Sangria and Seraphim

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WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

This book is for sale to ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It contains substantial sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which may be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

All sexually active characters in this work are 18 years of age or older.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design: Reno MacLeod StarCrossed 2½: Sangria and Seraphim © 2008 Jaye Valentine and Reno MacLeod eXcessica publishing All rights reserved

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StarCrossed 2½: Sangria and Seraphim By Jaye Valentine and Reno MacLeod

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Nothing like having a full moon and a weekend hit Salem concurrently. As if the infamous Massachusetts town needed anything extra to make it weirder on a Friday night, the full moon had caused Tailz to be uncommonly vacant of shifters. The werefolk were all outdoors somewhere or in seclusion getting their involuntary monthly freak on. Konnor grabbed a clean rag from under the counter and began mopping up the bar. Although the shifter population was at zero tonight, the lower-level private club of the bar owned by the Barton twins was still packed to the gills, nearly crammed to legal capacity. Demons. Vampires. There were also a few of the select group of humans who'd been granted access to the place, Detective Samantha Wright among them. Already three sheets to the wind, Sam was sitting on some hot blond-haired vampire's lap with her short leather skirt hitched up and revealing Too Much Information. Konnor could hear Sam telling the vampire exactly what she thought was wrong with the males of his species, the vampire's pale hand slowly riding up her thigh to disappear under the leather. Chuckling, Konnor silently bet himself two-to-one that Sam and the vampire would be back in one of the rear corridor alcoves within the next ten minutes. Fifteen, tops. Demons. Vampires. Konnor looked around. Angels. Lots and lots of angels. It seemed as if the entire Salem contingent of seraphim were out tonight celebrating. Konnor had lost track of Jace thirty minutes earlier, having sent his mirror-image identical twin to retrieve another case of Guinness from the walk-in cooler in the back. Konnor filled orders for three waiters at the well and refilled the drinks of the patrons seated at the bar. He popped open the last Guinness for himself and took a

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long swig, leaning back against the liquor display island. Konnor scanned the everthickening crowd. "Angels," he said with a snort and a wry little smile. "Great." **** Things had started off innocently enough. With Konnor hard at work behind the bar, Jace had helped out the waiters by running drinks to the tables up front and the alcoves in the back. He'd stopped a few times to have pleasant conversations with old friends and had miraculously resisted the obvious temptation of the angels swarming around him. At least until an angel with hair the color of the sangria he drank had started giving Jace a hard time. Apparently the recent incident involving Jace and the angel Kelly had become the subject of gossip and speculation in Salem's supernatural circles. There were few who didn't know of Jace's little obsession with angels, and everyone wanted to know exactly what had happened. "None of your business," growled Jace for the tenth time that night, snatching the empty goblet from in front of the angel and replacing it with a fresh one. "Are you sure you're old enough to be in here, kid?" The angel looked up from under blunt-cut bangs. He flipped the rest of his hair forward over one shoulder until the long locks puddled in his lap. His eyes were a similar color, and Jace couldn't tell if the hair or the eyes were natural or realistic fakes.

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It didn't much matter, really. The young-looking angel was peering up at Jace, smiling with lips of deep red. Jace could already hear the warning klaxon going off in his brain. "I don't know," said the angel with a nonchalant shrug, running a fingertip around the rim of the glass until the crystal began to sing. The angel licked those thick, dark lips then said, "Are you sure you don't give out access cards and passwords to under-age seraphim?" Jace growled low and deep under his breath. "Are you sure you didn’t steal it from one of your elders?" He found it hard to not stare at those plump, rich lips and wonder what they would taste like. The klaxon got louder. "What do you care, anyway? Kelly's obviously fine; he was here last night with his lover Dekin. Why don't you ask them about it?" The angel rolled his eyes. "I already did. Trying to get those two to talk is like trying to squeeze water out of the Gobi." Sighing and shaking his head, the angel pulled his wallet from the back pocket of his snug-fitting jeans. He tossed his official Department of Special Enforcement identification onto the slickly polished wooden table. "Read it and weep. 1776 was a very good year." The angel's tongue ran over those lips again. Jace snatched up the I.D. card and gave it a quick study. "Ariel?" Jace felt his lips twitch into a smirk.

