'So how is my dark servant?' Satan's voice suddenly echoed.

Kaitlyn turned and lifted her chin. 'Better without you.'

He laughed. He was sitting in his lizard-skin chair before the fire. It was turned around to face her. He was naked, his legs crossed, gripping the arms with his powerful hands. The torches were lit and they flashed against the skin of his chair—and against his eyes and his flawless body. 'You've always been a terrible liar. Is he a better lover than me?'

Kaitlyn didn't answer.

He smirked. 'Did you give him my message?'

'Yes.'

'Good girl. What did he say?'

'He said it was never going to happen,' she lied.

Satan twisted his mouth as he gripped the arms of his chair more tightly. 'We'll see.'

Relaxing his mouth into a smile, he stood. His erection bobbed between his muscular thighs, pointing at her like a blushing log. 'So, you're not lovers. You'd better stay that way. You're for me and me alone.' He looked down at himself as he smoothed his hand over his erection. 'Know that I'll always be loyal to you, Kaitlyn. There would never be another woman for me.' He laughed. 'That's for sure.' His smile fell back into a frown as his eyes bored into hers. 'And I hope you can give me the same loyalty. Can I trust you, Kaitlyn? Can I trust you to save yourself for me?'

'I'm not a virgin,' she said. 'I haven't been a virgin for many years.'

'I know that—of course,' he snapped. 'I've entered you enough—even if it is just in dreams.'

Kaitlyn winced.

His voice softened. 'But I don't mind. As long as you remain faithful to me from now until beyond.'

'Why does it matter?' Kaitlyn asked. 'When all you need is my womb.'

'Is that what you think, Kaitlyn?' His forehead creased. He almost looked hurt. Almost. Kaitlyn thought of Jacob's lips as Satan's perfect mouth spoke its lies. 'Haven't you realised now that you mean much more to me than that? I want you. I need you. I-I love you.' He pressed a hand to his chest. 'With all my heart. It hurts to think that you don't feel the same way about me. Is that true, Kaitlyn? Don't you love me? After all our nights together?'

'No.'

'"No" that it's not the truth, or "no" you don't love me?'

'I-I don't love you.'

He cocked his beautiful head in that heartbreaking way. Kaitlyn lowered her eyes. He chuckled. 'Like I said, you're a terrible liar.' He walked towards her. He stood before her, close enough that he made Kaitlyn tingle all over. He lowered his voice to a whisper. 'If you dislike me so much, all you need to do is ask me to leave you alone.'

He touched her face and Kaitlyn raised her eyes. She swallowed and licked her lips. 'I want you to ...' He started stroking her cheek. 'I want you to ...' He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. 'I ...' Wrapping his arms around her waist he pulled her close. The request died on her lips.

Then his lips met hers and Kaitlyn kissed back. It was nice. His arms were so strong, so hard. She felt the heat of him soaking into her bones. His kiss was soft and gentle, just the way she liked it. But she'd had better. She'd had real. Jacob's lips seemed to melt against hers in a way that Satan's couldn't. She could feel the love. She could feel the truth of Jacob's words. In all his deceit, Satan could never match that.

Kaitlyn jerked back her head. Satan frowned. He leaned in to kiss her again, only for Kaitlyn to jerk away again. She tried to pull out of his embrace but he held her tightly. His eyes narrowed as she wiped her mouth.

'I don't love you.' She spat on the floor. Even as she did it, she couldn't believe her own daring.

I will be here with you. I will stop the pain, the hurt. Jacob. Because Jacob was with her.

Satan was glaring at her. His nostrils flared. His arms tightened around her—almost painfully. Kaitlyn squirmed against him. 'Let me go!' She dug her nails into his forearms but all it did was make his eyes blaze brighter.

'You really think he loves you? You really think he'll love you the way I do?'

Kaitlyn glared up at him. 'Yes. Yes I do.'

He sneered. 'You have no idea. You have no idea what that means for one of God's angels. You have no idea the sacrifice. He won't do it. He can't do it.'

'He has God's blessing.'

