Eliezer’s Ange by Eden Auclair

XXVI

cassiopeia is twenty-two

she is a second-year masters in university

Cassiopeia felt whollyand utterly lost. Though Eliezer’s arms had become her solace, her home, her thoughts were too haunting for sleep to find her. The text from Ansel in the middle of the night had thrust her into an emotional spiral. Lying next to Eliezer, she stared out the window, drinking in the sight of the moonlight glistening in the ocean.

Her mind was a chaotic mess, and she wasn’t sure what she was thinking. They had truly lost their essence—the phone calls and the little good morning, how are you x and good night, sleep well x texts ceased to exist. The pact they created just when they were mere teenagers burned to ashes. They were existing in different dimensions and Cassiopeia slowly became entirely wrapped in the all too consuming idyll that was Eliezer Badeaux.

The moon was slowly dying as the sun peeked through the musky night sky. She watched as it turned light blue and a small, fond smile settled on her lips. Gently, she lifted his arm wrapped securely around her waist and rolled off the bed, careful to not rouse him. Wrapping the fluffy gray robe that had become hers around her body and entering their en suite, she washed up and then wandered back into the bedroom. She dressed herself in her mustard-colored bralette, his Calvin boxers—folding the waistband thrice—and one of his crisp white dress shirts, leaving it unbuttoned.

Standing in front of his vanity mirror, she ruffled her messy hair a bit before moisturizing her face and painting her lips with a rosy balm, and smacking her lips together, smiling brilliantly at her reflection. She gazed at her brute through the mirror, feeling her heart flutter fondly, for he looked precious sleeping blissfully and snoring lightly. A light, soft giggle left her lips seeing his arm wrapped around a fluffy pillow, crushing it, probably thinking it was her in his sleep. Seeing him, she absentmindedly pushed her thoughts of Ansel to the back of her mind, feeling pure love bloom in her heart. Eliezer aroused emotions in her she didn’t know existedand she loved the sheer bliss that came with it.

§

Eliezer stirred from his sleep to find an empty, cold bed. A pout settled on his lips feeling the absence of his ange’sheavenly body. Once his tired eyes came into focus and he realized it was a pillow—a pillow!—he was holding onto desperately, he scowled, glaring at it. Hoping to find his girl in the en suite, he tumbled off their bed in a rush, falling on the floor with a thud. Huffing in incredulity, he picked himself up, flickering his gaze around his room with narrowed eyes and closely knitted brows.

He stumbled on his steps once he rose up to his full height again. He could almost hear her soft giggles as she watched him. Christ, maybe I’m more tired than I thought, he pondered when her soft voice filled his head and her divine silhouette graced their bedroom. His eyes widened at his own thoughts. Her was tired, but not the kind of tired sleep could fix and Cassiopeia was a wondrous woman, her eyes were almost the color of a winter wonderland, enough to keep him up all night. That was his elixir and fuck if he didn’t love her.

“Fucking hell.” Eliezer grunted, dressing in a pair of Calvins while entering and finding the en suite empty. “Fucking Cassiopeia.” He said to himself and though he meant for it to sound incandescent, it left his lips as a soft whine. He deemed it too early in the morning, just craving to hold his woman in bed. Cassiopeia better be in this house or pray tell, I’ll just tie her up and show her a proper punishment, his wicked thoughts smirked whilst he washed up before pulling on his joggers. Snagging his cell off his nightstand, he hissed out a string of expletives as he left the bedroom and found himself making his way downstairs.

Eliezer froze once he reached the kitchen, drinking in the sight of his exquisite woman moving skillfully. I am such a lucky bastard, a voice filled his mind and he unhesitatingly agreed. He haddreamt of having Cassiopeia from the moment his eyes fell upon her, but what he did to genuinely deserve her, standing in his kitchen and cooking for him, he didn’t know, and perhaps he would never. Eyes raking over her curvaceous body, he held in a grunt as he memorized the sight. Dressed so simple, she looked anything but—she looked ravishing, lovely, and everything in between; her lacy bralette peeking through the parting of his unbuttoned shirt and his Calvin’s fitting her ridiculously big, she looked absolutely adorable and he worshippedthe ground she walked on with his heart and soul.