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Those wild red eyes narrowed. "You say anything that even rhymes with 'Little Mermaid' and you're going to be mourning the loss of your nuts." Ariel's eyes rolled and he made a clearly annoyed huffing sound. "God, I fucking hate Disney." "Then you should probably change your hair color, pal." Jace tossed the I.D. card back onto the table. "Looks legit." Leaning back, Jace craned his neck to see where Konnor was and if he was managing. Konnor looked busy enough. Jace's tail twitched. "If you aren't getting the right answers, maybe you're just asking the wrong questions." Ariel slid the card back into his wallet and returned the wallet to his pocket. "With all this talk about you and Kelly, I was just wondering." Ariel's eyes momentarily strayed from Jace as if he were surveying the room. "Was it just him, or do you really have thing for angels in general like they say?" Jace reached out to run his fingers through the deep red feathers of Ariel's closest wing, and he closed his eyes and softly moaned as if he were sampling sumptuous food. He opened his eyes and smiled. "You're curious about what it might be like, aren't you? You all are; you can't help it. The moment your people came down and started living with humans you opened yourselves up to temptation." Nodding, Ariel lifted his glass and quickly took a long drink of the fruity sangria. He leaned a little closer to Jace and whispered, "I can't stop thinking about it." Just then, Jace felt someone grab his tail and give it a hard yank. Sam Wright's voice—a little higher-pitched and a whole lot gigglier than usual—chirped in his ear. "You, Jace Barton, are a naughty, naughty boy." And then Sam giggled again. Yup, She was toasted.

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"Demon, Sam. Demon." Jace turned toward her. He took a fast whiff of the air surround her and chuckled. "Was the bloodsucker any good?" "Eh," Sam said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Nothing happened, I was just messin' with his head. You know, I really shouldn't drink rum when I'm out by myself; it makes me horny and not very partic..partic…choosy." She hiccupped a little then giggled again, peering around Jace at the angel. Sam's eyes went back to Jace, one eyebrow arching high. "Who's your cute little friend?" Jace reached out to steady Sam when she looked as if she might topple over. "You need a ride home, Detective? I can call a cab for you." "Nah," Sam said, waving her hand again. "Konnor's got it covered already." She grinned somewhat wickedly at Jace. "I'll be sure to tell him I ran into you when I go back to the bar to fetch my purse. See you later, Romeo." Giggling to herself, Sam scampered off remarkably quickly despite her apparently high blood-alcohol level combined with her four-inch heels. Now it was Ariel's turn to lift an eyebrow. "Konnor?" "My own personal guardian angel." Watching Sam to make sure she made it back to Konnor without falling, Jace pulled out a chair and sat. "He's my twin brother." After a moment of inner reflection, Jace added, "And the only one who holds my heart." "Oh." Ariel sounded disappointed as he looked down into his glass. His feathers ruffled, making a swishing noise. "I guess that means you wouldn't be interested in—" He shrugged. "Never mind."

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"I said he was the one I love." Jace made eye contact with Konnor at the bar. "He accepts me for who and what I am. When all is said and done, he knows I'll come home to him at the end of the day." **** With Sam tucked safely into the back seat of a taxi, Konnor got back to his post behind the bar just in time to catch Jace looking directly at him. Grinning, he held up his empty bottle of Guinness in hopes it would serve as a reminder. **** "Aw shit. I forgot the Guinness." Jace flashed a smile at Konnor and nodded. "So," Ariel said. "You and your twin brother are—" He paused, his cute face scrunching up as if puzzled over a concept or looking for just the right word. "Lovers?" Jace turned back to Ariel. "How about you go find yourself a nice, cozy alcove in the back? I'll come find you soon." **** Konnor stepped aside as Jace came barreling through the swinging door that opened into the bar, lugging a case of Guinness on one shoulder. Konnor grinned. "Distracted much?" Jace heaved the box onto the counter, ripped the cardboard open, and proceeded to unload the bottles into the cooler. "Have you seen it out there tonight? The place is crawling with angels, I still have my pants on, and it's almost closing time."

