Lash Broken Angel

20





Naomi tugged a faded t-shirt over her damp skin. There was only one towel in the bathroom and it was so thin she could see through it. At least she had washed the awful fish smell off her. She sighed as she wiped the fogged mirror. “You’re an idiot,” she said to the reflection.

“What was that?”

Crap! The walls were as thin as the towels.

Lash had stopped at a cheap motel just outside of Vaughn, New Mexico saying that they should lay low for a while. He hid the car in the back of the motel. She thought he was crazy because there was a big sign out front with a big red arrow pointing to the building basically saying, “They’re in there. Come and get her.”

She trusted Lash, so if he thought it was safe to stay there for the night, so be it. She was tired and she really wanted to take the stink out of her clothes. Lesson learned. Don’t eat tuna from a gas station.

“Nothing. Just smashing one of the dozen roaches in here.” She slammed a shoe against the floor, wishing someone would do the same to her. Yes, that is what she needed—someone to slap her back to reality.

Once they were at a safe distance and sure that they were not being followed by Sal, she calmed down and watched Lash drive from the corner of her eye. She couldn’t stop staring at him, especially his lips. Something was wrong with her. Really wrong. Here she was with her life in danger, the demons of Hell, literally, chasing her and all she could think about was his hand on her body, and those lips, those perfectly shaped, luscious lips.

She caught herself in the mirror mid-pucker and made a face. She was hopeless. She plopped down on top of the toilet seat, dropped her head in her hands, and willed herself to focus on what needed to be done. First, she had to call Welita.

She took the cell phone out of her backpack and was happy to see that she was able to get reception. She hadn’t been able to get any since they crossed the New Mexico-Texas border.

“Mijita? Is that you?”

“Yes, Welita.” Her throat constricted and her eyes pricked with tears. Had it only been hours since she last talked to her? It felt like days. “I wanted to let you know I’m okay.”

“I knew you would be,” she said. There was a beat of silence. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, I’m just happy to hear your voice.” The lump in her throat grew. For some reason, it felt like it was the last time she would be talking to her. “I love you, Welita.”

“Te amo,” she whispered back. “I was blessed the moment you were placed in my arms. You’re special, and you’re here for a purpose. Don’t forget that.”

“I’m afraid.” She tightened her grip on the phone as if by doing so she could hold on to Welita. “I’m afraid I won’t ever see you or Chuy again.”

“Ay, Mijita. Haven’t you learned by now? Love will always guide you home.”

When she was done, Naomi took a deep breath and opened the bathroom door. Lash took watch by the window in the darkened room with the only light coming from the bathroom. She took in the smatter of stubble on his chiseled jaw and the line of his aquiline nose. Déjà vu rippled through her. She’d seen something like this before.

“What’s wrong?” Lash hurried to her side.

Her heart pounded at his touch and her eyes traveled from the strong hand that rested on her arm to his biceps and then his broad shoulders. It slowly came to her, the dream she had when she was in the hospital. The man in her dream looked like him. Same broad shoulders, chiseled jaw, nose. How was that possible?

“Nothing,” she swallowed. “I thought I saw something, but it was nothing.” He gazed at her skeptically, and she turned away from his intense stare. “I guess I’m tired.” She trudged to the bed and paused as she realized there was only one bed in the room.

“You take it. I’ll keep watch.”

“We could share. I mean it’s not like anything is going to happen…” Her voice trailed off as she felt her face grow hot remembering his kiss.

“Naomi, about what happened back there.” He took a step back and brushed a hand through his hair. “I, uh, I crossed a line that I shouldn’t have.”

“Oh.” She turned away. She should have known better. She was just a mission for him to accomplish.

“I got carried away in the heat of the moment.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it.” She waved him off.

“We’re still friends, right?”

“Yeah…friends.” She could barely say the word. There was no expectation that they were or would ever be a couple in the romantic sense. She admitted that she liked him and being friends was a good thing. But why was it so painful?

Bear trotted to her, wagging her tail, and Naomi picked her up. Bear gazed at her with sad eyes, sensing her heartache and licked her hand. She wasn’t the only one.

The bed sank and Naomi felt him behind her. She couldn’t let him see her like this, like some love-struck teenage girl who just found out the quarterback of the football team only liked her as a friend. She had to be strong.

“Are you crying?”

She bowed her head glad the shadows hid her face. “No.” Good. Her voice sounded strong instead of the driveling mess she felt like.

“Turn around.”

“No.”

“Let me see your face, Naomi.” He moved closer to her.

“Go away.”

Bear barked, warning him to keep his distance.

He reached around her, brushing her arm as he patted Bear’s head. “Please.” His warm breath blew on her neck.

