CHAPTER TWENTY ONE Continue

* * *

“Uh. . . okay, more trouble,” his friend said. Michael threw a quick glance over his shoulder to see that Evo was facing the same thing. Then he heard a movement off to the side and saw another of the large beings, dressed in black robes and on horseback, stalking towards them.

The horses let out a loud screech.

“We mean no trouble,” Michael shouted to the robed figure in front of him.

“We’re here to speak with Lucifer.”

A deep laugh resonated right through to Michael’s very core. “You”−he looked at Evo−“secured trouble when you trespassed into this realm.” The horseman then turned his gaze to Michael. “You, however, should never have left.”

Michael swallowed hard at the horseman’s recognition, but all he could do was hold out his knives and, keeping his gaze fixed onto the one who seemed to be in charge, he slowly crouched to the floor letting the horsemen know that he didn’t want any trouble. He nodded to Evo to do the same, but his stubborn friend didn’t look too impressed about it. He knew Evo wouldn’t be happy letting go of his knife−hell, he was so fond of the thing he’d all but given it a name−but they needed to show that they weren’t the aggressor. He lay both weapons down on the dusty floor and returned to his position just as slowly.

He saw Evo eyeballing his blade on the floor, ready to grab it at any chance he got should shit start to go down. Good job the horseman didn’t know what that knife could do, their lack of concern over it showed that they had no idea, or else the chances of Evo retrieving it would have been slim to none.

The demon in front of him began to look impatient.

“We’re just here to speak with Lucifer,” Michael repeated.

All they got back in reply was a deep wheezy laugh.

“We have information for him about a mutual enemy. I think he would be interested in what we have to propose.” The fact that a proposition didn’t actually exist, and that Michael and Evo had no idea what they were going to say to the powerful fallen angel, remained unsaid.

Michael saw Evo change his stance so that his legs were wider apart; so wide, in fact, that he looked quite uncomfortable. His face was stoic but Michael sensed something was off with him.

The demon was silent as it assessed them both. It glanced at the weapons on the floor. “You may retrieve your metal; they are of little use to you down here.

Michael didn’t agree.

As both men crouched to grab their knives, the reason for Evo’s strange behavior was revealed: After he’d picked up his knife, pulled up his trouser leg and replaced it into his ankle strap, Michael saw him retrieve something from under his boot. Evo clamped his fist tightly, then his mouth curled up slightly at one side in a grin meant only for Michael’s eyes.

He’d found the ring.

No sooner had they stood up than they both found themselves restrained by two horsemen who had dismounted their horses and now had each of them in a tight headlock facing their leader awaiting instructions.

The demon remained silent, black eyes bearing into them in turn as it seemed like it was deciding on a course of action. Michael stared at the demon whose face was almost skeleton-like. Its pasty diaphanous skin was almost nonexistent over the bones that it covered. Michael’s composure began to dissipate the longer they faced the creature as he sensed something bad was about to happen. Was it now that he would finally meet his fate? Was this the end of the road for him and Evo?

When the horseman began to move towards them, Michael slowly closed his eyes. A vision flashed in his mind, Lacy, almost as clear as if she were standing in front of him. He held on to it for a moment before inhaling a deep breath and opening his eyes again. When he did, a large, black robed, skeletal hand came crashing down towards him. Just before it made contact, Michael flashed a look to his friend who was calling out his name with a look of sheer terror on his face. When the horseman struck, it was the last thing Michael remembered before everything went black.

* * *

A deep laugh penetrated Michael’s ears as he roused from unconsciousness. Feeling like he’d been the unfortunate one at the bottom of a huddle during a football game, he managed to open his eyes to see his friend lying unconscious−at least, that’s what he hoped he was−on the rocky ground next to him. As well as Evo, Michael was also on his stomach. He began to pull his body up and when he was on his knees, he got a good look at his surroundings.

Black.

All around him was black: black clouds in a black sky, black rock underneath them leading to a cliff face to his right and what he guessed was a sheer drop to his left. They were on the edge of a mountain, wind howling through the air, sending piercing chills right through Michael’s skin. He was about to assist his friend when he froze, sensing something powerful. They weren’t alone, there was something behind him and he almost didn’t want to turn around. But he did.

Slowly.

Then, what Michael saw was inconceivable.

Impossible!

It had to be his mind playing tricks on him again; pushing him into a memory from his life in order to confuse him. But, like the vision of Lacy’s charred body, the female standing in front of him looked very real.

She couldn’t be real.

Could she?

“Jessica?”

ah where is my cap so i can pull it and bow for my boss... weldone sir more wisdom to your head bro..... Stay blessed too bro

Have to hang the pen for now. To be continued......

Oya where Is soul!!!! Come back here cus you ain't dropping any pen oooo....

Continuation

* * *

One thing Michael realized was that in Hell there was no sense of time. He had no idea how long it had taken him and Evo to get from the tedious caverns of the mountain to where they were now, but what he did know was the fire he could see lighting up the crimson sky ahead couldn’t mean anything good. The mountain was now long behind them and thankfully so was that awful nightmare they’d found themselves in. They were out in the open now, walking through a clearing that was surrounded by tall blackened trees, the dark woodland seemingly out of place amongst the crimson landscape. Every so often Michael would notice, through his peripheral, things moving through the underbrush.

He knew they were getting closer to danger as the demonic cries that filled the air began to sting his ears once again as they increased in volume. He felt a profound disquiet wash over him as he began to imagine the cause of those screams, knowing that at one time his voice would have carried through the air in extreme agony just as those were now. He pushed it aside, refusing to let the memories from that time overcome him, locking them away deep into his subconscious just like he always did.

He couldn’t afford any distractions at a time like this. No matter how tough his recollections were, nor how vivid those memories became, he had to stay focused for both of their sakes.

A deep, ear-splitting howl pulled him back from his thoughts and he immediately saw Evo’s body stiffen; the big guy’s sudden change in stance said he was on high alert as he too must have sensed that something was about to happen.

Michael could feel the ground begin to vibrate and his eyes darted around trying to get a visual on whatever it was that was about to attack them. Shit! The noise was coming from all around them: one minute to their left, the next in front, then from behind. Whatever it was was moving fast, toying with them, and all the while keeping out of view.

Suddenly a dark, formless shape rushed by Michael causing him to duck down low. He saw Evo do the same as another flew by him, but he wasn’t quick enough. “Shit!” Evo exclaimed as his hand went to a fresh wound on his cheek. It didn’t look like it had sliced him but. . . was that a burn? “What the f−”

Michael noticed more heading straight towards them. As soon as one of the black demons got close, on instinct Evo sliced at it with his knife. The demon squealed and sparks flew off it as soon as the blade connected. Evo raised his eyebrows at Michael, clearly surprised by the fact that he’d wounded it, all be it temporary. But temporary was better than nothing right now.
Then Michael remembered the ring. Alethia’s ring was supposed to capture demons somehow.

He felt a small whisper of hope at the thought of maybe getting out of this situation

“Evo, the ring.”

His friend threw a smirk his way after Michael had reminded him that he probably held the key to ending the onslaught, but when Evo looked back at Michael, his face had paled and he had an odd expression. “Evo. What’s the delay? Use the ring.”

