Chapter 68: Kiss

My heart sank. It wasn't him. This man's hair was dark blonde like my own. It was mid-length and neatly gelled to one side. Why did angels always look like impossibly beautiful models? Was that a prerequisite? I closed my eyes again. My body hurt.
"Are..." I coughed a bunch of blood. I felt it land on my shirt and dribble down my chin.
"Hush," he said.
"Don't..." Another coughing fit struck me. This was not good. I probably injured something internally. "Heal," I whispered, directing energy to my lungs and stomach. I could feel the pink magic working a little. It flickered on and off inside me. It wouldn't be much, but after a time, it would stop the bleeding.
"Do you need a hospital?" He asked.
I shook my head. "Hom..." I croaked.
"I figured."
A moment later, we landed. I heard him open the sliding glass door. I was deposited on the daybed in the living room. It smelled like Anton and sex. I squirmed.
I heard the angel make a sound of disgust.
"No... not..." I struggled, starting up another coughing fit.
He picked me up again.
"Room," I managed as I waved my hand down the hall.
He walked a little bit more before setting me down in my own bed. After a moment, a glass was pushed in my hand. He pulled me up by under my arms until I was sitting, then helped me lift the glass to my lips.
I struggled to drink with the blood in my mouth, but the cold water felt good. I tried to open my eyes again.
"So... I was... going to die, huh?" I asked in short bursts as I struggled to breathe.
He sat on the bed next to my legs. His dark blond head nodded once.
"Thanks," I wheezed.
"Am I... your new... assignment?"
He nodded. He reminded me of Angandriel, all stoic and passive. I tried to laugh, but it quickly turned to a cough. I tried to aim the blood at a single blanket. At least it was washable.
"Have you been... an angel for a long time?"
"I can't say."
I scoffed, but it sent me into another coughing fit. When I finished, I looked him over. He wasn't as big as Angandriel, but he was beautiful and muscular. He wore the same metal armor and bracers that Angie did before Kira told him not to. That thought made me smile. He had looked pretty good in those jeans and T-shirt last time I'd seen him. My mind drifted to Remi. He'd always looked good in his black attire as well.
I shook my head. I couldn't be thinking of that now. I was dying. I could feel my body failing. The patch job I did with my magic wasn't going to be enough. It kept flickering in spurts. I had wasted too much on trying to make those damn wings. Deep waves of tiredness kept hitting me. I struggled to keep my eyes open. I need to heal faster. I needed more energy.
My eyes flickered open. The angel in front of me had a powerful white aura. I could almost taste it. It was like whipped cream. I wondered if there was a way to borrow some of it. I opened my palm, but I couldn't seem to siphon any of it. A bit of Kira's memory flashed before me when she'd seen Matei try to use a woman to heal him. I wondered if that would work.
"Hey, umm... do you think you... could kiss me?" I asked. I struggled to keep my eyes open. I'm sure I wasn't a pretty sight.
His eyebrow arched so high it disappeared into his hair.
"I need energy..." I whispered.
I felt his weight shift across the bed towards me. My hand lifted to his chest. The metal breastplate was cold beneath my fingertips. The memory of how Remi felt beneath my hand flickered through my mind. I pushed that loneliness aside. I had to focus. I felt warm lips press against mine. I could feel his shiny white aura around me. It was full of power and strength. I slipped my tongue between his lips and pulled in his energy. It started working.
As my mouth moved against his lips, his arms came up around me, pressing me closer to his chest. The metal breastplate was uncomfortable and cold against through my shirt, but the taste his tongue was sweet. I sucked at his aura then directed that energy down into my stomach and lungs. I lined the organs with fresh power. Slowly, I started to feel better.
His kiss grew more demanding. His hands slid down my back to the curve of my waist. I tried to slow the kiss, to restrict the pull of energy, but he didn't stop. I was draining too much of his aura. I couldn't stop the pull. At this rate, he'd be the one passed out in my bed. I pressed my hands against his chest to push him away. His hands gripped my waist tighter but not enough to hurt. He pulled me on to his lap as his tongue danced across mine. I didn't really want this to stop, but I knew I needed it to. I knew he was no longer in control.
I pushed hard against him forcing my lips away. "Stop." I trickled energy into my command.
His eyes opened. His fingers released my sides. His mouth tried to form a question, but it was like he couldn't decide on the right words.
I took his hands in mine and gently pushed them away. I scooted back on the bed off his lap. The armored skirt wasn't doing much to hide his hard on.
I placed my hand on his forearm. "It's alright. I think there is more to being a succubus than I realized. I've never done that before."
"Did... did it help?"
I nodded. "Yes, thank you very much. I'm sorry," I pointed to his skirt. "I didn't realize it would be so powerful."
He pressed his skirt down with one hand. I thought I almost detected a hint of a blush there. "It's fine, but let's not do that again. I think that's a breach of my contract."
I smiled. "Don't worry. I won't make a habit of that. But you did save my life. I'm pretty sure that's part of your contract."
He nodded slowly as he thought it through.
I relaxed against the pillows. I could feel the new energy working at closing the internal wounds. The coughing had stopped, that was a good sign. I watched this new angel in front of me. I could see him taking deep breaths as he tried to get his body back under control. I brought a slight smile to my lips. I'd never used this succubus power before. It was kind of fun.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Sandriel."
"You guys all died and became angels, right? So they must give you these names."
He nodded.
"What was your name before?" I asked.
His eyebrows furrowed in thought. "I... I don't really remember."
"What year did you die?"
He ran his hands through his hair. "I really can't be answering these questions."
I tilted my head to the side. "Why'd they send you to watch over me? Are you a new angel? How many charges do you have?"
I watched him struggle against answering my questions. The corners of his mouth twitched. I decided he was probably new at this. He wasn't as good at hiding his emotions as Angandriel was.
I let out a small laugh. "Okay, okay. I'll let you off easy. Don't worry. I'll figure it out eventually."
He shifted positions to face me. "Why do you have two names?"
My mouth turned up into a smile on one side. "Because I am two people."
He frowned. "What do I call you then? Alaina Grey? Akriana Hatfield?"
I shrugged. "Both. Neither. I don't know. I use Kira's identity because she has a life and paperwork, but I really don't think of myself as one or the other. Juno said I get to choose my own name."
"Have you?"
I shook my head. "It seems like such an important task. I don't want to pick the wrong one."
"I understand. Names are very powerful." He stood. "Given the circumstances, I hope we don't meet again, nameless one."
"I think you'll find I will be your most demanding charge."
He frowned. "I hope that is not the case." He turned and left the room.
I sunk into my pillows. The poor guy had no idea who he'd been assigned to.