Wounded Wings (Cupid Chronicles) (24 page)

Chapter 35

Naomi tried to make light of the situation because, really, her world had just been rocked to its very foundation.

An angel?

She wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t experienced . . . what would you call that? A psychic experience? It was much more intense than that. It was like their souls had connected somehow and it had left her absolutely breathless.

Elijah said nothing, just continued to brush his fingertips across her knuckles in a maddeningly slow rhythm that was driving her crazy.

She rubbed her cheek across the warm skin of his back, reveling in the strength of his shoulders, in awe of his pain, and breathed in his scent. Soap, and musk, and man. All Elijah.

How quickly she’d gotten used to calling him that. It suited him.

I love you more than life itself.

Could it be true? How could she possible fathom making a life with an ex-angel? What did that even mean? Did he get kicked out of Heaven? There was so much for her to know.

She finally released him and stepped back.

He pivoted and faced her, his face full of questions.

“Tell me everything.”

His face relaxed a fraction, apparently glad she wasn’t shoving him out on his ass. “What do you want to know?”

She sat in the recliner and motioned for him to sit. He moved to the sofa and sat stiffly. She studied him. What
did
she want to know? “Everything. Start with why you’re not an angel anymore.” How did she not choke on that question? But those visions were still fresh in her mind, as if she’d lived them herself. She couldn’t deny it.

“I loved a woman. Sarah.”

That hit her like a sucker punch and she flinched. “Oh.”

“But not like you’re thinking. Not like I love you.”

She wasn’t sure how to take his words so she let them slide off her heart. For now.

“It’s against Angelic Commandments to get romantically or sexually involved with a human,” he continued. “And I believed at that time that I’d defied Father. So in my own shame, I punished myself and cut my wings off, casting myself down before judgment could be passed on me.”

She blinked. “You really cut your own wings off?”

“Yes.”

“So I did see that right?”

He nodded.

“And was it as excruciating as I, uh, felt just then?” God, it had been nearly unbearable. She couldn’t believe that had been a memory!

“I don’t know what you felt, but yes, it was the most horrible pain I’ve ever experienced. Next to being without you.”

Her heart thumped at his words and she sucked in a breath. Really. What man said those kind of things?

Her sweet Elijah. That’s who.

“What else would you like to know?” he asked.

“Um . . . what kind of angel were you?”

“In Heaven I was an emissary for Father. Running messages between the realms, that sort of thing. On Earth I was on Love Detail. But obviously, that didn’t last long,” he added with a rueful smile.

“Love Detail?” she echoed.

“Yes. I believe you humans, er, I mean it’s what mythology calls Cupid?”

She stared blankly. “Are you serious?”

“Very. Love is serious business.” And his eyes said he meant it.

“And Sarah . . .?”

His brows furrowed with confusion, then cleared. “Oh, no. Sarah was not my assignment.” A wry smile tilted his lips. “Though that made no difference to how I castigated myself.” He gripped Naomi’s hand, stroked her knuckles, silently begging her to understand. “I was a chef, that part you know. I was placed in the restaurant where my two humans also worked. Emily and Dan. Sarah was Emily’s sister, and the day she came into the restaurant I was sure she’d brought the sun in with her.” He glanced into her eyes. “Do you want me to go on?”

“Yes,” she croaked, though she wasn’t sure she meant it.

“It’s a fairly short story, really.” He squeezed her hand. “I saw her, she talked to me, I was enchanted. Eventually I fancied myself in love because I’d never met another human woman like her. Well, I should’ve accounted for the fact that she was nearing death and the veil was parting. I could simply see the light of her spirit and I was suffering from a lack of earthly experience.”

“So, you
didn’t
love her?”

“Oh, I loved her. But it was more like a supercharged brotherly love, I guess is the best way to describe it.”

She swallowed trying to understand the intricacies of angel love from the tiny taste she’d gotten from touching his flesh. It was just too much.

“So, what happened after you . . . after you . . .?”

He smiled and butterflies filled her stomach. “After I fell?”

“Yes.”

“I became a human.”

“And God wasn’t mad?”

He sobered quickly. “No. I thought He was. But, I’ve come to realize recently that not only was He never mad, but that I never broke a commandment and was never going to be punished. The only one punishing me . . . was me.” He dropped his gaze and took a ragged breath before he met her eyes again. “And, now I know that I was always meant to be a human and to find my soulmate here on Earth. To find you.”

God, how she wanted to melt with his words. But could she?

“Any other questions?” he asked softly.

“Why?” The question tumbled from her lips before she could stop it.

He studied her a moment. He didn’t ask her ‘Why, what?’ He didn’t play games with her heart. He simply stood and offered his other hand. She hesitated a heartbeat before placing her palm in his and standing.

“Do you really need to put your hands on my scars to know the answer to that, Naomi?”

