Uriel (Speed Dating with the Denizens of the Underworld #39)

Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

Emilia

The winding road to Uriel’s mansion in Santa Monica stretches before us, a ribbon of asphalt bathed in the soft, fading light of dusk. I lean my head against the cool glass of the passenger window, watching as the landscape blurs past in a haze of muted greens and golds. The events of the past few days swirl in my mind, a kaleidoscope of impossible moments that I’m still struggling to process.

My gaze drifts to Uriel, his profile strong and sure as he navigates the curves of the road. There’s something different about him now, a subtle change that I’m still getting used to. The otherworldly aura that once surrounded him is gone, replaced by something more... human. It’s in the way he grips the steering wheel a little too tightly, the slight furrow in his brow as he concentrates on the road. He’s still learning, I realize, still adjusting to this mortal form he’s chosen.

How much has changed since I first met him, I muse. Back then, he was the stern hospital administrator, all pressed suits and unwavering adherence to rules. Then he was revealed as an archangel, a being of cosmic power and divine purpose. And now... now he’s chosen humanity, with all its messy, beautiful limitations.

Unbidden, memories of our time together flood my thoughts, each one a snapshot of our evolving relationship. I remember the day the SUV got stuck a few miles from the house. The rain had been relentless, lashing against the windows in sheets, the world outside a blur of grey. We’d huddled close for warmth, the silence between us charged with something more than just the static electricity of the storm.

And then there was that kiss in the house. My heart races at the memory, so vivid I can almost feel it happening again. It had been unexpected, earth-shattering in its intensity. One moment we’d been arguing—about what, I can hardly remember now—and the next, his lips were on mine, soft yet insistent.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the memory. It doesn’t matter now, I tell myself firmly. Uriel has given up his angelic nature for a century, a sacrifice of staggering proportions. But he did it for humanity, for the greater good. It’s noble, admirable even, but it’s not because of me. Now that we’re no longer forced together by prophecy or cosmic threat, everything will return to normal.

Won’t it?

The thought sends a pang through my chest, a hollowness that threatens to consume me. I’ve grown accustomed to Uriel’s presence, to the way he challenges me, frustrates me, and ultimately makes me want to be better. The idea of going back to a life without him in it seems... empty.

As we pull up to the mansion, a knot forms in my stomach, heavy and insistent. This is it, I realize. Once I gather my things, our strange, wonderful adventure will be over. I’ll go back to being just another social worker, navigating the mundane challenges of hospital bureaucracy and social services. And Uriel will... well, I’m not sure what a former archangel does with his newfound humanity, but I’m certain it doesn’t involve me.

We step into the foyer, and suddenly, the lights flicker and die. In the sudden darkness, I feel Uriel tense beside me, his reaction now purely human—a sharp intake of breath, a slight tremor in his hand as it finds mine.

“Stay close,” he murmurs, his voice lacking the supernatural resonance it once had, but no less comforting for its newfound humanity.

We make our way through the darkened house, Uriel’s hand warm and steady in mine. The silence between us is thick with unspoken words and lingering questions. As we reach the living room, Uriel pauses, releasing my hand to fumble with something on a side table. There’s a soft clink of metal, followed by the strike of a match, and suddenly the room is bathed in a warm, flickering glow.

Uriel stands there, holding an ornate candelabrum, its candles casting dancing shadows across the walls. The soft light illuminates his face in a way I’ve never seen before—gone is the ethereal glow of his angelic form, replaced by the gentle play of candlelight on very human features. It strikes me then, with startling clarity, how different he looks now. Still undeniably Uriel, but softer somehow, more accessible.

In this muted, golden light, everything seems different. Shadows flicker across Uriel’s face, highlighting the very human uncertainty in his eyes. It’s a stark reminder of how vulnerable he is now. No longer an immortal being of celestial power, but a man learning to navigate a world he’s only ever observed from afar.

We settle on the couch, the candelabrum placed carefully on the coffee table before us. The candles cast a small circle of warmth around us, creating an intimate bubble in the vast darkness of the house. Uriel turns to me, his expression an enigmatic tapestry of emotions I struggle to interpret. There’s something in his gaze, an intensity that makes my heart race and my palms sweat.

