The Bound Angel (Sacrilege Rising: Book 1)

Waking up next to someone can go one of two ways.

When you’re used to sleeping by yourself, having someone suddenly taking up space can be uncomfortable. Your body wants to adjust but you don’t have as much room as you’re used to. The blankets are tangled. You want to stretch or find the cool spot in the sheets but your arm is being used.

Or it can go the other way. They can keep you warm on a cool night. Your face might be chilly but everything under the blankets remains pleasantly toasty. It’s nice simply being held.

Mike woke up the second way. He was the big spoon and Meredith’s head was on his arm while he held her close. She was so very soft. She smelled like fresh shampoo. Her bare shoulder was smooth and pale in the morning light and his groin was nestled against her butt.

He tried to stay relaxed, to un-notice how soft she felt pressed against him and how her breast was resting on his arm. He failed and began to stiffen.

Meredith stirred. A simple shifting of weight, before falling still once more. Then she moved again. Not an uncomfortable attempt to stretch, but a subconscious search for a boundary. When she realized she wasn’t alone she leaned into it, arching her back and pressing her butt harder into Mike’s groin. He couldn’t help but respond, shifting his hips, letting her know the effect she had on him.

“Hey beautiful,” he said softly.

“Hey back.”

She hadn’t removed the pressure on his groin, so it was probably okay to let his hands wander.

“Someone’s in a mood,” she said, and he could hear a pleased smirk in her voice.

“Can’t help it.”

“Hold that thought.” She scampered to the bathroom with Mike’s eyes glued to her butt.

Last night was a blur. He expected nothing more than to blow off steam with his coworkers, but within a few short hours that changed. Drastically. Now what? Would she want this to be the start of something more? Was it a one-night stand? He wasn’t prepared to face those questions or answer them for himself.

“Sorry,” Meredith said as she came back to bed, pleasantly naked. She took short steps, and her hips didn’t seem to have their usual sway. “I don’t think I’m up for much this morning.”

“Everything okay?”

“Just a little sore.” She gripped his length as she crawled into bed. “This will take some getting used to.”

Her words made him pause. Did that mean she wanted to hook up again? Then she started pumping and any thoughts beyond her hand on his cock disappeared.

“But I can’t leave you like this.” She settled onto the bed by his waist. “That wouldn’t be right.”

She was gentle. Soft, slow strokes from base to tip and back. Then her mouth joined in. Her lips found his shaft and kissed their way along its length. Mike relaxed into the pillows. In some ways, this was better than sex. He could enjoy without worry of being selfish. He closed his eyes and savored her touch.

Meredith made love to his cock with her mouth in that way that only happens in the morning when you’re sleepy and have nowhere to be. She took her time, bathing him with her tongue, dragging her lips along his shaft, pulling at the skin with gentle suckles. When he was fully hard and his hips were making involuntary thrusts, she took him deeply in her mouth. There was no rush.

When he groaned, Meredith responded with her own little encouraging noises, making this moment so very intimate. A little slice of time just for them, before the rest of the world started demanding their attention. Mike never opened his eyes, instead focusing on the sense of touch and her little sounds. Her mouth was warm and welcoming, and she made sure he enjoyed each sensation fully before moving on to the next. After a time, he ran his fingers through her hair and pulled, countering his thrusting hips. He was getting close, and she increased both the pressure and pace.

Her hair was tangled in his fist as he sawed his length between her lips. A low groan escaped his throat as he came in her soft mouth, with one hand on her head and the other on her breast. She encouraged him, pumping and swallowing through his climax until he exhaled a long, satisfied breath, and finally relaxed. He opened his eyes to see her hunched over his waist, her head and hand still bobbing, bringing him down gently.

“Wow,” he mumbled. “What a way to wake up.”

After a moment, Meredith smiled and replied, “Glad you enjoyed it.”

She snuggled back into his arms where they laid together quietly for a time. When his brain finally started waking up, he began wondering if they were thinking of the same things.

“Hey,” she finally said.

“Hey back,” he answered.

“This was great. Really great. I don’t know what it means, but I do know I’m not ready to rush into anything right now. I know I’m not looking for something serious, or, to be, you know, attached. Is that okay?”

Mike was glad she said it, because he was slowly coming to the same conclusion. “Of course. This doesn’t have to be anything more than what it was. But if you do ever want to have that conversation, I’m here.”

She smiled into his arm. “Thanks. You’re a good guy, Mike. Can you do me a favor though?”

