Hope in Love (5 page)

“Damn, you’re killing me, baby.” His hands burrowed into her
thick, coppery hair. “Please.” Was he begging for her to stop or to suck more?
She wanted more and her mouth engulfed his shaft again.

Yael pulled him so far down her throat, she couldn’t
breathe. Sucking hard, she worked up and down his length. Her head bobbed back
and forth. She released him and ran her tongue over and around every delicious
inch of him. When she reached his balls, she laved each one in turn with her
tongue and sucked gently. Her attention returned to his staff and her mouth
covered him. His taste was an aphrodisiac that called her back for more.

“Yes, oh fuck yeah,” he shouted, his head thrown back, as
she sucked his cock once again back through her lips. He held her head tight
and began to pump in and out of her mouth. On his toes, he used short jabs to
thrust his whole shaft down her throat.

She wanted much more. Yael’s hands pulled at his hips to
match the rhythm he set when he moved in and out of her mouth. She swallowed
him deeper with each stroke and took all that she could. She’d never felt so
free, so lustful, as she did with him. She wanted to give him joy then keep him
all to herself.
I am lost in him.

“Stop, baby, stop,” Ram begged.

She slowed, used her tongue to push him out. She flicked it
across the broad, wet tip of his cock, showering it with licks and little
kisses that, by the way he rocked back and forth, told her she drove him
absolutely crazy. His erection was a living thing jerking against her lips. Yael
wanted to taste him.

Ignoring his wishes, she took him back in her mouth and
sucked hard. She reveled in the control she held. Glancing up, she could barely
pull her eyes away from the heat in his. She moved her head back and forth,
taking his full length. She devoured him and drew harder on the tip each time
she reached it. Plunging back down his shaft, and up again, she enjoyed the
feel and smell of him. The heat emanating from his body drove her on with the
desire to taste all of him. His rhythm changed and so did hers. She kept pace
with his thrusts in her wanton mouth. Her hands clutched and squeezed his butt.
Touching and fondling him, her fingers slipped into the crease of his behind.

“Yael, don’t stop, touch me there, baby.”

His guttural cry spurred her on and she stroked between his
cheeks, feeling every private part of him. Frantically, she moved up and down
his cock with her mouth and lips. Ram’s fingers dug deeper into her hair,
gripped her head and held her still as he stroked his hardness between her
lips.

“Fuck,” he yelled as his floodgates opened. His semen
spurted into her mouth, hot and sweet. Her jaws clenched around him, holding
him so she could take and savor every drop of his fluid.

He settled back on his heels, his breath coming in short,
ragged gasps as he emptied his balls. “Baby, shit, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

Yael was alive. Her throat worked to swallow all that he
gave her and she wished there was more.

He brought her from her knees, lifted her in his arms and
vanished them to the bedroom.

He laid her on the bed and stood there…just looked at her
luscious body. Ram felt caught in the most wonderful dream. The sheets provided
a lovely backdrop to her creamy caramel skin. She smiled up at him and her warm
eyes were alight with some secret pleasure. Her full lips were made for
kissing, and though not painted, appeared to be brushed with nutmeg. He could
have stood there forever and looked at her. He pulled and stroked his cock back
to stiffness as he watched her face. The tip of it drooled with pre-cum.

“I want to come in you.”
No, I don’t
. He needed to
feel her tightness around him but not yet. There were so many delights he
wanted to show and teach her. He wanted to bring her body to life. Two silken
scarves appeared out of nowhere into his free hand.

A brief flash of fear entered her eyes. “Yael, do you trust
me? I only want to give you pleasure.” He watched her closely. “I’ll stop
anytime you want me to, you have only to ask.”

“I’m not afraid.” Her chest rose up and down with each
draught of air she took in.

He stopped stroking his cock and bent to grasp a hand. He
could have used magic, but he wanted to touch her, feel her satin-soft skin. He
tied one then the other, fixing the scarf loosely to the headboard. She
followed him with her eyes.

