6 comments/ 18840 views/ 14 favorites Stolen Vows Ch. 01 By: lamoureuse The sun was trying valiantly to break through the March drizzle - scattering falsely bright light across the ochre walls of the buildings along the vecchio. Laura was debating whether to close her red umbrella, or leave it open against the sporadic rain that still came down in bursts. She concentrated on stepping carefully along the cobbles, so the heels of her cowboy boots wouldn't slip into the cracks - which were sometimes quite wide in that ancient part of Rome. She elected to leave the umbrella open as she made her way back to her rented flat. Her mind flew back to the sculptures she'd so ravenously taken in at the Villa Borghese. Bernini had lifted the art to a level that was truly transcendent, and strangely so sensual despite his purported spirituality. Fingers that curved, muscles that flexed, wispy hair and garments that floated in the air, torsos contorting wildly, all crafted so brilliantly that the marble appeared to be waxy flesh. She wondered again, as she had in the museum, whether his legendary piety was simply no more than pure practicality in a world when Cardinals were patrons of the art of the day. The duality of those in religious life was not exactly an uncommon theme in a place as lush as Rome - or indeed anywhere. And here in the beautiful, posh alleys behind the Piazza Navona, it was easy to feel sensually connected to history - like it was there beside you, brushing its lips across your cheek with pent up longing. As she neared the gated entrance to the courtyard below her flat, Laura saw the two robed figures standing under one black umbrella, by the intercom. The slump of their shoulders registered resigned frustration, as if whomever they were seeking was not home. They were conferring in hushed tones, no doubt discussing whether to try again or leave. As she approached and could see them more clearly, Laura saw that they were two young priests - or rather - brothers. The one facing her was dark with heavy brows and very Italianate features, and the other, who had his back to her, had hair that seemed tawny like the color of caramel. Her stomach growled - and she realized that she always thought in terms of food when hungry; she'd skipped lunch to go to the museum, and now that it was nearly 5PM, her stomach was protesting. She tentatively approached, her key in hand, because she needed the two novices to move out of the way in order to open the gate. "Scuzi" she said shyly, as she gestured toward the gate. "Si, scuzi Senorina" said the dark one. His colleague turned to see whom he was addressing, and Laura was momentarily struck by his vivid green eyes. This man was devastatingly handsome, no less so because of the full-length cassock and white collar. Suddenly she realized that he was staring back into her eyes with a similar degree of fixed intensity. She felt her face flush scarlet to the roots of her auburn curly hair. The curse of a pale-skinned, light eyed redhead. Made it difficult to play poker, too. Quickly she turned away and fumbled with the lock, and opened the gate slowly as the two brothers took a step back. Jesuits, she quickly surmised, based on their clothes. She felt almost rude to walk past them into the courtyard's stairway, since they clearly had been trying to find someone in one of the flats within. "Posso aiudare?" She asked. As she turned back to them the tawny one was still staring at her with a strange, almost stricken look. Laura was caught up in his gaze; so much so that when the dark one spoke she nearly started with surprise. He told in very clear Italian that they were hoping to visit the "Orsini Christo" - but that "nessuno e a la casa." Laura's head snapped up in sudden realization. The flat she rented was an ancient, special place. That was part of the reason she'd taken it. It had been a chapel of the legendary Orsini family over 500 years ago, and had been turned into an apartment in the 19th century. A fresco depicting the crucifixion, which dated back to the 14th century, still adorned on the living room wall. It was breathtaking. The realtor who rented Laura the apartment had mentioned that it was listed on the historical register. "Ah - il fresco, Si? E mio apartimento - alora - offreto l'apartimento per due settimane. Volete guardare?" In halting Italian, Laura explained that she was renting the apartment with the fresco they were seeking. Both brothers smiled. The dark one, who seemed very grateful, continued to speak, expressing their thanks and concern that they were disturbing her. She shrugged it off and pulled the gate wide to allow them in, saying "prego..." as encouragement. The dark one eagerly came forward, while the handsome green-eyed brother hung back for just a moment before moving. Laura seemed to innately understand his reticence, because in the few seconds that their eyes had locked there passed between them a current that was electric, and utterly dangerous. Her knees actually felt weak. She'd always thought that was a myth. How bizarre, she mused. Even now, as the trio climbed the gently sloping steps to her front door, she could feel his eyes burning into her back. She felt strangely excited and breathless as they walked past the other entrances of the ancient buildings that shared this courtyard, and wondered briefly what it must look like to see a redhead in a floral dress leading two soon-to-be priests into her flat on a drowsy Wednesday evening. As she unlocked the main entrance to the flat, she looked at both men, and introduced herself. "Piacere, sono Laura." "Piacere, sono Vittorio." Said the dark one. "And I'm Gabriel" said the tawny one. She smiled broadly at his deep voice and lilting Irish accent. He smiled back, flashing a set of perfect white teeth. She felt something akin to vertigo. "Hi." She said weakly. But then since her throat was dry and strangely tight, she said nothing further. Pushing the flat door inward, Laura turned back briefly and said in her developing Italian that there were many stairs. Both men shrugged. She tried not to think that Gabriel, who was right behind her, might be watching her as she mounted the many steps to the flat itself. But deep down she knew he was. She wished that she hadn't worn such a thin silky dress that day, or that she was aware of how, given the dampness, it likely clung to her more than would be seemly. She also tried to not think of his magnetic eyes, thick brows that were much darker than his hair, or the strong set of his square jaw with its deepening five-o'clock shadow. A young priest had no business being that attractive. What a waste. Reaching the top landing, as she opened one of the double doors leading to the flat, she looked back at her followers, and felt her heart flutter a bit at the way Gabriel's eyes seemed darkened, and focused on her mouth instead of her eyes. Her command of Italian totally failed her at this stage, so she quickly asked if they both spoke English - to which Vittorio quickly answered yes. She invited them both in - opening just one of the antique double doors and stepping aside carefully to give them room to enter the narrow opening. She moved back into the hallway and snapped on the lights - and the beautiful fresco was suddenly illuminated on the far wall of the living room. Both men entered carefully - one reverently, the other cautiously, and made their way toward the object of their search. Laura followed into the living room. It was a large room with a peaked cathedral ceiling topped by a skylight. In addition to a divan, two soft arm chairs, an upright piano and a heavily