Chapter Twenty-Two
Mel
Iwoke to a slice of golden sunlight flooding through the large window before Gabe’s bed. I pulled myself up, stretching with a simultaneous yawn.
I’m in Gabe’s bed.
Everything from last night came slamming back into my brain, jolting me awake. I swiveled my head, my locks lapping around my bare shoulders to see Gabriel splayed out beside me, his mouth wide open as soft snores tickled the unkept blond strands of his bedhead.
He was completely naked, wearing only a small corner of the sheet that covered his ass. I’d seen this picture before, but never in the flesh. Never had I thought I’d actuallywaketo this. Perhaps I’d died and gone to Paradise? No. From what Gabe had told me, Paradise seemed overrated.
And this scene wasn’t anything of the sort.
Shivering, I realized I was still naked. I located the afghan from last night, the one I’d knitted him for several Christmas’s back. I wrapped it tight around my shoulders and kissed the sharp edge of his jawline before climbing off the bed. He grumbled softly but didn’t wake.
I wondered if all angels looked as peaceful as he did while asleep. When he was awake, he always had these shadows beneath his eyes. He always looked a little stressed, even when he was smiling. I’d always thought it was because of his business. Maybe it was because of me. Constantly being around the love of your life and not being allowed to touch them without the threat of eternal suffering was no small weight to bear.
Oh, Gabe.
I kissed him again, this time on his lips. His eyes remained closed, but his mouth twitched with a small “Love you,” grumble, then he turned onto his side.
“Love you…”
I was thankful it was Saturday. No work for the next two days, meaning I got to spend the entire weekend with Gabe.
I went to the kitchen in search of breakfast. Maybe I’d make him his favorite, eggs and toast. Gabriel had been a vegetarian for as long as I’d known him. More bacon for me.
As I opened the fridge and tore into the package of Oscar Meyer, I paused as the annoyingly chipper sound of the doorbell blared through the living room and kitchen. I glanced at the digital clock on the microwave.
8:25 A.M.
Who in the hell would be at the door this early in the morning? Couldn’t be Jess. She was either at the hospital or with her dad. God, I hope she was at either of those two places. I didn’t like the fact that her being with Lucifer was a very real possibility.
I pulled the blanket tighter around my naked body and opened the door a crack. “Hello?” I didn’t bother hiding the crack of irritation in my voice.
I peered outside, and my heart dropped to the hallow of my gut as I saw who stood outside.
It was Gabriel’s ex-girlfriend, Little Miss Perfect Ass. I didn’t actually remember her name. Was it Anna? Or Ariel? I guess I never really cared enough to remember. It had been a few years, but I hadn’t forgotten not liking her in the slightest. She acted so strangely around Gabe, like he was just a tool. She was one of those girls, rich, beautiful, and the world seemed to revolve around her.
“Hello, Melanie,” the woman said, her painted lips pressed into a mechanical smile.
I gapped at her in complete shock. She remembered my name.
She was so beautiful, it almost hurt to look at her. She had ivory skin, celestial blue eyes, and platinum blonde hair that flowed down her back with all the fluidity of a waterfall.
I didn’t care about designer brands at all, so I couldn’t name what her dress was, but it was a blazer-type dress with gold buttons and ironed lapels, and boy did it lookexpensive.
Her perfectly rounded breasts and ass filled it out in a manner that suggested it was tailored just for her. I guess that was why I only remembered her as “Miss Perfect Ass.”
The woman looked like she was on a business trip, which only drove home the one blaring question in my mind.
What in the hell is she doinghere?
“Um, can I help you?” I asked, taking care to keep my body tucked safely behind the door like a shield. I was still wearing only a thin blanket, and thanks to my not-so-great skills with knitting, a blanket with lots of holes.
She sniffed, her glacial gaze adhering to me. I resisted the urge to flinch under the severity of those eyes, bearing all the softness of broken glass.
Geez. She was hot butextremelyintense.
