I’m blushing like a fool, but Angel keeps piling on the compliments. I’m just glad that I’m not the one who messed up tonight.
“Do you want to be my boyfriend?”
Oh no. Oh no. Ohfuckno.
Why would I say that now? This is not the place or the time, Nevaeh!
I’ve been dying to ask him, but not likethis. And now that I’ve blurted it out, I have no choice but to brace for impact.
“No,” Angel says.
Am I allowed to be heartbroken when I’m the idiot who built fantasies based on things that were only happening inside my head?
“That’s okay. I don’t even know why I said it. It’s not like I want that or anything. I couldn’t care less. Pfft.”
I try to turn away, but Angel cups my face, his eyes full of sincerity. “Nevaeh Blackburn, I don’t want to be your boyfriend. That word is temporary and represents too little of what I want with you. I wantforever.”
I forget how to breathe, and Angel has no regard for my poor heart and keeps killing me with his sweet words.
“I want to be your home. I want all your kisses. I want to be there when you finally free yourself from your past or when it keeps you up at night. I want my mornings to start beside you and my nights to end inside you. I’ve waited my whole life for you, Nevaeh. I’m not settling for anything less than permanent.”
For once, I don’t want to hide. I don’t want to pretend his words don’t matter. I want to let him be the person who sneaks into my heart and makes it their home.
Angel wipes the tears cascading down my face and kisses my forehead.
“I want everything with you, Nevaeh. You are my everything. In a world where even being soulmates isn’tenough, I’ll have to add titles to keep you forever. Starting with making youmy wife.”
I’m so lost in this dizzy, bubbly feeling, his sparkling eyes staring into my soul, and that soft smile that it takes me a second to process what he said.
“What—no. I don’t think that’s where you start.” I stare at him, stunned. But Angel starts planting kisses all over my face, so I can’t focus on anything but him.
He’s not fooling anybody. I’ve seen enough movies to know that’s not the right order of things.
“That’s exactly where we start in my world.”
“I’m not sure I like the ways of your world then.” I bite the inside of my cheek to hide my smile.
“You’ll love it soon enough, wifey.”
“Not your wife, Angel.” I can’t help but giggle at his stubbornness.
“Yes, you are. You just don’t know it yet.”
“How—” He cuts me off with a fierce kiss, stealing the rest of my question.
This goof.I laugh even harder. My healing shoulder stings from the stretch, but I can’t stop. Angel pulls me into his lap, trapping me in his arms like I belong there.
How did I get so lucky?
17. You can’t hide everything
Anxo
Carrying my mate like this brings back memories of the first night we met.Back then, holding Nevaeh was my duty, but now it’s all I want. I yearn to have her as close as physically possible.
Nevaeh snuggles into my chest with a bright smile as she and Seiji talk about the chemistry and sparks they saw between Harvey and Grace.
I glance at Hazel, searching for any signs of distress. She might be walking beside me, but her mind is still stuck on the sniper. The way he melted into liquid made it pretty clear who was behind the attack.