The moment hangs heavy between us, and I know that whatever I say next will ripple out, affecting not just our lives but potentially the very course of Uriel’s mortal existence. It’s terrifying and exhilarating all at once.

“Uriel, I...” I start, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to keep it steady. “First of all, in the name of humanity, I should thank you for the terrible sacrifice you’ve made in our favor. What you’ve done... it’s… truly amazing.”

I pause, gathering my thoughts, acutely aware of Uriel’s intense gaze on me. The candlelight flickers, casting shifting shadows across his face, making him look both familiar and strangely new at the same time.

“Emilia—” he begins earnestly, but I cut him off.

“No, please. I need to say this,” I continue, my heart pounding so loudly I’m sure he must hear it. “These past few days, they’ve meant more to me than I can say. The danger, the excitement, the way you’ve opened my eyes to a world beyond anything I could have imagined—it’s been incredible.”

I hold my breath for a moment, gathering my courage for what comes next. “But I understand that now, with the prophecy fulfilled and the world saved, things will change. You have a whole new life to explore, a century of humanity to experience. And I... I have my life to rebuild.”

The words taste bitter on my tongue, but I force myself to continue. “I’ll quit my job at the hospital, find another placement. You don’t have to worry about any awkwardness or?—”

“Emilia,” Uriel interrupts, his voice soft but intense. There’s an urgency in his tone that stops me short, my heart leaping into my throat. “You don’t understand. I didn’t do this for humanity. Not really.”

He takes a step closer, and I can feel the warmth radiating from him, so human and real. “I did it for you ,” he says, each word weighted with significance. “It’s been all about you for a very long time, longer than I realized.”

My breath catches in my throat, hope and disbelief warring within me. “What are you saying?”

Uriel’s hand comes up to cup my cheek, his touch gentle and warm, so different from the cool perfection of his angelic form, yet no less affecting. “I’m saying that of all the wonders I’ve witnessed in my long existence, none compare to you. Your compassion, your strength, your infuriating ability to challenge everything I thought I knew—you’ve changed me, Emilia. And I don’t want to go back to who I was before.”

His words wash over me, each one a balm to the ache I’ve been carrying. But doubt still lingers, a nagging voice that whispers of immortal beings turned mortal and the complexities of human relationships.

“But you’ve given up so much,” I protest weakly. “Your power, your divine purpose... How can I possibly be worth that?”

Uriel’s smile is soft, tinged with a sadness that hints at all he’s given up. “I’ve lived for millennia, Emilia. I’ve seen empires rise and fall, watched stars be born and die. But in all that time, I never truly lived . You make me feel alive in a way I never have before. You make me question, you make me feel, you make me want to be better. If that’s not worth giving up divinity for, I don’t know what is.”

Before I can respond, he leans in and kisses me. It’s different from our previous kisses—there’s no hint of celestial energy, no taste of eternity. Instead, it’s wonderfully, beautifully human. Warm and real and full of promise. I melt into him, my hands finding purchase on his shoulders as his arms wrap around my waist, pulling me closer.

When we finally part, I’m breathless, my head spinning with the enormity of what’s happening. Uriel rests his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin.

“We have a full life ahead of us, together,” he says softly. “If you’ll have me, that is. I may not be an archangel anymore, but I promise to spend every day of this mortal life trying to be worthy of you.”

Joy bubbles up inside me, bright and effervescent. It’s a feeling so intense it’s almost painful, filling every corner of my being until I feel I might burst with it.

“Then let’s make every second count,” I say, pulling him in for another kiss.

Uriel’s smile, full of love and relief, outshines a thousand suns as he pulls me to him. His arms slip around my waist, lifting me off the ground as if I weigh nothing at all. He spins us around once, twice, before carrying me up the stairs. I cling to him, laughing and dizzy with happiness as he ascends the steps two at a time.

The moonlit bedroom awaits us, bathed in a silvery glow that lends an ethereal quality to every surface it touches. The four-poster bed in the center of the room beckons us, with its rumpled sheets and plump pillows.

