Fallen Angel (Paranormal Romance)

by Selina Coffey

  Less than five minutes later, Winslow was escorting me out of the building and down the steps. I felt like Cinderella as I left what seemed to be a dream of a night followed by my prince in this case, Winslow, who looked regal as he walked with me. But something about him, the way he touched my back and gently caressed it, seemed possessive and I tried not to think about it as the car pulled up to whisk me away from what felt like a dream.

  Chapter Four

  A stretch limo pulled up in front of us and a driver opened the door. I slid in and Winslow slid in next to me, to my surprise. I had expected that the limo had been called to just take me home, but apparently I was wrong. I hadn’t expected Winslow to accompany me.

  “I trust you had a good time?” He said looking down at me. I nodded, feeling suddenly shy. I noticed the stubble on his chin and how it made him look roguish in a sexy way. His eyes studied mine and then he not so subtly appraised me. Allowing his gaze to settle on the exposed skin of my legs. The dress had a split on one side and apparently Winslow was enjoying the view from where he sat.

  “So where are you from, Ivy?”

  “Texas.”

  “Really? That’s charming. Are you from a big city like Dallas or Houston?”

  I shook my head, “A really small town. Honestly there’s like one stoplight and almost everyone’s related.” I realized the last part of that statement made my town sound like a breeding ground for incest or something and I quickly backtracked, “I mean, it’s just really small so everyone feels like family.”

  He smiled and said, “I understand. My grandfather was from a town like that back in Latvia. He talks about it fondly.”

  It was then that I noticed how his thigh was pressing against my own and I moved slightly away.

  “I’m sorry. Am I making you uncomfortable?”

  “What? No... I just...”

  “What?” He said looking into my eyes again in an almost unnerving way.

  “Nothing.” I said softly and he slowly brought his hand up to stroke the side of my face, allowing his hand to cup my cheek.

  “I wanted to touch you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. I wanted to touch you...everywhere.”

  I didn’t know what to say, how to react. I just sat there speechless, feeling myself grow wet at the most innocent of touches.

  “Like your lips for example, they’re so full, so kissable. It would be a sin not to kiss you.”

  And with that he lowered his lips to mine and I groaned a little as his mouth explored my own. And then without warning his hand slid under the skirt of my dress and pushed the fabric to the side, exposing both my legs and he didn’t stop there. He slid his hand between my legs and parted my thighs, cupping the warmth there.

  I gasped and went to close my legs, but he stopped me saying against my mouth, “Aren’t you even a little curious?”

  “Curious?”

  “About what I would feel like inside you?” And as he said that he took my hand and pressed it against his crotch. He was hard and I admit, I was curious. Very much so.

  He surprised me then as he pulled me into his lap and easily pushed down the front of my dress revealing my breasts. I wasn’t chesty so I hadn’t worn a bra. My nipples were already hard and he didn’t waste any time exploring the feel of them with his mouth. Taking in one and then the other.

  I moaned and buried my hands in his hair. I couldn’t help myself. I hadn’t had a one-night stand since college and it had been awhile since I had sex, but my body didn’t care. It had responded greedily to Hollis’ touch as well, but Winslow was present and ready so I pushed thoughts of Hollis out of my head as Winslow continued to suck on my nipples while putting a hand between my legs to push my panties to the side.

  He stroked the folds of my sex, found my clit and began to trace circles around it and I moaned and began to shove my sex back and forth across his hand as his mouth continued to delightfully torture my breasts.

  I heard him unzip his pants and then felt him lift me up and then he was inside of me and I was moaning as he buried his face between my breasts. I threw my head back and tried to spread my legs even more, wanting him to go deeper. He controlled our lovemaking by lifting me up by my hips and burying himself even deeper into me. He screwed me slowly as if he had all the time in the world.

  I couldn’t even think as Winslow started placing kisses up and down my neck. I threw my head back and screamed and moaned his name repeatedly.

  And then he reached up and squeezed my nipples and I came. Hard. “Winslow!” I screamed hoarsely as my sex squeezed his own, drawing a groan from him until he too went over the edge. And he came then, gripping me hard around the waist, breathing heavily into the hollow of my neck.

  When my breathing finally slowed down, I found myself at a loss for words and deeply embarrassed. I was speechless, unsure what the protocol was for post sex with a man who was virtually a stranger. To me, the limo smelled like sex and I felt wet and sticky from not only sweat, but the remnants of his desire.

  “Are you sorry about what just happened?” Winslow asked me. And I was taken aback by his question. It seemed more sensitive and caring than I had expected.

  He pushed my hair back away from my face and waited for an answer. I opened my mouth and then closed it unable to respond and then I felt the car pulling over and I awkwardly climbed off his lap.

  I quickly pulled my dress back up to cover my breasts and straightened the fabric over my legs just as the driver opened the door. I refused to look at him as he helped me out of the car. And then I felt Winslow’s eyes on me as he called out, “Thank you for tonight, Ivy.”

  His eyes were almost a dark grey now and I figured my eyes were playing tricks on me. I gave him a partial smile and then quickly headed into my building, climbing up the stairs exhausted, my sex already missing the feel of him.

