Angela's Salvation

by Hughes, Michelle

  Angela eyes widened in amazement and the high vaulted ceiling, and the incredible openness of the area enhanced by the windows filtering in the sunshine since the entire front of the home was made of glass. "Nolan this place is truly amazing," the side wall was made of stone and encased a fireplace that she could just imagine sitting in front of on a cool winter night.

  As he continued the tour she was in awe of the understated simple elegance of the cabin, and just knew this was a place she and Rachel could easily call home. Unlike his mansion in the city, this place had so much warmth and even though he said he rarely came here, it had that lived in feeling. "I really don't understand how you could think of giving this up." Shaking her head, she wondered what it must be like to know you could afford anything you wanted.

  "It's just a building Angela," he didn't put much stock in physical things, taking them for granted because of his station in life. Seeing them through her eyes made him rethink his thoughts though. "I love having you live with me Angela, but if you like this place then I really want you to have it."

  All the earlier feelings of happiness faded a little with his words, as she could only assume he wanted her out of his life. She couldn't blame him, why would someone as incredible as him want to burden himself with a person who could never give herself fully. "If you're really sure you don't mind Nolan, I could at least rent the place from you until I'm sure I can afford to buy it?" If he wanted her out of his house that desperately, and was giving her a way out then she couldn't exactly turn it down, she thought trying not to let her emotions show on her face.

  She was so eager to leave him that for the first time in his adult life he felt desolate. "The cabin is yours if that's what you want Angela, and I don't think money will be an issue." He had so many different expectations for the afternoon, but it was obvious to him, she just wanted to get out of his life and that changed his mood entirely. "Let's eat in the kitchen," all thoughts of the romantic picnic gone from his mind now, "I think we need to discuss your new situation." If she was leaving him, he wanted her to understand that financial concerns were no longer an issue for her at least.

  His attitude was chilly, and she really didn't understand what had changed so drastically since they'd entered the property. "Okay," she tried to keep the disappointment from her voice over how he was acting. She wanted that sweet man that had kissed her in the balloon earlier, back.

  He arranged the food on the small kitchen table and decided to jump right in with the explanation of where her career would be going in the next few months as they dined. "I've set you up to open with Desolite, you'll be on the road with them for at least the next two months. The venue is already sold out, so the small deposit I've given you has already been covered from those concert dates."

  Angela's eyes widened at the thought of touring with the hottest band hitting the charts at the moment. The thought of opening for them was mind boggling, because they had such a huge following. "Nolan that's freaking amazing." She knew the kind of crowds the band pulled in, anyone who watched television or listened to the radio did.

  "I think you'll blow them off the stage personally, Angela," he gave a half-hearted smile, knowing after this tour she would be the hottest commodity in the United States. Part of him was thrilled that he was able to give her the dream, the other wished he could keep her tucked away with him for the rest of his life. Her life was about to change forever, and once her fame began he knew that the sweet beautiful woman before him would change as well. It was so cliché, but fame changed people.

  "When do I leave?" Her stomach fluttered in nervous anticipation at the thought of performing in front of crowds of that magnitude, but the excitement of having this chance was something she never imagined a person like her would ever have and she owed it all to him.

  "The tour starts in two weeks," it did things to his heart that he couldn't explain seeing the expression of wonder on her face. "As you can understand, this tour will cement your career so worrying about finances, honestly that's just not a problem any longer."

  She was no longer the poor girl from New Jersey, she sat back in her chair, nibbling on her lunch as she allowed that thought to sink in. Concerts were big money, even someone with her limited experience in the business understood that with sold out auditoriums there's no way you couldn't make a fortune. "I don't know how to thank you for this Nolan." The man had handed her the dream of stardom and ironically she knew she'd give every bit of that up if she could just have the man himself.

  "You thank me by going out there and singing your heart out Angela." The thought of sharing her incredible talent with the world, as selfish as it was, made him ache to keep her tucked inside the safety of his arms. They would fall in love with her just as he had, he knew, and when that happened what little chance he'd ever had with her would be gone forever.

  Without thinking she stood up and walked over to his side of the table and dropped to wrap her arms around his neck. "Thank you Nolan," she held him tightly, knowing that for as long as she lived, she owed this incredible man more than she could ever repay.

  Holding her, he stood, wishing he could keep her just like this for the rest of his life. "You deserve to have all your dreams come true." He meant that with every fiber of his soul. If anyone in this world deserved a break, it was this beautiful broken woman.

  It was wrong of her, but knowing they had so little time, she lifted her lips to his and kissed him of her own accord for the first time. She wanted to feel the passion of his kiss so she could carry the memory with her long after he was gone.

  The thought of losing her did something to his mind that he would regret later. Without thought he stepped out of her arms, and with one long sweep of his arm the entire contents of the table hit the floor. He didn't want her to leave, but if she was going to, he wanted to feel her underneath him one last time. He'd always controlled his darker desires with her, but something inside him broke as he pulled her back into his arms.

