Chapter 73

(Angel's POV)

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, overwhelmed by the tenderness in his voice, by the way he looked at me like I was the most precious thing in the world. “You make me feel… so good,” I managed to say, and my voice trembled.

“That’s all I’ve ever wanted,” he murmured and pressed his forehead against mine. “To make you feel this way.”

In that moment, when he finally joined with me and our bodies became one, everything else faded away. The fear, the confusion, and the doubts that always plagued me—they vanished, replaced by the warmth of him, the way he held me, the way he whispered my name as if it were a prayer. And as we moved together, the night wrapped around us, and the stars above shone down, I felt something inside me shift, something that made everything fall into place.

Every touch and every kiss felt like a promise, a connection that went beyond words, beyond anything I’d ever felt. I felt his heartbeat against mine, steady and strong, and it grounded me in a way I never thought possible. With every movement and every whispered “Angel,” he pulled me deeper into him and showed me that maybe, this could be more than I’d ever dreamed.

“Stay with me,” he breathed, and his voice was rough, filled with everything he couldn’t say. “Stay with me, Angel.”

And for the first time in a long time, I knew I wasn’t afraid or confused anymore. This felt too good to be wrong. I was where I was meant to be.

Thomas shifted under me and his hands gripped my waist as he guided me to sit up. I felt the cool night air against my skin, complementing the warmth of his body, and it made every sensation and every touch more intense. He pulled me closer, and before I knew it, I was straddling him. My legs wrapped around his waist, and my arms draped over his shoulders. The change in position made everything feel more intimate and more connected, and I couldn’t help the way my breath hitched, couldn’t help the way my heart raced as I looked down at him.

His eyes met mine and there was something in them—something raw and real—that made my chest tighten and made my body feel like it was glowing from the inside out. “You’re incredible,” he whispered as his hands slid up my back and pulled me even closer. “Do you know that?”

I shook my head because I couldn’t form words, couldn’t do anything but feel. His fingers traced the edge of my panties under my skirt, making me gasp in pleasure. As he held my pantyline in place and traced my entrance with his middle finger, I shuddered. My hands could barely return the favor, fiddling with the drum strings of his joggers. He held my hands softly and said, “Let me.”

I bit my lip and put them back on his shoulders as he unearthed his length from his joggers, making me look at the impressive length of it. For a moment, I compared it to someone else's own but stopped myself quickly.

The way he looked at me and the way he held me felt like I was the only thing that mattered. I lowered myself down slowly and hesitantly, feeling every inch of him as he filled me, feeling the way his breath caught and the way his hands tightened on my hips as I settled over him. A shiver ran through me and I buried my face against his neck, my breath coming in ragged gasps as I tried to make sense of the overwhelming sensation.

“Angel,” he groaned and his voice was low and rough. The sound sent a rush of warmth through me. “You feel... perfect.” He kissed my shoulder and his hands moved up my sides as they traced the line of my spine. I felt myself melt into him and gave in to the way he made me feel. I rocked against him and moved slowly. The friction and the heat were almost too much, almost too good.

I found a rhythm and he matched me. His hands guided me and his mouth trailed kisses along my jaw and neck, whispering my name and whispering how much he needed me, how much he wanted me. Every word and every touch made me feel like I was coming undone, like I was unraveling in the best way. I felt his heartbeat against my chest and felt how his muscles tightened with every movement. It was like I could feel everything he was and everything he felt with every breath and every touch.

“This... this is so right,” he murmured and his lips brushed against my ear. His voice was tinged with something tender, something that made my heart ache. “You’re everything, Angel. You’re everything.”

I moved faster and felt the heat build between us. I felt the way his body responded to mine and I couldn’t stop my fingers from digging into his shoulders. I couldn’t stop myself from whispering his name over and over like it was the only word that mattered. He held me closer and tighter. His hands moved down to grip my hips and guided me and grounded me. I felt myself getting lost in him and in this moment and in the way he made me feel.

“Thomas,” I gasped and my voice trembled. I could barely hold on as the sensation built and the pleasure became almost too much to bear. “I... I can’t…”

“Don’t stop,” he urged and his voice was rough. His hands held me steady. “I’ve got you, Angel. I’ve got you.”

I let myself go and fell into him, and the world exploded around me. Every nerve and every inch of my body lit up as I came apart in his arms. He followed, and his body tensed as his breath caught and he pulled out. I felt him shudder against me and pull me even closer as he whispered my name over and over like it was the only thing that mattered.

For a long moment, we stayed like that and held onto each other, breathing hard, our hearts pounding in sync, as the world slowly came back into focus. I felt the night air against my skin and the warmth of him under me, and I knew at that moment that everything had changed.

“Angel,” he murmured and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, his arms still wrapped around me and holding me close. “You’re incredible.”

I smiled and let a soft, shaky laugh escape my lips as I buried my face in his neck, feeling more at peace and more alive than I had in a long, long time. “You make me feel that way,” I whispered as my fingers traced the lines of his jaw and his lips. I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but warmth and love.

And in that moment, as we held each other under the stars, I knew that no matter what happened next or where this place took us, we’d found something real. Something that mattered. Something I couldn't deny any longer.

•

(Narrator's POV)

Without them knowing, a shadow waited just out of sight, hiding behind a wall close to the entrance. A phone camera quietly recorded everything, catching every touch and every soft word.

The little dog from before sniffed around the shadow's feet and whined. The person bent down and patted the dog’s head, then lifted the camera higher and zoomed in on the couple as they focused on each other.

"Got you," the person whispered with a small smile.