Free Kassern (Archangels Creed) by Azure Boone, Kenra Daniels

ingredients and a pan sizzled over a flame on the stove, Troy looked up at her and grinned. "My mom used to make pancakes every Saturday. It's the one thing I miss most about living at home."
    " Hmmph ." Devyn didn't mean to sound bitter, but she couldn't help it. She was bitter. "I barely remember living at home. My parents were killed when I was twelve."
    He went totally still for a moment, staring at her, making her uncomfortable. She got up from the table and put a few dishes in the sink, feeling suddenly cooped up.
    "I'm sorry that happened to you Devyn." He turned back to his work, flipping a pancake expertly, and giving her a little privacy for a moment. "So, you what? Stayed with grandparents? Other relatives?"
    Devyn bit back the nast iness in her re sponse as she turned and leaned her back against the counter. "No, I went to foster care. There weren't any living relatives, or close friends. So, I went through a series of foster homes, some good, some not."
    "Oh. Did anyone… Was anyone… Were-"
    "No one molested me, or anything like that, if that ' s what you ' re wondering. Or even abused. But most of the foster parents didn't do much in the way of parenting, and some of the kids were pretty messed up. That's how I met Karly. We sort of followed one another from foster home to group home to foster home." She sighed and combed her fingers through her hair. " W asn't nearly as bad as it could have been." But it still brought those damned tears, every time she thought of it. She closed her eyes to squeeze them away by sheer willpower.
    "I'm glad it wasn't as bad as it could have been ."
    Warm breath brushed across her cheek and Devyn's eyes flew open to find Troy right in front of her. She stared, almost spellbound, as he opened his arms, offering a hug. When was the last time someone offered her a hug, just because she could use one? She didn't remember, but a very long time. Astonishing herself, she went right into his embrace.

Chapter Ten
     
    His clean, masculine scent worked its way into her consciousness, reminding her that he was the first person she had willingly allowed to come so physically close. Loneliness struck and her tears refused to be held back. She broke with a sob against his shoulder. He held her tight and made soothing noises until the storm passed , which was an embarrassingly long five minutes that felt like forever .
    When her tears started to fade, he slipped his fingers deep into the hair at her temple, sending warm tendrils of comfort across her scalp. Shifting carefully, he changed her position enough to give his mouth access to her forehead.
    Devyn moaned, helpless, as the silky heat of his lips slid across her brow and made their way to her temple. Her heart fluttered as he continued to nibble soft kisses down to her jaw. Devyn nearly fainted when his hot lips teased at her earlobe, sending a current of heat to her nipples.
    Troy's harshly indrawn breath signaled his awareness of her hardening nipples. He let one hand drop to the curve of her ass, holding her firmly in place. The other hand, so very hesitant, skimmed her ribs to gently cup her breast. She couldn ' t keep from arching and pushing her breast into his palm, never needing anything so badly. He moaned and tightened his fingers on her ass.
    Impatient to taste him, Devyn turned to bring her mouth to his. Not needing further encouragement, he angled his lips over hers, teasing her with tender nips.
    Playing her hands across his chest, exploring the delectable skin, she turned the tables on Troy by flicking her thumb over his tight nipple. He gasped and jumped, worrying her that he would leap entirely away from her.
    Surprised at the extent of his reaction, Devyn drew back a little, remembering in amazement, his inexperience. To think this hunk of a guy was new at this made her all the more eager to have him for herself.
    The scent of burning bacon penetrate d between them , dispelling the heady arousal she swooned with . Troy