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“That, sir, is none of your business,” Bob huffs, sliding off the side of the bed. “I don’t want to know what he said.”
Zaph laughs and rolls over, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me tight against his body. “Do you know how many times I dreamed of waking up next to you like this? Being able to touch you—to pull you close?”
“No,” I admit, snuggling against his rock-hard stomach. “Why now?”
“Why what?”
“If we’ve known each other for eternity, why did you choose now to fall?”
“I was selfish. I put you in danger because of my…my needs.”
I turn to face him. “It’s not a huge deal. We’ll lay low for a while until your brother gets bored.”
“Zephriel will never get bored.”
“Then we’ll just stay one step ahead of him.” I slowly run my hand down his stomach, stopping just below his belly button. “I’m okay, lying low with you for a few decades.”
Zaph kisses my forehead. “We need to leave today.” He slides to the edge of the bed and stands, giving me a full view. Heat rises to all the right places at the sight of him completely naked. “Lucy?” he asks, pulling my attention to his face.
“Sorry, I was distracted,” I smirk.
His smile matches mine as he pulls his jeans over his body. “We have to leave,” he repeats.
“In case you forgot, we have no car.”
“I can get us off the mountain, but we’ll need to find transportation once we’re down.”
“I have one hundred dollars to my name. Our choices are limited.” I move in front of him, not caring that I’m completely naked. “Are you sure we can’t just stay here?” I run my fingers up his chest, hoping to tempt him into staying.
Zaph’s eyes close as he rests his hands on my shoulders. “You don’t know how badly I wish we could.” He kisses my forehead, letting his lips linger longer than usual. “I won’t put you in danger. Zephriel won’t hesitate to,” he pauses, “teach me a lesson.”
“Did you know this would happen when you decided to fall?”
He looks down. “No. But my twin being the one to come after me wasn’t on my radar. He’s always been a little…unstable, but even though he fell years ago, I thought he’d honor our bond. I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry.” I don’t know why I’m apologizing.
“It’s not your fault, Lucy. I’m the one to blame.”
I reach up on my toes, kissing him on the cheek. “For what it’s worth, I don’t care. I can finish my dissertation online, and nothing is holding me here. I have no living family. I probably lost my job yesterday, and I don’t have enough money to pay March’s rent.” Bob bumps into my bare leg. “My dog is all I have, and he loves you.”
I spend the next few hours gathering my belongings. Zaph hasn’t given me a limit on the amount I can bring, but since we’re flying off the mountain, I can’t take much. Along with my laptop and food for Bob, the rest of my backpack is taken by clothes and important papers.
“Are you ready?” Zaph asks, coming into the kitchen.
I turn, wiping a tear. “I think so.” Leaving this cottage that has been my home for the past two years is harder than I expected. Taking one last look around, I’m surprised at the feelings that begin to overtake me.
“Lucy, I’m so sorry,” Zaph apologizes again. “I know how much this place means to you.”
I stand tall, straightening my hoodie. “I’m good. This place was our home, but we’ll find another.” I wrap Bob’s puffy coat around him and cover his bare feet in the boots I bought him for Christmas several years back. He glares at me the entire time.
“Stop looking at me like that. We’re going to be high in the sky, where the air is colder. I promise the boots won’t hurt you.”
“He’s not convinced,” Zaph adds.
Walking through the cottage, I turn all the lights off, make sure the doors are locked, and wrap myself the same way as Bob. “I’m ready.”
I follow Zaph outside. He’s shirtless, wearing the same tight black jeans and boots as the first time I met him. He turns, facing me, and smiles, releasing some of the tension. Dark wings expand by his side and flap in the cold air. “I’ll carry you as far as possible. Once we get closer to civilization, we’ll have to walk.”