Uriel gently sets me down on my feet at the foot of the bed, but our fingers remain entwined as if afraid to let go of this newfound human connection. Our eyes meet, and in each other’s gaze we find the same heady cocktail of emotions: anticipation, desire, and a hint of nerves.

He takes my hand and leads me to the window overlooking the sprawling gardens below. The manor grounds are bathed in silver and shadows, with only the barest whispers of wind rustling through the trees. It’s breathtakingly beautiful— a postcard-perfect image of a fairytale scene. Yet I find my eyes drawn back to him, this man who has given up so much for me.

“I love you,” I breathe, overcome by the depth of my feelings for this mortal man who was once an angel.

“I love you too,” Uriel whispers back fervently, blue eyes filled with such intensity I feel like I might combust on the spot.

His lips meet mine once more, this time with a newfound tenderness, as though each caress of his lips to mine, every brush of his tongue against mine is an attempt to communicate the depths of his love without words. I melt into him, my body arching against his as if it were made for this moment, for him. He kisses me as though he’s thirsty for me, as though he has been parched and I’m the only thing that can quench his thirst. And maybe he has—maybe we both have—for eons, yearning for this connection without ever knowing what it was we sought.

He breaks the kiss, trailing featherlight kisses down my jawline and along my collarbone, showering me with the gentlest of touches that sends shivers down my spine. I gasp, entangling my fingers in his hair, willing him to take me higher and higher on this wave of unadulterated bliss.

“Are you sure?” he asks, his eyes dark with desire but also filled with concern for my wellbeing. I nod, my voice catching in my throat. His soft smile speaks volumes, conveying both relief and unmistakable arousal.

Uriel leads me to the edge of the bed, where we sit side-by-side, nothing but air between us. We take our time undressing each other, hands trembling slightly as if unveiling a priceless work of art. His gaze burns into mine as I unbutton his shirt one agonizingly slow button at a time, revealing every inch of his chiseled torso.

As the fabric falls away, I’m mesmerized by the sight of intricate wing tattoos adorning his forearms. The designs are exquisite, detailed feathers etched in shimmering ink that seems to catch the moonlight, giving the illusion of movement. I trace them gently with my fingertips, marveling at how they seem to pulse with an otherworldly energy beneath my touch.

And then we are naked together underneath the silvery light of the full moon, our bodies pressed against each other’s like two puzzle pieces finally clicked into place. His skin is warm against mine, electricity crackling where our flesh meets, the wing tattoos on his arms seeming to flutter as he holds me close.

He takes his time exploring every inch of me—from the shell of my ear to the dip of my collarbone to the curve of my hipbone—as if he’s memorizing each and every contour of my body. His touch is feather-light, making me shiver with anticipation. He worships me as a devotee would a goddess. I’ve never felt more adored or desired in my life.

I can’t help but marvel at the feel of his strong, muscular body against my much smaller frame. His chest is covered in a light dusting of hair, which tickles my sensitive skin as he lowers his mouth to trail kisses down my stomach. He takes his time, tracing delicate patterns against my bellybutton before venturing lower still. His hands skim over the curves of my hips, leaving goosebumps in their wake, and I gasp as his mouth reaches its intended destination.

He looks up at me through hooded lids, seeking approval or perhaps just reassurance that this is what I want. With shaking hands, I tangle my fingers in his hair, guiding him closer, wanting more of his velvet tongue teasing me in ways I never knew were possible. Each flick and lap of his tongue sends a delicious shiver straight to my core, and I moan aloud—a sound I didn’t even know I was capable of making.

His name falls from my lips like a prayer, and I arch my back off the bed, craving more of his exquisite torment. He responds by slipping a finger inside me, and pleasure explodes behind my eyelids white-hot. My muscles clench around him involuntarily, and he groans in response, as if he can feel my pleasure too.

Slowly, achingly so, he adds another finger—stretching me just enough to accommodate his thumb, which he uses to circle my clit in time with the rhythm of his tongue. I’m on the edge of ecstasy, my breath ragged and uneven as he toys with my body, coaxing every last sensation from me. The tip of his thumb grazes the bundle of nerves hidden just beneath the hood of flesh, and I cry out in pleasure, my hands desperately grasping at the sheets below me.