In that second, that twinkling of an eye, it settled into place. “No.”

The tiniest of smiles may have flirted with the corner of his mouth, but she leaned in and kissed it away. He wrapped her in his arms, tilted his head and took the kiss to her very soul.

Tongues, lips, teeth.

Moans.

Gripping, desperate clutches.

Naomi finally drew away for a breath and gazed into his hooded, bottomless, dark eyes.

He traced her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. “Finally,” he whispered before leaning in and taking her in another soul-stealing kiss.

Desperate sensation whipped through her body at a furious pace, stealing her breath, as she ran her hands along the flesh of his stomach and chest, across his broad shoulders. Down his arms.

He groaned and found her neck. Suckled.

Where had he learned that?

“Elijah,” she groaned.

“Yes, my love?” he whispered between kisses, his breath hot on her flesh. “God, you smell so good.”

She gripped the waistband of his jeans and yanked, bringing his pelvis in alignment with hers. She groaned and leaned into him, his aroused state painfully obvious.

But, God, he felt
so
good. Perfect.

His head snapped up and his hands stilled on her hips.

Her glazed eyes focused on him. “Why’d you stop?”

He brushed a lock of hair off her shoulder, his expression uncertain. “I . . . perhaps we—”

Realization dawned. “Elijah.” He finally met her gaze. “Have you made love before?”

A blush lit his face. He finally shook his head. “Angels don’t . . . do that.”

“And after?”

“No. It was never right.” He gazed deep into her eyes. “Not until you.”

Sweet, sweet warmth filled her.

She shifted even closer, would’ve melted right into his very skin if she could, and ran a hand down his stomach, brushing dangerously close to his zipper. She grinned at his harsh intake of breath. “I think that is the most romantic thing I. . .” Kissed his full lower lip. “Have ever.” His chin. “Heard.” She leaned in and pressed her open mouth to the pulse in his throat. Smiled when it quickened against her lips. “But don’t you
dare
stop what you were doing, because you were doing it so well.”

She kept her lips against his neck, her hands moving against his flesh, and felt his hesitation for only a moment. Then he was all over her.

His fingers skimming along her arms, her shoulders, her back and hips. His lips on hers.

She gasped when her shirt hit the floor and he was gazing down at her naked chest. No bra for packing today. And now she was glad as she studied his hungry stare.

“You’re so beautiful, Naomi. The loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.” He brushed a hot fingertip along the top of her breasts as if she might break.

Her head lolled and she enjoyed his attention as sensation hummed in her bloodstream. She’d waited months for him to touch her. But, God, he was killing her, he was so slow. Painstakingly patient, as if he’d waited a lifetime to be with her. Perhaps he had.

Finally, his scorching mouth brushed her overheated flesh and she about came unglued. “Jezus, Elijah.”

But he kept his own maddening pace, whipping her into a frenzy with his kisses, his touches, caresses, singeing glances.

But when he was on his knees in front of her, worshipping her naval with his tongue, toying with the lace of her pantyline, she’d had it. She yanked his head back. “Okay, we’re done here. Up.”

She nearly laughed at the wounded expression on his face, but she was wound too tight. She grabbed his hand, drug him to the bedroom and shoved him onto his back on the bed.

Watching his face, she took her time removing the rest of her clothes until she stood before him as an offering.

He said nothing.

His eyes said it all.

She got busy on his shoes and jeans so she could finally see him, too. Magnificent, as she’d expected. So this is what an angel looked like.

And he was all hers.

Slowly, she crawled up his body, skin-to-skin, heat-to-heat, planting openmouthed kisses on his belly, his chest, until they were facing each other, their breath mingling. She interlaced their fingers and stretched both their arms above his head so he was trapped below her, restrained as her prisoner.

She searched his eyes. The sweet, deep brown eyes she’d come to trust. Maybe had all along . . . her heart simply had to learn to believe. “I do have one more question,” she whispered.

His eyes became guarded. “What’s that?”

“Did you mean what you said earlier?”

His grip tightened where she had him pinned as his scent filled her, heart and soul. “Which part?”

“About loving me—?”

“More than life itself?” His eyes sparked with intensity. “Yes, Naomi. I’m a wounded man, and I’m not worthy of you, but I love you so much it hurts.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her forehead to his as a million emotions warred within her.

He didn’t move for what seemed minutes, but was probably only seconds, until she opened her eyes and met his gaze. “You may be wounded, Elijah, but so am I. And you are more than worthy.” She leaned down and pressed her lips to his, the familiar warmth and surge of electricity thrumming through them. She pulled back and studied his precious eyes once more. “And I love you, too. More than life itself.”

He blinked up at her, then opened his mouth to speak, but she shushed him with her lips as she released his hands and cupped his cheek in her palm.

“No. No more pain, Elijah.” She waited until she felt his posture soften, acquiesce. “I love you . . . now make love to me.”

