Five
Having unfortunately bumped into ‘Lisa’ the morning after in the kitchen in only her underwear and one of Gabriel’s law school hoodies, I decided to squash the feelings he generated in me as nothing good could come of it.
I threw myself into my classes, getting engrossed in my passion for dance and at the end of that following week, I had aced it. Sergey offered me a solo in their next dance show. Showcases usually brought in talent spotters and with it, possible representation. The thought of securing myself an agent fired me up and I even started extra practice in my room. It wasn’t easy without a barre but there was enough space.
It felt like I’d taken a step forward towards my dreams. Those nicer, easier to deal with ones, not like the memories of my parents’ death which still haunted me daily, breaking my heart over and over. Those who said time was a healer had never lost anyone. Not many people knew about my mother and father and in London, there was only Asher. I hated people looking at me with pity in their eyes. I cared for my foster parents but in respect of a real family, I would feel hollow for life.
Towards the end of the week when Asher was at Marks, and Gabriel was sitting his finals, I soaked up the fact that I had the apartment to myself.
I sat in box splits in front of the TV screen, having pushed the coffee table back to allow myself enough space.
Remaining in the position for at least half an hour, I watched a series of programmes on Sky TV while I stretched out my hamstrings.
Whilst I was in the process of rolling out my toes, the intercom went to state there was someone downstairs.
I was wearing tights and a leotard and having caused a minor strain in class on my left thigh muscle, I had pulled on one grey leg warmer. I wasn’t really dressed for company but what could I do?
Padding over to the screen, I could see that it was only Max but Gabriel was still at college.
“Hi Max. Gabriel isn’t here,” I said, after pressing the button. He looked up at the screen, almost as if he could see me before leaning forward and speaking into the intercom.
“Typical. Well, I just signed for a package, am I OK to bring it up?”
I smiled at the screen, looking at the large envelope in his hands. I couldn’t exactly leave him downstairs and what if the delivery was important?
Pursing my lips, I glanced down at my attire; toying with the idea of getting dressed first, but that would keep him waiting and I wasn’t indecent.
I bit the bullet. “OK, no probs. Come on up.”
After pressing the release for the doors, I heard the lift moving to collect him and quickly tidied up my plate and cup from the floor where I had been stretching out. Max knew the private code for the lift as he’d used it before. Whilst I was turning the TV off and straightening the coffee table, he walked out and into the living space, larger than life. He was wearing old work boots, jeans that had seen better days and a sweater. His shoulders seemed bigger than the last time I saw him and his tattoos angrier.
“Hey?” I said, forcing a smile I hadn’t been feeling.
He looked me up and down but there wasn’t anything smutty about it. “Hey yourself. Nice tights,” he said with a lopsided smile.
Grinning, I turned away and moved to the sink to wash my pots from earlier. “Please just make yourself at home, I’m sure he won’t be long,” I shouted over the sound of the tap.
“Where do you want this?” he said, waving the brown envelope in the air. I shut the water off and dried my hands, hoping the parcel was for me from my foster parents.
“I’ll take it, thanks,” I said with outstretched arms, moving out of the kitchen. He passed it to me and I briefly read the large bold handwriting on the to-be-signed-for package. It was paperwork for Gabriel, maybe something to do with his exams and so I strolled over and placed it in the centre of the table where Gabriel did most of his work.
I could hear Max moving around the apartment behind me before the creak of leather told me he had lowered himself onto one of the sofas.
“So, I interrupted your practice from the looks of things?” he said, his deep voice gliding nicely over my bones. We had spoken a few times now and although he attempted to hide it, he was a nice guy. One of the good ones. I wasn’t overly attracted to him though; he was too big and burly for me.
After washing up, I popped the plug up and turned to face him. “Yes. I’ve been given a solo in a showcase and so I need to put in extra time.”
“Congrats,” he nodded, taking in each word with an interested expression. He didn’t do that active listening thing most straight guys did when they spoke to me. It was refreshing.
“Come and talk to me sugarplum, keep me company. I’ve had a fucker of a day.”
Taking the leather seat opposite the coffee table where he was slouched, I eyed him across the space.
“So, why the bad day?” I asked with genuine concern.
Max dashed a hand across the stubble on his jaw, he looked shattered.
“Not why—who.” Again, he used the same type of phrasing he always had in my company. Chats with Max were always a guessing game.
“I imagine the who is a she?”
