Half an hour later, we were sitting in the back of a taxi, on our way to the majestic Lydmar Hotel.
It was situated on the waterfront and close to the National Museum and offered glorious views of The Old Town and The Royal Palace, three places that were on my bucket list.
The taxi stopped at traffic lights.
I looked about and caught as many sights as I could. The architecture was a sight to behold. Totally stunning.
Stockholm was one of the most beautiful places I’d ever seen, and I knew I’d move here in a heartbeat.
Angelo put his arm around me, pulling me close.
I snuggled into him.
“Are you happy?” he asked.
“Blissfully,” I replied. He brushed his hand lightly across my cheek.
I closed my eyes, wanting to surrender to sleep, but my eyes darted open as the car door on Angelo’s side was wrenched open.
What was happening?
“Angelo,” I screamed, as he swivelled around, taking a defensive posture.
“You belong to us,” the man yelled, trying to pull Angelo out of the vehicle.
I screamed again and lunged forward, wanting to protect Angelo. I punched at the man’s face. My blows had no effect whatsoever, so I raked my nails down his cheek then gouged at his eyes.
This too had no effect, but I screamed–touching his skin burnt my fingers.
Angelo had maneuvered himself and kicked at the man, the force sending him sprawling backwards and rolling across the busy road.
I was concerned he would be hit by oncoming traffic and looked back but couldn’t see him. I prayed he wasn’t under the wheels of a car.
“Drive,” Angelo cried out.
I rubbed at my red and tingling fingers.
The driver put his foot down, tyres screeching on tarmac.
The car ran through two sets of red lights.
I screamed, terrified we were going to crash.
Cars swerved out of our way, tooting their horns, but we kept going regardless.
I looked out of the back window, still terrified and startled to see the man once again. This time he was trying to catch our car on foot.
He was gaining fast.
How was that even possible?
“Angelo,” I screamed. “He’s coming.”
“Driver,” he yelled. “As fast as you can.”
“I’m going as fast I can, Sir.”
The car must have been doing eighty miles per hour, yet the man had no problem keeping up with us.
It was then I realised he looked familiar but the where and when eluded my befuddled mind.
Was I having a relapse, or through my exhaustion, hallucinating?
I didn’t know, but I felt reality slipping from my grasp.
My eyes closed, and I felt myself drifting away, but was brought back by the sound of footsteps on the roof of the car.
“It’s not possible,” I said.
“Stay down in your seat, Ella,” Angelo ordered, as he wound the window down and made to climb out of the window.
“Angelo,” I screamed. “No, you’ll get hurt.”
“I’ll be fine,” he said, climbing out of the window like a real-life James Bond. “Stay down,” he shouted, and then he was gone.
I closed my eyes, the exhaustion too much.
Chapter Nine
Angelo climbed out the window and pulled himself onto the roof of the taxi.
Demetrius stood with his arms folded. His golden hair blew in the wind.
“You won’t win, Angelo,” he said. “You can’t win, so give her up now.”
“I can’t do that,” he replied. “I love her.”
“Love,” Demetrius spat. “Is she really worth losing everything for?”
“I’d burn in hell if it meant I could save her soul.”
“Her soul isn’t in danger, Angelo.”
“She deserves to move on, not spending an eternity reaping the souls of the undeserved.”
“Somebody has to do it.”
“Not her,” Angelo roared.
“If I don’t take her, Abaddon will come for her.
“Then, let him try. I’m not scared of him.”
“Tell me, Angelo. Have you ever had your wings ripped off?”
Angelo didn’t answer but knew what he was referring to.
Abaddon didn’t like to be cheated and dealt with insubordination in his own unique manner.
“Ella is mine,” Angelo growled.
“You have until dawn on Friday to surrender her. Then, my old friend, you’re on your own.”
Suddenly, black wings appeared behind Demetrius and he lifted off the car and into the skies before vanishing out of sight.
I lay on the bed, totally exhausted.
I’d passed out in the back of the car and when I woke, was surprised to find myself in our hotel room. I was supposed to remember something, but it was just out of my reach.
Suddenly, my mum’s voice popped into my head.
Ella, it’s time for you to stop fighting.
“Never,”
“Huh?” Angelo said.
“Oh. Nothing. I’m just talking to myself.”
He eyed me suspiciously.
“How do you feel?”
“Tired, but I’ll be raring to go soon.”
I was lying.
What was it my mum used to say?
Giving up the Ghost. Yes. That was it!
My body felt like it was giving up the ghost. Angelo didn’t need to know that though.
“I’m going out to get some headache pills for you,” Angelo said. “I won’t be too long.”
Too tired to respond, I grunted my response. But, how did he know I had a headache?
Twinges in my stomach set my anxiety on high alert.
Angelo closed the door behind him.
