Alice froze. Whoever this was, she had no interest in being kidnapped. Not after Azrael had already done so the night they’d met.
“Excuse me? Let go!”
When she looked back, there was a man with horns and red eyes dragging her away. Had he not noticed an angel standing in front of them?
Wait, why does he have horns? Is… is he a demon?
“I suggest you release her.”
The demon looked up before he stopped. She turned to Azrael. He glowed softly, his magnificent wings protruding from his back. Damn. It almost hurts to look at him. Why? Why does he have to look so… so… incredible?
“What the fuck?” the demon exclaimed.
Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting Azrael to be with her.
“I said unhand her, hell spawn.”
“She’s coming with me, angel.”
The demon wrapped a hand around her throat, squeezing a little. She clawed at it. He was hot, unbearably so. What does a demon want with me? This makes no sense. Has Azrael been keeping this from me?
“You have no business with her.”
“Don’t I? You know nothing.”
Azrael took a step towards them. She trembled. She was stuck between an angry Archangel and a demon. This was not how she wanted to spend her Friday night, but her life wasn’t exactly normal anymore. Not since she’d encountered the angel in front of her.
“Give her to me.”
“He wants her “
Azrael’s green eyes blazed.
“I don’t care what he wants.”
The next moment the demon was shoved ten feet back and Azrael was by her side. It all happened so fast she barely registered it. He looked down at her for a moment, green eyes softening. It made her heart flutter restlessly in her chest.
“Do you see why I am keeping you in my sights?” he asked.
She nodded, still shaking. She didn’t know whether to be terrified or relieved. He saved me. He actually saved me. And the way he’s looking at me like he cares about me… I don’t understand.
The demon got up, brushing himself off. The angel glared at him.
“You shouldn’t stand in his way,” he said.
“Tell him if he wants her, he can come to Earth and ask me for her himself,” Azrael replied.
The demon glared before slinking away into the treeline. Azrael turned back to her.
“Can we go, please?” she whispered.
She no longer felt safe out in the open. The sanctity of Azrael’s penthouse was far more appealing. He didn’t say anything when he took her in his arms. She clutched his neck, burying her face in his shoulder. She didn’t know who they’d been talking about nor why anyone would want her. Wrapped up in his arms, soaring across London, she couldn’t help but feel as though there was a lot Azrael wasn’t telling her.
She was still trembling when they reached the penthouse. He’d been silent and broody the whole way back. When she didn’t move from the hallway, he looked over his shoulder at her.
“What’s wrong?”
She couldn’t answer. She hadn’t really thought much about what else existed beyond Azrael. He’d pointed out vampires and werewolves, but the possibility of demons hadn’t entered her mind even when he’d spoken about Lucifer. It was all very overwhelming.
He walked back towards her, his green eyes narrowing. He let out a long-suffering sigh before he took her coat off her and hung it up in the cupboard next to them. The next moment, he pulled her into his chest and held her, running a hand down her back in a soothing motion.
“Honestly, humans,” he muttered.
He’s so warm and comforting.
She wasn’t exactly best pleased to feel that way about being held by Azrael. Her heart slammed against her ribcage, pounding in her ears. Her glasses were squished up on her face. She turned it to the side, laying it on his chest. He felt like any other human, except he exuded power. His own heartbeat thudded against her hand.
After a few long minutes, her limbs relaxed, trembling subsiding.
Thank you.
She didn’t wish to voice it out loud, but she’d thought it at him.
“You’re welcome.”
She didn’t want him to let go, but she imagined this was making him uncomfortable. He’d told her enough times he didn’t enjoy the company of mortals like her. She stepped away. His arms dropped. She dared look up at his face. There was a hint of sadness in his expression.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“About why a demon tried to take you to Hell?”
“Well, yes, that and who you were talking about with him.”
“He was referring to my brother.”
“Lucifer?”
“One and the same.”
“Why does he want me?”