“That might be a little difficult,” he shot back just before ducking out of the way of a demon.

“What are you talking about?”

He raised his hand to Michael and wiggled his pinky finger. “I don’t have it.” As it didn’t resize like it had for Alethia, the only finger that had been small enough to wear it was empty.

The ring was gone.

Shit! Not only were they screwed right now, but even if they did somehow manage to survive the attack, he wasn’t sure Evo would survive Alethia when she found out he’d lost the damn thing.

It was Michael’s turn to duck out of the way this time and when he looked back at his friend, who was now in a panic, eyes scanning the dusty floor, he. . .

“EVO!” Michael cried, warning him just in time. A demon was heading straight for him and two more were on its tail. Evo managed to slice that one too, but Michael had no such knife and watched as the other two demons changed course and were now headed straight for him instead. Oh, Bleep!

Evo darted in front of him, slicing one of the demons before rolling on the ground, but the other went straight after Michael. Knowing that the knives he had would do nothing, he put his arm up to protect himself and cursed out loud as the demon connected and flew off as quickly.

“Bleep! That burns,” he gasped, surprised by the pain as he quickly inspected his arm. He could see his pink flesh under his coat where the demon had burned right through. He made a quick mental note not to let one of those things touch him again as he was now aware that he could feel physical pain down here.

The demons were playing with them. He knew that they could attack properly whenever they wanted to and then neither of them stood a chance.

Evo must have read his mind. “We haven’t a hope of defeating these things, Mike,” he shouted between slices. Michael continued to duck out of the way by his side. “My knife seems to be stunning them momentarily, but that’s about it.

"We’re screwed here, buddy.”

He knew Evo was right. Michael couldn’t see a way out of this. Evo was managing to keep the demons away from both of them at the moment but for how long?

“Uh. . . Mike?”

Shit. Three more had just joined the party.

Instead of swooping down on them like the others were, the new additions begun to fly around them and to their surprise the rest joined them. The five demons circled them in the air. Now Michael was able to see them properly, noticing their skull-like features and the black mist that represented their bodies just like the demon he’d seen at the university, the one which had possessed Nina and then moved on to Jake.

They began to move faster until they appeared to merge into one, forming a black ring around them as they stood as prey in the center.

“I don’t like this.” Evo shouted over the wind that was now hurtling around them. “What do we do now? Can’t you do that shit you did at Lacy’s house−whatever the hell that was−and get us out of this?”

“I don’t even know what happened, let alone how to make it happen again.”

“Well. . . great. We’re going to die. I mean, I am anyway. You’re already dead.”

“I don’t need a reminder.”

Just then, a deafening screech tore through the air and immediately the demons began to scatter, leaving Evo and Michael perplexed in the silence that followed. Only the eerie quiet didn’t last long.

Another screech. Closer this time.

Michael and Evo now stood back to back in the middle of the clearing, both with weapons held out in front of them, ready for anything. At least he though they were until what he saw emerge from the black trees right in front of him made him think again. He took an unnecessary deep breath in anticipation of

what was about to happen.

I talk am say that Emmy nag bastard .... more ink to you man

ghosts mode deactivated..... Bros i cut cap for you oooo.... Wetin make me no go comment for here dem never born am..... Oh boy ur mata nah winsh mata oooo.... Blood money owo ninu shaka..... Keep the good work coming man..... More ink to your brain and more pussy juice on ya dick...

By the way i go like hook up with that your sugar malle oooo....

Happy new month famz i wish us the very best of what this month has got to offer..... there shall be no casualty in our family this remaining months of the year..... Amen!!!

this is the main reason I don't post most of the time...... you guys ain't supportive at all..... Its so disheartening

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

It wasn’t the blood soaked walls of the many caves, nor was it the horrific, blood curdling screams in the distance that made Michael’s skin crawl as he remembered his torturous time in the pit. No, it was the stomach churning stench of burning flesh that was at the forefront of his memories. The familiarity of that alone was why he felt as uncomfortable as he did at that moment. Both men made their way down a long tunnel cut through a large rock formation that they’d suddenly appeared in front of after completing the ritual−which was downright weird by the way.

It hadn’t been as bad for Michael, but how Evo had managed to endure the pain−which he could only imagine−of slicing his own flesh and then stuffing his wound full of the pasty blood and ash mixture, all the while chanting strange sounding words, was unimaginable. It was only when he cauterized the sliced flesh back together with that strange looking wand that his buddy screamed like a bitch.

Couldn’t blame the guy though.

“Man, this is some freaky shit,” Evo said as he walked a few steps ahead with a burning torch that he’d grabbed at the entrance of the tunnel. He was passing it over the seeping walls inspecting every inch of them with the light from the flame. “I don’t even want to know what that shit is.” His nose curled up at the sight of some black ooze that was about to drip down from above him.

He moved his body out of the way just in time.

Michael hadn’t known what to expect before they’d arrived. His memories of his time in Hell were very limited, but he was pretty sure he hadn’t been given a grand tour of the place. No, instead he’d been locked away somewhere and forced to endure things that even the devil himself would have squirmed at.

He stayed behind his friend, eyes scanning the shadows, as they continued deeper into the tunnel. Evo had his not-so-demon friendly knife in his right hand, ready to stick it into anything that came near, while Michael had stuck to the regular type, but he’d opted for one in each hand.

It was too damn quiet.

The distant screams had quietened down the further into the cave they’d gotten, and apart from dripping sounds and the occasional curse from Evo, there was deadly silence. Michael didn’t like it at all. Neither one of them had a clue how to find Lucifer, or what dangers they were heading for, but Michael was prepared for anything and had a feeling that the evil bastard, if he didn’t already, would know he was here soon enough.

The silence was unnerving.

After Michael and Evo argued the toss about which way they should go when they reached an intersection of tunnels−straight on, right or left−they ended up taking a right and it wasn’t long until they found a small archway in the rock. As they cautiously entered what looked like a dark cavern, bizarrely, and in the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a room that was almost. . .

normal. Aside from the fact that the walls were nearly black with dirt, as well as the worn floorboards and the remains of old furniture, the room looked familiar.

“The Bleep?” Michael heard Evo say as they both stood in the middle of the room. It was like they’d just stepped through a portal that had led them straight out of the pit and. . .

Wait. Michael had been here before. As he looked closer he realized why the interior looked so dirty: it was the remnants of a fire and now he could even smell it, the harsh scent of the charred surroundings began to sting the back of his nose and throat. But where was this place?

As he walked out of the door that had now replaced the archway they’d both just come through he gasped, awash with confusion at the fact that he hadn’t returned back to the cave. Instead, he was in a hallway that was much more of the same: blackened walls with burnt out pictures hanging up on them. A strange pull was leading him down towards three doors at the end: two on the left and one on the right. It was the one on the right that he went to.

“Hey, Mike. Wait up,” he heard his buddy call out as he placed his hand on the door handle. Dread hummed through every inch of Michael’s body, yet he didn’t know why. All he knew was that something terrible waited for him on the other side of that door.