Satan laughed. 'You say that like you know what you're talking about. When it comes down to it—Jacob won't do it. It's not within him. I know him too well.'

Kaitlyn lifted her chin. 'I know him better.'

His lips lifted as he sneered again. 'Is that so? Well, we'll see about that.' He unwrapped his arms from around her waist. 'On the bed.'

Kaitlyn shook her head.

'I said, on the bed.'

'No.'

'On the bed or I'll throw you onto it.' His voice boomed around the chamber.

She took a step towards it, then stopped.

'Don't test me, Kaitlyn. I've been patient with you so far and it's wearing thin.'

Kaitlyn bit her lip as she lay down in the middle of the bed.

'Not like that,' Satan said. 'I want your butt on the edge with your legs open.' Kaitlyn swallowed but didn't argue, wriggling back over. 'Roll up your dress.'

She did.

'What are you going to do?' She gazed up at him, partly in terror, partly in excitement. 'Are you-are you going to hurt me again?'

He pressed his lips together in a sarcastic smile. 'Do you want me to hurt you again?'

Kaitlyn shook her head.

He flicked his eyes over her body. 'I see he's healed your wounds, on the outside as well as within. But his power only stretches so far. Remember that, Kaitlyn. Remember whose side you should be on.'

He knelt on the floor between her legs. 'No. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to test him.' Kaitlyn lifted up her bottom as he tugged down her underwear. He tossed them to the floor, then gave her a light shove so she was lying back down.

Kaitlyn sucked in a breath as he yanked open her thighs.

'Let's see what he's made of,' he said.

He kissed her, and he did it like he would her mouth. With his lips, with his tongue. Softly. Gently. Almost lovingly. Definitely passionately. Kaitlyn arched her back with a gasp as he opened her up completely with his tongue. Heat flooded her body. Fire burned up her slit. She hardly felt his bruising fingers as he gripped tightly onto her thighs.

He licked up her slit again. He tongued her clitoris, wriggling it around as Kaitlyn would with her finger. He was so skilful: not too rough, not too gentle, like he'd done it a million times before. Kaitlyn sat up with a cry when he stuck his tongue in deep. It felt so soft. So velvety. It set all her nerves on fire. She grabbed onto his shoulders, digging in her nails as she rocked against him. 'Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop it.'

He ignored her, pulling out his tongue, only to push it back in. Gripping her thighs more tightly, he lapped at her insides like a dog. Kaitlyn cried out again. She flung herself back on the bed with a moan as he sucked and kissed and stroked.

The muscles in her pelvis tightened. She gripped onto the sheets as she raised her legs and wrapped them around his neck. She was close. She could feel the pressure building. It was rising up her body as high as her midriff. Then suddenly ...

He stopped. Licking his lips, he pulled back.

'What are you—what are you doing?' Kaitlyn panted.

She was so hot she felt like her blood was boiling. Her heart was pounding. Her hips were throbbing. And down between her legs she was aching so much she could have almost cried. She went to grab at his head to pull him close again but he merely jerked away with a laugh.

Unwrapping her legs from around his neck, he stood. His lips were wet and swollen. His eyes were gleaming. His big shoulders rose and fell at each panting breath. His erection was so hard and thick and enticing it made Kaitlyn sit up and reach for it.

Satan stepped back. 'Think of me when Jacob fails you.' He looked up at the ceiling. 'You hear me, Jacob? Finish her off. I dare you!'

'Please,' Kaitlyn begged.

He dropped his eyes back to hers with a sneer. With a snarl and a wave of his arm, the room vanished.

Kaitlyn's eyes snapped open. She jerked as she tried to sit up, except she couldn't. She could hardly move. Something had her firmly in its grip.

'Kaitlyn,' a familiar voice said. 'Are you all right?'

She blinked. It was Jacob—he was holding her tight. Just as he'd promised, he'd stayed with her through the night. The grey light of early morning was filtering through the window. His emerald eyes were creased in concern. His arms felt like Satan's. She remembered Satan's tongue. She still felt his lips. All she could do was stare at Jacob's perfect mouth.