He sat forward and scratched one of the tattoos along his arm. Max was tense and I knew I’d guessed correctly. His expression as his eyes latched on mine, screamed, women trouble.
“You’re very astute,” Max said with a slight grin; one that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I’m also a good listener,” I encouraged, shuffling my bottom back into the seat and lifting my feet from the floor.
I watched him over my raised knees. “So, what’s she done this time? Lady Swift, I take it?”
“None other. She’s driving me up the wall,” he husked, dashing a hand across his unshaven jaw. He was so big, rough and burly-looking; I was surprised he didn’t make the girl nervous. I’d only seen her from a distance but she was shorter than me. A definite firecracker though from what I’d been told and didn’t take shit from anyone. I respected that as guts was something I sorely lacked. Girl power and all that.
“In what way?” I asked, encouraging him to offload.
“She’s started talking back to me in front of my men.” Max released a heavy sigh of frustration.
“And that’s not a good thing because?” I queried, needing more intel from him.
“It makes me look weak. She’s a subordinate and so should just do as she’s fucking told.” The flare of annoyance on his face was palpable. My goodness, the girl must have a backbone of steel to backchat this person.
“So, take her to one side. Have it out with her,” I suggested.
He snorted and quirked me a look. “Oh, believe me, I’ve tried, but she laughed in my face the last time.” Bloody hell, the girl needed a medal.
“You could sweet-talk her?”
“Believe me, all the charm in Britain couldn’t sweeten her sour. The woman is made from concrete with a backbone stronger than the toughest bloke. And believe me, I know concrete.”
“Well, why don’t you just fire her? If she’s speaking out of turn, you’d be well within your rights.”
“I can’t fire her. I’m supposed to be showing her the ropes. I’m building a hotel with her old man just outside the city and he wants me to show her how to project manage. I’m all for showing someone the ropes, but I used them in a totally different way if you get my meaning.” Max shot me a wolfish look.
I shook my head and swallowed my smile, not wanting to indulge in one of his kinks.
“So, tell her you won’t teach her unless she tows the line.”
A muscle in his jaw started to throb. “She just doesn’t listen and thinks she knows best. Typical female.” I raised my eyebrows. “Sorry, no offence.”
“None taken,” I bounced back. “She sounds like a bit of a nightmare. Couldn’t you try and reason with her? Man to woman?” I so didn’t know what to suggest.
“It would be more like man-to-man.”
I leaned back in my seat and started to think how he could get through to her. “Have you wondered why she is so off with you? Have you done something to offend her in the past or something?”
He grimaced, which gave me my answer.
“What did you do?”
Max cleared his throat, now lost in thought. “I tried to pull her one night, but that was when I didn’t know who she was. She wasn’t amused.”
And then it became clear. If Max had treated her like a piece of meat when she was intelligent and ambitious, it didn’t surprise me if she was being difficult now. “Can’t you offer to take her out to dinner and apologise for past behaviours?”
He remained silent, weighing up that option before saying. “No, too much of a pain in the arse. I’d want to strangle her after around five minutes of her company. We have nothing in common.”
“Surely you do if you are both working on the hotel.”
“Fuck that shit. She needs to do as she’s told before I lose it with her.” He growled. I wondered what he meant. Surely, he wouldn’t physically do anything to her, he didn’t come across as that type of guy.
And then he confirmed just that. “The girl needs dragging over someone’s knee, why not mine?”
“Well, your business with her father won’t be booming with an assault charge over your head,” I pointed out.
His expression changed to one of wonder, like he was savouring how it would feel to put his hands on her and I knew there was more to this situation than he was letting on. Although there was also a good chance, he didn’t realise that yet.
“It would almost be worth it. She needs dragging into line and sometimes you need to bring out the big guns.”
Max’s phone then beeped to say he had a message and I watched him as he withdrew it and read from the screen.
“Gabriel’s five minutes away,” he explained and re-pocketed his phone. He then leaned back in his seat; his expression was quite relaxed and I hoped I’d helped.
“Anyway, enough about me and my shit. How have you settled in?” he asked. I could tell I was about to get the third degree as he changed the subject from his girl problem to me.
“Great thanks.”
“How is it living with Mr Moody himself?” he grinned, boyish dimples appearing at the side of his mouth. It softened his appearance and made him more human.
“He’s fine. Everyone is so busy, it’s a bit like ships in the night at times. We all just get on and do our own thing.”
