Page 38 of Light

She huffed.

The flames running along his wings winked out, casting the room into darkness. She wriggled under him, feeling him grow harder inside her.

“I imagined it quite differently,” she said.

“We have all the time in the world to explore those delicious fantasies of yours.” As he said it, he moved, rocking his hips ever so slightly, and her swollen sex warmed in response.

Can we do that again?

His deep chuckling answer sent goosebumps rippling down her arms.

His wings wrapped around them, blocking out the world and its sounds, as their bodies rejoiced in each other’s joining, and she cried out his name three more times before they were both finally spent.

Gabriel lifted himself, strong arms pressing into the bed on either side of her. Although they’d lain together long after their lovemaking ceased, the absence of his skin against hers left her feeling cold and melancholy.

He moved silently through the room, and she watched as he turned away from her. Silvery wings, gleaming in the moonlight, hid the full view of his backside.

He returned with a thick navy robe and draped it over her naked body, sitting at the end of her bed.

She sat up, sliding it over her shoulders and scooted off the bed to wrap it around herself.

His pants were back, though his chest was blessedly bare. Her gaze trailed over the expanse of rippling muscles that dipped below his waistline.

“So,” she said, “what comes next?”

“Actually…” His pause was long enough that she wasn’t sure he’d finish his sentence, but then he said, “I came to tell you I’m headed to America and may be gone a while.”

Adalaide swallowed back her first response, which was to call him an arse and throw him out of her house.

His gaze dropped, and she knew he’d heard her thoughts.

“You came here to seduce me before you left?” She’d meant to sound accusing, but it just came out sounding hurt.

“No.” He looked up and reached for her.

She moved away, stepping out of his reach. “Why did you come if not for this?”

“I wanted to see you. Before I left.”

His wings were vibrating in that way she’d come to realize meant he was upset.

“You got what you wanted. You had better go.” She turned away from him.

Strong arms wrapped around her; she couldn’t bring herself to pull free. He pressed himself into her back, warmth penetrating the robe and some of her resolve.

“I didn’t want this life for you, Light. I tried to fight it. Seraphim are soldiers, constantly called to battle. We have no choice. We must go where we are needed.”

Her shoulders softened as she leaned into his touch. Of course he couldn’t stay and play house with her. He was an angel. He was fighting for humans. Doing whatever angels did all day. She couldn’t be upset with an angel.

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, tightening his hold on her.

In that moment, she understood those flashes of thoughts he’d had. The war he’d fought with himself. She wished he’d shared them with her rather than keeping them to himself.

Still, she knew she wouldn’t have chosen differently, even if she’d known this was how it would be. He would stop in for brief moments in her short life, show her affection, do that again, and leave to fight another war to save more souls.

And she would be here. Alone. Just as she’d always been.

Gabriel’s arms loosened around her, and he twisted her to face him. “This life is fleeting. When you move on from it, you will be with me in Alaxia forever.”

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