The Bound Angel (Sacrilege Rising: Book 1)

Chapter Fifteen

Allie was lying in bed, wide awake. She couldn’t sleep, constantly cycling between overwhelming horniness, where even the caress of the bed sheets would get her going, to complete lack of stimulation, where nothing could get her off. And she hadn’t gotten off. Not since she came home. She was completely naked in the dark. When the arousal came, it felt like she was roasting, and she was tired of sweating through clothes.

It was too much to handle. Spending more than a few minutes with Heather made her squirm, and her thoughts quickly would quickly from there. It was embarrassing. She was running out of excuses for abruptly leaving the room. She couldn’t take it anymore. At the first hint of sunrise through the window, Allie was up and getting dressed. It was time to put an end to this.

A short time later, her driver pulled up in front of Mike’s apartment. She stepped outside without looking back. The sun was still too low to burn away the dawn chill, and she suddenly wished she was wearing something heavier.

His building looked different this morning, but she couldn’t put her finger on what, or why. Tall and gray, its face was covered in rectangular windows. She’d been here a lot lately, what was throwing her off? The sight of the intercom system made her hesitate, and the morning breeze flapped the long overcoat around her legs. The itch wouldn’t let her think through all the logistics, so she decided to just show up and wing it. Then it hit her. She’d only ever been here at night. Did that say something about her? If it did, she decided she didn’t care. But the sight of the building in daylight made her uncomfortable.

At night, she knew what she was walking into when she came here. Excitement would begin tingling as soon as she saw the lobby lit up in the dark. Now, in the light of day, she wasn’t sure. He might want to talk or something. She’d have to do something about that.

The chilly wind was impossible to ignore, since the overcoat was more fashionable than functional. Luckily, someone was walking through the lobby in her direction. Allie shook her head, gathered her coat around her, and marched to the doors like she lived there.

The elevator was so, goddamn, slow. She wanted it over already. She needed to be in his apartment and in his bed as fast as humanly possible. But what if he wanted to talk? God, she hoped he didn’t want to talk. The itch was getting more demanding as the elevator rose.

What would she say? In her rush to get here, she hadn’t come up with a plan to discuss those days and nights that were still a blurry smear in her memory. To be honest, she hadn’t even really thought about it all that much. Between the itch, carefully avoiding Heather, and catching up with her stupid classes, she just hadn’t had a chance to slow down and think.

The elevator chimed and the doors opened. No time to think now. The carpet was familiar under her feet. It was the same number of paces to his door, and she didn’t even have to check the number. Her knock was firm and clear, and she gathered the overcoat tighter around her as she waited. And waited. The heels were uncomfortable.

He better not be asleep. If he was sleeping in, she’d kill him, just as soon as she got what she needed. Should she knock again? She wished she had a mirror to check her makeup and-

The door swung open as her fist hung in the air.

“Allie?” Mike looked surprised.

She stepped right past him and into the apartment. It too felt the same, but different. She wasn’t used to seeing daylight streaming through the windows. Some sport was on the TV and a half-eaten bowl of cereal on the coffee table. He was wearing gym shorts and an old tee shirt.

Not that any of it was bad, or wrong, it just felt more like real life, which she wasn’t used to. What before were hookups full of excitement and mystery was now ordinary. With cereal. Not bad, necessarily. Not bad at all. She imagined waking up here, cuddling under the blankets, lazily sliding his tee shirt over his head and running her hand down his sculpted abs as she reached for… Allie shook her head. The itch was gnawing at her.

“What are you doing here?” Mike interrupted her train of thought.

She rolled her eyes. How could boys be both so stupid and so irresistible? Instead of answering, she slowly reached for the top button of her coat. His eyes followed her hands, and when he saw what she was doing, he froze. She smirked at the sudden recognition. He wasn’t totally hopeless then.

With the top button undone, she let her fingers linger while he just stared. They played along the edge of the fabric, and he watched like a dog tracking a treat. When she teased at the second button, pausing there for a moment, so did his eyes. Her stomach fluttered at his helpless innocence. This was real power. He was like a puppy. Why had she been so nervous?

She deftly removed the next button. This time, as her fingers played along the coat’s edge, she briefly let it open, just an inch, just for a second, but his eyes widened when he saw what she was wearing underneath. Which was practically nothing.

