Alice stomped back into the penthouse. He’d insisted on flying her to work and back because he hated the Underground. He was a nightmare, talking about how bored he was and trying to distract her every five minutes. She was surprised she’d gotten anything done. No one else was able to see him, but libraries were meant to be quiet places. Having him talking in her ear all the time was irritating. Throwing him off the roof of a building seemed like a wonderful idea.
“I don’t know what you’re so angry about,” Azrael said, looking down at his nails.
“Oh, just go away. I want to be alone.”
She slammed the bedroom door in his face, not giving a shit what he thought. Throwing herself down on the bed, she groaned. What had she gotten herself into? The damn angel had turned her life upside down in the space of twenty four hours. She did have to admit it was Jason who had started it by cheating on her. If she hadn’t found out, she’d still be with that idiot and she’d never have met the beautiful angel who was still in his living room, probably confused by her behaviour.
Why do I even care anyway? He’s the one who’s holding me prisoner.
She shouldn’t have any sort of feelings other than annoyance and disgust for Azrael, but somehow, she couldn’t shake the feeling he needed someone to talk to. Could she be that person? She shook herself. That was the most idiotic notion she’d had all day.
It dawned on her she’d told Chris she’d ring him after work. She flipped over onto her back, grabbing her purse and tugging her phone out. He answered on the second ring.
“Ally, love, how are you?”
He was the only one she allowed to call her that. She’d never tell anyone else about his nickname for her. Especially not Azrael. Damn it, that stupid angel needs to get out of my head. Like right now. I’m so fed up of him.
“I’m all right. How’s work?”
“You do not sound okay.”
“Chris.”
He always had a knack for knowing when something was up with her.
“Fine, fine. Work is good. I met a guy last weekend, but you know how it is, they always disappoint me in the morning.”
She chuckled. Chris was forever picking the wrong men. He’d been the same when he’d lived in Kent. They’d met when they were kids, remaining the best of friends into adulthood.
“What was wrong with this one?”
“Oh, he expected breakfast. You know I don’t cook. I offered to take him out, but by that time, I knew he wasn’t the one for me.”
“I think you’re just a picky bastard.”
He roared with laughter.
“Touché, darling.”
“I really wish you’d stop going out to bars to meet them or going on Grindr, it really doesn’t help your cause.”
“Hmm… at least my sex life isn’t as dull as a doorstop unlike yours.”
Her laughter died in her throat.
“Um… about that…”
“Is this why you sound so down in the dumps?”
“Please don’t say I told you so.”
“What has the little worm done this time?”
She sighed. Chris had never liked Jason.
“He cheated on me.”
She heard his sharp intake of breath.
“I told you that little fucker would break your heart. Alice, you should’ve kicked him to the curb a long time ago, love. Tell me, did you kick his butt?”
She snorted. As if she would resort to violence, but she kind of wished she had kicked him in the nuts. He would’ve deserved it.
“No, but I threw a mug at his head. Sadly it missed. Then I stormed out. I haven’t been back. It’s most definitely over.”
She was never going back to Jason. There was no reason for her to go back to their flat. Not now Azrael had somehow brought all of her stuff here. That damn angel. I suppose I should be grateful he’s made sure I don’t have to face Jason.
“Where are you staying then? You don’t know anyone in London.”
How could she tell Chris about Azrael? He wouldn’t believe her, would he? Would Azrael even be okay with her revealing his true nature to anyone? She didn’t think he would.
“Uh… It’s complicated.”
She slapped her hand over her head. That was the worst thing she could’ve said.
“Ally, what have you gotten yourself into?”
“Nothing. I swear. I’m safe, Chris. I promise.”
The door to the bedroom opened. Azrael was standing there with a frown on his face. It still almost hurt to look at his beauty.
Why the hell does he have to be so attractive and yet so damn irritating at the same time?
He cocked an eyebrow. She really needed to learn how to keep her thoughts under control.
“If you say so, but I wish you’d tell me. I’m worried now.”
“Um, Chris, I have to go. I’ll call you soon.”
“Ally…”
“I’m sorry. I promise, we’ll talk about it next time.”
She hung up without letting him say anymore. Dropping the phone on the bed, she stared at the angel.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“My friend. I didn’t tell him anything, I swear.”
“I heard.”
“Oh.”
She should’ve known he could hear everything. At least she hadn’t said anything he didn’t already know. He advanced into the room, stopping by the end of the bed. His eyes raked over her. She felt distinctly uncomfortable.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
On cue, her stomach rumbled. She flushed. That was slightly embarrassing.
“I guess so.”
“There’s food in the cupboards, make yourself something. You still need to take care of yourself.”
