“To be honest…I think that’s why I approached you for our bargain. I made a list of very logical reasons why you were my best choice, but I think they were just excuses.”
She offered a sheepish smile, but he didn’t return it. He just stared at her.
“Can I come sit down?”
He nodded. Luna lifted her head and then laid it back down again, which was as good as a nod from her. Sunshine entered the kennel and sat next to Raum, back against the wall, legs stretched out. Their legs pressed together on one side, and she tipped her foot to bump against his.
Affectionately? Playfully? That feeling sparked in his chest again.
His demonic nature channeled the warmth into something dark and a bit violent. All he could say for certain was that he would enjoy spilling the blood of anyone that touched her.
Sunshine reached over so Luna could sniff her hand. “Hi, sweetheart,” she said, and Luna’s tail wagged. “You’re such a good girl.”
Raum smiled inwardly. Luna wasn’t the only good girl.
* * *
They took Luna for a walk.According to Raum, it was the first time the poor creature had been out of her kennel since she’d arrived. Apparently, she’d been too frightened by the leash and wouldn’t let anyone close enough.
Sunshine walked beside the demon and the little pit bull who was afraid of her own shadow, and she felt a certain lightness in her stomach. Like she was flying, though her wings remained hidden.
She couldn’t stop sneaking glances at Raum. The way he glared at the world as if it personally offended him, while still going out of his way to help a frightened animal…
How could she resist such a man?
Angels were not ignorant of human relationships or romantic entanglements. She recognized the butterflies in her stomach and the warmth in her chest for what they were, though she wasn’t entirely sure what to do about it.
She’d given Raum control of her body and hadn’t suffered a moment’s regret. Rather, she lamented that they had not done more. The images from her erotic dream still haunted her. What would it feel like for him to enter her in his scaled form?
And how wrong was it for her to crave such a thing?
Terribly wrong. Beyond forbidden.
It didn’t stop the desire.
As they headed back toward the shelter, poor Luna began to get nervous. It was obvious she hated the kennel, and it struck Sunshine as terribly sad that there was no better way to help the unwanted animals.
Surely of all the humans with pets, there was someone who would care for these abandoned creatures? Surely someone wanted to love them?
Yet another injustice of the human world, she supposed. It was why most angels preferred to dissociate from Earth and minimize contact. There was always strife. Unwanted pets were nothing compared to war zones and lost children.
Yet after spending the day ensuring one small dog lived a better life than she otherwise would have, Sunshine had to wonder…was turning their backs truly the best way? Yes, humans had free will and angels couldn’t force them to change, but wouldn’t an angel’s life be better spent influencing for good, even in a small way? How was she fulfilling her duty by turning away from suffering just because she couldn’t swoop in like a god and eliminate it?
“You’re thinking so loud I can almost hear it,” Raum muttered, glancing at her sidelong.
She scoffed, but it turned into a smile when their gazes met. She couldn’t stop smiling whenever she looked at him.
“Something on your mind?” he asked as they climbed the accessibility ramp to the front door rather than taking the steps.
She halted with her hand on the door handle. “Can we take Luna with us? She’s so frightened of the kennel. Look at her—she’s trembling already.”
Raum glanced down. Luna’s tail wagged, but her body did indeed shake.
“I have to go visit my brothers,” Raum said. “I think she’d be more afraid there than here.”
“I’ll take her, then.”
His eyes looked sad when their gazes met again. “You have to go back to Heaven, Sunshine. You got your book, remember?”
