Angel blinks her eyes open. She can't move and is battling to breathe a little with the dead weight of Austin's body on top of her. It's weird though because she feels a sense of comfort, a sense of serenity. This is only the second night she has been under him like this, the second morning she has woken up like this and she does not know how she will ever be able to sleep any other way again. She has always been a restless sleeper only able to sleep two or three hours before waking up then tossing and turning for a good hour before sleep pulls her under again. But last night and the night before she never woke up once when Austin had engulfed her with his beautiful body. It's strange, most people would feel claustrophobic or even slightly panicked with this weight on them, but Angel feels the opposite - she needs it.
She tries to shift slightly, her muscles stiff from not moving all night, but Austin is too heavy so she moves her feet slightly and hears Austin's breathing in her ear change. He shifts and rolls onto his back. Angel stretches her cramped muscles, they are painful, but it's a nice pain - a content pain. Angel doesn't understand it either. She rolls over and looks at Austin. He is awake. The blanket is draped low over his hips giving her a lovely view of his naked chest, he has one arm bent behind his head as he stares at the ceiling with a perplexed look on his face while his other hand is splayed out on his chest. His brain must hurt with how much he is thinking.
"Do you know anything about Greek mythology, Austin?"
"No."
"Well, According to Greek mythology, humans were made with four arms, four legs, and two heads. They were very powerful and the gods feared them. So one day Zeus split them into two. Apollo, felt sorry for the humans as they were dying from sadness and the pain of being split. He stitched the humans from where they were cut apart, so we had time to find our soul mate before we die. That's also why we have belly buttons - it's where we were once joined."
Austin frowns at her words as he continues to look up at the ceiling then sighs heavily. "I don't understand you," he whispers. "You have a belly button and so do I. Coincidence? I think not," she says. "We are mammals. It is where our umbilical cords attached us to our mothers - it's simple science, " Austin mumbles still staring at the ceiling. Angel sits up and straddles him, leaning over and hovering her face in his. His eyes snap from the ceiling to hers - it's the only movement he makes.
"No, it's because I have a soulmate. I am attached invisibly to someone...and there is nothing I can do to change that," she says leaning in further and pecking his lips with hers. He does nothing, but watch her so she pecks his lips again - still nothing, only starting. So she pecks him again and then stares back at him. Suddenly he rolls them so she is tucked under him, her legs wrapped around his hips and her arms stretched above her head as he grips her wrists. He stares down at her, his eyes searching her face and the sexual tension between them is suffocating. "Stop fucking with me. Do that again and I will lock my bedroom door when I sleep at night," he says then sits up and walks out of the bedroom, slamming the door behind him. "Shit! Fuck! " Charlie screeches. "Yeah, I know, Charlie. It's fucking bullshit," Angel says climbing out of the bed and picking Charlie up. She sighs and walks to her room. Angel has had tons of partners - that sounds bad - but it's not like it was planned and most of them never got to a point where it was sexual because they, thankfully, showed their true colors pretty early on. Her money, her fame, and the exposure that comes with it were usually what they were after. She is impulsive so when given a little attention she is happy to go along for the ride even if she is not feeling it. She has only had one boyfriend and one girlfriend that she had believed love was a factor - but alas they were never meant to be and she was left severely heartbroken. But, something about Austin is different. She can't say for sure what it is, maybe it's her current fucked up circumstance or that he is not playing into her hands like everyone else does. But, it's there brewing just under the surface, and eventually, something has gotta give - now that is just simple science.
Angel walks into the kitchen and sees Phoebe fluttering around like a mad woman. "What's up Phebs?" she asks climbing on the kitchen counter near the coffee machine and turning it on. "I am getting my lunch ready for school. And it's really cool that Angel Knite has a nickname for me...Phebs - I like it," she says filling her bright pink water bottle. "Well, we are friends, so..." Angel says picking up an apple and a knife, peeling it. "Yes, we are. No one will believe me. Can I tell anyone we are friends or is it top secret?" Phoebe asks making sandwiches. "You can tell whoever you want. You can even invite your friends around if you like too," Angel says frowning when Austin walks in and takes the knife out of her hand. "No friends. Get off the counter," he grumbles. "Why not?" Phoebe asks as Angel shifts further back onto the kitchen counter and crosses her legs. "Because I don't have time to do background checks on all of them," he grumbles then looks at Angel, "get off," he says again as Angel grins and shakes her head.
