Chapter 17 #2
He finally put me down and leaned back to beam at me. “So cute.”
Richard put his arm around my waist and pulled me away from him, frowning at the angel. “What are you doing here? You forfeited your place.”
“I’m here for the cake. I understand there is a mountain of cake in the garden reception.”
Richard’s scowl was epic. “Did you already eat all the cake? It’s for the music video.”
“Music video?” The cupid wiggled his brows and looked lascivious. Weird that an angel could look like that. Yes, I was definitely glad that I had Richard on my show instead of him. No matter how difficult that made things, I’d take him any way I could get him. The end.
“Of course the music video,” Mirabel said, cocking her head as she studied him.
“But now that you’re here, I could use an angel for my school.
I have this student who has such a hard time emoting when she sings.
Lanise has fairly good tone, but the emotions…
” She tsked and then snagged the angel’s arm and yanked him to the side.
Her leaving left only the Commander. Who might execute his son if justice required it.
I shrank even closer to Richard, glad for his arms around me. “Hello, sir,” I squeaked.
“It’s Richard,” he said, grabbing my hand and shaking it. “Or you can call me Commander. Most people do. Terribly dull, but it is what I am, although perhaps soon we’ll be hearing happy news to the contrary. Eh?” He ribbed Richard and gave him the most terrifying smile I’d ever seen.
Richard’s eyes widened and his face went pale and splotchy for a bit before he squared his shoulders, firmed his jaw and gave a short nod. “Perhaps.”
They were talking about angelic forces stuff, probably about pushing back the northern giants from the border after this dating show was over. Did it ever have to end? Of course it did, and it should before I broke my stupid heart on him.
I sighed and ducked out of Richard’s arms. “We should go get the video finished before Pearly White eats someone. Thank you so much for playing with us.” I patted the Commander’s armored arm, feeling awkward before I turned and headed for the door.
Richard caught up with me outside, grabbing my hand and squeezing my fingers. “You really were amazing.”
I gave him a look. “You lowered your abilities so that I’d shine.”
He looked insulted, also gorgeous with those glorious blue eyes and shiny golden hair framing his perfect face. “Nonsense. I just lowered my ego so that you’d shine. I can do that when required, shocking as that sounds.” He wiggled his brows in a way that made me blush.
I shook my head and lowered my eyes so I wouldn’t stare at him. “I know. You spent years hiding your baking skills behind a fake name. But now you can shine for all the world to see.”
“But I only want you to see that side of me,” he said with a slight smile. “I can only have one best friend forever, and you’re it.”
My heart warmed and my heart soared. Somehow I managed to not throw myself into his arms and proclaim my undying love.
I really must be growing up. Look at all this restraint.
“I take it you don’t want to open a restaurant and feed the world.
Poor, poor, neglected world.” I tugged on his hand.
“Let’s hurry before all the cake is gone. ”
The cakes were untouched. The scene was set in an orchard garden, like the song, with great lighting and elaborate fake greenery.
We sang the song in different positions and wardrobes, beginning with a waltz in our formal clothes, and then the next eating cake and figs, and drinking pomegranate wine, in a clothing change that was basically my over-corset off and my skirt pulled up so it ballooned out.
Richard only wore his breast plate so his muscular arms were bare.
The next change was the most intimate without any armor.
We were lying on a bed wrapped in leaves and flowers.
I could have sworn it was the bed from his room, but I’d never admit to being there, particularly while he was in the bath.
I was wearing a white dress that could have doubled for a slip, and Richard wore Mitt’s loose white shirt and Banus’s pants.
I guess stolen clothes were romantic to him.
I leaned over him while he gazed up at me as I sang the final chorus and tried to look in love but remember that I wasn’t, and then he rolled so I was the one beneath him as he sang down to me, the final line, so sweet, so devastating with the lighting crew making it look like dawn just outside our leafy bower.
And then he bent down like a narcissus above the water, and bit my neck.
For a moment I forgot to breathe. Finally, his jaws unclenched around my throat and then he looked into my eyes with this burning intensity that didn’t match the music’s vibe.
We stared at each other for a long moment, while the feel of his teeth in my neck throbbed through me with every beat of my heart.
And then he lowered slow, slow, eyes on my mouth.
His lids drifted shut and then his lips were on mine, a soft kiss of absolute sweetness and purity.
He raised his head and smiled softly. “That was the best—"
Between the bite and the music, I lost my mind. Words weren’t happening right now, not when I was still burning from his bite.
I pulled him down and kissed him while I tangled my legs with his, fingers pulling his hair.
Mine.
Every inch of him belonged to me, and I’d never, ever let him go.
His lips curved against mine in a smile. Happiness bubbled up and the world was singing its love song duet to my soaring heart.
And then my wings flexed under my skin, wanting to join in the madness.
My wings didn’t belong in this scene. Then again, kissing like this, on a bed with an angel? What was I thinking?
I held him tight for one more beat and then dissolved into smoke and escaped his grasp, flowing through the orchard until I got to the edge and came together. I ran, but I was only halfway to the cottage when my wings burst through. Then I was dragging them, heavy, holding me down.
Was I crying? Laughing? Both? Probably both.
“It’s fine,” I gasped, sounding hysterical even to myself. “We’re best friends forever. It’s perfectly fine.”
Somehow I made it to the cottage, and then I collapsed in a heap inside the door, shivering and still full of so much agonizing longing, I thought I’d die.
My kittens found me, and it was the best death, a kiss from my prince burning on my lips, a bite searing through my neck, and pattering toe beans on my skin.