Archangel's Kiss

by Santos, Anna

  “Well, it’s something embarrassing.”

  “You can tell me anything.”

  “Promise you won’t laugh.”

  I assured her with my most sincere face, “I won’t.”

  “Well...” She paused, took a deep breath, and stared at our hands together. “I’ve never been with a boy before. I mean… Well, not…like… I-I mean,” she babbled as she tried to find the right words to explain her fears.

  “I’ve never been with a woman, either,” I said, hoping it would make her feel more comfortable to finish her sentence.

  “What?” She stared at my face with widened eyes. “You must be kidding!”

  “No, not really. I’m a gargoyle. I never felt interested in anyone until I found you. Human necessities don't rule us. We grow up to serve God and protect humankind. We just awaken the feeling for carnal love when we find our mate. There may be others of my kind that feel curious about sex before the curse is activated, but, I guess, I didn’t have time to think about it. I’m a prince, I have too many things to decide and take care of. I want love and a family.”

  “Really?” she asked.

  I nodded.

  “So you are... Wow!”

  “It frightens you or is it just strange?” I asked, holding tighter to her hands.

  “I don’t know what to think. I was ashamed because I had never been around boys. I have never been kissed and still have my V-card, so…yeah, I thought I was the weird one. Not that we are weird,” she rephrased it and swallowed hard. “We aren’t. There is nothing wrong with waiting for the person we love to make love to.”

  “So why did you think I would laugh? I don’t mind you being pure.”

  “I didn’t know you were a virgin. Come on! You look like a movie star. There must be plenty of female gargoyles or any kind of females falling at your feet.”

  “I don’t spend too much time in this realm. And gargoyle females are rare. The ones that exist are looking for their mate and not for a one-night stand.”

  “That is nice,” she said and smiled, the tension dissipating from her face.

  “Why did you look so surprised with my lack of experience?”

  “I was hoping... Never mind.” She put her hands on her face and looked at her lap with contemplative eyes. “Actually, I’m glad I’m a virgin. I don’t mind it. I’m not ashamed of it. I had the silly dream of losing it with someone I really love and who loves me back.”

  “There is nothing silly about that,” I whispered, pulling her closer. I made sure to sit her on my lap before I circled her arms around my neck. “I just hope you chose me because, Aria, I’m falling hard for you. We’ve just met, but I think you are the most amazing thing in the world.”

  “You are pretty awesome yourself,” she whispered near my face, holding my neck.

  I smirked at her words. “Then tell me all about your plan to convince me to let you call your parents.”

  “What?” she asked as if she didn’t remember that anymore. “Yes, right! My plan. Of course, you want to know my plan.”

  I listened to her, attentively, smiling with the fact of how smart she was.

  Chapter TWELVE

  ARIA

  I waited next to Cedric’s cell phone for a significant call. I had finally convinced him to tell my parents I was alive. He liked my solution. So, he sent two angels to pose as Federal Agents and to say to my parents I was an essential witness in a women’s slave trafficking case, and I needed protection from the criminal organization, but I was alive and well. I was hoping that they would buy the story and would understand that I had to disappear for a couple of months. At least, until we could sort out our relationship, and I was able to go back to my regular life. Even if it was as an angel. I knew it would be hard to convince my parents that I met Cedric in Paris, we fell in love, and got married. How would they understand that I had to live in Paris from now on?

  I guess I was making a lot of projects for Cedric and me. I had come to terms with what had happened to me. Having a house full of angels and werewolves also helped me embrace the supernatural. Besides, I was growing fond of Cedric, and I had my soul at stake. I needed to fall in love with him. We were supposed to match. Apparently, the angels did some sort of matching test, and I got him to my utter surprise and enchantment.

  He was gorgeous! Not even in my wildest dreams would I think that I would have an angel slash gargoyle mate, and he would be as sweet and enchanting as Cedric was. He was a better upgrade from the ignorant jerk who had rejected me without even taking the time to know me.