“Sure.”

“Do you mind if we keep this just between us? It could get awkward at work if everyone knew.”

“Of course. I won’t tell anyone if you don’t want me to.”

“I’m not embarrassed or anything,” she added quickly. “And-”

“It’s fine. Really. You don’t have to explain.”

“Right. Thanks.”

They laid together a while longer, clinging to fleeting time while seconds stretched into minutes. Finally, Meredith said, “I should get going.”

She gathered her discarded clothes from the floor while Mike watched, trying to burn the image in his mind in case he never saw it again. With a kiss and a smile, she was gone and he was alone. It was Saturday and he didn’t have anything to do, so he laid in bed for a while, letting his mind drift, until his stomach growled. Breakfast sounded good.

He pulled on a pair of clean boxers and wandered toward the kitchen. Bacon and eggs would be perfect. But then he remembered he was out of bacon. Eggs and toast then. A little disappointing, but still good. There was probably still orange juice-

He walked right into Lana.

“Jesus Christ!” he yelled and jumped back.

She was wearing her full set of polished golden armor and her face was set in a scowl. “Michael,” she warned. “Do not blaspheme.”

He held his hands up. “Sorry, you just startled me.”

“That was not my intention.”

She stood with her back straight and her arms folded. As she moved, he noticed there was no noticeable limp or twinge of pain. “Hey, you’re feeling better.”

“Yes, thanks to you and your friend. Meredith? She seems nice.”

He thought of the night before, and Lana darting out of the room. “We should, ah, talk about… wait, what do you mean?”

She gave him a curious look. “I meant what I said.”

“Okay. What does that mean, you feel better because of us?”

She looked at him like she was searching for something. God, she was beautiful. Her blue eyes were framed by golden hair that shone in the morning light. Her lips looked soft and kissable. He shook his head. How could he think of that after the night he’d just had?

Not finding whatever she was after, Lana sighed. “Sit. I am reminded you are new to this, so I will try to explain.” She hesitated, like she was searching for the best place to begin. “You are aware of your friend’s difficult circumstances.” She posed it as a question.

He was? “I mean, I guess? She broke up with her boyfriend and she’s still working through it, if that’s what you mean.”

Lana nodded. “What you did not know was that her boyfriend cheated on her. With one she called a friend. It is more difficult for her than you know.”

Mike’s eyes widened. “How do you know that?”

“Like I told you before, I can sense certain things about those around me.”

He thought about that. “Well, okay, but am I supposed to know something personal like that? She doesn’t know that I know. Is there some cosmic imbalance that now needs to be fixed?”

Lana rolled her eyes. “You watch too much television. Such a minor thing is of no consequence.”

“Fine. It feels like an invasion of privacy, but whatever. I still don’t get why you feel better.”

“You provided a haven for her. A place of trust where she could feel safe and wanted, free to express herself without fear of judgment or consequence. That is not such a small thing.”

The way she described it made him sound like a saint. He didn’t remember being quite so altruistic. “That’s an awfully generous way of putting it. We…” he didn’t know what to say without feeling like he was betraying her trust. “You know…” he gestured with his hands, unable to come up with an explanation that didn’t just say it outright.

“Michael,” Lana interrupted, her eyes twinkling. “I am fully aware of what occurred between you.” She eyed him up and down, and Mike realized he was still in his boxers. His face grew hot.

“Right. Be right back.”

He returned in athletic shorts and a tee shirt. Was that disappointment in her eyes? He shook his head. His thoughts were all over the place lately. “You’re not upset? I thought you guys were all about waiting until marriage.”

She snorted. “Man is infamous for bending scripture to his own benefit. To say nothing of the fact that much of the testament you know today was written by mortals with questionable motives hundreds of years after the fact.” Mike was about to ask a question when she continued, “But we tread on dangerous ground. It will suffice to say that abstaining from sex until marriage is not required, applauded, or even particularly noticed.”

More questions came to mind, but Lana clearly didn’t want to go down that path. “Okay, fair enough,” he said. “But I’m still not connecting the dots between Meredith and I sleeping together and you feeling better.”

Lana hesitated before continuing slowly. “It is… not a thing easily explained. Your friend was in need. Yes, physically, but also spiritually, and you were there for her. You spent intimate time together and she walked away happy and fulfilled, feeling better about herself than she has in some time. She returns to the world with a clearer mind and fuller heart, ready to spread that feeling to others in turn.”

