Raiden (Sons of the Fallen, #6)

by Jaclyn Osborn

“I’m better than pizza?” “Damn.” Raiden breathed out a laugh. “I like you, Ti, but I don’t know if I’d go that far yet. Pizza is my number one true love.”

“They’re gonna swim right into our cum cloud.” “Cum cloud?”

“Gives another meaning to ocean spray.”

“I prefer the term ethereal.” “Sucks to be you, then, Sparkles,” Raiden said. “’Cause I don’t know what that means.”

“You’re bored?” Vepar faced me. “Pity. Should I rectify that?” “Not sure what your rectum has to do with this,” I said. “That’s kinda weird, man.”

My insides stirred. Ached. I needed… something. But I didn’t know what it was. I tipped my head back and slid my fingers through the short hair at his nape. Raiden gently pressed me against the column of the back porch, applying more pressure with his teeth. “Shit. I don’t know if I can stop it.” “Stop what?” My voice was raspy. Needy. “The urge to claim you.” And then, he sank his teeth into my throat.

Biting him was incredible. As the taste of him filled my mouth, there was a tugging in my chest, one that tore through my entire body. Marking him wasn’t enough. Tasting his blood wasn’t either.

“Not more blood,” I said, although Gluttony disagreed. “I need… something else.” When he looked at me again, understanding lit his eyes. “Come here.” He brought us back together, but this time, his face dropped to my neck. “I’ll make it better.” He bit me. A surprised gasp escaped me, the sound cutting off into a moan. The antsy feeling in my bones lifted. Everything felt so right. My soul purred. Soothed.

Gluttony softly whined. “You okay, bud?” I asked my sin. “Starving,” he said. “For him.” “Hey, we’re not gonna eat my new boyfriend, all right? We don’t do that.” I sensed a sassy-as-hell eye roll come from Gluttony. “Not eat him.” A pause. “Kiss him. Touch. Surrender.”

“Why not make ice cream and put two of them together?” I suggested. “Then you’ll have a cosmic brownie ice cream sandwich.” Raiden came to a sudden stop and regarded me with wide eyes. “I think I love you.”

“I wanna get to know you better too. Starting with a very important question.” I felt my lips twitch. “And what’s that?” Raiden shifted closer, as if about to tell me a secret. “Our couple’s costume for Halloween. Should we go as peanut butter and jelly, a milk box and a cookie, or a hot dog and its bun?”

Raiden never failed to take care of them. His love for them was unconditional, selfless, and pure. And he deserved that kind of love right back.

“You have no idea how precious you are, Raiden.” He nuzzled my hand. “Ya know… I never really thought of myself like that, but in your arms, that’s how you make me feel. Treasured.” “That’s how you should feel. Every moment of every day.”

“There’s so much I wanna tell him and show him. He needs to meet Dino-Steve and his army of dino dicks. And Mason too.” “I fall under Dino-Steve on the list of important people.” Mason breathed out a laugh. “Wow. That cut deep.”

How horrible would it be to kill the cat boy? “Oh, my hand slipped,” I could say… after smashing his face into a wall. Ten times.

“I’m afraid not.” “Why?” Lazarus asked. “Simple.” Mephistopheles smiled. “Because I don’t like you.

“Come back to me,” I whispered against his lips. “I will.” And then, I watched him leave. He took my heart with him.

“It won’t be, like, a math test, will it? I’m not good with numbers.”

“A demon? Is that true?” Bellamy smirked. “What can I say? I fell for his villainous charms.” “And his tail,” Gray said with a nod. “You fell for that too.” “Yeah.” Bellamy’s smirk grew bigger. “His tail is hot as fuck.”

Gluttony restlessly stirred in my chest. “What’s up?” I asked my sin. “Hungry again?” “No,” Gluttony answered. “Need him.” Someone had separation anxiety. And it wasn’t me.

“I’ve become quite fond of blueberry bagels,” Penemuel said. “I like to dip them in my coffee.” “Monster.” Raiden shook his head. “That poor bagel.” “What is a bagel?”

“If you don’t marry him, I will,” Nico said. “What?” “He’s like the coolest guy ever. For real. And he can cook.” “I can cook.” “He’s better.” “Wow. Thanks, kid.” Nico laughed. “Just get home, okay? Baxter misses you.” “Baxter misses me, huh?” I asked. “Yeah. I don’t though. Not even a little.” “Right.” I smiled. “Be good. I’ll see you soon.” “I’m always good.”

“I like what you’ve done with the place,” Castor told Lazarus. “The last time we were here, everything was on fire.”

“Please behave.” Lazarus heaved a sigh. “All of you.” “I’m bein’ good,” Gray said, flapping his wings as he hovered a foot or so above the grass. Traces of sky blue streaked through his black feathers. “But if Uriel’s mean, I’m gonna bite him.”

“Feet back on the ground and wings away.” “You’re no fun, Al.”

“He’s waiting for us in the rose garden.” “Know who else waits around in rose gardens?” Castor asked. “Serial killers.”

Uriel stopped in front of us. And I, well, I panicked a little. “Thanks for inviting us,” I said in a rush. “Sorry I didn’t bring a gift. I’ll bake you cookies next time.”

“All we gotta do is kill Lucifer.” “All you have to do?” Titan frowned. “You make it sound like it’ll be a piece of cake.” My stomach grumbled. “Oh. Cake.”