Page 33 of Raphael
“Elsewhere?” he echoes. Kane’s arrogance is casual, but I know better than to trust him. “Mm... What keeps you busy after hours, I wonder?” This last bit he purrs most mischievously.
“Come away, Kane! Let the poor demoness go,” Uncle Luci says with a fiendish chuckle. “You and I have business to attend to.” With a wink, dear Uncle Lucifer waves me the exit pass I desperately needed.
I slip away from the danger zone with ease, making sure to stay out of Lucifer’s sight and any other potential threats. It’s time to meet my handsome archangel and finally start speaking the truth for once.
CHAPTER21
Raphael
Dusk falls softlyas I enter my building hours later, chasing long shadows up the silvered elevator. I opted for a more relaxed attire, confident Helena won’t judge designer athletic pants poorly. The grey Henley clings to my body, highlighting my toned muscles as I prepare dinner. Never hurts having assets displayed for one’s lover, however domestic the setting.
With a smug smirk, I survey my handiwork approvingly. Clustered candles flicker atop the gleaming breakfast bar, illuminating an array of sushi rolls and nigiri. Helena hinted at enjoying Japanese cuisine. And after the emotional rollercoaster we both weathered today, comfort food should settle our frayed nerves before delving into intense discussions.
As I pour two glasses of rich plum wine, my heart pounds with anxiety. The kitchen gleams with perfection, hiding the turmoil that has consumed me for hours. My mind reels with images of Helena in danger, and my gut twists into knots as I wait for her return. Impatiently, I plead for time to move faster so I can see her lovely face and be reassured. But the clock seems to taunt me, each second dragging on agonizingly...
A crisp knock interrupts my restless thoughts. I glance up, pulse leaping wildly. Can it be? I all but lunge for the entry, wrenching it open, uncaring of dignity. And there she stands, my reason for existing, wrapped in midnight and pomegranate. A timid smile graces her lips as she stands on the threshold.
“Disappointed to see me?” Her maroon eyes hold a hint of wry humor, but I can see exhaustion etched into every line of her face.
Without hesitation, I pull her into my arms, enveloping her in a desperate embrace. My lips feverishly press against her silky hair. “Never.” My voice is raw with sincerity as I hold Helena close, grateful for her safety and whole presence. Her scent of jasmine and woman fills my senses, reassuring me that this is no dream but sweet reality.
Gradually, we part, studying each other’s faces like long-parted lovers finally reunited. And perhaps in some ways we are. Helena’s sudden return to her rightful place only heightens the raw passion between us. The dangers that once lurked in our way rest now forgotten, stripped away by the intimacy we share.
Helena clears her throat softly, glancing around me to the mouth-watering scents emanating from the kitchen. “So... you mentioned dinner, right?” She’s suddenly shy, but food is a safer topic to start with. “I hope you went to no special trouble just for me.”
My answering grin edges wickedly as I draw her further inside. “You underestimate the effects your presence has on me, darling.” I gently seat Helena at the bar with a perfect view of the spread of sushi platters. Sliding her wine glass closer, my fingers trail worshipfully down her arm. “Now relax and enjoy. We have all the time in the world.”
I long to banish the shadows that linger around those beloved eyes. But Helena accepts her drink gracefully, her tension easing somewhat. I serve samples of each roll, withdrawing reluctantly to give her space rather than crowding her. We enjoy the spread, trading lighter talk of the day’s events. Laughter shifts the atmosphere steadily from our tense reunion to easy camaraderie once more.
But underneath it all, there’s a deep current of something unspoken between us. Traces of some unnamed grief or fury tighten the delicate lines around Helena’s mouth between her stories. And when she thinks I am not paying attention, her gaze lingers on me with an intensity that matches my own. This separation has affected us both, then. Good—it means I’m not alone nursing these dangerously intense feelings growing daily, choking all rational thought.
After avoiding the topic for far too long, I gather my courage to bring up the looming issue. For our relationship to truly grow and thrive, there can be no room for secrets to haunt us with their ghostly presence. I refuse to let fear control us any longer.
I slide around the bar, my movements smooth and calculated as I refill Helena’s glass. She looks up at me with a sly smile, her lips stained with wine and begging to be kissed. My body responds involuntarily to her vulnerability, hidden from the rest of the world. But I push down that desire, knowing that winning her trust is more important.
I take her delicate wrist in my hand, planting a gentle kiss on the racing pulse beneath her translucent skin. Our eyes lock and we both lean in instinctively... until I force myself to pull away, reining in our passions before they consume us. Helena’s disappointment flickers briefly across her features, but I store that reaction away for the time being.
Clearing my throat gruffly, I attempt to steer the conversation towards the sensitive topic we’ve been avoiding. But just as I open my mouth, Helena’s gaze snaps past me, fixated on something else entirely. Curious, I turn to see what has caught her attention.
There, on the back counter, lies the charity calendar I posed for recently. And opened right to “Mr. August” with my bare body and wings spread beneath the glowing heading. I flush to my hairline as Helena’s eyes dance with barely suppressed mirth.
“Well, now. Hello,Mr. August...” Her grin turns feline, raking me suggestively. “This is quite the revelation. You do look phenomenal.”
I rub my neck, laughing self-consciously as warmth crawls up my face. “It was for a good cause, at least?”
“Mmm, I’ll say. Think of all the lives enriched by such artistry...” Helena taps one elegant nail against the image of my bare torso, eyes dancing. “Tell me, did the photographer properly captureallyour best assets?”
My bashfulness fades and I strike a pose, flexing dramatically. “I was thorough pointing out my best features beforehand.”
“False modesty hardly becomes you.” Helena snorts, flipping another page. “Though I will say these wings are glorious...” Her admiring caress along the photo makes pleasure spike down my spine.
I grin roguishly with sudden inspiration. In a smooth motion, I unfurl my wings into reality, arching them proudly. “Well, in that case, care for a private showing?” I wink for effect.
Helena presses both hands to her mouth, muffling a decidedly indelicate noise. Then she collapses in giggles upon the countertop. Pride swells in my chest, coaxing such delight from her usually reserved self. As Helena continues perusing each glossy page between lingering looks my way, I find myself marveling silently at this magnificent creature fate deigned to deliver into my life.
Clearing my throat gruffly, I anchor us beside her stool, fingers entwined like tether lines, preventing separation. “So… not that I don’t appreciate your company... but dare I ask what changed your mind about stopping by tonight? Clearly, you were having second thoughts.” I gently nudge Helena, being careful not to be too forceful.
Predictably, she glances away, adopting a sudden keen interest in the floral centerpiece. I practiced patience through endless prior battles. But waiting on Helena’s trust stretches me rapidly to the brink. I stroke one stray curl behind her ear and down the pale column of her neck to buy some calm.