“Oh, not again,” I said, aloud, but as soon as the pain took hold, it disappeared just as quickly.
Chapter Ten
Angelo walked along Lake Mälaren.
“Please, just let her live.”
He knew Abaddon wouldn’t answer him.
“She isn’t ready to go.” He felt the atmospheric shift.
“And she never will be,” Demetrius said. “And you know why.”
“No, Demetrius. I don’t.”
“Because she is happy with you.”
Angelo turned to see his old friend fall into step alongside him.
“What do you want?”
“To try and make you see sense.”
“I don’t need lessons from you.”
Demetrius towered over Angelo. He was also built for battle and had golden hair with golden eyes. Sunglasses hid the brilliance of his eyes from view.
Together, they would be a sight to behold, but Angelo knew Demetrius had shifted them out of time.
They couldn’t be seen walking along the riverbank.
Angelo hated being in limbo.
All around them, the bright colours had faded to a dull grey. They were in the realm between life and death.
“Why won’t you let her go? Help me to understand.”
“I don’t know, but she is destined for so much more, I can feel it.”
“There have been many before her. Guarding her was just your job, but now it’s over.”
“I’m still doing my job, Demetrius.”
“You’re delaying the inevitable.”
“She still doesn’t know.”
“Then you need to tell her.”
“I can’t tell her, don’t you see?”
“Why?”
“I hoped she’d come to the realisation herself. Every other soul before has, but Ella is stubborn and refuses to let go, even if a part of her knows her time is at an end.”
“I understand your reluctance, even why you love her, but…”
“She’s something more, I just don’t know what yet.”
“You are her guardian in life only, and when she passes over, you’ll move ont
o another. That is the way it has always been.”
“I don’t want another.”
Demetrius looked at Angelo. His eyes were full of concern.
“You cannot fall in love with a human.”
“What is the worst that can happen?”
“Your wings will be clipped,” Demetrius added. “Do you really want to spend an eternity in this cesspit, waiting for the day He forgives you and welcomes you back into the fold?”
“To save her life, it would be worth it.”
“But you are only delaying the inevitable, Angelo. In sixty years or so, she would die her natural death anyway, but this way, she doesn’t grow old and can go while in her prime.”
“It is not her time.”
“Then why does He decree it to be so?”
“I don’t know.”
“He doesn’t make mistakes, you know that.”
“I don’t want to hear anymore,” Angelo said.
“It is Gabriella’s time and she belongs to us.”
“Never,” he said, forcing the shift and returning to the mortal realm.
He heard Demetrius’ voice in his head.
You can’t stop what is meant to be, Angelo. You have three days to hand her over.
Chapter Eleven
It was dark when Angelo returned, and I’d just opened my eyes.
“How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thanks.” It was the truth. That little sleep had done me the world of good.
“I bought you some painkillers anyway.”
“I won’t be needing them, thankfully.”
“That’s good.”
I looked at him. Something was wrong. “What is it? You look troubled.”
“I’m fine, really. I missed you is all.”
Beckoning him over to the bed, I wrapped my arms around him and snuggled close. I inhaled his scent. He always smelled so good. It wasn’t an aftershave kind of smell, but whatever it was, I couldn’t place it. But, for some reason, I imagined clouds when I was close to him. Is that what clouds smelled like, I wondered?
“I missed you too,” I said. “Being here with you is a dream come true.”
I wasn’t expecting it, but he kissed me.
The window blew open.
Howling wind lifted the drapes, causing a breeze in the room.
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
Thunder cracked the skies, but we were so lost in the moment, it didn’t matter if the world was coming to an end.
Angelo kissed me with passionate intensity, like it was the only thing that mattered.
Outside, thunder banged and crashed. It sounded like bombs being dropped on the beautiful Scandinavian city.
Lightning lit up the skies, the flashes illuminating our spacious room.
Outside, I could hear people screaming, running in every direction, seeking shade from the freak weather.
He held me close, his lips locked together with mine.
I felt surges of energy travel through my body, feelings I’d never experienced before.
I was vaguely aware the windows banged violently against the walls, but it didn’t matter.
We would become one–that indescribable feeling of connection with your soul mate.
I’d never been kissed like this. Yes, I’d had my fair share of men, but I knew all those moments were simply a lead up to this.
“Make love to me, Angelo,” I said.
He didn’t answer me.
I pulled away and lay on the bed, waiting for the rejection once again.
He crawled over to me, covering most of my body with his.
I loved the feeling of his hard body on mine, but most of all. I could feel his arousal. I was right, his cock was huge.
I wanted to feel him inside me. It was all that mattered right then. Foreplay was usually my thing, but I couldn’t wait any longer.
“Make love to me, Angelo,” I moaned. “Please. I couldn’t bear it if you rejected me again.”
He looked into my eyes and I could see the conflict, even if I didn’t know the reason for it.