“I’ll never let anything hurt you,” he whispered.

He bent over her and took her breasts in his hands. He
kneaded them, ran his palms in a circular motion around the peaks of her
nipples. Grasping the hard buds, he plucked them gently. Her body arched up
under his ministrations, her wrists tugging at the restraints.

“Do you want me to untie you?”

“No.” The word came out on a rush of air.

He moved his hands down her stomach. He spanned her waist
and raised her body until her feet rested on the bed. He stroked her inner
thighs all the way to the mound of fine hair covering the vee between her legs.
He pushed them wide open. Using one arm, to hold himself up, he slipped the
fingers of his free hand into the moist folds of her pussy and rubbed her clit.

“Tell me if you want me to stop.”

“Please, no.” Her voice, tinged with need, held a pleading
note.

As he continued to work the pearl-sized bump between her
legs, Ram lowered his head and took a plump nipple into his mouth. He nibbled
and sucked at it, flicked it with his tongue. Yael’s body bowed from the bed,
writhed under him. And he’d only just begun.

Moving to the other bud, he bit lightly and drew it into his
mouth. “Sweet,” he murmured. Withdrawing his hand from her hot cunt, he
caressed her hip. He swept his tongue down her stomach, stopping at her
bellybutton. He laved her there and savored the taste of her body. Going lower,
he reached her wet pussy. Taking a deep breath, he took her scent into his lungs,
never wanting to forget the smell.

“Mmm,” she murmured and lifted her pelvis into his face. She
pulled and struggled against the restraints holding her arms.

“Yael, I ask again—do you trust me?”

“Yes, yes.” Her head thrashed impatiently from side to side.

He reached under her ass with both hands and raised her off
the bed. He jabbed his tongue in and out of her canal with force. He nibbled on
her clit causing her hips to buck higher. Ram didn’t want to stop licking her
but he circled her thigh with one arm and held her tight while watching her
face. Using his other hand, he squeezed her butt and reached into the crevice
there. His finger slid through the gathered moisture until he reached her
puckered anus. He lightly brushed against it, preparing to enter her. Moans
filled the room when he penetrated her slowly and he pulled his hand back and
forth.

“Look at me, Yael.” Amber eyes flew open, darkened with
need. Increasing the pace of his hand, he never looked away. Her body shuddered
against him and convulsions pulled at his finger.

“Ram! I—”

“I’ll stop if you ask me to.” He slowed his rhythm and gazed
at her. “Tell me what you want.” He’d do whatever she wanted.

“Untie me. I need to touch you.”

Withdrawing from her body, he lowered her to the bed,
reached up and released her hands. She quickly encircled his waist with her
arms. She stroked his back. Her hands roamed up and down sending shivers to
every part of his body. His throbbing erection felt as though it would burst.

“What do you want, baby?”

“Fill me,” she rasped, her voice laced with desire.

“You’re so beautiful. I’ll never have enough of you.” Ram
moved onto the bed between her still-open legs and covered her body with his.
His hand searched out her pussy and pinched her clit hard. She was ready for
him. Now he could take her, fill her with his dick and…Chrissakes! He wasn’t
fucking her. He didn’t know how or when it happened, but he wanted to make love
to her.

Ram’s fingers played in her folds until he felt more juices
escape her body. He took his cock in hand and pushed it back and forth through
the liquid gathered at her core. Guiding it into her canal, he thrust so deep
his balls bumped her ass.

“Ram,” she cried, digging her heals into the bed to meet his
assault.

“I’m here, Yael, I’m here.” He was falling for her and right
now he didn’t care. He slid in and out of her, but slowly. So slowly. She was
hot and tight and he wanted to explode already. He dipped his head down to
capture her swollen lips. Tasting himself, he almost lost it. His tongue lashed
through her mouth. He broke the kiss only to grab her lower lip between his
teeth and nibble on its fullness.
So damn sweet
.

