(Author's notes: This is a work of fiction. In this fantasy, nobody has to worry about inconveniences such as pregnancy and STDs. In real life, all non-monogamous sex should be practiced using accepted safe-sex precautions.
Very special thanks to editors Ravenna933 and Sidney43. This is a better story due to their efforts and insight. Any remaining faults are solely the responsibility of the author.
All characters involved in sexual activity are at least 18 years old.)
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Zac pounded his steering wheel in frustration. "Dammit! That light was green for about a tenth of a second. What the hell!" Now he was definitely going to be late.
A quarter mile away and thirty seconds later, a dump truck driver glanced at his dashboard and was distracted by a flashing red warning light. He never saw the traffic light in front of him turn red, and he sailed through the intersection at 45 miles per hour. Fortunately, all cross traffic avoided him. In his noisy cab he never heard the horns of the cars he barely missed or saw how close he came to disaster.
My name is Ariel, and I'm Zac's guardian angel. I'm the reason Zac's green light turned red so quickly. Without that delay, the dump truck would have t-boned the driver's side of Zac's car. I don't know how I knew I needed to delay Zac. I just had a strong sense that disaster was imminent, and that if I delayed him briefly he would be okay. I pictured the light turning red early, and again, I don't know how, but somehow it did.
The 'how' and 'why' of becoming a guardian angel are mysteries to me. I assume I had lived an earthly, human life and died. I guess my life must not have been bad enough to be sent below, but not good enough for admission above. Being a guardian angel seems to be a way either to earn enough points to gain entry to the pearly gates, or fail and presumably go the other way.
I retain a lifetime of information and knowledge, and maybe some wisdom, but I can't remember any details of my own life, such as who I was, what I did, or how old I was. I'm pretty sure my name in real life wasn't Ariel, but come to think of it, I don't know how I 'know' that's what my name is now.
I admit, I don't always like Zac. He's basically a decent guy, but he can be shallow as hell. He compensates with a magnetic charm he can apparently turn on at will, especially to attractive single women. I'm sure he will outgrow his shortcomings, they are all due to immaturity. I just wish that would happen a little sooner. Actually, a
lot
sooner.
Despite all that, it's my assigned task to protect him, and I take it very seriously.
I have a limited ability to affect physical objects. I can move small things short distances, but nothing on a larger scale. I couldn't, for example, have stopped the dump truck or moved Zac's car out of its way, or affected the brakes to slow or stop either vehicle.
I can place thoughts in people's heads, Zac's or someone else's, but that doesn't always work. Apparently planted thoughts are easy to deny or ignore, especially for Zac. Fortunately, the more I work with him, the better I get at shaping ideas in ways he is likely to respond to.
I can't see the future directly, but like with the dump truck, I do receive vague, abstract 'feelings.' In that case, I didn't know the details of what the danger was until the moment the collision would have occurred. Zac of course never knew anything about being in harm's way.
He was on his way to meet some friends for a surprise birthday party, which was why he was so agitated about being late. That's also why I needed to stay with him - he needs protecting the most when he's around those particular friends. None of them have realized yet that they are not immortal, even though they're old enough to know better.
One of the more interesting aspects of my existence is I feel Zac's physical sensations. Last week he was at his oblivious worst and didn't realize how much he was annoying the pretty blonde at the dance club. She eventually slapped him, stinging my cheek as sharply as it did his. He made a joke out of that rather obvious hint, got her laughing, and bought her a drink. He was determined to charm his way past her poor impression of him, and he not only achieved that, he got lucky with her later in the evening.
At her apartment, I felt her lips on his as if I was the one kissing her. A little later I felt her lips on his cock and the suction of her mouth. I felt the softness of her tits under Zac's hands, and finally the tightness and warmth of her channel as he buried his dick in her. My body had orgasmic spasms both times Zac came that evening, and again the next morning.
It's strictly physical. I don't feel the ups and downs of his emotions. I was aware of but didn't share his disappointment when the phone number she gave him turned out to be a fire station's non-emergency line.
One last thing I know is, I am invisible to living humans. I seem to exist in a gap between life and the afterlife. My job is to oversee Zac and everything he does, but I can go look at other things in other places whenever I want. When Zac goes out, I can 'ride' in the car with him, or I can float above and behind the car with no effort. I could 'meet' him at his destination if I was comfortable leaving him unguarded for his trip there. For the record, I'm not.
Actually, there is one more thing. In this odd plane of existence I'm stuck in, I'm sure there must be other guardian angels, but I guess we're invisible to each other as well as humans. In the year and a half I've guarded Zac, I've never seen one. I'd love to hook up with a Laila, Seraphina, or Gabrielle while Zac sleeps, but it appears that's not going to happen. Even if I did meet one, I doubt we would have enough physicality to consummate our relationship. It's so frustrating...
Zac wasn't on time to the bar, but he wasn't as late as the birthday boy was, so he got to be part of the surprise. I was just glad he arrived safely (the sound you hear is me patting myself on the back). That bar was not one of his usual haunts, and my oh my, there were some lovely ladies there.