“Uh. I’m not so sure that’s a good−”

He didn’t wait for Evo to finish. He turned the handle and opened the door, but as he did, the realization of where he was, nearly had him face planting on the ground. He grabbed hold of the door jamb for a second before catching his breath. Then he noticed something on top of the burnt bed over the other end of the room. In the next second he heard a pained roar rip through the room and soon realized it was coming from his own lungs.

“NO!” he screamed as he ran towards the bed where the charred remains of a female form lay upon the blackened mattress. He grabbed the body and cradled it knowing exactly who it was.

“Michael. No! Don’t touch it.”

It was Lacy’s house they were in. That’s why it was so familiar. Only it wasn’t the same neatly decorated place he was comfortable in−the place he’d had a hard job leaving before he’d done the ritual−no, there wasn’t a thing that hadn’t been destroyed by fire, including. . . NO! Not while she’d slept.

“Lacy. Please, God. No. . . NO!” he heard himself say as he rocked back and forth with her burnt body in his arms.

She was dead. Lacy was dead.

Her precious, soft, alabaster skin was now black and blistered.

He felt something trying to pull him away from her, strong arms, trying to pry his own from her body.

“Michael, you have to let go of her. It’s not real. . . None of this is real.”

He heard his friend’s words, but couldn’t process them; didn’t matter. He didn’t care. All he knew in that moment was heartache. His Lacy had died in such a horrific way and he hadn’t been there to save her. Oh, no. NO! Why didn’t I just stay with her? I could have saved her. A distant voice pulled him from his inner torment and he realized he was crying. Shit. Why her?

“Michael. . . Michael. Listen to me. Hey.” He managed to lift his eyes to his friend who was now leaning over Lacy’s body and had gotten right up in his face. “This is not real,” Evo said again. Michael just stared into his hazel eyes, which were now frantically piercing his own. “You have to let go of her. Now!”

When Michael looked back down at Lacy he tried to will what little strength he had to believe what his friend was saying. But she was real. He held her tightly to him. She felt as real as. . .

He couldn’t fathom what happened next.

Lacy’s head slowly turned towards him. Her eyes suddenly opened wide, shocking the hell out of him as she looked directly at him. “Bleep!” he yelled as he threw her body away from him and jumped up from the bed.

He heard Evo’s gasp.

Completely dumbfounded at what he was witnessing, Michael began to back away at the same time that the charred body rose up onto its knees and began to crawl towards the end of the bed. She reached out one arm to him. “Michael.

Help me!” she rasped.

Evo was right. This wasn’t Lacy. He continued to walk backwards; joining his friend−whose mouth was now hanging wide open−over the other side of the room.

She slowly climbed down from the bed and straightened, bright white eyes−a stark contrast to her blackened skin−bore into his as she walked towards them.

“Jesus. Fucking. Christ.” Evo said in a shaky voice beside him. “We have to get out of here.”

They both turned towards the door, but as Michael grabbed for the handle he was grabbed by his arm. He turned his head to see the corpse had latched onto him and was trying to drag him backwards. It was working too. He tried to prize her away, but she was strong and continued to pull. Her grip got harder and she managed to tug his body back a few feet. Just as he thought his flesh would be pulled from his arm, Evo swung something at her head, connecting with it and nearly knocking it clean off her shoulders. The body lost its grip on Michael and slumped to the floor.

“Weird, crispy bitch!” Evo growled as he threw the now broken lamp base to the floor. “Let’s go.”

This time they both made it out of the door and as Michael began to pull it closed, he paused and looked back catching sight of the body trying to drag itself across the floor towards the exit. He slammed it shut and they both leaned against the wall across from each other gasping for breath. Michael looked at Evo whose look of disbelief must have mirrored his own. “What the. . . ” he swallowed hard, “what the Bleep just happened?”

It took a minute for Evo to reply as he crouched over, both hands on the tops of his thighs, fighting for breath. “It’s this place fucking with us.”

“Yeah? No shit.”

“I’ve got a feeling that won’t be the only time something like that happens.”

As Michael tried to shift the disturbing vision of what he’d first thought was Lacy from his mind, something began to happen. Their surroundings switched from the dingy burnt out hallway to the seeping walls of the cave that they’d been in prior to their altercation. Evo leapt up from his lean against the wall. A quick shiver ran through him as he looked back over his shoulder with disgust at what had returned. “Let’s go,” was all he said, brushing both of his shoulders as he walked off towards the darkness.

Alethia?” Lacy gasped as she rushed over to her, taking her arm and walking her to the sofa.

“What’s wrong?” Alethia blinked and shook her head as if to re-load her batteries. “Where are they?” She grabbed hold of Lacy’s arms, her desperation, causing Lacy’s heart to race with concern. “Evo and Michael, where are they?”

“They left about an hour ago, I think. Alethia, Evo is performing a ritual that will let them enter Hell. I’m so s−”

“Where? Where are they performing the ritual?” Her unusual caramel colored eyes were wide, staring right into Lacy’s.

“They were going to Michael’s apartment at the university.”

“We have to stop them.”Lacy instantly felt nauseous. The fact that Alethia’s usual calm had abandoned her was a huge cause for concern. “Why. . . Alethia, what’s wrong?

“The ring. . . Shit. He can’t use it. There will be terrible consequences if either one of them try.”

“What? The ring that you gave to Evo? What consequences?”

“I didn’t give it to him. He took it from me.”


“What consequences, Alethia?” Now Lacy was the one who was frantic.The deity’s shoulders slumped as she began to explain, talking so fast Lacy could only just understand her. “It was created by my father and only he can decide who can use it. It was designed in such a way that if it happened to fall into the wrong hands it would—” She paused mid sentence.

“What? Alethia, tell me please.”


“If Michael or Evo use that ring. . . instead of trapping the demon they are wielding it on, it will reverse the process.”

“Annnd?” That didn’t sound good.

“By trapping the person who uses it instead.”

Lacy’s breath left her lungs in a rush and she suddenly felt quite dizzy. “Oh. My. God! We have to stop them.”

She rushed to get into her coat and scarf, shoved her warm camel skin boots on her feet and grabbed her car keys. As she headed for the front door, she was stopped in mid-stride as Alethia grabbed her arm.

“There’s no time for that. We’ll have to go my way.” She took hold of Lacy’s upper arms, wrapping her hands around her tightly. “Hold onto my arms. And your stomach.”

“My stomach, why?” Lacy asked as she placed her hands tentatively on Alethia’s arms in the same way.

“Because you’re probably about to lose it. Humans don’t usually cope well with this. Now hold tight.” Before she could respond, Lacy was being swept into a swirling black mist, suddenly losing all sense of where she was. The disorientating rush of dizziness that consumed her in the next moment was sickening. No wonder Alethia said to hold on to her stomach. She honestly felt like she was about to throw up her whole insides not just her stomach. The feeling was much worse than last time. Probably because last time she’d been so preoccupied with everything that had gone on she hadn’t noticed. Just as she felt she was about to pass out, the swirling began to slow and the darkness that surrounded her a moment ago began to fade. Alethia came into view and Lacy realized she was still gripping onto her arms for dear life. White and blue painted walls began to appear either side of them and when the last bit of gray haze had disappeared, she recognized where they were: standing in the corridor outside Michael’s front door Alethia helped her regain her balance.

“Feeling okay?” she asked, still holding on as if to make sure Lacy was okay.