laden bookshelf that took up nearly an entire wall, the room also held the flat's large, dark wood dining table. Laura moved the two dining chairs that stood in the way of their view of the fresco. She turned to see their faces - both seemed fixated, but her whole body quivered when she saw that Gabriel's eyes were on her - and not the ancient artwork. "Would you like something to drink, some tea - or even wine, perhaps?" Vittorio replied a little sheepishly that wine would be lovely. Gabriel ran his hand through his thick hair and looked at the terracotta floor. Laura walked carefully past them and gratefully almost ran to the kitchen. She heard their voices speaking in hushed, but excited Italian - and heard Vittorio ask Gabriel if it wasn't one of the most beautiful things he'd ever seen. "Yes, no doubt, the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." was his reply. Vittorio called out to ask if it was okay if he took some photos - Laura stepped back into the hallway and said she was sure it was fine. She saw that Gabriel was standing with his back to her. She wondered for a moment if what she felt was just her own delusion. She went back into the kitchen and busied herself with opening the wine. She chose a bottle, took down three glasses, and decided to put some cheese and bread on a plate. She was now no longer hungry, since an entirely different sensation filled her stomach - like thousands of butterflies were battling within her. As she was cutting the bread, she laughed a little to herself at how her own fantasies could so easily take over for logic. Laura took up the corkscrew, and tried to open the wine - but found the cork to be very stubborn. She was struggling with it - despairing that she might not be able to open it without help -- when suddenly she felt him behind her. She knew he was there even before hearing him, though how he'd moved so silently on the tiles with his polished dress shoes, she'd never understand. Laura froze, waiting for him to speak. "Let me... " Gabriel said in his soft baritone voice. He was so near she could smell him - a combination of soap, mint, and the whiff of incense. She turned too quickly and almost slammed right into him. "Oh - sorry!" She said - a little too breathlessly. He looked at her with utter seriousness, and didn't step aside for a moment - forcing the two of them to be in strangely close proximity - with his body nearly trapping hers against the counter. He reached up with his hands, which were inches from her now, and after the slightest of pauses - gestured toward the bottle. Laura slipped to the side and moved out of his way, so that he could open the wine. He turned and pulled the cork quickly and smoothly - as if very practiced. "You're pretty good at that." Laura said lightly. "Yeah, five years as a waiter during University." He replied. He smiled as he looked at her - looking more open and relaxed than he was before this point. She naturally smiled back at him - responding almost against her will -- like a flower unfolding to the sun. His eyes scanned her face, and then moved down her neck to the deep v of her silk dress. The nervous self-consciousness returned to them both as tension built between them. Laura's breathing quickened and she felt a pulse point in her throat begin to pound uncontrollably. As if reading her mind, his eyes found the spot at the base of her throat, and again the green irises darkened. Neither of them moved for several moments. For a wild second, she thought he might be slowly leaning forward in order to press his lips to the spot. She held her breath, torn between the desire to break the tension and the desire to take it further. Suddenly his eyes found hers, pinning her with their intensity. "How can I help?" He asked. She decided to pretend he meant with the refreshments, so she asked him to bring the wine, while she took the tray of cheese and the glasses. Finally remembering to breathe again as she moved toward the hallway. When they returned together to the living room, Vittorio was making notes into a small flip-top notebook that he must have produced from somewhere within in his long robe. He seemed excited by the fresco. He began talking quickly about the importance of the details - which confirmed that the work had been done in the 14th century. Apparently, the fact that Christ's eyes were closed, and the way in which Mary Magdalene captured blood from his chest wound into a chalice, all verified that this was appropriate to that period. He went on to say that this was the century during which the Papacy was in Avignon - and not Rome - a major issue for Italy at the time. Laura heard his words, but was instead focused on the fact that Gabriel was slowly pulling out a dining chair to sit down, and was removing a grey wool scarf from around his neck, placing it on the chair next to him. He was slowly and carefully pouring red wine into each of the glasses, and took a moment to inhale the aroma from the last glass, an appreciative smile on his ridiculously handsome face. She wondered if those strong lips had known kisses, before the calling had pulled him out of the everyday world. Realizing that he was looking straight at her, she suddenly flushed again. He rose from the table to bring a glass of wine to her and Vittorio. She was sure she saw the flicker of a smile from him - as if again he knew what she was thinking. As he handed the glass to Laura, their fingers touched. She felt his index finger slide deliberately down the length of hers before releasing the glass to her hand. The casual onlooker would never have seen it. Her heart began to thud in her chest. There was no mistaking that. He was sending her a message. Vittorio raised his glass, and thanked Laura for her hospitality and said "saluti" - and they all raised the glasses to their lips. Her eyes were locked with Gabriel's as they drank. The next 30 minutes were filled mostly by the happy, uncomplicated chatter from dark young brother, who munched on the cheese and bread, talked of Piedmont, where he was from, and asked Laura a number of questions about why she was in Rome, whether she was married, and didn't bat an eye when she said she was divorced. Gabriel stared at the table, occasionally sipping his wine. He looked up now and again directly into Laura's eyes, each time for a little longer. Finally, the clock in the hallway chimed 6PM, and Vittorio exclaimed that time had flown so quickly. Before he'd even finished his thanks and apologies for taking so much of Laura's evening, Gabriel was up and gracefully bringing the plates and glasses back to the kitchen. Laura took up the last remaining glasses and followed him. Vittorio, seemingly loath to leave the fresco, took the opportunity to snap a few more photos. In the kitchen, Gabriel put the tray on the scrubbed farmhouse table, and then turned to Laura. Taking the glasses from her hands, he set them on the tray and turned back to face her. Unable to move - and uncertain what to do - she stood still as a stone while he lifted up one hand and ran a finger gently down her cheek. There was a melancholy longing in his face, and he looked as if he were about to speak. She felt a trail of fire where he had touched her. Vittorio was calling from the hallway that he and Gabriel should be going. Looking deeply into Laura's eyes, he said very quietly: "We should be going..." but his inflection made it sound more like a question than a statement. Laura's voice was caught in her throat - she looked up almost helplessly at him for a lingering moment, until they both heard Vittorio's shoes coming down the tile hall. Stepping