“Do you have a headache?” Michael appeared concerned.
“No, oh no, I just… we should eat before it gets cold,” Angelica said as she forced a smiled.
Michael brought his plate to the table and sat down in the chair across from her. He lifted his fork and took a bite and then a sip of Prosecco. His eyes were locked onto hers. “God, you’re gorgeous! You just take my breath away!” He shook his head as he maintained eye contact.
Angelica let out a sigh, smiling bashfully. “You just come out and say whatever is in your head, don’t you?” she said playfully as she laughed.
“Yes, I guess I do. I’ve always been that way; gets me in trouble sometimes.”
She looked back down at her food as she moved her napkin around in her lap for a moment, and when she looked up Michael was getting up from the table and coming towards her. He pulled the chair out beside her and took her hand. She looked down at their hands touching. Her hand looked so small resting in his palm, she thought.
“Can you stay any longer, Angelica?”
Angelica softly pulled her hand from his and touched her fingertips to her lips cupping her hand around her chin. She glanced away and then back to Michael as her breathing increased and her heart raced. “No, I have to leave tomorrow. I have an interview in Denver and then I need to get back to D.C.”
Michael broke eye contact and looked away. He appeared disappointed. “I’d like more time with you,” he said as he rose up and took his plate to the sink while noticing she had barely eaten.
He opened the large stainless Viking refrigerator and retrieved the open Prosecco, and then walked over and poured more into her glass and then into his. He knew they were both too consumed with each other to eat. “How about we go in the living room and relax.”
Angelica was disappointed, as well. Why couldn’t she have met him in D.C.? she wondered. She followed Michael into the living room and sat down beside him on the floor in front of the fire. The fire crackled as the wind howled outside. A storm must be coming in, she thought. Michael leaned over and grabbed a poker to stroke the fire. Angelica watched as the sparks popped from the dancing flames. “Little warm out for a fire, he’s good at this,” she murmured, suddenly hoping he didn’t hear her.
Michael reached over took a pillow from the sofa and gently wedged it behind Angelica’s back and the sofa. Angelica leaned back and Michael leaned in closer. “I’m so glad you’re here, Angelica.” He put his fingers on her chin and tilted her head toward his as he leaned into her and kissed her soft swollen lips. Angelica began to tremble as she kissed back, connecting passionately with their mouths moving in perfect sync. The perfect kiss confirmed their unexplainable chemistry. After a few moments of kissing, she pulled slightly back, panting, she looked into his eyes. He was gazing deeply into hers, as if he were trying to see her soul. She looked sincerely back into his and they just lingered there without saying a word.
Suddenly the kitchen timer went off. Startled, she jerked back and looked toward the kitchen. Michael leaped up and went into the kitchen to turn it off. “Perfect timing!” he said sarcastically as he hit the button on the timer, laughing. “Hey, do you like Harry Connick, Jr.?” Michael walked over to the music player on the wall and pushed play.
“Yes, love him!” Angelica replied. The song, “Stardust” started to play. Angelica leaned back against the sofa and looked at the fire crackling in the large stone fireplace. Her heart was racing.
As the soulful melody began to play, Michael went into the kitchen to straighten up, placing the leftover trout in the refrigerator. Angelica wrapped her arms around her shoulders feeling a chill in the air as the haunting song flowed through the house.
Angelica looked over at Michael and unexpectedly felt sad. Harry Connick, Jr. songs usually did that to her, but it was the thought of leaving Michael that was causing it this time. How was she going to go back to her life after meeting him? She knew he would consume her thoughts. She feared the memories would drive her mad. Angelica realized she needed to prepare herself. Angelica observed Michael as he stood with his back turned at the sink. Her eyes drifted from his broad shoulders, down his back and settled on his rounded ass. Michael was muscular, and she thought he was sexy in jeans, and the white and blue plaid button up that had become slightly un-tucked. Angelica felt a rush of desire for him as she felt the warmth in her stomach move to her hips.