She gave him a fleeting glimpse of a lacy red bra. The red was sinful against her deeply tanned skin and matched her lipstick. Her smirk deepened as his jaw went slack. He was like putty, happy to be molded. Two buttons down, two to go.

Teasing the coat a little wider, she played at the next button, working and letting go, pretending to have trouble, even though they both knew what was happening. Then it released, and she let the coat drift open and closed. He was enthralled by every movement, frozen in the same spot since she walked in. Power and excitement flooded through her, stoking her arousal and holding the itch at bay. It was like it knew what she was doing was in its own interest. Could she get him to drool?

Now that the third button was finally free, the coat opened a little more, revealing the edge of lacy red panties that matched her bra. As fun and exciting as this was, the itch was starting to get impatient. She was enjoying the thrill but needed satisfaction.

The final button released. The coat hung open, exposing a few bare inches from throat to thighs. With all the patience and restraint she had left, Allie slowly, agonizingly slowly, pulled the edges back, lazily revealing what she knew Mike craved.

The moment dragged as he stared, and she stood there with her hands on her hips, feeling more confident with each passing second. Time seemed to slow, like honey dripping from a spoon. Then it stopped. They were frozen in that moment, like time had just enough momentum to get to the top of the hill but not quite enough to go over the edge. An instant became a heartbeat. A slow blink. An unsteady breath.

Then something changed. Allie felt it in her core and tasted it on the tip of her tongue before she saw it. A subtle shift behind his eyes. The surprised, doughy look became sharp and focused, like a shark catching the scent of blood.

That look changed everything. Excitement coursed through her veins. The itch flourished alongside it, quickly becoming overwhelming. Her breath caught. Her body shivered. She closed her eyes and took a deep, ragged breath as she fought to keep her legs steady. All from a single look.

When she opened them, Mike was right in front of her, close enough to see his muscles under his shirt and to catch the scent that was uniquely his. Allie wanted to throw herself at him and rip his clothes off and feel his length in her mouth. She wanted to collapse in a mewling, whimpering heap until he picked her up and carried her off to bed. But she’d never surrender without a fight. Her will was iron. If he wanted something, he would have to take it.

“I asked you what you were doing here.” His voice was low and hard now, like the bulge in his shorts she couldn’t stop glancing down at.

“What the fuck do you think I’m doing here?” Allie was proud of how steady her voice sounded. It didn’t betray the fire in her belly. When he didn’t respond, she pushed a little harder. “Are you just gonna stand there like some fucking peeping Tom?”

Then his mouth was on hers and his fingers were in her hair and his body was pushing her back against the wall. Her hands slid under his shirt by reflex, feeling his strong chest and rippling stomach. They found the creases at his waist that made a V, and her knees wobbled. His tongue pushing into her mouth made her melt.

She liked feeling powerful, in control, able to lead him around by the nose. But she loved when he took it all away. Mike dragged the coat down her arms, exposing the rest of her body. Her heels made their heights even, and his rock-hard length pressing against her groin made her groan.

He broke the kiss and moved his mouth to her neck, where his hot breath tortured inflamed skin. Allie tried to push her hand into his shorts, desperate to wrap her fingers around his length, but he was pressing against her too hard and she couldn’t make room.

Mike had no such trouble getting where he wanted. Before her back was even against the wall, he’d yanked her coat off and dropped it at their feet. Then his callused hands were free to roam. They moved wildly, massaging her breasts and palming her ass and mapping every inch of available skin. Where they roamed, fire followed, until Allie was panting and squirming. When he cupped her throat it sent her into overdrive, and she couldn’t keep herself from matching his mindless, grinding thrusts.

His hand was gentle on her neck. Not soft, it was too callused for that, but tender. He was just sending a message. One that made Allie want to drop to the floor and make his knees wobble. Instead, she looked him in the eye and said, “Did you want to just stand here and make out like we’re in high school, or were you planning on being a man at some point?”

The growl that escaped Mike’s throat made her legs finally give out. Luckily, he’d gripped her ass and lifted just in time, spreading her legs around his waist and pressing his bulge exactly where she needed it. Her red heels dug into his ass and he grunted, increasing the pressure where they were joined. Then he yanked them off and threw them somewhere behind him.