guiltily away from each other, Gabriel expressed in slightly too loud a voice that he'd enjoyed the wine and was grateful that she'd taken the time to indulge wayward clergy. She laughed aloud, running one hand through her long curly hair. She followed them both to the door, and shook first Vittorio's, then Gabriel's hand. His was warm, and when he gripped her hand a current ran through them that coursed all the way through her to the soles of her feet, then back up to that tender place between her thighs. Then, they were gone, moving silently away, down the stairs and out the door. She closed the apartment door and walked back into the living room - staring at the fresco as if expecting the figures to speak. What, she wondered, was that?! Why had she been shown this glimpse of something so moving and so potentially passionate, only to know that it was impossible? Why was this beautiful man becoming a priest - and moving into a world that she could never be part of? How she wished that there was some parallel universe - and that this afternoon could end differently. Gabriel was walking away - and she'd never see him again. He'd take orders, and move into that strange, separate, rarified world of the Vatican. Laura was not religious - but she had respect for those her were - normally. But again, what a waste! She started to feel a strange, hollow ache inside. Lonelier than she'd felt since arriving in Rome, she sat down on the dining room chair that Gabriel had occupied, as if to try to feel some bit of him still. Unbidden, some tears began to well in her eyes, causing the room to blur. Then she noticed something out of the corner of her eye - his scarf! There it was, still on the chair next to his. She snatched it up and looked toward the door - for a moment thinking she'd run down to return it to him. Just then she caught a trace of his scent. She held it to her face - inhaling him - taking him into her lungs. The very smell of him triggered a thrill down her body, and she felt the rush of that telltale wetness in her panties. She remembered how he'd removed it so carefully, and placed it deliberately on the chair next to his as Vittorio spoke. This was no accident, she realized. He'd left it behind on purpose. "Oh my god, he is planning to come back." She thought, and felt a ripple of excitement, her thighs beginning to tremble. Her delight nearly bubbled over, and she held the scarf again to her face as she tremulously giggled. Just then, the buzzer sounded from the intercom at the garden gate. She leapt up from her chair and lifted the phone from the receiver - pressing the switch that triggered the electronic release. She ran to the bathroom mirror to check her face - she looked slightly flushed and her eyes shown with a strange light. She put a tiny bit of gloss on her lips, and ran nervous fingers through her tangle of long red curls. Then the door buzzer sounded, and she again buzzed him in. She opened the apartment door and waited. Slowly, silently, Gabriel mounted the stairs toward her. She stepped back to allow him to enter. He stopped just inside the door and turned toward her. His face was unreadable. "Your scarf..." she began. "Yeah... uh..." He paused, rather discomfited. "I left it on purpose." He confirmed. "I thought that might be the case." Her voice sounded faint even to her own ears. "So...what do you think about all of this?" He asked, his hand waved between them as he spoke - confirming that the connection she felt was reciprocal. He looked down at Laura with wonder, uncertainty, and something else that she was not sure she was ready to define. "I don't know what to think, to be honest. I've never experienced anything like this before... not ever." He nodded, waiting for her to continue. After a moment, she ventured: "I only know what I feel." She was barely speaking above a whisper as she willed herself to continue: "I'm just happy that you came back!" He let out a sound that was half sigh, half growl, and he pulled her to him - crushing her mouth with his. She molded herself to him and wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him back with a heat and fervor she hadn't felt in years. She was aflame with it, and no longer afraid. Pulling away for a moment, he pushed the apartment door closed, and locked it. He looked at her for a long moment, his face a study in passion at war with indecision. Laura didn't know what to do, so she reached one shaking hand up to his face, laying her palm against his cheek. It was an act of comfort, but also something of a plea. He caught her hand against his face and turned to press his lips into her palm. His eyes closed for a moment, and he exhaled. As he opened his eyes, they were dark and suddenly no longer conflicted. He moved close to her, and taking her face in both hands, lifted her mouth to his. The kiss was gentle and probing at first, but then it deepened and became more insistent. Stolen Vows Ch. 01 Without speaking, he lifted her effortlessly in his arms and carried her into the master bedroom off the hallway. He placed her gently on the bed - only to crush her with his body a moment later. She moaned with pleasure as he ground himself into her soft frame. Almost frantically, he pulled off his collar and began to unbutton the long cassock. Underneath he was wearing only a tee shirt and trousers. He pulled off his shirt and then began to impatiently unbutton her dress. She began to help him - but then was drawn by his lean, muscled frame and the tangle of dark hair on his torso. As she ran her fingers over his chest - he paused and looked down at her - his eyes fierce. Grabbing her face in both his hands he crushed her lips with deep kisses, then moved down to her jaw, neck and collarbone - his mouth almost bruising in his intensity. She felt she might faint from the sensation. Shoes and cowboy boots and tights and trousers all went flying wildly to the floor as their bodies reached out for each other. They were clad in only underwear - she in a bra and panties, and he in his boxers. He was sliding his mouth down her ribcage, to the smallest part of her waist. Laura suddenly realized how long it had been since she'd been intimate with a man, and became unaccountably self-conscious. She understood from his touch and kisses that Gabriel was no stranger to women, and all at once she became nervous under his hands, his gaze. She was no longer as young as she used to be, she thought, nor as beautiful. Sensitive to her movements, Gabriel noticed the subtle stiffening of her body, and raised his head to look at her. "What is it?" he asked, seeming at the same time to fear her answer. In her moment of girlish shyness, Laura was unable to meet his eyes. He gently held her chin, urging her to look up at him. His jade eyes were searching hers for an answer. "It's... been a while since I've..." She glanced quickly at him to gauge his understanding of her reticence. He was too hard to read - like a shade had been pulled down inside his eyes. "Well... since I've been with anyone." She finally admitted. His warm chuckle was completely unexpected and she looked up half in surprise, half in irritation at his amusement. He shook his head and mussed her hair as if she were no more than a child in his arms. "Are you kidding?!" He gently demanded. " Do you honestly think that there's anything you could do that I wouldn't love? Imagine how long it's been since I've been with someone. Can you for a moment think that this - between us - will be anything other than one of the most amazing experiences of our lives?" He closed his final words with a shower of sweet kisses on her