Chapter Fifty-two

She directed her gaze to the side and noticed for the first time since they climbed the tree that it was snowing heavily now. She directed her gaze up to the tightly knitted crown of leaves and branches shielding them from the element and tears streamed down her face. She felt suddenly cold. Reaching for the front of her coat, she pulled it firmly over her exposed breast. Angel had torn both her dress and bra and they laid useless now around her waist. She wore her boots without his help and sat there awkwardly afterwards. Angel didn’t move nor spoke.

“Can you help me down?” she asked in a small voice.

“Is that what you want?” he asked in a levelled tone. Nadia could not tell from his voice what he was feeling and she didn’t want to look into his eyes.

“It is best I return. It is snowing now…”

“It is always snowing, Nadia…” he replied, “I asked if that is what you want.”

“Yes,” she whispered. There was about a minute of silence and then Angel straightened his spine and rose to