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Chuckling and snatching up one of the beers, Konnor said, "All things considered, I'm surprised you're not tripping over your dick." He pointed toward the back of the club with the neck of the unopened bottle. The angel with the dark red hair smiled at Jace before slipping behind the black velvet drapes into the rear hall. Konnor snorted. "Got a date?" "Yeah. New kid with the usual wide-eyed longings." Jace finished packing the fridge and put his arms around Konnor. "You okay back here for a bit? You could call upstairs, get one of the girls to watch the bar. You could come join me." He suddenly found himself wedged between the bar and Konnor's body, Konnor dropping one hand to cup and palm Jace's crotch. Konnor was simply gorgeous when he smirked, in that dangerous, 'I could rip your balls off right now if I wanted to' sort of way. Hot. "I'll get somebody to cover for me, and then I'll join you in a bit." Konnor grunted, grip tightening around the outline of Jace's cock straining against warm denim. "It's crowded back there tonight. You'll like it." It was moments like that when Jace sometimes questioned if he were actually the alpha. Breath caught in his chest, Jace met Konnor's eyes firmly and pushed his erection harder into Konnor's hand. Jace pushed his mouth against Konnor's in a deep, rough kiss that left nothing to the imagination. He drew back slowly. "Don't take too long. This one looks fragile." "Go." Konnor jerked his head toward the back of the club. "Save me some feathers." ****

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The heavy velvet curtain parted, and the noise from the back corridor of Tailz nearly blasted Jace in the face. Sounds of moaning and grunting and whimpering seemed to hang in the smoky air. Leaning against the wall between two of the occupied alcoves, Ariel lifted a cigarette to his mouth and took a long drag, eyes obviously on Jace. He had one knee bent, a booted foot propped against the wall. His black shirt was off, the end stuffed into the right-hand back pocket of his jeans and trailing down his leg like a flag. Ariel blew a stream of smoke in Jace's direction. Jace made a show of looking down the hall, and then back at the curtained entrance, then down the hall again at Ariel. Arching one eyebrow, Jace said, "I know I sent an angelic child back here. Have you seen him?" Cock already stiff as an iron cross, Jace stepped into Ariel's personal space and brushed thumbs across Ariel's nipples. "Never mind. I think I like this angel even better." Ariel's back arched off the wall, thrusting his chest into Jace's touch, every rib visible and straining against taut, sinewy muscle. Nipples stiffened into hard little nubs under Jace's flicking thumbs. Ariel took another drag of his smoke, and Jace watched as Ariel crushed the cigarette out on his own bony hip without so much as a flinch. The wound healed over instantly, leaving no scar. Ariel expertly flicked the dead butt into the sand-filled receptacle sitting against the opposite wall. "I'm an angel of protection. My whole life is about doing good, so I think I deserve a little badness now and then." Ariel licked those wine-colored lips. "And you look very, very bad."

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"Tell me, little angel," said Jace. "Have you ever had sex before? You don't seem too afraid of falling into ill favor with your hierarchy." Jace scanned the row of curtaincovered rooms looking for one that was open. Konnor had been right; it was an extremely busy evening. "You have got to be kidding me. Not a single open room? Is this bloody angel breeding season?" "What's wrong with right here?" Those pretty lips spread in a wide, sensuous smile, and Ariel took one of Jace's hands, guiding it downward. Jace's palm was pressed against soft, worn denim, Ariel's erection plainly flexing beneath it. Jace felt his eyes snap wide open, but he recovered his composure quickly and tightened his grip around Ariel's thickening cock. "The curtain was for your benefit, little seraphim. I have no problem at all letting the world hear your cries." The pale expanse of Ariel's neck beckoned Jace's bites and kisses, and Jace moaned between each one, pushing Ariel up hard against the wall as things began heating up. "You never answered my question," Ariel said between the gasps and whimpers brought on by Jace's biting and rough handling. "About you and your brother." Giving Ariel's neck a long lick with the flat of his tongue, Jace trapped Ariel between both his arms and stared in those eerie red eyes. "Are we lovers? Yes." "Evil," Ariel said accusingly, but the smile that spread those pretty lips said he really didn't mind so much. That impression was supported fully, in Jace's estimation, when Ariel followed up the accusation with, "Tell me what you like to do to him." The sole of Ariel's boot slid down the wall until both feet were firmly planted, long legs spreading a little wider.

