Angel in the Shadows

by Amy Deason

  He continued to advance on her slowly, assertively with no sign of backing down, only cold, hard determination. This was a man who knew what he wanted and she saw with alarming clarity that he currently had his sights set on her. Her heart was thumping so hard she was sure he could hear it pounding against her ribs. He stopped close to her, not moving, just staring down at her and she held her breath, waiting, watching, not sure what to do. She wouldn’t throw herself at him again. Her wounded pride could not survive under such crippling rejection. The silence between them stretched into eternity and the anxiousness swelled inside her, flooding her body. Feeling trapped, she made an instant decision and bolted, trying to move around him. Quick as lightning, he reached out, grabbing her and pulled her to him.

  Instinctively, she began to fight, trying desperately to get away. Pummeling his muscled chest as hard as she could, she hoped to inflict pain but her blows were as effective as feathers hitting a brick wall. His strong hands captured hers, holding them still as he pushed her back against the wall. With only the barest of space between them, his closeness was alarming and his strength frightening. There was no hope of escaping but she continued to try, squirming and twisting defiantly.

  In a roughened voice that sent shivers down her spine, Seth said, “Stop struggling.”

  The hell if she was going to stop. Determined to fight with everything she had, she continued to writhe, her efforts becoming more and more frenzied, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts. The hands were iron band encircling her wrists, imprisoning them within the heat of his fingers.

  A soft, deep chuckle made her look up, even as she continued to kick out with her legs. “On second thought, don’t stop.” A sardonic smile curved his lips, making them even more appealing.

  Gaping at him, Madison stopped her struggles immediately. She felt utterly helpless as he stood, looking down at her, his stare so long, so deep, and so intense that she felt stripped to her very soul. Knowing she was unable to get away, he took his time, drinking her in.

  As his eyes roamed over her body, a sliver of lust sliced through her, stealing her breath. The longer he gazed at her, the more intense her lust became. Good Lord, if he could make her react like this by just looking at her, what would it be like if he actually turned his full attentions upon her? Madison nearly trembled with the thought. As if reading her mind, Seth suddenly moved into her, without warning and closed the gap separating them, crushing her body against his as he sought her mouth, kissing her with a brutal, punishing kiss that was both pain and pleasure. His mouth on hers was like fire, burning until she felt like she would melt underneath the intensity of it.

  This had to be some kind of trick! He didn’t want her, couldn’t want her. Gasping, she jerked her head to the side, trying to remove his mouth from hers but his lips held her captive with the force of his kiss. Her struggles only intensified the heat and passion that continued to rise and pulse through her blood and from somewhere deep inside her, a soft sigh escaped, passing from her lips against her will. But oh God, he tasted so damn good. He was unlike anything else she had ever experienced and she wasn’t sure she could survive him. Just the touch of his lips on hers alone was excruciating, she could only imagine how his lovemaking would be. It would be both fire and ice, heaven and hell. It would be all consuming and utterly overwhelming.

  She felt lightheaded, almost faint with the strong emotions raging through her body. Her will to fight was seeping away as Seth’s lips sought hers in total domination. All she could do was stand against the wall, her legs barely holding her in place. Noticing the relaxation of her body, Seth lightened the kiss, still pinning her but just enough to keep her from escaping. He released her wrists, wrapping his hands around her waist, the heat from his fingers burning right through her clothing. Her brain was screaming for her to fight back, not to succumb to this man, this devil, but her body seemed to have a mind all its own. She couldn’t stop her hands as they crept up over his chest and shoulders, finally settling around his neck, her fingers curling into his soft, black hair.

  Unexpectedly, he scooped her up as if she weighed nothing and her heart fluttered painfully. She sought his mouth with her own, barely feeling him carry her to the bedroom. The sweet taste of him danced on her tongue and she locked her hands around his neck, deepening the kiss. He laid her on the bed, fully covering her body with his, the weight pressing her into the mattress. Eyes closed, she felt him move slowly, almost painstakingly, as he stripped her down, leaving only the black, lacy bra and panties intact. He put his mouth on her again, kissing and licking every inch of bare skin. He had a devil’s tongue and each lick felt like a flame, burning deliciously into her flesh, branding her, marking her as his. And she let him, couldn’t have stopped him even if she had wanted to. Waves of heat ran through her body as she lay pinned beneath him. Running her hands down his back and then to his chest, she unbuttoned his shirt as she went.

