Embracing Eternity Read Online Free PDF Page B

woods.
    “I know you’re awake, little dancer.”
    The rich baritone erased her lingering lethargy in an instant.
    “Don’t call me that.” Meela sat up fast enough to leave her head spinning and her stomach churning. She swayed, falling heavily on one elbow.
    “Shh. Don’t rise so fast. The power has waned and you are weak.” Evan’s hands were on her, steadying and supporting her.
    Support. It had been so long since anyone had held her up, helped her. So long the sensation was alien.
    But not unwelcomed. The urge to sink into his arms was so very strong. The memory of his hands on her body was too fresh, the taste of him on her lips too vivid.
    Who knew angels could offer temptation too?
    “Hung over is more like it,” she groused, pulling away from his strong arms. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be in Heaven singing praises or something?”
    “I was in Heaven, but I returned as soon as I’d been given leave.”
    Been given leave? That sounded like he’d been recalled. Someone probably found out he’d been slumming it with a demon.
    Self-righteous pricks.
    “And you came running back to me. I bet Raphael will love that. Hanging out with a demon when you should be off protecting someone.”
    “I’m protecting you.” Evan cocked his head to one side and gave her a look that said that should have been obvious.
    Maybe it should have been. He was a Guardian. They did shit like that. Why he was doing it for her was the part that didn’t make sense.
    “I think you’re a little confused, Evan. I don’t need guarding. You’re supposed to be protecting people from me, not protecting me. Aren’t you afraid the Most High will smite you?”
    “Why would He?”
    Meela blew out an irritated huff. “You are being deliberately obtuse.”
    Struggling to her feet, she swayed unsteadily. In a blink, Evan was there again, offering his arm for balance, his protective nature obviously in full swing, just as his blind devotion to her was still very much there.
    She tried to convince herself it was annoying.
    “News flash, Evan. Angels and demons don’t mix. You’re consorting with the enemy. Do you really think He’s not going to notice?”
    “You’ve never been my enemy, Philomela.” Evan hesitated ever so slightly before he stroked a hand over her hair to cup the back of her neck. The pause was barely noticeable, but enough to tell her he wasn’t as confident as he wished her to believe. His eyes went dark and his lips parted ever so slightly. With that one hand he tugged her in close, until her breasts flattened against his chest and his head dipped ever so slightly.
    Need surged, unbidden and overwhelming. Her breath caught and her heart fluttered like a wild thing caught in her chest. He was going to kiss her. Again.
    And oh, how she wanted him to. Just for a moment she could pretend, couldn’t she? Could make believe the last ten thousand years hadn’t happened and it was just them, one seraph kissing a cherub he wanted.
    The thick lumps of her dreadlocks pressed into her head, another unwelcome reminder that it wasn’t the same, of how she’d changed. She wasn’t a cherub anymore.
    She carried the soul-deep stain of evil.
    Bracing her hands on his chest, she shoved him away and tried not to notice the glimmer of hurt in his eyes.
    “You’ve been my enemy since the realms were cleaved in two and time began.” She turned her back and moved far enough away to keep herself from giving in to the need to throw herself back in his arms. “An angel and a demon can’t be anything else.”
    As she drew farther away from him she noticed a low hum of power against her face. For the first time she realized the dappled light of the summer sun was blurry. Unfocused blobs of shifting gold and green surrounded her instead of the sharp outlines of trees and leaves.
    An illusion. But what kind? She’d never seen anything like this before.
    “Evan, where are we?”
    “I didn’t move you. We are still