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"Telling is boring," Jace said. "I've always preferred my experiences hands on." With a skilled flick of his wrist, Jace popped the button on Ariel's jeans. He paused a long beat, and he could see Ariel's expectations get a slap in the face when the promise of touch seemed to end there. "I wonder which of us is more evil? The one doing what is in his nature to do or the one slipping into the darkness just to see what it might be like? Last chance, angel. Fly now or I'll soil you good." The sound of Ariel's wings snapping and expanding outward was loud enough to momentarily put a stop to the grunts and moans and whimpers emanating from the alcoves. A strange, awkward silence permeated the corridor. Ariel's wings shuddered, tiny pinfeathers wafting lazily to the floor. "I'm not going anywhere," Ariel said, fingertips of one hand drifting idly over the bite marks Jace had left on his prominent collarbones. "I've done guardians, healers, blessing-bestowers and a few others, but I've never had an angel of protection before. Are you all so brave?" Jace crossed his arms and hooked fingers at the hem of his black Tailz logo shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it to the other side of the hall. He watched Ariel's reaction, knowing full well that his own body was in impressively well-toned shape. "Brave?" Ariel chuckled. "Not really." The palms of Ariel's warm hands came to rest on Jace's chest. "Mmm, hot body," Ariel said, licking his lips, the thumbs and forefingers of both his hands tweaking Jace's nipples. "Show me, then. Show me what you do to him."

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The words had barely finished falling from Ariel's lips before Jace struck. He grabbed at the hanging waistband flap of Ariel's jeans, using it to propel the angel hard against him. Lust-hungry lips collided with Ariel's mouth until the taste of blood hit Jace's tongue. "You might not survive what I do to him." "You might be surprised." The corridor brightened as the velvet curtain opened, white strobes and colored lights swirling in from the main part of the club. Jace watched as Konnor strode leisurely down the hallway, saying nothing until Konnor spooned up tight behind him. "Come to play with us, little brother?" Jace pressed back, enjoying the way his ass melded perfectly with Konnor's pelvis. It was easy for Jace to tell that Konnor was already enjoying the view. Knowing that his brother was watching made Jace twice as hard and doubly eager to get things moving. Still gripping Ariel's jeans, Jace tore them down well below Ariel's hips. Jace dropped his gaze to see what he'd unveiled and smiled. "Now, that is a heavenly sight." "Tell me what you see," Jace heard Konnor whisper in his ear. Ariel's stiff cock lay across Jace's palm, and he studied it carefully while one thumb brushed up and down its length. The touch sent visible shivers through Ariel, but for now Jace ignored the angel's needs. Jace's could feel Konnor's face burying into the back of his neck. Words had always meant more to Konnor than sight, and Jace knew that all too well. "Skin as soft as silk," Jace cooed, "and as pale as warm milk. He's cut, nicely." Jace paused and grunted as he ran the pad of his thumb over the tip of Ariel's cock. "Hard, but not slick yet. Nervous, angel?"

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Ariel's head nodded against Jace's chest. Konnor sighed loudly into Jace's ear from behind, Konnor's groin grounding hard against Jace's ass. Jace had to smile at the loud and clear signals he was getting from both sides to continue. With one hand he continued stroking, and with the other Jace embraced Ariel and ran his fingers though the softness of the thick, downy feathers. Jace paid particular attention to the place where wing joined shoulder, chuckling as the fingers of his other hand suddenly felt slick. "Tell me what you want, Ariel. Do you want to look at me while I fuck or do you want to face the wall?" "Want to see your face," Ariel said, panting hard like he couldn't catch his breath. "Want to see your brother's face looking over your shoulder at me." "Nice," said Jace. "Kinky. Are you sure you aren't one of the Fallen?" Nose-tonose with Ariel, Jace gave the hand wrapped around Ariel's cock a sharp twist and a bit of a tug. "Konnor? That all right with you?" Jace felt Konnor's body nudge up close and snug, the obvious silhouette of Konnor's erection insistently wedging itself between Jace's ass cheeks along the seam of Jace's jeans. "Oh yeah," Konnor said. "Not fallen yet." Ariel's soft, sweet voice seemed to echo in Jace's ear. "But I'm working on it." That hard cock twitched in Jace's grasp, precome leaking wet, sticky, and warm on Jace's fingers. Jace slid his hand down the full length of it and brought his glistening fingers into everyone's line of vision. He took the first lick, fluttering his eyelashes at the taste. "Pure