“Oh gods,” I pant, “How do you know ...? I’ve never...”

He looks up at me, his eyes darkened with need but also a tender expression I didn’t expect. “Angels are watchers,” he purrs, his voice husky with desire. “And I’ve been watching your world for a very —long—time.”

Encouraged by his words, I find my voice again. “Don’t stop,” I beg him, “please don’t stop.”

He grins before returning to his ministrations, but this time with renewed vigor. “I want this to be special,” he whispers between kisses, “I want you to remember this forever.”

I’ve got a feeling his wish will be granted.

His fingers and tongue work in tandem, sending me soaring higher and higher until my whole body is taut like a bowstring. My legs tremble and shake as wave after wave of bliss washes over me. The world around us fades away until there is only the two of us—the sounds of our ragged breathing and the wetness between my thighs the only proof that this isn’t some exquisite dream.

Finally, unable to take any more, I convulse underneath him as my climax crashes over me like a tidal wave—crashing over me in an unrelenting torrent of pleasure that leaves me spent and shaking in its wake. He doesn’t relent though; instead, he guides me through it with steady hands and soft words of encouragement. As the intensity of the orgasm subsides, my senses begin to return to me. I am aware of the scent of the sea breeze and the salty tang of our sweat. My skin is on fire, every nerve ending alight with pleasure. He tenderly kisses his way up my stomach, stopping at each sensitive spot on his way to my lips.

“My turn now,” I say, a newfound confidence surging through me. I take control, flipping us over so that he’s now beneath me. I run my fingertips along his chine, from the hollow of his neck down to his hips, savoring every inch of him. He moans in pleasure, and emboldened by his reaction, I continue my exploration lower...

I take him in my mouth, marveling at the texture of his skin against my tongue. He tastes salty and muscular and uniquely him. He groans below me, his hands fisting in the sheets as I work my magic. I tease him mercilessly before taking him fully into my mouth, reveling in the way he arches up into me.

Sensing that he’s close, I pull away and straddle him once more. Our eyes lock as I guide him inside me, our twin moans mingling together as we become one. It feels like we were always meant to be this way—connected body and soul.

We move together as one fluid motion, our bodies perfectly in sync with one another’s rhythms. Faster and faster we go until we’re both teetering on the precipice of release again. With one final thrust, we both tumble over the edge together—intertwined limbs and mingled cries filling the air around us.

As our bodies slowly return to earth, we collapse in each other’s arms, our ragged breaths entwining in the cool night air. We lay there for what feels like hours, simply relishing in the closeness of one another.

Finally, he props himself up on one elbow and looks me in the eye. “Wow,” he breathes, a soft smile playing on his lips. I can’t help but blush under his intense gaze. “That was... more than I could have ever imagined.”

I duck my head shyly, unable to meet his eyes. “Really?” I mumble into his chest, my cheeks flushing with pleasure at his compliment.

“Absolutely,” he says, brushing a stray strand of hair off my face tenderly. “You’re incredible.”

His words send a tingle down my spine that has nothing to do with the chill in the air. I look up at him then, my eyes filled with wonder and something else... something that scares me even to think about. But this feels right, being here with him like this—as if we were always meant to be together.

He leans in, his lips a breath away from mine, and I can’t help but lurch forward to meet him halfway. Our lips brush softly at first, tentative and unsure, but it only stirs the embers of desire that had been banked by our passionate encounter. Slowly, as if in a trance, we begin to kiss more ardently, our tongues dancing in a sensual waltz as our bodies melt into one another. The world around us fades away, leaving only the two of us lost in each other’s arms.

As we drift off to sleep, I can’t help but think to myself that this is what it must feel like to be truly happy—to have found that one person who makes you feel whole and complete just by being by your side. And in that moment, I know that no matter what happens tomorrow or the next day or the day after that, tonight will always be etched into my heart as the night where everything changed for the better. Because tonight was more than just two people coming together; tonight was about two souls finding their missing halves and finally becoming whole again.

A former archangel and a social worker, bound not by prophecy or duty, but by choice. By love…

But it’s more than that.

It’s a beginning. Our beautifully human beginning.