Apollo, p.26
Apollo, page 26
“You never listen to me,” she said in a low tone of voice. He sensed the frustration that accompanied her words. “You know that I organize everything for us, and you never trust me, questioning me about everything.” Aeron sensed the shortening of her breath and her blood pressure rising. She was clearly upset. Who was this man to her?
The male looked at her but didn’t respond. The female continued.
“Listen, I’m not going to argue with you, Tom. There are too many people around. I’m trying to enjoy our vacation.” She sighed in exasperation seconds before she grabbed her beverage and sipped it. The man, whose name was Tom, continued staring at her in silence. Then he lowered his gaze to the table. The female gritted her teeth. “Don’t you have anything to say? Sometimes you make me so mad.” She uttered a small sound of frustration, but Tom didn’t respond.
How odd. Tom’s lack of response was either from fear or apathy. Aeron gleaned from their one-sided conversation they were tourists and he learned one of their names, now if he could find out her name and their relationship status, he would be set.
Tom’s voice disrupted his thoughts.
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re always sorry.”
Aeron sensed her flippant response was due to frustration and not out of spite or an intention to hurt Tom. He also sensed the beginning of remorse weaving its way into her heart. She felt guilty over her striking words, but she was one who didn’t hold back her emotions, and Aeron liked that in a female. The last thing he wanted was a mousy female or one who kept her feelings bottled up inside. He wanted a genuine, honest woman who had no qualms about “telling it like it is” or how she perceived it. Some men might prefer a perfect female, but if Aeron sought perfection, he’d mate with an angel. Besides, he always loved a challenge.
The intriguing female returned to her beverage, placing her luscious lips over the thin straw. Lascivious thoughts threatened Aeron’s sanity, and he looked away but not before he saw a shiny object on the wrong hand.
His gaze boomeranged back to her to find a set of rings on the ring finger of her left hand. Darn. She’s taken. Aeron finally found the woman of his dreams, and she’s married. How ironic. He couldn’t be more disappointed. He rose from his chair, throwing the newspaper on the table before a question flashed across his mind.
Was she happy?
No.
The fiery Asian beauty wasn’t content, and he assumed this mirrored her marriage as well. A quick search for the truth produced vacuous feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and sadness. Happiness was buried deep within her, but it existed. It only needed re-awakening from the correct source. When it came to Tom, she had packed her emotional bags long ago but never physically left. It seemed the Asian beauty was pleased with most things in her life, but at the moment, she was irritated and unhappy. Armed with this new information, Aeron made it his mission to find out more. If the Asian beauty was troubled and ready to move on, Aeron was very willing to be the source of her new happiness, but in the end, it was her decision to make, and Aeron could not interfere. In the meantime, he would follow her in her travels to disseminate more information about her and her relationship with Tom. For her and the chance of her, he would follow her until his last breath.
Aeron leaned against one of the pillars several feet away from the Asian beauty, keeping a watchful eye on her as well as his charge.
To his dismay, the talented jazz band left, replaced by palm readers, tarot card readers, numerologists, and a mime. He watched the mime and the visitors that passed by with a widening smile. Several weren’t sure how to react when the mime approached them, while others had fun and even dropped money into his donation bucket before slipping away. He continued watching the free entertainment until he heard a familiar voice approach. He inhaled sharply. His heart skipped a beat. The corner of his eye caught his Asian beauty dropping dollar bills into his charge’s bucket. He turned in her direction, but he was too late. She headed away, quickening her pace to an unknown destination further down the main street. Her brisk trot almost turned into a jog, and she quickly surpassed Tom. The Asian beauty was short and cute when she was in a hurry, but that didn’t begin to describe the crazy curves on her or the provocative view of her deliciously wide hips—hips he could hold onto as he thrust forward from behind.
No, Aeron, no, no, no. The insatiable thoughts gave no reprieve.
She’s married.
Yes, unfortunately.
All his dreams were dowsed like a towel thrown in a pool, in one second.
His mate. The one meant for him. Married. Really? Why?
Why couldn’t he fall in love with his charge, as Apollo did? Images of Kayla floated across his mind. No. He loved Kayla, but not in the intimate way a male desired a female. Besides, Kayla was meant for someone else.
Aeron took the opportunity to peruse the Asian beauty’s escaping form, finding her well-proportioned and each curve on her luscious body enticing. The fact that she had dropped money into his charge’s bucket did not escape his notice. For her generosity to Kayla when many didn’t seem to notice her or care, his heart swelled with pride. He took this as a sign that his Asian beauty was a good match for him, though he already knew the truth. All he had to do was convince her…
That is, after determining her decision with Tom.
Tracking her down in the big city was easier without his bulky human form. With a quick slip behind the pillar again, Aeron undressed, replacing his clothes with a brass breastplate, leather vambraces, a solid black kilt, and leather sandals. Etched on his breastplate was a wildlife scene with two eagles. The stunning courageous predators adorning his breastplate distinguished him and his position from the other angels. The leather vambraces that covered his forearms were solid black, etched with a crisscross design and gold buttons.