Lacy waited a moment before answering. “Yeah. Actually, I feel fine.”

Alethia shrugged her shoulders. “You’re stronger than you look.” She smiled slightly, but then it quickly disappeared and she turned to face the apartment door. “I couldn’t get us inside. He must have spelled it with something.”

Lacy didn’t care and rapped her knuckles on the door. “Michael! Michael, are you in there?” No answer. She knocked again, harder this time; still no answer. “Oh, no! They must have done the ritual already.”

Alethia grabbed Lacy’s shoulder and pulled her back from the door. “Allow me.” She crossed her arms over each other in front of her chest and bowed her head, eyes closed. After a couple of seconds Michael’s door flew open.

Shit! She was good to have around in situations like this. They both walked into the living room where a pile of unusual looking items was scattered around the coffee table, including what looked like a bowl with blood in it and another with what appeared to be burnt ashes.

Lacy went cold.

She wasn’t usually one for cursing, but with a trembling voice she said,

“Alethia, what the Bleep are we going to do?”

Evold:
I only read the last part of the story. proud of myself

lolz

so I thought I've commented on this thread before but I was shock that I was wrong..... Bahdo you're good keep it up man.....
abeg no dey keep your fans waiting for long

wait did they say emmy is not breathing Well I think the bastard got a lot unknown to the duo.....
in shot
Make them chuck the idiotic fellow inside water, if that one no work make them shoot for near him ear....dem no born am well that him pretence go piante sharpally

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waacut .....

Thanks for the mention man..... Jah bless you, more wisdom to your brain

bia chokolate come and update nah bikonu .....

paafin:

See this one left his story to shout "feed us more" on another writer's thread.. Quantinu, bros...

I don upload o go and read

at least some people go let me rest now no be say I be no wan upload na circumstances oooo....

nice story you got here op..... More greez to your elbows

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Laaacy!”Her blond hair hung over her face as she bent over Lacy.

Ghostly features stared with such intensity. Her face was mere inches away.

Lacy tried to look away, but the ghostly figure somehow held her within its glassy gaze, unable to move. “Laaacy!” she repeated. Lacy wanted to call out, to ask her what she wanted, but when she went to talk, no sound came out.

Suddenly the woman backed up out of view. When Lacy lifted her head to see where she’d gone, she was at the foot of her bed. Her torn clothes hung from her and her arms were outstretched towards Lacy. Her head tilted to the side before she shot backwards and through the bedroom wall.
Lacy saw something written on the wall right where she’d disappeared. She squinted to read it, but when she did, her stomach sank. . . The two words written in black simply read:

HE’S COMING!!!

Lacy’s eyes sprang open. She could have sworn she heard someone whisper her name. She blinked a couple of times and a vision of a blond woman flashed into her mind. She tried to remember the dream she must have just had that had made her heart pound in her chest, but couldn’t. After a few seconds, when her brain had kicked into gear, she smiled and cuddled into Michael’s arm that was wrapped around the front of her across her breasts. She must have turned around in her sleep because she now had her back to him and could feel his warm body tucked around her. She sighed, content in the moment until. . .
“No. . . Can’t. . . . . . out!” Michael murmured. She felt his whole body tense around her. “Lacy. . . Need to. . . Help her!”

She slowly maneuvered herself around under his heavy arm so that she was facing him.

“Hey,” she whispered, shaking him softly, careful not to startle him.

“Michael, wake up.”

“He’ll. . . Kill. . . ” He tensed again. She felt his body tremble.

Oh God. “Michael. . . Hey.” His eyes snapped open, startling her for a moment. “You were having a− ”Before she could finish he was pulling her into him, his head burrowed into her neck. “Hey. Its okay. It was just a dream.”

She felt him tighten around her and she squeezed him back. Whatever it was that he’d just seen in his nightmare had clearly freaked him out. “Are you awake now?” she asked in a tentative voice.

“Yeah,” he murmured into her neck before pulling back to look at her. He blinked a few times, clearing his sleepy vision. “Shit! That was weird. It felt so real. ”She brushed his sweaty hair from his forehead. “Well, it wasn’t. You’re here with me.” He kissed her amorously and then resumed his hug. She closed her eyes, feeling overwhelmed by his tenderness. After a moment, Michael pulled away just enough to look at her while keeping her in his arms. “You were dying. Varesh had taken you again and he was torturing you to get at me. He was using his fire to burn you just like he did with me only you couldn’t take it. I couldn’t get to you because I was trapped in the pit, but Lucifer took great pleasure in showing me what Varesh was doing to you.” His voice was shaky. He paused and swallowed hard. “I felt everything you were feeling and there was nothing I could do to get to you.”

Lacy reached up and placed her hand on his cheek.

“It felt so real.” Michael closed his eyes for a moment.

Her vision went blurry as her eyes filled up with tears. This time she pulled him close. She couldn’t bear to see his anguish. It hurt her so much to think that he may not make it back. To feel so strongly for him in such a short time astonished her. How had this happened? How had she fallen so hard for someone she barely knew?

“I need you to come back to me,” she whispered.

Michael lifted his head, looked into her eyes and then kissed her in such a tender way she nearly lost her mind. She tried to push away the thought of him leaving her in just a few hours and focus on this time with him, here in his arms, loving him. Oh my. . . did she love him? Was it possible to love somebody so quickly? All she knew was that she would ache for him when he was gone.

Michael made love to her again, twice.

* * *
Lacy woke up with a smile on her face. That was until she reached around expecting to find Michael beside her, but the bed was empty. She sat up quickly. “Oh, please. No.” She panicked thinking that he’d left without saying goodbye, but then paused when she heard something drop to the floor in the kitchen. Soon after, she realized she could smell bacon. She let out a relieved sigh and lay back down. Last night had been the most perfect night of her life, and even though she knew her afterglow would be short lived, she couldn’t help the big grin that filled her face as she thought about what had happened between the two of them through the night. Never in her life had she had sex even twice in a row let alone three times. When she moved on to her side, she ached. Oh, but it was a good ache. The muscles in her thighs felt tender but she loved it. The pain was lessened due to the cause: mind blowing sex. Sweet lord Michael knew how to please. Her erotic thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and in he walked, gloriously naked from the waist up, with a tray in his hands. He had the most handsome smile as he walked over to the bed.

“Good morning. I made you breakfast,” he said. Could he be any more perfect? She pulled herself up to a sitting position, bringing the comforter with her and tucking it under her arms. For some reason her modesty had returned and she felt a little shy. Why the hell did she feel shy?

“Morning.” She beamed up at him.

Michael sat down on the edge of the bed and passed her the tray, leaning over to kiss her as he did. Her stomach did a little growl and she felt his lips curl up into a smile. “Someone’s hungry,” he said, and kissed her once more before he pulled away. She looked at the food on the plate: bacon, eggs and two slices of toast accompanied by a glass of coke?

“You didn’t have any fresh juice so. . . ” They both laughed. It was hard to act normal, though. Reality had returned and her conflicting emotions were hard to ignore. As much as she wanted to revel in her joy at having spent the whole night with Michael−him bringing her breakfast followed by a tender morning kiss−she couldn’t. The whole wonderfully perfect situation was overshadowed by the dread that was looming over her.