eyelids, her nose, cheekbones, below her ears. She gasped as she clung to his shoulders, her fingernails unconsciously digging into the flesh of his back as she arched her body into his. Gabriel raised his head and regarded her for a long moment, brushing her hair away from her face with gentle hands. "You're so beautiful, but it's more than that. I can't even define it, but I'm totally undone... I'm mad into you, girl. I have no idea what I'm doing - but there is nowhere else I'd rather be." "I don't know what I'm doing, either." Laura replied softly. "Shouldn't I stop you? Shouldn't this feel wrong? Why doesn't it?" "Maybe because it isn't - maybe this was supposed to happen." He whispered. "I'd like to believe that." She breathed into his jawbone. "Then do" was all he said before again taking possession of her mouth. He kissed her for a long time, moving his hands over her shaking body. Laura's hands pressed into the muscles of his lower back, sliding over his lean buttocks, feeling him taut beneath the cotton boxer shorts. She slid her hands around to his stomach, reveling in the hard rows of his abs before slipping her fingers inside the waistband of his underwear. His body went rigid as she found his erect penis, gently wrapping her hands around it, moving up and down in a soft rhythmic massage. He let out a long hiss, pressing his face into her collarbone. She could feel the slight pressure of his teeth on her skin, now, like his, producing a fine sheen of perspiration from their growing passion. He reached down and pulled her hands away from him, pulling her arms up and pressing them back until he had pinned them against the mattress, holding her down at the wrists. Losing control was slightly frightening and tremendously exciting to Laura, who looked up at Gabriel in full supplication as he raised himself over her. "Tell me what pleases you." He demanded, as he blazed a trail of kisses down her ribs and stomach, forcing her legs apart as he pressed his warm mouth into the thin lacey fabric of her panties. She moaned loudly and moved against him as his tongue teased her, dampening her underwear until he finally, impatiently, yanked them down and flung them behind him. He moved between her thighs, putting her right leg over his left shoulder, and with his right hand gently parted her labia, while his fingers slipped over her now sensitive clitoris before plunging into her. "Oh GOD!" she cried out, as she felt his fingers enter her. She looked down to see him watching her face for a moment, and then press his mouth to her and play his tongue over her clit while his fingers moved inside her. Laura thought she might faint from the overwhelming sensations that wracked her body. She could feel the buzzing begin in her ears and felt like she was partly underwater. As her orgasm began to build, she unconsciously rocked her pelvis up to meet his eager mouth. He brought his left hand down her flat belly to press gently against her lower abdomen. Gabriel almost never took his eyes off of her face - watching intently for when his mouth and tongue were hitting the most powerful places, so he could repeat the action. Her breath was coming faster and shallower and she was losing control rapidly. Laura could feel the electrical pulses increasing and converging deep within her vagina as she came closer and closer to coming. She was completely unaware that she repeated the word "yes" over and over, her voice becoming higher by the moment. Finally and suddenly, she felt the delicious explosion engulf her - the searing pleasure bursting and radiating outward from deep within her vagina and down her thighs, and upward across her belly and ribs. Her body convulsed as if hit with an electric shock, and the moan that was wrenched from her throat was deep and feline. Gabriel, triumphant and yet awestruck, gently slowed and then ceased his movements, never looking away from the sensual angel beneath him. He waited for her to resurface from the waves of pleasure that still wracked her body - seeming rather like the aftershocks of an earthquake inside her. Sliding carefully up alongside Laura, he pulled her gently into his arms. She opened her eyes and looked wondrously up into his face, pulling him down to kiss him and wind her arms around his neck and upper back. She let out a shuddering sigh as she curled into him. It occurred to her that she would follow this man to the ends of the earth, and do anything he asked, as long as she could stay near him like this. Quietly, she asked: "How is it that you know how to do that? And so... expertly?" He clasped her to him, and whispered into her hair that he wasn't always a member of the clergy. She looked up a little nervously at this, to see if he showed any signs of regret for what they'd just done. Instead, she saw that he was still impassioned - and almost at that same instant felt his powerful erection against her hip. He slipped the straps of her bra off her shoulders, and pulled it down to expose her full, soft breasts. Laura's natural breasts had wide areolas, with taut nipples that were large and pink. They stiffened and reddened as Gabriel's fingers slid over them, rolling the nipples between his thumb and forefinger. He moved down and flicked his tongue over first one, then the other, smiling wickedly as they stood at attention. As if unable to restrain himself any further, he brought his mouth down suddenly on her right breast - and she gasped and arched her back into him. His hands cupped both breasts as he essentially suckled first one and then the other. Her fingers threaded through his thick dark blonde hair and she pulled him even closer. He was rubbing his erection against her side. Tiny droplets of precum left a shiny trail along the skin of her thigh and hip. She moved her hand down to tremulously touch the velvety hardness of his penis. She looked down at the part of him in her hand, and her eyebrows rose appreciatively. "What?" he demanded, smiling, noting her expression. "Nothing - it's just..." and she trailed off as he leaned up to plant another kiss on her lips. "Just what?" he persisted. "Well... just that you're so...big!" He laughed loudly at this, rolling back slightly onto the mattress. She rolled with him until she was half on top of him. "Seriously..." she continued, moving her hand up and down over the length of his cock, contented to note that as she did so it stiffened further and was pointing straight up against his pelvis. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back as she touched him. She paused for a moment and slid her tongue along her palm, returning her moistened hand to his penis and continuing the action. She leaned down and ran her tongue over the tip; the taste of him was sweet and salty. She lingered at the tender place below the head of his cock. He moaned and ran his hand across her neck and shoulders. She took him into her mouth, relaxing her jaw and throat in order to take as much of him as she could, while still sliding her moistened hand up and down from the base. She made a deep humming sound as she went down on his penis, causing a vibration inside her hot mouth, which heightened the pleasure that already threatened to overcome Gabriel. He exhaled sharply and his eyes flew open - the irises so dark that his usually light eyes looked almost black. He pulled her up and flipped them both back over, pressing her under him, pulling her thighs apart as he rubbed his cock against her still-wet pussy. "Help me," he demanded. "I need to be inside you. Now." Before he'd even finished speaking, she had moved her body under him and guided him into her, groaning