And it was then that he noticed the weight was gone. He'd lived with his heavy burden for so long, it had become something that he wasn't aware of anymore. Now, though, in the absence of that taxing pressure inside every square inch of him, he felt ... free. Fresh. Reborn.
The only trouble was that that new-man syndrome had him thinking crazy things, and deciding they seemed entirely reasonable.
Smoothing her beautiful red hair back, he said softly, "So your father asked me a question that night I went for dinner with you all."
Reilly smiled. "Did he? I just remember him telling you he knew CPR."
"It was right before that," he whispered. "You think maybe I could give him an answer someday?"
Her breath hitched. And then a brilliant joy shone out of her face. "If I understand what you're saying, I think you're going to have to ask him something first."
"Your parents free for dinner tomorrow night?"
She started laughing and then so did he. "I think I can arrange that."
"Perfect." He got serious. "You're just ... perfect."
Cradling her against his chest, Veck let a peaceful exhaustion claim him: All was right in his world. He had his woman, his life, and his soul back.
Didn't get any better than this.
Up in heaven, Nigel's feet took him on a trip around the castle. The ambulation was not to admire the unfurled grace of Jim's latest victory. Nor was it to check for security. Nor was it to take the air.
Although if asked about his stroll, he would have offered all of those lies in response.
Indeed, perhaps Jim and he were closer than he thought.
And yet if he had proffered such explanations to any person or dog, what he held upon his flattened palm would have announced him as a liar: He carried with him a plate with a damask napkin draped over it - and beneath the fine cloth, there was a currant scone, two biscuits, and a fresh strawberry.
As he walked along with his pastry load, he had in his heart a vague sense of distaste at this butler-like activity. But he needed a tangible excuse to go where he was headed, not just for any others with inquiring minds, but for the intended recipient of what had been plated.
That being said, however, it was not just sweets for the not-so-sweet that he was bringing with him. He had news to share.
Approaching Colin's tent, he felt like a royal arse, but the archangel had not presented himself for the collective gathering and had missed the missive, so to speak. He was also likely to be hungry after his time away.
Excuses, excuses ... Nigel wanted to see the jammy sod.
Damn them both.
And so much for clean breaks.
At the entry flap, he cleared his throat. "Colin."
Waiting for a response, he tugged at the damask napkin to make sure it was still covering the goodies.
"Colin."
Oh, enough with this polite restraint.
He pushed his way inside and stopped. Upon the modest cot, there were three suits laid out, each with coordinating ascots, stockings, and shoes.
The middle combination of black and pale grays would compliment him best, Nigel thought.
Putting the plate down, he reached out to stroke the fine cloth of the sleeve. Odd that the archangel had lined these up. Colin was not particular about his vestments.
Turning away, Nigel looked at the leather-bound books. The trunk. The oil lamp that burned with gentle light.
Where was the angel going with such dress?
And then he recalled: Colin had been down with Edward, and wherever Edward was, so too was Adrian.
That cocksure angel with the fetish for piercings had never been known to affiliate with members of his own sex before, but it wasn't as if Nigel got into that portion of his subordinates' lives in any detail. Besides, Colin was irresistible. Which was what had landed Nigel in the position he was in now.
Such a fool he was, Nigel thought. Such a fool.
He strode out, but closed the flap behind him softly. The last thing he needed to do was get caught -
A cheerful whistling tune brought his head about.
Sneaking behind the tent, his breath caught. In the midst of the stream's rushing current, Colin stood with his back to the bank, a soft rubbing cloth passing over his shoulders and leaving a trail of suds that eased between the winged muscles of his torso, following a path e'er downward... .
Colin's head came 'round, and then the top half of him followed.
Nigel swallowed hard as their eyes met. The male was a vision such as he had seen afore, and yet was e'er new.
"Good evening," the other archangel said, before resuming his soapy ministrations across his chest.
As Colin worked his skin over, he didn't swivel away, but instead continued that soft cloth down, down ... down... .
"Going somewhere?" Nigel said bitterly.
"Yes."
"Where?"
The archangel pivoted all the way about ... and given what the male's body was up to, Nigel felt like cursing. The outfits. This washing. Skipping the meal as if he were preparing for something special.
That arousal.
If it wasn't Adrian, could it be a human suitor? Or a soul on the safe side of the castle walls, mayhap?
"I have news," Nigel forced himself to say smoothly. "That was shared over dessert, in fact."
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."
"Indeed."
As they conversed, Nigel's peripheral vision was proving achingly acute: Although he focused upon Colin's face, he was all too well aware of the careful attention the archangel was paying to his manhood.
And to think cleanliness was a virtue.
More like a torture.
"Nigel?"
"You also missed the victory flagging, and Jim's appearance."
"For which I give my apologies." Colin hissed a little in pleasure and then seemed to refocus. "Now, tell me, what is your news."
"The Creator has decreed for whom the next bell tolls. It is not whom we were told at first."
This got the archangel's attention - and froze that damnable cloth. "I thought all the souls were agreed upon before the game began?"
"They were. And it was assumed, at least by me, that there were but six because one side or the other would win early."
"But now?"
"Oh, this soul was approved of. I was just unaware that there would be a second inning upon him."
Colin's surprise was satisfying; at least it proved Nigel could still get a reaction out of him.
With a powerful thrust, the archangel took a smooth pe into the waters and then stepped out of the river. As he emerged, dripping and still hard in that essential place, Nigel obligingl proffered the male the toweling that hung upon the closest branch - it was not to save the archangel from a chill, however.
More because Nigel did not need to incinerate on the spot.
However, although Colin did dry off, the bastard merely looped the thing around the back of his neck when he was finished.
"Weren't you getting dressed?" Nigel interjected.
" Aye."
"Now?" Please.
"Who is the soul?"
"Matthias."
Colin frowned. "Is the Creator redacting Devina's victory, then?"
"The decision from on high is that the loss to her shall stand, but that Jim will have a second attempt to influence the man."
"This is unprecedented."
"The game is unprecedented."
As the pair of them stared at each other, Nigel's heart ached to the point of actual pain. Which was his cue to leave, wasn't it.
"At any rate, I thought you should like to know," he said briskly. "I bid you adieu, and ... good evening. Clearly, you intend to have one."
"I do." Colin's lids went low. "Indeed I shall."
Nigel nodded stiffly and walked with no greater grace back to his tent. As he passed the tea table that had since been cleared, he was glad that the other two and that grand dog had returned to their quarters. He did not wish for even Tarquin's canine stare to witness this walk of private humiliation.
He had gone o'er to present a gift, only to witness preparations for a tryst that obviously didn't involve him.
Stupid.
Fool.
In his quarters, Nigel stripped down, but he did not retire to the bath - too many memories. Instead, he donned a new satin robe that he had never worn in the presence of Colin and stretched out upon his chaise longue, looking about his luxurious appointments.
Even with all the colorful drapery and the comfortable bedding, it seemed such an empty place.
Beside him, the flame atop a beeswax candle idly wafted to and fro, and he envied it its easy job. Unfortunately, the thing offered little in the way of company, so he just watched it cannibalize itself in silence, the tears of consumption dripping slowly down its ever-shrinking body.