“You do realise you’ve succeeded in shaking the unshakeable in such a short space of time?” Max drawled, looking down his perfectly straight nose at me.
I replayed his comment in my head and frowned. “I don’t understand. What’s unshakeable?”
“Not what, who,” he replied flatly, mirroring his early language.
I threw his comment back at him. “OK, so who is unshakeable?”
“The boss.”
Licking my lips, I glanced towards the door, wondering when he would appear. “I feel like we’re going around in circles. I assume you’re referring to Gabriel?”
He slowly nodded his head, his large hands resting on his knees. “The very same.”
Lowering my feet to the floor, I leaned forward. “So, you all see him as the boss?” I was surprised he admitted that. He oozed control freak himself.
Max shrugged and his muscles rippled. “Every pack needs a leader.” He pointed this out in a matter-of-fact way.
Scratching my chin, I replied. “I can’t imagine you’re easily led.”
A tick in his jaw appeared. “Oh, you’d be surprised. Nice eyes and the perfect rack and I follow like a puppy.”
Smoothing my hair back from my face, I suddenly felt sweaty in my leotard. “Well, I think we can both agree that Gabriel is missing at least one of those attributes.”
“And yet you have both,” Max commented with a cocky look as his eyes roamed over my body and fell on my breasts.
I didn’t move my arms to cover myself. His stare didn’t make me uncomfortable. “I suppose you’re trying to be charming again?”
He shuffled further forward in his seat, the coffee table the only thing separating our two bodies. If there had been wine on the table it would have felt like a conversation between two lovers. “Is it working?” he husked.
I chuckled, leaning forward, mirroring his expression. “Not even slightly.” My words were purposefully at odds with our body language. It was playful flirting and I was enjoying myself.
“I still can’t believe you’re single,” Max said, almost to himself. His face was a picture of confusion as his eyes searched my face. “Don’t you ever date?”
“I’ve been on a couple since I came to the city. I was asked out the other day by a guy at work, but I don’t have the time due to practice and my job.”
“That’s bullshit. You’re in your prime, don’t let it run away from you. You should let your hair down and live a little now,” Max suggested with a smile. “You should go on that date. What’s he look like?”
“That doesn’t matter. It takes more than a good body and a nice face for me I’m afraid,” I stated this fact whilst motioning towards him with my hand.
“Don’t say you’re one of those girls that go for personality. Someone who can make you laugh.”
My eyebrows inched towards my hairline. “Yes, of course. A sense of humour is vital and really attractive in a man.”
Max snorted and dashed a hand down his face. “Bollocks. If laughter is so important, go watch a comedian. You women are all the same, what comes out of your mouth, isn’t what you want at all.” Our banter had now stepped up a notch and we were head-to-head.
“I see. And what do women want, Max?” I asked with a playful twist to my lips.
He motioned towards himself with his large hand. “A stacked, good-looking bloke who they feel safe with and makes them cum with the thunder, would be my guess.”
BOOM! I released a full-on belly laugh. He had won. He’d wanted to shock me and he had (with bells on).
I held my hands up in surrender. “I can’t believe I’ve known you less than a month and you pull out that card.”
His expression was now full of humour and he looked boyish again. “It’s the most important one in the deck, my love. Under normal circumstances, I’d show you what I mean. I’m not a man of many words when it comes to sex but I know what I’m doing. However, I don’t fancy a bullet in the head.”
“Well of course not, who would?”
His hungry gaze swept over me again. “You sure are a sweet little thing, but I value my friendship too much.”
Now this was interesting. “You’re friendship with whom?” I knew where he was going but needed him to air the words.
“Gabriel Knight.” As if in salute, I heard the lift moving.
Glancing briefly to where the lift doors remained closed, I said, “So, you reckon he’d kill you if you made a move on me?”
“He’d certainly try. Once Gabe has laid down the law, his word is final.”
I released an un-lady-like snort. “Nonsense.”
He shuffled against the seat, his eyes drilling into me. “The message to his friends is that you’re off limits and he doesn’t take well to those who go against him. You live here and so you’re kind of like his territory now. As far as his pack of wolves are concerned anyway. It would be interesting to see how he’d react if you went on that date. He’d probably be jealous as fuck.”
Pushing to my feet, I looked down my nose at him. “Why would he care? He doesn’t like me very much.”
