To Kill An Angel (26 page)

Bo set me on my feet only to scoop me up and carry me to the bed.  As he moved, a vision of me dying in his arms crept in to mar our sublime moment.  I felt my smile falter for a fraction of a second, but Bo didn’t see it.  When he laid me down and stood at the side of the bed, looking down at me with all the love in the world shining in his eyes, I forced my lips up into my brightest smile.  I’d be the best actress Earth had ever seen if it meant keeping my troubles from Bo.  There were some things he didn’t need to know, some things he didn’t need to be bothered with, and my impending demise was definitely one of them.

For the next few hours, Bo was like a totally different person.  He kissed and stroked nearly every inch of my skin, worshipping my body as if it were made of gold and glass.  He whispered the most wonderful words in my ear, sweet nothings that made my heart swell unbearably in my chest.  He tickled my feet until I couldn’t catch my breath, chasing me all over the bed to continue his torment. 

I couldn’t help notice that his laugh was more carefree than I’d ever heard it, his face was more relaxed than I’d ever seen it and his heart seemed happier than I’d ever known it to be.  For those few hours, the world outside the four walls of that bedroom didn’t exist and neither did a future that held anything but optimistic sunrises and blissful sunsets.

We were laying on the bed, talking about that future, the one I was almost certain that I’d never see, when my phone rang.  I knew before I picked it up who it would be.  It was Savannah and she was ready for me to come get her.

“What did you tell your dad?” I asked.

“I told him that you were out of school for half the day and that we were going shopping and renting some movies for our girl’s weekend.”

“Quick thinking,” I stated appreciatively.  “But half a day?  What do you—”  I stopped myself before I could finish the question, pulling the phone away from my ear to check the little blue numbers at the top of the screen.  Sure enough, it was already almost lunch time. 

“What was that?” Savannah prompted.

“Oh, nothing.  So, he completely trusts you to come over here and spend the weekend in a house without adult supervision?”

“Ridley, I’m a blind girl.  How much trouble can I really get into?”

I snickered.

“He obviously has no idea.”

She chuckled, too.  “Obviously!  I’ll see you in a few minutes then?”

“I’m on my way.”

We hung up and I looked over at Bo.  He was on his side, lounging casually on the velvet duvet, watching me with eyes that turned my guts inside out.  I was very sad to see our playful, enchanting morning come to an end.  I had no doubts, though, that I would treasure the memory of it for as long as I lived, however many days, years or decades that might end up being.

Bo watched me dress.  It made me feel warm and sexy and shy all at the same time, a very heady combination.  When I was straightening my shirt, he slid off the bed and walked to me.

Tenderly, he pushed my hair over my shoulder and bent his head to kiss my throat.  Chills spread over my chest.  When he straightened, he looked down into my face and smiled.

“I love you,” he said.

“I love you, too.”

He took my hand.

“Now, let’s go get Savannah.”

“Wait,” I said, putting a hand to his chest.  “You can’t go.  What if someone sees you?”

“Oh,” he said, “I didn’t think of that.”

“I don’t blame you,” I said, planting a quick kiss on his chin.  “You’ve been distracted.”

With a growl, Bo pulled me in close and whispered to me just before his lips covered mine.  “Tease.”

After what had to be a full minute of steamy kissing, Bo leaned back and looked at me questioningly.

“How do you feel, thirst-wise?”

I paused, giving careful consideration to the sensation in my chest and throat and then thought of Savannah.  I paid particular attention to how envisioning her and the smell of her blood affected me.

“I think I’m okay,” I answered.  “But Devon will be with us regardless, so…”

Bo nodded and we finally made our way from the bedroom down the hall toward the front door.  As we passed the living room, I saw the Cade and Annika were sitting in the floor around the large, rectangular coffee table with a board game spread out between them.  The fireplace behind them was ablaze and both seemed utterly engrossed in what they were doing. 

I paused in the doorway to look at the letters on the board.  I had to smile when I saw that the game they were playing was
Chutes and Ladders
.

“What?” Bo asked when he saw my grin.

“I guess the only games they could find here were some of Lilly’s.”

Bo walked me to my car and I drove to Savannah’s house.  When I pulled up to the curb, I sat in the car for a few extra seconds, reassuring myself that my thirst was very much under control and that I would never hurt my friend. 

In my head, I was formulating a plan that would best ensure Savannah’s safety when I heard the front door creak open.  I looked up and saw Savannah making her way carefully down the sidewalk using a walking stick like I’d seen other blind people use.  I’d never seen Savannah use something like that and it made my heart wrench in sympathy for my friend. 

Savannah had an overnight bag slung over her shoulder and she was shuffling her feet uncertainly.  I hurried out of the car to go and help her.  It wasn’t until I got closer to her that I realized why she was shuffling.  I hadn’t been looking around her or I would’ve noticed Devon’s wavy shimmer glinting in the partially sunny afternoon light.  He was hovering at her back, helping her as she made her way to the car.

