Warning: This chapter DOES contain one or more of the following mature materials: Language, Sexual-innuendo, Passionate kissing, S&M, Adult situations. ~_^

A Salvation Called Love

-Chapter 25-

-Good Morning-

[Annabelle]

I shifted slightly in my sleep and found myself waking up. I gave a small groan as I opened my eyes and found the light coming in through the half open curtains. I'd forgotten to close them last night because I'd been too exhausted. Speaking of the reason for me being exhausted, I turned onto my side ever so gently and gave a soft smile as I stared over at Dominic. He was laying on his stomach, curled slightly with the sheets teasingly low around his beautifully sculpted hips. One arm was shoved under the pillows he was using to prop his head up and the other was curled beneath his chin in a very cute manner. His hair was feathered out around him on the pillow, his shoulders, and against his face. It gleamed with dark browns, light golds, and a beautiful silver as the sunlight flitted across it. I reached out and gently brushed a few silky strands away from his face so that I could get a better look at how peaceful and handsome he looked in his sleep. I found myself adoring how long his lashes were and how his lips were slightly open, slack with sleep. How innocent and harmless he looked while he slept. I couldn't believe I was in love with a man who was so damn handsome and beautiful all at once.

I traced my fingers down across his cheek and smiled as his lashes fluttered and his tongue flicked out to wet his lips. I was so very tempted to lean down and kiss them right now. I traced my thumb across his lower lip and leaned down, giving in to the temptation. I pressed a very soft, gentle kiss against his warm lips. What I wasn't expecting through was for him to kiss me back, which is what he did. His hand snaked out and buried itself in my messy, sleep and sex tousled hair. I moaned softly against his lips as his tongue slipped in between mine and swirled around my tongue in a gentle, seductive dance. He pulled away after a few seconds and smiled, his very beautiful, hypnotic, dark honey brown eyes blinking up at me. I wanted to never look away, to drown myself in them forever. "Good morning, beautiful."

I smiled and leaned forward to press a quick tiny kiss against the tip of his nose. "Good morning, handsome."

He chuckled and slowly turned onto his side, propping his head up with his hand. The sheet that had been draped across his hips was now almost dangerously clinging to his skin, barely covering him. It left little to the imagination and I found myself blushing as I remembered everything we'd done last night. I don't think I've ever been so exhausted in my life. Dominic reached out and traced his fingers down along my arm, drawing my attention back to his face. "A deal for your thoughts?"

I grinned and captured his hand in mine, bringing it up so that I could gently press kisses against the center of his calloused palm. "What kind of deal are we talking about?"

"I take you out for breakfast and you tell me what you were thinking a few seconds ago."

I arched a brow and thought about it for a few seconds. I gave a pervy grin and reached out to brush his hip, enjoying the small hum of desire he made at my touch. "I was thinking about last night."

He reached out and curled his arm around my waist, pulling me forward to press against his body. I could feel that he was very, very happy behind the sheet. "What about last night?"

I swallowed loudly and struggled to control my breathing. I felt my body tighten with anticipation as his fingers danced across my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. "I was thinking about how I've never been this tired before and how much I enjoyed it."

He grinned and I loved how his eyes crinkled at the corners. He looked older and extremely handsome. "You really are beautiful when you're moaning beneath me like you did last night."

I felt my blush return with burning strength and to cover for it I leaned forward and pressed a kiss partly against his scar and his top lips. He didn't let me leave it at just that because he quickly bit against my bottom lip, preventing me from pulling away. I moaned and didn't pull away. I kissed him back passionately, sucking and licking against his lips and his tongue, drawing them in between my lips to tease. He moaned and I felt his hands move down to shove the sheet away from his body as he rolled over to lay on top of me. I pulled back from the kiss with a giggle as I felt him pressing eagerly against the front of me. "I thought you were going to take me out for breakfast, Mr. Gold."