Quietly, he walked over to a barstool. His eyes fell upon the three artisanal platters on the counter in front of him and his mouth watered before his eyes flickered to her, giving her his wholehearted attention. His eyes followed her figure and he almost laughed seeing her hum softly to her music—which she sounded beautiful—while every move of hers was wary, as if she were worried one tumultuous clink could wake him. Too bad I’m already up, just because you weren’t in bed with me, his inner voice chuckled darkly, his mind running with images of having her tied up and punishing her, writhing underneath him tonight. Or right now. Fuck, he grunted in his mind. I could have her spread open for me, have her screaming my name, clenching around my fingers, my-

Fucking hell! He was painfully fucking hard.

Between his thoughts of fucking her on the island counter and simply gazing at her and admiring her beauty, Eliezer became too utterly lost in her cosmos, missing when she spun on her heels and shrieked.

“Eliezer!” Eliezer snapped out of his daze, eyes wavering for a moment as he shook his head slightly, coming into focus.

“Cassiopeia.” He smirked, his eyes raking over her body, her full hips swaying, as she made his way to him. His hands rested on her waist once she was in front of him and he pulled her in between his legs.

“You scared me.” She pouted.

“You left me in bed.” He teased but she became crestfallen all too quickly. “It’s okay, I was only teasing.” He said huskily, leaning in to kiss her, but she tilted her head to the side in the last second, making his lips collide with her cheek. He pulled away slightly, their faces just centimeters apart and their breaths mingling as he stared at her, frowning.

“Cassiopeia, are you okay?” His eyes raked over her face, searching for hints of pain or hurt. Just a meek nod of her head, she gave him a watery smile before stepping back from his embrace.

“Cassiopeia.” His voice was a harsh demand, though desperate too, for her to tell him. The kitchen fell silent, the only sound to be heard was Eliezer’s slow, controlled breaths and Cassiopeia’s soft, erratic breathing as she moved around the kitchen.

“Here is your coffee,” she said quietly, sliding his glass across the island. “We have Zaatar Bruschetta, an Arabian dish, since my mama is an Arabian from Spain, Sericaia, which is egg pudding, and Pastéis de Nata, which is custard pudding tart, both of which of are Portuguese dishes, since my dad is Portuguese.” Cassiopeia found herself telling him about herself, still not meeting his piercing gaze. Eliezer took delight in her telling him small things about her, but he still felt lost. She was wracked of her nerves, he could see the slight tremor of her dainty body. Her gaze flickered to him after he stayed quiet for a few moments and he gave her a small smile.

“Everything looks delicious, but let me make your tea first.” He gave a small nod, sliding off the barstool. She only nodded elusively, distracted as her gaze was fixed distantly upon their breakfast. Her tea took a mere seven minutes and he frowned when he spun around to give her and found her beautiful face buried in her palms.

“Here you go,” he said softly, putting his hand on the small of her back and setting her glass down.

“Thank you, Eliezer.” Her tired voice broke, breaking his heart as he nodded to himself confusedly and made his way back to his seat.

“Cassiopeia, tell me what’s wrong.” He begged softly amidst the silence draping the air. Lifting her head from her palms, she forced a dull smile, picking up the two glass easter-yellow plates sitting on the island counter next to her. She filled his plate first, sliding it across the island—a neat little trick she learned during her barista days at the coffee shop—before filling her own plate. Her elbow rested atop the counter whilst her palm cupped her cheek as she poked and prodded at the food on her plate. She had no appetite and quite frankly, she felt like inhabiting the bathroom floor in front of the toilet, emptying her already empty stomach.

“I hateseeing you like this. Tell me please.” His voice was a raspy beg. He didn’t know what else to do, he’d fall to his knees in front of her just to hear her sweet voice and melodious laughter at this moment. Eliezer knew Cassiopeia better than she knew herself. The constellations of Cassiopeia and himself had aligned chaotically, messily, beautifully. She was his ange, he could see right through her. The brute, no matter how dishonorable he might be when bedding her, was not blind when it came to his love for her—he could feel the melancholy diffusing from her otherwise blissful aura. He could see the desolation in her eyes, he could hear her heart crumbling. And like fuckdid it settle well with him.

“Cassiopeia, you have five seconds to tell me what’s wrong before I fuck it out of you,” he finally said. The silence was driving him absolutely mad. She was tempted, too tempted, to let Eliezer have his devilish way with her, but she couldn’t.

“This morning,” her soft voice cracked, “this morning I got a text, from an old friend,” she whispered meekly, flickering her gaze to her lap. Eliezer inhaled sharply, knowing undoubtedly who this old friend of hers was. “He wants me to come to Madrid this weekend for the El Clásico match,” she whispered. He felt his blood run icy cold. Belizaire has a death wish.

