Page 29 of Heaven on Earth

I ignored Draven’s more unsavory comment. “I don’t know why I’m here, really. I came for some advice, I suppose.”

“Advice?” Teddy looked back and forth between Draven and me. “From an incubus?”

“Anda former priest,” I added.

“Well, I’m happy to give it,” Teddy replied, “but let me finish up with that tea first. You look like you could use a nice, hot cup.”

He vanished into the kitchen and I glanced up at Draven. “Do I really look that bad?”

Draven sat down opposite me in a velvet wingback chair. It fit his lithe body beautifully, his tail coiling around the arm while the pointed tip twitched. “I don’t think so, but perhaps Teddy is merely sensing some negative aura surrounding you. Do tell me, where is your little playmate?”

“Ryan?” I furrowed my brow.

“Yes, Ryan.”

“Well, not with me, obviously.”

“No, I can see that. Why wouldn’t you bring him? The two of you seemed attached at the hip — or somewhere, anyway — a few days ago.”

I let my shoulders, along with my wings, slump. “Not anymore. I doubt you will be seeing him with me at all, in fact.”

Teddy came back to the living room, tea tray in hand. “Oh, dear, you and Ryan broke up?”

“We weren’t–“

“Anyone could see it, you fool,” Draven said dryly. “That man was obsessed with you, and I must say, you were quite preoccupied with him as well.”

“It’s true.” Teddy nodded resolutely. “So, what happened?”

“He insists that he’s not into men,” I said bitterly, taking a sip of the piping hot tea Teddy handed me to keep myself from saying anymore that I might regret.

“Perhaps he’s not,” Teddy offered unhelpfully, joining me on the sofa.

“No, he is,” Draven insisted. “I felt it on Saturday. He can deny it all he wants, but I know a fellow fruit when I see one.”

Teddy sighed. “Draven, you can’t tell people what their sexuality is. Believe me, you’re attracted to whoever you’re attracted to, no matter what you try to say or do.”

I nodded. “Teddy is right. The problem there is that, as both of you already said, the attraction between us was undeniable. Or am I simply projecting?”

“I don’t think you’re projecting,” Teddy told me. “But why did he break up with you if he’s so in love with you?”

“He never said it was love,” Draven interjected.

“Exactly.” I leaned forward, pointing at Draven. “It was lust, not love — only, I think Iwasfalling in love until he broke my heart.”

“Did he get bored with the relationship?” Teddy asked. “Or was it something else? He didn’t meet someone new to replace you, did he?”

“No, of course not.”

“No, our dear Ciel is irreplaceable.” Draven smirked, and for a moment my darker side took over and I fantasized about wiping that smirk clear off of his face.

“He left because his parents were coming into town and he didn’t know how to tell them that he was seeing a man. He wished to keep me a secret and have us abstain from, well, anything, at least until they left. I, understandably, was a bit offended.”

“Ooh, that’s tough.” Teddy set his teacup down with a gentleclink. “I don’t think that either of you is in the wrong here, but I understand if you’re feeling betrayed. All I can say is that I know firsthand how difficult it can be to come to terms with who you really are.”

“I know,” I said quietly, suddenly regretting how obtuse I had been toward Ryan. “I had to do it once as well, though not in quite the same manner as you or Ryan.”

“Perhaps it wasn’t meant to work out,” Draven added.