“Fuck, baby,” she heard herself hiss. “That’s it. Let me feel you. Do whatever you need to do.”

At her words, Mike froze. His hips stopped grinding. His hands stopped groping. It was like someone flipped a switch from on to off.

His voice lost its intoxicating growl. “What did you say?”

The sudden change caught her off balance. “What’s wrong?”

He brushed her hair behind her ear and said, “We should stop. I’m sorry.” His voice was soft. After one more searching look and a sad smile, he carefully set her back down on the floor. Without the heels, he was suddenly much taller.

Allie was stunned. “What the fuck just happened?”

Mike stepped back out of reach. “We’re not ourselves. We need to get this all figured out. We should talk.” He moved to the couch and gestured for her to sit.

Talk? No fucking way. Allie stepped into his space again. She pulled his hands to her chest, reached for the bulge in his shorts, and started stroking. “Come on.” Now her voice betrayed her need. She couldn’t wait any longer. “Just a quick one. Then we can talk.”

He didn’t even squeeze her tits once. His hands just fell away. Then he gently lifted hers and set them down at her sides. He sat on the couch and patted the spot next to him.

But before he had a chance to settle, she jumped him, practically tackling his waist. In an instant, his shorts were down and his cock sprang free. She looked past it to stare into his eyes. “Use my mouth. Fuck my face. See what your cock looks like covered in lipstick. Come on, you know you want to.”

“Allie, enough.” His voice was hard again, and his hands were firm as they pushed her away. “Sit. We need to talk.”

Without thinking, Allie slapped him in the face. Hard. She didn’t mean to do it, it just happened. The smack stung her hand and echoed in the small room. She’d never been turned down in her life. And now, at this moment, when she was hornier than she’d ever been before, was the absolute worst possible time for her first rejection.

“What the fuck are you even good for then?” It came out in a choked sob, and the iron will that had been holding everything together started to crumble. “That woman drags us away into some sex dungeon and you have your way with us for fucking days, and now when I’m the one who needs it you’re suddenly too self-righteous? Too fucking noble to help me?” Tears were flowing freely down her face, but she didn’t care. “And now I’m out of control horny and all I can think about is you and your fucking cock and I don’t know what to do about it.”

Mike began gently, “I know how-”

“Fuck you,” Allie spat. “Fuck you and what you know. I wish I never met you.”

Mike recoiled from her words. That seemed to hit harder than the slap had. He looked sad. But it was quickly replaced by resolve, and he gestured again to the couch. “Sit. Please.”

Eventually, after a staring contest neither of them wanted to lose, she sat. But she refused to look at him while tears were rolling down her face. She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead at the wall while she fought to regain her composure.

“I… don’t know what happened out there,” Mike began. “I mean, I have an idea, but I don’t know for sure. It’s hard to remember. But I met someone. Her name was Lana. Well, I thought that was her name. Turns out it isn’t, which really threw me, but that’s not the point and now I’m rambling.”

Allie finally turned to him then. He looked as anxious as he sounded.

“Let me start over. I met this woman who I thought was a friend. She wasn’t. There was a… misunderstanding, and I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in bed with you and the others.”

The others. That was another bridge they would have to cross. “Who was she?” Allie sniffled.

“You met her. She was wearing all black. And she’s beautiful. More than that, she’s… unbelievable, in a hundred ways.” He saw the look in her eye and didn’t go any further. “Sorry. Anyway, she’s… well, not exactly human.”

Allie snorted and opened her mouth to say something.

Mike cut her off. “I know. But you were there. You saw what she was like. She’s some sort of sex demon, and she did something to me. I can go all night now, as you know.” Allie’s cheeks flushed but she didn’t look away. “And I don’t really need much sleep anymore. At one point, while we were there, she explained how it works. Women I’m interested in become interested in me. What I want, they want.”

That was the most ridiculous thing Allie had ever heard. “Get the fuck out of here,” she managed as she wiped her face. “You think that woman is a… I feel stupid even saying it out loud. A demon? Like… from hell? You’re talking about, like, sex magic?” If she hadn’t experienced it first-hand there would have been more conviction in her voice.

