He leaned down and captured my lips with his in a hard, bruising kiss. I melted into the kiss and returned it with a greediness of my own. The whole world melted away, and I never wanted to escape from this bubble.
When we pulled apart, Lyov gave me that beautiful smile of his, the one that was just reserved for me and our son. And soon, our daughter.
That smile, it had the power to take my breath away. He was so handsome. In a dark, deadly, and beautiful way.
“Alessio must be waiting for us. It’s his big day,” I finally said. Lyov nodded, and his chest puffed, a very proud father. Our baby boy was no longer a baby. God, I never wanted him to grow up. I wanted him to stay just like this, little and pure.
This world would taint him.
Just like it tainted all of us.
I put Lyov’s black tie around his neck and tied it, like every morning. He then shrugged on his suit jacket, and we walked out of the room, hand in hand.
Alessio’s bedroom was down the hall, and we walked in to find him still faking his sleep. His eyes were squeezed tight, and he was hiding a smile. Lyov and I shared a look before we made our way to his bed. I leaned over and placed a kiss on his forehead.
His cute smile widened.
Lyov was on the other side. He winked at me before leaning over and tickling our little boy.
“Happy birthday,” we both said at the same time.
Alessio howled with laughter as his father continued to tickle him.
My heart soared, and tears stung my eyes. My daughter kicked and rolled around in my stomach, sharing our happiness.
I never wanted this moment to end.
I never wanted to wake up from this dream.
This was us. It was so imperfectly beautiful that, in its own way, it was perfect.
I watched Lyov pull Alessio on his lap, and I listened to father and son talk.
In this moment, I fell a thousand times more in love with my husband than I was this morning. And every time, that love continued to blossom more.
His head lifted up, and our eyes met. A thousand unsaid words went through between us.
Thank you, Master. For saving me that night. For capturing me into your trap and giving me the wings of an Angel.
***
My fingers caressed Alessio’s forehead, and I watched as my touch lulled him to sleep. He cuddled closer into my chest and sighed dreamily. My baby. My sweet boy.
I smiled, remembering our conversation just hours ago. He had asked why Lyov called me Angel. My sweet boy had been confused.
Lyov’s kiss left me breathless, and I leaned into him. For the briefest moment, I forgot that our son was there and watching. Lyov pulled away and pressed his forehead against mine.
“I missed you, Angel,” he whispered. He was only gone for a few hours. We had lunch together, and then he had quickly fucked me against the wall of his office before he left.
My smile widened, and I went to say I missed him too when Alessio interrupted us.
“Papa, why do you call Mommy ‘Angel’?”
We both stared at Alessio. My husband laughed, and I could feel my cheeks heating with a blush.
Lyov crouched down, and I listened as he asked Alessio what he thought the meaning of Angel was. I saw his small forehead crease in confusion, and then he replied something about angels being God’s messenger. Helpers. Saviors.
Lyov nodded and then gave his own little explanation. Our own meaning of the word Angel. Lyov’s reason to why I was his Angel. Now and always.
“Correct. But an angel is also someone who is sweet, kind, caring, and calm. The most beautiful woman on the planet. Someone who is amazing in every way. An Angel is the girl who makes your heart beat faster when she walks into the room. The girl you need wherever you go. The girl who makes you want to be better. An angel is someone who is your rock. The person you love with your entire heart. The person you can’t see yourself living without.”
There we went again. That pitter-patter dance of my heart.
When Lyov looked up, meeting my blue eyes with his grey ones, something stirred deep inside me at the look of love and protectiveness in his gaze.
I love you, I mouthed. And then I pulled our son toward me and into my arms.
“And one day, you will find your angel,” I whispered.
Alessio still looked confused. He was too young to understand the meaning, the power of that word. I listened to him argue with the fact that he believed I was his Angel.
Oh, little do you know, my sweet boy.
I shook my head. “Your Angel is waiting for you somewhere. And when you do find her, don’t ever let her go.”