The whole time he never missed a stroke. He built to a
frenetic pace, and with each plunge he went farther into her. Their mingled
scent made him weak. Her slippery sheath sucked at his cock and her muscles
contracted around him as she neared orgasm.

Ram rose up so he could watch her come, see the joy and
delight of letting go written on her face. He wanted to be in every part of her
like he was in her pussy. He couldn’t help himself. It was too hard to fight.
He moved into her mind and watched with glee.

She hovered at the top of a waterfall, and when she slipped
over the edge Ram cascaded down with her. Like the water, her juices flowed out
of her. Her body wrenched in convulsions as her soul poured over his shaft. She
arched off the bed and clenched him tightly inside her, holding him there.

“No! No,” he cried and pulled out of her as cum shot from
his cock and covered her stomach. He fell against her, spent. His body jerked and
he moved away, careful not to let the drops of semen dribbling from his penis
land between her legs. Finished, he sank down beside her on the bed. “I want to
keep you,” Ram whispered in her ear, immediately aware he’d made a mistake. Had
she heard him? His mind boggled with confusion.

“Ram?”

“Shh, honey. Close your eyes.” He sent her into a deep
sleep.

It was wrong to put her to rest, but he wouldn’t be able to
answer her questions. She wanted to conceive and be done with him, but he
couldn’t let her go. He wasn’t sure right now if he could ever let her go. What
the fuck?

The hopeless souls called to him. Why did the masses below
cry out for help late at night or early in the morning?

“I’m coming, damn you,” he said. Make love to her one more
time, taste more of her delights, was what he really wanted to do. Lie beside
her and feel satin skin brush him.

He cleaned his seed from her body. He didn’t want Yael to
wake up and see it or feel its stickiness and know he hadn’t come inside her.
Again.

Next time.

He would have to do it next time.

* * * * *

Ram arrived below and saw a man who stood on the wall of a
rooftop with the business end of a revolver in his mouth. Shit!

He began his mantra without much feeling.

“You are a child of the Lord and your life is important to
our Father.”

Beings he assisted heard his voice deep in their
subconscious mind. He infused his words with hope and fulfillment in life. It
lifted their hearts.

Those who’d reached this point sometimes saw him and thought
he was a figment of their warped imagination. They were hard to deal with. Most
never saw him.

The man’s head turned toward his voice.

“Fuck off, whoever you are, I want to die.”

Okay, guess he sees me.

Ram had had enough bullshit today.

“Then finish it already. I could be buried deep in my woman.
Instead your creepy ass pulled me here. Look, you got no hope and I have none
for your sorry ass. I’m fresh out of hope. So do us both a favor so I can get
back to my bed.”

The man strained his eyes and tried to clear his vision.

“Fucking jump already, or pull the trigger,” Ram yelled.

Ram never saw it coming. The bolt of lightning slammed into
his body, dead center of his chest. It sizzled loudly as it flowed through him.
He flew off the wall, careened through the air and hit the sidewalk ten stories
below with a thud, breath knocked out of him. He watched feathers float around
above him, some carried away on the breeze.

Bones were broken and fractured throughout his body. So many
he didn’t want to count. Some protruded hideously through ripped and torn
flesh. The walkway flooded with his blood. He hurt like hell.

“Fuck me,” he croaked, blood dribbling across his cheek.

He looked up and saw the guy with the gun now stood behind
the wall and looked over at him. His mouth hung open in shock.

“Guess there’s nothing like show and tell, huh, buddy?” Ram
whispered in agony.

As soon as you can get up, I want to see you
. Michael
used his angel-of-death voice.

Really pissed you off this time.

Don’t push it, Ramiel.

You could help me up.

You must be kidding, right?

Okay then. I’ll be a while getting myself…back together.

I got all the time in the world.

Ram grumbled out loud, “God damn it to he—”

Go ahead. Say it. You know how I feel about taking our Father’s
name in vain mixed with hell. You are working my last nerve. Get your ass up,
NOW!

The
now
came accompanied by lightning and brought a
boom of thunder riding across the sky.

