Innocence: A Heavenly Sins Novel

By Vivianna Martel

He has been quietly watching her since she was a girl. The love Gabriel has for Nevaeh Evangel is undeniably beautiful, but it is dangerous for both of them. Gabriel is Nevaehs guardian angel, ordered by his maker to protect her, guide her, and, most importantly, keep her hidden from evil. As she matures and establishes a career as an entrepreneur with high moral standards, Nevaeh has no idea she even has a guardian angel. But after she takes an unexpected fall and hits her head, everything changes.

After she awakens in Gabriels arms, he pretends to be a visitor to her town. Nevaeh, driven an undeniable attraction, agrees to meet him latera choice that eventually leads them to fall in love. Even though Gabriel knows that loving Nevaeh is forbiddenthat it is wrong from the beginninghe cannot help himself. Gabriel knows that one day, her sacred past will catch up with her, and then he will have to make the hardest decision of his life.

In this supernatural love story, a guardian angel must make an agonizing choice whether to stay and defy his maker or leave his beloved to live like a sheep among the wolves.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Oct 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781480802377

Vivianna Martel

Vivianna Martel is a Mexican American writer. She was previously a pediatric nurse; after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2011, she discovered a passion for writing. She lives in Suffolk, Virginia, with her husband and two sons.

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Copyright © 2013 Vivianna Martel.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-0236-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0237-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013915732

Archway Publishing rev. date: 8/30/2013

Contents

Prologue   Invisible

1   The Arrival

2   Piano lessons

3   First kiss of Death

4   Resisting no more

5   City Lights, Masquerade Nights

6   Home is where the Heart Is

7   Judgment Night

8   Truth and Consequences

9   Love is in the Air

10   Underneath

11   Closer

12   Longing

13   The Last Flight

14   Revelations

15   Sin City

16   Perception

17   What Heaven Allows

18   A Delicate Exit

19   Last Known Surroundings

20   Reminiscing of You

21   Embracing Death

"God doesn’t give you the people you want, He gives you the people you need…

To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be …"

Mary Lauf

We loved with a love that was more than love.

Edgar Allan Poe

Prologue

Invisible

He watched her from afar and without doubt she was indeed intriguingly as beautiful as God could make any living thing. He was on bended knee holding on to a tree branch and could smell the rain coming deep within the clouds that were forming from the sky just above him.

Gabriel had waited along time for this moment, the moment where he could run his fingertips down her porcelain skin. To have his mouth just touch her lips softly.

He fought to have this place, his place with her on this earth. To be her protector, the one she came to for help, the one she would love for all eternity. Gabriel always tried to embark on the moment to interact with Nevaeh, but every time he tried, he would always stop himself.

Gabriel watched her in the field as Nevaeh sat across from a young brown haired man, which was her boyfriend at the time. The boy was placing his hands on her leg and wrapped his other hand around her shoulder, as he leaned in and fetched for a kiss.

It was no surprise that it was her first and Gabriel watched and cringed at the very sight of it. It only lasted for a few moments, and then Nevaeh pushed him away as he became too aggressive for her.

The rain began to come down and Nevaeh stood up and spun around in it, happy and smiling looking over to where Gabriel was standing. She thought she saw someone but Gabriel was invisible.

Come on, it’s raining cats and dogs out here. John said. He took her hand and swings her around, and than John and her run off to the car.

Come on, dance with me. Nevaeh said as she opened her mouth to let the rain tumble down her throat.

You’re insane, you’re going to catch death out here with no coat on. John said as he shoved her into the passenger seat.

Gabriel stood near the tree and watched the two of them pull off.

Later that night Nevaeh was at home lying in her bed with the window open and Gabriel watched her sleep as he did every night, since she was a little girl.

He leaned over and slid his hand down her cheek with the back of his hand and she moved her head slightly to the side as she kept dreaming. Gabriel whispered into her ear.

You are the reason for everything, the reason I will live my life everyday to make Gods’ will come forth. Loving you was an unexpected gift. Gabriel kissed her forehead and then stepped out onto her balcony. He looked back at her one last time and then his wings unfolded and with one motion he soared up into the sky.

1

The Arrival

She woke up in the dead of night, sweat running down her face and back, as if she had just ran a marathon. The light from the moon shined bright into the window, penetrating her eyes, and it made her flinch and turn away.

The dream felt too real. The cold sweat felt like the pouring rain. It must have been the window cracked in the room that made her body feel cold, dead, and stiff in the night. For this reason, she was unable to move to close it, but she managed to do it still. Then she climbed back into bed, weary of another dream.

