On Angel's Wings (5 page)

Chapter Four

He kept her penned against the wall, placing small kisses along her collarbone as he held her. He didn’t want to let her go. He became lost in her touch, and equally lost in her taste. Angelo didn’t want to stop, but he knew he must, at least for now. He worried that if he didn’t, she would revert back to being scared of him.

Truly, he felt in his heart that she was the reason he was there; unfortunately, along with that knowing, he was not able to remember who he was. His purpose was her. He could feel it in his bones. He also had a feeling that Christmas could be pivotal in their relationship.

Planting a soft kiss on her lips, he pulled back and brushed the hair out of her face. Tangling his fingers in her long black, curly locks, he looked in her eyes and smiled.

“I know you’re kind of busy right now, but is there any way I can bother you for one of those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?”

Alexa began laughing and he could tell that
perhaps things were getting better, and she nodded her head. Leaning in, he brushed his lips over hers, which stopped her laughter.

“If you keep kissing me we won’t ever stop. So, on that note we need to get cleaned up. Then yes, I will make you a sandwich and even give you some milk, seeing as you like that as well.” She wasn’t pushing him away and that was a good thing. She was actually smiling at him and seemed more relaxed, which was another plus. Now to make sure it stayed that way. He slowly withdrew from her, groaning softly. Alexa couldn’t stop the moan that left her own lips.

“I think that you should wash up in your bathroom, and I’ll do the same.” He looked at her with a frown, and she smiled and then continued. “Otherwise we won’t ever get to eat, because we can’t seem to keep our hands off each other.

“Then I think you’re right about separate bathrooms.”

“I thought you’d see it my way.” He smiled when he heard her chuckle. She gave his chest a gentle shove and moved away from him to head back into her room. Angelo watched her until she closed the door and he couldn’t see her anymore. He moved off to his own room, closing the door and entering the bathroom to clean himself.

Angelo snickered to himself as he thought how it seemed that bathroom stops were becoming a necessary thing for them. Not that he was even close to complaining. Everything that they did with one another had him more than believing that they were right for each other. When he’d finished cleaning up he left the bedroom. He heard her in the kitchen and figured she was working on making his sandwich so he decided he’d do a bit of exploring.

**

Alexa heard him moving around in the house but continued making his sandwiches. She figured he’d need two. She had to admit it was nice to have the sounds of someone else in the house. She smiled at how simple some of his tastes seemed to be. Almost as if he was an innocent. She looked out the window as she finished plating the food and noted that the snow
was still falling.

Yet even if she wanted him to go, it wasn’t going to happen, not at least until the weather began to cooperate. Though, if she were honest with herself, she didn’t want him to go. She wanted to explore what was happening, even if it hurt. Part of her healing would involve some hurt; it was what Doctor Fenton had told her many times. So this seemed to be where that lesson would start.

Alexa moved to the table in the kitchen, set their plates down and then went to grab milk and glasses. Such simple food, but it would be nice to have someone to share it with. It had been way too long since she’d allowed herself to be close to anyone else. She smiled as she even thought of perhaps making a small Christmas-like dinner for them both. As quickly as she thought of that idea, she dismissed it. She was acting as if she was setting up house again. For all she knew this could be what she’d heard termed a ‘booty call.’ The voice in her head was saying otherwise, but of course it was.
How long had she been without someone in her life?

The touch to her shoulder made her jump. She hadn’t realized she was just standing there daydreaming, nor had she heard or seen him come into the room.

“Oh!” Her hand was on her mouth as she held back the scream that threatened to bubble forth. It was only Angelo.

“I’m sorry, Alexa, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s okay, I’m fine. I was just deep in thought.” She smiled over at him and then waved him toward his plate on the table. “Come and eat.” Angelo nodded and they both settled at the table.

***

Michael looked down at the two settled at the table and sighed. “How do you think he is doing?” he turned to ask Gabriel as both angels looked down into the portal of light.

“He couldn’t do any worse that’s for sure, Michael.”

“I’d have to agree. She seems to be coming around and perhaps she will be able to embrace Christmas again and him?”

“Humans are hard to figure out. But from what we have seen so far, I’d like to think yes.”

“He’s giving up so much, Michael.”

“Yet he will gain a lot too, according to him. I don’t think we can understand as we haven’t fallen for a mortal as he has.”

“I don’t want to try and understand it. Don’t need the headache,” Gabriel countered and then both angels laughed.

“Perhaps we should give a little prod in the right direction?” Michael said and Gabriel looked at him, crossing his arms over his broad chest.

“What do you have up your sleeves, Michael?” He was smiling as he asked that question.

“I want to give a little push to help our brother along.”

Gabriel burst out laughing. “You mean more like more like a jolt, am I right?”

Michael grinned, “Okay, you caught me. Yes, more like a jolt to get them moving in the right direction.

“They’re already moving in the right direction, Michael. So I think you just want to speed this along. Right?”

“Right, because it is what we do. We interfere even when we don’t need to,” Michael said, looking back down into the portal displaying Angelo and Alexa sharing their meal.

“Very true, it’s what we’re best at. I think that if we give him a bit of himself back, that will move things along quite nicely.” Michael looked over at the fair-haired angel whom he’d known and felt close to for all eternity, and nodded in agreement.

“I agree, let’s give him some of himself back, so that he remembers. It’s not like he bent the rules. It would be us doing so.”

In unison, they both looked back to the pool of light and ran their hands through it, eyes closed and wings outspread. Chanting a few words in their ancient tongue, they added their own fun to the mix. Once done, they smiled at one another.

“It’s done.”

“Yes, it’s done. Let us see what fun ensues from this.”