Aeron released his wings, the force of it frightening a few tourists nearby who had no idea what happened, for they could not see him, but felt the sudden rush of air from the nothingness. He chuckled as they held onto their belongings and to each other while the sudden uplift passed. He always forgot the power behind his wings. He waited a few seconds to make sure they were all unharmed before he ventured to check up on his intended.
Glancing back at his charge, he found her posing for photographs. Good. She needed the extra cash. Her dream was to study journalism, and she was paying her way through college with this extra-curricular activity.
Aeron flew diagonally up into the sky, turning three-hundred and sixty degrees once in the air, relishing the freedom and exhilaration of the warm sun on his face, the cool wind across his feathers and through his hair. There was no comparable experience in the world as spreading one’s wings and flying. Nothing but possibly languishing in the presence of his Asian beauty. Speaking of, where was she?
He scanned the quadrant closest to him and found her gorgeous self, bending over to lift something from the ground, gracing him with a provocative view of her rear. Oh, the things he could do. He cleared his throat to re-focus. He was on an assignment for answers, and it didn’t include ravishing the Asian beauty. At least, not yet.
She walked in front of Tom and headed across the street. If Aeron were with her, he’d expect her to walk alongside him, preferably hand in hand, as a couple should. There would be no need to walk in front of or behind him, ever. She’d be his partner in every endeavor; this didn’t seem to be the case with Tom and Aeron already understood why. Kim, with all her good qualities, was also impatient, quick-tempered, and strong-willed. She needed a capable and assertive man at her side. One who would allow her freedom, but not tolerate certain behaviors. It was true that one teaches people how to treat them and Tom was at fault here, but then, Kim was not meant for him. Aeron was, who had no qualms with Kim’s bad-tempered behavior. He welcomed it, for she would learn in the end to respect Aeron as she didn’t Tom.
Kim headed straight to the French Market. After twenty minutes or so, she carried out what he assumed was a bag of merchandise that she had purchased. He searched her feelings again and found frustration and impatience.
She pulled out a list and sped along one of the sidewalks with Tom in tow, calling back to him at intervals, stating they were late. Then she did the unthinkable. She scurried across a street and into the local convent.
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ORION: BOOK FIVE
Why was life so difficult, at times?
Zoe never imagined she would find herself having to choose between two men—or should she say—angels. As exciting as that sounded, the need to make a decision is tearing her apart. Does she choose the irresistible one who ignites her body with his passionate kisses, or the wild, untamed one who presents all sorts of possibilities?
Orion found his fated mate the second he saw Zoe in the reflecting pool. He knows that she wants him—but Orion isn’t the only one that she wants. His nemesis, Mercury, is Zoe’s co-guardian and he, too, is vying for her attention.
Mercury is a rebel—wild and untamed. As co-guardian to Zoe, he feels the need to protect the sexy human female he has been assigned to. The trouble is Mercury wants more, but he isn’t the only one.
Zoe wants both men, but not all angels will share. Torn between two angels, she must choose only one. Who will eventually capture her heart—and will the other one accept her decision as final?
CHAPTER ONE
Orion stretched his arms overhead, flattening and then curving his grey wings in tune with the flexing of his arm muscles. It was good to stretch, especially when sitting for an extended period, studying for an exam. He loved learning and he tried, he really did, but as much as he wanted to understand the human concept of greed, he couldn’t. What he did know was that it stemmed from fear, but that’s about as far as he got before human concepts and terminology confused him. However, it was important to know because this topic was sure to be on the next test and it was imperative that he passed.
He had dealt with greed before, mostly because his charge opted for poor choices and suffered as a result. Watching his charge earn his life lessons was rough. Several times, Orion held back the urge to come to his defense, but Orion could not interfere. Sometimes a human made an error and cause and effect, what humans liked to term karma, took place regardless of what Orion wanted. If Orion interfered, cause and effect would still occur, though at a later time. In the end, the effect of Orion’s untimely intervention could be life-threatening, if not deadly to his charge. It was better for the human to get it over with and move on, as humans phrased it, than to prolong the torture of when and how cause and effect would occur.
But greed, a confusing yet curious emotion, was not the only strange term on the pending exam; there were others too that baffled Orion. If only Orion could speak with a human being, maybe then he’d understand what human life was all about. However, humans were filled with fear. Seeing and hearing, much less interacting, with a genuine angel was out of the question. Who knew how a human would react?
Regardless, Orion was determined to pass his next level of guardianship. The increase in responsibility did not include a pay raise, as angels weren’t necessarily compensated for their work, but prestige with any leveling up was guaranteed. Though Orion didn’t need this boost to his ego, since he didn’t harbor one, he nonetheless welcomed the increased ability to serve his creator.
Most humans weren’t aware of it, but they were learning too. All beings were bound to a classroom at some point in their existence, and humans were not beyond this rule. Therefore, neither were angels.
Orion was a proponent for increased knowledge and large rewards were unnecessary for his valiant effort. His increased value among The Guardian League members was an honor in and of itself. In his opinion, his colleagues were role models among the several factions of angels. He couldn’t have chosen a better set of men to work alongside on rescue missions all over the world. Their tireless, endless labor remained a strong proponent in promoting peace throughout the world.
