Wrath of the Fallen by Eve Archer
Chapter Forty-One
Dominick
“I can’t believe the Fallen own the George V,” Ella said, as we stepped into the suite, our shoes tapping on the marble floor.
I put a finger to my lips, closing the door behind us. “Through several holding companies so no one can easily trace it back to the Vicario family, but yes, we do own a controlling stake in the hotel.”
We walked from the foyer into the living room, our feet sinking into the plush, ivory and gray carpeting. The pristine, ivory decor was interspersed with celadon green and mirrored columns reflecting the natural light streaming in from the floor to ceiling windows that opened out onto a long terrace.
“It’s huge.” Ella approached one of the antique French oil paintings on the wall. “And I’m assuming all the art is real?”
I shrugged. “It is the Royal Suite.”
Ella spun around, her blue eyes twinkling. “Has actual royalty stayed here?”
“You mean aside from immortal celestial beings?”
She started to make a face at me, and then she sank onto a nearby couch. “Wait. That’s me now, isn’t it?”
I sat next to her, taking her hands in mine. “Did it just hit you?”
The flush had faded from her cheeks, and she nodded absently. “I guess. Talking about your immortality is different than realizing that I’ll actually live forever.”
I took her chin in my hand and tipped her face up, so she was forced to meet my eyes. “This means you’ll never grow old without me, and I’ll never have to give you up to the cruelty of time and death.”
She managed to smile. “But everyone else…”
I sighed. “Immortality has a sharp edge. We will watch many age and die, but we’ll have each other.”
“And you have the Fallen.”
I stroked my thumb across her jaw. “I’ve always had the Fallen to make the journey bearable, but until you, it was still torture.”
“I’m sorry the prophecy wasn’t what you all had hoped it would be. I know you wanted to be able to save the others even more than you wanted to redeem yourself.”
I gave a brusque shake of my head. “I have no regrets. There was never any chance of saving all the Fallen. Now, I know that. And I will never regret picking you over my own soul.”
Her eyes glittered. “I know. You didn’t hesitate for a second.”
“You sound surprised. Did you worry I wouldn’t pick you?”
“You and the Fallen have been searching for a path to redemption for thousands of years. You’ve only known me for a few weeks.”
“Time means nothing when it comes to true love. I would choose one perfect moment with you, over a thousand years without you.”
“Wow,” she whispered, as she stared up at me.
“When it comes to you, Ella, there is no doubt. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. If I had to fall from grace just to meet you, it was worth every moment of torment.”
“And I would run through those creepy catacombs and be chased by a horde of death demons to get to you again, but I’d love it if I didn’t have to.”
“You won’t have to,” I assured her, “because from here on out, I’ll be by your side as your mate and your husband.”
She went still. “Husband?”
My pulse quickened with nerves I hadn’t expected. “If you’ll have me.”
“Are you asking me to marry you?”
The moment she said that, it hit me that I was doing it all wrong. I instantly slipped down to one knee and held her hand in both of mine. “Ella, I will love you until the end of time. Will you marry me?”
Her face broke into a smile as a single tear slid from the corner of one eye. “Of course, I will.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding. “We’ll go to Place Vendôme, so you can pick out any ring you want. I’m sorry I don’t have one to give you now.”
“You were busy fighting off murderous archangels for me. I’ll let it slide.”
“Another reason why I love you, Ella.”
She hitched in a jerky breath as I lowered my mouth to hers, kissing her softly and then slipping my hand from her jaw to tangle in her hair. I held her to me as she sank into the kiss, her lips opening to me as I leaned her back against the couch cushions.
My skin tingled, the buzz of her angelic trace just as arousing as always, and my cock hardened with every throaty moan she let out. Now that we were away from Mastema’s lair, the demonic energy that had fired my blood so intensely the night before no longer made the blood pound in my ears. Did I miss the sensation of being possessed by the urge to dominate her and hear her begging me for more? Did I secretly desire to have my demonic urges stoked beyond what even I considered forbidden?
“Dominick,” Ella whispered, tearing her mouth from mine.
I stared down at her flared pupils and flushed cheeks, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
“I have something I need to show you,” she said.
My gaze drifted to her plump lower lip and my cock ached. “Now?”
“Now.” She wiggled out from under me and crossed to an upholstered chair where she’d dropped her purse. She pulled out two long, silky strips of black fabric and gave me a wicked grin. “I took these from Mastema’s lair. You don’t think he’ll mind, do you?”
I recognized the restraints that had been attached to our bed, the straps I’d used to bind her the night before. My cock strained against my pants so hard I groaned out loud. “Last night wasn’t too much for you?”
She shook her head, biting her bottom lip. “I want more.”
All the dark, dominant desires came rushing back, my heart hammering in my chest and a growl rumbling in my throat. “I hope you know what you’re unleashing.”
She waved the restraints as she danced away from me, her eyes flashing with desire. “I’m counting on it.”
As the sinful lust unfurled itself within me, I gave chase.
Eternity was going to be even better than I’d imagined.
