For The Love Of An Angel

ANGEL

Running a hand through my hair, I stared out of the kitchen window, listening to the coffee machine work its magic on the counter behind me.

I needed something to help get me through today.

The wind blew the bare branches of the small trees on the other side of the window, while grey clouds hung over the sky, threatening to dump rain down on the back garden. The dark sky matched my mood as I sighed once more, then folded my arms across my chest.

Why had I agreed to stay last night? While I was expecting Sarah to talk me into staying another night, I hadn’t been expecting Damian to demand that I stay. To offer me a job. To make it sound as though I was doing him some sort of disservice by wanting to leave, wanting to get out here. And Christian … a knot weighed heavy in my stomach as I thought about the dark haired beauty that had laid claim to Damian last night.

And later, after they’d gone to bed, I’d heard them once again … moans, soft chatters, the creak of a bed … I’d shoved my head under the pillow of my bed and had tried to block out the noises floating from Damian’s room.

But the moment sleep tried to pull me under, the second my eyes had fluttered closed … the monsters had been there, waiting to finish what they’d started earlier in my dreams.

A shiver ran along my spine as I heard the coffee machine churn, pumping coffee into the pot.

Of course Damian was seeing someone as gorgeous as Christian. The guy looked like he’d walked straight off the catwalk, with his flawless face, glossy hair and incredible body. They complimented each other, looked good together. No matter where they went, I was sure they would draw stares of longing and jealousy.

The knot tightened, causing my stomach to clench.

Today.

Today should be the day I stood up for myself. Made it clear I was leaving. And that was it. No arguments. But a part of me, deep down, nibbled away at that thought, almost as if it was laughing at me for even thinking it.

Sighing, I ran a hand down my face. Apparently, I couldn’t even be serious with myself.

“Good morning, Angel.” Sarah came bustling into the kitchen, a bright smile on her face. “You’re up bright and early. Did you sleep okay?” She dumped her handbag on one of the stools at the kitchen island, unravelled the scarf from around her neck and started on the buttons of her coat.

Grabbing another mug from the cupboard that Sarah showed me yesterday, I walked over to the coffee machine.

“Yeah, I slept okay.” It was better than what I’d had to deal with on the streets. Even though I’d had to listen to Damian and Christian having sex, it was still a damn sight better than what I’d had to put up with in the past.

“You did sleep in the bed this time, right?” Sarah gave me a pointed look, cocking one eyebrow.

Grinning, I nodded, then poured coffee into the two mugs.

“Have you seen Damian this morning?”

My hand shook a little at the simple mention of Damian’s name, and I swallowed, shaking my head.

“He isn’t awake yet?”

I wasn’t sure. After lying in bed, listening to Damian and Christian together and knowing that the monsters would be waiting for me the second I’d closed my eyes, I’d decided to avoid sleep altogether. The action in the room next door had eventually stopped, but that didn’t mean that Damian and Christian had fallen asleep. I’d made the mistake of thinking that earlier last night, and had ended up being bullied into staying.