She needs to breathe. She’s trying desperately to hold on to the memory of his words at their last meeting,. She doesn’t want to use him; he’s unique and glorious, yes, but not to be treated as something to collect. She pulls back, breaking the kiss, still feeling the imprint of his mouth on hers. “Gabriel.”
His wings fold back, and he looks into Summer’s eyes. “Yes, that’s my name, don’t wear it out.” he smiles sadly, his heart not in that terrible joke at all.
“What’s wrong?” She’s still pressed up against him, arms about his neck, and searches his eyes. One hand threads up into his hair.
“When someone pulls back like that, it usually means they’re thinking about something. I worry about what you think of me, which is kind of silly, given how little I care about my impression with others.”
“I’m always thinking about something,” Summer laughs. “In this case, it’s how much I missed you, and how if you kiss me like that one more time, I’m going to forget you’re an archangel and knock you flat on my bed.” Her eyes sparkle.
He allows a mildly predatory smile to blossom on his face, his eyes sparkling. “That wouldn’t be so terrible, would it?” He laughs quietly, then leans in close. “Be careful what you think, you never know who’s listening.” With a quick smirk, he goes in for what seems like a kiss.
“Tease,” she tells him, covering his mouth with a lifted hand. “It would be the opposite of terrible, but I don’t want to use you.” The smile turns into something more wry, self-deprecating. “It’s only if you want that.” A shadow of memory flits across her face, darkening her eyes. “I’ve had enough of ruining things with my wants for a lifetime, these months you were gone.”