  Yet, I kept dreaming of the rejection. His words haunted me. My former mate was a monster with the face of an angel. I had to come to terms with the fact he was heartless and cruel. He didn’t want me. I almost died because of him. Cedric saved me, and I was thankful for no longer be in danger. But, I knew it was still too soon to forget and move on. Plus, he was dead. Not that it would matter if he were still alive. He was a vampire. He was evil. End of story.

  At present, I was more interested in talking to my parents, hearing my mom’s voice and crying my heart out. I don’t want to scare them or anything, even if they would be worried about me being a key witness. But, I’m betting they will be glad I’m still alive.

  The cell phone rang, and it startled me. I moved my hand to answer it but noticed that I was trembling and sweating. It sounded like an excellent idea when I told it to Cedric. So, why am I doubting myself and am afraid of picking up the call?

  “Relax, all is going to be okay,” Cedric whispered into my ear, rubbing my shoulders and making me feel calmer.

  I answered, “Mom?” I knew she wasn’t going to let my dad talk first.

  “Aria?” the hopeful voice of my mom was heard on the other side. “Baby! Is that really you?”

  I listened to her sobbing, then Dad spoke, “Aria, talk to us. Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Are you safe?”

  “I’m fine, Dad. Tell Mom, I’m fine,” I answered, my voice emotional because of the pain I caused them. I missed them so much that my heart hurt. “I love you both.” I caved and sobbed.

  “Aria,” Cedric whispered as his hand rubbed my back. “Calm down, or they won’t understand what you are saying.”

  I breathed deeply and swallowed my tears. Rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand, I talked again, “I’m sorry for taking so long to call you. They didn’t let me. I…wanted to call you, yesterday, before you heard it in the news or uncle called you to say I was missing.”

  “Oh, my beautiful child! We are just glad that you are alive. You gave us such a scare. We were waiting for the police to call us, saying that they had found you. We were hoping you had survived. Why did they call us, saying that you had jumped into the Seine?”

  “It was a cover-up, Dad,” I explained, trying to sound sure. “No one can know I’m alive. The newspapers will publish that I am dead. Please, don’t tell anyone just yet.”

  “We want to see you. We want to come to you,” my mom said from the other side. “I miss you so much! Please, tell us where you are.”

  “I can’t, Mom. But I’m okay. I’m really okay, don’t worry. I have someone taking care of me.”

  “Aria,” she complained. I smiled between my tears. “I’m your mom. I want to be there. I’m sure you are scared to death. You are so young! How did this happen to you? Did they hurt you? Did they... Tell me you are okay!”

  “I’m fine. They didn’t hurt me. Someone saved me. Please, don’t worry. I promise I’ll call you whenever I can.”

  “How long will it be until you can come back home? And your wish of visiting Paris? All your vacation is ruined!”

  “Mom, everything will be okay. Trust me. It’s just a month.”

  “A month? The federal agents said it would take longer. There is a lot of bureaucracy involved and a lot of evidence that needs to be added to the case.”

  “Yes, there is. But I promise that everything will be fine.”

  “I’m just glad that
you aren’t scared. You sound really sure about what you are saying,” she declared.

  I wiped the tears from my face. “I have to go, Mom,” I whispered before I was tempted to confess the whole truth and put an end to this charade. I knew she needed to be kept in the dark about what was really going on.

  “Please, call us or gives us your number.”

  “I love you, Mom and Dad. It’s important to keep this a secret. I can’t give you my number. I don’t have a phone. But I’ll try to call you.”

  “We love you,” my dad said on the other side of the line.

  “We love you very much,” Mom repeated.

  I hung up the phone and put it on the table. Then, I covered my face with my hands. I’ve never lied to my parents before. I didn’t want to lie to them now. However, I couldn’t tell them the truth. Cedric’s hands fell on my shoulders. Knowing that he was behind me made me feel better.