And with that he turned and left. She stared after him. So much for him caring about her wellbeing. Her conversation with Chris rattled her a little. How was she going to ever explain Azrael to anyone? There wasn’t a logical explanation for her staying with him. She didn’t even know the real reason. Just because she could see him as an angel rather than whatever disguise he put on. It was a flimsy excuse. She wanted answers.
She got up, stomping into the living room. Azrael was sitting on the sofa, flicking through the TV channels. He looked up at her approach. She stopped right in front of him, glaring.
“I want you to tell me why you’re keeping me prisoner.”
“I already explained it to you,” he said, staring at her impassively.
“No, you didn’t. You gave me some bullshit about me being able to see you. That’s not a reason.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
She threw her hands up.
“You’re fucking impossible, do you know that?”
He gave her a smile, which she wanted to wipe off his face.
“As if I care what a mere mortal thinks of me.”
Of course he doesn’t care. He doesn’t care about anything other than himself. Arrogant prick.
“Then why are you keeping me here?”
“It’s for your own safety.”
She stomped her foot. She knew it was childish, but the angel in front of her did her head in.
“Why the hell would you care about my safety when you don’t care about me?”
He rolled his eyes.
“It is my duty. Now, if you’re quite done, I’m bored with this conversation.”
She took a deep breath. He was sorely testing her patience.
You can just go to hell.
She strode away into the kitchen and ripped open the fridge. One day with the angel and she wanted to tear her hair out. Why did he have to be so damn attractive? It made her head hurt.
He had a surprising amount of fresh food. She didn’t really care what she ate at that point. She was far too pissed off. Tugging out vegetables, she found he had noodles in the cupboard. A simple stir fry would do. Roughly chopping the vegetables, she threw them into a wok with sesame oil and followed it up with soy sauce. When the noodles were ready, she threw them in as well along with a few other ingredients. She’d made too much, but she didn’t care.
Dumping it out onto a plate, she was about to turn around when she found she couldn’t move. Azrael rested his hands on the counter either side of her. His body was far too close to hers. Her heart raced in her chest.
“You are not one of these women who rarely eats, are you?” he asked, his mouth next to her ear.
“N… No.”
She’d always liked her food too much. Her mum had taught her to cook from a young age. She enjoyed making meals for her parents when she’d gotten older. Yet she couldn’t understand why he was even asking that or why he’d caged her against the counter.
“Good.”
“Can… Can you move?”
She turned in his arms, staring up into his dazzling green eyes. His lip quirked up at the side.
“Why? Do you not enjoy being close to me?”
“No. I don’t.”
Her body tingled all over. That’s a lie. He knows it. I know it.
“Hmm, I think perhaps you’re not quite telling the truth.”
“Why on earth would I want to be near someone who drives me crazy every time they open their mouth?”
His smile grew wider. His arrogance clearly knew no bounds.
“Little mortal,” he said, his voice quiet. “You are an enigma. A puzzle I wish to solve. One I am inexplicably curious about.”
Alice’s heart thumped wildly. His words were cryptic, but he was curious about her. Was it just because she could see him or was it something else entirely? What else could he possibly want from me? His eyes burnt with repressed emotions, searing into her soul. She felt his presence all around her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, goose pimples ran down her arms. And something she never wanted or expected to feel started in her stomach and wound its way down to her core. Desire. The urge to throw herself at him, kiss him, tear his clothes off and have him inside her threatened to overcome all her common sense.
What the fuck is happening to me?
“Please, move,” she whispered.
He stared down at her for the longest moment. His eyes still burnt as if he knew what she was thinking, exactly what he was causing inside of her. Then he stepped back and strode away. She took a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. Whatever he’d done to her, she wasn’t sure she wanted a repeat of it.
I do not want him.
I don’t.
I really don’t.
§
Alice was thoroughly fed up with Azrael after a week. Neither of them had mentioned the strange interlude between them which set her whole world on fire. She sat at the breakfast bar in the kitchen swinging her legs whilst she ate the dinner she’d prepared for herself. The angel was lounging on the sofa, his arm resting on his face.
“I have no sympathy for you,” she said. “You don’t have to come with me to work.”
“Tsk, mortals,” he mumbled.
“You seem to be rather taken with this particular mortal right here.”
“Do not mistake my keeping you here for interest in you.”
“I didn’t mean… Honestly, I got it the first time when you told me you weren’t interested in, what was it you said… Oh yes, ‘pleasures of the flesh’. For the record, I have no interest in you either.”
“Hmm, then why do you wax poetic about my appearance in your head?”
She scowled and went back to her food. He really needed to quit this habit of listening to her thoughts. It was a complete invasion of privacy. So what if she thought he was beautiful? Didn’t mean he had the personality to go with it.
