Avenging Angel (The Fallen #4)(35)

Tanner blocked him. “Hell, no, you aren’t—”

“Tanner, make sure he doesn’t take too much.” She didn’t even know if this would work. Angel blood was supposed to contain power, she knew that. But would it be enough power to help him break free of his Born? As far as she knew, no one had ever used angel’s blood to sever a link like that.

I have to try.

Tanner’s hands had locked around the vamp’s shoulders as he held Riley back. “Are you sure about this?” he asked Marna.

Atonement. She had to do her part. “Yes.” But she needed the shifter to help her because she didn’t trust the vamp to stop once he started drinking. She only trusted— Tanner.

When had that happened? Maybe the “when” didn’t matter. Marna pulled in a deep breath. “Just stop him when I say so.”

Jaw clenching, Tanner nodded. “But let me just say,” he muttered as he jerked the vamp closer, “I really don’t like this shit.”

Riley stared at her blood with wide eyes. “Wh-why?”

“Because you are more than a killer.” And I’m more than just a lost angel.

Time to start showing it. She lifted her arm to his mouth.

Tanner shoved the vamp to his knees and kept the guy’s hands locked behind his back. “Don’t even think of hurting her,” her shifter ordered.

Riley nodded. His head lowered to her arm, and Marna closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see this. She could feel his mouth on her skin, tasting her blood, and goose bumps rose on her flesh.

The other angels she knew would never have allowed themselves to be used this way. They would have found it degrading. Shameful.

She’d never been like the others. She found this to be . . .

Atonement. The word slipped through her mind again.

The edge of his teeth pressed into her skin, and her eyelids flew open as she gasped at the sting.

“Easy,” Tanner shouted.

Her gaze flew to Tanner. His own fangs were out. His eyes glowing. There was a fury on his face, a dark and savage rage. One that she’d never seen there before.

He stared down at Riley like he’d take joy in killing the vamp. But, before, he’d wanted to spare him.

Tanner’s gaze met hers. “Enough. ”

But Riley was still drinking. Marna tried to slide her arm back.

Riley followed.

He didn’t get very far. Tanner ripped him away from her and sent the vampire hurtling into the wall. “I said enough.”

Her breath heaved out. Tanner caught her arm. Stared down at the wound. A muscle jerked in his jaw. “Never again.” A lethal promise from him. But for all of his rage, his touch on her flesh was incredibly gentle. His body surrounded hers. “Whatever the hell this was about, whatever debt you think you owed him, consider it paid in full.”

She managed a slow nod. Her arm throbbed where she had cut herself, but the wound was already starting to close.

Angel healing. She loved that perk.

“And you . . .” Tanner glanced back over his shoulder. “Stay away from her. ’Cause if you don’t, I’ll decide to give you that death you seemed to want so freaking badly.”

Marna turned away from Riley. Tanner’s body moved with her, in perfect time, shadowing her, as she headed for the door.

“The call . . .” Riley’s voice stopped her. She didn’t look back. “I-I . . . the Born’s voice is already getting dimmer. Can barely hear him.”

Something hit the floor with a thud. Helpless, Marna turned back. Riley had shoved the nightstand to the ground. He was on his feet, staring at her with wide eyes.

“He’s gone. He’s gone from my mind.”

Then maybe Riley could be the man he used to be.

The man he should have been?

“Come on.” Tanner pushed open the door. Led her out. His hand was wrapped around her arm. Did he even realize that he kept caressing the now-healed wound with his fingers?

And why did his touch push away the cold she’d felt? How could he do that to her, so easily?

They didn’t speak again. Just marched out of that dark house. The sunlight seemed far too bright when they hurried back toward the street and the SUV that waited.

So bright.

Marna reached for the passenger door. Before she could grab the handle, Tanner spun her around. “What—”

His mouth took hers. Not easy. Not gentle. Hard. Deep. Burning with lust and need, and she opened her mouth wider. Kissed him back just as hard.

“Never again,” he growled against her lips. “I never want him touching you again.”

Her fingers sank into his hair, and she pressed her body closer to his. Marna rose onto her tiptoes so that she could reach his mouth better. The hunger inside her, the hard lust, was driving her, and she wanted.

Tanner caught her hips. Lifted her higher. Her legs wrapped around him, and the erect length of his cock pushed against her sensitive sex.

A gasp slipped from her.

Tanner’s head rose. “Not . . . here.”

He managed to get her into the SUV; then he rushed around to the driver’s side. Tanner gunned the engine and spared her one more glance.

The heat from his stare singed her skin. “I tried to do what was right,” he said.

Her body ached for him. How did humans stand it? How did they live with the lust?