And so he did.

Epilogue

One year later . . .

Elijah stared down at the menu in his hand.

Ange Dèchu.

Fallen Angel. His own restaurant. A dream.

He raised his eyes and gazed at his wife and her friend, Delaney, as they giggled and spread the pristine white tablecloths on the tables, preparing for his grand opening tonight. Delaney was showing off the sparkling engagement ring the Sheriff had given her two nights ago, but his eyes were riveted to Naomi’s gently rounded stomach.

This fall they would welcome a child.
His child
. He could not believe his luck in finding the love of his life, much less two. His prayers of thanksgiving would never be enough.

As if reading his thoughts, her gaze shifted to him, her smile lifting even higher. She pressed a hand to her stomach and turned her attention back to a chattering Delaney.

He moved his emotional thoughts on to finalizing the preparations for the night’s special and last minute staffing issues. A sudden case of nerves fluttered to life in his gut.

God, could he do this?

Suddenly, warm arms enveloped him from behind, a belly bumping into the curve of his lower back. “Whatcha thinking about so hard?” A kiss was pressed between his shoulder blades.

He spun around and found solace in the green eyes he loved so very much. “Nothing.”

“Liar.”

He smiled. “Just how much I love you.”

Naomi settled against the counter and caressed a bottle of wine. “It’ll be great tonight. This place is gonna be a hit. Everyone in New Destiny already loves you, Elijah. You don’t need to worry.”

He leaned next to her and placed a hand to her belly, hoping for one of the sporadic kicks that thrilled him. “I hope so.”

“I know so.”

He stayed silent as she interlaced their fingers, each lost in their own thoughts.

“You hungry?” she finally asked. “We skipped breakfast and we’re going to have a long night.”

He glanced up into her face, concerned. “You haven’t eaten today?”

She shook her head. “We’ve been here, silly.”

“God, Naomi. You need to eat.” He stood. “Let’s go feed you.” He strode toward the front door and called to Delaney, “Join us for lunch?”

Delaney shot her a strange look.

Naomi shrugged. “Overprotective man?”

They locked up and headed over to the diner, where the daily special of chicken and dumplings immediately had his mouth watering.

Elijah gripped Naomi’s hand and tugged her to a corner booth, calling out to Maura as they passed. “Hi, there. Two iced teas, please.” He glanced at Delaney in question.

“Make that three.”

Maura waved. “Sure thing. Be right there.”

They settled in and Maura brought their drinks. “Hey, long time, no see. How’s the restaurant coming?” she asked.

Elijah smiled. “Great. You coming to the opening tonight?”

“And miss the chance for my hubby to take me out to a fancy dinner? Wouldn’t miss it.” She shifted her gaze to Naomi. “How’s Miss Vi and Sam? Haven’t seen them in a while.”

“Oh, fantastic. Gallivanting around the country in Sam’s RV and loving every minute of it. But they’ll be home in plenty of time for the baby.”

Maura grinned and took their order as the hubbub of the diner filled the space. Silverware clinked, the cash register rung, coffee scented the air, Sharla laughed as she chatted in the corner with Old Man Sumners.

“And how is it working for Dr. Arrington?” Maura asked.

Elijah glanced at her. He’d been wondering how she was doing being on her feet all day at the doctor’s office. He was so happy she gave up that job in California and they decided to make a life here in New Destiny. But they’d laughed when they realized he’d made it all the way to the town she’d been heading to.

She smiled. “I love it. It’s so nice to finally use my nursing license.”

Maura murmured something and took their order to the kitchen.

The bell above the door chimed as a young family strolled in. Something about them caught Elijah’s attention, his heart.

The woman was pretty enough; reddish hair, cute haircut. Petite. Sweet smile. Haunting, pale amber eyes. Black-haired baby perched on her hip.

A young boy, maybe fourteen or fifteen with chocolate brown hair and eyes just as dark, but full of excitement, rushed over and picked up a stack of brochures from the tourist stand.

But the man. He was an enigma.

Tall. Proud. Intimidating. Dark like an Indian warrior, fierce eyes to match. He took in the diner like he was on the prowl. Or protecting what was his.

He ushered his brood further in and they were seated one table over. He made eye contact with Elijah, tipping his head in silent acknowledgment.

“Noble,” the woman said after she got the baby girl settled into a highchair, “I’ll be right back. Would you order me a Diet Coke?”

The man shifted his attention back to his woman. “Sure, babe.”

The woman left the table and the boy was nearly shaking with excitement. “Dad . . . seriously! You grew up here?” He shuffled through and picked up one of the brochures, shoving it the man’s way. “This place is freakin’ awesome.” His eyes lit with awe. “So much better than Indiana or Texas.”

The man smiled and offered the baby a teething ring. “If you say so, Tristan. Hey, if your mom will let us, I’ll take you on a bike ride through the rez and show you where I grew up.”

