Page 11 of Must Love Fallen Angels

Leaving was easy, though.And Venice hadn’t ever really had an easy go of things since he’d fallen.

But the thought of her waking up alone twisted something in his chest.He didn’t want her to think of him as a male who left without a word.No matter that no promises had been exchanged, he was a male who would prove himself worthy of what she’d shared with him.Even if it never happened again, he’d carry the precious sound of her falling apart at his touch with him forever.

So he would stay.

Venice woke when Tessa stirred against him.He hadn’t realized he’d fallen asleep, but at some point after he decided to stay until she woke up, he’d felt at peace enough to rest too.

She sat up and stretched, the blanket pooling around her waist.She smiled at him, not a bit of regret in her eyes.

She reached for her phone on the side table and said, “It’s nearly six.I guess I really needed the rest.”

“Me too,” he said.“I should… probably get going.”

“Oh.Okay,” she said, smiling in encouragement.

He sat up and swung his legs around, and for a moment, he froze as he realized his back and scars were fully visible to her.He could feel her eyes on him, but as he reached for his clothes on the floor, she didn’t ask him about the scars, so he didn’t offer an explanation.It wasn’t that he was avoiding telling her he was a fallen angel, but she wasn’t asking, and that felt more like respect from her than avoidance.He was a little taken aback.

He dressed in his uniform as she put her clothes back on, and then she walked with him out into the front room.

“I’m on shift tomorrow,” he said.

His gaze slipped for a moment to the bedroom, but he purposely turned away so she didn’t think the only thing on his mind was what he could get from her.He reached for the door, his hand closing around the knob.

He should just leave.

Instead, he turned back to her.“Tessa.”

She looked up at him with a curious smile.

“I know things happened fast between us,” he said carefully.“And I don’t want to make any assumptions about anything.But I was wondering?—”

He paused, the words trapped in his throat.

“Yes?”she prompted.

“Would you want to see me again?”

Her lips split wide into a broad smile.

“Oh, yes, of course.”

His shoulders relaxed, the tension he hadn’t realized he’d been holding in his body releasing like a popped balloon.“Okay.”

He took out his phone, and she told him her number.He added her to his contact list and sent her a text so she had his number.They didn’t make plans, and he was okay with that.He had a lot to think about as it was.

“Goodbye, Tessa,” he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

She turned her head at the last moment and kissed his lips.“Bye, Venice.”

He opened the door and left, his mind spinning with everything that had happened since dawn that day.As he got into the truck, waved at her in the doorway, and pulled away, he couldn’t help but marvel at how things had changed in the span of less than a day.

Could a fallen angel…fall again?

And did Tessa even want that?

Did he?

Shaking his head at his jumbled thoughts, he put the windows down and drove toward home, Tessa the only thing on his mind.