Hope in Love (14 page)

Yael couldn’t sit. The night sounds that she’d loved now
made her jumpy. She paced back and forth across the room. Why hadn’t Ram
returned? She felt the earth’s tremors and wondered if he was safe. She chided
herself for being so nervous. He could take care of himself. Her thoughts raced
out of control.

Patty. She’d tried desperately to reach her mind and couldn’t.
God, please help them. Her prayer had become a litany. What if something bad
happened? Tired of walking the same path, she went down to the sitting room. As
she paced there, Yael saw the book she’d been reading on the end table. She
looked at the picture on the cover.
Atlas Shrugged
. It only served to
make her think of Ram.

Hope. The universe couldn’t survive without it. Everything,
everyone’s existence depended on Ramiel. The angel of hope. How could she help
him? What could she do?

“You can let him go.”

Yael turned to see Morta. The cutter of life. She must keep
her away from Ramiel. If Michael had sent her—

“He doesn’t love me. It’s not me who holds him. I believe
his concern is for our child.” Her voice shook with pain.

“You’re not a stupid woman, Yael.”

What did Morta mean? Yael was beside herself with anger. The
Fates had caused enough trouble in her life. “No, I’m not. Neither are you,
Morta. He’s not mine to give up.”

“Are you sure?”

Yael was sure. Ramiel didn’t love her. One day she would
wear off as a novelty to him. He’d always be in her life because of their
child. Could she stand to see him and not be able to have him? What did she
need to do to make him go away? She’d be able to see to her daughter’s
upbringing alone.

If he left her, Michael or no one could harm him for
something she’d allowed. The meshing. Morta was right. Yael could stop this.
But it would break her heart. It would destroy her soul to do what was
necessary. All that she could do. To make this all right, Yael would have to
leave him. Ramiel would soon forget her.

“He’d find his child no matter where I go.” The Fates could
help her hide. They had that power.

“We will take care of that.” She watched Morta’s eyes mist
over.

“You need not be sad for me.” Yael had resigned herself to
her fate.

“I’m sad for all of life. Michael did not send me.” Morta
turned from her. Yael saw her eyes light on the book. The Fate went to it and
removed the blue and gold marker. She ran it through her fingers and smiled.

“I must leave you now. Patricia will be fine. Uri would
never hurt her.” She was gone as quick as she’d appeared.

The threads lay on the book.

Yael didn’t know what had happened, why she left. What would
she do now? Without the help of Morta and her sisters, she couldn’t hide from
Ramiel. Her eyes brimmed with tears. “God, don’t harm him for my weakness,” she
whispered to the empty room.

She picked up the twined strings. They were warm to her
touch. Yael placed them back inside of the book.

* * * * *

Ram saw Nona’s smile as he whirled into the room. The
maelstrom that followed him didn’t disturb a single thread.

“Tell me.” His voice vibrated the walls of the room she
weaved in. He would have the information he came for.

“There is no need to ask the question, you have your answer.”

“No more riddles.” Cobalt blue eyes blazed with anger.

“There is no riddle to love. It just is.”

“Enough!” he bellowed. His voice finally caused her to look
up at him. Ram was through with her games.

“Ramiel, you have had the power in your possession to end
this affair since your first visit. Unravel the threads that bind lives
together and you can be free. You will not even remember her name.” Nona’s eyes
didn’t waver from his.

“Why did Michael choose me?”

“You are the hope of the universe. If you have none—we have
none. It is your choice to continue on your path of hopelessness. None other
can help you.” She returned to her spinning. “You will get no more answers from
me.”

“I will not let her go.” His words thundered through the
room.

He went for Yael.

* * * * *

As Ram soared to his domain below, he searched his brain for
where he’d put the ties that bound his life to Yael. Now he knew why the gold
threads were so beautiful to him. The color of Yael’s eyes. Amber lights that shone
with golden flecks. The bind matched her eyes. He must find the tie.

He entered his home and felt her presence in the sitting
room. Ram didn’t pull his wings in. Entering her mind, he felt her turmoil.
She
will not leave me again.

“There is no need to think of leaving. I will not allow it.
Do you understand?” His wings stirred the air with menace.