  She barely had time to bite back a gasp of shock as he sent their lunch crashing to the floor before he enveloped her in his arms and pulled her against his body with a force that overwhelmed her. His hands were everywhere at once, and she fought to catch her breath at the urgency of his touch. The cool breeze flittering across her skin as he removed her shirt and bra had little time to register since his mouth latched onto her nipple and he was suckling her deeply. Heart racing, she could only feel every sensation as he ravaged her.

  He didn't want her to leave, he thought desperately as his hands moved under the short skirt she was wearing and snapped the thin fabric of her silky panties. His fingers trailed through the soft folds of her core, determined to make her feel the same insane desire he felt for her. He couldn't think about losing her anymore, he needed to possess, to show her how much he needed her.

  In stunned desire, she arched up into those long fingers stroking her with skilled precision, working her body like an instrument that only he knew how to tune. Clutching his shoulders, as he lowered his mouth between her thighs, his tongue delving frantically into the heated passion of her desire, there was no time to think, only feel. Forgetting the hardness of the table, as her legs were pulled over his shoulders and he devoured her masterfully, she was nothing but pure sensation.

  Mine, he screamed in his thoughts, and he licked and teased, and plunged with his tongue, his only obsession to bring her over into the mindless insanity of need he felt. Her body flooded his tongue with her essence, and it was the last straw of control he had over his already enflamed senses. Refusing to let her body come down from the release he'd given, he continued to taste her and with his free hand, unbuttoned his pants, yanking them down with his underwear in one quick movement.

  He entered her with one quick thrust, and she cried out softly as her body stretched to take his long, thick length inside. His hand reached up to capture her wrists, and as he began to move with hard forceful thrusts, she was completely at his mercy. He'd never loved her bod
y this way, and she knew she should be terrified but the intensity was so beautifully overwhelming, she ached for even more. Wrapping her legs around his waist she surrendered to the mind blowing passion, crying out as he took her over the edge again, her cry of pleasure and amazement echoing off the walls.

  He was like a man possessed as he drove into her softness, the ecstasy of being inside her tight, clenching folds unlike any other sexual experience he'd known in his life. Out of his mind, he continued to ride her until his body came undone and reality slowly came back. Still joined deeply, he glanced down into her shocked eyes and froze at the idea of what he'd just done. Releasing her hands as if the thought of holding them scorched his skin, he allowed the reality of the situation to sink in.

  His overwhelmed mind took in the sight of her skirt riding up her waist, the stunned expression in her beautiful eyes, and the fact that he had just brutally taken her in a way that could have done nothing but terrify her. "Forgive me," he pleaded, still embedded inside of her, afraid to move, fearful she'd run away and never let him apologize for the horrible act he'd forced upon her. Realizing that he was still pinning her down, he slid from her clenching flesh and hated himself even more as the wince of pain escaped her lips at his rough treatment.

  Angela was stunned at the amazing passion he'd given her, and even though her body was a little sore at being taken so forcibly, she had never felt anything as incredible in her life before. She didn't understand why his eyes were filled with such horror, or why he was backing away and pulling his pants back up, she needed a few minutes to understand what had just happened.

  She wanted to tell him that what they'd shared had been the most fulfilling experience of her life, but her mind was still too overwhelmed. Sitting up, she stiffened slightly at the unfamiliarity of being loved so incredibly. The look on his face made no sense to her, and she felt the slight chill of the conditioned air for the first time since he'd shown her how much passion he'd been holding back.

  He wanted to kick himself in his own balls over how he'd hurt her, and knew she probably never wanted to be anywhere near him again. She'd been violated her entire life, and he was supposed to be someone she could trust, he thought with self-hatred. What kind of man would do that to this beautiful woman, he thought. "I understand if you hate me Angela, please believe me when I say I'm sorrier than I can ever express."

  She didn't understand what he was talking about, and looked at him in stunned confusion. He regretted what happened, that was about as obvious as could be from the look of disgust he was throwing her way. Suddenly the overwhelming, incredible experience he gave her filled her eyes with tears. She couldn't understand how he could love her so passionately and then regret the decision. It was clear that he did regret it though, and it almost broke her heart. "Just leave me alone, Nolan," she whispered needing to get away from him and control her emotions. Grabbing her scattered clothing, she ran upstairs to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

  He wanted to run after her, beg her to forgive him for being such an inconsiderate ass. But what could he really offer in a way of an apology. He was little better than her stepfather for what he'd done to her, and it was obvious she was terrified of him now. She deserved to be treated like a princess and he'd done the complete opposite. Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket, he knew that the best thing he could do for her was get out of her life. He called his security team and arranged for them to protect her here.

  He was fucking broken, his mind screamed internally. She needed a tender lover that had the patience to show her how beautiful making love could be, not the monster that lurked inside of him that needed to conquer the body of the only woman he'd ever loved. He felt tears of regret slide down his cheeks. No good for her, he reminded himself how worthless he truly was.

