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“No, of course not. Of course, I won’t say anything,” Daniel rushed to reply. Who the heck would believe him, anyway? He looked at Jay. “So you’re coming with me tonight as…”
“A friend of Theo’s. He told me about the fights, and I wanted to check the place out. Bonus, you could always say I’m a gambling man and wanted to bet on my friend to win.”
“You know I will.” Theo raised a fist for Jay to bump.
“It looks good, Joe. Thanks.”
Daniel jolted at hearing another voice. Shit! He’d completely forgotten there had been another customer inside the shop. Jay and his brothers parted to allow the newcomer into their circle.
He offered his hand. “We haven’t met. I’m Leo.” Daniel greeted him as he spoke to Theo. “I understand that John’s been teaching you.”
“Yes.”
Leo harrumphed. “Well, you’re coming with me. I want to see what you got, and we need to do something about your face.”
“My face?” Theo asked, patting a cheek. Daniel wondered the same. Theo was gorgeous. There wasn’t a thing wrong with his face.
“You’re healed. Not even a drop of bruising. We don’t want to raise any more suspicions than what he might already have.”
“Heavens,” Theo whispered. “I hadn’t thought about that.”
“No worries. I’ll get a few hits in and Mary’s a wonder with make-up. We’ll get you looking like you were in a fight instead of this pristine flawlessness you got going on.” Leo laughed at himself.
Daniel, however, stared… at Theo. He admired that “pristine flawlessness.” Maybe a little too much. He touched the angel’s cheek, then traced a light fingertip over where the cut had been, just now noticing the “lack of” that Leo had mentioned. As he explored Theo’s high cheekbones, the words Leo said registered, and Daniel jerked his hand away. He stared daggers at Leo. “A few hits?” His shrill question cut through the silence. “What the Hell?”
Theo’s arms came around him. He whispered, “All is well,” into Daniel’s ear, shunting some of his anger. “I hadn’t thought of it before. It must be done to keep up the charade. We must keep up our pretense for as long as possible. It was my mistake. I’m sorry.”
Daniel spun in Theo’s hold, calmer now as he realized what had happened and what must come. “You don’t have to apologize. I should, for not thinking before I raised my voice. I just don’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“You do realize I’ll be in that cage again tonight, right?” Theo raised one of his shapely brows, a smirk playing on his lips. His arms tightened slightly on Daniel’s body and he kind of wanted to swoon at being the center of the angel’s attention.
“Don’t remind me.” He cradled Theo’s face in his hands. “Let me remember this, right now, how beautiful you are.”
Theo loosely grasped Daniel’s wrists and pulled his arms down, giving them a tiny shake. “You make it sound like I’m dying. I won’t. I can’t. I have too much to live for.”
“You’re an angel. What’s to live for?”
“You.” Theo gazed into Daniel’s eyes. “I am yours.”
Daniel stared back, his mind awhirl with connotations, but amid the swirling thoughts, one prevailed. “Me? I’m nothing.”
Theo swung his head back and forth in slow motion, his eyes never leaving Daniel’s face. “You’re everything. You are mine, and I am yours. Go now and remember that.”
Before Daniel could reply, Jay clapped his hands. “Daniel, we need to go or you’ll be late.”
Theo carefully leaned down and brushed his nose and then his lips against Daniel’s cheek. “Go.” He released Daniel and turned, facing Leo.
With Theo’s back to Daniel, he broke from the trance the angel seemed to have put on him. Daniel shook his head, then made for the door where Judah stood waiting for him.
As they walked, Jay said, “While you know my true name, outside these doors, please remember to call me Jay.”
“Alright. Do you think anyone will recognize you?” Daniel glanced at the ruggedly handsome man. Another angel returned to flesh and blood… “Holy shit!”
Jay laughed. “Nothing holy about that.”
“No. No, I…” Daniel drew in a long draw of the cold, night air, tasting the salt of the ocean as the scent drifted off the water. “Sorry. I just realized what Theo meant.”
“What’s that?”
