Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four (82 page)

clamp it shut before he scared the angel away for good.

Devon had managed to unscrew the cap on the water bottle he was

holding, but that was all. He stood, staring at Anson with a look of

amazement on his face. Had the angel really said that much without

taking a single breath? Talk about energy. Or perhaps the other angel

was merely nervous and that’s what had caused the random torrent of

conversation. He’d known quite a few angels who babbled when they

were nervous, though it was never tolerated during training. Ignoring

Anson’s slip, Devon chuckled and said, “As a matter of fact, Anson, it

is you. I came early because I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”

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Anson stood there gaping at the angel. “Lucky me,” he said under

his breath. “Please, make yourself comfortable. Can I get you a

drink…? Oh, right, you already have water. And you look quite

comfortable as well. I’m just a little nervous. I’ve never entertained

my own guest before. As you are aware, it is frowned upon by our

Feitheoir. Do you work closely with them often? ”

Devon tried not to laugh at the other angel, but he was powerless

to hide his smile. He simply nodded and waited for Anson to sit down.

“I find myself boring compared to you. Let’s talk about you. Your

mentor tells me you enjoy painting and writing stories.”

Anson sat across from Devon, and smiled. “Yes, I do enjoy

myself. I am very creative and have a rather overactive imagination.

Or so I’m told. I don’t see it, though. I often let my hand and head

take over and before I know it, Gordon is yelling at me to come back

to the here and now. Many times, hours will pass and I’m not even

aware of it.”

“You’re an angel of the Aine house, known for love and

creativity. You are a very special breed and very rare amongst us.

You’ve been to Domhan?”

Anson beamed; his eyes sparkled and he sat up straight, his hands

grasping the edge of the bar hard enough that his knuckles turned

white. “Oh, yes! Part of my training required me to spend time

amongst the humans. I had the best time with them. I was chosen to

work with the youth that the society there frowns upon. I believe the

word they use on Domhan is gay? I hope that one day I can go back

and work with more of the young ones. So many are hurt; their souls

are badly damaged, and I found it exhilarating being among them.

Though I wasn’t permitted to use my powers to make them forget

their pain and flood their hearts with love, the other small tasks I did

with and for them seemed to help the humans. Seeing them smile and

laugh, a few even hugged me and thanked me, with tears in their eyes.

I want to go there for the duration of my time.”

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 495

Devon heard the young angel’s happiness in his words and wished

he could feel the same way when he was sent to heal the chosen

humans as his Gagda permitted. But he couldn’t. Not fully, at least,

because he knew in his heart of hearts his real Father would merely

create more pain and suffering amongst the humans, to hurt Gagda

more. It was a never ending battle. The real Father hurt, while the

loving Father cured. Devon was tired of carrying the responsibility of

his creation, his true Father’s hate in his heart. He was embarrassed

and hated knowing that Mider did things just to antagonize Gagda;

then Devon was left to deal with the hurts and pains. He watched

humans suffer every day; little children’s suffering bothered him the

most. He would see the parents of the small ones cry and beg Gagda

for his help, yet no matter how hard Devon tried, there were times he

could not help them. Love was a poison. He would never allow

anyone into his heart that way.

“So, where are we going this evening?”

Anson cocked his head to the side and looked at Gordon who still

sat on the recliner listening to their conversation. “You’re coming?”

“Why, of course I am. Someone must accompany you; you are not

mated. Being out with another unmated angel without a chaperone is

cause for gossip and ridicule. I’ll just be a moment.”

Anson wanted to slide to the floor and hide under the bar. “I have

never done this before. I’m sure he won’t get in the way. Much. He

means well.”

“Of course. I agree with him. You should not be out on your own

during this season. There are many unmated among us, and sometimes

the younger ones do not stop to think that this is their eternity they are

looking to secure.”

Anson nodded his head, not really comprehending the words

Devon was saying, but he was enjoying Devon’s deep voice. He liked

to watch his Adam’s apple and those plump lips. “Do you spend a lot

of time amongst them, the humans?”

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Devon nodded and said, “I do. A lot of time. They are very

interesting. Centuries have passed, yet so many seem reluctant to

change, to learn from the past. Then there are others who thrive on

change. I am happy that I remain invisible to their eyes.”

“Oh? I loved being able to intermingle with them. When I was in

the realm known as North America, in a territory called the United

States, I enjoyed listening to the different manners of speech. Those

living in the southern parts speak with a slow drawl, while those

living up in the East speak with a more distinct accent. And then I

worked a while in an area called California. Did you know that

California was named by a race called the Spaniards, after a mythical

paradise in the Domhan year 1510? Isn’t that interesting? I loved it

there, all the water and the sun star shining upon it. I sat some days

and stared at the waves hitting the sands. It’s different from our own

bodies of water. I can’t explain why, though. It just is. What is your

favorite place on Domhan?”