loudly as he finally began to penetrate her. He moved into her once, twice, and then three times before he could push his full length and girth into her. When he finally was able to thrust completely into her, they both let out a cry of jubilation. He moved in her slowly, at first, with great deliberation - moving in all the way to the very hilt of his penis. She moved against him - thrusting upward as he pushed into her. They looked into each other's eyes as they did so - their mouths a mere inch apart. He was hitting the walls of her vagina with the tip of his penis each time, and each time she felt him connect, she moaned softly. They relished the sensation of this first time - savoring every detail. His whole body seemed to be incorporated into his movements each time he heaved himself into her. His pace began to speed up, and his hips were now undulating slightly as he entered her, so that with each movement he was hitting more places inside her. He groaned loudly, finally, and crushed her mouth with his. Now they were kissing as he moved in her - and the intimacy was profound. He was grinding into her so hard that the action was stimulating her clit, and as he shifted slightly, pulling her thighs upward so he could penetrate her more deeply, she felt him connecting with her g-spot. The telltale pressure, like she might pee, waved over her and she felt the heat moving across her skin and up to her scalp. Laura writhed against him, thrusting upward as he moved into her, intensifying the sensations until she knew that she was about to cum once again. Gabriel's passion mounted further still, as he felt her muscles contracting around his penis, and saw the abandon on her face. He tried to stave off the inevitable release long enough for Laura to orgasm again. His mouth devoured hers, and he began to speak to her in a sexy low growl - telling her how she felt to him, how beautiful she was, and how much he wanted to see her climax without fears or limits. She told him she was very close - that she was about to cum for him. When his lips moved against her ear and murmured "my angel" she let out a scream of ecstasy - nearly fainting from the violence of the orgasm. Tears streamed down her cheeks as her body rocked against him. Just then, he let out a loud, deep moan, burying his face in her tender neck as he exploded into her - great streams of semen filling her. She felt his penis swell and the hot fluids shooting into her and experienced a second wave of pleasure. He lifted his head and crushed her lips with his, plundering her mouth with his tongue as he rode the crest of his orgasm. As the crescendo of passion finally ebbed, their movements slowed. Their bodies, now slick with sweat and their combined juices, stilled. He stayed inside her for as long as he could - they were both reluctant to be separated. He raised his head and gazed down at her, brushing her wild red hair away from her face. Gabriel marveled at how her eyes shined up into his. He felt he could see into her soul, and was utterly happy. He felt a peace that he'd never previously known. He knew he loved this beautiful woman. Laura's body still felt the electric aftershocks of their lovemaking. She looked up at Gabriel, suddenly realizing that for the first time in her life, she felt like she was home. All at once she realized that the gypsy spirit that had caused her to restlessly travel the world had not actually been in search of a "where" but rather, a "who". She allowed herself to acknowledge that she loved this beautiful man. When he slid off of her and rested by her side on the bed, she felt momentarily bereft. Then he possessively wrapped his arm around her and yanked her to her side, pulling her body against his, and she sighed in contentment. Gabriel reached down to the foot of the bed and pulled the sheet up and over their bodies. As the perspiration began to dry on their skin, it raised goose bumps. The cool sheet felt wonderful, and lying beneath it together created a sort of domestic intimacy that Laura treasured. They settled into a contented silence - allowing their eyes, lips and hands to do all the communication that was necessary. Laura nestled her head into Gabriel's collarbone, emitting a soft sigh. He cradled her against him. It was in this position that they fell asleep. About an hour later, Laura stirred and for a fraction of a second was disoriented. She felt the warm, hard body against hers and it all came rushing back to her. She smiled wickedly and stretched against her beautiful Gabriel before opening her eyes and venturing a look at him. He was staring down at her with a gentle, happy expression on his handsome face. Her heart skipped a beat. "Did I snore?" She asked playfully. "No, you sleep like an angel." He began to kiss her brow, cheek, the bridge of her nose and then finally found her mouth. He pushed her lips open and explored inside with his tongue. She moaned and wrapped herself around him, returning his kisses with equal passion. When they came up for air and regarded each other, she said shyly: "Hi" He laughed and held her even more tightly against him. Laura brushed his thick hair away from his forehead and said she was going to run a bath. Then she asked Gabriel if he'd like to join her. "Mmmm. Yes, please." And he nuzzled her neck - biting her very slightly with his perfect white teeth. Reluctantly she pulled back the sheet and slipped over his body to get out of bed. Suddenly embarrassed to be naked, she quickly pulled a silk kimono out of the cupboard and slipped into it, blushing as she looked back at him. His shout of laughter caused her to pause and turn questioningly. "Are you telling me you're shy - now? After what we've been doing?" He was delighted by her confusion. He leapt out of bed and pulled her to him, almost roughly opening the robe to look down at her body. "Don't ever hide yourself from me. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Remember that." She almost melted at his words, and wound her arms around his neck. She had to stand on tiptoe to do it - which simply increased the contact of her body against his. Gabriel's mouth claimed hers again, and she whimpered a little as the electric current ran through her, bringing a fresh wetness to her sex. Coming momentarily to her senses, she said: "I'd better see about that bath." *** To be continued... Stolen Vows Ch. 02 Thanks for the nice feedback. Here is the next installment. Hope you like it so far... * Gabriel was already soaking in the hot bubbles, his arms draped across the rim of the overly-large antique claw foot tub. He gazed possessively at Laura as she entered, carrying two glasses of red wine. The large, old-fashioned bathroom was lighted only by the dozen flickering votives that Laura had carefully arranged while drawing the bath. She handed him one of the glasses, as she deftly slipped her silk kimono off first one shoulder, then switching her glass to the other hand, allowed the robe to slide noiselessly to the tile floor. Gabriel let a contented sigh escape his parted lips. The sight of her nakedness excited him as nothing else ever had. A thrill rippled down his abdomen and he felt himself growing hard as she delicately stepped into the bath. Even though the tub was large enough for two, it took some careful maneuvering to lower herself into the soapy water gracefully, she giggled nervously as she positioned herself around Gabriel's body. He cupped her face with his free hand and pulled her lips against his - caressing them with his own rather than fully kissing her. He looked down at her erect nipples, now partially covered by the