“Yes, and he said he loves you, too.”
She swallowed then nodded.
I took her hand. “Are you ready for our first official date?”
The look of sadness disappeared from her face and her stare snapped to mine. “Of course. But you weren’t supposed to pick me up until tonight.”
“I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to see you.” I eased the bag from her shoulder then put it on mine and wrapped her in a hug.
“Patience is a virtue, Cain.” She snaked her hands around my waist and returned the embrace. “But I’m glad you’re early. Do you really want to do the whole gambit of eating out and watching a movie?”
I hesitated then pulled away. “I want to do whatever makes you happy, Precious.”
“In that case”—she curled her hands around my neck and leaned out far enough to search my face—“I’d be happy to spend a quiet night alone in your company.”
“Truly?”
She nodded. “Yeah. We haven’t had much time to be together with everything that’s happened the past week with school and your trips to see Dad. I thought it might be fun just to hang out as normal people.” A frown tugged at her lips. “Well, normal angelic beings, I guess.”
I let out a guffaw then took a quick peek around the emptying campus.
Most of the trees had lost their leaves and the crisp air held a refreshing chill.
“Your place or mine?” I gave a wiggle of my eyebrows.
“Definitely yours. Mom’s hosting a book club with her friends from church tonight, and I won’t be sorry to miss that.” Phoebe wrinkled her nose. “You have no idea how loud their arguments can get when one of them doesn’t agree over a character or setting.”
“Do you want to blink us, or should I?”
Phoebe pursed her lips. “I guess I need the practice, huh?”
I nodded and gave her hand a squeeze. She no longer wore the pendant, but I knew she kept it in her pocket. Like her father’s role in my training, I had begun repaying the favor by ensuring his daughter knew how to use her Nephilim powers. I didn’t trust Lucian to leave us alone, and there were plenty more Fallen who’d jump at the chance to snatch her away, especially when they found out she was the offspring of Michael.
After a quick glance to the mostly empty campus, Phoebe gripped my hands and closed her eyes, a line forming between her brows.
“Don’t try to force it. Let it come to your call.”
A bright flash of light, then she and I stood in my bedroom next to my bed.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around. “I think it’s getting easier for me to control it.”
“In time, you’ll be able to use your power without even thinking about it.” I glanced at my black, rumpled sheets. “Did you mean to take us into my—”
“Yes.” She pulled me to her level and crashed her mouth to mine, letting out a small moan as I gripped her around the waist and pulled her against my body.
I slid my hands into her hair, breathed in her fresh feminine scent, and pushed my tongue into her mouth, needing to claim every part of her, yet fighting the overpowering instinct, giving her the control.
After a full minute, she pulled away. Her brown eyes, darker in the low light, roamed over my face. She trailed her fingers under my shirt.
Her touch became a scorching fire, and I clenched my jaw.
“Do you think we can pick up where we left off the other night, out on your patio?”
I stopped breathing for a moment then traced her eyebrow with a trembling finger. “I’d love nothing more.” Lifting her into my arms, I stretched her out across my bed then dissipated my clothes.
“Eager, are we?” Her eyes roved over my chest. Smiling, she moved her gaze to mine. “You’re beautiful, Cain.”
I knelt at the end of the bed and tugged off her shoes. After removing her socks, I crawled onto the bed then placed my knees to the outside of her thighs. “And you, my beloved, precious one...there’s not even a word for how lovely you are.” I unsnapped her jeans button, stopping to feast my eyes on the delicate flush suffusing her cheeks.
