Villain

“I love you.”

“Again.” She showed him instead, gripping his jaw and kissing him, whimpering as he growled and kissed her back with fierce intensity, his hands gripping her buttocks as he rammed inside her fast.

He swallowed her cry when she came, following her with a hard, final thrust, his arms tightening around her as his body shuddered with hers.

A few minutes later, as she drifted back to full consciousness, he shifted her on his lap, gently draping her legs to his side while he stretched his own out. The move of those thick, heavy limbs of his brought forth a sound, like that of marbles scattering across the ground, and it immediately drew her attention.

“What are those?” she asked, her eyes slightly flaring at the sight. Gabriel cocked his head to one side and stared at the little ragged pebbles, scattered over the ground among the earth.

“Diamonds.”

Stella’s jaw slackened. “How long have they been there?”

“A few days.”

She turned to stare at him, wide-eyed. “The mine will start producing again after all?”

He smiled, brushing her hair back from her face. “It appears so, yes.”

“Amazing,” she said, settling more comfortably on his lap. “Do you think it happened because of your spell? That it may have been lingering in time like you?”

He was thoughtful for a moment. “I never intended it to be that way.”

“But could the magic have affected the cave, the town, if it was too strong?”

He stared at her with such tenderness her heart seemed to flutter in her chest. “Yes, I guess it could have.”

“Maybe now everyone can put the past behind them, and start over…like we can.”

“Yes.”

“How wonderful,” she said, burying her face in the crook of his neck and drawing in a deep breath to inhale his scent, then sighing in contentment.

Gabriel smoothed his hands up her back, fingers aimlessly wandering over her spine, her ribs.

They might have remained locked in an embrace forever. Stella didn’t know how long they stood there, but if the world had stopped, she doubted she would have noticed. When she finally pulled back to stare at him, she felt peaceful.

Hopeful.

Curious even, of this new life ahead, filled with possibilities.

“We could go away now, Gabriel,” she said. “Do everything we wanted to do, together. I want my mother to have a life of her own, and I want my own life, too. With you.”

She’d barely finished the words when he caught her lips with his and kissed her, a kiss both hungry and sweet, passionate and tender.

“Nothing kept me here but you,” he said, drawing back to stare into her eyes, “and I’m sure the townsfolk will be pleased if I go.”

She frowned thoughtfully, wondering what would be of this town without him. “You know, I think deep down they actually like having you here. Who will they blame for their troubles now?”

He kissed her, softly this time, smiling. “I say we let them find another villain.”