Hearing the lift moving again, Max too pushed to his feet and we stood facing each other over the coffee table. “Gabe doesn’t like many people but liking has nothing to do with it. I think he wants you and is finding it hard to hide it. That’s not good when he’s honing the craft of how to lie to people.”
Stepping around the corner so we were closer, my eyes narrowed. “So, you think lawyers are untrustworthy?”
“Fuck yeah, don’t you?” Max replied, folding his arms over his chest.
I glanced over at the lift doors again, suddenly wanting more time to speak with Max. “I’m not sure. Gabriel is the first one I’ve met.”
“Well, prepare yourself for the unexpected. You’re one of us now Leonie.”
“I suppose I should be pleased, to be part of something,” I said with a shy smile.
The sound of the travelling lift was now deafening. “You’re under Gabriel’s protection but you’ll have to play by his rules. We all do.”
Those words resonated deeply with me, the thought of being protected and belonging to something, to someone, even with Gabriel’s rules.
I thought back to Jamie’s invitation to that rock concert. Maybe I needed to rethink my life and go out on more dates as Max had said. Put myself out there instead of channelling all my energy into dance. Couldn’t I have both; a career and a relationship? At times I felt so lonely and Max’s kind words about me being part of the family had unlocked something within me. I did want to find someone, one day.
“OK, so maybe I’ll accept Jamie’s invitation to a night out?”
“That’s more like it. It will be fun to see Gabriel’s reaction,” Max said with a cheeky wink. I took his words about Gabriel with a pinch of salt.
The lift doors opened and Gabriel strode out with a dark expression, his gaze flicking between us. Considering his hands were full of archive boxes full of paperwork, he moved like a panther, so sure of himself and looked mouth-watering.
I glanced briefly toward him before turning back and asking Max outright, “So, what do I wear to a rock gig?”
“A T-shirt that says I don’t belong here,” Gabriel cut in sarcastically. His face was unimpressed. I watched, feeling distracted as he aggressively dumped one of the archive boxes onto the table and started to impatiently remove folders.
Max and I turned to face him as he unpacked what looked like papers from college, before prowling over.
He came to stand before us and continued to look back and forth between us, suspicion in his gaze.
“Why aren’t you at class?”
“It was cancelled,” I replied in an unusual throaty voice.
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed as he glanced around the apartment.
“And where’s Asher?” he questioned moodily, ignoring Max who stood there like a mountain of male flesh. I saw Max shoot his friend a look; he wasn’t happy at how Gabriel had spoken to me.
Remaining where I was, I explained, “Asher is out with a friend and I stayed home to train today.”
Gabriel replied with a tilt to his chin in his friend”s direction. “What the fuck are you doing here. I said I’d meet you at the bar.”
Talk about hot air. He didn’t give me the chance to ask him how his exam had gone or anything, he just started a row for nothing in front of his friend. Heat flooded my cheeks.
“You said you’d been delayed and so I thought I’d just come here you moody twat. Leonie was keeping me company. Weren’t you sweetheart?” His words were delivered purposefully to needle and it worked as Gabriel’s face became even more like a storm cloud.
“Really? And asking you for fashion tips apparently,” Gabriel sniped.
Max winked at him with a grin, “What can I say? I’m a man of many talents.”
Gabriel rolled his eyes and gave me his full attention. “Why don’t you carry on training in your room Leonie and leave the grownups to talk? Or are you going to a costume party? He said as his attention roamed over my dance gear.
“No, as I said, I was stretching out and watching TV,” I replied, my voice almost a whisper.
“Why the fuck you don’t use the gym is beyond me. I’ve already said you could.”
My brow scrunched, when had he said that?
Those words cut into me and I felt so embarrassed in front of Max but my reply was lost as I struggled to form a sentence.
“Well?” Gabriel said, dropping the bag he was carrying and shrugging out of his jacket. Despite his horribleness, I noticed how fit he looked in the stark white shirt and trousers. He must have decided to dress formally for his exams. Either that or maybe he’d had an interview.
“For fucks sake, go and put some clothes on. I’ve told you about that before,” Gabriel sniped nastily as he straightened the cuffs of his sleeves.
“I’m not indecent, it’s what I dance in,” I explained, attempting to reason with the unreasonable.
“And it’s adorable, as is your poor attempt to stand up to me.”
“What?”
“Did I fucking stutter?” he said rudely.