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white gold. Konnor, you need to taste this." Jace reached over his shoulder, moaning when he felt Konnor's soft tongue licking between his fingers. "What the fuck is it with you angels wanting to fall? Finally realizing it's more fun on this side of the fence? Figure out your purpose is no longer relevant and that the humans you serve no longer worship anything but themselves? You know what? Turn around. I think there's some punishment in order before you get the pleasure you're begging for." Ariel's body squirmed and twisted until he was sprawled face-front against the wall. His arms stretched upward and were covered over by his wings, legs spreading wide apart until he looked like a living St. Andrew's crossed affixed to the hallway wall. "He wants you," Jace heard Konnor said softly against his ear. "Wants you bad. Just look at him." Jace chuckled. "Yeah. My reputation is really getting around. I love it." The muscles along Ariel's back visibly tensed and Jace licked his lips. "Let's see. Paddle? Cane? Maybe we'll just go with my bare hand." Jace extended his arm and willed just the barest of shifts. Instantly, he felt his fingernails elongate into razor-sharp talons and teeth elongate into fangs, knew that his eyes had drained of their dark blue shade leaving the color of melted silver. Any further in the change and bones would begin reforming, but Jace halted the metamorphosis there. The first swipe of talons swept straight across Ariel's ass, leaving four long stripes of glistening crimson.

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Ariel clawed at the wall with his hands, wings stuttering as small red pinfeathers floated lazily to the floor. While Ariel made no vocalization, Konnor more than made up for it, breathing heavily and moaning against Jace's ear. Jace felt his tail being dug out of the back of his jeans, Konnor's familiar touch then caressing and stroking the length of it. "God," Konnor said, his growing erection pressing hard against Jace's ass. "You're going to make me come in my pants just from watching you. Jesus, you're so fucking hot." "I wouldn’t share this with anyone else, little brother. You do what you need to do." Jace hoped that included Konnor helping him out of his pants. The jeans were getting tight, and Konnor stroking his tail hadn't helped matters any. Blood gathering into thick droplets on Ariel's back looked almost black in the dim, golden light from candle sconces along the corridor walls. Jace caught one drip with his tongue as it trickled along pale skin and hit the spot just under Ariel's ribcage. Jace wanted more. The taste of blood excited him, and he leaned down and bit Ariel's hip hard enough to bruise and leave punctures from his fangs. Ariel struggled under Jace, squirming and writhing, this time the reaction accompanied by a deep and breathy moan. Konnor grunted, and Jace felt Konnor's strong hands finally make quick work of his jeans, the denim hauled down rudely over Jace's hips and ass. Even if Konnor had been silent behind him, even if Konnor had no scent, Jace would have known in was his twin behind him. He'd have known by the shape of the fingers that wrapped around his

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aching cock, by the softness of Konnor's skin from having spent so much time handwashing glasses, by the familiar little callous Konnor had at the base of his index finger from opening so many bottles of beer. Jace knew his twin that well, to know it was Konnor stroking him now, leisurely jerking him off while whispering dirty little nothings in his ear. "God," Ariel whimpered. "Jace, please do it again. God, I'm so damn hard." "Since when do you have the right to demand anything, Ariel?" Jace grabbed one of the candles perched close by on the wall. He knew Konnor saw but kept his action secret from Ariel. He held the taper sideways, aloft over Ariel's back, watching silently as the first splash of hot red wax dripped down and clung between Ariel's shoulder blades. Jace heard Konnor chuckle darkly in his ear as Ariel squealed and rose up on tiptoe. Konnor's hand gripped Jace's dick harder, thumb swiping over the slit. "Pretty," Konnor said. Jace felt Konnor's body pressing more firmly against his back. The narrow corridor had become crowded, the alcoves emptying out and more folks coming in from the bar. Word had apparently begun to trickle through the club. "Look at them, watching you." Konnor's voice was a low, seductive growl in Jace's ear. "And they all know you're mine, and that's the hottest fucking thing of all." That hand stroked Jace's dick harder, faster, and Jace felt Konnor's tail creep down and coil around his own. "Make him scream for me, Jace. You know he wants it."

