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Chapter 2

“Mate?” Her voice barely more than a whisper, Anna had to ask. She had to make sure she was not misunderstanding.

Adriel gently nodded, not dropping his eyes from hers. Annabella felt her heart speed and her lungs seemed suddenly unable to draw air. She felt her head spin a bit, the reality of the situation setting in hard and fast. For a second her eyes dropped to the center of his chest, where her hands were now splayed. At the moment, everything about him was affecting her more than she had anticipated him doing so in the beginning, let alone than she wished it did. Setting aside the fact he was Abriella’s father, he was gorgeous and she was finding him far more muscled than she had anticipated judging based solely on his profile in his suit.

When their eyes once again met, her breath and voice stuttered as she tried to put her thoughts into words. “So, I’ll be your first…” Each word was enunciated and came out slowly as she still tried to make sure she expressed herself clearly. Every implication from what she had learned of anglic relationships over the centuries tumbled through her mind and she was failing to grasp them soundly.

Was that really what she was worried about? Adriel’s jaw clenched hearing the words come out and the seeming hesitancy of them. His pride and, if he was honest, heart were more than a little bit wounded that her mind first went to sex and his inexperience. His voice held an edge, no matter how hard he tried to keep it out, “worried that you will not be satisfied due to my lack of experience, Bella?”

The sexual attraction and magnetism between them was strong, and it was all he could do not to ravish her on the table upon which she was sitting, yet that she was concerned about his experience struck at something within him that hurt in a way he could not express. Rarely did he feel vulnerable in any way, but at the moment he felt completely defenseless before her. His jaw tensed more, and he fought snapping. He had wanted to claim her there and then, but she worried that he would leave her wanting greater pleasure then he could provide? Angels did not copulate before they found their mate; but that did not mean he had not provided pleasure in other ways, and would not ensure that she was completely sated when he was through with her. That she would doubt him, and it would be her primary concern; that bothered him. He wanted a mate focused on more than the physical, but it seemed he had been granted otherwise by his father.

“First relationship.” Anna clarified, a bit taken aback and unsure of what else to say, after feeling like she had just been slapped by his reaction. Although she supposed the other was true as well, she was not about to state that from the way he had just spoken to her. She had seen the hurt on his face, and heard it in his voice. She was actually hurt herself now that he had thought she was referring to sex. It had been the last thing on her mind. How could he think she meant that? Relationships were complicated and sometimes messy; it seemed that communication was starting off that way for them in this one.

As soon as Anna spoke, and Adriel realized his mistake, his eyes closed and his head fell forward a bit. Obviously he was trying to process things as she was, and the heightened sexual tension between them, that had been building since their first meeting, was not helping. “I am sorry, my Bella.” He swallowed, unsure what else to say. Curse Div, curse Stennis, curse…fuck…he didn’t know. Maybe he should curse himself for jumping to conclusions after seeing how well that had worked out over the years for Cruz and Abriella. His mind, his body, and his heart seemed to be warring with one another on how to handle everything. This had to be one of the most unique situations when it came to angelic matehood, and nothing had prepared him for it.

Anna brought one of her hands to his cheek to gently caress it, the soft stubble tickling against her soft palm. “Adriel, I’m more worried about disappointing you.” She sighed heavily, now trying to be more careful with her wording and her nerves rising ever higher. “Being your first at everything…it’s a bit overwhelming. I did not mean to hurt you. I’m sorry if my hesitation in being able to put my thoughts together gave you the wrong impression. I’m just overwhelmed with everything, but that’s not a bad thing.” Now it was her thumb that swept slow and soft over his cheekbone as her voice mirrored that softness. She had been in his place more than once; she knew the blow to the ego and the heart. Worse, she had been in the place he thought he’d been in, where she had been a disappointment to someone else, someone who didn’t necessarily care that it caused her an ache.

