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Chapter 22 - Chapter Twenty One - Shower Thoughts

Overwhelmed by her thoughts, Charlotte felt too exhausted to talk during the short drive to the hotel. She kept replaying the events from the past two nights in her mind, harshly criticizing herself for her mistakes. Although Angel had warned her about the potential consequences if she were discovered, she cursed the ghostly chains that bound her—they had nearly cost the boy his life.

Her thoughts drifted into fantasy, and she imagined being free to expose her abilities when needed, hunting down evil with Angel's help and the law's support, saving every endangered child who required her aid. The fantasy appealed to her, but these visions did nothing to improve her mood; instead, they only served to remind her of her limitations.

Once Angel retrieved the key from the front office and they entered the room, she headed straight for the bathroom, "I'm going to go get cleaned up first, if that's okay?"

"Of course," he agreed, adding, "I'll leave you some fresh clothes again and go grab some supplies and food for us. I'll be back in about an hour."

She forced a small smile to show she was okay with him leaving and then disappeared behind the bathroom door without saying a word. After closing the door, she clicked the lock, not because she didn't trust him, but because she needed the feeling of extra security.

Leaning against the cold surface, Charlotte sighed deeply. She didn't blame him for being cautious; if anything, he had given her a meaningful purpose, and she had to reassure him of that. He deserved better than the silent treatment she had given him. She just needed to clear her mind first.

Hopefully, the shower would help. Pushing off the door, she parted the drape and twisted the handle all the way around. As the water heated up, she stripped out of her grimy clothes, tossing them on the floor between the tub and toilet. Now naked, she stood in front of the mirror and gazed at her disheveled reflection, carefully inspecting her body.

That's when she noticed the blood on her arm. Running her fingers over her skin, she inferred it came from the impact against the tree when she slipped into the water. Now that she'd noticed it, the cut stung a bit at her touch. Narrowing her eyes, she focused and poured her power into the wound, and in seconds, her skin was fresh and new.

I wonder what else I can do, she pondered silently as she turned around to inspect her back. Despite her body's condition and the mess from the mud and grime, she couldn't help but think, I'm pretty damn sexy if I do say so myself.

As she reflected on this, a gentle smile spread across her lips. There would be time later to discuss her feelings with him, but at this moment, she allowed herself to feel what she had previously denied while holding the boy in her arms: relief.

Like the steaming water that shortly afterward drenched her long, crusty hair and soaked her slender frame, that feeling of comfort washed away her sadness. As she soaped up to remove the mud, grime, and sludge, Charlotte enjoyed the sensation of her hands on her bare skin, allowing herself to feel pleasure for the first time as the soap cleansed both her body and her spirit. With all the dirt and muck gone, she rinsed herself and the tub thoroughly. Then, not at all ready to get out, she grabbed the body wash and started again.

As the layers of suds enveloped her, the grime long since washed away down the drain, her hands began to explore with intimate curiosity. With her negative emotions tucked away, new and deeper desires surfaced. An instinctive yet strange ache started to build inside her. Subconsciously, her hand slipped between her legs, fingers delicately probing where a heat, different from the hot water, surged. Teasingly, she stroked her need, drawing the ache out until it balanced on the tip of her clit.

Biting her lip, Charlotte slowly teased it over and over as waves of pleasure tingled throughout her body, throbbing and escalating until—she gasped once, clenched her hand between her legs, and peaked. The intensity of her release caused her legs to tremble, and she was forced to prop one hand on the slick tiled wall to maintain her balance as her body shook uncontrollably. Soft moans whispered through semi-parted lips, which opened further to accept her fingers. Tasting herself, she hummed, lost in the euphoria of her climax.

When the tide ebbed, she realized how badly she had needed this. Her orgasm had taken away much of her stress and worry, clearing her mind and soul. Time didn't exist as she swayed under the water, lost in the bliss of her intense release for what seemed like forever. Unfortunately, she was rudely brought back to reality when the soothing heat was replaced by bitterly cold pellets.

Cursing her selfishness for using all the hot water since Angel hadn't showered yet, she shut off the faucet and stepped out. Reaching for a towel, she wrapped it tightly around herself, then grabbed a second one for her hair. Though she could use her power to speed up the drying process, it took some energy, and she was too tired to waste it.

Stepping out of the bathroom, she sat on the edge of the bed and began drying herself. As she worked the towel through her hair, her mind wandered hazily. She was somewhat stunned by the experience of masturbating and how it made her feel so relaxed. She knew this wouldn't be the last time she pleased herself, though she'd need to be more aware of how much time she spent in the shower.

Shaking her head with a light laugh, Charlotte finished drying her hair, toweled off the rest of her body, and examined the clothes he had left for her. This time, it was a pair of denim shorts, a black T-shirt, panties, and a tan sports bra. Her red jacket, which she'd left in the van during the rescue, rested over the back of the small chair at the even smaller desk.

