Captivated

Angelina

I was attempting to process my experiences with the two gorgeous men in my gallery. My body burned just thinking about how sexy they looked. The weird thing about all of this, I was certain I’d met them before. Not possible though. These guys had never been on my radar. They’d look perfect in my local rock club, but no way had I seen them there. It was odd because I could still sense where they’d touched me, almost like they’d branded me. My stomach flipped with nervous anticipation.

When the one called Sal left my side, I felt the loss of contact instantly. I closed my eyes, inhaling and exhaling slow breaths. My stomach and heart were way too jumpy. For some strange reason, my erotic dreams flooded my brain. In that moment, I discovered who my fantasy dream men were. The previous night’s experiences came back to me in glorious technicolour, too.

Not only had I actually been attacked by a demon close to my home, but my saviours weren’t human either. They could fly, for God’s sake. They’d taken me home, and even though I was unconscious for most of it, I knew this instinctively. Even now, their masculine scent was like a security blanket wrapped around me. It was a good job Cassie couldn’t hear my thoughts. She’d have had me sectioned and locked away in some secure unit in the middle of nowhere.

My head throbbed with tension and confusion. What did this mean? More questions than answers piled up around me. I should have been absolutely terrified. And yet, I’d never felt such completeness and sense of belonging in my twenty-three years of existence. I just knew they were my fantasy men.

Luca and Salvatore turned to face me. Their expressions were guarded. I clutched at the door handle as though it was an anchor. They moved to me as one. I trembled so much that it was a wonder my knees weren’t knocking against each other. Together, they each took one of my hands and raised them to their mouths. Both sets of lips on my skin brought all sorts of naughty thoughts to the fore. I tugged my hands away from them, and with reluctance, they broke contact. I wrapped my arms around myself, still sensing the heat of their lips upon my skin.

I looked to the floor and turned my back on them, heading for the relative safety of the gallery where people now studied the paintings. It gave me a huge sense of relief to be able to focus on what I loved to discuss. They continued to observe me. I could physically sense their eyes boring into my back. The couple of tourists chose a painting, and I continued to chat to them. It was then I realised the customers couldn’t see Luca or Salvatore. This was getting stranger by the minute.

After saying goodbye and showing the customers out, I faced the men again. It was almost too difficult to look at them. They were so gorgeous. Their eyes were fixed to me all the time. It unnerved me and made my sexual arousal spike.

“I have absolutely no idea what’s happening here, but I think you should leave. Now.” I opened the door for them.

They looked at one another for such a long time that I got the impression they were communicating with one another. Maybe I did need to be sectioned with all these crazy notions flying about in my head.

“Please, leave. Whatever is happening, I want no part of it. Go… just go.” Tears tumbled from my eyes as I said the words.

“Bella,” the one named Salvatore whispered to me. “We understand how confusing this must be for you. But we can’t walk away from you, even if we wanted to.”

“Then I’ll… I’ll call the police. And stop calling me Bella. That’s not my name.”

Luca shook his head. “And what good would that do? Your customers couldn’t see us, nor will the police officers. Humans can only see us if we allow them to. In answer to your question, bella means beautiful in Italian. You are extremely beautiful, Angelina.”

I clapped my hands over my ears and turned my back on them. More tears fell. I was behaving so erratically. Perhaps I really should seek some counselling. My emotions and body were going haywire. Hands touched my shoulders, making me squeal with nervousness.

“Please, leave me alone,” I wailed.

The heat from their hands permeated my shoulders. The touch of these men threatened to make me self-combust.

“Turn around. Please, Angelina.”

Salvatore’s soft Italian accent warmed my belly. I was still too afraid to face them in case my expressions gave me away. Scared they would see my desire for them in my eyes. I fixed my gaze on the peaceful parkland outside the window.

“Angelina, this is all strange for us too. But we know you can feel the connection between us. Your painting speaks more than words ever could.”

Luca’s voice warmed me more. Fantasies filled my head as I imagined one on either side of me. Naked in bed, whispering about all the wicked and sinful things they’d like to do to my body. My panties were soaking now. There was almost a compulsion to study their faces. My feet were moving of their own volition, and before I knew it, I was facing them. I ran a finger over my lower lip and almost wished I hadn’t, because they eyed my actions with an intensity which made me burn even more. I watched as their nostrils flared, pupils dilating. I clamped my legs together, another action they didn’t miss. Please, God, don’t say they can actually smell my desire.

“Who are you?” I stammered.

“I’ve already told you, bella. I am Salvatore De Laurentis, and this is my twin brother, Luca.”

Even their names were sexy. Focus on asking questions, Angelina, I warned myself.

“Okay, why are you so interested in me and what the hell was all that last night? I don’t want any bullshit. I need the truth.”

“What, right now?” Luca queried.

“Yes. Right here. Right now.” I folded my arms across my chest.

“The simple version, or the long and difficult one?” Salvatore eyed me with intensity.

“Simple… for now.”

“You’re our mate. Someone we’ve spent centuries searching for. The demon last night, Viktor, wanted to kill you before we had a chance to find and claim you as our mate. Because, once we bond, it will make us the strongest of our kind. Able to defeat any demon hell throws our way.”

My head started to spin at Salvatore’s declaration. Luca spoke before I had any time to react.

“Like it or not, Angelina, you belong to us… and we belong to you. You are ours to treasure and protect for eternity.”

A nervous laugh escaped me, and I held up my hands in front of myself. “Whoa there, guys. Are you trying to tell me this is some kind of kinky ménage? That you’ll take me and hold me against my will, like a freaking sex slave?”

The men stood directly in front of me, the expressions in their eyes so potent that I closed mine against the force of it. Two fingers tilted my chin upwards, one from each of them, until I had no option but to meet their gazes. My eyes flitted from one to the other.

“You won’t be our slave, bella. Our union is so much more than just sexual. This is utter devotion, friendship, sharing life, everything. The Fates have decided we’re destined to be together… forever.” Luca’s words were said with passion.

“We understand how confusing this is,” Salvatore continued. “There is a book which explains our history, and where we come from. Read this, and then we can answer all the questions you have.”

I rubbed at my temples, my head spinning with all this information. “Say I read this book, you answer all my questions, and I still refuse to commit myself to you. What happens then?”

“Then we all die,” Salvatore concluded.