It was a strange thing when my guilt hit me later that night. I hadn't expected to feel anything, at least, I had hoped I wouldn't feel anything. Unfortunately, the high I'd gotten from drinking Art's blood was leaving me and I was crashing hard.
I stared at Isaac, asleep with his body tangled in my semen and blood covered sheets. I cautiously pressed my fingers against my shoulder where Isaac had bit me and found that it had healed already. That was one of the things that I had missed dearly after I had began to weaken from my hunger; fast recovery from any wound.
I disentangled myself from the covers and went to check my reflection. My inner thighs were smeared with the evidence of my time with Isaac and I even noticed some streaks of red.
My shoulder was an ugly abstract of blues and purples with Isaac's teeth marks a shock of red against the darkened flesh. I looked like a natural disaster.
I sighed, absently running my fingers back through my curls and winced feeling my fingers snag in a tangle. I had done so well at controlling myself for so many years and not acting impulsively. I felt my anger and resentment towards Michael grow a little more by the day for ruining that.
Worse was that I had mentioned Andy to a complete stranger when I swore to myself that I would never speak of that time in my life to anyone. It was such an intimate and painful memory yet I'd blurted it all out so easily to the shape-shifter.
An insane thought chilled me. What if Isaac were actually some kind of spy for Solomon who had the ability to coerce information out of people by some form of hypnotism?
No, that was crazy.
And yet..
I'd gone to bed with him without really thinking about what I was doing. I wasn't the most innocent demon, sure, but I hadn't been with a man since Andy's passing. The first stirrings of arousal I'd felt towards the opposite sex since that time had been when I'd met Michael. Could I really go on blaming everything I was doing on the Archangel?
"Riel?"
I gave a start, hearing Isaac's voice.
"I'm in here," I managed. "Just going to wash up real quick."
"Do you have to? I think I like this look on you."
I turned about to retort but words failed me seeing him standing there, his large frame filling up the doorway. The heated look in his eyes made my already sore body tense up eagerly. He sauntered forward moving unnecessarily slowly getting a washcloth from the cabinet behind me, pinning me against the sink with his body. I felt something disturbingly akin to what I felt for Michael, that strange energy that flowed between us whenever we were near each other and I stiffened.
Isaac then moved to the shower and tuned it on testing the temperature with his hand. When he was satisfied he grabbed my arm and started to guide us both inside. "Hold on-" I protested.
"Riel, please," he coaxed me. "I know you're still hurting. Let me help." I sighed not trusting him or myself to keep our shower just a shower. A soft trio of beeps from the other room caught my attention and I took my opportunity to escape.
"I got a text. Could be important," I mumbled.
My phone was still in the pocket of the pants I'd worn the day before and when I bent to get it, Isaac casually snaked his hands around my hips. "Shit," I grunted.
"What is it?"
It was a text from Sara. I realized with a rush of guilt that I'd completely forgotten about her.
"How r u? I have to stay the night for observation but getting out tomorrow. Come c me? :)"
I quickly tapped out a response.
"I'm doing ok. Will b there in about 30 min."
I hit send.
"Only thirty minutes? Tch."
I swatted his hands away, quickly grabbing up an armful of clothes off the floor and heading back to the bathroom. "Out," I said sharply when he started to follow. He smirked holding up his hands in a supplicating gesture.
Once the hot spray was hammering against my fatigued muscles I groaned audibly in appreciation, unable to rush this part of my morning ritual. What I didn't appreciate was the intrusion of Isaac slipping in behind me.
"Don't turn around," he ordered, even though that had been what I was about to do. I gasped feeling his expert hands kneading my flesh making my bones turn to jelly. It wasn't long into his glorious massage that I felt his "interest" in our wet, naked bodies being pressed so closely to each other against my lower back.
Lifting my hair he pressed a tender kiss against the side of my neck and I sighed helplessly.
"I want to come on your ass," he growled. My cheeks heated hearing his rich voice say something so unexpectedly crude and words failed me again when I tried to think of snarky response. I could hear the unmistakable slick, wet sound of his hand as he worked it up and down over his shaft.
"Isaac," I whined, feeling both longing and dread.
There was a soft snick: the cap of my body wash being opened. The fruity fragrance of strawberries and cream reached my nose as he lathered the wash cloth and began to wash my back. It felt heavenly and I couldn't help but relax as he paid careful attention to every inch of my body.
Thankfully, he kept our interactions purely focused on getting me clean despite both of us being painfully aware how easy it would be to forget everything for a few more hours of rough sex. I had to suffer a second look of concealed disappointment when I told Isaac I wanted to go alone.
"Are you sure?"
I nodded, "It would be too awkward if you went along and the Angels would see you anyway."
"I wouldn't be too certain," he muttered.
*~*~*
I hated hospitals.
The smell, the sick people, the false politeness, the over-abundance of Angels.
Of course the Angels weren't just there to provide a peaceful enviroment for the dying but to keep demons from making deals with every sorry bastard that was terminally ill. Their auras were practically giving me a sunburn by the time the receptionist called me back.
It was worse in the patients' ward; many of the doctors were Angels as well along with a few nurses and even a janitor. None of them detected me as per usual and all except the janitor, who flashed me an unusually creepy smile, ignored me altogether.
A small part of me longed to be back at home in bed with Isaac but I had to focus on my mission. Just as I reached Sara's room a nurse stepped out stopping me with an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, m'am. You'll have to wait a minute. She's with family and they've asked not to be disturbed."
I nodded and leaned up against the wall while I waited. A soft voice from the room next door caught my attention and I peered inside discreetly as I could manage.
"Yes, I knew you would come."
I nearly jumped out of my skin hearing that creepy baritone and seeing who it belonged to.
A young girl who couldn't have been more than eleven or twelve years old sat smiling from her hospital bed. A bandage covered her eyes so it was impossible that she could have seen me standing there.
A demon, maybe? But here?
"Come in before someone sees you. Close the door."
I obeyed, fighting against my natural survival instincts that had gone on high alert the moment I'd laid eyes on the girl. As I drew nearer she cocked her head to the side as if she were sizing me up and I could practically feel the caress of her unseen eyes moving over my skin.
"Don't appear so frightened, darling. I only wish to speak with you for the moment."
"Who are you?" I asked, amazed that my voice didn't tremble.
"Yes.." she replied her smile seeming to shrink a few centimeters. Almost as if the question confused her.
"Come here."
"Huh?" I blurted.
"I won't force you, my dear. Only.. you can't run away from me forever. Eventually you must accept that which is."
"Which is what? What the fuck are you talking about?"
The girl said nothing. Instead, she stretched out her arms as if she only wanted a hug. The distinctly adult male voice speaking through her painted a different picture.
"Are you afraid?" she teased.
"Yes."
"I've already said that I have no intention of harming you so why do you hesitate?"
A hundred totally logical excuses sprang to mind and I immediately felt regret that Isaac couldn't be there with me. She laughed, throwing her head back and I felt myself begin to shiver.
"So quick to rely on the dog aren't you? How unwise. He's so quick to find a new master when he grows bored with the old one. Best to keep that in mind."
"Are you a mind reader, too? And why should I even listen to anything you have to say when I don't even know who you are."
"Oh, how delightful. Has your new pet been honest with you even once? Yet, you are so quick to take his side."