“Are you a Madrid or Barcelona fan?” He quirked a brow, seeming more intrigued by her answer and hoping to illuminate her in this fleeting moment than the motherfucker who had his sweet girl still in his clutches. The fucking audacity of Belizaire.

“Barcelona.” She giggled softly, wrinkling her nose as though the answer was obvious.

“That’s my girl.” He grinned cheekily, his smile widening when she bit into her bruschetta and a blush covered her cheeks. He took a bite of the Pastéis de Nata, his eyes widening

“Fuck, this is delicious,” he said with his mouth full, groaning throatily in delight. Despite it being a turn-off for Cassiopeia when one talked while their mouth was full, she couldn’t help the wild, tumultuous laughter falling from her lips as she watched him. Eliezer reminded her so much of Slater at this moment for Slater was the only one she found absolutely precious and didn’t give a shit to when he expressed his feelings through a mouth filled with food. Quite the sight these two were, she thought fondly.

“Aw, you’re so adorable.” Cassiopeia cooed, feeling her heart bloom so overwhelmingly with love as she watched him, crumbs falling from his mouth onto his plate and she shook her head motherly-like with a small smile. “But I told you I loved cooking,” she said as an afterthought, rolling her eyes as she finished her plate.

“I’m flattered, sweetheart, sweet cheeks, whichever tickles your peach, but that eye roll will get you punished.” He waved his fork to her in a circular motion, arching a brow and making her thighs clench together. Eliezer didn’t miss the faint movement of her body and he smirked devilishly. “You like that, don’t you,” he taunted. The small portion of breakfast she had made was finished, leaving her with nothing to stuff her mouth with so she could stop the moan from slipping past her lips, so she settled for closing her eyes and biting her lip softly.

“You’re imagining being tied up while I spank you, aren’t you, dirty girl?” The last words left him in a groan as he saw her small nod. “You want my fingers curling inside of you, don’t you, Cassiopeia?” He chuckled darkly, and her nod a bit more frantic. “My salacious little girl.

“Or maybe, you want my cock buried deep inside of you, tell me.” He was daringher to open her mouth and speak. Cassiopeia, always the bold seductress, temptress, striptease, and everything in between, did just that, parting her lips for a soft whimper.

“Well, are you going to fuck me, or continue to torture us both?”

“Soon, mon amour,” he rasped out, feeling his cock stir. But as much as he wanted to have her on the island counter, as much lust as they had flowing through their veins, he knew his girl was still hurting inside—a hint of pain and worry seeping in her translucent irises, the slight tremor of her tiny hands, and the rather dull salacious smile. His heart shattered for her, for as much as she wanted him at the moment, she was still being torn apart. Cassiopeia’s heart was filled wholly with tenderness, compassion, and absolution. Eliezer knew his girl just needed to be held.

“Cassiopeia, come here.” He said quietly, taking them from their lust-filled dazed planet to a much more melancholic, though soothing one in their little universe.

She didn’t miss the somber tone of his rough, gravelly voice, her eyes fluttering open. The lust fell from her round face until she was left crestfallen, raw, and just a mere shell of her usual glowing self. But Eliezer didn’t care, he never wanted to see his girlso shattered ever again. He couldn’t halt the tugging of his heartstrings as his gaze was fixed on his beauty slowly making her way around the island to him.

Her eyes desolate, her body tense with the feeling of being unearthly lost, this was the Cassiopeia Eliezer knew she kept hidden, only for him to see. He realized over the years, her trust didn’t come in words but in heart-wrenching, subtle actions—her running to him every time there was a flicker of fear, doubt, or worry in her mind, the countless times he would run to her, finding her falling to her knees and breaking down, utterly exhausted, and the way she melted into his hold, his embrace, every time his arms wrapped around her, as if, it was him who held every ounce of power, control, over her to make her feel every bit safe and stable in the world. He swiveled in his barstool for her to stand between his legs and he stared down at her.

The Cassiopeia standing in front of him—eyes glossy with unshed tears peeking at him through her lashes and a watery smile—her heartache was tangible; this was the Cassiopeia he wanted to hold tightly in his arms and kiss her every worry away. This Cassiopeia was torn apart—feeling guilty as if she led Eliezer on (though he didn’t feel an ounce of such a thing), as though Ansel still had a boundless tie to her, a claim on her weak heart. She felt so unruly torn—between choosing Eliezer, her future where she could immaculately visualize her laying in his arms, her head against his chest as they drink in the sight of the vast velvety night sky with the glistening shimmering stars every night, for the rest of her life, and falling into her past.

