Rex shook his head. “With shifters, there’s no such thing as rushing. You’re either the right guy for her, or you aren’t. If you aren’t her mate, you can still have some fun, but know that it will eventually end.”
That’s what he’d been afraid of. What if what he were feeling was all one sided? What if she didn’t want him with the same desperation he felt when he was around her? For that matter, just thinking about her was enough to make him hot. He’d gotten an erection for the first time that day in the market, standing so near her. He’d been a little embarrassed, but hoped he’d covered it up as best he could. He’d held his basket in front of him, trying to hide his aroused state from her, but if what the guys were saying was true, maybe that had been a mistake. Should he just tell her how he felt and see if she felt the same way?
He listened to the guys talk, adding to the conversation where he could. After the third beer, he started to feel a little strange and wondered if this were what was meant by “getting a buzz.” He had to admit, it felt pretty good. Now he just had to manage to walk from his seat to the truck, without embarrassing himself. He wobbled a little when he stood, and Sawyer laughed, slinging an arm around his shoulders to help him to the truck. Adriel made a mental note to stop at two beers next time.
All of them but Cain lived in the wolf dorms. He had a duplex two blocks over, so Rex dropped him off first. When they reached the dorms, Adriel was little steadier on his feet and made his way to his room. That’s really all it was... one large room with a bed, small table, sofa, two chairs, and TV, along with a kitchenette. . The bathroom was small, but functional. He wasn’t complaining, far from it. All of his needs were met, and he really couldn’t ask for more. As long as he was single, it would suffice. But if things went according to plan with Kinley, then he’d be looking at a new place sooner rather than later.
He fumbled with his lock for a moment before finally pushing the door open. The air conditioning felt great as he stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He flipped the deadbolt and bent down to unlace his work boots. Next, he stripped down to his underwear and headed straight for the bathroom. He felt grimy after working out in the sun all day and couldn’t wait to get in the shower. Turning on the water and setting it to a cool temperature, he stepped out of his underwear and climbed under the spray, closing the shower door behind him. The first two days on site, he would have killed for a tub to soak his aching muscles, but he’d adjusted to the work now, and it didn’t bother him as much.
He quickly scrubbed and got out, wrapping the towel around his waist. It wasn’t unusual for him to wander about his place in the nude, so he didn’t bother pulling out clean clothes. Once he was dry, he tossed the towel in the hamper, along with his dirty laundry. He flipped through the channels until he settled on a rerun of Supernatural. The show made him laugh. He couldn’t help but find humor in the way they portrayed Heaven and angels. If only they knew!
His stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t had dinner yet. Really, eating had been more of a chore than anything so far. He’d enjoyed pizza, the one time he’d ordered out, but he was trying to conserve the money the Tierney’s had given him. It hadn’t been easy accepting cash from them, but the women had insisted. Clothing and a roof over his head had been one thing, but money was something else. He didn’t feel right about taking it, but he’d had little choice. Kendall had pointed out that he couldn’t very well buy groceries without it, and he’d had to admit that she was right.
Rising from the sofa, he went into the kitchenette and rummaged through the freezer. He’d picked up some Hot Pockets, frozen pizzas, corn dogs, and other things that looked relatively easy to make. Adriel pulled out three corn dogs, wrapped them in paper towels, and placed them in the microwave. He leaned a hip against the counter while he waited. When the machine dinged, he took down a plate, arranged the corn dogs on it, then squirted a hefty amount of mustard. He’d discovered it was his favorite condiment so far.
Adriel settled himself on the sofa once more, his plate in his hands. As he ate, he thought about what Rex had said. The wolf did have a point. Adriel had been trying to do things as a man, not wanting to scare off Kinley, but Kinley wasn’t exactly human. He hadn’t thought about the fact that the rules were different for shapeshifters. He desired her, cared about what happened to her, but did that necessarily mean he was her destined mate? What would he do if he weren’t?