“Don’t speak to me like that Gabriel,” I said with a crack in my voice.
“You have a problem with how I talk to you?”
“Yes.”
His eyes narrowed, “Well, there’s the door,” he stated, jabbing a finger towards the lift. “Problem solved. I mean it, Leonie, I can see your fucking nipples. You do the maths.”
My mouth dropped open and Max exhaled and then cursed, his nostrils flaring in a God-given-me-strength motion. What he said, however, poured more fuel onto the fire.
“And very nice they are,” he smirked, having recovered from the shock of his friend”s words. I knew he was trying to lighten the mood but it only made it worse.
“Do it, Leonie. Unless you’re purposefully after some action from both of us?”
“Action?” I croaked weakly, folding my arms defensively over my chest. Gabriel took a menacing step forward.
“Yeah, I could do with a threesome after the day I’ve had.”
“Gabe, fuck me. Come on man,” Max interjected, his tone now serious. I certainly didn’t want to cause an argument between them and so I scurried past them both.
“Fine,” I replied meekly. “See you later Max.”
As I moved away, feeling like a pathetic little mouse I heard Max say, “That wasn’t very gentleman like.”
“Say’s Mother fucking Teresa,” Gabriel barked back.
“You’re such a twat.”
“Bite me. I told you she’s off limits.”
“We were talking Gabriel, that’s it. Why I bother attempting to juggle your fucking tantrums is anyone’s guess. Just fuck her and get it out of your system.”
OMG, what did he just say? I slowed my pace but any reply was missed as I rounded the corridor and went to my room with my tail between my legs. Oh, how I wished I owned an invisibility cloak so I could tiptoe over there and listen to what they were saying about me. What? My ears were burning and I was a firm believer in your body”s tells.
Gabriel had clearly had a bad day. Did his attitude suggest that he’d struggled in his exam or was he just pissed off that I was associating with his friends? Who knew, at times the man was like a mystery I would never solve.
Chemistry be damned. Gabriel was mean and nasty and probably got off on being horrible to me; I either had to stand up to him and get a backbone or leave, and out of both of those options, I couldn’t choose either. I was trapped; now I knew what the term between a rock and a hard place meant and Gabriel Knight was both of those.
*****
Despite his black mood that evening after his exam, Gabriel did extremely well and aced his Masters, achieving a distinction (which meant he would be awarded honours with his degree). The results had arrived around two weeks later, although it had been Asher who had told me about it, not Gabriel.
I still hadn’t had the opportunity to congratulate him personally, the right moment had never arisen. I had toyed with the idea of buying him a card and offering to cook us all a celebratory dinner, but he’d been one step ahead of me. Gabriel had made sure he celebrated his success in style, hosting a huge party in one of the local upmarket bars. I’d only found out about it at the last minute from Asher, and so had decided not to go. I did have some pride and was no one’s afterthought.
I remember spending most of that evening limbering up in my room. Asher had texted to say he was staying at Mark’s and Gabriel and Max had come back around midnight drunk. I’d remained in my room; a sober Gabriel was hard enough to deal with so what on earth would the inebriated version look like? It was definitely something I wasn’t prepared to tackle, especially when his giant of a friend was with him. As I had dozed off, falling in and out of sleep, I was sure I’d heard a soft knock on my door but come morning, I imagined I’d dreamt it.
To be honest, the atmosphere between Gabriel and me had become more intense. I had hoped that the awkwardness I felt around him would disappear with time, but it was as present as ever. He continued to act like a bear with a sore head around me. It was like I couldn’t do anything right. If he wasn’t ignoring me, Gabriel was telling me off for something; like he wanted me to hate him.
The day after the infamous ‘threesome’ comment, he’d cornered me in the kitchen and told me to stop flirting with Max.
I had attempted to deflect the heat by complimenting him on his choice of friends which backfired. Gabriel stated that the guys he hung around with were ‘not’ friends, they were associates, ones that he tolerated in small doses. He then contradicted himself later during the conversation (if you can call it that) by telling me to stay away from his ‘friends.’ At that point I decided that Gabriel Knight made his own rules and expected everyone to follow them, irrespective of his hypocrisy.
It was Thursday and I’d received a call from the club to ask if I could cover again for one of the girls who was sick. I was in the process of leaving for work when Gabriel decided to speak to me for what would be the first time that day. Odd really when we’d all been rattling around the apartment, even half-watching a movie together.