Ram knew he was bested.

When Michael cursed, things were really bad.

“By Job! What were you doing down there?” Michael had
reached the end of his rope. Gabriel and Ezekiel playing games with beings’
lives. Raphael pissed off he was relegated to help Lucifer. And the angel of
hope fresh out of hope.

“He didn’t want my help.”

“When is it ever up to them? It wasn’t his time, which is
why he called on you. What is wrong with you? The others I expect foolishness
from.”

“I-I—”

“Look, I don’t know what is happening with you and the
exulted. But get yourself back in line. Finish it and move on. Raphael would
love to move back to…what do you call it? The Heavenly Riviera. There will be a
vacant palace shortly if you don’t get straightened out. Do I make myself
clear?”

Were they right, he and the Father? Michael agreed the angels
needed to be more like the pitiful souls they were responsible for protecting.
To do that, they had to be among them, feel what they felt. But had they gone
too far? Giving those with so much power their freedom had its drawbacks.

They’d always been a hard group to hold, but he’d done well
with God’s intervention. The Fate’s had also helped to maintain a tenuous
balance. Lately, things had gotten out of hand.

Greed, jealousies and shirking their responsibilities.

The archangels were acting like mere men.

* * * * *

The stream of bright, warm sunlight that greeted Yael when
she opened her eyes was glorious. Luxuriating in the feeling, so relaxed and
comfortable, she didn’t want to move. She felt at home. Loved. Last night’s
events fresh in her mind, she replayed Ramiel’s words. Had she misunderstood
him?

I want to keep you.

Surely she must have dreamed it. She had never felt such an
orgasm in her life and it confused her. He made her feel…alive. And sexual. She
blushed remembering what she’d done with him by the lake. And what she wanted
to do again.

Where had he slept last night? She would have known if he’d
been beside her. Felt the hardness of his body when she moved. She thought of
him in someone else’s arms.

“Are you awake?”

Jumping so hard her head banged on the bed’s headboard, she
turned to see him in the doorway of the bath.

His eyes were darker today than usual. Full of unrest. A
light growth of hair covered his angular jaw and only served to make him more
handsome. Only a few days ago she thought him sinister.

His long, dark gray hair hung loose and brought to mind the
angel Ramiel gliding toward her, wings outstretched. Her stomach fluttered
uncontrollably as the dampness pooled between her thighs.

How long had he stood there and watched her? There was
something else in his eyes. Guilt? The guilt triggered her memory. After he
made love…after they coupled, he put her to sleep.

“Why did you put me to sleep?”

“You needed the rest. I had to perform my duties.” His eyes
were narrow slits.

“Ramiel. Ram, please do not trifle with my faculties. I have
asked you not to.”

“I apologize. I thought you would—”

“In the future, don’t think for me. Allow me that.” She
shouldn’t be this hard on him. She woke up totally refreshed and felt
wonderful. What bothered her was her body did not feel like her own. He could
do things to her. She wouldn’t think about that now. Not with him looking at
her like he was.

“Would you honor me by accompanying me to my domain below?”

“I…yes.”

“Wonderful, we can leave right away. I believe you will like
Florida. The weather is warm and the water so blue and beautiful.” She watched
his eyes lighten and the hint of a smile play around his mouth. His shoulders
weren’t so stiff now. It made Yael feel better.

“I’d like that,” she said.

* * * * *

The difference between Florida and her homeland struck Yael
immediately.

There was no sand.

Part of the domed white roof glared back at the sun that
glinted through tall trees draped with moss. The majestic Grecian columns
appeared to rise magically out of the leaf-strewn earth. Gusts of wind carried
broken branches into hidden corners of the palatial house. A wide veranda was
littered with nature’s debris from the latest storm.

Tall trees closely circled the property. They waved in the
breeze and cast their eerie shadows across the façade of the house. The birds’
twittering calls seemed far off in the distance. She looked around with wonder
at the various shades of greens and blues. It surprised her that she felt both
cool and warm at the same time.