  “Wait, I want to see you,” she whispered softly, stopping him mid-kiss.

  Not sure if he heard her, she started to repeat herself but he moved away, taking the heat of his body from hers, leaving her desperately wanting. But within seconds, he returned, carrying a candle, and placed it on the bedside table. His piercing eyes were like chips of blue ice, simultaneously freezing her and burning her into place. His lips were devastating, full and pouty, and so deliciously sinful. The mouth of a fallen angel. Dark hair grazed his strong shoulders and his long, lean, golden body was perfectly framed by the unbuttoned shirt. An undeniably luscious, well-muscled body. She took him in, enjoying the richness and magnificence of his skin. He was beautiful, absolutely gorgeous and she wanted to feel him, to touch him, to taste him.

  Rising from the bed, she walked toward him as if he might disappear in a puff of smoke. Reaching out, she lifted her hands, trailing them down over his body, leisurely, gradually, relishing the feel of his warm skin underneath her fingertips. The shirt slipped from his smooth, golden shoulders and to the floor. Every inch of his lean body was rock hard, the muscles well defined. A small, jagged scar just across his ribs marred his perfect skin and she ran her fingers over it gently as though it might still cause him pain. Bending down, she touched her lips to it, feeling as his muscles tightened in response.

  Replacing her lips with her hands, she continued her exploration of his body. She heard his sharp intake of breath as she scraped her fingernails over his ribs and down to the rough edge of his jeans. Slipping her fingers inside the lip of his pants, she touched the soft skin underneath. He grabbed her wandering hands, holding them hostage with his own as he again lowered her onto the bed, his mouth devouring hers. She closed her eyes as she tasted him, the heat between them exquisite. He moved away from her then and she opened her eyes, staring up at him, confusion breaking through her mind. For a split second, she was sure he was going to change his mind, leaving her like he did before. A tremor of fear, sharp and acidic ran through her, a solid blow to her stomach. There was no way she could survive that again so she attacked his mouth with hers, not letting him turn her away this time. He returned her kiss full force, the heat burning away any self-doubt.

  Moving his lips from hers, he gazed down at her. At last, emotions filled his eyes. The passion and heat and lust burned in them, turning them from color of the sky to the deepest, most intense blue she had ever seen. But that was not all. She saw that he cared, truly cared about her. And that’s all she needed to let go and let her own emotions flow in. She was falling in love with this dangerous creature, this mysterious man. With his strong, confident ways. With his need to protect her and keep her out of harms’ reach despite her constant attempts to flee. With the softness that she knew was in there, deep inside, buried beneath his hard core exterior. How or when, she didn’t know but it was there. And now, she was going to make love to him. Her heart surged with emotion as he returned his lips to hers once more. This time, slowly, deliberatel
y, exploring her mouth with his lips and tongue. Pleasure shimmered through her with silken heat and velvet aches. His warm breath mixed with her own, fanning the flames of wildfire that filled her. She could feel herself slipping way, giving into the need that suddenly built up inside her, threatening to overcome her completely. Her common sense tried to overrule her senses but she harshly shoved it away. Refusing to let herself think, she only wanted to feel. To get lost in him, to forget everything but here and now. There was no doubt in her mind she would pay for this stolen moment and it would be something she would probably regret later but that was later and right now, his lips and hands felt so damn good.

