Wings on Fire

Chapter 5

5

The moment the words left my tongue, I regretted them. I would give anything to erase the downcast look that surfaced on Daniel’s face. “I didn’t mean that,” I tried to take back my harsh evaluation of his job skills. “You’ve done a wonderful job of taking care of me so far.”

Daniel nodded in acknowledgment of my words, but he didn’t look up at me. Desperate to lighten the mood, I asked, “Am I allowed to say ‘crappy’ in front of you?”

My guess that this question would raise his spirits was correct. He grinned up at me before answering, “I don’t give a damn if you say the word crappy.”

“I’ve never met a cursing angel before,” I teased him.

“Oh, you’ve met lots of non-cursing angels, have you?” He gave it right back to me.

“Well, no,” I admitted, before adding huskily, “You’re my first.”

His mouth fell open at this, and I suddenly realized that I might somehow truly be appealing to this god-like creature. The idea was thrilling, frightening, and utterly intoxicating.

“I’m more worried about being your last,” he flirted with me, and we both knew we were no longer simply talking about cussing angels.

My eyelashes fluttered as I struggled to comprehend the barely hidden meaning of his words.

“See, that right there is one of the things that is so magnetic about you. You truly have no idea how attractive and lovable you are.”

I could feel my cheeks flushing pink at his praise, but I didn’t want him to stop. Not ever. Even though I knew it was outside the realm of realistic possibility that this spiritual being was enamored by me, I longed with all of my heart to believe it was true.

Shaking my head, I felt like I needed to brush aside his kind words. “There’s nothing special about me,” I mumbled, looking down. As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized that it sounded like I was fishing for compliments. I didn’t want to do that, but I honestly couldn’t see how Daniel could possibly think I was special. He was obviously the extraordinary one.

“I realize that you just now learned about my existence,” Daniel told me, “But I have been watching you, caring about you, and growing to love everything about you for your entire life.”

I sucked in a breath, trying to absorb his glorious words.

“Wait, that came out wrong,” Daniel clarified. “I loved you as a protective older brother would while you were growing up. It has only been since you have become an adult that my feelings for you have morphed into something more… something romantic.”

Was he actually nervous? He was looking down and speaking quietly as if he feared I might reject him.

“I know that I am a stranger to you, but I think once you get to know me, you’ll find that I’m actually quite lovable.” He looked up then and gave me an absolutely irresistible grin.

Unable to keep from smiling back at him, I said, “Well, it’s time I got to know ‘lovable’ you then. Tell me about yourself.”

“Why do I suddenly feel like I’m at a job interview?” He asked.

“Think of it more as a potential relationship interview.” I winked at him. Yes, that’s right, I winked at him––as if I had any right to be flirting with this celestial being.

The wink seemed to work, because he looked at me like I was the most amusing thing he had ever encountered. His eyes were alight with intrigue as if he were actually enjoying this silly banter almost as much as I was.

Proving he was willing to play along, he said, “Okay, how about this? You can ask me anything you want to know, and I’ll answer you as completely and honestly as I can.”

Thrilled with this idea and anxious to get started, I asked him, “Am I the first person that you have watched over?”

“Oh Heavens, no,” he responded. “I’ve been doing this for many centuries. You are in good hands,” he assured me, before adding, “When I’m not distracted by wanting you.”

Desperate to get down to the nitty-gritty, I jumped in with both feet. “Am I the first human that you have developed romantic feelings for?”

“Yes.” He responded with one word as if that said it all.

“Are we allowed to engage in a romantic relationship with each other?” My hands felt clammy as I waited for his response.

“No.”

I felt like a deflated balloon. It made sense that a divine being would not be permitted to fraternize with a mere human, but I had been hoping that since he was here flirting with me, it might be acceptable. My brow furrowed as I thought about that. “Are you allowed to be here revealing yourself to me?”

“No.”

Each of his one-word answers was making me feel worse. Taking a deep breath and already guessing his next response, I asked, “Will you get in trouble for being here?”

“Possibly.”

I tried not to let the anguish show on my face, but I felt utterly torn by his admission. I didn’t know if I could bear to have him go back to silently being at my side, but I definitely didn’t want him getting into any trouble on my account.

Evidently sensing my dilemma, Daniel expanded beyond the one-word responses he had been giving me. “I didn’t take the decision to show myself to you lightly, Kerry. I knew exactly what I was doing, and I take full responsibility for it. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”

It was as if he could somehow sense exactly where my inner thoughts had gone. This heavenly being seemed to know me almost as well as I know myself, which makes sense, I guess, since he’s been with me my entire life. That realization refused to fully sink in to my thick skull.

“I was so frightened that I was going to lose you. Just the thought of it breaks my heart, Kerry,” he told me. “I had to reveal myself and talk to you, even if it was just this one time. I couldn’t stand by, simply lurking in the shadows and not knowing if you were truly okay. It’s my fault you’re in here. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you while you were under my care.”

His chiseled face had crumpled. I could see the waves of fear and worry emanating off his skin. “It’s not your fault,” I assured him. “I should have been paying more attention to my surroundings.”

“We both know you can be a bit of a klutz,” he teased me, lightening the mood, before turning somber again, “I should have been more alert.”

“I’m fine.” I stated the words with a tone of finality to indicate that he had absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. “Well, almost fine,” I amended, making his eyebrows s***h downward again with obvious worry. He quickly rose from his plastic chair to hover over my bed, obviously ready to do whatever he could to make things better for me.

I took a brief moment to savor the feeling of having this hulking, beautiful creature so concerned about my safety and wellbeing. “I’m worried about you.” I told him, effectively letting him know that he need not fear for my health. Working the scratchy, standard-issue hospital blanket between my fingers, I asked him nervously, “What are the chances of someone finding out about this and you being punished?”

The length of the pause he took before responding gave me my answer. I shook my head back and forth vehemently, tears pooling in my lower lids. The thought of him facing some excruciating punishment for revealing himself to me was unbearable. I couldn’t let that happen, despite how much I longed for him to stay here with me.

“You can’t stay. You have to protect yourself, please,” I begged him. “I’m not worth the risk.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” he informed me. “You are SO worth the risk. Besides, I’ll be fine. Trust me.”

“I never trust anyone who says that,” I told him sadly.

“I know, but you can trust me. I’m an angel.” He gave me a dazzling grin before taking my pale hand within his own sizable one. I only had an instant to notice how frail mine looked when compared with his, before the jolt of his touch registered.

Joy and a sense of euphoria radiated through my skin from the epicenter of where our hands touched each other. Calmness spread throughout my body as I decided that everything was going to work out for the best.

If only I had known about the challenges yet to come.