  She deserved so much more than his demented ideas of passion. He would never forgive himself for the pain he caused her, and knew the best thing he could do was give her the freedom from him she needed. He arranged to have her things brought here, and for a driver to pick him up. He wrote her a note and left it on the kitchen counter with his car keys, telling her again how sorry he was, and that the car was hers. He explained that her things would arrive soon, and that he'd have her friend driven out here when she arrived. It was the very least he could do, he thought.

  He waited until the security team arrived, and gave them very implicit instructions on protecting her at all times. Never again would he darken her door, he decided, and if she pressed charges against him for the violation then he knew it was nothing less than what he deserved. As he drove away from the cabin, he hoped only that one day she'd be able to forgive him.

  14 Regrets

  Standing underneath the streaming hot water, she tried to understand how something so incredibly beautiful had turned so cheap and ugly. Nolan had made her feel things she'd never thought to feel and it had been so astounding her knees were still shaking. He had to have experienced it too, she thought in confusion, and for him to regret it just made no sense to her at all. Scrubbing her somewhat sore body, she tried to understand but all she could see was that he regretted what they'd done.

  As the water started to cool, she stepped out and wrapped herself in an oversized bath towel. Maybe it was because she was so in love with him that it meant more to her than it did to him, she contemplated. She wasn't experienced, and maybe she'd done something wrong, she thought miserably as she dried off. She realized she didn't have any other clothing here, and slid back on her tank top and bra, along with the short mini-skirt. Her underwear was completely shredded, and the sight made her eyes fill with tears. Not because it bothered her that he'd ripped them off, but because she knew he'd never touch her that way again.

  He owed her an explanation, she thought in frustration, intending to walk downstairs and demand he tell her just what she'd done so wrong. When she arrived there was no one but Lenny, and she looked at him in confusion. "Where's Nolan?" She hoped her voice didn't sound as panicked as it felt.

  "He had to go back to the city, Ma'am," Lenny smiled warmly at his new charge. "He left a note on the counter." He had no idea why there was such a mess in the kitchen, and worried that his boss had hurt the young woman. "Is everything okay?"

  Angela picked up the note and as she read, tears flooded down her cheeks. Stepping over the broken glass she shook her head as his words sank into her heart making the ache multiply knowing that what they'd shared meant nothing to him. "I need to clean this up," she whispered to herself, lost in her own world of misery.

  "Don't you worry about that Ma'am, you take a seat and I'll have this fixed up." Lenny had no idea what had happened, but judging from the pain on the young woman's face, Nolan Fitzgerald needed his ass kicked. He'd seen someone in shock before, and as she walked out of the room he knew that young woman was hurting. He searched in the cabinets until he found the utility closet and pulled out a broom and dustpan. He quickly cleaned up the mess and called his boss on his cell.

  "I don't know what you did to that young woman, but you hired me to protect her, and it seems to me she needs protecting from you." Nolan might pay his salary, but he refused to stand by and see anyone he was taking care of be abused.

  Nolan was shocked at the tone of the security guard he'd hired, and normally he would have fired him for such insolence, but the guilt he harbored changed his attitude completely. "Just make sure she's safe, and you don't have to worry I won't be coming around again." He gave the guard no time to answer as he hung up the phone, needing to collect his own thoughts over what he'd done.

  Lenny could only guess what had happened between the two of them, and after he righted the kitchen, he walked into the living room and found Angela sitting on the couch staring at seemingly nothing. "Ma'am if you need me to call law enforcement just say the word."

  At his words, she looked up at him in shock. "I don't think the police care that we just broke up." She had no idea what she was saying, her heart was shattered at the
moment and she just needed some time to get her head right.

  "Ma'am, forgive me for overstepping myself, but if he hurt you in any way, you need to press charges." It was pretty apparent that whatever had happened in the kitchen wasn't some quick breakup.

  "He didn't hurt me Lenny," she gave a half-smile, "not unless you count a broken heart." She wasn't sure why she was telling this man all these personal truths, but she needed someone to talk to.

  "But the kitchen, it was destroyed," he'd seen a few domestic cases in his time in the service, and this fit the bill perfectly. "Protecting him if he hurt you, won't make him get the help he needs." He'd never understood why some women felt the need to protect their abuser.

  It finally dawned on her that he thought Nolan had fought with her, and the idea was so ludicrous, she laughed without humor. "Um, we weren't fighting in the kitchen Lenny," her face heated at the explanation she was giving and hoped he got it because she didn't feel very comfortable saying more.

  Understanding moved over his features, and he relaxed. Considering the arrangement of the broken glass and food, it made perfect sense especially judging from the blush on her cheeks. He was a little embarrassed now for bringing it up. "I'm sorry for assuming anything else." He wondered why Nolan hadn't told him off instead of giving him the 'I won't be coming around again speech' now.

  "You couldn't have known," she was still amazed at how heated their lovemaking had gotten, and felt her cheeks heat even more. He'd left her his car, and apparently the house, and she could only assume that he was glad to be rid of her. She wished Rachel was here, she'd understand what had gone wrong.

  "I need to go over the security schedule if you have a few minutes Ma'am," he could tell she was embarrassed and he had already overstepped his professional limits in his opinion.