Maybe instead of taking his time, dating her, and treating her the way he would a human woman, he should just put all his cards on the table and tell her how he felt and what he wanted. She could turn him away, which would break his heart, but what if she didn’t? There was a chance she felt the same way about him...it was a chance he might have to take.
A bright light filled the room, making Adriel cover his eyes. When the room dimmed again, he put his hand down and stared at his surprise guest.
“Raphael, what are you doing here?” he asked.
The archangel scowled at him. “I should ask you that question. Giving up your wings, for a shapeshifter! It’s unheard of. What were you thinking?”
“I think I love her,” Adriel admitted. “I was drawn to her the moment I saw her.”
Raphael waved a hand. “What’s love between a man and a woman when you had the love of God? You were one of his greatest warriors, Adriel. And now, look at you.”
“I did what I thought was right. My heart was torn while I was living in Heaven. Now that I’m here, I have a chance to be part of something great.”
“You already were part of something great.”
Adriel shook his head. “I can’t make you understand. I felt like my place was by Kinley’s side. It’s taking me longer than I had hoped to be with her, but it’s going to happen. We have a date on Friday. If all goes well, maybe she’ll agree to see me exclusively.”
Raphael snorted. “You gave up everything, for a maybe? If you’d been smart, you would have visited her while you were still an angel, shown your interest, and you could have seen if she responded.”
“Defied God? You know he doesn’t like us to interact with humans unless it is absolutely necessary. Answering a prayer is one thing; popping in to set up a date is another.”
Raphael shrugged. “I guess we’ll never know if He would have allowed it or not.”
“I truly believe I’m where I’m supposed to be, Raphael. Your concern is appreciated, but I’ll be alright.”
“And if your shapeshifter turns you away?”
Adriel shrugged a shoulder. “Then I’ll live my life as a human. I have a job now, and soon I hope to have a place of my own. I’ve started making friends. Life on Earth really isn’t so bad.”
“I hope you don’t come to regret your decision one day, Adriel. For your sake, I hope the woman returns your affection.”
“Thank you.” He smiled. “How are my brothers and sisters?”
“Everyone is well. You’re the topic of most conversations at the moment. Just so you know, people peer into your life throughout the day, wondering how you’re making it as a human. I only hope others don’t decide to follow in your footsteps. Can you imagine if all the angels decided they wanted to live a human life? Heaven would be in chaos.”
“I’m sure it won’t come to that.”
“I wish you the best of luck, Adriel. I hope your story ends well.”
Without another word, Raphael disappeared as quickly as he’d appeared. He had brought up a good point. If Adriel succeeded in winning Kinley’s affection, would it make other angels want to abandon Heaven? How many other warriors were there that had fallen for a human over the years? Surely, he wasn’t the only one. He’d never heard of someone giving up their wings before, not voluntarily, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t been done at some point. It made him wonder if there were other angels roaming the Earth, men or women who would understand what he was going through. He’d have to ask one of the archangels, if they ever stopped in again.
Chapter Three
Friday came all too soon, and Kinley was anxious and flustered all day. She’d arrived at the alpha’s house an hour ago to clean and deliver his dinner and was now facing the dirty dishes in the sink. She’d thought she’d had a good grip on the glass she was soaping, until it slipped through her fingers and crashed to the floor, shattering into tiny pieces. Gabriel’s footsteps could be heard as he hurried down the stairs.
“Kinley, what happened?” he asked, rushing into the kitchen.
“Stay back!” she warned. “I dropped a glass. I’m really sorry; it just sort of slipped out of my hands.”
“Forget the damn glass; you’re only wearing flip-flops. Did you get cut?”
She shook her head. “I’ll just get the broom and sweep it up.”
“You’ve been antsy since you arrived. Everything alright?”
She sighed. “Everything is fine, Alpha. I guess I’m just a little nervous about tonight. I’m making dinner for Adriel, and it’s our first date. Other than the rumors rumbling through the pack, I don’t really know much about him.”