  Seth took Madison’s hands from his jeans, holding them tightly as he lowered her to the bed once more, his mouth lingering on hers. Her mouth was blazing with heat and the black lace covering her pale skin was about to drive him crazy with need. His hands moved up to her jaw, cool against her heated skin. Her pulse pounded wildly as he caressed the nape of her neck, his thumb dancing across the smooth hollow of her throat. Letting his lips touch hers for a moment longer, he felt her need for him in the trembling of her mouth and reluctantly, he pulled away. Her eyes were lightly closed but when he ended the kiss, she opened them, insecurity shining brightly in their dark depths. He was going to pay for succumbing to this temptation. It would most likely be a price in pain. But at the moment, no price was too high. He would willingly pay later for the time right now. But would Madison be willing to do the same? As if in answer to his silent question, she sighed deeply and dragged her mouth once again to his.

  Her mouth was so hot and hungry it practically begged for his. And he was more than happy to oblige. Decision made, he focused on her delicious lips, ruthlessly tearing away the black lace bra that covered her soft, velvety skin, releasing it from its prison. The fabric ripped easily in his hands and fell silently to the floor. Breaking away from her mouth again, he gazed upon her naked skin, his eyes drinking her in. With a slow, painful groan at the bare, creamy breasts that lay before him, he slid his hands over her, caressing her, taking her in with slow and undeniable pleasure. Madison sucked in her breath as his fingers traced the contours of her body. God, he wanted to spend hours exploring her, tracing every inch of her with his fingertips and with his tongue.

  Her hands traced the muscles in his back, making his skin tingle in pure male response. Dragging them around to his stomach, she fumbled with the button on his jeans. He let her struggle with it for a moment before helping her, removing them quickly, adding them to the pile of clothes littering the floor. Gently, he laid her down on the bed, covering her body with his. The only thing separating their skin completely was the lacy underwear she wore.

  He grabbed her wandering hands, holding them hostage with his own while he slowly and deliberately deepened the kiss. Pulling his lips away, he lowered his head, letting his mouth fall to her neck, moving ever so slowly, taking his time. Her skin was so fresh and clean, and he inhaled deeply. The light smell of soap and her own personal scent were perfectly intoxicating. He bit at her flesh, enjoying each gasp, each cry that she made. Running his tongue over the bites, soothing them, he continued down her body. He nibbled every inch of her. Devouring her as if he couldn’t get enough.

  Wrapping his mouth softly around her breast, Seth swirled his tongue over her, sucking and pulling gently. Dragging his teeth over the rose-colored nipple, he felt it harden in his mouth and was rewarded with a sharp intake of breath as Madison inadvertently moved away. He pulled her wrists over her head, holding them there as he moved to the other side. Her breathing became quick and ragged and he realized that if he wanted to, he could make her come just by suckling on her beautiful breasts. While that idea greatly appealed to him, he had much, much better things in mind. Removing his mouth, he ran his tongue along the underside of her breast, sensing the gasp even before she uttered it. Moving on, he nipped his way down her side, along her ribs and stomach, tongue and lips following the trail he so carefully laid.

  Her skin was like silk and the taste, heaven. Grasping the black lace of her panties in his teeth, he roughly pulled them away, hearing the thin material rip. Releasing her wrists, he hooked his fingers in the black lace and tore them off in one quick, fluid movement. Now she lay completely bare before him, glorious in her nakedness. The candlelight danced all across her body, shadow and light playing on her skin like fire. He ran his hands over her, touching, teasing her as he continued his slow descent with his mouth.

  Slipping his hands between her thighs, he eased her legs open, making her gasp again sharply. Not pausing, he touched her and found her hot and wet. She whimpered softly through clenched teeth and his body hardened in response. Drawing in a deep breath to stave off a groan, Seth let his fingers trail upon her, massaging the most sensitive folds of skin, slowly, gently, not wanting to send her over the edge so soon. He continued to move his fingers leisurely, drawing out her pleasure, drop by precious drop.

  He knew Madison was trying not to move against his hand but he could feel her body humming in response. She was holding herself back, trying to resist what her body so clearly wanted. He was sure she couldn’t take much more but he was far from done with her. Abruptly, deftly, he slid his fingers deep inside her and she cried out. He slid his fingers in and out, in and out with painstaking slowness, gradually picking up speed. With a sudden come-hither movement from his fingers deep inside her, she came off the bed with another cry. Gently, he pushed her back down, never removing his hand. And, oh God, he couldn’t wait any longer. He had to taste her.

