The Year of Redemption

Chapter 57: If Ever I Could Love

Like clockwork, Cas was there exactly 12 hours later – standing smugly in the living room like he hadn't even left at all. "Dean," he sighed, his gaze alighting upon the hunter, a flame instantly igniting in his chest, making his skin hot and his eyes water.

"Hey, baby," the hunter responded, rushing forwards and wrapping his arms around Castiel.

"I love it when you call me that," the angel whispered, hugging him back.

Dean found Cas's lips and grabbed the top one, letting Castiel return the kiss and mold their mouths the rest of the way together. Cas tasted sweet and strong, a mix of syrup and ginger, dropping like liquid bliss onto the hunter's lips. He felt perfect against Dean, like he belonged there and nowhere else.

Dean was captivated by the angel, completely in rapture, completely overpowered by Cas's simple strength. He stared at Castiel, a somewhat childish thought playing at the back of his mind.

"Could you materialize... on my lips?" Dean asked skeptically.

Castiel grinned deviously, then vanished, a slight breeze leaving Dean's empty lips suddenly cold, his world suddenly missing a huge part of it.

Then, the very next second, the hunter felt something warm and wet, fitting perfectly against his mouth, as if that's exactly where it was meant to be. There were fireworks exploding, tearing up his raw chest and sending sparks through his entire body, tingling against the surface of his skin.

Dean wrapped his arms around Castiel's waist and held him there. His world was whole again, the missing piece replaced in an instant, snapping back together with Dean like a rubber band.

Castiel inched his head backwards, but Dean followed his lips, refusing to release the angel from their embrace. Finally, Dean let go and leaned the side of his head against Castiel's chest. "That was fun," Cas commented, staring down at his breathless hunter.

"That was awesome," Dean remarked between breaths, obviously impressed. "Infinitely better than any beaming Scotty ever did."

Castiel chuckled slightly, even though he didn't understand the reference at all. "It's a good thing I calculated it correctly," he mentioned offhandedly.

Dean pulled his head away so he could see Cas's face. "And what would have happened if you hadn't?" he asked, narrowing his eyes, his voice slightly threatening.

"I might have materialized in the same spatial dimension as you and caused your body to explode from the inside out," Cas replied matter-of-factly.

Dean dropped his hands from the angel's waist. "Cas!" he scolded reproachfully.

Castiel gave him an innocent grin. "You know I would never let that happen," he said, taking Dean's hand.

Dean stared at him hard. "You better be glad I believe you, angel." He replaced his hands around Castiel's waist and rested his head against the angel again.

Cas kissed the top of Dean's head. "10 to 1 against at least," he added. "That easterly wind was also convenient.

Dean pulled his head back to glare at Cas and removed one of his arms to punch the angel in the shoulder. "Why do I even put up with you?"

Castiel just shrugged. Dean didn't know how a simple shrug could be such a turn-on, but Cas continuously amazed him like that. Dean grabbed the edges of his trench coat and leaned forwards to give him a quick kiss on the lips. "I need to eat," he said, still looking at Cas. He leaned in for another kiss, then took off out of the living room to the kitchen to heat up dinner.

After eating, Dean and Cas hauled in a couple piles of wood from the shed beside the house. Dean gathered up some old newspapers and started a fire in the hearth. They moved the couch so it was directly in front of the fireplace and sat down to watch the flames leaping into the air, creeping up the pieces of wood, slowly devouring them.