Free Ashes of Angels by Michele Hauf Page B

had she imagined she’d one day be standing in anangel’s arms? Taking comfort from a supernatural being? And not at all frightened of their preordained connection?
    Yes, she had. It had been a blissful, sensual dream of a warrior.
    Sam stroked her arms and bent before her, which brought them eye level. As if to kiss. But he only lingered there, their mouths inches apart, breath dallying, eyes searching each other’s.
    She wanted the kiss. It was wrong on so many levels, but she needed it. Yet she sensed he would not give it. Could not. Because they were both fearful of the Pandora’s box their desires could open.
    Kiss him. It will be dangerous. How can you resist?
    Cassandra tilted onto her tiptoes and pressed her mouth to his. He pulled away, his eyes flashing at her as if to ask whether this was okay.
    â€œYes,” she murmured, and touched her mouth to his again.
    He was cool, but he did not stay so for long. Heat blossomed at the point of their connection. His firm mouth remained unmoving against hers. He allowed her to explore with a soft brush of her mouth over his, to direct the kiss in the manner she desired.
    Then she realized he might have never before kissed a woman. Sam had only been on earth two days. And she had no idea what he’d done after his original Fall, but surely after millennia of imprisonment in the Ninth Void, whatever sensual technique he may have possessed had gotten a little rusty.
    The idea excited her, and also gave her concern. She might be his first experience.
    Sensing his tension, she smoothed a hand over his jaw, measuring the pulse of his muscles once, twice, beneath her spread fingers. “Relax,” she said, “I’m not going to hurt you.”
    He smirked, both of them aware that he’d said the same earlier, but in not quite the same context.
    â€œThis is new,” he started, then looked aside and chuckled. “I’ve not done this before. With any woman.”
    â€œI guessed that.”
    â€œBecause I botched the kiss terribly?”
    â€œNot at all. You kiss well. Your mouth is, um, it’s soft but firm. I like it. You willing to follow my lead?”
    â€œI would follow you to world’s end, Cassandra.”
    â€œAll right, but I’d rather not stand at the end, if you know what I mean. Especially with all that’s going on right now. Let’s just keep it right here and now.”
    His mouth softened to hers when she kissed him again, and he pressed gently, opening slightly. She caught his breath on her tongue, sweet, ethereal, unnamable. Yes, really something like that, perhaps even angelic.
    Clasping his hand, which was planted at her hip in deference to politeness, she glided it around her back and higher. Taking direction, he pulled her closer without breaking the kiss. He assumed the mien of a seducer with ease. Perhaps he assimilated this experience as easily as he’d assimilated the world. It made sense to her.
    If falling felt like this—a soft flutter of wings in her heart— Cassandra was all for it. Kissing Sam made her feel light, weightless. Unencumbered. It was a kiss like no other, because while it was new and experimental, it fed her danger addiction. She kissed the enemy. It didn’t get more dangerous than that.
    Yet the longer the kiss lasted, the quicker she forgot the bad stuff threatening to bring down the world around her. And danger segued into passion.
    Opening her mouth, she traced his lower lip with her tongue and slashed a quick flick over his white teeth. He moaned an agreeing tone and caressed her petite curves against his lean, hard body. Her feet left the ground, and he held her easily, his tongue matching hers.
    Cassandra raked her fingers through his soft, dark hair andbroke the kiss to stare into his eyes. “How are you able to do this?”
    â€œI think it comes naturally. And you have a great method of teaching.”
    â€œNo, I mean, kiss me and not