The thought of her home brought back memories she did not
want to think about.

How would she raise a child, a daughter, and make her
understand her role as savior? Yael wasn’t sure she understood it all herself.
Would Ramiel be there to assist her with the education of their child?

These angels and prophets caused so much death, yet they
called themselves good.

Ram had delivered them to the outside of his home because he
wanted to see how she’d react to the dense, lush greenery. She’d grown up in
Israel where there was very little water, lots of sand and no real trees to
speak of. The stately Spanish moss that graced his home did not resemble the
Joshua trees of her land in any way. A faraway look was in her eyes and Ram
wondered what she thought. It wasn’t a good time to read her mind. Not after
last night.

She should not have known he put her to sleep.

Michael was right. Ram needed to get his shit together.

He’d had one thing in mind when he returned from his visit
with Michael—going below. And he wanted Yael with him. It’d be a vacation of
sorts. He could share with her the wonderful changes in the world. Since her
arrival as an exulted, she hadn’t visited Earth. Ram would show her the sights,
cars, amusement parks and dancing. Especially dancing. It would be a joy for
him to see her eyes shine with excitement. Now here they were.

Hopefully, it would help her forget the onerous duty put on
her by the Fates.

Ram wanted to make her happy. Not with sexual things. The
idea to please her in other ways now occupied a constant place in his head. Her
mind, her soul, he wanted to show her the delights of this century.

And he needed to get away from Michael.

His domain was located deep in the Everglades, but he couldn’t
wait to explore with her. It’d be like seeing it for the first time. Yes, a
vacation would be good. Just for a little while. The Fates had asked this of
her and he’d make them believe the time away was for the best.

So she could conceive.

He loved the remote wildness of his earthly domain. Nothing
but swamp surrounded his home and it could not be approached by humans. His
mental guards here were more intricate than those he used above. They wouldn’t
be disturbed by anyone. Except the natural inhabitants.

But this was Lucifer’s world.

He would know by now that Ramiel had arrived. He and Michael
were left alone by Luke, but one never second-guessed what the devil might be
up to.

A sound rustled under a clump of bushes. He knew what would
appear and he waited for her to see it.

“Oh!” She moved to stand closer to him, her eyes wide with
shock.

“Don’t be afraid. They will not harm you here.”

“What is it?”

“An alligator. They are indigenous to this part of the
country.

“Are there more?”

“Very many, yes.” In his need to have her safe, he wanted to
give her another gift. He pulled her into his arms. He put his fingers under
her chin and lifted her face so he could look into her eyes.

“You will always be safe with me. Nothing in my domains will
hurt you ever.” He covered her mouth with his in a soft kiss. When he lifted
his lips from hers, he saw the golden flecks of her eyes darken. She expected
more. But he had given her all she needed with one gentle kiss. “Come with me.”

He led her up the marbled steps to the wide front doors. He
wanted to show her the inside of what would be her home for now. They stepped
in to the entryway and he heard her sharp intake of breath. She looked up at
the ceiling.

“How beautiful.” Her eyes lit up in surprise.

The entranceway was a rainbow of color and light. The domed
roof that glinted in the sunlight outside was made of stained glass. It
depicted an angel with its wings flung out and in flight. He waited for
recognition to dawn on her. The blue eyes would be unmistakable even from this
far away. The dark gray hair. The silver-gray sparkling tips of the wings.

She looked at him and back at the ceiling. Yael was seeing the
archangel Ramiel in full heavenly flight. He had to admit himself it was a
magnificent sight to behold.

The angel portrayed above them was untarnished.

“It fills me with hope,” she whispered. Tears flowed from
her eyes and ran down her cheeks as she gazed at the angel without the
bitterness, without the pain and desolation that now weighed heavy on him most
days.

“It’s a very old likeness,” he said.

Ram didn’t come here often. He’d almost forgotten himself
how he used to look. The world and man had both been new when the piece above
them was created. Even he couldn’t believe the clear joy he saw reflected in
his own eyes.

