Page 16

Azrael

Three Months Later

Kisses dot along my spine as I shiver, forcing me to seek refuge under the covers as I yank them over my head. “Why are you awake so early?” I grumble, but Beau only laughs, ripping away the blankets and exposing me to the sunlight.

“First day of school, remember?”

“And we slept in the Cherub realm… why?”

Another deep rumble of a chuckle leaves his throat, the bed shifting under his weight as he sits on the edge. “Because you wanted to make use of that enormous hot tub last night.”

I grin into my pillow, remembering the slosh of the water as I rode his cock. Puddles splashed onto the stone floors as I gripped the edges of the tub, falling apart with my head thrown back before he bent me over the side and ate his release from my still-pulsing hole. “Worth it,” I mutter.

Most nights, we stay at Beau’s house, since it’s easier for me to transport myself. I have no fixed schedule to adhere to, and travel so often it doesn’t matter where my home base is. Micah still has a hard time releasing the reins, and requires weekly meetings to go over my numbers, but honestly? I like seeing the results, and the Archangel is slowly warming up to me.

I wouldn’t call it trust, not yet, but we’re making headway.

Occasionally, Beau tags along, and I’ve determined the only reason he comes is so the two of them can butt heads. They sling insults and ruffle each other’s feathers, but it has turned into a game in their unacknowledged bromance as they try to best each other.

Sure, on the surface, they still love to bicker, but after Micah asked him to teach a few classes, everything changed. Once a week, Beau teaches a course on humanity, so we aren’t stuck learning from outdated books or one-off experiences.

The classes started being offered to the younger Cherubs, but word spread quickly, and they soon turned into a realm-wide hit. Now he has a steady rotation of students coming through, from the young ones to the archangels.

Even Micah sat through a few. ‘Just so you’re aware of the many improvements you need to make ,’ he claimed, but we all see right through it.

Bromance, I’m telling you.

Unsurprisingly, every student has questions about the diaper-baby depiction of Cupid.

Everyone loves Beau. In the months he’s spent in my realm, I swear he has made more friends than me in my thirty-two years of living here. His relaxed demeanor makes him easy to talk to, even for people like me who are usually closed off. Walking down the street with him is like being in town with a celebrity—everyone wants to come over and say hi.

Preparations for the soul joining ceremony are complete, but Beau has been procrastinating. Every time I ask him if he’s ready, he comes up with one excuse after another, and there’s a microscopic, insecure part of me that worries he might have changed his mind.

That forever might be too great a demand from someone who has so much to offer.

Movement beside the bed makes me crack an eye open to find Beau kneeling in front of me, that soft smile on his face. “You gotta get up, sweetheart, because I can’t make it to work without you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumble, sitting up and arching my spine in a stretch. He dots kisses on my forehead and cheeks until I can’t help my smile, then pulls me to my feet and ushers me into the bathroom with a swat on the ass.

I glare. He grins.

It’s all very romantic.

After a few minutes, I’m dressed and presentable, while he bounces on his toes with an energetic restlessness.

“Nervous about your first day?”

“Oh, uh, yeah. New students and all that.”

When I check the time, I’m hit with a fervent desire to crawl back into bed. Hell, the sheets are probably still warm. “We could’ve slept for another hour and made it with thirty minutes to spare.”

“Yeah, well, you know me. Always prepared.”

“Even when it pulls me from my beauty sleep.” His infectious grin spreads as he pecks my lips, and I take a deep breath, the woodsy scent of his soap filling me with a familiar sense of comfort.

He’s my person.

My love.

The single being on this planet that understands me down to a soul-deep level.

“Ready?” he murmurs, pulling me into a hug, and I nod as we teleport into his living room. His head swivels around as if searching for something, then takes a step back and gives me a jack-o-lantern's grin.

It's all terribly suspicious.

“Can you do me a favor?”

“Uh, sure,” I say, confused, but with Beau, I’ve learned to just roll with it.

“Do you mind checking on the animals? I’ve already got my good shoes on, and I don’t want to get them muddy.”

“Of course!” Excited to see my goat friends, I head towards the back door, only to come to an abrupt halt as I step into the grass.

The goats in the field each wear a sign around their necks, displaying a single letter on the paper. “Ram remy?” Confused, I turn to find a very flustered Beau behind me.

On one knee.

With a ring pinched in his fingers.

“They moved,” he groans, and I burst out in a high-pitched, hysterical laugh. “Kind of ruined it, didn’t I?”

I drop to my knees in front of him, shaky hands cupping his cheeks. “You just made it even better. Who helped you with this?”

He grins again, a shaky thing that’s dripping in mischief. “Micah.”

“No,” I whisper, eyes wide. “How did you—”

“Later,” he whispers, kissing me to shut me up. “I have something important to ask.”

“Yeah, right, of course. Shit, where’s my inhaler? Sorry, sorry, I’ll…” I trail off, awkwardly gesturing for him to continue, and he laughs again. Pure, unguarded love shines in his eyes as he takes a moment to soak in the moment.

“Azrael, ever since the moment I laid eyes on you, I knew you were mine. You looked at me, and I cracked into pieces. I shattered, right there, but you filled those cracks until I wasn’t damaged anymore. Filled every empty corner of my soul with your light and made me whole. You say I’m the strong one, but darlin’, you’re the one that makes me that way. You’re the one that gives me a reason to be strong.” Tears shimmer in his eyes as he takes a wobbly breath.

“Eternity isn’t long enough to be by your side, but it’ll have to do. Every second we have, every fucking one, will be cherished. I know marriage is a human concept, and not a Cherub one, but I want you any way I can have you. With our souls tied together, as my husband… Az, I just want you. All of you. I always will.”

“Beau,” I whisper, tears flooding my eyes as I try to blink them away, wanting to memorize every second of this. The sincerity in his eyes, the tender smile on his lips, and the beautiful, bright soul that shines with pure joy from deep inside him.

“Will you marry me?”

“Today… tomorrow… forever. Beau, I’m yours. I’ve always been yours. I just didn’t realize it until I found you.” A warm breeze blows around us, the goats bleating their happiness behind us, and as he slides that ring onto my finger, everything clicks into place.

Our love was—and always will be—the best match ever made.

The story of Cupid and his Beau.