She wanted him to make love to her. She wanted him more than she had ever wanted any man before. She wanted to kiss his entire body, smell his skin, and their sweat to drench her body as their flesh touched. It felt strange to her, but she knew she was falling in love, and she had never fallen so quickly before. Her stomach was in knots. She quickly glanced away and took a sip of her Prosecco.
Michael turned from the sink. “Would you care for some more?” He lifted the bottle in the air and walked toward her. He was smiling mysteriously, and she smiled at him in a way she hadn’t before. It was an invitation, and she knew he understood it. He sat the bottle of Prosecco on the coffee table and leaned down to his knees as he put his hands on her cheeks and raised her lips to his while looking into her worried eyes. She pressed hard against his mouth, her tongue glided around his.
Angelica’s hands rose up to caress his lower back and then slid down along the back of his thigh, and then back up settling on the spot right in the lower curve of his back.
It felt as if their skin had merged. Their tongues circled passionately. Their faces were red as they turned warm from the heat and the pressure of their skin touching. They pressed harder into one another, slowly lying back on the floor, Michael above Angelica with his hands around her waist. He slowly lifted her knit top up over her head. She let out a sigh of pleasure and looked into his eyes, holding his passionate gaze for a moment, then she moved forcefully to his lips. They kissed harder and deeper, losing the sense of their separateness. She felt as if they had become one.
Michael reached around and unsnapped Angelica’s white lace bra, letting it fall open and away from her moist body. Michael leaned back and observed her face as he slid the straps slowly from her shoulders, and her nipples rose and hardened in the cool air as he pulled her bra away. Michael glanced down to her breast and his heart raced rapidly. She was stunning in the glow of the fire, he thought.
Angelica’s hands slid down and unbuttoned his jeans and Michael slid them off.
He stared deeply into Angelica’s eyes as he gently kissed her breast. She shivered although her body felt warm.
His hands glided down her smooth arms to her open palms. He squeezed her hands firmly before locking his fingers in between hers. Flooded with emotions, she felt completely vulnerable and submissive to him.
Angelica opened her legs and sighed in ecstasy as she felt the pressure of his tongue push down on her.
Michael continued to gaze intensely into hers eyes as his tongue circled and licked aggressively, bringing her to the verge of climax. She was intoxicating, he thought, as he tasted her soft, wet flesh.
Overwhelmed by the pleasure, Angelica moaned loudly, feeling the exhilarating release as he brought her to climax.
Michael then raised up over her, moving steadily between her legs. Angelica caressed his hips and pulled him closer. She took a deep breath and moaned as he entered her. Michael pushed deep and slow causing Angelica to close her eyes and roll her head back.
Consumed with desire, he gazed with penetrating eyes at her soft face as she sighed with pleasure. He was addicted to her.
They made love as the fire burned beside them, becoming lost in the passionate connection of equals… inevitably and quickly devoured by it.
Chapter Thirty
Michael’s arm was across her body as if he were trying to keep her safe. A storm had moved in. The wind howled steadily as they slept. The crackling fire had died down and had cast an orange glow over their nude bodies.
“Please stop touching me!” Angelica groaned and flung her hands into the air.
“Stop! Why won’t you stop? Can’t you hear me?”
Suddenly Angelica heard a voice say, “Your pain is perceived.” She screamed and her eyes popped open.
Michael jumped, startled awake. “Are you okay? What is it? What happened?”
Angelica was drenched in sweat. She stared at Michael with wide eyes. She was at a loss for words.
“Talk to me, baby,” he touched her cheek softly.
“Yes… yes, sorry, it was a bad dream. I’m all right,” she said, as she turned into him and rested her head on his shoulder and raised both of her hands, cupping them together under her chin as her knees rose up into fetal position beside him. She was like a little girl, he thought. He pulled her in closer to him as he rubbed her damp hair back into place while looking down at her. “Was it a really bad one?” he asked patiently, suspecting it was.
