My heart sank as I heard Gabriel's menacing tone, his words dripping with malice. "I'm... I'm just out with Mia," I stammered, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Who's Mia?" Gabriel's anger seemed to escalate with each passing second.
"A friend I made tonight. We're in the next house over," I said, trying to sound casual. Mia's eyes widened in alarm, and she sprang to her feet, shaking her head furiously. Her face paled, and her eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape.
Mia's fear was evident, and I could sense her anxiety as she ushered me out of her room. She seemed desperate to get me out of her apartment, away from her and her family. The thought of Gabriel potentially showing up was clearly unsettling for her.
As she pushed me toward the door, her voice was firm but laced with a hint of panic. "You need to leave," she said, her eyes pleading with me to go.
"Come out, we're leaving. Now," Gabriel growled before hanging up.
As soon as I ended the call, Mia's grip on my arm tightened. She shut the door behind me, and I heard her muffled voice. "You can find your way out, right?"
"Yeah, I guess," I replied, feeling a sense of unease.
I made my way out of the building, where Gabriel was waiting in his car, parked out front. I got in, and the smell of alcohol hit me. Gabriel's face was twisted in anger.
"Are you sure you can drive? You smell like you've been drinking," I said, concern etched in my voice.
Gabriel didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the road as he sped off into the night, heading back to Oakland.
The ride home was oppressive, the silence thick with Gabriel's anger. I sank deeper into my seat, my mind replaying Mia's words like a warning. It was unsettling to realize how easily I'd become desensitized to Gabriel's true nature. I'd somehow managed to normalize our situation, glossing over the fact that he was a killer. His actions should have filled me with horror, but instead, I'd let his charm and affection lull me into a false sense of security. I'd forgotten the pain and fear I once felt, letting his kindness and care blind me to the truth.
I'd been telling myself to play it cool, to be submissive until I could find a way to escape, but the truth was, I'd started to feel a twisted sense of comfort around Gabriel. I gave myself a mental shake, reminding myself of the brutal reality: he'd killed Wu, and that was unforgivable.
As we arrived at the compound, Gabriel's anger was still simmering, his fury evident in every tense line of his body. He yanked open my car door and dragged me into the apartment, his movements rough and aggressive.
As we entered the apartment, Gabriel strode into the living area, his long legs eating up the distance. He didn't bother to turn on the lights, the only illumination coming from the moon casting a silver glow through the windows. He made his way to the couch, his movements fluid and deliberate. With a swift motion, he dropped down onto the plush cushions, the leather creaking softly beneath his weight. He pulled me down with him, his grasp firm and aggressive as he positioned me on his lap.
His lips crashed down on mine in a flurry of kisses, his hands roaming over my skin as he tore off my shirt. I tensed, my instincts screaming at me to push him away, to be repulsed by his touch. But my body didn't respond, didn't recoil in horror. Instead, I sat there, frozen, as Gabriel's lips and hands explored my skin. It was as if my mind and body were disconnected, my instincts warning me of the danger, but my physical response betraying me.
Gabriel's lips devoured mine, his kiss fierce and unyielding. His hands roamed over my skin, his touch rough and possessive. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with mine.
Despite my initial tension, I couldn't help but feel a spark of arousal ignite within me. Gabriel's dominant behavior was unsettling, but it was also strangely intoxicating. I felt a rush of fear mixed with desire as he tightened his grasp on me, his fingers digging into my skin.
I didn't try to struggle or push him away. Instead, I remained frozen, my mind racing with conflicting emotions as I tried to make sense of my own desires and fears.
Gabriel's anger and frustration still simmered beneath the surface, but it seemed to be fueling his passion rather than his rage. His kiss grew more intense, his hands roaming over my body with a fierce possessiveness.
I felt like I was drowning in his touch, unable to escape the undertow of my own desires. My heart pounded in my chest, my breath coming in short gasps as Gabriel's lips and hands explored my skin. I was lost in the storm of his passion, unsure of what the consequences would be if I surrendered to its power.
The barrage of kisses didn't stop, and eventually, I found myself wrapping my arms around Gabriel's neck, returning his kisses with a passion that surprised me. His hands moved to my bra, trying to unhook it, but I caught his wrist, holding him back.
Gabriel stopped kissing me, his lips inches from mine as he held my gaze. I whispered, "You said you wouldn't do anything I don't want."
He gave me an apologetic look, his eyes softening. "Why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" he asked, his voice low and husky. "I was worried you'd left me."
I frowned, puzzled. "Pete is watching me, remember? I wouldn't do something so stupid. Why didn't you just ask him where I was?"
Gabriel shrugged, looking sheepish. "I panicked. Didn't think of it."
"Were you agitated when you couldn't find me?" I asked him, studying his expression.
He nodded, his eyes locking onto mine. "I thought you'd be somewhere around, mingling, so I didn't think to call you," he explained. "But after a while, I went looking for you, and I didn't see you. Charles told me he'd seen you leaving earlier, and I thought...I thought you'd run away."
I held his gaze, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do you like me? Romantically?"
Gabriel's eyes blinked slowly, and he whispered a soft "yes". The air between us was electric, the tension palpable.
I felt my body heat up from the intense moment we'd just shared. Without thinking, I leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on his lips. Then, I gently removed myself from his lap, picked up my shirt that he'd tossed away, and slipped into my room, leaving Gabriel sitting alone in the darkness.