  “Oh gosh, what have I done?” I said to myself as I walked through my apartment door.

  “Well, well, well, look who’s finally here,” Ella said. “Don’t you look rumpled yet satiated? What were you out doing?” she asked in a mocking voice, although her tone and look clearly showed she knew what I had been up to. I caught sight of myself in the mirror and groaned.

  I didn’t bother to answer her. I just walked right past her to my room and closed the door. I stripped out of my dress and fell into a much needed deep sleep.

  And what felt like minutes later, I awoke with a start and sat straight up. My heart was beating quickly and I looked around my room for signs of Hollis or Winslow. But of course neither of them was there. It was the next morning and I had obviously slept through my alarm.

  “I guess it was just a dream,” I said falling back on the pillow. I knew if I were to place my hands between my legs I would find that I was wet. The dream I had been having had been full on erotic. Hollis had been going down on me and I had been luxuriating in the feel of him when Winslow had appeared from nowhere. And had I actually asked him to join us? The details of my dreams came rushing back to me and I blushed as if they were real. What was going on with me? I had sex with a man who was virtually a stranger in the backseat of a limo and I was dreaming about having a threesome? People from my hometown would think I’d lost my mind. I took comfort in the fact that at least New York was really big so I wouldn’t have to worry about running into either one of them again.

  I didn’t want to run into Hollis because I felt guilty about sleeping with Winslow. And I didn’t want to run into Winslow for obvious reasons. I took a long hot shower to clear my head and then made my way to my shift at the grocery store.

  The time passed slowly and I did my job in a fog, not really thinking about what was going on around me, too preoccupied over my decisions from the other night. So when a belligerent customer became testy with me, I was completely caught off guard.

  “I’m sorry sir that item isn’t eligible for return. It wasn’t bought here.” I said softly not wanting to offend him.

  “What do you me
an it wasn’t bought here?” he growled.

  “That brand is for the store down the street. We don’t carry that product here.” I tried to explain in a friendly manner.

  “Are you calling me a liar? I paid for and bought this here and I want a refund now!”

  “Sir, I---”

  “Shut the hell up. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Get me your manager! Now b----”

  The rest of his words were cut off by my manager who appeared from nowhere it seemed. He frowned at the man and said, “Sir, what seems to be the problem?”

  “Your idiot cashier can’t issue a simple return.”

  “There’s no need for name calling,” Mr. Seymour said promptly which seemed to only enrage the customer more.

  “Who the hell do you think you are? This is America! You can’t tell me how to talk! If I want to call her an idiot, that’s my right” Spittle flew out of his mouth as he said it and I finally noticed that his hands were shaking and his eyes were dilated to a scary point. He was obviously on drugs and irrational, which made him dangerous.

  I tuned in to what Mr. Seymour was saying, “Our store doesn’t carry the brand you’re attempting to return--”

  “You’re all a bunch of lying idiots. Nothing but a bunch of thieves taking advantage of the little people. I’m a law abiding citizen just trying to make a return and you accuse me of lying! Just who the hell do you people think you are? Bunch of nobodies…for all you know I could have a gun in my pocket. I bet if I had a gun you would respect me. No one respects anyone anymore unless fear makes them.”

  Mr. Seymour drew in a breath and I instantly froze as the man reached into his pocket and then I saw the security guard, Mr. Lockley, approaching and he stopped right behind the man and said, “Is there a problem here, sir?”

  The man withdrew his hand from his pocket, but gave us a long crazy look before saying. “No.”

  “Then I suggest you leave,” the security guard said.

  The man hesitated and moved his hand from his pocket. To my relief, he held nothing but a cellphone.

  He looked at me as I visibly relaxed and scowled, “What? You thought I had a gun or something? Stupid cunt’s scared of her own shadow.”

  I winced at his words and he laughed cruelly before Mr. Lockley clamped his hand on the man’s shoulder and steered him out.

  I stood there for a moment still in shock and my boss said sympathetically, “I’m sorry about that Ivy, why don’t you take off early? Your shift’s almost over anyway. I’ll call you a cab.”

  Mr. Seymour was being more than generous and I appreciated it. The grocery store was only a subway ride away from my apartment, but I was afraid that the crazy customer would be waiting for me outside. My phone rang as I went to the back to get my things. I reached for it automatically. I didn’t recognize the number and then realized it was Hollis’ voice.

  “Hi, sorry I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye the other evening, but I was wondering if you wanted to get together later on this weekend?”

  I was caught off guard by his question and as I went to answer, I heard screaming from behind me just as I disappeared into the boss’s office where we ladies kept our purses. Afraid the disgruntled customer had come back, I looked out the blinds that framed the window inside the little office and saw two armed men wearing masks with guns pointed at the customers and Mr. Seymour. The third masked man was chaining the front door.

  “What the hell is going on in there?” asked Hollis.

  “We’re being robbed. Oh God, I need to call 9--”

  “What? Where are you?”

  “Work.” I blurted out the address and then hung up without explanation and called 9-1-1, my hands shaking the entire time.

  I then tried to push the desk up against the office door, hoping that the perpetrators hadn’t noticed me, but I realized as the door slammed open that I was way too late.