“Sorry, Devon,” I said quietly.  “I didn’t see you.”

“See,” he whispered to Savannah.  “I told you.”

“Shh,” she hissed, shushing him.  “Wait until we get in the car.”

I took Savannah’s bag and let her use my arm rather than the long stick to help guide her to the car.  She walked much faster that way.  Once she was safely in the car, I opened the back door wide, ostensibly to throw her bag into the floorboard.

“Hurry,” I said softly, trying not to move my lips.

I saw Devon’s shimmer disappear into the back seat just before I threw Savannah’s bag in behind him and slammed the door shut.

When I slid behind the driver’s seat, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“That was crazy,” I exclaimed to Savannah as I started the engine.

“He was afraid for you to come in the house, but he didn’t want me to fall going down the sidewalk either,” she griped.  “I just knew someone would see him.”

“I told you no one would pay any attention as long as I stayed close to you.  The sun’s not that bright today and I’m harder to see,” he explained sensibly.

I listened quietly to their exchange, trying my best to hold back the smile that threatened. 

“What?” Devon said.

I said nothing.  I didn’t know who he was talking to until Savannah clarified.

“He’s talking to you, Ridley.”

“Oh,” I said grinning sheepishly.  “Sorry.  I can’t see you, remember?”

“Now you know how I feel,” Savannah mumbled.

“What were you trying not to laugh at?” Devon specified.

“Oh nothing,” I said as I pulled away from the curb.

“What, Ridley?” Devon snapped.

“You two.  You’re like an old married couple, the way you argue.  I just think it’s funny, that’s all.”

Savannah turned in her seat to face Devon, throwing her most winsome smile in his direction. 

“Do you feel like an old married couple?  Because, if that’s the case, I think we’ve missed out on a couple of the finer points of being married,” she teased.

I could almost hear Devon smile at her innuendo.

“Maybe we are like an old married couple,” he returned, referring to their apparent lack of physical intimacy.

“Oh,” Savannah said, laughing good-naturedly.  “That’s just wrong!  Not all wives are frigid like that.”

“I know,” he conceded.  “And I doubt you’d be that way anyhow.  There’s nothing wrong with your, ahem, urges.”

I had to glance at Savannah to see if her cheeks would flood with color.  And they did.  She still laughed, though, slapping Devon on the knee.  It made a smacking sound so I knew her aim was spot-on.  It was still so strange to me that she could see him perfectly.

“You’re so bad,” she added coyly, beaming at him.

“Geez, get a room,” I suggested.

They both laughed and it seemed that their spat was over.

We chatted about inconsequential things on the short drive to Sebastian’s.  It wasn’t until I’d parked in front of the garage that I realized I’d made it the whole drive without thinking of ripping Savannah’s throat open one time.  I was inordinately pleased with my progress.

Devon helped Savannah out of the car and I reached for her bag.

“Devon, did you tell her about Annika and Cade?”

“Yep.”

“Alright then, let’s go.”

We walked in and, after dropping her bag at the door, I led Savannah and Devon to the living room where Annika and Cade had been before I’d left.  They were still there, still deeply engrossed in
Chutes and Ladders.

“Annika, Cade, I’d like you to meet my friend Savannah.”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Savannah,” Annika said brightly, getting up and coming to shake her hand.  I was a bit puzzled by her warmth.  She’d never shown that much affection for me.  Of course, she probably wanted to throw me off a bridge so she could have Bo all to herself, so…

Cade got up and slowly approached Savannah, but his eyes kept straying to me.

“Savannah,” he said in his deep rumbly drawl.

“Cade, I don’t suppose you’ve met Devon yet.  He’s Savannah’s boyfriend.”

I heard the clap of Devon’s hand on Cade’s shoulder, drawing Cade’s eye to the now completely invisible space that Devon occupied.

“Nice to meet you, man,” Devon said, pumping Cade’s hand. 

It was comical to watch.  It looked as if Cade was just shaking his hand up and down in midair.

“You guys can pick whatever room you want except—”

“Who’s that?” Savannah asked in a hushed voice.

“Who’s who?” I asked.

Savannah pointed down the hall and all eyes turned toward Bo as he made his way toward us.

“Who, Bo?”

“That’s Bo?” Savannah asked.

“Yes, but how can you see him?”

I was confused.  I could see Bo clearly, as could everyone else.  But so could Savannah and she was only supposed to be able to see vampires when they were invisible.  She’d never been able to see Bo before…

“I can’t really see him.  I can only see a blurry white silhouette.  It’s kind of like that dark shape I saw grab Devon, only white.”

No one said a word.  Bo had stopped dead in his tracks and was staring at Savannah, open-mouthed.

Slowly, carefully, cautiously, Savannah made her way to Bo.  As she walked, she held one hand out in front of her as if to ensure she didn’t run into anything.  When she was directly in front of him, she stopped.