Wings of Redemption Read Online Free PDF Page B

in flight play with her. Flight was the one thing in life he truly enjoyed these days, but that was the first time in a long time he’d experienced giddiness. The way her face had lit up—it had lit him up, too.
    Then he’d teased her after she’d walked into his wings. Still high from their brief flight together, he’d had the bizarre desire to kiss her. Her momentary warmth against his wings had compounded that need. However, he still didn’t know how much he could trust her, and she didn’t entirely trust him, either. He’d teased her to distract himself from what could have been an epic mistake.
    And now this. He wanted to hold her with his wing. He’d just needed an excuse. However, somehow, he had to explain himself.
    “I just turned five hundred last month.”
    She missed a beat. “ Five hundred? ”
    “Yeah.”
    “You don’t look a day older than me. I’m twenty-five.”
    “Five hundred is as old as archangels get, for the most part. After that, we decline. I’m now going to start aging as a human would recognize it. My lifespan from here on out is similar to yours, actually.”
    “What is it like to live for five hundred years?” she whispered.
    He shrugged. “I don’t feel like I’ve lived half that long. The seasons start to blend after a while, then pass by unnoticed altogether.”
    Maybe he’d just stopped caring.
    Lightning lit the windows, followed several seconds later by a sharp percussion. Saffron snuggled closer to him, burying her face in his neck. He draped an arm over her shoulders.
    “The storm is moving away,” he said.
    “Keep talking. Distract me.”
    “I really enjoy holding you.”
    She glanced up from under long eyelashes. “Don’t you have a mate? I thought you said archangels mated for life.”
    “We do. But I personally haven’t been that fortunate. I’ve had lovers, but I’ve never met anyone who inspired me to want that deep a connection.”
    “That makes five hundred years sound very lonely.”
    “I regret not taking a mate, but I’ve never been lonely. I have some incredible friends.” A knot formed in his gut. How long had he been pushing away those friends—particularly Dec—and not acknowledging it? “What about you? Boyfriend?”
    “No.”
    “Then, there are other ways I’d like to distract you.” He shifted her so that her head fell back to the pillows, and he kissed her. Lightly, but without hesitation. He was at the tail end of a long life. Hell of a time to fight impulses. Desires. Even if it involved a human.
    And she kissed him back.
    She leaned away, her lips curving into a sexy grin, but caution filled her eyes. “What is this?”
    “This is me figuring good behavior is for someone much younger.”
    “I’m younger. Four hundred and seventy-five years younger.”
    “Mine is a species used to sprawling age differences. Biologically, we have no age difference, so I don’t mind if you don’t.”
    She bit her lip, still grinning. “I don’t know.”
    “I’m not proposing anything gargantuan. I just want to kiss you.”
    “Why?”
    How to put it? He’d never been skilled in the emotional expression department. “Because when I flew you up here last night, I felt like a twenty-five-year old.” He kissed her again. “I don’t know why you make me feel this way, but I like it.”
    She smiled. “Well, a girl can’t say no to that.”
    “Good.” He gathered her in his arms and kissed her more deeply.
    The storm died down to distant rumbles and the steady staccato of rain on the glass. Though the heavy blankets separated their bodies, he molded himself against her.
    The cell phone interrupted.
    He reluctantly released her and folded his wings. She caught him for one more kiss, then grabbed the phone and answered it. “Hello? Thyme!”
    Kestrel left a crying Saffron to talk to her sister alone. He headed for the bath, and one of the hidden doors to Dec’s home one floor down.
    He dropped into an open area of Dec’s living