Orion lifted from the desk and made his way past the threshold of the study room’s door when he heard a familiar voice beckon to him.
“Hey, come check out the mess my charge is dealing with right now,” Eladius called out.
It was time for a break anyway.
Orion walked past several concrete white columns gracing the tall building. He followed Eladius to the balcony where they overlooked the grassy terrain below into a watery pool created by Eladius’ imagination. The scene played out before them as if they were patrons in a movie theater.
“There.” Eladius pointed to the characters amidst the wavy blue background. A male was sitting close—perhaps too close—to a female in a bookstore with shoulder-length, dark brown hair. She was blessed with fair skin and the merriest smile Orion had ever seen. A radiant white glow immersed her curvaceous body, highlighting her soft facial features and a light pink hue hinted at kissable lips. Her melodious laughter shamed choirs of angels. The genuine tones of joy lifted, peaked, and fluttered over Orion’s ears, the high points zipping through his chest and hovering around his beating heart.
My, she is lovely, Orion thought. She was undoubtedly the most beautiful human being he’d seen in his existence. There was something about her he couldn’t quite pinpoint—a magical presence surrounding her that summoned within him an overwhelming urge to protect and cherish the mythical beauty, a being he didn’t know existed except in his deepest fantasies.
“She’s…” He struggled, skimming through words in his vocabulary but not finding anything suitable. He stared out at the vision before him, stumped. Mere words could not describe what he witnessed.
“I know. He’s not good enough for her, but you can’t blame him for trying.” Eladius elbowed Orion with a smirk. He jutted his chin toward the male reflecting in the pool, obviously referring to the suitor though Orion could’ve sworn Eladius referred to Orion, instead. For if fate placed Orion in the presence of this uncommon earth angel, he feared he would not rate.
“No. She’s magnificent!” Orion finally sputtered.
“I know. She’s my charge.” Eladius grinned with pride.
“What is she doing with him?” Orion gestured toward the male who yawned and stretched his arm with great flourish over the back of her chair.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Funny, huh?” Eladius smacked Orion across the chest.
The male leaned closer to her, closing his eyes and puckering his lips for a reward. She scooted out of his reach.
“She doesn’t want this,” Orion said.
“No, she doesn’t. She only wants to be friends, but he’s insistent.”
Orion’s eyebrows furrowed, and he balled his fists. “He’s an undesirable, and she’s an innocent.”
“I know.”
“This can’t continue.”
“There is nothing we can do about it.”
“Watch me.”
Eladius raised his eyebrows. He lifted a hand up to Orion to stop him, but Orion was already in motion.
A book flung off the rack, knocked the male in the back of his head, and tilted him face first, off his chair. He met the floor with a whoompf! as his breath whooshed out while the book landed, safely, by the female’s painted toes.
“You’re not supposed to do that. We are not supposed to interfere,” Eladius chastised.
“Who said anything about interfering? I’m just hastening the conclusion.” Orion’s lips twisted into a mischievous, one-sided grin.
“You’re going to get in trouble for that. The Council will summon you.”
“Not if they don’t know.” Orion lifted his hand into the air over the couple in front of them. He wiped his hand back and forth across the two of them as if they were characters in a movie and he was cleaning the TV screen. The scene suddenly reversed, and the male and female sat next to each other once again.
Eladius’ jaw dropped. “Hey! How did you get that?”
“Get what?”
“The eraser. Only—”
“Shh… Don’t tell. I borrowed it from an archangel, but I must give it back soon. However, in the meantime, I’ll get some use out of it.”
Eladius shook his head and chuckled. “My friend, you are bending the rules.”
“And? As the humans say: ‘Your point is?’ ”
Eladius gave a hearty laugh.
The female glanced at the cover of the book while she picked it up off the floor. She murmured something under her breath and Orion grinned. While reversing the scene, he purposely left her memory intact and the book by her feet for her to discover. He watched her stand and stride toward a bookshelf, where she promptly re-shelved the object only to have it drop back to the floor. He sharpened his view as her curvy bottom bent over to grasp the book in her hand. Two wondrous globes lifted higher in the air, dragging Orion’s breath straight out of his lungs as she sought to hold onto the heavy object. On her way up, Orion sensed his body tingling with delight in areas that hadn’t called his attention in several centuries.
There was something different about this woman, and he aimed to find out what, but first, he had an important matter to attend to.
After bidding Eladius farewell, he expanded his grey wings, flattening and elongating them as they widened to his sides. His wings twisted front, then back, stretching the fine grey feathers with an “Aah” rumbling through his chest. He dropped his head back, closed his eyes, and sighed, relishing in their freedom. He was proud of his wings and the unusual tint only a few of the guardians yielded. It was unnatural to keep them hidden for long; however, sometimes expanding them to their full glory was impractical, and it scared humans. And fear was the last thing he wanted from any human. He loved all mankind, but he itched to know this one rare, radiant female in the bookstore; the one who delighted him in ways he hadn’t felt in a long while. She was striking in every way, and he aimed to change the nature of her guardianship once he set foot within The Council’s doors. He stretched his arms overhead and shot through the sky toward the famed double doors.