Nevaeh tried to reason with every detail she had in her mind to believe that there was still some sanity left within her. Then she flashed back to the dream again. She was running down a street she was not familiar with, and it was dark, cold, and rainy.

Bits and pieces of details ran through her head, and she couldn’t decipher them. She could only remember kneeling on the pavement in the road with her hands clutched to her face, the rain pounding down on her, like sharp knives piercing her soul.

Then she would wake with no more resolved than before. She laid back down, trying to get what was left of the hours of sleep before going to work the next morning.

The morning came too fast after a long night of tossing and turning. She walked over to the bathroom mirror and struggled to open her eyes all the way. Of course, dark patches and red eyes stared back at her.

She lightly smacked the side of her face. Nevaeh, you look like you have been up all night clubbing. Get it together girl.

Her daily routine consisted of washing her face with anti-aging wash followed by cream, flossing, brushing her teeth, then a hot comb to straighten out the kinks that developed in her hair overnight. It was the same routine day in and day out. Sometimes she wore her hair wet with mousse in it and let it air dry, making a statement that she could look like a different person.

Nevaeh owned her own shop downtown in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she grew up. The shop sold handbags, perfume, jewelry, and shoes from different designers. She went to different cities to get her supplies at wholesale prices and then sold them cheaper at the store. It was the only store in her little town like that, so business was a hit.

Her father was in the military and his last duty station was in Louisiana so that’s where her family settled. It was quite beautiful there, just hot and sticky in the summer. A small town for a small- town girl, She always said. It was a small town for her, yet big for tourism. The city has grown a lot over the years and had become a hot commodity. She always dreamt of more and has tried to leave and see the world since she was a little girl, but she never had the courage to leave her family.

She walked into the kitchen that felt smaller than a closet, grabbed a piece of fruit, and headed out the door to meet her best friend and co-worker, Aleandria.

Aleandria and Nevaeh were best friends since she was practically out of the womb. Their fathers were in the army together and stationed everywhere at the same time. They were born in the same hospital, sharing clothes and boyfriends by the time they were in high school.

Aleandria was a catch. She had blonde hair, bright blue eyes and long killer legs, slim and dainty as the day she was born.

She was more of a valley girl, outgoing, pom-pom type, while Nevaeh was reserved and closed off. She was the yin to Nevaeh’s yang, black and white. Nevaeh loved Aleandria to death, and there wasn’t a day that went by that they were not together. Nevaeh jumped into her car and started the engine. Right away, the fine tunes of Tori Amos came out of the car. Tori was her cup of coffee in the morning. She was like Nevaeh’s mother, since hers was not there for advice. It’s interesting how a person can turn to music for a night off, a friend, or problems in his or her life.

Everyone has a song he or she can relate to when feeling blue or red. A person, can turn it up loud, and nothing else in the world matters. Nevaeh headed in to work for another long day of inventory.

She passed the streets and rolled down the window for the fresh New Orleans morning air. The morning dew was almost sweet -smelling that day, like jasmine and a hint of rose. She never smelled the air so clean and crisp before. It filled and excited her nose.

She saw the peat moss hanging from the trees and passed the old buildings, heading down the streets. It was beautiful, and she couldn’t quite understand why she would ever leave such a serene place. It was peaceful and decadent all at once.

She pulled up to the store’s rear entrance and parked. Nevaeh got out of the car and walked toward the building; the sun rose slowly but hadn’t reached its full potential yet. It still peeked through.

She fumbled through her purse to find the keys. Of course, they fell as she had a million things in her hands. She heard something swoop over her head like a bird. It seemed so loud and close that she could hear it like it was right in her ear. She looked up and saw a shadow flying above her head.

As she began to squat to the floor, she saw feet beneath her hands, which startled her. She fell back, hitting her head on the building and she was out cold. She was out for what seemed like days. When she came to, she peered up at the most beautiful face she had ever seen.

The man had the richest- looking skin she had ever seen, eyes bright as the blue sky, and his breath was the sweet smell of jasmine and rose. The same smell she was intoxicated by that morning. His hair was a dirty brown color and impeccably flawless in the light.

What kind of conditioner does he use? Her mind was spun out of control. Her head was pounding, but she couldn’t tell if it was from the building smacking into her head or this fearless man towering over her. I think it is a little of both. Then he spoke.

Are you okay? Can you get up, or do you need to lie here for a few more minutes? He looked down into her eyes.