Cassiopeia knew Eliezer was what she wanted, what her heart wanted. She knew it, her mind knew it, her heart knew it—she craved Eliezer Badeaux and everything that came with him; she bled for him, his fingertips grazed her soul and she was his, wholly and utterly. But it was never just that simple for her, never with everything she was. Cassiopeia was far from “simple,” she knew herself—the complexity, the ‘gentle heart,’ and the ‘feeling deeply’ qualities of herself were her most endearing, yet most dangerous—enough to maybe kill her one day. The girl fell too fast and held on too tight, absolutely feeble in reigning her emotions.

Maybe Ansel’s half-assed text was what kept her from walking away, in a non-romantic way, making her feel as though she couldn’t just cut their once boundless ties, as though she couldn’t just end their already withering friendship. A small part of her still felt like she had to be there for him, just to know he was okay.

Always painting smiles on everyone’s face but her own, she was capricious, like a figment out of a book.

“I don’t want to go.” She whispered, but her tone didn’t fall on deaf ears—the sudden desire seeping through her words was enough for Eliezer to know. Despite her words, he could hear in clear-cut clarity the underlying need in her voice. He trusted her, with his heart, mind, soul, and everything within, perhaps that’s why he decided to let her go, let her unravel from his arms this once. Just for one last time.

“When is the flight?” Her brows crinkled and she picked up her rose gold cell from the counter. His hands settled on her bare hips, his dress shirt hiding the small circles his thumb traced on her creamy skin. His eyes raked over her petite body, teasing himself and becoming painfully aroused. I am such a lucky brute. Cassiopeia nibbled on her bottom lip nervously as she checked the flight itinerary in her inbox.

“It’s tonight.” She whispered in a broken whisper, burying her face in his chest. His heart cinched, feeling her tears soaking his chest.

A suffocating silence draped the air before he finally sighed and articulated his words quietly. “Darling, you have to go.”

“What?” Her voice quivered.

“Baby, I didn’t mean it like that.” He breathed, trying to reign in his own emotions once he saw the hurt in her eyes. Fuck, my girl thought she wasn’t enough for me, she thought I was going to close her off and forget her. Fuck, I’m a bastard, the taunting voice in his mind mocked.

“Cassiopeia, you are my star, moon, and sun, but I know you, and deep down, I think you know too.” She felt as though she were drowning in a bottomless ocean. The pain of being tethered to Ansel and away from Eliezer rested heavily on her heart.

§

“Fuck yes, I’m jealous.” Eliezer seethed. Cassiopeia eyed his hands on his steering wheel warily, his knuckles paled a deathly white as his hold tightened. She had meant to poke fun at her brute, tease him if you will, but she merely brought to surface her raging brute, who she loved oh so much. Just in front of the TLH terminal in his car, their faces were only illuminated by the ethereal moonlight, though the air surrounding the two was anything but.

“My woman is going to spend time with another man, an asshole I’d preferably like to kill.” Cassiopeia teared up, burying her face in her palms.

“Don’t cry,” his voice fell to a hushed, gentle whisper, “you’ll ruin your makeup,” he frowned when she peeked at him from the corner of her eyes.

“Eliezer.” She giggled through her tears, “you’re worried about my makeup? I hardly have any on.”

“Still.” He smiled cheekily, hoping to hear more of her harmonious laughter and see more of her breathtaking smiles before she left him tonight.

“But I know you’ve already brushed him off the last two times-”

“Because I would rather be with you!” She suddenly screamed through the tears streaming down her face. Eliezer could have sworn his heart melted.

“Eliezer-”

“Cassiopeia,” his voice was soothing, easing her wracked nerves and chaotically thrumming heart, “you don’t need to worry yourself about me this weekend, we’ve got the entire world in our palms when you come home.

“But you’re a gentle soul, burning on soft magic,and you needto find closure.” Cassiopeia could only gaze at him with pure awe, finallyrealizing why he was so settled on her flying to Madrid.

“Cassiopeia, I trust you.

“It’s him I don’t trust.” He growled.

“If he so dares to lay a finger on you, if he touches you, if he even slightly tries anything, you call me Cassiopeia, you call me right away.” His voice held a promising threat and she nodded.

—inside the airport—

“I promise I’ll be right here when you return,” he murmured in her hair before he enveloped her lips in his in a promising, lingering kiss.

“Goodbye, mon cœur,” he whispered. They parted tearfully and he watched as his girl stepped up to the flight attendant, handing her boarding ticket and passport over, and then entered the plane. A cheeky smile grew on his lips when she turned around slightly, waving goodbye and blowing him a kiss.