Chapter 62: Second first kiss

**A week later...**

My bare feet dangled in the air, barely touching the natural green carpeted ground as I sat in the swing Ricky made for me a few years ago in our backyard.

It was a warm, peaceful nightnbut for some very upsetting reason, I couldn’t sleep. So I just snuck outside, trying to clear my head a little.

The moon peeked from between the thick branches, its rays dancing on the lush green grass, giving it a light shine.

I pushed with my toes once again, letting the warm breeze caress every uncovered area of my skin as I slowly rocked, back and forth.

I lightly smiled, feeling like a child again, for once feeling so carefree and calm...

Unfortunately, that didn’t last long...

In the very next moment, I remembered for the millionth time this day that tomorrow was my birthday...And also the day my parents died...

Or should I say, my adoptive parents?

No, no, my true parents are Richard and Melinda Summers.

I refuse to believe that some fancy-ass mighty Archangel is my father.

My parents are-

A sudden strike of excruciating pain shot through my chest once again, making me collapse right on my knees, heaving like a granny with asthma.

Fuck!

Not again!

My thin arms lightly trembled as I weakly tried to push myself back up, only to no effect, once again finding myself in a very vulnerable moment.

UGH, DAMN YOU AZRAEL, AND YOUR STUPID, CLINGY ANNOYING GRACE!

I angrily shouted in my mind, in that specific moment imagining myself with my hands around his neck, strangling the hell out of him.

Why can’t it just...stop?

Why? Why do I keep feeling like this?

I tried one last time to push myself back up, only to achieve the same result; nothing. So I simply gave up and sat down, just waiting for it to pass.

Only it washed away sooner than I thought.

The very familiar sensation of a warm hand touching my shoulder broke me out of my trance-like state and the moment I looked up, the only one who could take that stupid pain away stood right in front of me.

Bending down, he then gingerly grabbed my shoulders and helped me get up to my feet, slowly taking a step back, only after he had made sure I was okay.

I kept thinking about that weird, incredibly strong bond we shared, wondering how it actually worked before I broke the peaceful silence, curiously asking,

“Do you really feel everything I feel?”

He slowly nodded, reaching for my left hand, his slender fingers gently wrapping around my wrist and with a soft touch, his thumb slowly glided over the fiery red symbol, sending yet another wave of warmth travelling through my whole body.

The lines of the mark suddenly started unnaturally glowing, seeming like he had somehow given it life, awakened at his simple touch.

I stared at it for a few moments, thinking over and over again about those sickening strikes of pain, caused by this big stupid symbol.

“Can’t you just...make it stop already?” I practically whined like a small child, with an annoyed tone.

He seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, having an internal battle before he slowly lowered his gaze somewhere on the ground and with a quiet, yet reluctant tone he finally answered,

“Well, there is a way...but only if you let me...touch you again...”

I wasn’t sure exactly what he was implying when he said that -since he had literally touched me just a few seconds ago- but at that point, I didn’t care anymore. I was already extremely sick of that tormenting feeling...So, I just went with it.

“Ugh...whatever. Just do it already.”

He slowly nodded then took a deep breath and before I even had the time to react, he was already standing really close, gently stretching his hand for me to reach. And once I’ve put my much smaller palm in his, his other arm went around my waist, pulling me incredibly close to his warm body.

My gaze slowly trailed up, meeting once again those stunning deep blue oceans, feeling my cheeks heating up a little at the intensity of his gaze.

My eyes widened, escaping a small gasp once I’ve felt his big warm hand sliding underneath my oversized t-shirt, gingerly gliding up my skin, stopping right in the middle of my chest, in the tiny space between my breasts.

My heart was already pounding, continuously thinking about the fact that I currently wasn’t wearing a bra, and he was standing so damn close, his touch feeling so...intimate.

Sinful images started involuntarily forming in my head, turning my body temperature higher and higher, that burning heat already pooling in my lower abdomen, making me practically crave for him to touch me that way, once again.

Oh god. It’s happening all over again!

This is so embarrasing.

“Will you please, stop?” He quietly pleaded, his voice sounding so raspy and strained, seeming like he was in some kind of pain.

“Stop w-what?” I breathessly asked, my voice trembling a little, totally unable to hide my painfully intense desire for him and the moment those words left my lips, his deep blue irises turned a few shades darker, clearly showing that he was definitely feeling the same. If not even more...

“I’m so-”

I didn’t even manage to finish my sentence because in the very next moment, his soft lips crashed against my own, taking me completely off guard, not failing to also notice the very strange, warm sensation pulsating inside my chest.

Without even giving it a second thought, I pressed myself even closer, deepening the kiss, my palms resting on his hard pectorals, feeling his arm around my waist tightening just a little bit.

It felt so perfect...So overwhelming...

Just like our first kiss...So amazing...

Slowly taking a step back, he finally broke the sweet kiss, just in time for me to see the weird glowing light from underneath my t-shirt gradually fading out until it disappeared, completely.

“What was that?” I quickly asked, slightly amazed, now staring up at him.

He simply stood there in silence for a few moments, his deep blue oceans watching me with an incredibly intense, yet unreadable emotion.

“Let’s just say, I took that annoying pain away,” He simply answered, giving me a light smile, making it seem like everything was now perfectly fine. Still, there was something I couldn’t quite decipher in his eyes, telling me otherwise...

However, I chose to let it go, for now.

Noticing him take a step back a sudden urge to pull him right back shot through me, my mind practically screaming at me to make him stay.

Come on!

Come on, Blake! Don’t be a coward just like the last time! Say it!

Say it already!

“Umm...c-can you p-please stay?” I finally opened my mouth, stuttering uneasy, lightly squirming in my spot, feeling my cheeks quickly turn a deep shade of red.

He warmly smiled, small dimples forming on his cheeks, seconds before he quickly walked straight towards me and without a single warning, he simply wrapped his muscular arms around me, pulling me in a warm and comforting embrace, giving me a sense of safety, for once, after all this time, feeling like nothing and no one could hurt me...

“As long as you want me, I’ll always be around.”