bubbles. The heat of the bath brought goose-bumps to her pale flesh. Brushing the soap from her right breast, he leaned his head down and gently caught the tip of her nipple in his teeth. Laura gasped, her head falling against his shoulder. Gabriel put his wine glass on the shelf by the tub and took hers from her, depositing it next to its twin. They wound their arms around each other and he kissed her properly, the water in the tub splashing wildly onto the tiles beneath. Gabriel took hold of Laura's hips and positioned her over him so he could slip inside her. The water and her natural wetness made it easy to push his entire length into her in one swift movement, causing Laura to nearly shout from the pleasure. It was like this that they made love, with his hands controlling her body's movements. She surrendered to him, allowing him to thrust upward rhythmically while he pulled her body down to meet his pelvis. His rock-hard penis was hitting all of her sensitive places, and she knew that it would not be long before she climaxed yet again. Gabriel watched her face, reveling in the way he could cause her such pleasure. As he moved inside her, he realized that nothing in his life prior to this had ever given him the sense of belonging - the feeling of being precisely where he was supposed to be - that he felt when he was with this woman. It flashed briefly through his mind that it must be his destiny to leave the church for this beautiful creature - that the path he was on had led him inexorably to this blossoming love. Nothing this incredible could be anything less than divine in its origin, he mused. Laura opened her eyes and looked lovingly down into Gabriel's eyes. The wonder and bliss glowed purely and unguardedly on her face. Her own eyes were wet with unshed tears as he leaned up to reclaim her mouth once again. As she came, he shouted triumphantly and met her climax with his own. Gabriel felt as if something magical had just taken place, as he held her cradled against his wet skin. They lay entwined together in the water until it began to cool. Reluctantly, Laura suggested they get out and dry off before catching cold. He pressed his lips to her forehead and agreed laughingly, saying that they would both be wrinkled as prunes if they didn't. As they stood on the cold tile floor and toweled dry, Laura looked up suddenly at Gabriel and said: "Hey! I'm starving." His eyebrows shot upward and he realized that he was likewise famished. "Me too. I'm cooking." He declared. "Do you have any eggs?" A short while later, they stood at the kitchen counter sharing a buttery cheese omelet he'd whipped up. "Wow..." Laura exclaimed, her fingertips pressed to her lips. "You have mad skills in the kitchen." "Thank you kindly." He replied, as he scooped another forkful of eggs into his generous mouth. "Maybe this can be my alternative career." He joked. Her eyes clouded over and she suddenly became very serious, catching her lower lip between her teeth. She looked as if she might burst into tears. Gabriel immediately regretted being so flippant about the subject, and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Sorry - I didn't mean to make light of this. C'mon - don't be so upset." "How are you feeling about all of this?" She asked nervously. She began to pace around the kitchen, pulling at the belt of her robe with anxious fingers. "I can't help feeling like some kind of thief." "A thief?" He asked, with a humorous gleam in his eyes. "What are you saying? Do you think you've stolen me from God?" Laura stopped pacing, and stared down at the floor for a moment, before daring to look him in the eye. "No... but I think I may have stolen God from you." Her eyes reddened and she seemed near tears. Her face flushed scarlet. "How selfish am I? What have I done to you? What if you regret this some day? I don't know if I can live with that..." He crossed the distance to her in a flash and crushed her to him, stroking her hair and covering her face with kisses. He could feel her body shaking. A tiny sob escaped her as she clung to him. "Listen carefully to me now." He tilted her chin up to force her to look into his eyes, which were serious and full of tenderness. "You didn't do anything to me. This happened to both of us - and I have to believe that it was meant to happen. We - neither of us - had a choice in this. The moment I saw you I knew what I wanted from my life. I knew what fate had intended all along." "How?" she asked, clearly wanting to believe him. "How do you know for sure? What if I'm like the serpent in the garden, dangling forbidden fruit, and I've just tempted you away from your true path?" He laughed gently at this dramatic analogy, shaking his head as he ruffled her auburn curls. "Do you honestly believe that?!" he demanded, teasingly. "Don't laugh! It doesn't matter what I believe - I'm not the one who had a calling - I'm not the one with faith. Passion is a powerful thing, but it doesn't always last." Now it was Gabriel's turn to be serious. "What are you saying? Do you want me to leave you? To go back to the church?" His eyes became troubled and his brow furrowed. "Is this just a passing thing for you?" He demanded, grabbing her by the shoulders, he looked searchingly at her face. "Oh... no, no! That is not what I'm saying at all." She paused, as if struggling to find words. "I feel crazy for saying this after just a few hours, but I'm pretty sure that I'm in love with you. This has never happened to me before. Yes, I physically crave you like no man ever before - but it's much more than that. I can't really explain it." He relaxed, wrapping his arms around her waist and tugging her to him. "I feel exactly the same way, I'm falling in love with you, too. So isn't that enough? What is the problem?" "I don't know... I'm just scared, I guess...I'm also significantly older than you are." She trailed off miserably as she rested her head against his hard chest. She could feel the vibration of his gentle laugh against her cheek, which soothed her rather than annoyed her. The desire to give herself up to him and to the feelings he stirred inside her were just too great to fight. Making one last attempt at reason, she lifted her head and asked: "What will we do? How will this all work out? What if--" Gabriel stopped this stream of questions by putting his fingers against her soft lips. "Shhh, baby. Don't be scared. I'm here, I'm not going anywhere, and this is all happening for a reason. It feels too right to be a bad thing. This must be part of some great plan, don't you think?" As if to punctuate that last thought, he leaned down and kissed her, softly at first, and then more deeply. She sighed and leaned up to return the kiss, winding her arms around his neck. Her robe slipped open from the friction of their bodies, and he looked down at her breasts as they rubbed against his bare chest. His eyes grew dark and his hands moved down to cup her round ass, pulling her lower body hard against his own. Through the thin silk, she felt his growing erection against her inner thighs. He trailed hot kisses down her cheek, jaw, and neck as she clung to the lean muscles of his back. Lifting her effortlessly, he sat her on the scrubbed wooden table in the kitchen, roughly pulling her robe open to cover her breasts with feverish kisses. She fell back on the table as his teeth and tongue probed her almost painfully sensitive nipples. Her back arched against the smooth wood, and she felt his hands move down her ribcage to her waist. He pulled her body closer to the edge of the table, burying his head between her legs. She cried out as he pulled her