Her touch almost caused a greater ache in his chest than his realization that he had been an ass to assume and not let her finish her sentence. If Annabella had reacted with anger or hurt, he would have understood and he deserved her reproach; instead she had been understanding and was worried herself. Adriel felt that it was he who did not deserve this female as his mate. His anger, which was indeed legendary amongst the Heavens and Hells, was something he now feared would hurt her and potentially drive her away. If he lost her…the ache in his chest caused him to breathe in sharply. He and Div would talk later.

“I am sorry, Bella. I have a temper, one which I have never had reason to contain nor restrict. I did not mean to offend or hurt you. I promise to do better in the future.” Slowly Adriel’s eyes opened and his head rose to look at her face. “You could not disappoint me.” Softly he kissed her, keeping his eyes on hers, feeling drawn into their cerulean depths and drowning within.

Gently he lowered his hands to her ass and lifted her off of the table. He had an idea, and it required getting in a totally different position than the one they currently were in. Her legs had still been wrapped around him, which helped as he carried her over to a large couch that was a short distance away. “I think we both got wrapped up in the feelings, emotions, and desires, mia bella. How disappointed would you be if we spent the rest of the afternoon,” one hand left her ass and slowly made its way up to the middle of her back, “just talking and becoming more comfortable with one another? Maybe avoiding more miscommunications?” He held her to him, trying to convey he didn’t want to let her go yet, but they obviously were both trying to grapple with this sudden shift in all they knew.

Anna’s hand was still on the side of Adriel’s face and again her thumb caressed his cheekbone, her head tipping to the side as she did. “Horribly…that is if there aren’t snacks and wine included in this snuggling on the couch.” Her lips curved up in a smile as she leaned into him. The passion that had overtaken them previously was waning, and that while the attraction had not lessened, now she wanted to know the man in a way that was far more deep and intimate than carnally. “A girl must have sustenance if she is to bare her soul to her mate, you know.” She was trying to lighten the mood a little. Truly, she wanted the wine more than anything.

When Adriel reached the couch, Annabella finally released her legs from around his waist. Her feet were only on the floor for a brief moment, however. As Adriel sat, he pulled her down with him so that she sat across his lap. Her ass on one thigh, her thighs were perpendicular across the other, with her shoulder tucked under one of his, and her head resting atop his shoulder. By the time they were settled, she was securely wrapped in his arms once more, and it was a toss up which was more pleased at the current situation.

One arm wrapped around her back with his hand on her hip, the other cradling her with his hand buried deep in her golden, silken hair, Adriel’s hold was gentle, yet possessive. How his daughter had found his mate and then matched them up without realizing it confused him, till he realized that Div had assisted her in pairing everyone up. It was true that his father worked in mysterious ways, but sometimes it would be nice if the being gave a heads up when he was about to upend your life. A soft kiss was placed on Anna’s forehead. She was his treasure and for her, he would learn not to explode as much as he had for the entirety of his existence. At least he would learn to temper his anger towards and at her, if not towards others entirely.

“I cannot promise to be a perfect mate. I shall try. There will be failures, but know that you are treasured regardless.” His hold tightened momentarily. “Tomorrow should be more relaxed. What do you think of spending the day together? We can go anywhere you want, or just stay here in Imperium and I can show you around. There are many nice places here on the Palace grounds.” A slow and soft kiss was placed on her forehead, and he inhaled the scent of her perfume as it mixed with her innate scent.

“I tend to snap to judgements and say things without thinking, so we both have things to work on, Addy.” Anna gave him a sheepish smile. Judging from everyone’s reaction at breakfast, she had a feeling that they’d all had run-ins with Adriel’s temper. She hoped not to, at least nothing worse than what had happened today.

Another kiss was placed on her forehead, then Adriel brought his forehead to hers. There was something in his eyes that made her feel that no matter what fights or disagreements that they had, it would end up okay. “Spending the day together sounds great, but how about we stay down here for a while? At least till we figure each other out a little more?” Annabella gave him a small smile, which was rewarded with one of his own and a very soft kiss. She was coming to like both from him exceptionally.

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