“Something like that,” he nodded. Then he sighed and leaned back. “So you see why we shouldn’t do this anymore. At least not right now. Why I feel guilty. You don’t know what you’re doing. You’re not yourself.”

“But… fuck, I don’t know,” Allie grumbled. “Let’s say you’re right and this magic sex lady makes women want to jump in bed with you. Is that so wrong? It’s just sex.”

“Now you sound like the voice in my head.”

Allie rolled her eyes. “People sleep together all the time. Like, all the time. Without magic. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Mike waited for her to continue. “Okay so maybe it’s not one hundred percent natural.” Again, if she hadn’t just experienced those few blissful days, she would have thought they were both going crazy. But there it was. “There are a ton of girls with fake lips or fake tits or whatever. Does that make sex wrong? Not to mention drinking, which is a whole other conversation.”

When he started to interrupt, she cut him off. “I know, I know, not exactly the same thing, but still. So maybe she gave us a little push. And maybe the sex is a little better than it would be otherwise. So what? Nobody’s getting hurt. I mean, aside from the kidnapping thing, fuck that, and good luck to her if she tries that shit again.”

Mike opened his mouth to say something, then closed it. His face softened, and he asked quietly, “Are you sure nobody is getting hurt?”

“What do you mean? Sure, it got a little rough sometimes, but trust me, you’re not… oh.” Allie looked away. She wasn’t ready to have that conversation. Not with him. Not with anyone. “Can we not talk about that? Please?”

He swallowed, then said, “I think we need to. Under the circumstances.”

He was touching on something raw. Like a wound that never healed. He was asking about something she’d never talked about with anyone. Not her family, not her friends, not her other partners. Not anyone. She’d barely thought about it herself.

“I… don’t know,” she began. “Not really. I like when you boss me around, sometimes. I guess. Not in real life, fuck that. But in bed, it’s hot.” She eyed his shorts and the bulge that was still there, and Mike grabbed a pillow to put over his lap.

When she didn’t continue, he asked delicately, “Was there trauma? Or anything like that?”

“What? No. I didn’t get groped by a priest or anything. There was no drunk uncle at Christmas. I just like it. Is that so bad?”

He eyed her. “Is it something new, or has it always been this way?”

It was a fair question, given what he was saying about the possible cause of their relationship. But talking about it was difficult. “It’s always been that way. Can we stop? Please? Nothing has changed. This is how I’ve always been and I’m uncomfortable talking about it.” She continued, softer. “And I’m afraid it’ll ruin it.”

“Ruin what?”

Allie hesitated. “It’s not something I can exactly advertise, you know? And it’s been impossible to find someone that’s into it and as fucking good at it as you are. And now that it’s out in the open, you’ll be thinking about it any time we fuck, and you’ll treat it like something else. Or maybe you’ll just be afraid, and I really, really need you to not be afraid.”

She bit her lip, scared to look away and scared of what he would say next.

“Look, I’ll be honest, it turns me on. Like, a lot.” He shifted the pillow in his lap, which made Allie stare like she was trying to see through it. “But it’s important that we’re open about it. Communication is the most important thing. If you don’t want to do something, I need to know. If I’m pushing any boundaries, I need to know. And you have to be okay talking to me about it.” He took a breath. “So, I promise I’ll take it seriously if you promise to tell me if something makes you uncomfortable, okay?” He paused to consider. “We should have ground rules.”

Allie lazily raised an eyebrow and gave him a look. “That was a lot of future tense you just used, big guy,” she murmured. She lifted one bare, tanned leg up onto the couch, caressing his hip with her toes while she looked into his eyes. It opened her posture, putting her body on display, making it an invitation.

She dropped her voice. “Does that mean you’re up for trying out these new ground rules,” when she made air quotes she was perfectly aware of what it did to her chest and how often Mike’s eyes were drifting there, “right now?” She glanced at the pillow. “I mean, I know you’re up, but…” She pushed her toes a little further up his thigh.

He didn’t stop her foot, but he did say, “I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s only been a few days since we got back. Who knows if there are any lingering effects? We need to make sure this is really what you want, and not just a reflection of what I want. Let’s give it some time so we’re really ourselves, and it’s not just the sex magic. Besides, I need to check in at work.”

Allie just stared at him. The itch hadn’t gone away. “God fucking dammit.”