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Ariel's wings flexed and fluttered as if responding to Konnor's words, and Ariel's soft voice said, "Oh God yes, please." Jace laid his head back, a low purr escaping him as he rubbed the side of his face against Konnor's. Jace wrapped the scent and sound and touch of his brother tightly around his soul. He'd do anything Konnor asked without question, and it had always been that way. Jace gave his Konnor's earlobe a sharp bite then turned his attention back to Ariel. Melted red wax mingled with red blood on a perfect, pale canvas of flesh. Jace committed the image to his memory for later when he was alone with his easel and paints. He traced two talons down the center of Ariel's spine, watching as the winecolored wings quivered when Jace drew close to his final destination. Willing back into his entirely human form, Jace turned his hand palm up and firmly slid his blunt-nailed middle finger up inside of Ariel. Again, Ariel's entire body seemed to stiffen and he stood up on his toes. His head fell back, that gorgeous long hair spilling down to tickle Jace's wrist and hand. "Oh God, I've never—" A murmur broke out among the crowd crammed into the hallway. Konnor's chin suddenly came into contact with Jace's shoulder as if his jaw had literally dropped. "Holy shit, big brother," Konnor said. "You've plucked yourself a virgin." Jace heard a sharp, quick zipping noise, immediately followed by the firm press of Konnor's very familiar cock sliding against the crack of his ass: hot, weighty, hard as fucking rock, and unmistakably leaking.

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Jace sucked in his breath sharply, and then licked his suddenly dry lips and pressed himself against Ariel's tortured back. The finger shoved up inside of Ariel's warm cavity twisted around slowly, pulling out and pushing in without cease. "You should have told me, Ariel. I might have been easier on you had I known. Demon or not, I'm not cruel unless provoked." "It's all right," Ariel said, sounding winded. His back arched, tilting his ass upward and taking in more of Jace's invading finger. "I want it." Ariel's hands scrabbled at the wall as if he were bracing himself for more. "God, I want it so bad." Jace felt the head Konnor's warm, thick cock prodding between his ass cheeks in obvious search of his hole. "You okay with this?" Konnor whispered against his ear. Heart pounding against his ribcage, Jace nodded. "Oh yeah," he said, panting. "Oh, fuck yeah. Just let me get inside him first. Jesus, he's so tight. Fuck, Konnor. I'm going to rip him up if I go in dry." Like an answer to a prayer, a travel packet of AstroGlide appeared next to Jace, courtesy of a nameless soul in the crowd. Any other time, Jace might have made a joke of it and tried asking for money. He snatched the donated lube, tore the plastic open with his teeth, and poured the fluid liberally over his hand. After a few strong strokes over his more-than-ready dick, Jace sunk three fingers into Ariel's snug little hole. Ariel moaned, and more than a few in the thickening crowd moaned right along with him. The sound of zippers parting echoed through he corridor, followed by the

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distinctive slapping noises of more than one patron jerking off. Ariel peered back, and Jace was greeted with those spooky red eyes flying open wide. Ariel's lower lip trembled, his gaze dropping to give Jace's body an obviously appreciative once-over. The red wings spread out again, this time to their apparent full width and nearly spanning the length of the hall. Ariel's eyes lifted again and locked firmly on Jace's gaze. "Magnificent," Ariel said, a tinge of awe in that soft voice. "I want to feel you inside me." Dark eyelashes fluttered. "I want you to be the one." Jace felt something warm and slick dribble down the crack of his ass, and Konnor's hands came to rest on his hips, fingernails digging in. Soft laughter gusted against Jace's ear. "I'm about to embarrass myself," Konnor said, "but sweet fucking Jesus this is hot." Jace couldn't help but grin at Konnor's admission, but then he donned his stern image again and went back to work on Ariel. "You really do want to become one of the Fallen, don't you?" Jace moved in and pressed his lips to the place on Ariel's back where wings shared muscle. "I'll fuck you soundly," he whispered, "but you won't fall from this. Consensual sex, even with a demon, won't do it. That's one of those lovely myths they use to keep all you good little angels in line. Still, think it over long and hard before you let it all go. It's a hard road, kid." Lecture concluded, Jace palmed his slicked-up cock and slid it between Ariel's tense cheeks. Warm and wet, Jace massaged the cap of his cock against Ariel's hole

