Free Nathaniel Teen Angel by Patricia Puddle

was to start his wounds bleeding again. Especially knowing how squeamish Eloise was. After yanking his shoes and socks off, he slipped out of his jeans and boxer shorts, then he folded everything up and placed them on the stool. On his way to the shower, he glanced at his back in the mirror. Good heavens. His wounds were deep and purple. If Eloise saw them, she’d nag him to see a doctor. And since he’d be losing his human body in less than nineteen hours, there was no point in that.
    Hopping into the shower, he let the warm water run down his back, but as he washed himself with soap, he avoided his wounds. After rinsing off, he stepped out onto the bathmat and grabbed a towel. He had so much to look forward to in the next few hours and he intended making the most of it. As he rubbed himself dry with a towel, he pictured himself kissing Eloise, then without warning, the muscles in his abdomen tightened and his heart began thundering like hoof beats. Afraid he was about to have a heart attack, he splashed cold water on his trimmings, then he wrapped the towel around his waist. Holy Heaven. It seemed he had no control over his virility.
    When his pulse settled, he combed his hair and rolled some deodorant under his arms. Wanting to be clean all over, and to have sweet breath, he brushed his teeth again. Being an angel without all these extra things to do was easier, but the physical pleasures of being human certainly made it worthwhile. Though he couldn’t wait to taste the pizza, his stomach was flipping at the thought of kissing Eloise and he couldn’t wait to tell her that he loved her.
    He didn’t need another shave, but he wanted to smell nice. After rummaging through her father’s colognes again, he grabbed a different bottle and sniffed it. “Mm, that’s nice and spicy.” Not wanting to get any on his knuckles again, he grabbed a pair of rubber gloves out of the drawer and put them on. Humming to himself, he splashed the cologne onto his cheeks, but just like before, some of it shot over his shoulders and dripped onto his wounds.
    “Fuck!” he yelled, squeezing his eyes shut and doubling over with excruciating pain. It was even worse than before. Why on Earth was he turning into a klutz? Then just his luck, Eloise picked that moment to tap on the door.
    “Nathaniel, are you all right?”
    His back still smarting, he gripped onto the sink to steady himself. “Yeah, I’m good,” he lied.
    “Well, I’ve brought you some clean clothes?”
    “It’s okay. These ones are fine.”
    “No, they’re not. Can I come in?”
    “Sure, just a sec.” He pulled off the rubber gloves. Even in agony, knowing she was only a metre away was making his heart skip. He tightened the towel so it didn’t fall off his hips, then opened the door and smiled. “I hope you haven’t brought me more designer clothes. Your father will wonder why you’ve washed them.”
    Biting her lip, she glanced at his bare chest, then raised her eyes to his. “It’s okay. This time, I’ve brought you an old pair of jeans, a tea-shirt, undies and a sweater. I’m sure my dad won’t miss them.” Pushing past him, she walked into the bathroom and put them on the side of the bath. “I can get you some pyjamas if you want to stay. You can sleep in the guestroom.”
    He gulped. He’d love nothing more than to stay the night, but he knew that he shouldn’t. “I don’t think your parents would like that, Eloise. And you don’t even know me. Plus you have school tomorrow.”
    She pouted. “But I’ll be scared being here on my own all night. My father’s away with work, so you’ll have to stay.”
    Wondering what to do, he leaned against the sink and ran his hand through his hair. He knew she was really thinking of him even if she was scared of being alone. Then a horrible thought crossed his mind. If he didn’t stay the night, she might phone Tom. Shoot! That hot-blooded kid would be here in a heartbeat. Michael may well have two angels