This was becoming increasingly complicated. First, she’d been taken by Azrael against her will and now, the Devil wanted her.
What is with these angels?
“Do you think I know the inner workings of his mind?”
“No. I just don’t understand any of this.”
She turned away, walking into the living room, feeling exhausted. The last few days had taken it out of her. Being around an Archangel was draining. Constantly looking at someone so beautiful and breathtaking was just about enough to send anyone crazy. The ethereal glow emanating from him was almost too much to bear. It didn’t stop her wanting to look at him. Wanting to be close to him.
Damn it. I don’t want to feel this way.
“Feel what way?”
She jumped.
I hate it when you do that.
“What is it you feel, Alice?”
“Nothing. I don’t feel anything.”
It was a lie. She didn’t like feeling anything for the angel. She hated how attractive he was. She didn’t want to feel sorry for him nor did she want to admit to finding his warm, solid body more than a little distracting. And that night he’d pressed her up against the kitchen counter still plagued her senses.
“I’m going to bed.”
She walked away to the bedroom, not caring if he’d been listening to her thoughts. Not caring if he came with her and insisted on her telling him how she felt. It was far too early to sleep, but she couldn’t deal with sitting around with him all evening. She wanted him to stop treating her like she was some sort of inconvenience to him, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.
She shrugged off her cardigan and unbuttoned her blouse. She turned towards the door as she undid the last button. He was watching her, green eyes dispassionate.
Are you going to just stand there and stare at me?
He didn’t answer her. She hesitated. Was she really going to undress further in front of him? She didn’t know what he was thinking nor why he was even there. His eyes roamed down her chest. His gaze wasn’t quite predatory, but it wasn’t exactly innocent either.
Fine. If you’re going to look, look.
She tugged it off, allowing it to flutter to the ground. The angel didn’t move. Tension rippled between the two of them. She wondered who was going to snap first. Being almost topless in front of him made her face heat up. She didn’t think she was unattractive, but he was an angel and he’d said he wasn’t interested in humans. Judging by the fact that he couldn’t stop looking at her, she wasn’t quite sure if he’d been telling the truth. There was a hint, a flicker of emotion behind his eyes.
What are you going to do, Azrael? Stand there, leave or…?
She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence in her head. She knew he’d heard her. His lip twitched, gaze intensifying a hundred fold. She wasn’t prepared for the way he looked at her. It was almost as if his eyes were burning into her skin, leaving her flesh hot to the touch.
He looked away, breaking the spell. She took a long, steadying breath. He strode back into the living room leaving her feeling like she’d just won a very important battle between the two of them.
The victory was bittersweet and left her with a sour taste in her mouth.
§
Pacing the room like a caged animal, Azrael cursed. Just what he needed, a strange fascination with a human woman. Keeping her here was a terrible idea, but now he knew Lucifer wanted Alice, he couldn’t allow her to leave. Was it starting? Was this the end?
He wished their father hadn’t been so cryptic before he’d thrown them out. The words rang in his ears.
“You will only bring death to this world, my son. The Darkness is coming. It is coming for all of you. Azrael, you will bring the end.”
What did He mean by me bringing the end?
Images of Alice’s skin flashed through his mind. He slammed his hand on the window, careful not to break it. It was the last thing he needed.
Is this His idea of a joke? Does He think I want to want a human? I’m not some common mortal, lusting after her body. And yet… her skin, the curve of her waist…
He tugged at his hair, trying to tamp down the frustration he felt. He’d never wanted anything from mortals, but he wanted something from her. And so did his brother. He couldn’t understand it. If Lucifer had only told him what their father had said to him. Would it make any of this clearer?
He walked back into the bedroom, unable to stay away from her any longer. She was tucked up in bed. His bed. Her glasses sat on the bedside table, her fingers curled around the blankets. He sat down next to her, stroking her hair from her face. She didn’t stir.
Why do I feel this way, Alice? Why do I feel anything for you? And why won’t you admit you feel it too?