  Replacing his fingers with his mouth, he lightly nipped at her, and was rewarded by a small whimper. Again and again, his teeth scraped the wet, sensitive skin that nearly pulsed with need. He licked her, sucked on her, her taste filling him, dancing on his tongue. Running her hands through his hair, she dragged him to her until there was no space between his mouth and her skin. She moaned and twisted against his lips and he nearly came undone. Her cries became sharper and more urgent as he continued to tease her, to build up the fire that he knew raged within them both. He was nearly shaking with the lust surging through his body. Never in his life had he ever felt a need so powerful, so intense. Oh God, how he wanted her! Abruptly, he plunged his tongue deep inside her and she screamed, spurring him on. Over and over, he delved his tongue into her and over and over he was rewarded with the moans and cries that was absolute music to his ears. But still, he wouldn’t stop, he couldn’t stop.

  Faster, harder, deeper, he moved his tongue within her, relishing the feel of her, the taste of her. Her breathing became harsh and frenzied, her movements erratic and wild. Gripping her hips, he pulled her even closer to his mouth, to his tongue, holding her in place. His tongue and lips moved rapidly, sliding over her, into her, eliciting the most wonderful moans and whimpers from her lips. Plunging his tongue deeper, deeper, deeper, she screamed again, writhing against him, grinding against him. The friction of teeth and tongue and skin mingled with her cries was his undoing. And at last, he could not resist anymore.

  Raising himself up, he slid into her, slow and deliberate, the heat enveloping him completely. She was so hot, so wet, he nearly lost himself in the pure pleasure of being inside her. Balancing on his hands, he began to move slowly in, then out, the tightness of her overwhelming him. He set the pace and suddenly, she tensed up, still trying to resist what he knew she wanted. She was there. Right on the edge yet she refused to let go, to give in.

  “Come on, Maddie, you know you want to. Just let go, let it go,” he whispered in a low, insistent voice. He stared down at her then and for a second, his pounding heart sputtered and he nearly lost his rhythm. It wasn’t the fact that she was looking back at him, her chocolate eyes clouded with incredible lust and need. It was the way she was looking at him. Not just at him, but into him. She was seeing him, really seeing him, connecting with him. He was shaken to his core but at the same time, he never
felt stronger, more alive, more there, in his entire life. She was making him feel.

  “Please don’t . . .” she whispered, her voice ragged with desire.

  He hesitated, suddenly unsure, his own need crushing him.

  “Please . . . don’t stop,” she cried breathlessly.

  He didn’t need any more encouragement and with a growl that seemed to come from the very depths of his soul, he picked up the movement again. Each stroke took him deeper and deeper inside her, to the most intimate depths of her body. There could be no turning back now. That was an impossibility.

  He felt her body tremble and then she was wrapping her hands around his back, dragging him closer to her as she finally began to move with him instead of against him. His movements quickened as she met him, stroke for stroke. His breath came in short, ragged bursts and he thought his heart might explode from the sheer pleasure of her body. Fingernails dug into his skin but he barely registered the pain as the wave after wave hit him, threatening to drown out everything else. Nearly shaking with the effort to restrain himself, he struggled to keep his desire in check, forcibly delaying his own gratification, determined to concentrate on her, giving her the most enjoyment possible. Her breath was coming hard and fast now and he captured her mouth with his, silencing her gasps, smashing her lips against her teeth.

  He continued to move faster, harder, ramming into her with machine like frenzy. Their bodies blurred together until the friction became too much for her and she lost control, finally letting go. She shuddered beneath him, the spasms of her muscles squeezing and tightening around him. Her beautiful face was contorted in the throes of an orgasm. And when she screamed, she screamed his name. His name coming from her mouth was more than he could take. With one final, hard thrust, he let himself go, spilling into her. And everything vanished in a flash of white heat.