If Michael noticed her glum face, he didn’t say anything. “Enjoy your food,”

he said as he stood up. “I need to call Evo for him to come pick me up. I’d prefer to leave my car here if you don’t mind.”

Lacy managed a nod as she pushed a piece of bacon in her mouth, which suddenly tasted like cardboard. Michael’s words had just instantly killed her appetite. She was no longer in the mood to eat but would do so. Michael had been kind enough to make her breakfast so she wouldn’t disrespect him by leaving it, even if she had to throw up afterwards. His eyes lingered on hers a moment before he turned and left the room. The clock was ticking. Soon they’d be saying goodbye to each other, but while he was still here in her house she could pretend he wasn’t going anywhere. After finishing the breakfast that she surprisingly ended up enjoying, Lacy was now dressed and at the sink in the kitchen filling the jug for the coffee machine. She hadn’t showered; that would have taken up too much time. Instead, she’d picked out some fresh clothes, tight black jeans and a midnight blue T-shirt, and hurried to the kitchen in her slippers, picking up the car keys from the mat by the front door that Alethia must have posted during the night. Michael had flashed her a tentative smile as she’d passed him in the front room while he was speaking to Evo on his cell.

“He’s on his way,” Michael said quietly behind her, sounding as dejected as she felt as he joined her in the kitchen. She placed the coffee jug down on the counter. It was too soon. She wasn’t expecting him to leave straight away. Her shoulders dropped. “I was about to make coffee too.”Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her and Michael placed a kiss on her neck before resting his chin on her shoulder. Oh, God. She couldn’t do this. She closed her eyes.
“We can have coffee,” he murmured next to her ear. “Evo’ll just have to wait.”
He turned her around to face him, lifted her chin with his finger and then kissed her mouth tenderly. Then she hugged him and rested her head on his chest, discreetly rubbing away the unshed tears from her eyes.

Their embrace was short lived when there was a hard knock on the front door.

“That’ll be him now.” Michael gave her a half smile and left to answer it.

Lacy carried on making the coffee, filling the jug a little more assuming Evo would want one too. She took a few deep breaths in an attempt to compose herself as she heard Michael and Evo’s voices growing louder as they approached.

“Hey,” Evo said over the noise of the coffee machine, “do I time things right or what? Black, two sugars please.” He winked at her as he sat at the table. Normally he irritated the hell out of her, but strangely enough, she welcomed his buoyancy with open arms today even though she didn’t understand it. After all, he was accompanying Michael on his little trip, but didn’t seem to be at all concerned. She would never figure the guy out.

“Do I smell bacon?” Evo asked, leaning back and kicking his ankle up onto his knee. His arm was flung over the back of the chair.Michael grabbed something from the fridge. “You did. Here,” he said, throwing something at Evo. His friend caught the packet of raw bacon with a look of disgust on his face. “You’re welcome to cook some.”“Charming. I’m throwing my life on the line for you today and you can’t even cook me some damn bacon.”Michael leaned against the counter and stroked Lacy’s arm with the back of his hand, making her realize that her whole body had tensed at Evo’s flippant words. “I’d rather go it alone than wait on you like some dumb shit,” he replied.

Lacy couldn’t hold back her chuckle as she stirred the three cups of coffee. She carried one over to Evo, who was reaching into the inside pocket of his black leather duster, and placed the mug down in front of him.

“Thanks,” he said in a low voice and then winked at her. She wasn’t sure how comfortable she was with that, but soon realized it was for a reason.

“Well, see. . . then you wouldn’t have this.” Evo held up a small silver ring which had multicolored jewels encrusted all around it. His proud smirk made Lacy raise an eyebrow.

“Shit! Evo, that’s Alethia’s ring. How did you get it?” Michael immediately went to Evo and took the ring from him. He was clearly surprised by the small, non-descript looking thing but why? What was so special about it? And yes, how did Evo get it?

His cocky face remained the same. “Let’s just say I’m good with my hands,” he winked again, at Michael this time.

“You didn’t. . . Is that where you were going when I spoke to you last night?” Michael’s face was a mix of shock and admiration. Evo didn’t answer, just carried on looking smug.

“What’s going on?” Lacy asked, confused by the whole exchange.Michael answered. “This ring was given to Alethia by her father. It catches demons somehow. But we don’t even know how to use it.” That last part was directed at Evo who was now gesturing with his fingers for Michael to give it back. “You may not know. I, on the other hand, do.” He flashed Michael a proud grin while taking back the ring and tucking it back safely inside his pocket.
“And how the hell did you manage that?”
Evo raised an eyebrow. “You have to ask?” was all he said, and she was pretty sure they both knew what he meant. Lacy was actually a little surprised that Alethia had succumbed to Evo’s charms. Granted, she hadn’t known her longer than five minutes, but even so, Lacy thought her wiser than that. Evo was obviously better than she thought.

“Uh, Michael, don’t want to rush you buddy, but we really should get going.”

As soon as the words had left Evo’s mouth, Lacy felt her knees buckle a little. In an attempt to distract herself from her imminent anxiety attack, she busied herself by grabbing the cups from the table and she placed them in the sink. She turned the faucet on and heard Michael mutter something to Evo.

“Take care Lacy. Oh, and when we get back, I want some of that bacon,” Evo said as he left the room.

After filling up the sink, she turned the faucet off to a dead silence.

“Hey.” Michael said after a few moments as he placed his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him. As Lacy looked at his beautiful pale blue eyes, she choked back a sob. His expression was as pained as hers. The feeling that this was goodbye as evident on his face as it was in her heart. He pulled her into him and wrapped his arms around her tightly. She did the same to him and in that moment, his warmth, his scent, his closeness broke her resolve.

She lost it.

Tears began to stream, dampening Michael’s sweater. He must have heard her hitched breaths because he tightened his hold on her, kissing the top of her head. She didn’t know how long they stayed like that in each other’s arms, but when Michael eased her back so he could look at her she knew it hadn’t been long enough. He wiped at her tears with the tips of his fingers, then tilted her chin, covering her mouth with his in a lingering kiss. “I have to go,” he said in a husky voice, while resting his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes and let out a slow ragged breath. When he moved to leave her, she managed to speak, “Michael−” but her words were cut short when he placed his hand over her lips and shook his head.

“Don’t. . . ”

Another tear escaped and ran down her cheek and she swallowed hard.

Aside from burying her sister, saying goodbye to him truly was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do in her life.

“I’ll see you soon, okay?” His eyebrows raised a little and he looked at Lacy with reassurance.“Promise?”

Michael placed his hand on her cheek. “I promise.” He gently kissed her forehead, turned and left.

Lacy stayed in the exact same spot for what could have been a few minutes, a few hours, she didn’t care. The man who she feared she was falling in love with had just said goodbye to her for what could be the very last time. She was numb, devoid of all feeling. When she finally managed to move her legs, she grabbed the phone, called work and told them she had a severe stomach bug−no way she could face it today−and snuggled on the couch with a blanket with the intention of watching trash TV in the hope it would take her mind off things. It didn’t. Instead she just sat and stared. Lacy had no idea how long she’d been transfixed on the TV screen. The show that was on when she’d first sat down had finished and Extreme Makeover had taken its place. She hadn’t even noticed that the sound was down until now. She wanted to get up from her zombie-like state and at least take a shower, but she had no chance of willing her body to move. This was worse than she’d anticipated. When she’d imagined Michael leaving and the state she’d be in, it hadn’t been this bad.