  Chapter Five

  I heard the gun cock and instantly dropped my cellphone.

  “Who were you calling?”

  “No one.”

  “Get up,” the masked man said calmly.

  With shaking legs, I did what I was told. He had the gun trained on me when one of his partners came in through the door behind him and said, “Should we get the safe too?”

  “No time. This one called the police.” He said in my direction.

  I didn’t say a word. I was too afraid to speak and it was then that I heard it. A banging noise that seemed to rattle the entire store.

  “What’s that? Didn’t you chain the entrance?”

  “Probably the cops trying to get in...”

  “Damn it!”

  “Let’s get out of here. If the cops are there, we’re going to need some leverage.” The one in front said as he grabbed me by the hair and dragged me from around the desk.

  I struggled against his grip until he slapped me across my face. He dragged me through the store where I saw Mr. Seymour unconscious on the ground. The other cashiers were up against a wall with a few other customers, scared to move as another guy held them at gunpoint. He saw us coming and told everyone not to move as he walked backwards through the exit with us, never lowering his gun from the crying figures of my coworkers and regular customers.

  His other partners pushed through the backdoor and dragged me to what I assumed was the getaway car. There weren’t any cops or signs of cops anywhere. But I saw the security guard’s body on the ground, he too looked unconscious.

  I was crying and pleading for them to let me go when I noticed that the driver was the man who had been the irate customer from earlier. It was then that I understood that it had all been a set up. The driver had staged a fight with me to get the security guard out of the store in order for his partners to rob the store.

  “Get in the car!” Yelled one of them, shoving me in the direction of it.

  “Just let her go. There’s no cop. We don’t need a hostage. That just complicates things,” said another one.

  “She can identify me. She’s coming with us,” said the driver.

  I felt sick to my stomach as they attempted to push me into the car and I began to scream and struggle. No way was I going to get into that car. They would have to kill me first because I knew getting into that car was certain death.

  As I kicked, bit and screamed, I closed my eyes as one blow and then another landed in my stomach and then someone slapped me across the face. I sucked in a breath, trying to breathe through the pain and then as I figured I was about to die, I heard one of the robbers say, “Who the hell are you?”

  I didn’t know who that question was addressed to and I didn’t take the time to find out as chaos erupted and I heard a sickly sound of bone being cracked in half and then screaming followed by gunshots. I crawled away screaming and crying, so scared my legs weren’t working, but still trying to get away not looking behind me as I tried to escape whatever fate the robbers had found themselves in.

  I could hear them screaming in fear and pain and then I heard another gunshot and the roar of what sounded like a wounded animal. I looked back then and the creature that stood there on its hind legs over the bodies of the three men and the driver was like something out of a horror movie.

  It was built like a bear, but fiercer and more intimidating because its snout and teeth were elongated and bared. Its claws thick and deadly showed traces of blood and flesh. It lowered itself on all fours to inspect its handiwork and then its nose twitched and it caught sight of me.

  I stared at it and began screaming, thinking that I had lost my mind, willing myself to wake up from what was clearly a nightmare and then it came walking slowly towards me. My eyes went wide and I screamed, about to faint when a car appeared from the opposite side of the alley and stopped right next to me. Winslow was behind the wheel and he climbed out and picked me up and placed me gently in.

  “Oh my God, Winslow! Get us out of here! That thing…that thing killed them! Oh God!” I sobbed. Winslow squeezed
my hand and casually stuck his head out of the window and said, “Hollis hurry up! We don’t have all day! The cops are right around the corner.”

  With chattering teeth, I looked up and watched the monster that was in front of us shrink and its animalistic qualities slowly faded until I was staring at a naked man. But not just any naked man: It was Hollis.

  “He’s such a show off,” Winslow said and it was the last thing I remembered before I fainted.

  “Wake up, Ivy. Come on, wake up.” I heard a voice say and abruptly my eyes flew open. And instantly I began to scream.

  “It’s okay. We got you. Calm down.” It was Winslow and he was stroking my hair. I had on nothing but a man’s dress shirt and I was in a house that I didn’t recognize.

  “What--what --what’s going on? Where am I? I think I’m going to be sick,” I said grabbing my stomach. “Did you see it Winslow? That thing. That monster.”

  “Yeah, he’s in the other room,” Winslow said nonchalantly.

  I shook my head, not understanding and began to explain again as if Winslow was the crazy one. “You don’t understand. There was a monster. It attacked the robbers---”

  “I think that sedative you gave her worked too well,” I heard a voice say as Hollis entered the room.

  “What?” Winslow said tilting his head and giving Hollis a questioning look.

  “Ivy’s talking about monsters.” He came and sat down next to me on the bed. Now Winslow was on my left and Hollis was on my right.

  “You were there. You saw it right, Winslow?” I said.

  He opened his mouth when Hollis butted in, “The cops showed up at the same time Winslow and I arrived. We didn’t see anything. Did we Winslow?”

  Winslow seemed to hesitate and then he shrugged. I looked from him to Hollis feeling as if something was deliberately left unsaid.

  “The mind plays some weird tricks on a person when they’re stressed,” Hollis said.