She then realized that she was in his arms. "This man is holding me in his arms, and I am speechless. Okay, Nevaeh, say something, you idiot. "

Yes, I’m okay to get up, I think. What happened, exactly? Nevaeh sat up and looked into his captivating eyes.

You dropped your keys, and I may have startled you. Then you hit your head, and before you know it, you were out like a light for a good five minutes or so. The stranger helped her to her feet.

She finally got her bearings and stood. With her feet beneath her, she looked down to see that she still had all her things on the floor and hesitated to go back down to get them. He saw in her face that she doubted that she could handle the mission.

Stay right there. He placed his hand on her stomach. I’ll get this for you. He bent down, collected her things, and he rose back up again. At last, she could see his ever pleasing face again.

Well, thank you for this, and I really should get back to opening the store. She turned her back to him and fumbled with her keys once again. "I can feel his eyes penetrate me from behind, and it is refreshing. I don’t want him to leave, but to somehow stay."

Is this your store? He asked.

Yes, I own it. She said as she opened the door.

Would you like to come in and see it? She asked while thinking, "Please, come in and tell me your name."

Yes, I would. By the way, my name is Gabriel. He held his hand out to her in greeting.

I’m Nevaeh. It’s nice to meet you. Come on in, and I’ll show you around. Just let me put this stuff down and switch the lights on. Before she could put her things down, the lights flipped on. It was like he knew exactly where the lights were.

Wow, you knew where they were at! She sounded surprised.

It’s just lights, easy to find. They would be on a wall somewhere. He smirked.

Okay, let me show you everything. Maybe you can find something for your mom, sister, girlfriend, or even wife. She said, hoping that he might say no to either of the two last statements.

He followed close behind her and said No, no wife, or girlfriend, but lots of brothers and sisters. Gabriel smiled.

What brings you into town? Nevaeh stared into his eyes to see if he shied away from the question.

I am looking to buy a home here or rent one for the summers. I think it’s a beautiful and peaceful place down here.

You know we get a lot of hurricanes and floods down here. We live in a low lying area. Does that bother you at all? Did you do your homework at all down here? She asked with a little sarcasm in her voice.

I don’t mind getting a little wet. Besides, the floods and rain are all part of nature, which I think is beautiful. Gabriel smiled.

Nevaeh didn’t know whether to answer his smart -ass remark or indulge the fact that she could continue to see a lot more of this man. She has enjoyed the view so far.

What were you doing in the back of the store anyway? Nevaeh asked.

I was taking a short cut through the alley. I saw you and I was going to stop and ask for directions. I must have startled you, I am sorry again; I should have made my presents known to you. It is my fault that you have a bruise on your head. Gabriel walked in front of her.

Do you have any ice? We can put on that head of yours before it swells. Gabriel said as he raised his hand to her head and rubbed the bruise gently.

Nevaeh walked over to the fridge in the break room, which is in the back of the store and takes out the ice cube tray. Gabriel walked in behind her.

Do you have a towel or zip loc bag? Something you can put ice in. Gabriel said.

I have a hand towel beside you on the table. Nevaeh pointed beside him.

Gabriel grabbed the towel and she placed a couple of ice cubes from the tray into the towel. She placed the tray in the freezer and watched him fold it all together like a boy scout.

Please, sit here. He pulled out a chair from the table, and Nevaeh sat down like a good little girl.

I can do it myself, really you don’t have to. Nevaeh sighed.

I know you can, but I want to. I am the one who did this to you, so let me help heal you. Gabriel smiled.

He placed the towel filled with ice cubes on the side of her head. She sat in front of him, as he his kneeling down looking up at her. Nevaeh could smell the sweet jasmine and rose scent all over his body. She instantly wanted to devour him. She wanted to wrap her arms around this unknown stranger she just met, but somehow she managed to contain herself.

He whispered to her Is that better? Does that feel good? He awaited her answer but the words couldn’t form on her tongue. Nevaeh just sat in a trance to the undefined shape of his pupils.

She thought to herself, "I wonder if he can hear my thoughts. My notions of wanting him that is so idiotic."

Yes, it feels great. She looked up into his eyes.

Nevaeh reached and took the self made ice pack from his grasp. I appreciate this very much but, I have to open the store and get started with my morning. I don’t mean to push you out, but I won’t be able to get anything done if you stay here. She took the towel, walked to the sink and tossed it in.

Gabriel stood up, walked to the back door, and before opening it he turned to her. Nevaeh, would you join me for dinner tonight? Maybe you can show me the city? She turned and faced him.

Yes, I would enjoy that very much. Nevaeh said it fast and without hesitation.

Nevaeh watched