She groaned and pulled the blanket right up to her chin suddenly feeling the air turn chilly. Oh well, at least she’d have no choice but to move soon when she’d have to turn the thermostat up on the heating. The temperature must have dropped outside She pushed the blanket off and was just about to get up from the sofa when a sudden humming sensation began to sound from over by the door to the hallway. She paused to listen. It grew louder and then, in the exact spot that her eyes were fixed, a swirling gray mist formed from nowhere. Before she could do anything other than freeze with fear, a familiar figure appeared and the gray mist dissipated as quickly as it had formed to reveal a tall, dark-haired woman, dressed in navy blue tight jeans and a black figure hugging turtle neck top under a tan knee length coat, with a very troubled look on her face.

* * *

Lacy’s hands slowly left Michael’s face and as he sensed her sorrow his chest tightened. He felt confused. How could this be happening? A month ago, he was a loner, as he was meant to be, unsure of why he was here but accepting things as they were. Finding answers was all he had to exist for; all he’d cared about.

Hell, he hadn’t felt anything but anger for such a long time−not even sure if it was possible to feel anything else, until now.

Now there was something much stronger than anger growing inside of him, and he felt it right in the center of his chest. His heart felt twice the size and, he didn’t know how, but Lacy had managed to somehow climb inside of it.

“I just don’t want you hurting if I don’t make it back. If we do this it’s just going to be so much harder. . . for the both of us. I’m already close to losing my mind over you, Lacy.” He was already worried about his sanity if he ended up trapped down in the pit like he feared. But spending the rest of his existence in that place craving her touch any more than he already did would be his downfall.

A stray tear escaped and ran down Lacy’s cheek. As he wiped it with his thumb, she closed her eyes and held his hand to her face. She whispered, “I want you, Michael. So much it. . . ”

What little control he had snapped in that instant. He cut her words off as he placed his mouth over hers, kissing her deeper this time, savoring every touch of her lips on his. He licked his tongue softly over her bottom lip and when she opened for him, he slid it inside meeting hers for a moment before retreating.
She moaned into his mouth, causing desire to enrapture his whole body. He threaded one hand through her hair while the other one stroked slowly down her neck. He revelled in the sensation of her silky smooth skin under his fingertips, and of her warm, soft lips against his.

He knew it was wrong, but there was no going back now. What little strength he had to stay away from her was gone.

“Shit,” he said suddenly, breaking their contact for a moment and sitting up on his knees at the side of her. “I don’t even know if I can. . . if everything’s working okay, physically I mean.” He saw the confusion on Lacy’s face. “I haven’t desired anyone since I’ve been in this body. I haven’t been interested in having sex at all. I don’t even know if I can. . . ”

“Then we’ll have to try it and see won’t we,” she said behind hooded eyes as she joined him on her knees and placed a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth before pulling back to look at him again. Her enticing smile was enough for him to toss his concern aside.

His mouth was on hers again in an instant. Shit! If he was going to do it, then he was going to make damn sure that neither of them ever forgot this night.
* * *

Lacy’s heart raced as she got lost in the sensation of their tongues twisting around each other. The feel of his strong arms wrapped around her as they both remained on their knees on top of the bed was glorious. Her arms went up around his neck and she ran her fingers through the soft hair at his nape. She felt his hand slide down to the arch of her back and he pulled her in closer. Her breath caught as she felt his erection press against her hip. He paused, then she felt him smile against her mouth before he continued to kiss her in such a heavenly way.

Thank God, she thought. His body was working just fine.

He lifted her top and she held up her arms for him to remove it, and he did it in such a way that his hands stroked over her flesh before he threw it to the floor.
She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his arms, feeling every inch of him, pausing to squeeze his thick biceps before she moved them to his stomach. His tight muscles were like ripples of hard iron under soft silk as she slid her hands up his torso. He watched her as her eyes drank every inch of him in. As her fingers stroked over his nipples, hardening them, he inhaled sharply, then placed his hands either side of her face and kissed her over and over again.

God, she loved the feel of his mouth on hers. She’d wanted this for so long, had been too afraid to admit to herself how deeply she was falling for him untilnow. He was everything she’d imagined him to be and more. He made things happen inside her body that she’d never dreamed she could feel; a desire she never thought possible. She ached for him.

His hand brushed up her side and she moaned into his mouth as he cupped her breast and began to knead her nipple between his thumb and finger through the lace of her bra. He unclipped the front clasp, freeing both of her breasts, then slid the straps down her arms. After dropping it onto the floor, he stroked both hands up her arms, his eyes raking over her goose flesh, watching as she felt her nipples hardening instantly.

He leaned into her. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered into her ear before lightly kissing the flesh under it. She closed her eyes and melted under his warm breath as he trailed his kisses down her neck, across the front and up the other side. Suddenly, she forgot how to breathe. The feel of his lips on her skin sent flames of desire rushing around her body.

He pressed his groin into her, his moan sending her crazy. He began to trail kisses down her neck, then her collar bone, pausing again to look at her he said, “Jesus. Lacy. You’re perfect.” His voice was husky making him sound even sexier than he already did. He made her feel perfect, beautiful, and she loved how he looked at her.

She inhaled deeply, arching her back as his mouth latched onto her breast and his tongue began to swirl around her nipple, sending intense waves of heat, like nothing she’d ever felt before, rushing through her body.

“Michael,” she whispered as she played her fingers through his hair. His hand reached for her other breast, massaging it as his tongue continued to lap at the other, then he sucked, and kissed and licked her until she was sure he would tip her over the edge. Dear God, she was close to it already and he’d only gotten as far as her breasts.

She needed more.

Bravely, she pushed herself into his groin, feeling his hard length press into her, rubbing her in exactly the right place. She reached down between their bodies and began to unbutton his jeans. He moaned as her hand brushed his erection and he reached down to place his hand over hers, rubbing himself

through his jeans. Then he was back at her mouth, pushing his tongue inside of her again, repeating that sensual kiss from before only now with more intensity.

She freed her hand from his and pushed his pants and boxers down his thighs.

Michael reached down, pulled them over his knees one by one and kicked them on to the floor.

Oh my. . . He was beautifully naked.

She didn’t have much time to admire him as he was easing her down onto her back then he was on top of her. He began to feather more of those sensual kisses down her throat, over one of her breasts and down her stomach and when he reached the top of her sweats he looked up at her through hooded lids as he slowly pulled the material down over her hips, her legs, dropping them to the floor followed by her white lace panties. Finally, there were no more barriers.

* * *
Michael’s breath caught as he knelt in front of Lacy, who was now lying naked in front of him. His eyes roamed around her body taking in every inch of her rosy skin. She smiled up at him, her beautiful pale green eyes locking onto his.

Her cheeks flushed from her arousal, which made him even harder as he anticipated what was about to happen.

