A Love Like No Other

Eight: A Strange Awakening

Selene

My eyes fluttered open as I registered that I was home, and in my bed. But I was also being held down...by Sariel?! I fought the urge to scream or freak out, but then, some strange curious instinct washed over me, and I wanted to see a fallen angel at rest.

I moved carefully, and he grunted in his sleep. I saw that he was lying in bed with me wearing dark underwear, and nothing else. Dark, sinuous tattoos ran up and down his muscled arms, and they were beautiful, but...my eyes did that queer blurring and focusing thing, and I could decipher the angelic script written there: Sariel, King of The Ice Realm.

I averted my gaze from that thin line of dark hair that ran from the bottom of his ribcage, and joined the pubic hair around his junk. I was no virgin, I had had s*x before, about four times in total with my ex Josh Kim. Josh had been a lanky, skinny guy compared to this fine specimen of a man. Wow, just wow.

I tentatively ran my fingers down his perfect abs, and along his perfect cheek. Sariel's eyes flew open, and he smiled warmly at me. "See anything you like?"

I blushed, and asked, "If you're not...well, born..why do you still have things like normal guys do?"

Sariel laughed quietly. "It would look mighty strange to not have n*****s or a navel to humans. We never procreated in Heaven, but we always had genitals, we just were not given the...knowledge, shall we say? To use them, until the original sin in the garden of Eden."

"Oh. I don't know much about this religious stuff, really," I replied. "But, do you think my foster parents will be okay? I mean, you're an angel, so you should know."

Sariel frowned, and shook his head. "That was never my department. I'm in charge of the worst offenders that come through Hell, so even most serial killers don't come to my realm. Uriel simply keeps demons who shouldn't be on Earth where they belong. I'm your guardian, and Earth is one of my prisons, so I'm allowed to be here."

I felt some reassurance, but it didn't stop my sadness. I didn't know all that happened to my foster parents, but I wanted to find out, and I needed my winged guardian to help me find the answers.

"Should I even be in that school if there are angels walking around?" I asked.

Sariel sat, and stretched. He made his wings appear, and they looked beautiful, his black wings. I reached out to touch one, and the feathers were surprisingly soft. "That tickles," He chuckled.

"These are cool," I commented, stopping my touching of his wing. "Is there any chance of me getting a pair? I have always wanted to fly."

Sariel grinned. "Yes, when wed. The ceremony will make you partially like me. But...well," A wicked gleam came into his dark eyes as he leaned over and tucked part of my hair behind my ear. "Let's just say that once we are together, and you become my Queen in truth, things will definitely change for you in every way."

I scooted away from him, suddenly uncomfortable. "What makes you think I want you like that?"

Sariel laughed, tilting my chin to meet his eyes. "Because I'm in your blood, sweetheart. I have been there for centuries with each incarnation you have come to me. I simply plan on keeping you safe permanently."

I stood, and went to my closet. I had a million things to do this week in planning the funeral, and making sure that my foster parent's wishes were carried out. Thank God, they both opted for cremation. I had a feeling that I wasn't going to be having a normal death when my time rolled around. I picked out a dark blue business suit.

Sariel padded to the bathroom, and I heard the door shut, and then the shower run. Good, I didn't want to deal with all of this mystical, supernatural crap for now. I just wanted to envision that my gentleman caller was a perfectly normal, albeit very hot guy, I picked up, and took home late last night.

A guy that looks like a very hot vampire, or the damned Sandman from the comic books? Come on, Sel, you know you want to jump in the shower with him! I chided myself sharply. No, I had to stay focused and sharp.

I went into my foster dad's office, and went to work, even though it was a pain in ass to get anything done since it was the weekend. Luckily, my parent's lawyers were on retainer 24/7 so that helped, and the very exclusive funeral parlor would meet with me, provided I was punctual. I muted my smartphone messages from my friends, especially Vanessa.

I just didn't want to deal with their little teenaged angst ridden problems. Not only did angels just waltz in and out of my life, but I had a damn funeral to plan, who cared about a stupid welcoming ball at a private Catholic high school?? I settled back in my dad's plush brown leather office chair, and ran down the list:

Florists, the pastor, the venue, talking to my parent's friends, arranging invites, blah, blah, blah. The will was cut and dried, my dad's lawyer said over the phone. I was their soul heiress, and was now ridiculously wealthy, but I wouldn't be able to have access to my full trust funds until I turned eighteen next year. Oh, I had a very generous allowance, and a college fund, but there was that underage factor. The lawyer joked that had we been Canadian, I would already be considered an adult legally. What was one more year?

I had lots to do this week, and very little time with which to do it. Sariel padded in, wearing a fresh black suit that was tailored in that sexy way all GQ models appear.

"Is there any angelic way you guys could speed this funeral business up?" I asked, sighing. "I have so freaking much to do!"

Sariel came around to my side and picked up my list, reading it. "I have assistants who can help, but it will be behind the scenes, if that's alright?"

I looked up at him, and stood up, hugging him. "Thank you! Oh my God, you're soo sweet!"

He kissed my cheek. "Nah, I'm not being sweet. I just want you to have some normalcy in your life. When is that dance?"

I checked my calendar. "s**t, it's tonight!"

"Then I will be your date," He offered. "I insist. It will be fun, I promise."

I sighed, realizing I would only be fighting a losing battle with him. "Fine! But you have to look, well, like a teenager, alright? No wings, no looking like Dream out of the Sandman comics."

Sariel put his hands together in a praying pose, and said, "I promise to do as my lady requests."

He morphed to a very cute teen version of himself, but only I could see his black wings. "How is this?"

I kissed his cheek. "You look great. Let's go and get prepared for this dance thing."

He looped his arm through mine, and we did just that, not thinking of anything else but this upcoming dance. I didn't know what to expect with this dance, but I knew one thing for sure, and it was that with an angel in your corner, it would be far from boring, indeed...