Angel in Chains (7 page)

Aledyan had never seen anything
as beautiful as Inez. It looked as if she would do anything to set him free. It moved him and warmed his heart. If they made it out of here alive, he would make it up to her. He would always be there for her, always defend her and give her strength when she needed it. He would dedicate his life to her, as long as she lived.

But she also looked scared
, and that was a feeling he shared, although not for himself, for her. He knew what awaited her if he failed to set her free once the chains were on her wrists. He promised himself he would find a way, but right now he just wanted to hold her.

They stood in each other's arms. Complete silence surrounded them, making him feel
as if they were the last two people in the world. Her hands caressed the naked skin on his back, giving him goose bumps. It felt good. It felt amazing, and it had a calming effect on him. He wanted this to go on forever.

He gentle touch
ed her hair. It felt soft, like silk, and he longed to wash it for her. He would make sure that the following hours became a memory she would look back at with a smile. He would make sure it became the best moment in her life.

“Come,” he said and grabbed her hand.

He picked up the towels Yorin had left him. Inez grabbed the cosmetic bottles, and he led her toward the other side of the cave, where the pool was.

He hadn't bother
ed looking at the cosmetic products Yorin had brought. Usually they would have interested him because it would give him a glimpse of how the world looked now. The only way for him to know was through the things Yorin brought him, but this time Inez was here. She was far more interesting than a few bottles.

The pool was
just like his bedroom, hidden deeper inside the cave in a room of its own. The water was shallow, only reaching to his knees, but the water was warm, and it was a pleasant way to spend some time. He didn't know how, but the water remained clean somehow, it didn't matter how much he bathed in it. Aledyan assumed that magic was involved.

One torch
lit up the room, spreading a gloomy light along the stone walls.

“This place feels very ... romantic,” she said
while looking around.

Aledyan put the towels next to the pool.
He took the bottles away from her and placed them on the ground next to the towels. “Let's pretend, just for a few hours, that this is all there is. Just you and me.”

The thought seemed to appeal to her
because her face lit up. “Aren't we going to talk?”

“Yes, but once we have everything settled it's just us, no worries, no pain.”

She looked deep into his eyes. “I like the sound of that.”

“Good,” he said and came closer. Nervousness
became immediately visible in her eyes. This time he would make it different. This time he would take his time and make sure she was comfortable. He would make sure that once the chains clasped around her wrists she would feel safe. He wanted her to believe that he would come back for her and set her free. He had no idea yet how he was going to accomplish that, but he would find a way.

He knew now that she meant the world to him. If he
couldn't find a way to set her free he would return to the cave, willingly, and stay by her side. He knew that he would then have to watch her fade away, and die from starvation, but she would not be alone at least. That thought filled his heart with pain, and he tried to shake the image of a dying Inez in his arms. He hoped it didn't have to come to that. Somehow he would find a way. He would save her.

“Don't be afraid,” he whispered, caressing her cheek.
“I will never leave you.”

The way she looked at him made
Aledyan think that she believed him. It had been like that from the moment he chose not to set himself free when he had the chance. Aledyan was thankful for that. He would never betray the faith she had in him now. He wanted it to stay like this, forever.

He grabbed her arm
s, drew them around him and placed her cheek against his naked chest. She allowed him, and the skin to skin contact send a shiver of pleasure through his body. His body reacted in ways that were not familiar to him. He had never really been interested in women before. They were beautiful to look at, but that was about it. He had never wanted to be this close to one before, and he knew very well why. Many had tried, but only the right one could awaken these feelings within him. And here she was, in his arms, making him feel warm, but also nervous. She made him feel longing, wanting and desire. Especially that one part of his body reacted, telling him to get on with it, because the longing had started to drive him crazy. Her tiny arms that were wrapped around him didn't improve his situation, but he didn't move. This time he wanted to take his time, enjoy being with her and forget about everything.

She looked up
, and he saw a shy smile on her face. It looked cute on her. It made him want to kiss away that last little piece of nervousness that he saw in her eyes.

“Do you really want to do this?” he asked, probably for the tenth time.
He wanted her to be absolutely sure because once it was done there would be no turning back.

“Yes,” she answered.
“I will not change my mind.”

His heart
skipped a beat, and Aledyan looked deep into her eyes. “You are the one.”

“The one?” she asked even though she did have an idea what he meant.

“Yes, you are the one meant for me.”

She swallowed.
There had been something between them from the first moment she laid eyes on him. Someone else would have run away, but she didn't. She hadn't been able to because of the instant attraction she had felt for him.