Lacy slowly lifted one of her legs and slid it outwards, giving him one hell of a view. She stroked her hand over her breast and down her stomach towards her sex, her gaze never leaving him, once again causing his control to snap. He bent down between her legs beating her hand to its destination with his mouth.
She cried out as he softly licked at her core, soaking up her wetness, tasting every inch of her. Jesus Christ, she tasted so good. She writhed with pleasure as his tongue flicked over her flesh. He knew exactly when her orgasm hit because she cried out as her whole body began to spasm and she grabbed the sheet in both of her hands. Lacy cried out his name as he felt the muscle of her sex contracting against his tongue.

In an instant he was on top of her, needing to be inside of her. He pressed the blunt head of his erection against her warm flesh, but before he went any further he paused to look at her. This woman who was lying beneath him had somehow captivated him. He was completely enthralled by her. He knew that after tonight there was no way he could stay away from her−be without her. He would make sure he survived his little trip into Hell and then he would protect her for however long he could.

“Michael. Are you okay?” Her voice snapped him away from his thoughts, bringing him right back to the beautiful face that was staring up at him.

He smiled at her as best as he could, stroking her damp hair from her face.

“Right now, Lacy, in this moment with you, I couldn’t be happier.”

As he kissed her he eased himself inside of her, joining their bodies for what may be the only time. She cried out as he pushed himself to the hilt feeling her warmth around him as their pelvises met. Heat rushed over him, melting him his heart. He withdrew slowly, almost all the way, then slid back inside feeling her walls rub him, squeezing him. Even though he was dead, he’d never felt so alive. His greatest fear now was that he’d never feel this with her again.
Lacy gasped as she looked into his eyes and he instantly knew why. The white glow from his irises softly illuminated her face, making her skin appear luminous. Her beauty overwhelmed him. He kissed her deeply, his tongue stroking hers, her breath caught every time he pushed into her. Her hands pressed into the cheeks of his ass pushing him deeper inside her with every thrust. Her moans grew louder as he increased the pace.

“Jesus, Lacy!”

He couldn’t be gentle any longer and a need took over him, but he knew she wanted it that way too, just as much as he did as her nails dug into him. “Oh, my God, Michael.” Her breath on his skin warmed his whole body with a heat he’d never felt before.

He drove into her, retreating and thrusting again, faster, harder until he could feel his own release rising through him with an electrifying intensity. “Bleep!”

He let out a loud groan as he came, filling her with his orgasm as she found her own release, milking him, squeezing him with her thighs as he felt her whole body tense with pleasure beneath him.

“Oh, God.”

He buried his head in her neck. Inhaling her scent for a moment as his body relaxed on top of her. He was still inside her as they lay panting in each other’s arms. He wanted to stay joined to her for as long as he could, scared that he might never get this chance again.

He brushed her hair from her face, kissing her forehead, her cheek, and when he kissed her mouth he felt her smile against his lips. He pulled back to look at her as she gave him the loveliest smile he’d ever seen.

He rested his forehead on hers. “Everything seems to work okay,” he said playfully, still catching his breath.

“Are you kidding me?” she replied, her voice slightly hoarse. “Okay? More than okay.”

They both laughed and Michael shifted onto his side, pulling her with him and wrapping her in his arms. The realism of what he was soon to do kept threatening to consume him as he lay silently holding her, but he pushed it from his mind. He needed to be here with her in this moment for as long as he could, and he wasn’t about to let anything ruin it.

They lay silently gazing at each other; faces inches away, their warm breaths merging in the small space that separated them. They didn’t need to speak, the silence said it all. Michael stroked his fingers up and down Lacy’s back and watched as her eyes blinked with dreamy languor and she eventually fell asleep.

He kissed the end of her nose.

“What. . . What is it?”

He took a deep breath and she braced herself for what she was about to hear.

“I’m going back into the pit. . . into Hell.”

Lacy broke contact from him and backed up a couple of steps. “What the. . .

Why? Are you crazy?”

“No. It’s the only plan I have. I know that Varesh has a very powerful enemy, Lucifer, and I want to make him an offer.”

Holy Sh. . . No! Panic took over. Lacy felt light headed all of a sudden and began to lose the feeling in her legs. She practically floated over to the sofa and sat down before she fell down. It took her a moment to catch her breath. This was a different kind of panic than what she was normally used to. This was caused by sheer terror. Michael was throwing himself into the fire−literally. She didn’t even know how that was possible; didn’t feel the desire to ask.

“Evo knows a ritual that will get us there.” Michael answered as if he’d heard her thoughts.

Her legs tingled as the feeling began to return. “Then he’s as crazy as you are,” she said before dropping her head into her hands.

“Lacy, listen to me. Lacy.” she felt the sofa dip under the weight of his body as he sat down next to her. Then he was turning her to him and pulling her hands from her face. “Look at me.” He ducked his head to look into her eyes.

“Varesh is dangerous and for whatever reason he wants me dea. . . gone. He clearly doesn’t care who he uses to get to me and I’m not about to sit around and do nothing. Not when yours and Evo’s lives are at risk because of it.”

She bit down to stop the tears that were threatening to form. “Then we’ll run.”

Michael looked momentarily stunned. “And where would we go? You can’t just run from a power hungry demon. He’ll always find you.” He reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “You would really run away with me?”

he asked, his voice broken.

She didn’t hesitate to answer. “Yes. I would.”

He stroked her cheek and she nestled into his hand, closing her eyes and savoring the soft touch of his fingers. She let out a long drawn breath and wished that she’d known him before, when they were younger, when he was Jack Pearson and she was just a girl in high school and the only demons she had to deal with were the seniors who never thought her face fit.

When she opened them again Michael was burning her with his sapphire stare, his brows drawn low. She could tell he was battling with himself. He wanted her, but was refusing to allow himself to have her.

“Michael, I don’t know why, but I can just feel that there’s a reason why we found each other again after all this time. You are the one who speaks about destiny and fate. What if we’re just meant to be together?” She reached up and swiped at her left eye before the tear fell.
“There’s something between us I just feel it, and I know you do too.”
He sighed as he closed his eyes. “I can’t—”

“Then stay with me, here, tonight.” There she goes again, speaking before she has time to think. She couldn’t believe the words had just left her mouth, but she held his gaze, wanting him to see how serious she was, and to understand her meaning. What the hell did she have to lose anyway?

She guessed she’d shocked the hell out of Michael too as he hadn’t said a word. She could tell he was having some sort of internal battle with himself and expected the rational part of his brain to win. She was mentally preparing herself for the knock back when. . .

“Okay.”

What? He said yes! Her heart began to sing as he smiled at her tenderly but her elation was short lived as she soon realized this could very well be the last time she saw him, the only time they would get to spend with each other before he committed suicide, or the already dead version of it.

“I just need to call Evo. He was expecting me back. You’d better tell Alethia too,” he said as he got up from the sofa and headed out of the door.

She grabbed her cell from out of her coat pocket in the hall, noticed through the little window in the front door that Michael was on the porch, and headed for the bathroom. Shit. She had like. . . zero seconds to freshen up and make herself at least half decent if she was spending the night with Michael. It may be their one and only, but she was going to make damn sure that she was at least half presentable.

