Saving Grace by Christine Zolendz Page B

so hard. Four, Ryan was definitely not Shane.
    "Ryan, I'm so sorry. But, I don't think it's a good idea that we go out tonight." I bit my bottom lip when I watched his lips turn down into a frown. "I think there are some things I have to work out with Shane. I'm sorry, but I'm not one of those girls who would lead someone on if I knew I had feeling s for someone else."
    "Yeah,
oka
y,

Grace. If you change your mind though, or if he messes up , give me a call." I didn't watch Ryan walk away. I closed the door and sat down heavily on the floor.
    Oh, crap. I was starting to have real feelings for Shane Maxton, and I had no idea what to do about it.
    "Gray? Grace? What's wrong?" Lea ran down the hall to me and threw herself on the floor. "What the hel l did I miss? I always miss stuff !"
    "Nothing. I'm going to change. I'll be out in a minute," I whispered and walked to my room.
    Turning the knob on my door, I pushed the door open with my hip and was half way in the room when I felt the drop in temperature. I stepped in further and the door slammed shut by itself behind me. Gabriel leaned against the far wall of my room, arms folded across his chest; his eyes closed.
    I threw my coat on the mattress and flung the crunched up condom on the floor. I stalked towards him with my fists shaking. My stomach slammed against the walls of my body and a sharp pain seared through my jaw from clenching my teeth so tightly. "Leave."
    Gabriel's eyes blinked open, his stoic expression k illing all my thunder. "I miss you."
    "You're delusional. Get out." I turned my back to him. Stupid me . I was slammed flat on my face across my mattress, all the air knocked out of my lungs. I struggled to move, to lift up my body, but I couldn't, Gabriel's cold steel body was straddled over mine. All my muscles tightened waiting for the blow, the hit, anything.
    But, Gabriel just ran his hand gently over my back and through my hair. Vomit burned the back of my throat and tears filled my eyes. The minute I could break free, I was going to kill him . How do you kill an angel? Put him in sunlight, shove garlic in his face, throw water on him...what ?
    He clutched a handful of my hair, tugged my head off the mattress, pulled his face to my ear, and breathed in deeply. In a blur of motion, he flipped my entire body over so I was now laying flat on my back. One of his hand s still ha d my hair as the other on e pushed itself up my leg. Both his knees pinned my arms against my body as his lips skimmed over my neck. A pure thick , black darkness seeped through my skin down to my bones when he gently placed his lips to mine. I clamped my mouth shut, but it made no difference, the visions came.
    My beloved angel walking away from me, lounging on his wings in the heavens, and Shane . Shane in between the legs of countless women, his eyes burning with lust. Then there was Gabriel, his gentle touch, his warm kisses, his love, "You're my heart, Grace."
    I squirmed beneath him and the minute my lips broke free, I turned my head and vomited all over my sheets. "Get off
m
e,

Gabriel," I heaved. "The way that you have destroyed my heart, just proves that you don't have one." I spit, shoved and bucked under him loosening his hold until I finally struggled free. When my right hand broke free, I pulled back and punched him in the face. I twisted myself up and kicked him as hard as I could.
    He grabbed a hold of my wrist, trying to tug me back to him.
    "
Sto
p,

Gabriel! Just stop!" I pushed him away. "I get to live this life! I get it! You can't hurt me anymore. I will fight you to the end of this life, Gabriel. And, when it's the end , I get to go to heaven this time. You want to kill me now? I get to him faster!"
    "Grace. It would be very prudent of you to fear me."
    "Oh, go to hell , Gabriel! What are you going to do , flap your wings around and throw your halo at me? Oh, I'm shaking in fear. Really."
    His lips pulled up into a snarl, "I can make your last life hell,