“How can you tell for sure?”

“Because of what I feel for you,” he answered.

The way he looked at her made her knees weak.
It felt like his gaze pierced right through her soul. “And what do you feel?” The words didn't come easy, she almost stuttered them out, and her knees threatened to give in.

He
looked at her for a while before he answered. “Love.”

Inez knees finally gave in, but she didn't
land on the ground. Aledyan's arms tightened around her waist and he pressed her against his warm body, not allowing her to fall.

“Love?” she asked with a shaky voice.

“Yes. Angels can only fall in love once, and until we do we aren't familiar with the emotion. You could say we are numb to it until this special one comes into our lives. Then everything awakens within us.” He leaned closer, placing his cheek against hers. “I have never longed for a woman before, never had the need for one, not until I saw you. You make me desire things I have never needed before. You make my body come alive.”

Without any shame he grabbed her hand and
placed it against his groin. Inez almost bolted out of his arms. She had not expected him to do that. When she tried to withdraw her hand he would not let her.

“Do
you feel that?” he asked. A teasing smile decorated his beautiful features.

She sur
e did. It was impossible to miss his rising desire.

“This is all because of you
,” he said.

“You mean that you have never had an erection before?”

“No, I'm saying that this has never happened before because of a woman. We are meant for one, and only one. The one that makes our bodies come alive, make us feel love, desire and longing. You make me feel all of that, and I will do everything I can to make you feel that as well.”

He released her hand,
and standing pressed against his chest made Inez feel tiny. He was taller than most guys, and his muscular body didn't ease that impression of him.

“You are stuck with me, Inez,” he went on. “I will make you realize that I am the one you want to be with for the rest of your life.  You will never get rid of me.”

He spoke softly, gently but his words were dominant. He really meant what he said. It was almost as if he had just made a vow.

“I understand
that you think this is going way too fast, the emotional development between us, but this is natural for me and others of my kind. We know from the first minute we meet the special one. Unfortunately I was too tired and weak in the beginning to realize it, but once my strength returned it didn't take long for me to know that you are the one for me.” He leaned closer. “I want you, and I know you want me to.”

Ine
z was speechless. She just kept staring at him, wondering if she should pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

“I do want you,” she answered
with a trembling voice.

Aledyan smiled.
“You have me.”

He didn't give her time to
think about what he was doing when his mouth came down on hers. He open her mouth with his and pushed his tongue inside, sending electricity through her body. Inez moaned and gave in to his kiss.

He didn't pull away from her lips when he said: “I would never do anything to hurt you and I'm grateful for the faith you have in me. You still want to set me free, even if you know that you need to take my place.”

“Yes,” she said. “I no longer doubt you. If you hadn't cared about me you would have taken the chance to leave the first time we made love, but you didn't. You prevented it and I must confess that I stopped thinking when you started kissing me then. I forgot everything, even that small detail that sleeping with you would set you free.”

He grinned. “So let's
make you forget again.”

He
helped her out from her t-shirt, gently caressing her skin while doing so. Her skin reacted immediately and pleasant chills crept all over her.

“Just you and me here, and nothing else, right?” she asked.

He nodded. “Just you and me.”

“And our little talk?”

He went silent for a short while. His hands touched her bare arms before they glided toward her back. He was heading for her bra and the thought of what that meant made Inez burn with expectation.

“We're having it right now,” he answered. “I will be honest with you, Inez. I have no idea what will happen once I'm out of these chains. I don't know a way to remove th
em from you once you are bound to them, and I hate the thought of leaving you here alone, but I must find someone who can help us. God knows what can happen during that time. If Yorin comes back and finds you here instead of me ...”

She placed a finger
against his lips. “Don't go there. I refuse to believe that something bad will happen. Everything is going to be just fine.”

He sighed and nodded. “Alright.”

Her bra fell to the ground and even though she had almost no clothes left on her body she didn't feel naked. He made her feel safe, loved and cherished. He never broke eye contact with her as he helped her out of the rest of her clothes. Within minutes they were both naked. He grabbed her hand and led her into the pool. Before her body came into contact with the warm water she realized that she was a little bit chilly, but it would not be for long. She smiled to herself when she thought about what was going to happen. She was already on fire and seeing Aledyan’s naked body fanned the flames of her desire.

His skin was soft and warm, but the rest of him was
firm muscles. His shoulders were broad and his chest wide. His arms seemed to be twice as large as hers and his strength could not be mistaken. He could cause severe damage to someone with his huge body, but when he touched her his hands were gentle and caring.