The tenderness in his voice tore at her and her eyes grew wet. She took a couple of breaths, calming herself before she spoke. “I get it. I’m a job for you, and you felt sorry for me.” She stroked Bear’s fur. “I’ll be fine.”

She took another deep breath, placed Bear on the floor, and took a pillow off the bed. She couldn’t stay in the same room with him. It was too much. She liked him better when he was being a smartass—that she could handle. She needed to get back to the bathroom to be alone. Maybe she could sleep in there. The bathtub didn’t look too bad in spite of the dark ring around it and the questionable green stuff on the walls.

Lash grasped her hand and she bit down on her lip, fighting back the strong feeling that bubbled up inside her. She felt herself weaken as she sank back down on the bed, keeping her head down. Don’t make me look at you. I’ll break if I do.

Gently, he placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face to his. His eyes swam with tenderness. She couldn’t hold back anymore and she closed her eyes.

“My beautiful Naomi. Please don’t cry.”

Soft lips pressed against her forehead and lingered, her breath caught at the heat of his touch. The roughness of his chin grazed her skin as he moved to her eyelid and kissed it and then to the other. Her chest rose and fell as his lips slid down to her cheek, her nose, and then the other side of her face, chasing away the tears.

His nose glided along her cheek and paused over her mouth, hovering, his frantic breath lingering with hers. She was afraid to open her eyes. Afraid of what she’d see when she looked at him. Then his voice, so soft, as if he was speaking from inside her mind, whispered, “Naomi.”

She opened her eyes and her breath hitched at the raw emotion on his face. The wall he kept around his soul, his true self, disappeared. This was the real Lash—vulnerable, sweet and passionate. She couldn’t deny the truth that was sitting in front of her, tugging at her, consuming her. She loved him.

“Fight me.” His voice rasped as a hand swept over her hair. “I shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t want to hurt you.”

His words warred with the longing on his face. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. Then she realized what he was asking of her. He was an angel. He was on his way home. After tonight, she would never see him again. The thought crushed her. In the back of her mind, she knew there would be an end. He couldn’t be with her forever. The end was soon, and this may be their last time together. Tonight, she’d follow her heart, even if it meant her heart, her soul, would be left bleeding in the end. If all they had was one night, one moment—she’d take it.

“You won’t.” She leaned in, her mouth brushing lightly over his lips.

He quivered. “I can’t stop myself anymore.”

He slowly pressed his lips to hers, and a flood of euphoria rushed to her heart. She weaved her fingers into his hair, surprised by how soft it was, and pulled his head closer deepening the kiss. His hands slid down her shoulders to her back and she felt herself falling back onto the bed. When he pressed himself against her, heat surged through her body.

His kisses were soft and deep as if they were his last. Her hands went beneath his shirt and fingers skimmed over his back feeling every muscle, so smooth and hard. Closer. Tighter. She held on to him never wanting to let go, knowing in the back of her mind that she would soon have to.

His lips trailed inch by inch down her throat. Tasting. Savoring. Each kiss whispered the words she longed to hear—I love you. She floated, helpless, on a tidal wave of emotions. Bliss. Despair. Both, one and the same in the knowledge that she couldn’t hold on to him no matter how hard she tried.

Desperate to feel his skin against hers, she took hold of the edge of his shirt. Taking her lead, he pulled the shirt over his head and hovered over her for a moment, darkened eyes holding hers. Longing. Yearning. She was breathless. She reached out, cupped his cheek and brushed a thumb over his unshaven cheek, drinking in him in, committing it to memory.

She reached out to her dream, drawing him close. Lash. Lash. Her kisses grew hungry, fervent. She couldn’t get enough. As if hearing her needs, he lifted her up and helped her take off her clothes. He stopped, awestruck, as he took in the sight of her. His finger traced the outline of her collarbone from shoulder to shoulder trailing in a “Z” down between her breasts. Trembling. Quivering. She reached out to pull him to her again.

“Wait. Let me look at you.” Darkened eyes drank her in. “So beautiful.”

Hot wet lips moved down her throat and she moaned as they continued to move down. Fevered hands caressed her breasts. Pulsing. Throbbing. She needed him.

She tugged at his jean’s zipper, when his hand stopped hers. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she breathed. She’d never been so sure of anything in her life.

When he pressed himself into her, she closed her eyes and wrapped her legs around him. Their bodies moved in rhythm and she felt herself go higher and higher, until she was near the edge.

“Naomi. Look at me.”

Her eyes locked with his and in that one moment they were suspended in time. There were no rules, there were no goodbyes; it was only the two of them in their own personal Heaven.

Gripping his arms, she cried out and arched her back, surrendering. He tightened against her and cried out. Ecstasy washed over his face and she was spellbound. Heaven. Hell. Her heart broke knowing she’d never see it again.