  “Come on, little angel,” he whispered in my ear as his arms surrounded my waist. He pulled me into his embrace, making me leave the chair I was on. “Let’s go out and enjoy the day. There are a lot of things we can do, a lot of clothes to buy, and I don’t want you here sulking. Calling them was supposed to make you feel happy.” He turned me around to hug me against his chest.

  I felt tiny in his arms. He was tall and broad. He smelled nice and made me feel safe. I also got extremely flushed every time we would make any bodily contact. Still, I couldn’t deny that I loved it.

  My feet left the floor, and I could barely breathe while he was hugging me like that. It felt perfect to be in his arms, to feel the warmth of his body, and to be enveloped by his fragrance and his sweet breath against my neck. My skin tingled with waves of shudders as if small sparks of electricity were fueling my soul.

  “What do you want to do first, sweetie?” he asked me.

  I moaned against his neck, rubbing my face on his addictive skin. I didn't feel like doing anything else other than staying inside his arms, with my eyes closed, listening to my heart beating fast, having his hands pressed to my back, and molding me against his chest. Paris didn’t look that enticing to me anymore if I could be in his arms instead.

  “Whatever you want,” I whispered, sighing when he nibbled on my ear.

  “I want to buy you clothes. I’m sure that Camille doesn’t mind you raiding her closet, but I want you to have your own clothes. And it will be fun to choose what I want you to wear.”

  “So, you are going to choose, are you?” I asked teasing him, pretending to be upset.

  “I can make suggestions about what my hot mate is going to wear, can’t I?”

  “Of course, you can. But can we take Camille with us?” I asked, staring at his face, feeling extremely pleased with his adoration for me.

  He smirked. “Are you afraid to be alone with me?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Of course not. It’s just that she has better taste than I do. I don’t understand anything about fashion, how to combine colors and to accessorize stuff.”

  “I’ll ask her if she wants to go with us. But then, you’ll have to explain to Jacob why his wife maxed out his credit card,” he said, making me laugh and hugging him tighter.

  “I heard that,” Camille’s voice came from behind him.

  I cocked my head and saw the cute blonde angel with her arched eyebrow and hands on her hips.

  Turning around to face her, Cedric teased her further, “Didn’t you know that it’s rude to listen to other people’s conversations?”

  “We have super-hearing, remember?” She shrugged her shoulders. “Besides, I always pay attention when my name is said.”

  “There goes the right to privacy here,” Cedric complained, putting me down and kissing my forehead.

  I stepped forward and fixed my emerald dress, which Camille gave me to wear that day. I loved all her clothes. I really needed her opinion if I was going to buy new clothes and hoped to look good in them.

  She smirked. “The bedrooms are soundproof, so it’s not all that bad.”

  “Why are the bedrooms soundproofed?” I asked, with all the innocence in the world.

  “You will find out soon enough,” she declared, moving closer to me and speaking into my ear. “You will be thankful for that, trust me.”

  I blushed from head to toe. I was so naïve that someone should just slap me sometimes. But Cedric made it even worse when he put his hands over my ears for me not to listen to her.

  “Don’t embarrass my mate like that, Camille. She is innocent.”

  “Cedric!” I complained even more embarrassed.

  I could be innocent, but I wasn’t ignorant about what a couple does in a bedroom. There are plenty of descriptions going around in Sex Education classes, in movies, magazines, TV series, and stories. Guess it was not so farfetched for the bedrooms to be soundproofed in a house with beings that have super-hearing.

  “Not for long she won’t be,” Camille declared, looking at her perfect golden nails. “You are both extremely adorable to tease, but I heard we were going shopping,” she added, in a softer voice and lopsided grin. “So, is that still going to happen or do you two have a sudden need to go check the bedroom?”

  “We are going shopping,” I answered promptly before she could say another joke about sex.

  “Goodie!” she shrieked, actually jumping with happiness in the air like a kid. “I’m going to grab Jacob to come with us. Someone needs to keep Cedric occupied while we choose clothes. Plus, I need his credit card because mine is maxed out,” she explained as she made plans, only to disappear into thin air.

