Free Fall Into Darkness by Valerie Twombly Page A

minute but for some reason, she felt he told the truth. “So what happens if you don’t? Find your humanity, that is.”
    He gave her a hard stare. “Then I’m condemned to Hell for eternity.”
    She chewed her lip. The thought of him burning in the fiery pits displeased her. “And you’re going to find it here? In Alaska?”
    “I’m not sure. They dropped me here in the middle of the night and I heard your scream. When I came running, I saw a Hellhound over you. I killed him and… well, you know the rest.”
    She searched for the mental image of the beast that had attacked her and shivered. Overly large, grey-scaled body, red eyes, and an enormous head. She’d never seen anything like it in her life and her first thought had been it came from the depths of Hell. “I knew it wasn’t normal when I saw it.”
    He stood and walked over to where his jeans lay, pulled them on under the towel, and then tossed the terry in the hamper. “Look, here’s the deal. I’m pretty certain the Seven want me to have sex with you. It’s the only logical explanation I have for them sticking me here.”
    Ashley coughed. “Excuse me?”
    He faced her, his hands shoved into his pockets. “When an angel has sex with a human, we produce only female babies. Our daughters are marked as an angel’s mate. If they are later chosen by an angel, they become an eternal mate and will only bear male heirs. Another generation of archangels.”
    “Wait. So you mean to tell me they want you to have sex with me and leave me pregnant?” She curled her hands into fists. She wanted to punch something, starting with him.
    “You needn’t worry. I have no intention of sleeping with you.” He reached for his shirt and pulled it over his head.
    She relaxed her hands. “Damn right you won’t be.” Then why would the prospect that he didn’t want her suddenly hurt? Was she not pretty enough? She sighed. “I need to get dressed. If you would be so kind as to leave the room and close the door behind you.”
    He gave her a leveled look. “And what do you intend to do? Fall on your ass?” He marched to her dresser and started opening drawers.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Finding you something to wear.” He pulled out a pair of red panties and matching bra and held them up. “Will these do?”
    Her cheeks warmed. “Yes.”
    He tossed them on the bed then continued his search until he’d found a shirt and a pair of sweat pants, which he brought over and handed to her. “Better to have something soft against your skin.” He took three steps away and turned his back. “Change, cuz I’m not leaving the room.”
    “Fine, but no peeking.”
    “Like I would,” he retorted.
    “Did you ever stop to think maybe the Seven tossed you out because you’re an ass?” She could hear him chuckle as she slipped off the towel and wet bra. Relieved to be rid of it, she pulled on the underwear then struggled to get the fresh bra hooked. Deciding not to bother, she discarded it and donned the fleece top. She pulled the sweats up her legs then leaned back to get them over her hips.
    “Okay, I’m finished.”
    He turned back around and strode to the bed. “I’m sure the Seven would concur with your judgment of my character.” He held out his hand. “Care to try and walk to the other room?”
    Grateful he didn’t insist on carrying her again, she grabbed his arm and stood. “Tell me something. Would you really rather spend eternity in Hell as opposed to sleeping with me?”

9
    H ow the fuck was he supposed to answer that question? Lie! “Yes, I’d rather burn in Hell than have sex with you.”
    The hurt in her eyes burned deep into his soul, but he couldn’t tell her he wanted her more than any woman he’d ever encountered. These desires, brought on by the Seven and their plans for him to procreate, weren’t real. Granted, he could sleep with her and not will her impregnated, but he didn’t trust himself. And he damn sure didn’t trust the