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until he felt the muscles start to relax. It took only one, well-aimed push to break through the taut barrier. Ariel cried out, the sound sad and forlorn, gut wrenching in its intensity. The impromptu audience stilled, becoming so quiet one could have heard a pin drop on the carpet. Jace felt warm lips press to the back of his neck, and then Konnor was suddenly beside him, one of Konnor's hands gently stroking his cheek. Konnor's other hand smoothed fluffed up feathers on Ariel's nearest wing, softly petting. Konnor's eyes met Jace's. "It's all right, Ariel," Konnor said. "You're in good hands." Konnor looked out on the crowd and, despite their remarkably good behavior, calmly sounded an authoritative edict. "Everybody out. Show's over." As the crowd shuffled out, Konnor resumed his position behind Jace, guiding himself inside with haste. Jace pressed his nose along the shell of Ariel's ear and wrapped one arm around Ariel's heaving chest. "Hold onto me," Jace whispered as he started to move. Forward sank him deep into Ariel; back impaled him neatly onto Konnor. Fuck, it was good. With their bodies melting together, Jace soon fell into a rhythm that optimized his pleasure. Ariel tucked both his arms around Jace's forearm, gripping tightly. He moaned quietly with each long thrust. "Don't let go." That soft voice sounded so small and helpless. "You were right," Jace heard Konnor say. "This one is fragile." Konnor's arms slid over Jace's hips, Jace watching Konnor's hands come to rest on Ariel's slim hips.

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Plunging deeply into Jace's body, Konnor's dick swelled and flexed inside him, Konnor moaning over and over Jace and fuck and Jace. Jace grunted and clenched his ass tightly around Konnor while pushing forward and up into Ariel. He could feel Ariel's knees start to give and knew if he were to let go, the angel would tumble to the floor. "I won't let go, little seraphim. God, you feel so good. Bend forward just a bit and I'll take you home to the stars you came from." Nodding, Ariel did as he was told and bent himself over slightly. The small shift in position was enough to cant Jace's hips that caused a cascade affect that sent Konnor over the edge. Konnor grunted softly, hips jerking, and Jace felt Konnor's warmth spurt inside him, filling him. Jace felt one of Ariel's arms release its grip on his own. Brisk movements under him made it clear Ariel was jerking off. "Jace." Ariel's breath caught audibly in his throat. His body trembled violently, feathers raining down on all three of them like a surreal wine-colored snow. Ariel moaned. "God, it feels so good!" Jace sighed loudly as Konnor's heat slowly faded and he felt his brother pull out. Left with a single purpose, Jace let his hand join Ariel's and he slowed the strokes, holding Ariel on the thin edge of release. "Such a naughty, dirty little angel you are, Ariel," Jace said. "You're loving every second of this, aren't you?"

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"Yes," said Ariel, head nodding emphatically. Jace felt tight walls grip and release around him, Ariel whimpering with every contraction of his ass and every stroke of Jace's fist. "Oh God, oh God, it's coming." Konnor, meantime, had moved to stand beside Ariel, his back resting on the wall. His tail shuddered and twitched, flicking against the wall like it was having its own postorgasmic aftershocks. He tucked his dick back into his jeans and zipped up. Despite the pile of fuckable pretty Jace had impaled to the wall next to him, Konnor's eyes were locked fast on his brother. He licked his lips. "Let it come." Jace renewed his stroking efforts. His lips traveled along Ariel's shoulder and teeth took sudden, sharp bites. Jace knew Ariel was close. As his eyes moved across Konnor's face and caught that ardent stare, Jace let himself go and lost it. He reared up on his toes, slamming deep inside Ariel, Jace bellowing his pleasure to the ceiling while he gripped those feathered wings tight. Wailing, whimpering, Ariel went spiraling out of control. Wings snapped outward, the muscles in them shuddering and quaking under Jace's fingers, and with a jerky thrusting of hips Ariel came all over Jace's hand. Konnor moved quickly, sliding an arm between Ariel's chest and the wall to hold the angel up on his feet. Ariel turned his head, nuzzling his face into Konnor's neck and shoulder as if he were attempting to hide. Wet spots spread on Konnor's shirt, a few tears dripping from those strangely colored eyes.

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Jace met Konnor's gaze as they both held onto Ariel. He nodded upward, indicating their apartment above the club. "We should take him home with us, Jace said. "He's going to need some looking after while he recovers and reflects on all of this." Nodding. Konnor scooped the wrecked angel up into his strong arms. "You get the doors." Jace brought up the rear, laughing as Konnor struggled up the steps, those expansive red wings getting stuck in the narrow stairwell. Konnor grinned down at Jace. "I've got a really bad feeling about this."