Devon could not help the grin on his face. This little angel, as

chatty as he was, was adorable. He was like a breath of fresh air, air

that Devon needed so badly and had needed for so long. His heart felt

warm for the first time in a long time, felt like it was beating once

again, and that bothered him a little. But looking at Anson made the

pain he kept buried feel better. He didn’t know if he liked that or not.

He watched Anson talk, watched how his eyes widened when he

became excited, how his hands seemed to talk along with his mouth

when he chose to communicate using words; or when he

communicated with his thoughts, how his lips turned up at the

corners. Anson was so full of life it was almost contagious. And

maybe for a little while, it wouldn’t be so bad. Spending time with

Anson seemed like a good way to relax and get away from the daily

stress he always seemed to encounter. Besides, the angel was

adorable, small and spirited, his wings neither too big nor too small;

rather, perfect, like his face. That pert nose, his full, pink lips, those

dark eyes that seemed to shine nearly non-stop, and that cut and toned

torso had Devon’s dick doing its own exercising in his pants. What

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was the question? Oh, right. “I will agree with you on California.

Though I do frequent other areas I enjoy as well.” And that was his

first lie of the night. That was something he hated to do, but it came so

naturally, and he didn’t want to make Anson dislike him before they

even got started. No sense in having Anson thinking Devon was as

cold and heartless as he truly was, right from the start. Better to hide

some things, less hassle. Besides, Anson was something to do, a nice

diversion, before his next assignment.

“Well, kids. I’m ready to go. Where are we headed?”

“Anywhere, as long as I’m with him.”

Devon laughed and nodded at Anson in thanks. “I thought we’d

take a walk to the falls, talk a bit.”

“Oh, we’re not flying?”

“I fly around so much I get tired of it. I like to walk when I have a

chance. You don’t mind, do you?”

Anson’s eyes watched closely as Devon rose to his feet, not caring

that his face probably looked like a child staring at the stars in the

night sky. The angel was every bit as handsome as he’d always

dreamed his other half would be. The real-life one was better than the

dream, though. A lot better, although his eyes were very troubled.

Almost conflicted, it seemed. Anson cocked his head to the side,

trying to read what he was seeing, but Devon turned away, as if he

was hiding from him. “I think we’re made for each other. It’s a

balance thing,” he said under his breath.

Devon heard the words loud and clear but tossed them aside for

now. He was obligated to fulfill the mating with this little angel, but

that’s where it ended, at his duty to obey Gagda’s laws. There was no

balancing, no love, nor was there ever going to be. No way. And it

was something he’d argue with his Gagda about if he had to.

They all walked to the falls and sat on the grassy banks, talking

about the adventures they’d each been a part of since their time as

youthlings. Devon did not divulge where he’d come from, nor did he

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speak of how torn he was inside about his feelings and his duty as a

healer. Instead, he filled in the gaps with what he thought the other

two angels wanted to hear. Devon found by the end of the evening

that he’d stopped worrying at some point and had come to really enjoy

being around them. Anson lit up the evening with his funny tales and

innocent blunderings, while Gordon told of tales about Anson as a

younger angel that had him laughing so hard he was crying, his

stomach muscles hurting. It was a miracle Anson hadn’t driven his

teachers to the other side. The angel was one thing—amazing.

“Well, I think we’d better head back. You still must rise early,

Anson, as you have chores to attend to. With the new light, we will

have another chance to visit with Devon. Is that right, Devon?”

Devon watched Anson jump to his feet, watched him fluff his

feathers, and found all he really wanted to do was take the smaller

angel into his arms and kiss him, feel how soft his wings were, hold

him tight and then make love to him. And where did that come from?

Devon never made love to anyone. He fucked them and left them,

much to his Gagda’s disapproval. It seemed being the offspring of The

Fallen did have its advantages, but clearly the statute of limitations on

Gagda’s patience had expired. “Yes,” he answered. “I’d be very

honored to visit again.”

“You’ll fly home with us for tonight? I would love to say

goodnight, properly.”

“Anson, what do we teach about suggestive actions?”

Anson bowed his head, thoroughly lost for a moment. He let his

mouth do it again. “I apologize.” He looked at Devon and smiled. “I

would like that. Thank you for sharing your time with us. Good night,

Devon.”

Devon looked at Gordon, and saw him nod once, then at Anson,

who once again had his head bowed, but still stood straight as a pole.

Anson was a very well trained angel, and for his age that was rare. A

servant of some sort? “Good night, Anson. The pleasure has been all

mine. And Gordon, thank you for accompanying us. I look forward to

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doing this again.” He waited for them to turn away and take flight, his

eyes watching Anson until he could no longer make them out.

“Unique and very intriguing.”

The following afternoon, Devon found himself knocking at the

door to Anson and Gordon’s home. He didn’t put much thought into

the why of it, or if he should or should not. He just did and it felt great

to do something for once, without worrying about the outcome. He