legs over his shoulders so he his mouth could plunder her soft, moistening folds completely. His tongue slipped inside her, moving from back to front as she moaned softly. Knowing her body already, he slipped two fingers inside her as his tongue flickered over her swollen clitoris. He alternated between teasing her with his tongue and gently sucking until she was almost screaming from the intensity of the pleasure. Just as she felt herself on the brink of climax, he suddenly pulled away. Before she could utter a protest, he replaced his fingers with his hard cock. She cried out his name over and over as he rammed himself into her. Gabriel took her like a man possessed; every muscle and sinew straining to the act. This was different from their previous lovemaking - there was an urgency to it that surpassed all of their previous sessions. His mouth crushed hers with a violence that was almost bruising, as if he could scarcely control himself. Laura was deeply thrilled by this roughness, giving herself up to it with equal abandon. They scarcely noticed as the plates and glasses on the kitchen table shook and finally tumbled to the floor, breaking to pieces around them. He raised his head commanding her to look at him as he thrust into her. "You belong to me." He declared. "Say it!" he commanded. Breathlessly, Laura complied: "I belong to you, Gabriel. Body and soul." He shouted her name as he came violently, shooting repeatedly into her likewise pulsating depths. She lay quivering and spent beneath him, as he nuzzled her neck. He felt her hot tears splashing against his cheek, and slid gently up to lick the salty wetness from her flushed and beautiful face. "You could never steal God from me, my love." He said softly. "You're proof that he exists." *** to be continued. Stolen Vows Ch. 03 Laura was luxuriating in a delicious dream. She was wrapped tightly in a cocoon of hot smooth silk that sent an electrical charge along her sensitive skin from head to toe. She felt an orgasm building inside her womb, as if the warmth she felt within was bursting forth, stimulating her aching sexual organs as it spread outward toward the light. Then she was spinning around in a pool of clear, warm water; her mouth invaded by the sweet, insistent tongue of a dear lover whose face was just out of focus. As she began to concentrate more on that tongue and mouth, she surfaced from the calm pool and realized that she was no longer dreaming and there was no cocoon. The wetness she felt was between her legs. She was clasped tightly in the arms of her flesh and bone lover, and it was his mouth plundering her own. The silk was his fevered skin, and the warmth inside her was the desire that rose up from her unconscious self, so strong was the pull of this man. She dropped her head back away from his probing mouth, and slowly opened her eyes. Gabriel was gazing down at her, a proprietary look on his handsome face. His eyes were dark green and full of wanting and tenderness. Laura slowly released a contented sigh. All of it was real. He was here in her bed. Her passion found its match in his. "It was all real..." She said sleepily. As she stretched herself against his taut body, Gabriel thought that the look on her face was full of innocence and a completely guileless beauty - rather like a child. He lifted her chin so he could better access her lips. He pressed his mouth to hers, and felt the flames ignite between them. His hand cradled her head so he could press her more closely to him. He felt a thrill, like a flutter of tiny wings beneath his skin, as she softly slid her hands around to his back. Gabriel felt himself grow hard as his lower body brushed against hers under the cool sheets. His hand moved down her neck, to her back. He probed the bones and muscles beneath her velvety skin. Then his hand continued on its journey to her lower spine, the soft crest of her tailbone, finally cupping the firm curve of her heart-shaped ass. He ground his erection into her as he pulled her toward him. Gabriel's fingers slipped around further to plunge into the tender mound of moist flesh between her lean legs. Laura moaned into his mouth as he inserted first one, then two long fingers into her wet folds. Gabriel shifted his body to move on top of her, his knees pushing her thighs apart so he could slip himself inside her. Suddenly they both jumped and looked at one another in alarm as the gate intercom buzzer sounded. Two sharp rings, then a momentary silence, then two more. Their heads both turned toward the clock on her bedside table. It was 7:00 AM. As their eyes met again, they both understood that this was the reckoning they'd been expecting. The buzzer sounded insistently yet again. "I'll go speak to them." He said slowly. His face, just moments ago filled with desire, was now etched with sadness and a sort of resignation. Her hand nervously found its way to her brow. It was trembling. Laura sat up in bed, pulling the sheet up to cover her nakedness as she watched him pull on his trousers and slip his tee shirt over his head. He picked up his shoes and sat down by the foot of the bed with his back to her. He stared into space for a moment before bending forward to put them on. The buzzer rang a fifth time. Gabriel stood and walked toward the bedroom door, looking back at Laura over his shoulder before stepping through it and into the hallway. Her eyes were huge, and full of fear. Her face was pale. He paused, his hand resting lightly on the doorjamb. "Don't worry, this will just take a minute. I'll be right back." Then he flashed a smile at Laura meant to comfort and reassure her. To Laura, his smile seemed full of pain, like a man bravely going to a firing squad. He moved into the hallway and disappeared from view. The sound of his hard-soled shoes echoed down the hallway like the blows of a hammer. Laura was frozen in place for several moments, listening intently. When she heard the door shut behind Gabriel, she was suddenly reanimated and sprang out of bed. As she struggled into her robe, Laura started violently when the buzzer rang a sixth and final time. She nearly ran down the hallway, her bare feet making virtually no sound on the smoothly polished wood. She went to the French doors in the living room that opened to the balcony. From there she'd be able to see the courtyard gate. For some reason, Laura feared being seen by whomever had come for Gabriel. She gently, noiselessly opened the door so she could hear their conversation, and hid behind the lace curtain, standing on tiptoe, peering down at the scene that unfolded. Her heart pounded in her chest. Gabriel had just reached the gate, and opened it to allow an elderly gentleman in a Jesuit robe to step inside. He was tall, white-haired and very lean. His face registered a mix of relief and concern as he looked at the younger man. "I'm very thankful that you're alright. We were very worried when you didn't return last night." He said. His voice was deep and calm, and he spoke excellent English with a slight accent that Laura could not pinpoint. "Yes, I'm perfectly well. I'm very sorry to have caused you concern. It was not my intention." Gabriel's Irish accent was more pronounced. Laura could hear that it was thick with emotion. "When you did not appear at dinner we didn't think too much of it. But when midnight came and you still had not returned, I asked Vittorio if he had any idea where you were. It was then that he told me about coming here, and how strangely you behaved after meeting the young woman. So it was not hard to guess where you had gone." Gabriel didn't respond to this. He looked down at the