Lana looked to Mike to see if he was following her so far. When he nodded, she continued. “Every deed performed by man, good or evil, contributes to the balance of power that lies behind the veil of your world. I, and those like me, feel the currents shifting and ebbing between light and dark. The scales are always changing, ever in flux, never stopping or pausing.” She held up a hand and her gaze grew distant, like a breeze was running between her fingers. “We gain strength from those deeds. From their intent, and their power.”

When her eyes refocused on him, she suddenly looked curious. “I do not wish to downplay your actions last night, but on their own, they should not have been enough to heal me so. Not near enough. However, we are linked, you and I.” She fingered the collar around her throat. “In a way I do not yet fully understand. I seem to draw greater strength from your actions than from those of others. Significantly so.” She watched him, searching for some reaction, waiting for him to speak.

Mike asked, “Are you scared? That what I do has such a big effect on you?”

Lana considered her answer. “I admit that I am… anxious, about what this means and our future together. But no. Not scared.” She smiled, and it made him relax. “You will make mistakes. No one is perfect. But you are a good person, and I have faith that will be enough.”

She was showing an awful lot of trust. Too much, in his opinion. Mike’s stomach rumbled at the same time his phone buzzed. It was a text from Emma.

‘Hey. Can we meet today?’

He glanced at the clock. Too late for breakfast.

‘Sure. Free for lunch?’

‘Yes! McLaren’s in twenty?’

‘See you there.’

When he looked up, Lana was watching him with a knowing grin. “Another friend?”

“Not like that. I mean, yes, a friend, but not like Meredith.”

“Mmhmm.”

He sighed. “I’m meeting her for lunch. Do you want me to bring you anything back?”

“Actually, I was hoping to explore the city. The mortal soul has been my focus for a very long time. Now that I have the chance, I would like to see them up close.” Then her forehead wrinkled and she added, “If that is alright with you.”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”

Lana’s face relaxed. “I believe it is the binding. I cannot flee from you. I find the direction of my thoughts, my intent, matters. With a defined destination and plan to return, along with your approval, I feel no restriction. But the thought of escaping, or even leaving for an indefinite amount of time is… unpleasant.”

Guilt crawled under Mike’s skin. “Lana, listen to me. You have my express permission to go and do as you please, to accomplish whatever you want, wherever you want, with whoever you want. If you ever feel restricted, or whatever, like that again, think back to what I just said. Or come find me and I’ll say it again.”

Their eyes met. Hers gleamed with pride. “And that is why I do not fear.”

Guilt changed to embarrassment. “Right. Well, I’ll see you later, I guess.”

“Remember Michael,” she called after him, “follow your instincts.”

***

McLaren’s was a typical Irish pub. The bar and booths were rich, polished wood trimmed with brass fixtures. Irish flags adorned the walls, bursts of color offsetting the wood tones. Leprechauns looked up from coasters with leering smiles, and a sign read ‘Days until St. Patrick’s Day!’ next to a digital countdown clock. A soccer match was playing on the closest TV. Mike had long since memorized the menu. Emma usually picked where they ate, and this was her favorite spot.

“Branching out today I see,” he said with a straight face.

She held a piece of fried fish between two fingers and glared at him. “It reminds me of home.” She wore a light gray blazer over a white cotton shirt. The blazer’s sleeves were cut short, just past the elbow, and the shirt matched her necklace and earrings. As usual, Emma was perfectly coordinated, even if she was usually too dressed up for wherever they were.

“I’ve always admired that about you,” he continued. “You like to try new things. You’re a thrill seeker.”

Emma stuck her tongue out and threw a fry at him, which he deftly caught and began munching. Her face scrunched up in the cutest way. “Oh!” she said excitedly and pointed at the TV. “Goal! Goal!” She smacked both hands on the table as fast as she could. “It’s a goal!”

Mike turned to see what she was looking at. The game was almost over and the score was 1-0. “I just don’t get it. They pass the ball back and forth for an hour and a half and nothing happens. The only time anyone scores is on penalty kicks or something.”

She looked at him like he had three heads. “You Americans are the oddest lot. It’s the most popular sport in the world.”

Mike just shrugged.

“It’s too loud here to properly explain the rules. Come over one day and I’ll explain it.”

“I guess,” he said warily.

“And bring drinks.” Then she suddenly looked serious. “Can we talk about the other night?”