The End

For information regarding other short stories and novels in the StarCrossed series, please visit the authors at: http://jaye-valentine.livejournal.com http://reno-macleod.livejournal.com http://www.myspace.com/starcrossed_tailz

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine are freelance writers currently based in a small New England town famous for producing bungee cords and a notorious ax murderess. Writing erotica and erotic horror stories are Jaye's primary endeavors, while Reno works in video production when he isn't pounding the keyboard. They live with two adorably evil cats named Anakin and Sephiroth. For more information, please visit the authors at reno-macleod.livejournal.com and jaye-valentine.livejournal.com

If you enjoyed STARCROSSED, you might also enjoy:

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SOFT FOCUS By Reno MacLeod and Jaye Valentine Ethan Bouwer has always been the adventurous sort. A freelance nature photographer, he travels the globe and writes erotica on the side whenever things get a bit slow. Hunting for a topic for his next writing project, he stumbles upon a man named David Turner and the taboo world of BDSM. His curiosity piqued, Ethan discovers that David Turner and his beautiful partner Kiyoshi are coming to town for a convention. Ethan makes arrangements for them to meet, but little does Ethan know that he is about to embark on a safari into a world more wild and untamed than anything he has ever encountered before.

Warning: This title contains graphic language, m/m sex, bdsm and attempted rape.

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Excerpt From SOFT FOCUS: David put a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. Ethan could feel David’s other hand tracing the intricate curves of subtly raised ink lightly with the tips of his fingers. David’s breath felt warm on the back of Ethan’s neck. A shiver shook Ethan to his core.

“May I, Sensei?” David looked down. Kiyoshi’s eyes remained on the floor, his arms visibly trembling.

“Perhaps later,” David said, his lips pressing to Ethan’s right ear. “I want him all to myself for now. You’re excused, Kitten. You may leave Ethan’s things on the sofa.”

Ethan watched in stunned silence as Kiyoshi rose gracefully to his feet still holding Ethan’s things. Kiyoshi placed them on the sofa with care, and as he quickly and quietly departed for one of the bedrooms. Ethan felt suddenly vulnerable. He trusted that David would keep his word and do nothing without permission, but primitive survival instincts drove Ethan’s blood pressure spiraling toward the roof. “Should I have a safe-word?”

David chuckled and began a slow, methodical walk around Ethan, one hand stroking his own chin as if he were pondering something important. “I’m only looking at you, Ethan. I don’t think you need a safe-word for that. Unless, of course-” David stopped directly in front of Ethan, so close that Ethan figured David could probably count the tiny freckles on his nose. “Unless you would like me to do more than look.”

Ethan stopped breathing. His hands felt heavy, and the blood draining from his face gave the sensation that he was actually melting under David’s powerful gaze.

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Blood rushed to other places and Ethan felt himself beginning to stiffen, increasing the feeling of being utterly vulnerable. He was sure David could hear his heart thumping in his chest. “I…” Ethan struggled to put a single thought in order. “It would help me to understand. To really understand the emotion behind what goes on.”

One of David’s hands slid to cup Ethan’s face with his palm, those brown eyes boring into Ethan with intensity that glossy paper couldn’t capture. A warm, moist kiss was pressed to Ethan’s mouth with the tiniest tease of the tip of tongue. David tugged at the bar-and-hook on the waistband of Ethan’s trousers. “Now you need a safe-word.”

The tip of Ethan’s tongue slipped out, tasting where David’s lips had been. He was lost in the flavor until he found his pants being pulled open. His cock leaped against the material. “Zebra,” Ethan said quickly, arching his back slightly to drive his hardness against David’s hand.

“Very well.” Ethan’s zipper ratcheted down one slow click at a time. David’s hand slipped inside Ethan’s fly, palming Ethan’s blossoming erection that strained in protest against his briefs. “So hard for me already,” David said in a pleased tone. “But I’m certain you can do better.”

Eyes fluttering closed, Ethan parted his lips to let a soft cry escape. It had been close to a year since he’d been with a man, but even as his mind traveled through the backlist of all his lovers, not one of them had ever caused the crackle of erotic energy Ethan now felt surging through his body. David had barely touched him and Ethan was already burning up.

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“I want you naked in my bed,” David said, lips trailing wetly along Ethan’s cheek, palming him harder, Ethan’s cock firmly gripped through a layer of soft cotton. “Go to Kiyoshi, and tell him to prepare you for presentation. He’ll know what to do.” David nipped sharply at Ethan’s earlobe.

Ethan prayed his knees would hold out.

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