He cocked his head to the side and studied her. “But you sense something about him?”
She nodded. “I don’t know for sure if he’s my mate, but I think he might be, and I guess I’m a little scared. What if I mess up tonight, and he doesn’t want to see me again?”
“Trust me; he’ll want to see you. I doubt there’s anything you could do to mess up.”
“How can you be sure?” She snagged the broom and started sweeping the debris.
“I had a talk with Connor the other night, after you left. I was curious about the angel and wanted to see what he knew about Adriel. Connor said he gave up his wings voluntarily. Now, can you think of any reason for him to do that?”
She stopped sweeping and shook her head. “I can’t imagine giving up Heaven, not for anything.”
“Not even for love?” Gabriel asked, his brow arched.
“You’re saying he loves me?” she asked softly, scarcely believing her ears.
Gabriel shrugged. “I can’t say for sure whether or not he loves you, but I did hear that he hasn’t gone out with any of the women in the pack, even though they’ve shown an interest in him. Now, if he’s agreed to have dinner with you, but has pushed all the other females away, what does that tell you?”
“That he likes scrawny blondes?”
Gabriel snorted. “You’re not scrawny. You may be the smallest in the pack, but that makes you delicate. As a warrior angel, don’t you think he might have some alpha male tendencies, like the need to protect?”
She frowned. “So he likes me because he thinks I need protection?”
“I’m not explaining this very well,” Gabriel muttered. “I’m just saying your small stature probably appeals to him. I don’t think he believes you’re helpless. You did, after all, survive a demon attack.”
She continued sweeping until the glass was cleared away and thrown in the trash. Her alpha was right. She might be small, but she was fierce, when she needed to be. The thought of a man helping take care of her, because he felt something for her, actually sounded kind of nice. But she would never let a man take over her life because he thought she wasn’t able to make it on her own. She’d been alone for the past four years. After her parents had gone back to Australia, she’d decided to stay in the US. She hadn’t regretted that decision, but life hadn’t been easy on her own.
“So you think he cares about me?” she questioned..
“Yes, I believe he does. I think Connor may know more than he’s telling me, but from what he did say, I’m convinced the angel feels something for you.”
“Human,” she muttered. “He’s human now.”
“Do you have a problem with him being human? I know female shapeshifters usually mate with male shifters. Do you doubt he could take care of you? Provide for you?”
“No, it isn’t that.”
“Then what, Kinley? You’ve been given a wonderful opportunity. How many heavenly beings do you think are roaming the earth looking for a date on Friday night? That man made the ultimate sacrifice, and I believe he did it for you. Keep that in mind tonight when you see him.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
“Don’t worry about the rest of the dishes tonight. Go home and get ready for your date. You only have a few hours until he’ll arrive. I’m sure you’ll want to shower, and you still have to cook, unless you did that already?”
“I cooked before I came over. I made extra for you and put a plate in the fridge. Even though I’m not eating with you tonight, I wanted to make sure you had something. I noticed your pantry was bare.”
The faintest hint of a smile traced his lips. “Thank you, Kinley. I’ll be sure to eat it.”
“If you’re sure you want me to go...”
“Definitely. Go get ready for your date.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Alpha.”
Kinley gathered her belongings and left. It wouldn’t take her two hours to shower and dress, but maybe she should vacuum one more time, make sure the clothes were put away, dust...Adriel had never been to her place before. She wanted to make a good impression. If Gabriel were right, then the former angel might be thinking of her as a possible mate. She didn’t have much to entice him at the moment except a clean house. The alpha might be paying her to take care of him, but she didn’t consider it a true job. Regardless, she’d take care of him until he didn’t need her any longer. She’d make do somehow. As much as she hated to accept charity from the pack, she knew they would help her if she needed it.
