You are My Doom

Chapter 11: Eden

Chapter 11: Eden

He turns in a slow circle, allowing the light streaming in from the windows to reflect off of his ebony feathers. I really should be freaking the fuck out right now, but I'm oddly calm. Yup, the man who has been stalking me for weeks broke into my apartment, told me the dog I've living with is some kind of hellish monster and that he is an evil angel and my heart isn't even racing. Nope, I'm sitting here getting turned on by the sight of my shirtless stalker. He looks seriously hot though.

"Eden if you don't stop looking at me like, I won't be held responsible for my actions." His words come out on a growl, but I'm too busy taking in his muscled perfection to give them much credence.

"If you wanted to hurt me, you would have already." I try not to contemplate why I am so confident in this, but I really am. He's had a thousand and one opportunities to do something since we met, especially if he's really been following me.

"Cherub, you have no idea what I'm capable of."

I rise from my seated position on the couch and approach him like I would an abused animal. I can see in the depts of his black irises, this man has been hurt. He needs someone to show him the love and kindness he has been denied. I raise my hands up, showing him my palms. I slowly place them on his chest. When I feel him exhale, I guide my hand up his smooth physique until my right palm is cupping his chiseled jaw. We lock eyes for a beat, then he leans into my touch. When his eyes close, I know I have his trust.

Without removing my hands from his body, I slide around his back until I am face to face with the feature that marks him as other than human. My left hand remains on his narrow waist while my right hand runs over the silky plumage. When I caress the area where his wings meet with his tanned skin, he visibly shutters.

I'm in awe of this man. He is by far the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. He's nearly a foot taller than me, so when he turns, I am eye level with his collar bone. He places his hands on my upper arms. My face tilts up to meet his intense gaze.

"If you don't leave now, you're never making it to the clinic tonight." I hear the unspoken promise behind his words. I briefly consider skipping out of my unofficial shift, but I know Dr. Romero counts on me to come in every night. I'm needed there, even if all I really want to do is stay here. Then, a thought strikes me.

"I don't even know your name." The statement comes out on a laugh.

"TDH isn't good enough for you anymore?" I see a smile grace his lips.

"It doesn't seem fair that you seem to know everything about me, while I don't even know you're first name."

After a quite moment, he concedes. "Doom. My name is Doom. I don't know everything about you Eden Maxwell, but I intend to."

Chapter 12: Eden

I work through my to do list at the clinic in a daze. It takes me until half way through my shift for me to realize I didn't ask what "abilities" Ceribe apparently gives me as her handler. Actually, I didn't even ask what it means to be her handler. Damn, I wish I hadn't had been so distracted by Doom in all his shirtless glory to ask the important question. What kind of name is Doom anyways? While my head is still relatively clear, I decide to make a list of everything I need to ask.

When I finally get back home, I am surprised when Ceribe darts off in the direction of my couch. Doom's nearly 7 foot long frame is stretched well over the sides of the three seater. The back of his knees connects with the far arm of the sofa. His right arm is thrown casually over his face.

Doom doesn't even flinch when Ceribe begins to playfully nip and bark at him. He only moves when she nuzzles her nose underneath his elbow. When her wet nose connects with cheek, a ghost of a smile breaks his stoic mask.