I hesitated, contemplating the consequences. What's one more night? I nodded and the smile he sent me made my heart ache. He brushed his lips against my cheek and I turned my face away to hide my brimming eyes.
"Can I finish my breakfast now?"
He laughed gently and freed my hand.
"As long as you don't carve my eyes out with the spoon."
I tapped it against his temple, humming slightly.
"Don't tempt me, darlin'."
We laughed and I returned to my now soggy cereal. I took a few more bites and set it on the kitchen counter, too worried to eat any more.
"So, where are the other boys?"
He shrugged.
"Dane and Liam went to meet with Lucifer and Isaac is meeting with God."
"Oh. How long will they be gone?"
"Just a couple days, tops. Usually I go but I have no desire to see my father."
"Mmm. I see."
We sat in silence for a minute or two before he spoke.
"Kira, what's going on? You haven't been acting like yourself."
"I-I heard you last night. When you were on my balcony? That added to what I was feeling before. You were my first kiss. You were the only one to ever show interest in little old me. I...I feel as if I opened a little part of myself for you. I let part of the wall I built, crumble to let you in. Then the next morning, the way you left, it hurt me. I decided to try to stop anything between us before I fell for you or you leave and I never see you again. I don't want to be left broken," I finished in a whisper. Minutes passed before he lifted my face to look at him. Agony swam in his eyes.
"Everything I'm doing, I'm doing for you. All I want is to keep you safe and by my side. But I know, to keep you safe, I can't have what I want. God, Kira. Before I met you, no one
made me feel the way you do. It terrifies me." He brushed hair out of my face and caressed my cheek. "I'm terrified I'm going to lose you in one of the worst ways. I can't let that happen." He put his forehead against mine. "There are many things about us that you don't know. Things that make everything so much more difficult from my point of view." His breath on my lips was so tantalizing and his words broke every willpower I had and we were kissing. These kisses were passionate and gentle. They spoke of dreams of tomorrow, though neither of us really believed them. His light hold of my face never grew rough or demanding. When we pulled away, we both smiled sadly. He gently cradled me against his chest as he stroked my hair.
"We are made for each other."
Deep in my heart, I knew he was right.