She paused. Oh, God! She was spending the night with Michael, actually with him. Her stomach began to do back flips with a mixture of nerves and excitement. No time. She sent a short text to Alethia explaining what was happening and asking her to drop the car on the drive whenever she liked, hoping she sensed the hidden do-not-disturb message that was in there, and quickly brushed her teeth. Then she threw off her top, splashed her armpits with cold water, dried them, and sprayed some sweet scented deodorant under each one before putting her top back on.

Her cell went off. Quick check, reply from Alethia. She was back at her hotel and she’d see her tomorrow. She ended it with, enjoy yourselves :-).

Lacy smiled.

She practically ran from the bathroom across the hall to her room, pausing halfway to check that Michael was still outside. She heard his muted voice from the other side of the door and then continued into her room. She quickly undressed, pulled some plain gray sweatpants and a white string top out of her closet, some fresh, matching underwear−white panties and bra−from her drawer and threw everything on. Finally, she ran a brush through her hair and pinned the front, back out of her face.

Just as she was walking back down the hall, Michael came through the door.

He stopped short and looked her up and down, noticing that she’d changed. “I like to wear my sweats in the evening,” she said all nonchalant as though all she’d done was change her clothes. “Did you talk to Evo?”

“Yeah, he’s cool being at my place. Says he has something to do anyway,” Michael replied, he looked a little awkward then removed his jacket.

“Just stick it up on the hook,” Lacy said awkwardly. Why the hell did she feel like a school girl on a first date all of sudden? And by the looks of things Michael felt the same. This was ridiculous. They were both adults. And anyway, it wasn’t like they hadn’t spent time together before. Only that was when things were just casual, when they were work colleagues who’d become friends. This was. . . different. “I’ll just make that coffee now.”

Thankfully, after a short time, things had become a lot less awkward between them. Lacy had made them both omelettes and they’d watched and laughed at some cheesy horror comedy on the horror channel. It was nice, relaxed; comfortable. They’d sat beside each other on the sofa and half way through the movie Lacy had nestled into Michael’s side and he’d lifted his arm and placed it around her. She was still in the same spot when the credits began to scroll up the screen only now Michael was lightly stroking her arm. Her head was on his chest. She breathed him in; the scent of him was intoxicating, like dark spice mixed with an ocean breeze. She knew she would want to hold on to it, remember it for as long as she could.

Michael must have sensed her anguish. His voice vibrated in her ear through his chest. “Don’t think about it,” he said as he stroked his hand up her bare arm and over her shoulder.
Reluctantly, she sat up so she could see his face. “How can I not? There’s a chance that I’ll never see you again after tomorrow. I’m having a little trouble dealing with that.”

He turned his body to face her. “Lacy, I know it’s going to be dangerous, but I’m not planning on staying down there. It may seem to you like a suicide mission, but it isn’t. I promise I have every intention of returning. . . to you.”

She closed her eyes and whispered, “Please do.”

Michael placed his finger under her chin and lifted her head. “I will.”

He pulled her into his arms and she wrapped hers around his back. They simply hugged each other for a couple of minutes. Michael’s chin rested upon her head. She was at home within his arms, never wanting to let him go. But she had to. It was going to kill her, but tomorrow she would say goodbye to him as though she would never see him again.

Michael pushed her back gently, his hands falling to her arms. “Hey, don’t think about it tonight, okay? Let’s just be together.”

She bit her teeth together to force back tears. She nodded her head. Then Michael leaned in and softly placed his mouth on hers. As soon as their lips joined, Lacy’s heart began to pound and she instantly melted into his kiss. His tongue pushed into her mouth finding hers and twining together in a sensual dance.

When he broke off, he leaned his forehead against hers. She saw him close his eyes and he whispered, “I don’t want this to be the last time I kiss you, or hold you.”

“Then come back to me.”

He began to kiss her again, wrapping his arms around her and stroking one hand up her back and into the nape of her neck, his fingers weaving into her hair. She was lost in him, the feel of his warm, full lips, his tongue massaging hers. He was like a drug that caused all her nerve endings to tingle with desire.
Next minute she was being picked up, Michael’s strong arms carrying her while he continued with his hypnotic kiss. She hadn’t realized how far he’d walked until she felt herself being placed on a bed, her bed. Michael followed her, his lips still fused with hers. She felt the weight of his body press down on her and she wrapped her arms around his back, feeling his muscles move under the material that she so wanted her hands to be under. She moved them down, found the hem of his sweater and slid her hands underneath and. . . Oh God! His skin was so soft she just had to feel it touching hers.

Michael’s mouth left hers and moved down to her chin. He kissed all the way around her neck. She closed her eyes uncontrollably at the sensation of his little soft kisses on her skin. He kissed up the other side to her ear where he gently sucked on her lobe. His name left her lips in a breathy whisper and his sharp exhale tickled her ear, sending goose bumps all over her body.

All they had done was kiss and she was totally lost in him, drowning in the pleasure of him. She needed to be closer, skin to skin. She pulled his sweater up the rest of the way and Michael took the hint and pulled it off over his head. He paused to look at her−his heavy eyes pinning her with an erotic stare that was almost her undoing. There were no words between them; there didn’t need to be. They both knew that this was probably their only night together and they were going to make it last, at least if Lacy had her way.

She sat up slowly and began to remove her top, but was quickly stopped from doing so by Michael’s hands. “No,” he said, shaking his head as a tortured look of shame suddenly washed over his face.

Lacy froze. Where had this come from? A few seconds ago he was just as lost in her as she was in him so what just happened?

She placed her hands either side of his face and looked him straight in the eye. “What’s wrong?” She tried to sound coherent, slowing her panting breath.

“I can’t do this. It doesn’t feel right,” he said.

paafin:

See this one left his story to shout "feed us more" on another writer's thread.. Quantinu, bros...

Habaa bros sheybi i don beg una nah

sheikshegetto:
Wow, Amen...I'm short of what to say my good sir, God bless you too.

Yeah man will be looking forward to your next story... Do mention me when you start it..

my people am so sorry for not updating all this while, if you can remember i once my phone is bad well i never get money buy new one so am using my sisters phone to do the updating cus i have done the editing and corrections there... So please bear with me... I go shock una the day i go upload..... Thanks famx

donteanz:


Baba Have You Forgotten You've Not Given Us Updated On Your Personal Trend Also

I will, i sometimes told you guys my fone is bad so i dey use my sis phone upload am.... Thats where i stored the file... I go upload abeg make una no vex... Help me beg them on my behalf...

Soul come back here!!!!!! If anything do my pple you go hear am ...

dunno what to say though, i write too but when i see someone gifted and blessed with raw talent i really appreciate them..... Mr OP you ar a rear gem, you are one in a million..... This story made me have a sleepless night the day i came accross it, it made me laugh throughout the night that i was scared that my belle would burst..... In a nut shell, as you did put smile 'laugh' on my face, may you never know sorrow in your household.... God bless you.....

op what is happening fa.... Anticipation wan kill me here ooo

i don land oooo... Who dey serve the cold kunu with popcorn... Nice story OP

where is the op.... Pls don't leave us this hungry for your post..... #feed us more

donteanz:
Cc Preciousbouy This Is Apparently One Of The Most Fantasizing Story I've Come Across On NL.
Nice Piece You've Got Right Here OP.

thanks man