Jeremy (Broken Angel #4) Read Online Free Page B

He’d never been this close to her. He took in the way her cream-colored gown hugged her curves and the way her golden locks hung like fine silk. Her eyes were so vivid. They were a kaleidoscope of yellow and shades of green. He looked deeper into her eyes. It was as if a veil had been lifted, and he could see into the depths of her soul. There was great strength in her . . . and sadness.
    Slowly, he lifted his hand and caressed her cheek. She was lovely. His hand didn’t hum with electricity the way it had when he touched Naomi. But there was a certain peace as he stood with her. She understood him. Maybe they were meant to be together, bound by their unrequited love—hers for Raphael and his for Naomi.
    I wonder.
    He dipped his head. His lips brushed over hers in a feather-light kiss.

6
    T here was nothing . No fire rushing over his body. No stomach quivering with anticipation of something more. It was like kissing his mother.
    “That’s not what I meant, Jeremiel.” She bowed her head, stepping away.
    “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.” He sat down on the bottom step of the platform and ducked his head onto his hands. He was making a mess of everything. Was this what he could expect from now on—making inappropriate gestures in the most holiest of places? He’d kissed Gabrielle, for crying out loud!
    He shook his head. There had to be something he could do about it. Somehow Gabrielle had managed to keep herself together, and she’d been doing it for centuries.
    Slowly, he lifted his head. She had the answers. She had to tell him what to do.
    “How did you do it?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “How did you do it, seeing him every day, knowing Raphael didn’t . . .?”
    Pain flashed across her lovely face. He sucked in a breath at the sight of her anguish. All the years he’d worked with her, he’d never seen her like that. Her brow furrowed as she struggled to school her face and push back centuries of hurt and longing. Before he could apologize for bringing up Raphael, she held up her hand, silencing him.
    “You know,” she said.
    He nodded.
    She closed her eyes a moment, thinking. When she opened them, she took a hesitant breath, as if she were undecided about asking a question to which she desperately wanted an answer. After taking that breath, the words spilled out.
    “Does anyone else know?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    She gave a small nod, then turned and paced the floor. Her gown billowed as she moved. She wrung her hands, muttering, “I need to do better. Everyone will know.”
    That’s just great. Now he’d made things worse. He shouldn’t have brought up Raphael.
    “I won’t say anything about you and . . .”
    She froze, her expression horrified.
    I should shut up now. He grimaced and clamped his mouth closed.
    “I’m not worried. I trust you. I thought . . . never mind.” She shook her head as if clearing whatever was worrying her and let out a slow breath. “So, you want to know how I do it?”
    “Yes.”
    She was silent for a moment. Her beautiful face changed from longing to happiness to pain, and then finally to the familiar stern expression.
    “You just . . . do.”
    “That’s it? There’s nothing else?” There had to be something. He’d try anything.
    “There is nothing else. It gets better with time, or so I’ve heard from human philosophers. I’m not sure it applies to angels. Humans’ time is finite, whereas for angels it’s . . .”
    “Forever,” he groaned. Reclining back against the steps, he gazed at the vaulted ceiling. Shadows from the candlelight danced on his handsome face as he studied the intricate gothic designs covering the vast hall. It was funny how humans wanted to live forever. If they only knew what living forever was really like.
    What was he going to do?
    “So the first time you left didn’t help you at all?” she asked.
    “Yes . . . no . . . I don’t know. It was difficult at first to forget Naomi. I thought about her