Page 38 of Fallen
“I have a gift for you.” Moving his fingers to my cheek, he stepped closer, the body heat from his frame engulfing mine.
“Really?” I couldn’t stop the rise of my voice.He brought me a birthday gift?My heart swelled and I so desperately wanted to touch his face, to kiss his lips, to show him how much I’d missed him over the past months. “I still have the hairpin you gave me last year.” My fingers fluttered to my hair, tracing the gift I knew so well.
Lucian, my only true friend, probably the most powerful person on Earth, graced me with his company. Not only had he given his friendship to a blind girl all those years ago, but his unexpected visits had always given me the strength to go on, to ignore the taunts and jeers from the others, to push my way through the darkness, hoping to feel the light touch my face.
“It looks beautiful on you, but Anna?”
“Yeah?” His serious tone made me straighten my spine.
The pads of fingertips circled across my cheeks, delicate and slow, sending tingles of desire through my body.
“I want to give you something else, something better."
"This is wonderful. You can't possibly—"
"Close your eyes, Love.”
I tilted my head to the side in thought.Why do I need to shut my eyes if I’m already blind?Amusement tickled inside my stomach, but instead of arguing, I did as he asked. “Okay.”
He slid his hands toward the back of my skull, letting the fingertips slip through my curls to cup my head. Wrapped in his safety and warmth, I let myself relax under his touch.
“May I…” Clearing his throat, he tightened his grip on my scalp ever so slightly. “May I kiss you?”
Was he kidding me? Every day since that night on the Ferris wheel, I’d dreamed about his lips on mine. “Yes,” I breathed out, barely able to keep my voice controlled.
The air stirred near my face, and then the softest pressure brushed against my mouth.
I opened to his questioning tongue, wrapping my hands around his neck, pushing my body against his until we were entwined.
He sucked in a breath. "Burn it all. I would burn it all for you," he whispered, then dove his tongue inside my mouth, dropping his hands to my waist and pulling me against his form.
His spicy scent washed over me, and a small whimper escaped my throat. I’d never felt so safe, so cherished—soloved—as I did in his arms.
"Your sweetness, I can't get enough." His probing stroked every corner of my mouth. "I want to taste your very soul."
Hesitantly, I pushed against his mouth, licking at the corners of his lips.
His lips curved in a smile against my skin. He pulled away a fraction.
I fought an urge to reel him back to me.
“Anna,” he murmured, sliding his hands up along my spine. “MyAnna. You remind me of everything I used to crave—the warmth of light, the feeling of goodness, the surety of love.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead and hugged me close, wrapping my shoulders into his embrace and stroking my hair. “Oh, the irony in this entire situation. I’d be livid with God if I weren’t so content.”
“Lucian?” My voice, muffled against his rough clothing or armor—I wasn’t sure which—sounded quiet in the still bedroom. “You’re the first guy I’ve ever kissed. Hope I did it right.” Flames of heat sprouted up my neck. Admitting this truth to him embarrassed me, yet I needed to explain myself and my lack of experience. It wasn’t as if any guy had ever wanted to kiss me. I didn’t even know what I looked like. Maybe I was hideous—and that’s why Lucian found me so attractive.
If that’s the case, I don’t care because he still makes me feel beautiful.
“You were bloody perfect, Anna.” The pressure of his chin rested against the top of my hair and moved as he talked. “And I will be the only man you ever kiss again.”
I smiled and snaked my arms around his ribcage, hugging him tighter and running my fingers across the inside of his soft, outstretched wings, remembering the solitary feather I’d stolen all those years ago and kept under my pillow. “I’m blind, remember? Certainly not perfect.”
He tsked and his posture stiffened. “I’m going to give you my gift now.” Gently, he disentangled me from his body and took hold of my face, each hand cradling my cheeks.
I love the way he touches me, as if I’m special. I love the way he smells; I love all the past visits he's made to check on me—
A revelation dawned in my heart. Love. Ilovedhim. Iknewhe was the devil and that he was capable of terrible things, but to me—he was just Lucian, a grumpy angel who'd taken it upon himself to heal a little girl's broken heart and to be her steadfast friend.
And I think he loves me.At least I hoped that was the case. Surely it was the only explanation as to why he'd always shown when I called for him.