“Ram, the meshing, Michael won’t let you—” He watched Yael’s
arms fold across her body. It was as though she thought to ward him off.

“I don’t care what Michael or anyone else wants. I want you.”
His eyes darkened and pierced her.

“That is not enough. It’s not enough to just want someone,
Ram.” Her voice shook and tears shimmered in her amber eyes.

“You will
not
leave me.” Ram’s blue eyes lit the
room.

He took every thought she had into his own mind. Screw his
promise of giving her privacy. He’d not done well with it anyway. She must
understand.

“Stop, please.”

“Come to me.” His wings lifted high, his maleness couldn’t
be hidden. He didn’t even try.

“Please,” she whispered in defeat.

She wanted him. Her need of him, the love she felt for him,
seeped into his body. His porcelain skin glowed blue with his desire. Ramiel
would hide nothing from her.

“I will never let you go. You belong to me.”

He watched as her feet carried her toward him. She fought
it, but it would be a losing battle. Yael reached him and he enfolded her in his
wings. He soared up through the dome and his own glass-colored likeness.

“You are mine,” he said to her as he lifted into the night
sky. He would love her in the heavens tonight. When they reached his domain
there, he set shields no one could break. Not even Michael.

He would take her under the magnolia tree. His feet set down
and he lowered her until she touched the earth. Ram held Yael until she got her
balance.

“I won’t leave you any privacy. What I want from you, the
joy of being in you, I need you to feel it all. Share my thoughts.” He opened
up and flooded her mind. Ram heard her intake of breath and felt her body
shudder.

“Touch me, Yael. Touch me. Please.”

Her warm hands moved to his face. She held him and looked
deep in his eyes. He left nothing to her imagination. His lust burned there for
the world to see. It matched what he saw in her eyes.

“Ram?”

“Take what you want. I’ll give you the world.” He searched
her face. “Don’t be sad, I’ll never hurt you, Yael.”

She brought her lips to his gently. Then her kiss deepened.
Her tongue invaded his mouth and she loved the taste of him. She explored his
mouth with boldness that served to make his cock fill with urgency.

He broke their kiss and pressed his lips to her throat. Her
heartbeat pulsed there. Ram traced down the long column of her neck. His teeth
nibbled at her shoulder. He’d always loved her bare shoulders.

She sank down on the carpet of grass beneath the tree. He
followed her, sinking to his knees. Taking possession of her lips, he swept his
tongue through her mouth and tasted her. Warm, soft lips pressed tight against
his. Ram pulled away and took her lower lip between his teeth. He bit and
sucked until she moaned.

This is what he wanted. Yael pliant and in his arms. His
hands caressed and stroked her back. She still trembled but it wasn’t fear Ram
felt. His hands brushed the sides of her voluptuous breasts.

“Mmmm,” she murmured.

“Tell me what you want.” He read her desires in her mind but
he needed to hear them. “Say it.”

“My nipples ache to feel your mouth cover them.”

“Sweet Yael.” He laid her down and bent over her. “I want to
suckle there forever.” Ram’s tongue darted out and encircled a hard bud. He
grasped it between his teeth and gave her delightful pain. She shoved more at
him. His fingers pinched and pulled on the other peak until she squirmed
beneath him.

“My…I want—

“Say it. Let me hear it, Yael. Please.”

“I want you to lick me and kiss me down there.”

“Where, baby?”

“My…pussy. Ram, please don’t make me beg.”

“Never.”

He licked down her stomach and felt her shiver with ecstasy.

“I want to taste your pussy.” God knows he couldn’t wait.

He stretched his wings up and positioned himself between her
legs and absorbed her musky aroma. A lifetime wouldn’t be enough to take all
that he wanted from her. His tongue began a slow exploration of the wet folds
in front of him. She was soaked with pleasure and he intended to bring her
more.

Her heat warmed his tongue as he stabbed at her. He found
her clit and sucked it until she screamed and bucked under him. Ram stroked and
nipped there, feeling what it did to her. She gasped her breaths through open
lips. She pushed her hips to meet his mouth. Sweetness dribbled from her body.

