don’t think it would help,” I replied, trying to keep a straight face.
“Fuck off, Rael.”
“Nah, you’d only get jealous.”
He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “I ain’t cleanin’ it.”