Too Good To Be True?

Chapter 18 Ⅰ

"It's just like I remember it," Angel said as she stepped through the door, gazing up the stairs.

My eyes softened as I watched her smile. "You remember?" I asked hopefully, kneeling down to unclip the dogs' leads. We had just gone to pick them up from the kennel they'd been staying at for the two weeks I'd been with her in America and now we were at my house, coming to pack some of my things so I could live with her for the school year. Her parents had been very generous and understanding and while they said I wouldn't have to pay rent, I insisted on it anyway.

She nodded, absentmindedly patting Marley on the head as she wandered from room to room. "Bits and pieces," she murmured, staring at the foot of the stairs for an uncomfortably long time. She had paused at the front door as well, nearly paralysed from shock as it brought up the memory of that horrible day with the cab driver and I knew that's what she was thinking of now.

I walked over to her and took her in my embrace, setting my chin on top of her head. "It's okay, Princess," I whispered. "More will come back to you, I promise."

I felt her nod against my chest and nuzzle into me, listening to my heart pound.

We stood there for a few moments, taking in the mixed atmosphere of the house, this place that had been my prison for the last few months but also held so many wonderful memories.

I felt something scratch my leg and looked down to see Lilly at my feet, whining impatiently. I sighed, breaking our embrace and crouching down to stroke her head. "You gotta go outside, girl?" I asked her, chuckling at her wagging tail which I had dearly missed. I looked up at Angel who was gazing at us fondly and said, "I'm just gonna let them out quick, I'll be right back."

She nodded so I stood back up and placed a peck on her lips before whistling for the dogs to follow me. I watched them prance around in the backyard, glad to be home. I felt terrible for always leaving them with other people without knowing when I would be back, but this time I asked Joe and Beth if they would be willing to keep them while I was away and they happily agreed. I smiled as I thought about what would happen at the party on Saturday, the party everyone was planning for Angel's return. They were so excited to have her back and it warmed my heart to know that she was just as much a part of the family, if not more so.

I finally let the dogs back in and filled their water bowls before sauntering back to the foyer but Angel wasn't there. I peeked into the living room, checked the bathroom, the office. "Angel?" I called, slightly worried now that I'd determined she definitely wasn't on the first floor. There was no response so I hopped up the stairs, glancing at all the doors and seeing the one to my old bedroom cracked open. "Where'd you go, Princess?" I asked, hesitantly making my way to the room and peeking inside. She was standing beside the bed, staring down at it. I frowned, stepping into the room. "Angel, what's wrong?"

"You didn't sleep in here, did you?" she asked, examining the pristine condition of the bed which I'd made months ago and hadn't touched since.

I worried my lip, unsure as to why she was asking. "Um, no, I... I slept in the guest bedroom... I couldn't bear to sleep here without you. Too many memories..."

She nodded quietly, her face just barely visible behind a curtain of hair. She looked so sad, but I couldn't understand why. I set a hand on her shoulder, rubbing my thumb against her skin. She looked so gorgeous, standing there in her black and white dress, the sun coming in through the window and hitting her just right. She had kept a lot of the clothes that Mindy had bought her while she was still afflicted and I'd loved seeing her so confident in herself since I'd been back with her. At least something good had come out of that dark time. But now, seeing her feel so small and unsure... it was heartbreaking.

"Why do you ask?" I murmured, trying not to overstep but wanting to make her feel better.

"It's nothing. It's just..." She sighed, turning her head away shamefully. "It's just a reminder of how much I hurt you..."

My heart twisted in a knot, my gaze blocking out everything that wasn't her. I gently turned her body to face me, her big blue eyes glowing up at me. "You didn't hurt me, Angel," I said. "Sure, hearing those words stung a little, but it wasn't anything I didn't already know. I had always felt bad that I couldn't be there for you..."

"It wasn't just that, though..." she muttered. "I mean I... I kissed someone else..." She shook her head, unable to look at me as she tasted the bitter words.

I looked down at my socks, the sound of her lips meeting Zach's echoing in my ears once again. "I know that wasn't you, Princess. You don't have to feel bad about that." I studied her face once more, seeing the guilty wrinkles between her brows as she stared at the bathroom door. I set a hand on her cheek, guiding her gaze back to mine. "You forgave me when I made that mistake so of course I'm going to do the same for you. You don't have to feel bad that I was sad, I brought that upon myself. I just didn't want to bring all my negative energy into this space that was full of so many happy memories. I wanted to preserve this for the moment when we'd finally be able to come back here, together..."

She studied my eyes, searching for anything I might be trying to cover up but I meant every word. She was my other half, she could never hurt me.

A smile slowly graced her lips as she let herself accept it, her hands settling on my chest as I wrapped my arms loosely around her form, trapped in her gaze.

"I love you so much..." I murmured, finally allowing myself to wear my heart on my sleeve again. I'd been so afraid to let my full emotions show since we'd been back together, but now I let my heart open, feeling all of my energy pour out of me and into her fingertips.

She smirked mischievously, taking my shirt in her grasp and pulling me back until her legs hit the bed. My heart started pounding as she brought her lips to my ear, her words warm on her breath. "I love you, too..." she whispered, flipping the final switch to send me into overdrive.

I started kissing her neck, gently at first but quickly hungering for more as her hands slid up and down my back. Her giggles made my hair stand on end and I grabbed the back of her thighs, lifting her onto the bed and crawling in next to her, nearly sobbing from how much I'd missed this sensation. Our tongues danced with each other as she pulled on my hair, my hands tracing her silhouette, appreciating every dip and curve. I listened to the change of her breath when I touched a sensitive spot, felt my heartbeat sync with hers, lust attempting to drown me.

I rolled her onto her back and hovered over her, tasting the sweetness of her smile before looking down her body and murmuring, "You're so goddamn gorgeous..."

My lips met her skin once more and I traced the top of her dress with my kisses, my fingertips gliding along her curves. She whimpered, slipping her hands under my shirt, exploring my back and leaving trails of fire wherever they went. I was itching to rip the dress off of her and show her just how much I loved her, but her body language was suggesting that she was perfectly content with this level of intimacy. I could tell she had no desire to go any further so while it was incredibly difficult, I managed to restrain myself and show my appreciation in small ways, perhaps getting a little handsy at times...

I kissed her and kissed her, trying to make up for all the lost time, but she eventually pushed my lips away, looking in my eyes with a giddy smile on her lips. "Thank you, Charming..." she whispered, kissing the tip of my nose.

I smiled back at her, lying on my side and stroking her hair. "Anytime, Princess."

She snuggled into me and sighed with content, the warmth of her love nearly boiling me in this summer heat, but I was beyond grateful for it. As I reveled in the joy of finally being back in our space, I started to hum, and it only took a moment for me to realize that it was our song that was playing in my head.