He smirked and leaned down, pausing just above my lips. I wanted him to kiss me but he didn't. He was just teasing me at the moment. "Oh, I plan on it… after I have my way with you, Dearie."

I arched a brow and slowly moved my legs up to wrap around his waist, trapping his warm, thick erection against my body. "You're going to have your way with me, are you?" I rocked my hips upward which caused him to slip against me, fitting just in between my lips but still not moving enough to be inside of me. He closed his eyes and gave a low growl as he buried his face against the curve of my shoulder. His hair tickled against my skin and his mouth was burning hot as he kissed against my collar bone. "Hmmm… I don't know if I want breakfast more, or have you ravish me."

He rubbed his face against my shoulder, like a cat scent marking me, and his scruff scratched against my skin in a very sensual way. My breath hitched and I squeezed my legs tightly around him. He chuckled. "I guess I'll have to do both then, dear-heart. 'Cause your teasing hasn't helped my predicament any. I'd rather not go out in public in a tight pair of jeans with a hard on. It might be bad for my business."

I found myself giggling again. I reached up and buried my hands in his soft brown hair that was adorably speckled with silver. "Then I suggest you get started on the first thing so that we can get to the breakfast you promised me."

He growled against my neck and bit it lightly as I loosened my legs, allowing him enough room to get where he needed. I held onto him tightly as he entered me in one smooth movement and couldn't believe I was having sex with him… again. He just made my life perfect, that's all I could say.

[Mr. Gold]

After an hour of making love to Annabelle we both were starving. We'd made it off campus without too many people saying anything to us and now we were sitting outside of a small café, enjoying the cool breeze as it blew around us. There weren't very many people out right now, probably because it was the weekend and it looked like it was going to rain, so we had the small patio area to ourselves. When we'd sat down I'd pulled Annabelle's chair over beside mine and enjoyed playing with her curls as she looked at the menu.

She batted at my arm with the menu when I hadn't picked something to eat. "What are you going to get, you mongrel. My hair isn't that big of a distraction."

I arched a brow at her and tugged at one of the long curls, making her giggle. "I think I should be offended. You're the first person to ever call me a mongrel. Imagine that, me, the all-powerful Dark One being called a mongrel by a wee little thing."

She just rolled her eyes and wacked me again with the menu. I took it from her finally as I grinned down at her. "First, Mr. Dominic Alexander Gold, I'm not a wee little thing. Second," she leaned sideways and pressed a kiss against my cheek. "I'm not afraid of the Dark One. You're not as mean and evil as you used to have people think you were."

She truly baffled me sometimes. What I'd expected from her upon coming down here to see her wasn't what I'd been gotten. She's the first person in hundreds of years to know that I was the Dark One and she wasn't even fazed by it. She was either very accepting or off her rocker. "Why aren't you fazed by the fact that there is magic in this world and that I'm a part of it?"

She paused for a moment and thought about it. "I don't know why it doesn't bother me… or why I'm not worried that we've both possibly lost our minds. I've always been a person who accepts things easily. And after that dream about Belle that I had… yah, I don't have any issues about believing you have magic."

I frowned down at her, completely confused. "I'm not just someone who has magic, Annabelle. I used to be the most feared creature alive. You're not just supposed to accept things like that without questions at least."

She rolled her eyes. "And now we have other things to fear like terrorism, natural disasters, murderers, hell even the end of the world."

"Annabelle."

She sighed and laid her head against my shoulder, sliding her arm through mine in order to hold me against her. "I know what you're trying to say, Dominic. Really, I do. But I'm 24, old enough to have a very open mind." She pulled back and gave me a very mischievous smirk. "And I've found myself in love with this really old man who thinks crazy things."

I stared at her for a few moments in absolute shock before I gave a sharp, hearty laugh. "That's a dirty trick, making cracks about my age! I should be offended."