***

It had taken no time for them to finish eating and now she had him sitting in front of the TV. She’d given him the basic lesson in how to use the remote so that he could change channels. She grinned as he looked at the TV and then back at her expectantly.

“I have to get some work done, Angelo. When you’re around that doesn’t happen. I only expect to be gone for about an hour or two. So here’s the remote. Push the buttons that I showed you so that you can change the channel if you get bored.”

She gasped and giggled as he pulled her close, making her tumble against him. She looked into his eyes with her hands braced on his chest and before she could ask what he was doing he kissed her nice and hard. She could feel herself all but melting into that kiss and gave a soft whimper. He nibbled at her bottom lip, drawing it into his mouth to suck on. He didn’t just kiss her. He was making love to her mouth.

His lips were so firm against her own, but yielding at the same time, making her feel like the one in control. As his lips played over hers, she felt herself get wetter by the minute. He flicked his tongue over her lips, and then slipped it into her mouth as her lips parted in a small moan. His fingers were curled into her hair as he held her. When he parted the kiss he let her go. She stood and looked at him. How was it possible to feel so much in a kiss? Just that mere touch of his lips on hers had her hot, wet and needy.

“Okay and what was that for?” Eyes of the deepest blue gazed into hers, and in that moment, she could see his heart. It made it hard to breathe. He took her breath away.

“Something to get you to expedite your work.” He had a smile on his face that looked devilish, and all she could do was shake her head and back up.

“Hmm, well yeah, that's something that will get me to go a lot faster.”

“Well that's
the hope, Alexa.”

“Okay, I'm going now. Leaving here to finish up that work, that is so important.” Even though she said those words, she stayed rooted to the spot. He laughed as she stood there.

“I’m taking that to mean you’re going to stay?” He stood and reached for her and she shrieked and ran out of his grasp and out the room, calling over her shoulder.

“No! I will see you later.” With those words said, she was out of the living room and headed towards her office, his laughter following her all the way out.

They fell into a comfortable routine, spending as much time together as possible, yet making sure she got her work done as well. She let him have the nights and early morning hours with her, and the other time she used to get things done with her job. She couldn’t let that fall behind just because she was starting to open up to him.

It was hard to get into data entry when she had one hunk of a male sitting in the other room, but she made herself sit there and work. The chime of the clock hanging on the wall brought her out of her drone like fascination with her computer screen, and she stood up and stretched. She’d been hard at work for hours. She couldn’t believe he hadn’t come in and disturbed her even once. He had to be bored with whatever it was he’d been watching on television.

She left the office and made her way to the living room to see if he was in there. She frowned when she looked inside and didn’t find him there. Perhaps he’d gotten hungry and went into the kitchen. There were only so many places he could be. The kitchen was also empty, and with her hands on her hips as she thought of the next possible place for him. Glancing down the hallway in the direction of the bedrooms, she could tell his room was empty as was hers. The last room that could be checked was Tessa’s. But why would he go in there? She didn’t even go in there anymore. Grabbing the knob, she turned it and pushed the door open slowly.

Chapter Five

Alexa had found Angelo. He was sitting on the floor in the middle of the room with his hands on his knees and his eyes closed. He didn’t budge even when the door creaked as she opened it and stood there staring at him. His long black hair hung down over his shoulders, and he had the prettiest thick lashes. He was beautiful and glorious, and her breath caught. When she gained control of herself, she spoke. Tessa’s room was just as it had been before she died. She only came in briefly to dust and make sure things stayed well preserved. It comforted her.

“This room is off limits, Angelo.”

Without opening his eyes, he spoke. “Why? It is beautiful and peaceful in here. It’s a room that’s filled with wonderful memories and with love. Why do you keep yourself from here?”

“It hurts, Angelo. It hurts to remember what I lost.”

“But you didn’t lose her.” He opened his eyes then, and she found herself staring into them as tears filled hers.

“But I did. I lost Terrance and Tessa. Tessa didn’t deserve to die. I shouldn’t have outlived her.”

“I was drawn to this room.”

“What does that mean?”

“I was sitting in the room you left me in, and after awhile not coming to this room wasn’t an option.” He patted the carpet next to him, indicating he wanted her to come and sit beside him. “Tessa’s presence is still here. Come sit here, and you’ll sense just what I’m talking about.”

“I’m not ready for this.” Her heart picked up and the tears dripped down her cheeks. Why was he trying to make her do this? What purpose would it serve for her to open up this wound? She was ready to start a relationship with him, but she wasn’t ready to unlock an old hurt.

“You have to be ready for this, or there can’t be an us.”

“You don’t know my pain!” she screamed at him.

“I would if you let me in.”

“Why would you want that?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Our link with one another should give you that answer.”

“What is it with you? You have me on such an emotional roller coaster, I don’t have any clue whether I'm coming or going,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her
chest.

He held out his hand for her. She looked at the hand and was about to deny him when her eyes caught his and something within them pulled at her. She reached for his hand and was tugged into his lap. An instant calmness washed over her when she settled in his lap. “Now close your eyes, my sweet, Alexa.” When she was about to protest, he placed a finger against her lips. “Shh…if you want to see Tessa, you need to listen and be still.”

His words were enticing, and she closed her eyes and rested her head back against his shoulder. Of course, she wanted to have a glimpse of her daughter again.

That was when she heard the tinkling of a bell. She moved but his hands held her still, and she knew it was his way to tell her that if she moved, if she spoke, the moment would be over. Then there it was, a light brushing against her cheek and she knew it wasn’t Angelo. It was Tessa. The tears flowed freely from her eyes. In that moment, she knew Tessa was telling her that she was okay and that she needed her mommy to be okay as well.