He tucked in his chin. “I want to be honest with you, Fee. I feel more for you than I should, which is probably evident now, but I need you to hear me say it.”
The bus rumbled, and I was glad that there weren’t any passengers sitting close by so he could speak freely.
“If you want more,” he continued, “then I’m happy to give it, but if you don’t, then I’ll step back, and I’ll be a friend and nothing more.”
“You could do that? Shut off your feelings like that?”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “We’re created to love humans but never fall in love. Some of us are guardians, others are forbidden to intervene in human affairs, but all of us have a fascination for humanity. You’re not entirely human, and yet I’m drawn to you in a way I’ve never been drawn to another being. I want you in ways I’ve never wanted anyone else. Not just your body but your soul. But I have enough control to lock those feelings away if that’s what you want.”
What I want? I wanted him, and thank God my guys were okay with that. I couldn’t love them more for allowing my heart this freedom.
“I don’t want you to lock your feelings away.”
He turned his head to look at me properly. “You don’t?”
“No.” I slipped my hand onto his thigh. “I want you to feel. Everything.” My voice was an intimate whisper.
His mouth parted on a sigh. “Everything?” His gaze dropped to my mouth.
“Yes, everything.”
We were still a few blocks away from our destination, but Uri rang the bell to be let off anyway.
“What are you doing?”
“Let’s take the scenic route,” he said.
He held out his hand, and I took it, allowing him to tug me out of my seat. The bus came to an abrupt halt, throwing me into him. His arm went around my waist, and he held me to him, solid and immovable for a brief moment before the doors swished open and we could exit.
The world was still white with snow, but it was beginning to melt now, slushy in places. We walked side by side, breath puffing up in the air in front of us.
A man on a bike whizzed past, and Uri grabbed my hand to pull me out of the way. He didn’t let go. Shit, we were walking down the street holding hands, and my face was on fire like a fucking teenager.
I wanted him to keep holding my hand. I slid a glance his way, and he looked down at me.
“I wanted to do this the last time we went for a walk,” he said.
I recalled how the back of his hand had brushed against mine several times.
“I didn’t want to cross a line,” he continued. “Celestials aren’t permitted to have relationships. But now…Now I’m free to do as I wish.”
“Will you stay with me, Uri?”
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “There’s no place I’d rather be.”
Eldrick welcomed us into the penthouse suite. If he was surprised at seeing Uri with me, he covered it well, and when he discovered what Uriel was, he was all questions.
Lunch was a surprisingly cheerful affair, and it was only when we were taking coffee in the lounge that I noticed the worry lines and dark shadows under Eldrick’s eyes.
“Is everything all right?”
Uri took his coffee cup and wandered over to the windows, looking out at the city, discreetly giving us room to chat.
“Just pack business.” Eldrick’s smile was tight.
“The traitor hunt?”
He nodded slowly. “It’s not going well. I hate to say it, but if Hunter were here, this would go much faster. The more I dig, the more corruption I find. Honestly, I’m not sure who I can trust any longer.”
“I’m going to get Hunter back for you. We have a lead.”
He sat up straighter. “You do?”
“Grayson is on the case. We will get him back. Soon.”
I wanted to tell him about the sleepwalking, about the voice in my head, but he already had so much on his plate. I didn’t want to burden him with it all.
“Grayson wanted to know about the safe house you said you’d organize for the vamps?” I winced. “I’m sorry. I know it’s probably the last thing you’ve been worried about.”
“Ulrich is dealing with it. I’m seeing him later today. I’ll call you after.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s a ball in a few weeks,” Eldrick said. “I usually decline, but this year I wondered