Two Books in One - Ominous Love and Paradox - The Angels Are Here by Patricia Puddle Page B

garden?”
    Thinking it might give me a chance to escape, I nod. “I suppose, but I'd sooner see my own.”
    Before I have a chance to stand up, he lifts me off the bed and carries me to the window. After plonking me down in front of the curtains, he draws them back. Oh my gosh. I hold my mouth and gasp. The brightness of the rising sun on the white snow is blinding.
    He rests his hands on my shoulder. “It's spectacular isn't it? And it's all yours.”
    Pressing my hands to my chest, I try to breathe. No, no! This can't be. I glance at Devlin, then back out the window. Large spires built on huge sandstones point to the sky. This house isn't a house. It's a castle, and it's right on top of a snow-capped mountain that reaches into low-lying clouds. How did I get here? And how the hell am I ever going to escape? I’ve never felt so helpless in my entire life and I want to cry, to scream in protest. But I won’t shed a single tear, not here, not in front of this monster.
    A sudden fury seeps into my blood and I turn to face him. Glaring at him, I pound on his chest with my fists. “Take me home, you arsehole. You knew I couldn't escape. You just want to torture me. I hate you.”
    He grabs my arms and holds me tight. “Settle down. You'll grow to love it here, just as I do.”
    I pull away from him. “No, I won't.”
    His eyes grow darker, then he abruptly swoops me into his arms and throws me back on the bed. As I scream, he grabs my face, forcing me to look at him. “You can forget about Seal, Eloise, because you're going to love me.”
    Shaking my head, I try to push his hands away. “No, never.”
    He leans over me and grips my chin. “I'll make you love me. Your heart belongs to me, not to him, never to him.” He presses his lips onto mine, kissing me ferociously, his tongue in my mouth.
    I can’t breathe and I turn my head away as I shove at his chest. “Get off me!”
    “Calm down, honey,” he whispers, nuzzling my neck. Then his hands move under my sweater, caressing my bare skin. “Just tell me what you like.”
    I dig my nails into his hand. “Get lost, you weirdo!”
    “Okay, we'll do it your way.” He roughly grips my hair with both hands and kisses me hard on the mouth. Then he groans, his voice vibrating through his chest onto mine.
    I bash at his shoulders, but they're much too powerful and I can't get him off me. Closing my eyes, I try to imagine I'm in another place, a safe place, but it doesn't work. I'm stuck here with a monster. I'm lost, helpless, trapped, and worse; nobody knows where I am, not Seal, not Tom, and not my parents. And even if my friends tell the police about Devlin, they’d never find me here. Tears cloud my eyes, but I blink them away. I know now, Devlin will only let me live if I give in to his demands.
    My blood boils. I'd rather die! If I can't have Seal, I don't want anyone, especially not Devlin. With all the strength I can muster, I bend my knee and try to knee him in the groin, but he's much too strong. He yanks my leg down, then pushes his hand back up the back of my jumper. As he fumbles with my bra, I dig my teeth into his bottom lip and bite down hard.
    Yelling in pain, he pulls away from me, his eyes blazing in the candle light. “Damn you, Eloise.”
    I gulp and stare up at him as bright red blood drips from his mouth and splatters onto my face. Oh, no! What have I done? If I faint from the sight of his blood, I'm a goner.
    Gritting his teeth, he wipes his mouth with the towel draped around his shoulders and it falls onto the bed. As he reaches for a tissue on the bedside table, I suck in a breath and gape at his naked back. There are two huge scars, running from his shoulders to his waist. And though I fear for my life, curiosity gets the better of me. Slowly, I run my hand along them, but instead of stopping me, he gasps and closes his eyes. Something sharp pricks my fingers and I jerk my hand away, but as I look closer at his back, I gulp. Holy moly.