I shake my head, and he nuzzles against my head. I’m going to die right here from an emotional overload. Time ticks by, and my eyes are getting heavier. I’m losing more and more of the movie, so I know I must be dozing off. I curl against him, too comfortable to fight the urge to let sleep take me.
“Promise you won’t kill me in my sleep,” I mumble against his chest, his arm wrapping around me.
“Why would I kill the most perfect woman I’ve ever met?” His words are barely a whisper as he brushes through my hair with his fingers.
I’m sure that was just part of the movie I misheard as I drifted to sleep.
CHAPTER17
I’M ON FIRE
??? AWOLNATION
An angel is sleepingin the arms of the devil tonight.
She’s been asleep for about half an hour, and the whole time, I’ve been debating whether I should leave. Whenever the thought comes to mind, I realize I’d have to move, which would mean waking her up, so I stay. I’m watching her and have no idea what’s going on in the movie playing in the background; I’m too busy watching how her nose scrunches up just before she nuzzles into my chest. Carefully, I take off her glasses and set them on the table.
She’s beautiful.
My eyes are getting heavy, and the slow rhythm of her breathing is lulling me to sleep, so I give in, lean my head back against the couch, and fall asleep with her in my arms.
When I wake up, it’s dark, and I take a second to remember where I am. The TV has gone into sleep mode, and her thick curtains block out any street lights. I’m still holding Lexi, but she’s twitching, trying to fight someone away—that must be what woke me. She yells and lashes out.
“Hey, hey. You’re okay, Angel,” I say in a soothing voice, running my fingers up and down her arm, barely ghosting her soft, pale skin. I hope this will wake her slowly or at least help pull her out of the nightmare. “You’re okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”
She sits bolt upright and gasps as she looks around the room like she’s waiting for someone to pounce on her. I’m about to say something so she can remember who I am, but she beats me to it.
“James?”
“You were having a nightmare. I wasn’t sure what to do.” She wraps the blanket tighter around her while her eyes adjust to the darkness. “Do you want some water?” I hand her glasses to her.
“Coffee.” She takes the glasses and sets them to the side. “Thanks. I don’t need them all the time.”
“Oh, uhm, I can get you coffee!” I go to stand, but she grabs my arm and stares at me, eyes wide with fright. Whatever she saw in the nightmare refuses to let go of her, so neither am I. I’ll show her and her demons that I’ll fight for her. “Or I can stay right here, whatever you need.”
“I’m sorry,” she winces, wiping the sleep from her eyes. “Fuck. This has been the weirdest day for you, I’m sure—pie, my mom, me crying, nightmares. I told you I was a mess. Ugh.”
I brush her wild hair out of her face and smile, able to make out the eyeliner smudged around her eyes even in the dark. Her lips are pouty and begging for me to kiss them, and it’s taking everything in me to hold back. I forget whatever I’m about to say when she reaches up and touches my face. I doubt I could get a solid caveman grunt going at the moment. I’m far too enamored with her fingers softly brushing against my scruffy beard.
“You…stayed?”
I nod, “Yeah. I hope that’s okay.”
“Why?”
“I…uhm…You were asleep…and I didn’t want to wake you.”
“I don’t get it.”
“I thought you could use the sleep after the shit your mom did.” She’s moving closer to me, and I realize I’ve started blinking faster.“You, uhm, you looked so peaceful, and I,” I stutter and trip over every word I’m trying to say. “…I wanted to make sure you didn’t have more company. I can leave if you?—”
“James?” Her voice is raspy, and fuck, it’s sexy. My mind is on the fritz as her hand slips down my chest. The air in the room is gone and my skin feels hotter than a desert. “Is yesterday’s offer still on the table?”
“I think so,” my voice breaks like a fucking teenager. Shit. “W-which one was that?”
“The one where you and I go out sometime. I think…I think I changed my mind.” She swallows and climbs on top of me. “Although, right now, I might just be dreaming.”
“I know I’m awake, even if you are an Angel.”