They sat down in the water and Aledya
n pulled her closer to himself.

“Let's
pretend for a while that you will find a way to set me free,” she said. “What will happen after? I don't want to leave you. Is it even possible for us to be together? I mean, we belong in two different worlds. Other people won't be able to see you, and I doubt I can go with you to your world.”

He was silent for a while and Inez didn't like th
at, but he never stopped touching her. His fingers stroked her arm, but she didn't dare gaze up and look into his eyes. She was afraid of what she would see there. She was the one for him, but maybe it didn't matter. Maybe there was no chance for them once they were out of here. The thought made her sad, but she held back her tears and hoped Aledyan would give her good news.

“It will be different,” he finally spoke. “It's true that few will know that I'm in your presence. Some will sense me, thinking that I'm a spirit or a ghost stuck
on earth, unable to move on. But most people won't notice me at all. You on the other hand will always be able to see, touch and feel me from now on.”

Her eyes went big. “But you said that I wouldn't be able to do that once I walked out
of here.”

“That was before I realized who you are.
You see, our souls are one and the same. We always will be, and always have been one.” He placed his hand above her chest. “I know you feel it too, that there is something about me, and the instant attraction between us is proof of this.”

Inez swallowed. “Yes, but what does all of this mean?”

“It means that I will stay with you, but it will bring changes to your life.”

“What changes?”

“Your friends and family will most likely not be able to see me. They won't be aware of me and will believe that you have chosen to be alone for the rest of your life. They will be sad for you, and try to convince you to find a man that you can be happy with.”

“I just want you.”

He smiled at that. “They don't know that, and if you tell them about me they will most likely react the same way you reacted when you saw me. You believed I was a fantasy.”

“Yes, that's true. They don't think much about what's out there.”

His face turned serious. “Do you understand what that means?”

She gave him a confused look.

“It means that you won't be able to tell them about me, unless they are ready for it.”

Inez looked him straight in the eyes. “Do you really think I care about what they think? No, I don't. What I do care about is you and I want you in my life.
Nothing is ever going to change that. Let them think that I want to be alone for the rest of my life. At least I will know that I won't be. I'll have you right there, by my side, ever day, right?”

“Yes,
always, but I'm also saying this.” He grabbed her face with his hands, it was a gentle but firm move. “You are mine, and no one else's. I will never let you go. I mean it, Inez, never.”

The seriousness in his eyes should frighten her, but it didn't. Instead she found his dominant tone appealing.
“I understand.”

He didn't let go of her face.
Instead, his eyes became even more serious. “You are the one, Inez. The one and only for me. If you turn me down I will be alone for as long as I exist. But I promise you, I will make sure that you will gain a lot more than you need to sacrifice from being with me.”

Her lips were shaking when she asked: “Sacrifice what?”

“Keeping me a secret will be difficult. Eventually you will understand what I mean, but like I said, I will make it all up to you. I will make it all worthwhile.”

He
placed her on his lap facing him with her legs on either side of his hips. It felt good to be this close to him. The skin contact made her feel as if she was where she should be. He seemed to like having her there as well. The fire in his eyes told her so, especially when he suddenly smiled and made a move with his hips, as if he wanted to insinuate something. She knew exactly what he wanted. Inez let her hands trace over his wet and warm chest while she watched him close his eyes. He leaned his head back against the edge of the pool and moaned.

“That feels good,” he said.
“You have no idea how badly I want you.”

She
looked down to see what was going on with him under the water, and grinned when she saw what she expected to see.

She let her hand sink under the water
. Aledyan tensed, but he didn't open his eyes. Instead, he remained still, but his mouth parted when her hand moved closer to his sensitive area. Inez leaned forward and pressed her lips against his before she grabbed his shaft. His body jerked beneath her from the touch, and he deepened the kiss. Moans of pleasure came from him, and she felt him shiver under her again. She lowered her head and started to kiss his throat and gently nipped his ear.

His voice was unsteady when he spoke. “
You are mine, Inez.”

She
met his gaze. They would be together, always. He promised her happiness, even if it meant she had to make a few changes in her life. Her family would think that she had become somewhat strange, but she knew they wouldn't bother her, much. Honestly, she didn't see anything wrong in being with him. She liked that idea very much. She saw what she had always searched for in a man when she looked at him. The affection had been there from the moment she had laid eyes on him. If love at first sight existed, then this was it.

“Yes,” she answered.