Chapter 3

I'm definitely feeling like Alice in Wonderland but instead of rabbits and talking cards, there are vampires and fairies—oops—fae, and angels and shifters. It's like all of the paranormal beings from fiction suddenly sprang to life and they're in this house. Make that this mansion. Dear god, I've never seen such a huge place.

I really like Layla and feel like I've already made a friend. She's so… normal. And her husband, the Prince of Vampires, Augustus. O.M.G. I can see why she fell for him. He's oh-so-fine.

But a bit dark and brooding for my taste. Not that he's dour, but he'd not Gabriel. But then no one is like Gabriel. He's…perfection. Seriously, his appearance, his voice, his personality—it's the complete package.

I nearly wet my pants this morning. We were sitting on the patio in one of the pergolas, having breakfast. Layla, Augustus, and I. Gabriel joined and he and Augustus started talking about someone named Lucan being peeved about the room he was placed in. Augustus barked at Gabriel that this wasn't a hotel. Layla froze and I felt like running. Augustus' eyes literally flashed.

It didn't affect Gabriel at all. He just reached out, plucked a fresh biscuit from the basket on the table, and responded with, "Keep your fangs in your gums, big guy. I'm not the concierge. Just letting you know his briefs are in a bunch."

Layla burst out laughing and so did I. After a few seconds Augustus started laughing and then Gabriel. There we were, four adults howling like idiots with tears running down our faces. I had to excuse myself to go to the bathroom.

I never expected them to act like normal people, but they kind of are. I mean they get annoyed, tickled, excited, or angry just like we do. Gabriel seems to find humor in just about everything, and delight as well. I wonder if that's because he's an angel?

Which begs a bigger and for me, more important question. Is it a sin to have the hots for an angel?

Nevaeh finished organizing her brushes and supplies on the makeup table. She'd emailed Layla a list of everything she would need and it had been waiting for her when she arrived. Now she had everything ready. There wasn't anything to do but wait.

She'd be doing Layla's make-up for the rehearsal dinner and Augustus, if he would permit. That was taking place at nine in the evening, leaving her virtually the entire day with nothing to do.

A knock at the door had her turning to look. Layla stuck her head in. "Hey. Ellie's brother Eldric and his companion Alex should be here landing around four. Ellie's brother-in-law, Colton and his wife Memory Wells will be arriving with them.

"Memory Wells? Are you serious?"

"You've heard of her?"

"God yes, she's really famous and probably the best photographer ever. They say she has a magic eye."

Layla chuckled. "From what I understand that's true. But yes. So you'll work with her to make sure everything's cool with what she wants to do for the portrait style shots."

"I'll be honored. Nervous but honored. Are they staying here?"

"No, they didn't want to stay here so we rented them a house down the road."

"So you and Augustus are the only ones I do tonight?"

"Actually, I'm think I'll just do it myself and Augustus still hasn't agreed. The press won't be here tonight so I don't have to look perfect."

"Oh, well I don't mind but if you're sure that's fine. I'll see you tomorrow."

"You'll see me tonight, girl. You're coming to the dinner and party afterwards."

"Oh I can't. I only brought one dress and if I wear it tonight—"

"Have you forgotten all those clothes?" Layla pointed in the direction of the door that led to the dressing area.

"I can't just take—"

"Oh hell yes you can. So take your time and pick out something splendid. The rehearsal is over at eight, so meet me on the patio at a quarter past. You can sit with Augustus and me. Gabriel will be sitting with us.

"Are you sure?"

Layla hurried over to her and took her hand. "Nev, I know we just met, but I feel like we're friends already and if you'd gotten a glimpse of who's here, you know friends are in short supply. We're two humans on an estate populated by Preterhumans. I don't know about you, but having another human next to me feels pretty damn good."

"It is a little intimidating. Well, except for Gabriel. And Augustus. He's really nice but Gabriel…"

"Is hot as a fourth of July firecracker. I know. And by the way, just in case you're interested, he said he was going to try and round up people for beach volleyball."

"Really?" Nevaeh had gotten a scholarship to college for volleyball. She hadn't graduated and regretted that more than she'd care to admit. She had to drop out to work and help pay for extra help to care for her father before he had to be institutionalized.

"Yeah. Why don't you grab a suit and head down to the beach?"

"Thanks, Layla. I just might."

Layla gave her a hug and turned away. "I'll see you at eight-fifteen sharp. Have fun!"

Nevaeh wandered into the dressing room and flipped through the rack of swimsuits. A white two-piece caught her eye and on impulse, she pulled it from the rack.

Five minutes later, armed with several bottles of water, a towel, sunglasses, and flip-flops she'd found in the dressing room, she headed out to the beach.

A volleyball net was erected and there were people sitting on beach chairs and on towels spread on the sand watching as two groups of people stood on opposite sides of the net, talking.

It wasn't hard to spot Gabriel although she was shocked that there was no sign of his wings. Even without them he stood out, that tall frame, warm tanned skin, long lean muscles, and blond hair blowing in the wind around his head like a golden halo.

Aside from Gabriel, there were four other people on his side of the net. Yes! She grinned and tossed her things down on the sand.

"Got room for one more?" She walked up behind Gabriel.