“You were so beautiful.”

“I don’t know how I should take that.” He smiled. Ram wanted
to enfold her in his arms but settled for brushing the tears away with the pad
of his thumb.

“I’m sorry.” Her cheeks grew pink, her head lowered in
embarrassment.

“I understand. Come, let me show you the rest of my home.”
He wanted to show her the back of the house. The guards he kept would not allow
even the worst storm to disturb the beauty and solitude of that part of his
domain.

He watched her take notice of her surroundings as they went
down the long hall. His style here showed much more formality than above. Queen
Anne furniture graced the blue-striated marble expanse of hallway with its
sophisticated and curved details. The dark mahogany gleamed. She could explore
the wonderful rooms later.

Ram saw when it dawned on Yael that there was no sound of
footfalls. She looked down to make sure her feet touched the floor and she cast
her eyes at him in a sideways glance.

“Aside from my music, I need the silence. The cacophony of
lost souls when I’m this close bears down on me. It forces me to seek absolute
quiet here in my home. Hence, you do not have the normal sounds of walking and
doors opening or closing. If it becomes unbearable to you, I can change it.”

“No, I’ll be fine,” she said.

When they reached the end of the hall there were two large
doors that led out of the house. He opened them and heard her suck in a
mouthful of air.

“It seems I am forever catching my breath around you.”

“A recent addition to my garden.” He smiled with pleasure at
her surprise. A magnolia tree in full bloom stood in the middle of a carpet of
green grass. Flowers were everywhere.

Amazement at the riot of color flashed across her face. The
plants were done in the manner of a wild English garden.

“Did you…”

“No, it’s magic. But I do love the serenity and wildness of
it.”

“I see.”

“Tonight, we’ll go out for dinner. You will find everything
you need in our room. It’s the first door to your left at the top of the
stairs. There are things I must see to. Please feel free to explore. You’re
absolutely safe here.”

“I’ll be fine.” As she watched him vanish into thin air, he
read her thoughts and she wished she could dematerialize.

You can now. Another gift I’ve given you. Use it wisely.
And always be sure you know where you’re going when you do use it. I wouldn’t
want you to end up in a men’s room.”
Ram chuckled.
“Oh, and for tonight,
wear something black.

His laughter drifted through the quietness of the garden. He
would have to explain later about being in her mind. He’d done more than keep
vigilance. He rationalized the invasion of her privacy as a need to protect
her.

Knowing her unfamiliarity with this period, he’d acquired
the basics for her. There were two black dresses appropriate for evening wear.
Which one would she chose? Personally, he wanted to see her in the skimpy
strapless number.

He looked forward to shopping with her once she became
familiar with the trend of clothing worn by women down here.

Chrissakes, he looked forward to a shopping trip. If he wasn’t
careful he’d become what Luke called a girly-man.

He had truly lost his mind.

* * * * *

Ram had felt the evil creature’s presence before he
disappeared and left Yael standing in his garden. Though it could not enter his
domain, he thought he should see to it before harm came to a human.

Luke and his damned light demons. This one probably escaped
him and Raphael earlier. He would need to fight him as an angel. They were wily
bastards.

His clothes vanished and he allowed his wings to expand to
their full width. They tugged only slightly when they emerged. This was
something he’d done for thousands of years now. When he had been newly created,
the pain had ripped at his spine.

The light that surrounded him would not allow anyone but
another angel to see him. And the demon.

As he lifted his body into the sky, the whir of his wings
chased the birds from their nests. Though they couldn’t see him, their senses
were much more acute than humans’. They were aware when something abnormal
entered their realm.

He could close his eyes and never strike one of the many
trees that densely populated the area. He simply flew through them.

He thought about Raphael’s statement that Yael wanted to be
embraced by his angel wings. His cock grew hard as he envisioned her wrapped in
their gossamer beauty. How would it feel to have her stroke his feathers? To
penetrate her in that form.