  I should get used to that, angels tended to appear and disappear where they wanted. They rarely used their wings to fly if they had the image of the place they wanted to go already in their mind. It was incredibly cool, and I was looking forward to being able to have the same power when I got my wings.

  “You can take your hands off my ears now,” I said to Cedric, turning my head to watch him. “She is gone.”

  Cedric smiled and combed his hair with one hand, looking extremely adorable with his boyish grin. I bit my lower lip and swallowed hard. He was so damn hot that it was unbelievable.

  “I know how babies are made, you know?”

  “Camille was rude,” he complained.

  “She was just teasing us. Relax, I’m not going to get offended.”

  “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable with her talking about that.”

  “I don’t. It isn’t like we are doing it or anything,” I said, only to regret it. I didn’t just say that out loud, did I? I wasn’t complaining, far from that, nor was I trying to give him the wrong idea. It was entirely too soon for that. We hadn’t even kissed yet!

  Cedric lowered his face next to my ear, putting his hand on my right shoulder. “Not yet,” he whispered, sending a million tickles throughout my body.

  I felt my cheeks burn. Weird enough, his words didn’t make me feel scared. They did the opposite. I understood that he wanted me and, when I was ready, I was sure I would want him. So, I didn’t complain or react prudishly to his words. I smiled, grabbed his hands, and put them around me. Then, I felt my feet leave the floor once again as he gave me one of his amazing hugs that made me melt against him.

  Chapter THIRTEEN

  PHILIPPE

  I couldn’t be more bored. It wasn’t even six o’clock in the afternoon, and I was awake and brooding in my armchair, staring aimlessly at the wall. The past few days were excruciating, all because I couldn’t stop dreaming. There would be nothing wrong with having dreams if I wasn’t a bloody vampire who wasn’t supposed to have them. We could fantasize, daydream, or even retreat into our thoughts for some time and live from memories. However, when we were asleep, we weren’t supposed to dream. At least, we wouldn’t remember dreaming. So, spending days dreaming of the girl I had rejected was not my idea of fun or using my time of rest for useful purposes.

  I had done a pretty good job in ignoring my conscience until the day that same co
nscience started to ignore me. So, why was it haunting me through the days and making me relive that fateful night was beyond me? I used to enjoy my dreamless sleep.

  “I’ve heard you’ve been grumpy these past few days,” a female voice stated, which snapped me from my meditative state to frown at her with cold eyes.

  “What the hell are you doing here, Josephine?” I asked with a gruff voice.

  “Aren’t you happy to see me?” she asked, stepping into my bedroom and moving swiftly to my side. She smiled, showing her perfect pearly teeth. She was beautiful. I couldn’t deny that. Tall and curvy, with long dark hair, and the face of an angel or an enticing muse. If there was an Aphrodite, Josephine was more beautiful than her, without a doubt.

  “I don’t know. Have you come here to ask something of me?” I questioned, giving her a faint smile that made her smirk wickedly at me and lean her face into mine. Her flowered scent was what hit me first and made me narrow my eyes, feeling intoxicated.

  “No, my sweet Philippe, I came here to give you my support in these dark times,” she spoke next to my lips. Her breath smelled of mint, and her lips were plump and red as blood.

  “What dark times?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

  “Baby, you rejected your mate. Do you think that it won’t hurt anymore?” she asked, her voice laced with concern.

  I rolled my eyes and sighed deeply. “You rejected your mate too and survived,” I hissed, annoyed with the prospect of having this discussion with Josephine.

  I didn’t really want to hear it. She had already lectured me by phone when I thanked her for her help. Apparently, she was unaware I wanted to reject my mate and thought I was merely curious about the myth. According to her, I was a jerk, and she was no longer proud to be my maker.

  “No, my sweet child. He rejected me,” she declared, making me frown at her, not believing it.

  Who could be stupid enough to reject her?

  “Are you having bad dreams?”

  I nodded, and she pecked me on my lips and hugged me against her chest.