“Yes, I’ve been having quite a few lately. For several months, I‘ve been having the same type of dream. Like your father had described, I wake up on a table during some type of operation with beings around me. The beings have these large dark eyes.” A tear glided down her cheek and her voice shook. “Michael, I…”
Michael popped up quickly. “Angelica, why didn’t you tell me earlier? Do you…?” Michael hesitated. “Do you think you may be experiencing the same thing or is this story just getting to you? Do you think…?”
Angelica interrupted him. “Oh God, yes, it’s possible, Michael. I can’t shake the feeling that I am,” she finished in a whisper as she put her hand to her mouth and looked at Michael’s face in the glow of the fire. His jaw dropped. He appeared stunned.
“Just now, I was dreaming that I was in a bright room, lying on a metal table, and my legs were spread apart. They were removing something from my uterus. I was screaming. One of them pulled out some type of silver wand, I saw a flash of light, and then I woke up.” Michael looked intensely at Angelica.
“And I remember it said that my pain was perceived.”
“Well, it was just a dream… you’ve been right here asleep beside me.” He squeezed her tighter.
Angelica leaned in closer and shivered. “It felt so real, Michael.”
“I’m worried about you, Angelica. I saw what my father went through.” Michael lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “I saw the look in his eyes as he spoke of his experiences and I see the same look in yours.” Michael pulled Angelica closer. “I wish we had more time together. I want you to feel safe.” His words lingered in her mind for a moment.
Angelica peered back into Michael’s eyes and whispered softly, “I know.”
Michael put his arms around her and squeezed her tight. “Promise me you will be safe.”
Angelica suddenly recalled the voicemail from the strange man. Fearing it would worry Michael more, she decided not to tell him. “Yes, I promise, Mr. Anderson.” She managed a saucy smile, as he leaned in and softly kissed her lips, and they leaned back in each other’s arms onto the floor. She pulled back slowly and looked into his soulful eyes. Soaked with sweat, she felt cold and hot at the same time. He pulled her close, pressed harder into her and they kissed passionately.
Chapter Thirty-One
Angelica awoke to see Michael was gone. She looked around and saw he had folded her clothes neatly and placed them in the chair across from her. She slowly got up and started getting dressed. As she was putting her knit top back on, she saw Michael outside the window talking to Sammy on the front porch. She heard his voice get louder and then the door opened. “Well, good morning, beautiful, sexy, lady!” he announced cheerfully.
“Good morning, Michael,” Angelica said as she shyly glanced down and then looked back up at him wondering how she’d ever find the strength to walk out the door. “What time is it?” Angelica asked as she looked around and noticed the clock on the microwave said seven twenty-two.
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, that would be nice.” Angelica grabbed her purse.
“Feel free to shower. There are fresh towels and a robe in my bathroom upstairs,” Michael said, as he walked into the kitchen. Angelica went upstairs to the loft: Michael’s room. There was a book and some clothes lying on the bed so she walked over, curious to see what he was reading. Several pages were folded and the book about Abraham Lincoln, titled “The Ancient One” was water-stained and worn. She reached down, picked up his t-shirt, and smelled it. It smelled of Michael and his cologne, she thought. She felt heat in her chest.
Walking around his room, she noticed a picture of his mother and father, and a few pictures of Michael during his travels. One, in particular, was Michael standing in front of the Sphinx and The Great Pyramid in Egypt. He was smiling and wearing the same white and blue plaid shirt from their day before. “He must love that shirt,” she thought aloud. He had a unique smile-- wide and confident.
“If I just had one more day here with him… No, focus on the story,” she quickly scolded herself.
After Angelica finished in the bathroom, she made her way back downstairs where Michael had prepared her an omelet. “Wow, thank you. That was very thoughtful.”
Michael walked over and took Angelica’s hands into his. He looked down at her palms, turning her hands over and rubbing the creases of her wrist. “See these lines? They were the first thing I noticed about you… We’ll maybe not the first.” He smiled sheepishly. “But I don’t know why, I couldn’t stop looking at them,” he whispered. He looked sincerely up at Angelica and then stepped away. “Here –- sit down and eat before you leave.” He pulled out a chair from the table.