“Sure,” Mike answered. He’d explained it twice already and Lana’s advice seemed to work. He told his story.

“And you didn’t see anyone when you left?”

“Nope. It was quiet. I didn’t even know about the fire until the next morning.”

“How bizarre,” Emma answered. In her accent it sounded like bizahh. When they went for a while without seeing each other in person, he was always a little surprised by her accent, since it didn’t come across in text. “Grammy’s upset as you can imagine. She has to find a new church, which for her is a real bother.” He made a face and she quickly added. “But I’m just glad you’re alright. That’s the most important thing. What did they say at work?”

“Just to let them know if anyone starts asking questions. The business has insurance for this sort of thing, but Tom would rather not have to use it if he can help it. Speaking of which, have the cops, or anyone, talked to you yet?”

“No, why?”

Mike thought for a moment before answering. “I imagine they’ll start with the pastor, who will mention he hired somebody to paint that night. He’ll point them to your Grandmom, and she’ll most likely send them to you.”

Emma clearly hadn’t considered that. “What should I tell them?”

He certainly didn’t want her to get in trouble. “The truth. You connected me with the pastor. If they come to find me, I’ll tell them the same thing I told you. No big deal.”

She visibly relaxed. Did she think he was going to ask her to lie for him? Would she have?

They talked of small things while they ate, each lost in their own thoughts. After a time, Emma eyed him and said, “You seem… quite different today.”

“What do you mean?” She was as beautiful as always. Her auburn hair was tied back in a ponytail, and he couldn’t help but notice how soft her brown eyes were. She held herself tall, but not stiff. Graceful. Like she was a member of the royal family who secretly enjoyed slumming it with the peasants.

“I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it.”

Mike’s stomach fluttered as she gazed into his eyes. It was like she was looking into his soul, searching for something. She was both one of his closest friends and the person he most wished he could spend more time with.

Should he tell her what really happened at the church? If there was anyone he could tell, it would be Emma. His heart pounded as he leaned in. How would she react? Would she call him an idiot? Would she tell the police and turn him in? He looked around to see if anyone was listening. Emma’s face was filled with concern as she leaned in to match him.

He dropped his voice low, and said, “What if I told you I met an angel? An actual, real-life angel?”

She froze, eyes searching, still full of worry while she processed. Then her face relaxed into a wry grin, and she leaned back in the booth. “Michael Davis. If I’ve heard that line once I’ve heard it a hundred times.”

Mike’s breath caught. She didn’t believe him. Of course she didn’t. What did he think was going to happen? She would instantly jump in with both feet and insist she meet Lana? Demand she leave him alone and grill her for information?

“Ha,” he scrambled, his mind racing to think of a way to play it off. “Just working on that one. How’d I do?”

“You know, most blokes would buy a girl dinner before they hit on her.” Then something in her eyes changed, like she was noticing something for the first time. She leaned forward again. Her voice dropped, taking on a quality he didn’t recognize. “Or, is that what this is?”

Whoa. With those six words her entire demeanor changed. The sudden heat in her eyes and the tone of her voice sent a rush through Mike. What did she mean by that? Did she want him to hit on her? Her eyes were deep and inviting. Her face, classic and gorgeous. Her lips were slightly parted, begging to be kissed. Despite the night with Meredith, his arousal was stoked. Emma was the prettiest girl he’d ever laid eyes on. She consumed more of his waking thoughts than anyone else, and there was already a foundation of friendship.

Much as he tried to banish them, racy fantasies of her intruded on his thoughts more often than he cared to admit. Emma’s eyes closed, lips parted, leaning in for a kiss. Emma in lingerie, lying on her back, beckoning him toward her with a finger. Emma, kneeling at his feet, her beautiful face turned up, eyes smoldering.

But now was not the best time. There actually had never been a worse time. He might have to deal with the fire and the authorities at some point. Meredith said she didn’t want attachment, but he still had to work through his own feelings on that situation. The cherry on top was the fact that an honest to God angel was living in his apartment, and just-as-real demons were out there doing… something. It was a lot to deal with all at once, and if he was going to seriously pursue Emma, he needed a clear head. She deserved that.

“You caught me,” he joked. The fish and chips were my master plan to woo you.”

Her eyes still burned and held his gaze for a beat. But when she spoke her voice was normal again. “Don’t knock the fish and chips.”

Enjoying the story so far? Ratings and comments are the absolute best motivation, and I always love hearing your thoughts. See you in the next chapter!