She smiled and reached up to grab a handful of my hair. My laughter stopped as I stared down into her beautiful, soul-drowning blue eyes. I could see the truth of her words in them as she pulled my face down until we were mere inches away and softly whispered against my lips. "I don't care how old you are, Dominic Alexander Gold. I don't care if all of your beautiful hair goes silver and you become a wrinkled, wizen old man who needs more than cane to get around. Age means nothing in the face of love. And I dare to speak the truth when I tell you that you have my heart on a gold platter…" I felt her grin more than saw it. "Metaphorically speaking of course."

I swallowed loudly and reached up to wrap my fingers around the back of her neck. Her lashes fluttered at the feeling and I felt myself growing hard at her reaction to my touch. "You have such a pretty mouth on you, dear-heart. Pretty soon you'll have this old man begging for your touch if you keep saying such endearing things."

I shivered when her tongue flicked out to lick against my lips. She still didn't kiss me though. She was being a tease. "I'll only say them to you."

I was just beginning to kiss her senseless when there was an awkward cough. Annabelle quickly pulled back from me before I could completely kiss her and I watched her blush turn crimson as she picked up the menu. I gave the waiter a slight glare but he gave a small shrug as if to say he was sorry. He then pulled out a pad and a pencil and put on a smile. "What can I get for you guys today?"

I leaned forward, pretending to look at the menu and whispered into Annabelle's ear. "A little privacy."

She gasped and gave a small laugh as she turned and smacked me in the forehead with the menu. "Dominic!" She blushed harder before turning to the waiter. "Sorry. I think I'll have your shrimp and calamari platter with a side of ranch, please. Oh, and a glass of Sierra Mist if you have it."

The waiter quickly wrote her order down with a small nod before he turned his attention to me. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes this time. "And for you, sir?"

Annabelle turned to look up at me and I gave her a small smile before turning my attention to the waiter. "I'll have the same except instead of ranch I'd like a side of cocktail sauce… and a glass of sweetened tea…" I was going to leave it at that but Annabelle elbowed me in the ribs. I grunted and glared playfully down at her before giving a small sigh. "Please and thank you…" I looked at the waiter's name tag. "Nikolas."

The waiter gave me a warmer smile and a small nod of his head. "You're welcome, sir. I'll have your drinks right out and give the cook your orders."

When he was gone I turned my attention to Annabelle and wrapped my arm around her shoulder, hugging her back against me. "You're such a brat, Annabelle."

She huffed and gave me another small elbow to the ribs. "And you're a meanie, Mr. Gold."

I leaned down and gently nipped against her ear making her squeak a little. "Dominic."

She turned and stuck her tongue out. "Mr. Gold."

I reached up and quickly caught her pink little tongue in between my fingers playfully. "I should punish you."

I leaned down and only released her tongue when I'd caught it between my lips this time, sucking on it lightly. I felt her hands reach up and grab a hold of my shirt as she pulled herself tightly against me and gave a very tiny moan. I opened for her and allowed her to dominate my tongue as she swirled hers around my mouth, seemingly trying to play tonsil hockey. Two could play that game. I growled and grabbed a handful of her hair, pulling her head back and away from the kiss. She gasped and stared up at me with slightly unfocused eyes. "Dominic."

It was a small whisper but it was such a big turn on. I leaned forward and plundered her mouth with mine but this time it was my turn to be the dominate tonsil hockey player. Gods I loved the taste of her. When I pulled away from the kiss it was only because we both needed air and I was afraid I'd eat her up if I continued on. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were still closed as I stared down at her. I released her hair and tentatively brushed my thumb along her lower lip, enjoying that it was swollen from my kisses. "You're so beautiful, Annabelle. I never want to let you go again."

Her eyes fluttered open and she struggled to focus on me for a few moments. Her hands slowly released their death grip on my shirt and I allowed her to slump backwards into her chair. She gave a weak smile. "I don't think I'm going to survive too many more of those kisses. They might be the death of me." I laughed and reached out to lace my fingers with hers, holding her hand tightly. She just continued to serenely smile. "You don't have to let me go, you know."