He knew of her admiration of his physical appearance. It made him smile when he heard her thoughts. She couldn’t hold them back.
Feeling emotions wasn’t something he had much experience with despite living on Earth all this time. He’d been with human women to pass the time, but the physical pleasures were for their benefit rather than his.
This is foolish. A foolish human endeavour. And yet, he wanted to hold her again. She was so fragile. So human. He’d felt a spark of something in his chest when he’d given her comfort earlier. Then seeing her without a shirt made that spark turn into a flame. One which threatened to consume him whole.
He clicked his fingers. His clothes changed from a casual shirt and trousers to a soft t-shirt and bottoms. He pulled back the covers and slipped in next to her. He hesitated for a moment before curling himself around her back, wrapping an arm around her small waist. She stirred a little then, leaning into him.
“Az…” she murmured.
He froze. Az? Is she dreaming about… me? He knew the cheater was called Jason, so it couldn’t possibly be him. Having her so close gave him an uncomfortable stirring in his stomach. He shouldn’t be doing this, holding her whilst she slept. He buried his face in her neck, breathing her in. I need to let her go. He turned her face towards him, staring down at her mouth.
What would it feel like to kiss her?
She stirred, eyes cracking open before she blinked.
“What… What are you doing?”
“Why the hell is he in bed with me? Holding me? Why… Why does it feel so nice?”
He wasn’t quite sure how to explain his presence. He didn’t know why he was here himself. She wasn’t moving away. She was staring at him with those warm, grey eyes of hers. The ones he felt like he could drown in.
“Azrael?” she whispered.
“Go back to sleep, Alice.”
“But you’re…”
“His face is so close. Why won’t my heart stop thumping? Why does he make me feel all hot? I’m not… I’m not really attracted to him, am I? I thought I was, but this… No. No. Oh, holy shit. No, this can’t be happening. I can’t feel this way about him. He’s annoying, cryptic and doesn’t even like humans.”
He tried not to smile. She knew he could hear everything. Her face was bright red. She wanted him. They both knew it. What Alice didn’t know is he wanted her too, although for the life of him, he couldn’t understand why.
“Stop listening,” she whispered.
“And not get to hear how you really feel?”
She glared at him, stiffening in his grasp.
“Azrael, I have no idea why you’d think it’s okay to get in bed with me whilst I’m asleep nor start touching me. Neither of those things are normal or acceptable behaviour.”
His eyes were drawn to that mouth she was using to tell him off. The mouth he wanted to explore.
“This is my bed.”
“You said you don’t sleep.”
“Doesn’t mean I can’t.”
She turned to him fully.
“Fine. If you’re going to insist on being in here, I’m going to lay down some rules. Firstly, you’re not allowed to cuddle me and secondly, you need to stay over there.”
She pointed to the other side of the bed.
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I object to both of those rules.”
“I don’t care.”
“He’s so irritating! I wish my heart would calm down. It’s making this impossible. Why won’t he stop staring at my mouth? First, he wants to watch me undressing, now cuddling me in my sleep? I don’t get him.”
He was staring at her mouth because he had the undeniable urge to kiss her. He cupped her cheek, running a thumb over her bottom lip. She looked at him, shock in her expression. She was moments away from giving into what was between them. He could feel it.
“Az… please, stop,” she whispered.
She was dreaming about me.
He released her. The plea in her voice was too much. He shifted back, giving her the space she wanted. She shuffled away, putting further distance between them. She turned, facing away from him. He lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling.
“What the fuck is wrong with me? I didn’t really want him to stop holding me. I’m insane. Why did he look like he was going to kiss me? And why did I want him to?”
A small mewl of frustration left her lips. Her thoughts and what came out of her mouth painted two very different pictures of Alice’s feelings towards him. He knew better than to press her. It might well push her away further. He wanted to see her smile, not be angry at him.
Why do I have the ridiculous urge to want to make her happy?