paving stones of the courtyard, his hand rubbing the back of his neck rather absently. "You love her." The older man was not asking a question. He already knew the answer. He was simply stating it aloud. Gabriel looked him in the eye for a long moment. "Yes, Father." He said simply. Laura was overwhelmed with love and admiration at the simple, unapologetic way he expressed himself. "What is her name?" As he asked this, his eyes glanced up to the balcony. Laura knew he couldn't see her from this distance through the curtain, but still had to resist the impulse to duck. "Her name is... Laura." Gabriel said softly, pausing almost reverently before uttering her name. "And she loves you, in return?" "Yes, she does indeed." Gabriel said, his voice sounding quietly proud. "You are certain of this?" He asked softly. Laura felt a stab of pain at this simple question -- knowing instinctively that its aim was to create a sliver of doubt. She feared that it would succeed. "I've never been more certain of anything in my life." Gabriel said. A touch of defiance was clear in his tone. "Not anything." He added meaningfully. "I see." The elder priest seemed thoughtful for a moment, he then sighed with resignation. "So, what will you do?" "What I must. What I was meant to do." He said. "Yesterday morning, you were convinced that you were meant to be an emissary of God. And now you are convinced of something else, is that it?" "I'm sorry if this disappoints you, Father. But as we know, He works in ways we cannot predict." Gabriel spoke with a determination that filled Laura with pride. "Yes... yes, He does. But are you so sure that this is His work, and not something else?" Gabriel straightened, and his voice became almost steely. "Such as what? Please say what you mean." "Calm yourself, my son. I only meant that you were on the verge of making a very powerful commitment: a commitment that is rather like a marriage contract - yet far more binding. You would not be the first man to feel trepidation at such a crossroad." "This is not about fear of commitment, Father. This is something much larger than 'cold feet'. You must understand: I've been given a gift. It is now quite clear to me that everything... everything has led me here, to this woman. This is my true destiny. I see God in this." "Ah yes... il destino. Very well. So... we shall just explain to the children in Guatemala that you cannot honor your promise to return to them, yes? They are children, so they will most likely forgive and forget." The elder priest smiled sadly at this, and clasped a hand on Gabriel's shoulder. Laura felt chilled to the bone. She saw Gabriel stiffen, and by the slightest incline of his head, knew that this last arrow had struck its mark. She dropped the curtain, silently closed the door, and walked slowly back to the bedroom, her throat tight and her eyes burning with unshed tears. Laura felt as if she'd been given a glimpse of Paradise before being ruthlessly cast out. She could not decide if this was worse than never having seen it at all. It was another 20 minutes before Gabriel returned to the bedroom. She could tell by his ashen face that he was in the midst of some torment. He looked at her from the doorway, and her heart ached. She held her arms out to him and he rushed to her, pushing her back onto the bed as he crushed her against him. He buried his face in the curve of her neck. She felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. Neither of them spoke for several minutes. Laura finally broke the silence. "I love you, Gabriel. Nothing will ever change that. So you mustn't be afraid to tell me anything." He groaned into her skin, before pulling back to look at her tear-streaked face. He said her name softly, as he gently wiped away her tears with his thumbs. Gabriel held her face still as he brought his mouth down on hers. The kiss was desperate and sweet. Laura pulled him even closer and returned his kisses with greater intensity, sinking her teeth into his lower lip and moving against his body. She needed him to make love to her suddenly - more than ever. He seemed to hesitate for the briefest of moments, and then exhaled raggedly and pressed her wrists back into the mattress. Gabriel ground himself into her as his lips, teeth and tongue moved all over her face, ears, neck and shoulders. Releasing her hands he roughly pulled open her robe and captured one of her aching nipples in his mouth. Laura took advantage of the freedom her hands now had to tug his tee shirt up and over his head. She then impatiently reached down to unfasten and push off first his trousers and finally his underwear. He was already fully erect. She whispered to Gabriel to roll onto his back, as she moved down the bed to take his hard, already glistening penis into her mouth. He shouted out as she immediately took as much of him into her mouth as possible - relaxing her throat to accommodate his considerable length. She worked up and down, swirling her tongue around the tip, and using her hand on what she couldn't fit into her hot, moist mouth. Had she looked up from what she was doing, she'd have seen Gabriel watching her in awe, his hands moving her hair aside to better see what she was doing to him. Finally, he knew that if he didn't stop her he would soon violently climax in her mouth - when what he really wanted was to make love to her. Gabriel tried to coax Laura up, but she moaned in protest and refused to stop what she was doing. As exciting as that was, he would not be deterred, so he grabbed her by the arms and pulled her up, almost throwing her onto her back. He put his hands under her knees and yanked her legs up and apart, which caused her to gasp, throwing her head back ecstatically and arching her back into the mattress. He slid his now throbbing erection up and down her wet folds, teasing her clit with the tip of his penis. She looked up at him, her eyes wide and pupils dilated, and simply breathed the word "please". In a swift action, he thrust himself inside her, pushing so hard that the force caused the bed to move. The feet of the bed frame jumped a few centimeters on the floor with a noisy scraping sound. They clung to each other as he moved inside her. She exclaimed "oh" loudly each time he pushed inside. A fine sheen of sweat covered both of their bodies, and the telltale warmth and tingling sensation began to spread through her, from deep inside her vagina to her thighs and abdomen. Her stomach muscles were fluttering from the exertion as she thrust upward to meet his body, stroke for stroke. Gabriel caught her mouth with his and kissed her so passionately that it was almost bruising. Tiny, rapturous tears slid from the corners of her eyes, mixing with the beads of sweat. Suddenly, the dam broke and Laura shouted, her voice deep and resonant, as she climaxed. All the tension and emotion of the last 14 hours rose to the surface. She burst into tears, crying out Gabriel's name as her body shook with wave after wave of pleasure. She heard his own cries as he soon joined her, shooting jet after jet inside her as he pressed his face into her neck until he had finished. They both stilled, their breath still coming in pants as if they'd been running for miles. He sighed into her shoulder and placed a series of gentle kisses along her collarbone, neck, and finally her mouth. Her fingers laced through his hair as she lovingly returned his slow, reverent kisses. Laura realized that she was wrong about being cast out of Paradise. While she wasn't sure how long she'd be able to stay, it was where she dwelled at the moment. For that, she was thankful. To be continued...