Speechless, Kaitlyn clutched at his arms, shaking her head. She was so hot. She was burning up!

'Did he hurt you?' When she didn't respond, he grabbed her face. 'Did he hurt you?'

Still, she couldn't answer.

He threw off her blanket and turned his eyes to her body.

'No,' she gasped. 'It's not that.'

He frowned in confusion. She reached up to touch his face, smoothing her thumb over his bottom lip. She was trembling. His eyes widened in understanding. For a moment he didn't move and Kaitlyn briefly wondered if Satan was right. Maybe Jacob really didn't want it. What had Satan meant by sacrifice? What exactly was he daring Jacob to do? As though it was such a terrible thing. If God had given them His blessing, then what was Jacob afraid of?

'Please,' she croaked.

He didn't speak, only grabbed her head and kissed her. Kaitlyn moaned as he rolled her onto her back. His weight felt good against her. His heat. His hands. Lifting her bottom, Kaitlyn yanked down her underwear. She was so wet she felt it all over her hands. She kicked them to the floor.

Jacob continued to kiss her, his lips no longer so gentle but harried and desperate. His stubble scraped against her chin. He slid his hands into hers, pinning them to the bed by her head.

'Please,' Kaitlyn said against his lips. She opened her thighs.

He paused, his emerald eyes gleaming into hers. Briefly, he touched her face. Then he looked down. Lifting himself up, he reached down between their bodies to undo his pants. It seemed she had nothing to worryabout when it came to his "organs". From what she could see he was as much a man as an angel.

He was trembling. His forehead was furrowed. He looked nervous, agitated.

'Here, let me help you,' Kaitlyn said, gently grabbing onto his stiffness.

He shook harder. 'Kaitlyn,' he gasped as she pulled him between her legs until his tip pressed against her aching, wet lips.

Jacob sucked in a breath, Kaitlyn moaned, as he entered her. He was so thick, so hard, so engorged. Kaitlyn spread her thighs wide as she raked at his broad back, his skin smooth and warm beneath her fingertips.

He needed no help now as he pushed his way inside her. Kaitlyn cried out. It felt electric. It was as though little zaps of energy were coursing through her body. She'd been wanting it for so long. For too long.

'Oh, Jacob!' she cried as he buried himself all the way. He felt so good. So much better than Satan. She didn't have to worry. She didn't have to fear. She didn't have to feel ashamed.

He pressed his forehead against hers, panting, as he gazed into her eyes. 'Are you okay?'

'More than okay.' She sucked in a breath. 'Are you?'

His answer was a kiss, a long soft kiss as he pushed deeper inside her. Wrapping her legs around his waist, Kaitlyn clawed at his head as he began thrusting in and out. He pulled his lips away, arching his neck as he gazed at the ceiling in obvious ecstasy. Lines of pleasure appeared around his mouth. More crinkled up his eyes. His hands fisted hard into the sheets.

He lifted himself up as he pushed in deeper. Kaitlyn lowered her hands to his backside as she moved with him. He filled her up so well, so much, filling all those little gaps that Satan had left behind. The ones that ached and throbbed and yearned.

Her heart pounded. Her blood raced. She thrust up against him as he thrust into her. With a cry, Kaitlyn orgasmed suddenly. Closing her eyes, she arched her back as her vagina clenched hard around his circumference. Pulling him in. Tugging him in deeper. She cried out again.

Panting, she opened her eyes, watching Jacob's face as he continued. Though she'd come, he was still yet to. His eyes were closed as he focused. The lines of pleasure around his mouth deepened. Kaitlyn rocked with him. He was breathing heavily, his breath warm against her cheek. He was so quiet. Kaitlyn ran her fingers up and down his back, enjoying how he enjoyed himself. She could feel him swelling inside her. She could hear his breaths turn more frantic.

Right before he was done, he opened his eyes and stared at her. And she suddenly saw something different about them. They didn't seem so green anymore. They were almost ... dull. Then he shut them and she wondered if she'd only imagined it.