Ram grasped her thighs and pulled her closer. He couldn’t
get enough. Yael was ready to come. He wanted it.

“Come. Give it to me.” She hadn’t touched his mind and he
wanted her to. “Yael, enter my mind. Don’t be afraid, baby. Feel what I feel.”

Her mind brushed his lightly.

“More.”

She came into his mind all the way. He could tell because
she released a stream of juices. She’d read what he wanted.

“Yes.” His tongue drove into her without mercy. Ram took
what he needed. He licked her dry. His body moved up and lay beside her.

“Come here.” He pulled her on top of himself. “Feel that.”
His cock throbbed against their bellies. “Take it.”

She did. Yael sat up and slid her swollen folds along his
length and drove him crazy. He could still feel her in his thoughts and he was
deep in hers. She would make him beg.

“I will, I’ll beg for it. Please take me inside you.”

“Oh Ram.” She moved so that he went right in. “Can I touch
your wings?”

“Oh yes, Lord yes.” Her hands swept his arms as she rode
him. He shoved into her each time she came down on him. She caressed and
stroked the inside of his wings and Ram thought he would die from the pleasure.
The moan that left her lips went on and on as he pounded into her. She
whimpered with desire as his cock burrowed deep in her sheath. And Ram growled
in joy.

He folded his wings and engulfed her in them. She screamed
out, ready to release another flood of liquid. Ram wouldn’t let her go. Yael
pushed up and down and his hands pulled her ass tighter to him. He unfolded his
wings so she could sit up. He rammed up into her over and over. He felt her
eruption as it started. Cream flowed out of her and down his balls.

“Yes,” he groaned. But he wanted more. He lifted her off and
flipped her over to mount her from behind. His cock entered and assaulted her
tight walls, pushing deeper with each stroke. She squeezed him hard and he
couldn’t hold out any longer. His wings came down around her.

“Feel me, Yael. Touch me, baby.” He held her around her
stomach so her hands could stroke him. They were hot on his feathered wings.
The sensation of her fingers drew tremors from his body. Ram jammed every inch
of his hardness into her again and again.

The meshing. It took him by storm. But there was more. Ram
had to give her more. His porcelain skin glowed blue and grew hot. His eyes
flared with a shower of light. He withdrew from her and turned her to face him.
Yael now straddled his lap and her legs locked around him. His cock was lost
without her and it quickly searched for her heated canal. Ram thrust back into
her tightness.

“Ramiel!” she cried, her eyes wild with fear.

“Don’t be afraid. I’ll never hurt you. Open your mouth,
baby.” His skin glimmered with blue light. Ram’s mouth slammed into hers and
his tongue lashed at her.

His cock exploded in her pussy. Hot streams of cum shot into
her and he never broke their kiss. He released an electric breath of blue air
into her mouth and continued to stroke in her drenched pussy. She convulsed
around him as he gave her everything he was.

It was done.

He eased her legs from around him and lay on his back,
taking her with him. He closed his wings around Yael and held her to him.

“Sleep, baby.”

“Ramiel, what have you done?”

“Nothing. Go to sleep.”

Ram felt the distress in her mind. The fear rolled through
her in waves.
She’s afraid for me
. Her mind was in turmoil and he
struggled to find words to calm her.

“They will hurt you,” she whispered.

“No one can harm me as long as I have you. Trust me.”

“I love you, Ramiel.”

“Shh. Sleep.” He shut her mind down but he didn’t move. Ram
lay under the magnolia tree Yael loved with her encompassed in his wings. She
was his forever now. No one could take her away. Ever.

He held her for hours. The sun rose in the sky. He felt her
stir beneath his wings and he flapped them open. She murmured his name.

“I’m here, honey.”

Yael sat up and looked around her. He heard her inhale
sharply. Ram followed the direction of her eyes.

A field of red lilies waved and shifted with the breeze.

He was still in her mind, determined never to leave it. The
thought he picked up caused his heart to soar and he pulled her down for a deep
kiss.

He does love me.

Yes, the flowers were for you
. Now she knew.

* * * * *

“What have you done, Ramiel?” Michael’s heart swelled with
fear.