Page 12 of Secrets in the Shadow

“You’re staring, handsome,” Raziel drawled, his voice dropping an octave, smooth and husky like a late-night radio DJ.

Cody blinked, snapping out of whatever celestial-induced trance he’d fallen into. “Your eyes are…different,” he said. “Do they always do that?”

It seemed his brain was on delay if he was just now pointing that out.

The guy chuckled softly, the sound sending an unwelcome ripple through Cody. A shiver that made him want to move closer. “Only when I want them to, or if I’m experiencing extreme emotions.”

“Well, stop it,” Cody said under his breath, glancing away and busying himself by picking up the now-empty bacon napkin. He was not going to stand here and ogle an angel like some lovesick fool. He wasn’t.

Raziel’s gaze lingered on him, unrelenting. “You’re curious, though, aren’t you?”

“About what?”

“About me.”

Cody scoffed, though it came out weaker than he intended. “Well, duh. You broke into my kitchen and ate my breakfast. Of course I have questions.”

The angel still hadn’t told Cody why he was following him, but right now, he was using all his energy not to outright gawk at the gorgeousness.

Straightening, Raziel stepped closer, and Cody instinctively took a step back. “I didn’t break in. I walked in.” His voice was low, laced with indignation, the swirl in his eyes growing frantic.

“Walking in requires using the door,” Cody shot back. Angel or not, he refused to let the jerk push him around. “Doors you conveniently ignored.”

“Details.” Raziel shrugged, his lips twitching in amusement.

Why did the very first angel he met have to turn out to be a pain in the ass? Weren’t angels supposed to be nice?

And he wished Raziel would stop looking at him with those mesmerizing eyes. Cody had called them different, but in reality, they were breathtaking. Yet, there seemed to be a hint of sorrow behind them, as if Raziel was using his persona as a shield. Who was he trying to protect himself from?

“Okay, fine,” he said. “Who sent you? What’re you even doing here?”

Raziel seemed to consider the questions. “No one sent me. I came because…” He paused and briefly glanced at Cody’s lips before meeting his gaze again. “Because I wanted to…”

A deep sorrow emanated from Raziel’s eyes, a sadness that seemed to weigh heavy on his shoulders. He attempted to conceal it, but Cody could see the ache in his gaze, making him wonder if this was a common characteristic of all angels, or if Raziel was simply jaded.

His heart began to race and his throat constricted as he waited for Raziel to speak. What could an angel possibly want from him? The answer seemed unimaginable, yet here he was, standing in his kitchen waiting for an explanation.

Raziel’s smile was slow and purposeful, as if he knew exactly how much it unsettled Cody. “Have breakfast.”

The words hung in the air, absurd yet strangely sincere. It felt surreal to have an angel casually invite himself into his home and raid his fridge. But Raziel seemed completely at ease, as if he belonged there, unaware of the turmoil churning inside Cody.

“So, you just decided to show up and…what? Steal my breakfast?” He tried to sound braver than he felt, but his voice strained under the weight of his pounding pulse. Still, Cody refused to let Raziel see how unnerved he truly was.

Hell if he was going to let some hot jerk just barge in here and run shit. The guy had lost his gorgeous mind.

“More or less,” Raziel replied smoothly, amusement tugging at his lips as if this were an entirely reasonable explanation. He reached for another piece of bacon.

“Oh, no, you don’t!” He swatted the guy’s hand away, giving him a warning glare. “Back off, buddy. I cooked it, so it’s mine.”

Raziel’s laugh was deep, sultry, and just this side of sinfully wicked. Cody’s brain sent warning signals about exactly how disarming that sound was.

I’m in over my head.

Raziel crossed his arms, the movement causing his chiseled muscles to shift and ripple. Now Cody wondered if he could go to hell for lusting after an angel. He would have to look that up online.

“You’re surprisingly territorial for someone your size,” Raziel teased, leaning back against the counter with a smirk on his face.

The statement caused Cody to bristle. He’d been picked on his entire life about his flaming-red hair. He didn’t need some gorgeous asshole starting in on him about his height. “I’m not small. You’re just freakishly tall.”

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