He turned with a smile and she felt a shiver dance over her skin despite the heat as his gaze raked over her. "Oh yes we do. Ever played?"

"In college."

"Good enough for me."

The teams set up and got the game underway. Nevaeh was shy in a lot of settings but never on the volleyball court. Aside from her, there was one other female on her team and she was worth more as decoration than athlete.

The other team had two women as well but they were fit and from their level of play, serious about competition. Nevaeh loved it. Her team, aside from the decoration, fell into sync pretty quick, led by Gabriel who had amazing moves.

It was hard not to admire him in action. It made the game more exciting and on an entirely different level.

Nevaeh cheered, bumped fists, and hugged teammates when they scored the winning point. Just as a guy, Mike, released her, Gabriel swept her up in his arms and swung her around.

Nevaeh laughed, looped her legs around his torso, and threw her arms out as he spun her around. When he slowed, her hands moved to the top of his shoulders and her gaze lowered to connect with his.

The smile on his face transformed into a look that had her breath catching in her throat. For a few moments they were frozen, her held aloft in his arms, her body plastered to his from navel to groin and eyes locked.

She felt a new heat that had nothing at all to do with the ambient temperature or the sun beating down on them. A smile rose slowly on his face again, this one as sexy as sin.

Nevaeh unwound her legs from around his body. "Good game. Thanks for letting me play."

"Heaven-spelled-backwards, we haven't even started to play yet."

"No?"

"No."

"Well, let me know when we do."

"Oh you'll know. No doubt about it. Say, how do you feel?"

"Fine. Hot and sweaty but fine, why?"

"I can take care of that."

He turned and headed for the water with her still hanging on. Neveah braced herself as he waded out knee deep and then dove. She released her grip on him, stretched her arms up over her head, and dove backwards.

The water was cool and felt glorious. She surfaced, shook her hair back and looked around. There was no sign of Gabriel. Just then, she felt a hand close around her ankle. A split second later she was pulled under.

They wrestled around for a few seconds and then surfaced. Nevaeh made a dive at him just as he was standing but he was fast. He caught her by the waist, lifted her up and sent her sailing, high enough that she had time to turn and dive into the water.

She swam over and came up in front of him, leaping up and planting her hands on his shoulders to try and push him down. "You're going down, big guy."

His arms circled her body, pulling her in tight against him and then letting her slide down his body until she was eye-level with him. "I do hope so."

Nevaeh forgot all about being nervous about what he was, and where they were. In this moment he was just a man, looking at her with desire clear in his eyes and a very impressive erection pressed against her belly.

"Do you now?" She searched his eyes, feeling his breath sweet and warm in her face has he moved closer.

"Oh yeah."

Then he kissed her. Neveah had been kissed before, but she could honestly say she'd never been kissed like this. It was…perfect. So much that all she could think was that she wished time would stop in this moment so that the kiss never ended.

Gabriel was so caught up in the kiss that he almost missed it, but the phenomenon was strong enough to break through the power of the kiss. His senses alerted and curiosity filled his mind, along with a healthy measure of amazement.

Did she realize what was happening or was she oblivious to it? All around them the world had stopped. There was no one moving, or speaking. The waves were frozen in mid-crash, the small fish around their legs motionless.

Time, it seemed, had been paused. Only they were functional and aware. The feel of her lips against his, her tongue caressing his and her lithe body pressed against him as her hand tangled in is wet hair, was the sum of the moment.

It was amazing and he wished he could dismiss that amazement but he couldn't. As much as he wanted her right now, he couldn't turn his mind away from the incredible event that was taking place.

Gabriel pulled back from the kiss and the moment he did, the world restarted. Waves crashed, fish swam, the wind blew, and people resumed their movements and speech.

"I think we should reserve this for a place less—public."

She laughed and released her hold on him. "You have a point."

"So, perhaps later… after the rehearsal dinner? Maybe we could take a late swim, or a walk?"

"Maybe so."

"Then it's a date?"

She smiled at him. "Yeah, it's a date."

He gave her a soft kiss. "Heaven-spelled-backwards, you're a surprising woman."

"And you're nothing like I imagined an angel to be. Which reminds me. Where are your wings?"

"Attached to my body."

"Then why don't I see them?"

"Because I don't want you to."

"You mean you can hide your wings just by thinking it?"

"Well, yes, I guess that's a good an explanation as any."

She shook her head. "There are so many questions I want to ask you."

"And I'll gladly answer. But for now…" He grinned, picked her up and tossed her.

Gabriel laughed as she squealed and splashed into the water. He definitely wanted to talk to Augustus and maybe even Severin or Andre about what had just happened.

She had not been affected by his touch in the normal way. All humans experienced some measure of pleasure or bliss from the touch of an angel. All but her. Why was that?

And that thing that happened. Time stopping. That was beyond remarkable. It was an ability every wizard or daemon he knew would love to possess. As much as Gabriel tried to stay out of all things political or strategic, he could not help but consider the worth of such an ability. Just as Augustus had seen how Layla could be beneficial to their cause, Gabriel now saw the same about Neveah.

Severin was right. She could control time. Which made her… what?

That was something he was going to find out.