The kid’s grinned widened. “Sweet.”

The boy quieted once his mother returned and pecked a kiss to the brooding man’s lips. “What’s going on?”

The boy caught the man’s gaze. “I just think it’s great here and I wanna live here someday.”

Elijah ripped his eyes away. Their conversation wasn’t his business.

Then why did the boy’s words resonate with him?

“They seem like nice people,” Naomi said, her gaze tracking to the family.

He nodded, letting it go. “I suppose.”

He shifted and refocused on his wife. His baby. His life and future. He settled his hand on her belly. “I love you.”

Her brows dipped, confused. But just as quickly, her face cleared and she smiled. “I love you, too, Elijah. You’re my angel.”

Michael watched the scene with tears in his eyes.

The fruition of his life’s work, together in one room; missions past and present. What a gift.

But in an abrupt loss of connection, the vision was gone and he was once again staring into Seraphina’s crystalline green gaze.

“Thank you, Sister,” he managed to choke out between breaths.

She nodded. “You’re most welcome. Now, are you ready for the ceremony?”

Not really. But he dipped his head and took a deep breath. “I suppose so.”

She smiled and led him from the Heavenly chamber, her voluminous white gown billowing like a cloud around her legs. He followed her to the ceremonial room, the pearlescent light as pure and bright as he’d ever seen.

He strode forward and was suddenly enveloped by his brothers and sisters. He glanced around, recognizing the faces of those he loved.

Rachel.

Uriel.

Ariel.

Raphael.

On and on, endlessly . . . until . . .

Gabriel.

His breath caught in his chest.

Gabriel stepped forward. “Are you ready, Brother?”

Michael swallowed. “I’m not sure.”

“Of course you are.” He smiled. “You’ve earned it.” He extended his hand as his wings unfurled gloriously. “Let’s finish this.”

Michael followed suit and let his wings go, reveling in the freedom as his light shone to its full glory and accepted Gabriel’s hand. “Okay.”

Together, they strode forward to the ceremonial platform and faced Serephina, whose wings were also spread and fluttering in their infinite beauty.

He’d never seen such majesty in one room.

“Brothers and Sisters,” Seraphina said. “Welcome. We’re here today to witness the passing of angelic mantles.” She faced Gabriel first, who knelt before her. “Congratulations, Brother. You have earned your place in Father’s Kingdom as the Emissary of all Angelic Realms.” She touched his shoulder and white light pulsed from her into Gabriel’s form as the transfer took place.

The entire room broke out into deafening applause.

Gabriel rose, his eyes shining with unshed tears. He glanced at Michael with a small smile.

Seraphina turned to Michael. “And, you, Brother, have earned the right to be the Leader of Love Detail.” Michael inhaled and knelt. Waited.

Gabriel stepped in and placed a hand to his shoulder. A shudder coursed through Michael’s body as silver light blinded him and energy flooded his body. An instant transfer of knowledge, of power, of love.

A miracle.

And in a mere moment it was complete.

Gabriel stepped back and the room once again broke into cheers and celebration as Michael tried to reconcile the changes within his soul.

Then, he blinked, and was suddenly back in his chambers, gazing into Gabriel’s concerned eyes. “Are you all right, Brother?”

Michael scanned his body, his heart. “I believe so.”

Gabriel smiled. “You’ll get used to it, I promise. And you’re going to do a fine job. I have faith in you.”

Michael’s soul lurched. He hoped he could do half the job of his predecessor. “Thank you, Brother.”

“I should be going.” Gabriel stepped back. “Lots of work to do, you understand.” He grinned. “But before I go, I have something for you.” His eyes twinkled. “One last Love Detail loose end to tie up, so to speak.”

“Really? What’s that?”

Michael’s gut clenched as Gabriel slid the gold shimmering envelope from his pocket and handed it to him. “One more. For you.” He slowly spun on his heel and left, leaving Michael to his churning thoughts.

Michael stared down at the missive, half frightened to open it. What would Father say to him now that he was leader?

He steeled himself and ripped open the letter.

His heart tied into knots as he read the words. Tears stung his eyes and he had to re-read it again. And again. Yes, Father was truly all-loving . . .

Dearest Michael,

I’m so proud of you for your work with Elijah and for taking your rightful place as leader of the Love Detail. I have faith you will do a wonderful job. This morning, I had Seraphina gift you with that vision of Elijah, as well as Noble and his family, because I know how you miss them and how it pains your heart sometimes. I understand. I made that heart, Michael.

But you were successful in all of your matches, including the most difficult, and I have promised that all Love Detail angels may match up the children of their couples, if they choose. This is your choice, of course. But, Tristan is about to meet someone special, and by my hand, it will be a match made in Heaven.

Just keep it in mind. You’ve got a few years to think on it.

I love you.

Father.