Blushing ever so slightly, aware that he had picked them out for her, she slipped on the panties and bra, followed by the shorts and shirt. Next, she picked up the brush from the bed and went to work untangling her locks, again wondering if she should find a better way to secure them in the future.

Humming to herself as she brushed, her eyes wandered, falling on the television. She grinned, suddenly curious about what was on. Setting the brush down, she leaned forward to grab the remote next to the TV when she heard movement outside. The door handle started to rattle.

Tensing up, her eyes turned red as her defenses heightened, and her body subconsciously started to transform into its demonic form. But she instantly reverted when she saw it was Angel entering, wrestling with six plastic bags of groceries.

Charlotte quickly jumped out of bed and ran over. "Let me help." She took half the bags and hefted them in her hands. "Wow, what all did you get?" she asked as she set them on the desk by the door.

Angel picked up on her lighter tone. "You feeling better?"

"Yes! I came—" She paused, amused by her secret pun. "Uh, to an understanding with myself."

Getting serious, she leaned against the edge of the desk and held her hands together, nervously rubbing her thumb over her knuckles. "I'm sorry if I worried you, Angel. I was overwhelmed by what happened at the river and what you told me in the van, and I was struggling with it for a while. But then I focused on what you've given me a chance to do: to save lives, like with Amy and Jamie and the boy, and how much it means to me that you trust me."

Her complete change in demeanor might have been somewhat overcompensating, but for now, he'd take what they both could get from it, and it helped to ease his worries. While he still needed to talk to her about his feelings regarding using her for her abilities, that could wait until another day.

With a soft smile, Angel stressed, "I do trust you, Charlotte. Even when you first transformed in front of me, somehow deep inside I knew I could."

She beamed at him. "Thank you, Angel."

Opening one of the bags, he pulled out two plastic containers. "Now that you're feeling better, are you hungry?"

"Yes!" As he placed the food on the table, she felt a little playful. Calling up a bit of her power, Charlotte altered her eyes, which bloomed into a soft, hazy ruby glow. "No meat, right?" she growled.

He doubted he would ever fully get used to her demonic appearance, but now he felt strangely comfortable with it, and he winked in response to her scarlet stare. "No. No meat, your highness."

Shifting back to her stunning black onyx eyes, she proclaimed. "Good!" Sitting down, she grinned. "You learn quickly, my knight."

"Knight, huh? A bit more medieval than biblical, but I like it." He chuckled as he popped open the top of his salad. He had to admit, it looked pretty damn good. Grabbing his plastic fork, he poked at the assortment of toppings, selecting a cucumber and a slice of red onion.

Charlotte paused, fork at the ready as she eyed her salad hungrily, but her curiosity distracted her. His words reminded her of his name, and it was one question she hadn't asked him before. "Is it okay to ask what 'Angel' means? I know it's not your given name, right?"

Finishing a bite, he explained, "'Angel' is an abbreviation of 'Angelus,' my middle name. When I was assigned to my team in the Special Forces, I adopted it as my call-sign. With what I do now, I feel I am still serving and protecting the innocent, so I kept it."

"Well, I think it's a worthy name because you're an angel to everyone you've saved." She blushed, adding, "Including me."

He smiled at the compliment and bowed his head slightly. "It was my honor."

Slightly embarrassed, Charlotte turned her attention to her food and ate eagerly. He joined in, and they silently enjoyed their meal, feeling no need to say anything more. They quickly finished the salad and bread, and when dinner concluded, he offered her the candy.

"What is it?" She inquired with eager curiosity.

"Chocolate. It's a kind of candy or dessert. It's sweet, and definitely not made of meat." He chuckled.

"Sweet?" She tore open the wrapper and peered at the dark brown confection. Tentatively, she took a bite.

The reaction was instantaneous. Cautious concern gave way to wide-eyed delight. With her mouth full, she muffled, "Oh my gosh!"

Her face looked as if he'd just shown her entry to a secret paradise. Quickly, she bit off three more chunks and chewed happily. Swallowing, Charlotte studied the rest of the bar, then lifted her gaze to meet his whimsical expression. "You realize now that this 'chocolate' has to be on hand at all times, right?"

"I promise." Angel smiled warmly, pleased he had found something to cheer her up. The lightness of the atmosphere was refreshing, and all other thoughts and worries could be set aside for later.

While she worked to devour the rest of the candy, he cleared the table, walked over to the dresser, and picked up the remote.

"How about a movie?"

"Yes, please!" She nodded while licking her fingers clean.

Sitting on the bed with his back against the headboard, he flipped through the channels until he found a classic comedy. Enthralled, she lay down on her stomach in front of him and was soon lost in the story while she slowly nibbled on the other two bars.

Sinking into the pillows, Angel closed his eyes and, for the first time in years, felt a calmness he had long denied himself. At the same time, another emotion, seemingly forgotten, flickered at the edge of his mind as he listened to her giggle. He questioned whether he had the right to feel it, wondering if such a feeling could even be real. After all, she wasn't human, and many questions still remained unanswered. But for now, as they'd agreed, she was Angel's demon.

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