Free Wicked Angel by Celia Jade Page B

interest in humans, proclaiming them inferior. However, humans had been killed in the occasional acts of anarchy carried out by the rogues.
    “He works for us,” Julien said, and lowered his mouth to her ear while his hand rested on the small of her back. “Have you ever desired one of them?”
    Her senses whirled in response to Julien’s touch. She averted her gaze from the Ahkran and wondered if Julien was trying to provoke her for his amusement. In truth, she’d only humored her girlfriends’ interests in the race. What she desired was standing right beside her.
    “No.”
    “He wants you.”
    Her breath caught before she let out a nervous chuckle. “How do you know?”
    “A man either desires a woman the second he sees her, or he doesn’t.” He paused and glanced at the Ahkran. “Shall I call him over and leave the two of you alone so that you can see for yourself?”
    It dawned on her that he was likely testing her trustworthiness. Relationships between angel healers and Ahkran—including the non-rogue kind—were discouraged.
    “No, I’m not interested,” she replied. It was the truth. She tilted her gaze to the rugged beauty of Julien’s face as awareness drummed inside her. She’d wanted Julien the moment she’d seen him.
    He stepped behind her and curved his palms to her waist. “Or is it angels that you desire?”
    His body’s heat permeated her dress, her skin. Lust coiled low in her belly and pooled in her sex. She pressed her thighs together, afraid her arousal would seep through her panties.
    “Angels fascinate me.” She silently cursed the tiny shake in her voice.
    A soft chuckle. “You didn’t answer my question.”
    She licked the sudden dryness from her lips. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to your race.”
    His breath fanned the top of her head, giving her delicious goose bumps. “Look around. Which one do you fancy?”
    The room was full of good-looking angels, yet none caught her eye, which spiked her vexation. She eased out of his hold and turned to face him. “Why are you doing this? Is it some kind of test?”
    “All new members are tested, Lana. You haven’t fully earned our trust, yet.”
    A quick, angry swell of pride rose inside her as her gaze locked onto his. “I’m an instructor at the NYSA and I’ve treated four angels to date. Obviously, I’ve earned someone’s trust.”
    A blue-black flame flickered in his eyes for a moment.
    Anger? No. Danger? At the very least. Whatever the emotion it licked at her skin like a silk flame.
    He inclined his dark head. “I didn’t mean to offend. You’re a gifted healer.” A muscle flexed in his jaw and his gaze shifted to focus on something in the distance behind her for several seconds.
    Lana was about to turn around to see what had caught his attention but his fingers on her hair stopped her. He lifted the end of one lock and rubbed it between his fingers.
    “I’m not testing you.”
    Lana pulled her hair out of his grasp. “Then why these questions? What do you want?”
    His blue gaze lowered to her mouth. “I’ll have what I want soon enough. Enjoy the party.” With that, he turned and walked away from her, leaving her staring at those magnificent wings. And terrified in a wickedly delicious way.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    The trill of the phone wrenched Lana from a deep sleep at one a.m. on Friday. A stab of panic made her bolt upright in bed and reach for the phone on the nightstand, praying this wasn’t an emergency call from her parents.
    The caller ID read NYSA, allowing her to release a sigh of relief. “Hello?”
    “Lana Kinley?” inquired a male caller.
    “Speaking.”
    “This is Mouric from angel headquarters. I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour, but we need your services right away.”
    Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she replied, “Angel hurt?”
    “Yes. Julien. Looks like a second degree burn on the wing.”
    Her heart gave an anxious skip at the sound of his name. She