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Theo laughed. Of course, he did. Although dressing and undressing were completely new for him… If he wasn’t careful, he might leave the house naked. Daniel accompanied him to the locker Walt had him stow his clothes in.
Once he’d pulled them all on, he turned to leave but stopped when Daniel grabbed his arm. “Do you have a coat? It’s in the thirties out there tonight.”
“I’m not cold.”
Daniel huffed. “You need to blend in, remember?”
Theo grinned at his mate. It made him happy that Daniel cared enough to help him maintain his cover.
Reach into the next locker, my son.
“Father has provided for me.Todah,” Theo thanked Adonai.
Daniel glanced upward, then shook his head. “Yeah, thank you,” he whispered, then in a louder voice said, “Let’s go.”
Theo held his tongue, practically bristling with the burning question, and was finally able to blurt it out once they reached the sidewalk. “You know our language! That’s amazing.”
“Whoa there, big guy. I know a few words and phrases. I engage with a lot of different races and nationalities. It helps diffuse the difficult situation I end up putting them in.”
“Truly?” Theo asked, skeptically.
“No, but it throws them off enough to stop and listen. Look, I hate what March and Troy forced me to do. If I wasn’t in debt up to my eyeballs, I sure as hell wouldn’t be here. My sister and her family live on the mainland, and I’d pack them up and get as far away from here as I could.”
Theo’s pace slowed. Watching Daniel get farther ahead, seeing his mate’s back as he continued walking, seemed like a sign. Was that what he was setting himself up for? He’d been hoping to stay here in Atlantic City with his brothers-in-arms. With Leo and Ari, with Judah and, with Father’s blessing, Nate in the next year or two. He liked their chosen soulmates. He adored Mary and Joe, and even Malachi with his weird sense of humor.
In the end, what did it matter? He’d follow Daniel anywhere, even as he wondered if there was anything he could do to get his mate to stay.
Daniel
Daniel unlocked the door to his apartment and let Theo precede him inside. After he’d mentioned his sister, Theo had gone quiet, which was something the angel wasn’t akin to doing. Theo seemed to like a steady stream of conversation, probably in the hopes he could learn every facet of Daniel’s life—or anyone’s life—if he just asked enough questions.
He closed and locked the door, took off his jacket, and hung it up, and with Theo’s continued silence, he snapped. “Did I do something?”
Theo spun from the spot he’d taken by the window, staring out into the flashing, neon-lit night. “What? No!” He shook his head. “No. You did nothing. It was me. I thought…” He sighed as he turned back to the window. “It doesn’t matter what I thought.”
Daniel stared at Theo’s profile, unsure what to say to get the angel to open up again. His loose, ruffled blond hair curled slightly around his ears, highlighting his pale cheeks and strong facial features. Theo had shucked off his jacket, and Daniel admired the way the tight tee accentuated the angel-made-flesh’s chest and arms.
Before they’d left the fight club, Theo had seemed like an open book, so having him turn away, like the pages fluttering closed, Daniel felt an urgency to lurch forward and stop him from slamming shut that sweet openness he showed. He toed off his shoes and moved closer, barely making a sound as he crossed the carpeted floor.
Standing beside the Nordic angel, Daniel peered into the night. He’d lived his whole life in the Atlantic City area. He didn’t so much like the crime, the underhanded bigotry, the poverty and homelessness that were so prevalent, not just in what once was the playground of America’s elite, but in every city. It always seemed like clean clashed against the filth. Sanity against chaos, banging its head against an unmoving wall. Sure, he’d noticed improvements over the last few years. The area was slowly improving. Casinos were taking a harder line with the gamblers. The police took greater strides to be out and about, acting as a deterrent for thieves and other criminals, and the city council was bringing fun back with concerts on the beach, more headliners in the venues, and spearheading redevelopment projects that tore down vacant and decaying buildings while supporting those wishing to build anew.
He loved walking the boardwalk and seeing families of all nationalities mingle. Daniel got a kick out of the kitschy shops that sold the typical souvenirs and reading the ridiculous T-shirts lining the walls. He often peered into the hermit crab cages, hoping to catch a glimpse of one, or he snuck into The Rainforest Cafe to listen to the jungle roar. One day he had even given in to the hawkers and spent a few bucks and a solid two hours wandering the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Exhibit. He felt even more justified in doing so as they were currently dismantling the venue. It would be strange to not see the giant Earth emerging from the museum’s roof as he often used it as a landmark while walking.
“It matters to me.” Daniel bumped his arm against Theo’s. “If nothing else, I’d like to think we’re friends. You can confide in me.”
Theo peered down at him, an odd expression on his face. Almost blank, but also sad. “Friends… I’m not doing enough if you only see me that way.” Theo returned to looking out the window, a frown creasing the corners of his mouth, and Daniel’s chest tightened.
He gripped Theo’s arm. “Seriously? How could you want more from me? I’m nothing, and the fact that God sent you to help is fucking blowing my mind. I’m a nobody in this mess. Just some rando human caught up in a devil’s game.”
Theo’s hand closed over his. “Father didn’t send me just because of Troian.”
“He didn’t?” Daniel gazed into Theo’s eyes, the light blue only visible in the dim light because of the neon signs pulsing across the street. He wanted to understand, but whatever Theo meant had gone over his head. “Then why?”
As Theo turned, he lifted his other hand to cup Daniel’s cheek. He stared at Daniel, his cheekbones tilting upward as he smiled. The side of Theo’s thumb caressed the corner of Daniel’s mouth before gliding across his lips. Slowly, he bent, bringing his face closer to Daniel’s. Inches away, he whispered words that set Daniel’s world akilter again. “He sent me for you.”
“Me?” Daniel whispered, his heart pounding out a discordant rhythm. “I don’t understand.”
“He…chose you… for me. I am yours, and I will be yours until the end of days if you choose me in return.”
