Page 42 of Michael's Awakening
“What ha… happened… to her?” I asked between sobs.
I remembered him telling me the first time we had gone out to dinner that his mother had passed away when he was young.
Michael reached over and gently grabbed my chin, tilting my face up to his. He tenderly kissed the tears from my wet cheeks before resting his forehead against mine.
“Along with being a psychotic bitch, she was also a drug addict. She had a prescription for some medication, which she abused, but just like a typical druggie, she was always on the hunt for her next high, no matter where it came from,” he spoke, his voice disdainful. “One day, she got a hold of some bad shit and overdosed. I was eleven.”
Finally able to compose my sniffles, I asked, “What happened to you after that?”
“I got put into foster care and shuffled from foster home to foster home until I was old enough to take care of myself. I worked my ass off and got excellent grades in school because I wanted to do something great with my life. I wanted to make something of myself and make a difference in the world, not just be a waste of space.”
A sudden realization struck me. “That’s why you became a prosecuting attorney, isn’t it? So you could help put the bad guys away.”
His intense green eyes stared at me with awe. “Exactly.”
“You know how you always call me your angel?” I asked and kissed the tip of his nose. “I think you’re an angel, too.”
Michael scoffed. “I don’t think so, Gabriel.”
“Think about it,” I continued with my observation. “You have taken a horrible event in your life and now use it as fuel to do good in the world. Also, the Archangel Michael was God’s enforcer of law and judgment. And you’re a prosecuting attorney who helps pass judgment on those accused of crimes. You help people.”
Even though the religion implied that I was a sinner for loving other men, I liked to believe that was just a misunderstanding. I mean, God himself didn’t write theBible, a man did. So, that man could have been wrong, right? Regardless, I wasn’t sure what I believed in the way of Christianity, but I liked to think that if there was a God, he loved me for who I was.
He regarded me with an amused expression. “Since when did you become a fortune cookie?”
I giggled and laid my head back down on his chest. “You love my wisdom.” I traced one of his scars with an acrylic nail, still trying to grasp everything he told me.
“There’s something else,” he said tensely. “I see a psychologist. I started going to him a few years ago when I moved here. At first, I was seeing him three days a week, but now I just see him every Monday morning before work.” He paused. “I bet you really think I’m nuts now, don’t you?”
I rolled my eyes, even though he couldn’t see me with my head on his chest. “Michael, with the shit you went through, I would be concerned if youdidn’tsee a shrink. It’s good that you felt the need to open up to someone, otherwise all of that trauma would have bubbled up inside of you until you snapped.”
“You aren’t leaving me?” The tone I heard in his voice was alarming.
“Michael,” I tilted my head to look at him, confused. “Why would I leave you? You didn’t do anything wrong.” Another thought hit me, and I couldn’t hide the hurt in my voice. “Or did youreallythink I was that superficial that I would run for the door when I saw these scars?”
He looked away.
I rose up from him and his arms automatically reached out to grab me. “Please, don’t go. I’m sorry, Gabriel.” His eyes were panicked as he tried to find the right words. “I… fuck. I just knew you deserved better than this. Better than me.”
I wasn’t sure if I was more upset or angry at what he thought of me.
“You’re everything I want,” I confessed with tears in my eyes and scooted away from him. “This kills me knowing what happened to you. It breaks my fucking heart.” More tears streamed down my face and I brought my hand up to hastily wipe them away. “I wouldneverleave you because of this. You told me once before that I was changing you for the better, that I helped you when you were in a dark place. Well, dammit, you have done the same for me!” I admitted with a sob. “You accept me for beingmeand you’ve never once tried changing anything about me. You’ve taken every flaw other people have seen in me and turned it into something beautiful. Where other people see oddness, you see beauty.” My throat tightened and my heart pounded. “I love you. I know it’s a little soon, but I can’t hold it in anymore. I fucking love you, Michael.”
“You love me?” Michael asked, shocked.
“Yes.” I looked down and fiddled with my hands.
I glanced up at him. He was staring at me with an intensity that made my stomach flutter wildly. Desire flared in his green eyes and then he pulled me against him to claim my lips with his.