With a groan, he arched his neck. He sucked in a breath with a shudder. He continued to thrust as he emptied into her, his fists screwed up in the sheets, his handsome face contorted.

And then it was over. He sagged against her and Kaitlyn wrapped her arms around his broad back. For a while they just breathed together, still united, still locked in each other's embrace. It was so nice just to hold him. It was so nice to be held lovingly, something Satan never did. It was something she hadn't felt in a long time from anyone.

Once his breathing slowed, he looked at her—with his normal emerald eyes. Perhaps she had just imagined it.

'Are you okay?' he asked again.

Kaitlyn smiled. 'I feel wonderful.'

He smiled, pecked her on the lips, then rolled onto his back. Kaitlyn rested her head on his shoulder as he pulled her close.

'Thank you,' she said. A queer thing to say, and yet it didn't feel weird or wrong. He smiled at her again. Kaitlyn kissed his shoulder and snuggled in more closely. She stroked his chest with the tips of her fingers. 'Are you okay?'

'More than okay. I'm glad I could make you feel better.'

Kaitlyn smiled.

They were quiet a long time, holding each other, stroking each other, revelling in each other's closeness. They kissed each other on the lips, Jacob smiling as he stroked her cheek, gazing back into her eyes. There was nothing that Kaitlyn needed to say.

Resting her cheek against his chest, Kaitlyn tucked her head under his chin and closed her eyes. It was strange not to feel the rise and fall of his chest, to not feel his breath through her hair like she would a normal man, but she enjoyed how he laid his hand upon her forehead. It was so comforting, so loving. So protective. It made her heart swell. She'd never felt this way about a man before.

She didn't know how long it was before she sank into a peaceful sleep, no Satan, no fear, no nightmares. Nor how long she dreamed. All she knew was that when she next woke, daylight was pouring into her room and Jacob was gone.

Kaitlyn sat up, blinking against the brightness, her eyes still thick with sleep. With a yawn, she raked her fingers through her hair. It had been a long time since she'd felt so good. So ready to start the day. But where was Jacob? He'd promised to stay with her and it seemed he'd broken his promise already. Her heart sank.

Looking over, she touched his side of the bed—it was still warm. She pressed her nose to his side of the pillow—it still smelled like him. As she sat up on the edge of the bed, she saw something which made her freeze. She frowned. Hesitantly, she leaned over and picked it up between her fingers. A feather. A long, white feather. Soft and very beautiful, like a swan's. Jacob's feather? But why would there be a feather? He hadn't shown his wings. Could angels even lose feathers? She'd never seen one before, except in her dreams.

Her heart dropped. Could it be Satan's feather? But how could it be? She shook her head, confused. And that was when she saw the second feather. It lay on the floor by the door. She stood, went over and picked it up, twisting it between her fingers. Her heart started to race. Something was wrong. She opened the door.

A third feather lay on the floor further ahead. She hurried over and picked it up—the tip was bloodied. There was a fourth, a fifth. Again, both were splattered in blood. By the time she reached the nave she was running, following the trail of feathers. Luckily the nave was empty.

She threw herself through the doors. 'Jacob!' she screamed.

Ezekiel, Catherine, David, Samuel—they were all there in the middle of the field, their heads turned towards her as they stood together, gathered around something on the ground.

Or someone.

She rushed over. 'Jacob! Is it Jacob?!'

Ezekiel hurried over to meet her. 'Stop, Kaitlyn. You must go back.'

'Get out of my way!'

She tried to step around him but he blocked her. She squealed when he suddenly picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. He rushed back towards the abbey.

'Jacob!' she choked as shock gripped her throat.

It was Jacob. He was on the ground, curled up on his side in a foetal position. His eyes were closed and he was so still. A pair of huge and stunning white wings lay limp against the grass. There were feathers everywhere. One blew across the ground—pink with blood. Just as he was covered in blood. Across his chest, down his arms. And beneath all that he looked so pale! Was he dead? The angels watched her with expressionless faces.

'Jacob!' she screamed as Ezekiel thrust open the abbey doors.

The doors shut with a crash and Jacob was gone.