Page 81 of When the Angel Falls First

No customers in the shop, I sent to him through our connection.And you know I got a new shipment of Gaelic dictionaries in the back…

The dim light caught the sharp angles of his face, his eyes smoldering with an affection that left me breathless. His gaze traveled over me, slow and deliberate, as if committing every inch of me to memory. I swallowed, feeling a rush of heat coil in my belly. He didn’t need to say a word—his intentions were as clear as the tension building between us.

Let’s celebrate another couple who have just begun their love story, he said through silent air.

Let’s tear off these clothes so you can fuck me senseless,hmmm?I headed toward the storeroom, keeping my eyes on him.

He didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he walked toward me with a grace that was almost predatory, each step sending little tremors through my body. My back pressed against the door, and I realized I was holding my breath. By the time he reached me, his lips curved into a small, knowing smile.

I laid my hand on his chest. “Maybe that couple will get up to some naughty stuff tonight, too.”

“All in a day’s work,” he murmured, his voice roughened with desire, the sound vibrating straight through me. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb grazing my bottom lip.

He leaned in, his lips brushing mine in a teasing, barely-there kiss that made my knees go weak. I closed my eyes, my senses sharpening, every nerve attuned to him. Heat radiated from his body as his mouth claimed mine fully then, a surge of passion that left me gasping.

My hands found their way to his hair, tangling in the softness of his curls as he deepened the kiss. His tongue stroked against mine, the taste of him heady and intoxicating. I melted into him, arching my body against his as he pressed me against the door. His hands skimmed down my sides, setting every inch of me alight, and I couldn’t suppress the soft moan that escaped my lips.

“God, Josie,” he breathed against my mouth, his voice thick with need. “You’re everything.”

I barely had time to process his words before he scooped me up into his arms, my legs wrapping instinctively around his waist. He closed the storeroom door, our lips never parting, his movements fluid and assured.

After ourstolenmoments in the storeroom, I walked back out to the front counter, a stack of Gaelic dictionaries in my hands and Caleb’s. And then…

Everythingchanged.

A surge of energy erupted within me, searing through every cell of my body. I gasped, the force of it blinding, like molten gold flowing through my veins, so strongly I nearly dropped the books. My skin tingled, every nerve vibrating with sensations that stole my breath. The room around us blurred, bathed in a golden radiance that seemed to pour out from me.

Caleb stilled, his eyes widening as he dropped the dictionaries to look at me. “Josie…” he whispered, awe lacing his voice. “You’re glowing.”

I blinked up at him, dazed and exhilarated, as the light around me slowly began to dim. My vision cleared, and I could see him staring at me with wonder. A new awareness settled over me, as though the world had shifted, revealing secrets that had been hidden in plain sight. I could sense things I never had before—the pulse of emotions, the faint whispers of thoughts around us. It was as if some barrier had broken inside me, leaving me wide open to everything.

“What... what just happened?” I managed to gasp out, my voice trembling.

He smiled, his thumb tracing my cheek tenderly. “You were always extraordinary.”

The world around me had shifted, and everything felt alive with an intensity I’d never experienced. Colors around the room seemed to shimmer, more vivid and vibrant than before. The dark mahogany shelves glowed with rich undertones, eachspine gleaming in hues I hadn’t noticed in the light’s reflection. The lingering scent of paper and ink smelled sharper, almost sweet.

The air itself vibrated with a hum of emotions, layered and complex, like music, entire symphonies that hadn’t even yet been written.

And Caleb. Oh, Caleb. He shone more brightly than anything else in the shop, his presence like a beacon of warmth and light that wrapped around me. His emotions washed over me in waves: awe, joy, love, and something even deeper, more profound. I felt the pulse of his heartbeat without touching him, a steady rhythm that matched my own.

“Our auras are entwined more deeply than before,” Caleb said as his eyes wandered over me. He lifted his arm and extended his hand to caress my shoulder, tracing down to the place his seal lay on my thigh. The glow intensified for a moment before dimming away again. “Perhaps that’s what you feel?”

I could only nod, overwhelmed by the rush of sensations. I could feel everything: his happiness, his wonder, his love for me—a love so deep, it nearly brought me to tears.

But then, just as I was beginning to wrap my mind around this new reality, I sensed something deeplywrongon the sidewalk. A man—no, ashifter,I could now sense for myself—tall and powerfully built, stood on the other side of the glass door. His eyes scanned first me, then lingered knowingly on Caleb, as if they’d met before. There was a storm of emotions pouring off him, so strong it enveloped me in melancholy and loneliness. But before I could say a thing, he bolted. The melancholy left me as quickly as it had arrived.

Whatever had caused this newfound awareness, it was going to take some getting used to.

“That man...” I started, taking my time to find the right words, but nothing came.

“I’ve seen him before. At the café.” Caleb sighed. “But the curse on him is beyond even my power.”

The idea of a curse created more questions than it answered, but I didn’t get a chance to ask anything more because at that moment, the room filled with a blinding light. I gasped, clutching Caleb’s arm as he instinctively stepped in front of me, shielding me.

When the light faded, I blinked, and there, standing in the center of the Bookish Cat, was Gabriel. Only he didn’t look as regal and untouchable as the times I’d seen him before. His eyes sparkled with a casual friendliness, like he was just some guy dropping by to chat.

“Well, this is cozy,” Gabriel remarked, looking around the bookstore with an amused grin. “I love what you’ve done with the place.” He smiled as his gaze landed on me. “First of all, congrats, you two.” He pointed at my stomach, wiggling his eyebrows. “Little Nephilim on the way! Exciting stuff, right? The new level of sensory input when carrying an angel-child takes some getting used to, but I’m sure you’re up for it.”

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