I sighed and sat back in my own chair. "You have college to finish, Annabelle. I'm not going to take you away from that."

"I know… I just…" She gave a small shrug. "Will you keep coming to see me?"

I gave a small nod. "Of course I will. But not every weekend. I do have a business to run, dear-heart."

She blushed and shook her head quickly. "Oh no, no, no. I don't think I would survive seeing you every weekend. Gods, just last night was almost enough to make me want to sleep for years."

I laughed and laced my fingers with hers, pulling her hand up to lay a kiss gently against her knuckles. "I'll come see you every month and a half. That gives us both time to recover and gives you time to focus on your studies."

She gave a small nod and moved to lean her head against my shoulder. We stayed that way until the waiter brought us first our drinks and then our lunch. We didn't talk the entire time we ate, instead we just watched one another, giving small smiles and laughing lightly. When it was time to go, I paid and followed Annabelle out. We headed to my car and then we drove back to the college. I wanted to spend the rest of the day with her but I knew I couldn't… or wouldn't. I'd only promised myself one day with her… or night actually. Now I'd have to wait to see her in a month and a half.

Stepping out of the car I walked around and opened the door for her, leaning on my cane as I waited until she was out and standing beside me. When the door was closed I turned and smiled down at her. She was so beautiful. I wanted to lock her away from the world and keep her all to myself. She was mine. My sweet Annabelle. She reached up and tugged at my hair where it draped around the collar of my shirt. "I'm going to miss you, Dominic."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and wrapped my arm around her waist, pulling her to me. I gave her a small smile. "I'm going to miss you as well, my beautiful Annabelle."

She tugged harder on my hair, dragging my face down close to hers. "Will you call me?"

I licked my lips and gave a small nod, watching her eyes follow the small action. "I will… once a week."

She pouted and batted her long auburn lashes at me. "Only once a week?"

I leaned further down until I could whisper against her lips. "Only once a week."

She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me completely against her lips, kissing me desperately. I kissed her just as passionately back. We both didn't want to let each other go, but we had to. When I tried to pull away she held on tightly and kept trying to kiss me. "Don't leave me, Dominic. Please."

I gave a small chuckle and finally managed to duck under her arms. I took a step back and stared down at her. "I promised to come see you, dear-heart. It's now a part of our deal. I don't break deals."

She gave a small sigh followed by a cute smile that lifted the corners of her mouth. "No, you just bend them."

I grinned mischievously. "Only once in a while, Dearie. Only once in a while."

When she took a step towards me I started back around the car in order to place it between us. If she kissed me again I don't think I could leave. She pouted but didn't follow. "If you don't call me, Mr. Gold, I'm going to be really pissed off."

I winked at her as I opened the car door. "I guess I best not forget to call you then, Dearie."

I ducked into the car before she could give me a sassy come back and closed the door, buckling myself in. I tucked my cane against the door and started the car. Annabelle waved at me as I pulled away from the curb and when I looked into the rearview mirror when I got to the exit she was still there watching. I smiled at her image even though I knew she couldn't see me and blew her a kiss before pulling out into traffic. I'm glad I came to see her. I definitely had to thank her father one of these days.

A.N. 1 - Sorreh about the delay, LOL. I had some 5pg. papers to write and demon teens to feed at work the past couple days, LOL! I'm hoping not to have any more long delays like that for a while, LOL! I hate not being able to write and post frequently, LOL. Blehk.

A.N. 2 - I also hope you guys had a good Sat. celebrating Robert's bday! Even though I had to work I still got to celebrate, hahaha! He even popped on Twitter for a few moments... he's such a cutie! and a dork, HAHA! "Twooly amazed..." *fangirl squee* Ok... done with the fangirling part.

A.N. 3 - Also... Thank you guys so much for being so awesome! Really! Everyone that's reading and everyone that's reviewing, you guys encourage me so much! *^_^*