"You have known all my friends for years, why would you need to do background checks on them?" Phoebe asks. "This is my place of work. Work. This is not a holiday, Phoebe. If you bring friends around you need to notify me first so I can run a check on them. No exceptions," he says then looks at Angel with a glare. "If you don't get down from that counter, miss Knite, I will rip you off it," he says. Angel smirks and shrugs at him. He sighs then grabs her and pulls her off the counter, not too rough but roughly enough to express his annoyance with her. She makes sure to plaster herself to him before he pushes her away and stalks off.
"You really enjoy pissing my brother off don't you?"
"I don't do it intentionally."
Phoebe creases her brow and gives Angel a pointed look as she slings her bag over her shoulder. "Ok...maybe a little bit. He is so rigid - he needs to lose up. Was he always like this?" Angel asks.
"For as long as I can remember. Yes."
"Was he like this as a kid?"
"Pretty much."
"Well, that's fucking depressing."
Phoebe walks over to Charlie giving him a scratch and a kiss. "Austin is a protector and in my eyes, a hero...but that comes with a lot of demons and self-loathing. He is a good man. Maybe try your hand at understanding him instead of driving him mad," Phoebe says softly then gives her a little wave and walks out. Angel would try to understand him more, but Austin has a thick brick wall with steel reinforcements around him. He will never let her get to know him, not the real him anyway. She tries to think of something, but her brain hurts so she gives up and drinks her coffee while playing with Charlie.
Charlie gets loud, "Fuck! Shit!" he screeches and pads around the obstacle course she has made him from kitchen supplies on the kitchen table then suddenly he stops and goes quiet. Austin must be behind her. She turns in her chair and sure enough, there he is standing in the doorway. "You have a signing and appearance to get to," he says opening Charlie's cage. "Get in," he says. Angel hides her smile, Charlie is cute and everyone loves him, but he is a little bit of an asshole and does not listen to anyone - not even her unless she has a treat for him. But, her mouth drops open when Charlie stands and walks into his cage without so much as a chirp. "How did you do that?" she asks standing up and inspecting the cage - she does not know what she is looking for. Austin shrugs and then walks out of the kitchen. "Seems your bird has more sense than you, miss Knite," he says over his shoulder. "Traitor," Angel whispers to Charlie then runs after Austin.
"Where did you go yesterday?" Lia asks as Angel climbs into the car. Angel opens her mouth to tell her all about her adventures, but Austin who has now decided she is incapable of putting her own seatbelt on hums, "nuh-uh," under his breath as he leans over her and clips her belt on. Angel doesn't know what the big secret is, but does not go against Austin's instruction so she lies. "Just needed to get out the house so went for a drive...why?" Angel asks, it's suddenly dawning on her that Lia left way before she even decided to go with Austin and she only arrived now - how did she know Angel went out last night? "And yesterday? After the studio, where did you go then?" Lia asks. Angel looks at Austin through the side mirror - he is looking at her already and mouths, "no," at her. "Shopping. I needed new shoes," Angel answers.
Lia looks at her, her face is a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "Why?" Angel asks then forces down her squeak when she feels Austin's hand come between the car door and seat, squeezing her leg. She grabs his hand discreetly before he can pull it back. He is freaking her out. "I am your assistant - I need to know where you are at all times, Angel. I have told you this before," Lia says opening her phone and typing away. Oh, well that makes sense. She is not wrong. Lia controls almost every aspect of her life. She knows things before Angel does and Angel relies on her to get her to appointments and places. Why is Austin being so shady? It's weird. If he thinks Lia has anything to do with this he has lost his dam mind. Lia has been with her for years. "Stop for coffee," Austin mumbles, he has not pulled his hand away and Angel gives it a small squeeze.
The crowd is once again very large and very loud at her appearance, but they have barricades up so that always makes her feel a little more comfortable, especially since that stupid hooded man. But, her nerves do take over a bit so she waits for Nate to park the car and then for Austin to open her door and help her out. She stays close to him and he frowns at her slightly.
"You freaked me out about Lia. I want to talk to-"
"Not now. You have a job to do and you need to act normal...your normal."
"But-"
"Later, Miss Knite."
"But-"
"Trust in me."
Angel watches Austin's eyes as he talks. They are a soft blue and while the rest of him is hard, scary even, his eyes are soft - honest. She does trust him and knows that even if someone did get hold of her, Austin would get to her, and keep her safe. She can see it in his eyes. She can feel it. "Ok, " she whispers then turns and plasters a smile on her face, popping out from behind the car and waving with both hands as the fans that have gathered to greet her scream so loud she can feel her eardrums pop a little.