Oh yes, I really want to get into bed with the angel keeping me prisoner, that’s totally normal… not!
“Most mortals would relish the chance to fall into bed with an angel.”
“They clearly haven’t spent any time with you. It’s only been a week and I already want to throw you off a building.”
“That would only be an issue if I was human.”
“Has anyone ever told you how annoying and arrogant you are?”
“On several occasions.”
“What a surprise and you didn’t stop to think you might be the problem?”
He didn’t respond. She looked over her shoulder, but he hadn’t moved. She slid off the stool and took her plate over to the sink. She washed up the dishes before moving into the living room. She sat down on the sofa across from him, pulling out her phone. She had several missed calls from Jason along with three voicemails she’d been avoiding listening to. It was time to face the music.
“Alice, please come home. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”
Delete.
“Did you come around and take all of your stuff whilst I was at work? That’s so childish.”
Delete.
“Alice, please, can we at least talk this through? Where are you staying? I miss you.”
Delete. What an arsehole. As if I want to speak to him after what he’s done.
“He sounds perfectly pathetic,” Azrael said.
She glanced over at the angel. He’d moved his arm and was staring at her.
“As if it’s any of your business.”
“Wouldn’t most mortal women be crying over such a thing?”
She’d cried when she’d found evidence of Jason’s betrayal, but it’d quickly turned to anger.
“He’s not worth crying over. Not anymore.”
She felt a wave of sadness. By all accounts, she should be heartbroken, but he hadn’t exactly been the best boyfriend. They’d drifted apart over the last year since she’d moved to London.
“Tell me, what did you see in this man?”
Having no idea why he’d want to know, she was in two minds about telling him.
“You’ll just think I’m pathetic.”
“I think most mortals are pathetic.”
She turned away, unable to take his intense gaze any longer.
“Jason was charming, handsome, had a good job… All the things a woman should want in a man. I thought because he’d paid attention to me, it meant I was worthy of someone’s affections. I’m beginning to think I was just an easy target because I was lonely.”
She hated sounding so tragic. Loneliness was a killer. It made you do all sorts of stupid things.
Like staying with a man who didn’t appreciate me.
She glanced at the angel. He was still staring at her, his expression unreadable.
“Do you get lonely?” she asked.
“Yes.”
She hadn’t expected him to answer so bluntly.
“Aren’t there other angels on Earth?”
“If they weren’t all so insufferable, perhaps I’d seek them out.”
“Are you really telling me you have no one here you like to spend time with?”
“Lucifer is in Hell. I detest the place. My fellow Archangels wouldn’t leave dear old dad’s side. As if I’d want to see them anyway.”
A wave of sadness threatened to overcome her.
“So… Lucifer is the only one you like?”
“Do you really not know the stories about me?”
She shook her head. He should’ve worked that out by now. She’d told him enough times she didn’t know anything about him or his fellow angels.
“He threw us out of Heaven at the same time. Lucifer and I were close, once.”
Her heart ached a little at the thought of him being alone for so long. Why she felt sorry for him was beyond her. I don’t even like him, so why do I feel like I understand his loneliness? He was silent for a long time. He seemed so sad. It made her feel worse. She didn’t like it. Having common ground with him wasn’t what she needed. Especially after he’d made her feel all those weird urges only the week before.
“Azrael, I want to go for a walk.”
She needed to clear her head. Her feelings about the angel in front of her were confused and conflicting.
“Fine.”
He stood up abruptly. She had expected him to argue with her about it. She got up, collecting her coat before the two of them stepped into the lift. When they were outside, he looked at her expectantly.
“What?”
“Do you want to walk around the city or do you wish me to take you to a park?”
“A park, I guess.”
He put his arms out, indicating she should step into them. She wasn’t a fan of the whole flying business, but he refused to travel any other way. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Despite being in broad daylight in a public space, he shot into the sky with her.
“How come no one notices you taking off with me?” she asked.
“It’s not just me I can hide from human sight.”
He didn’t say any more until he set them down.
“Is this acceptable?”
She looked around. They were in Hyde Park.
“Yes.”
He dug his hands into his pockets and set off, leaving her following a little way behind him. He really was dead set on this whole keeping her in his sight business. Just because she could see him even when he hid himself from humans, didn’t mean she needed constant observation.
It was a nice evening, dusk was setting in. She was glad she’d brought her coat. The air was crisp. It wasn’t like being home in Kent where she’d grown up, but it was nicer than the polluted streets full of traffic.
Azrael stopped abruptly, causing her to walk into his back. She rubbed her head, adjusting her glasses. Before she had a chance to ask him what he was doing, a pair of hands pulled her backwards. She yelped.
The angel turned, his eyes narrowed.
“Now, come along quietly, little lady,” said a gruff voice in her ear.