“There’s no going back once we do it.”
“I love you, Angelo, and want to be with you forever.”
He pressed his lips against mine and slipped his tongue inside my mouth.
I felt like I was floating in the air.
Minutes later, he was naked, pressing his body against me.
I wrapped my arms around him, wanting to feel all of him.
He growled as I raked my nails down his back. Then he took my bottom lip between his teeth.
I moved my hands to his shoulder blades.
Strange.
I felt the ridge like bumps on both sides of his back and wondered what they were.
He must have sensed my curiosity and looked down at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” I replied, looking into his eyes. “This is what I’ve always dreamed of.”
His muscular body tensed, and he buried his head in between my neck and shoulder, gently biting at my skin.
I lifted my chin, giving him more space to work with.
He gently pushed my legs apart.
I was ready to feel him.
Thunder crashed again.
The room flashed.
Angelo moved with the grace of a panther, careful but deliberate, and opened me up with his fingers.
My eyes rolled to the back of my head. I arched my back.
He kissed me as his fingers penetrated my special place.
I let out a gasp, feeling the electricity between us.
“You’re the most amazing woman,” he said.
I couldn’t speak, so disabling were the sensations throughout my body.
Gently, he held my hands over my head, and with a gentle move, he thrust his cock inside me.
I’d never experienced anything like it before.
No other man had this effect on my body.
My orgasm was immediate and intense. It came in rolling waves, affecting every inch of my body.
Angelo thrust into me like a man possessed, and all the time, his eyes were focused on mine.
I reached down, wanting to feel his cock.
He pounded it into me and I couldn’t help but cry out as once again pleasure flooded through me with each thrust.
My whole body was racked with sensations I’d never felt before.
“Oh, my God,” I cried out loud, as the thunder storm raged on and continued to crack the skies.
“I love you, Ella,” he confessed, as he buried his cock into me balls deep. I arched my back again, pushing my pelvis forth, wanting to feel as much of him as possible.
“I love you too, Angelo.” I could barely catch my breath such was the vigour of our lovemaking.
And I did love him, with my whole heart, but even as he made love to me, a sudden foreboding took over–like my happiness would be ripped away from me at any moment.
He slowed down and looked at me. “You know, you’re the only person I’ve ever made love to.”
Wow! “I’m your first?” I couldn’t believe it.
“And last,” he replied.
I felt I was going to burst with joy.
“That means more to me than you’ll ever know.” Tears pooled in my eyes, as the overwhelming feeling I’d met my soul mate took hold of me.
He wiped at my tears. “I waited so long for you.”
“You found me,” I replied, drawing him into another kiss.
He thrust into me again as we continued to kiss.
“It feels so good,” he said.
“The sins of the flesh,” I replied. Why did I just say that?
He paused for a moment and pulled out of me.
“Angelo?” I was worried I’d offended him with the biblical comment.
“I want you on top.”
He lay on the bed, his huge cock standing proud.
I lowered myself onto it.
He looked up at me and smi
led.
I slowly gyrated my hips, wanting to feel his cock touch every part of me.
He grunted his approval and thrust his own hips upward, pushing his cock into me.
I leaned forward, and he brought his head up to my breasts, burying his head between them. His stubble brushed my skin. He took my nipple in his mouth, sucking on it gently. It felt exquisite. The sucking gave way to gentle biting.
“Harder,” I moaned as I bounced on his cock.
He took my nipple between his teeth and bit hard.
I cried out.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“No, don’t stop,” I begged. “I’ve never felt anything like this before.”
He gave me what I wanted, biting harder, then let out a huge groan as he cum inside me.
Hearing him moan brought me to my own shuddering climax.
I fell forward as the windows blew in, scattering glass all over the room.
Chapter Twelve
The Manager of the hotel couldn’t have been any more apologetic if he tried.
We were moved to the penthouse suite for the duration of our stay.
For the second time that night, we made love.
When we were finished, a feeling of elation washed over me.
I turned and watched Angelo sleeping silently.
Angelo had the energy of an army of men, but I was more than a match for him. I had worn him out which filled me with a sense of pride. I was his first, and last. I’d wear it like a badge of honour.
I stared at him, unable to take my eyes off his spectacular physique.
He grunted, then rolled onto his front.
What the…?
My eyes spotted them straight away.
Running my fingers gently between his shoulder blades, I noticed two vertical, yet identical scars running about six inches down his back.
What happened to him?
A part of me wanted to wake him and ask him about the scars, but he had always done his best to make me feel at ease, and I owed him that same respect. The scars didn’t really matter to me anyway. Well, as long as they didn’t hurt him.
Besides, he’d tell me when he was ready.
I looked down at his naked back and realised how lucky I was. Angelo really was the perfect specimen of manhood.
Angel Of Mine Page 4