There was a strange uneasiness in the kitchen that morning. She was caught in the tug and pull of whether to stay or go.
“Okay.” Angelica smiled as she sat down and started eating.
“When will I see you again?” Michael asked as he sat down beside her.
“As soon as you would like… Come to D.C.,” she said, softly.
“Okay, when?” He smiled.
Angelica laughed, “Whenever you like… I’ll be back there in a few days.”
“All right… I have to be in New York later this week, so I’ll stop off in D.C. on my way. Angelica, why hasn’t some guy grabbed you up?”
“I don’t know.” She laughed. “Maybe it’s because I love beginnings and endings. It’s the middle that bores me.” Angelica blushed. “I’m sorry - I heard that somewhere… love that line,” Angelica said, playfully.
“You won’t get bored with me, will you?” Michael asked. Angelica was taking a bite of her omelet.
“No way -- especially if you can cook like this!” She gleamed like a little girl.
Michael stood up to pour more coffee into his cup.
Angelica lowered her chin and wondered, “Is this really happening?” She glanced up and shook her head. “How did I end up in your kitchen on a ranch in Montana?” She smiled and exhaled a breath.
Michael grinned. “I’m glad you did.”
Angelica rose up from the table. “I need to get back to the lodge and pack.”
“Okay, I’ll walk you out.” Michael took Angelica’s hand and walked beside her to her car, standing at the door. “Call me when you’re in Denver.”
Angelica smiled and then appeared sad as she shut the door and rolled down the window. “I will.”
They kept eye contact until Angelica turned the wheel and drove down the drive to the main road.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Just past the old gas station where she had stopped when she first arrived in Elberton, she picked up her cell phone and called her mother. “Hi Mom, sorry I haven’t called.”
“It’s fine, Angelica, I know you’re a busy woman.”
Angelica heard the irritation in her mother’s voice. “Yes, the magazine keeps me very busy. How are you?”
“I’m okay. How are you? Met a nice man to marry yet? You know, I’m not getting any younger. I’d sure like to have grandchildren before I die,” her mother said in an extremely concerned voice.
“Mom, please, seriously?” Angelica released a breath of frustration and rolled her eyes. “Do we always have to have this conversation?”
When, Angelica wondered, would her mother stop asking her that question? Angelica wasn’t sure she even wanted children.
“Angelica, having you was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I just want you to be happy. I worry about you all alone in D.C. And the drinking … I noticed while I was visiting you, you were drinking at night. I’m not trying to lecture you, but drinking each night to sleep is a bad habit, and…”
Angelica interrupted her, “Mom, hey, I have a call coming in and I have to take it. Can I call you later?” she asked, feeling as if she were going to scream if she had to listen to one more lecture from her mother.
“Yes. All right, dear,” her mother murmured.
“Okay, I’ll call you later. I love you.” Angelica said as she sighed and tossed her cell phone onto the passenger seat. “Geez!” she blurted.
After turning in her rental car, Angelica boarded the shuttle to the airport and placed her luggage on the metal rack. There were several people on the shuttle with her. Across from her, an older gray-haired couple; toward the front, an Asian couple in their early forties with a young boy; and tucked away in the back was a muscular man in his late thirties with dark brown hair, blue jeans, and a black baseball cap and black hoodie.
Angelica felt exhausted. She laid her head back and closed her eyes for a brief moment before the teenagers in their North Face clothing began rambling loudly about their trip through Yellowstone Park as they boarded the shuttle. Angelica planted her feet defiantly, opened her eyes and gazed around. She wanted to sleep.
The shuttle stopped at her terminal and Angelica grabbed her luggage and eagerly stepped off the bus. She passed through security, hurried to her gate and boarded the plane. Settled into her seat, her head began to bob downwards, and she quickly dozed off.
The Bovine Connection Page 16