When she got to her apartment, she spent the next half hour making sure the place sparkled, then jumped in the shower and got ready for her date. Kinley seldom wore make-up, but decided this occasion called for it. She wanted to look her best for Adriel, wanted him to desire her as much as she desired him. Considering she’d worn out the batteries in her vibrator the previous day fantasizing about the angel, it was safe to say she longed for him more than she’d ever desired a man before.
Six o’clock rolled around sooner than she’d thought, and her doorbell rung.. Smoothing her hands down her skirt, she went to let Adriel in. Kinley blew out a breath before twisting the knob and pulling the door open. Her jaw dropped a little when she saw him, a bottle of wine tucked under his arm, a bouquet of flowers clutched in his hand. He may have never gone on a date before, but he was already off to a great start.
“Come in,” she said, stepping back.
Adriel brushed past her, taking in his surroundings. She closed the door and accepted the flowers and wine from him, burying her nose in the vibrant blossoms. Kinley couldn’t remember the last time someone gave her flowers, much less brought wine to a dinner date. Of course, she didn’t cook for men often, or for anyone else, for that matter. She had a tendency to keep to herself, with the exception of a few friends.
“Dinner’s ready,” she said, “if you’re ready to eat.”
He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans, the red polo he wore stretching tight across his broad shoulders. “Yeah, that sounds great.”
She beckoned,. “Have a seat. I’ll dish it up.”
As Adriel made himself comfortable, she pulled down a vase above the sink and filled it with water, placing her flowers in it and carrying it to the dining table. She set it down, off to the side, so it wouldn’t block her view of the heavenly angel sitting across from her, but close enough so she could enjoy the fragrant blooms. It only took her a minute to fix two plates of pasta, complete with buttered, toasted Italian bread. She carried them to the table, then went back for wine glasses and a corkscrew.
It didn’t take a genius to realize that Adriel would have never opened a wine bottle before, so she showed him what to do, then watched his biceps bulge as he popped the stubborn cork. What would it feel like to have those strong arms wrapped around her? A shiver ran down her spine. He poured the wine, a half glass each, which Kinley knew she would be refilling – several times. She didn’t drin
k often, but she could certainly use that liquid courage tonight. As she’d waited on him to arrive, she’d come to the decision that she was going to make a move. Either he was as interested as he seemed, or she was reading him wrong and was going to make a fool of herself.
“I guess we don’t really know much about each other,” Kinley said. “I mean, I know you were an angel and that you have mad fighting skills, but I don’t really know much else about you.”
Adriel smiled at her. “Well, my life in Heaven was vastly different from this one. I was a soldier in God’s army, now I’m just a construction worker. Not nearly as glamorous, I suppose, but I think I enjoy the work more. I like making things with my hands; it’s very rewarding.”
“You work with Connor?”
He nodded. “The Tierneys have been a great help to me since I came to Earth. I’m not sure what would have become of me if they hadn’t taken me in that first night. I’d been wandering aimlessly, and I suddenly realized I was on Colin’s front porch.”
“The pack is really great about helping each other out. I heard Connor made you an honorary pack member.”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “I wasn’t sure how well a human in the pack would go over, but then I realized most of their mates are human. I’m just the only one who’s male .”
“So you didn’t retain any of your angelic abilities?”
“No. At first, I kind of missed them. It was awkward being human, but now that I’ve had a few weeks to adjust, I’m okay with it. I imagine that after a while, I will hardly remember my other life.”
“How cool is it, though, that you already know what Heaven looks like? You may be human, but you’re still unique.”
He glanced down at his plate. “Is that why you asked me over for dinner,because I’m not your typical human?”
“No! Nothing like that. I swear, even if you’d been born human, I would have asked you out.” She felt her cheeks glow at the admission.
The corners of his mouth tipped up to a smile. “Really?”
“Yeah,” she said softly.
“So, what do you do for a living?”
Ashton Grove Werewolves (Boxed Set, Vol. 2) Page 33