“Where are you off to?” he mumbled from the kitchen as I walked past him and Asher. They were in the middle of cooking supper. I stopped and turned toward them. Why he thought he could question my movements was beyond me, especially when he’d ignored me all day.
The smell of something spicy was in the air and my stomach grumbled; I was purposefully watching the calories, needing my body to be ready for the showcase which was now only days away. My stomach ached from the lack of food.
My mouth didn’t appear to be moving as I eyed the pot bubbling on the stove with envious eyes.
“Leonie, don’t ignore me. I asked you a question,” he stated, leaning back against the counter with a spatula in one hand. His angry outburst hit my ears like an insult.
Asher was looking between us with a confused expression at the tension.
“God, you two are doing my head in with your constant bickering. Maybe you should just shag and get it out of your system?” Ash put in, adding a stupid toothy grin that made me want to thump him. Max had suggested the same remedy and I physically recoiled with embarrassment, my mouth opening and closing like a fish.
Gabriel took in my reaction and rolled his eyes, twisting his head to his brother. “Why don’t you shut it and concentrate on the Fettuccine? You know you can’t multitask for shit,” he suggested, handing Asher the spatula.
It felt like a pivotal moment and so I pivoted, trying to sneak away whilst his attention was elsewhere. Although I was partly relieved that Gabriel had at least moved his brother”s comment on quickly.
“Leonie, wait up,” he snapped, stopping me in my tracks and forcing me to turn.
His shrewd gaze pinned me to the spot. “Well?” He was still waiting for an answer.
I so wished he’d leave his split personality at the door. “I’m going to work,” I replied, tightening the belt of my raincoat. It was banging it down outside but I had refused Asher’s suggestion that Marco drive me to the club. I knew the driver was a gossip and didn’t want him to report back where I was working to Gabriel. No doubt he’d have a problem with it.
“Since when did you work?” Gabriel said, pushing off the counter and strolling towards me. He was so graceful for someone so large.
A shiver went up my spine as he got closer. He looked so incredibly manly, even in the kitchen. I imagined he’d be a great cook as it appeared he could turn his hand to anything. I attempted to ignore how good he looked in the pale grey wool sweater and how the material pulled across his broad shoulders.
“Since I got a job,” I replied in a soft voice, attempting to play nice but my words were at odds with my intention.
His lip curled. “Don’t try to be cute, it doesn’t suit you. Where do you work?”
He was standing so close to me, and I could see Asher had turned to stir the large pot of whatever they were having for supper. Ash had offered to feed me earlier but, of course, I was on a strict no-food diet. Not great I know, but it was only for a few more days.
Chewing my bottom lip, I glanced up at him from beneath my lashes. “I work in a bar, serving drinks.”
“You can do better than that. Where?” he bit back, rolling his shoulders as if trying to work out a knot.
I pursed my lips. I didn’t need to lie as I had nothing to be ashamed of. Where did he think I got the money to pay my rent? “A place on the other side of Soho.”
Gabriel slowly shook his head from side to side, “Not good enough, kitten. What’s the bar called?” And my temper which was usually tightly coiled, unravelled at lightning speed.
I toyed with whether to name a totally different bar, but I knew it wasn’t wise. Gabriel was like a walking lie detector test he was that shrewd, so I went with, “Where I work isn’t important, what I do with the money I make so I can pay you, is. Look, I haven’t got time to chat. I have a job as a waitress and that’s all you need to know.” God knew why I appeared to be goading him but I couldn’t help myself.
“What crawled up your arse?” Gabriel shot back with narrowed eyes.
“You actually. Your attitude towards me is starting to get on my nerves.”
He smirked and raised his eyebrows, shooting a glance behind him at Asher who was still furiously stirring the pot, clearly pretending not to listen.
As Gabriel turned back to face me, he scratched his chin thoughtfully. “Fuck me, there actually is a backbone in there. You want to fight me, kitten?” my tormentor said with that snarky twist to his lips. I curled my hands into fists by my sides.
He was giving me emotional whiplash; now appearing impressed that I was answering him back. Talk about mixed messages.
“Talking of bones, you’ve lost weight. Shouldn’t you have something to eat before you go to work?” He delivered the words without any hint that he was concerned or trying to help me and of course he wasn’t; Gabriel Knight didn’t do feelings. Certainly not other people’s anyway.
“We have enough if you want some of what we’re having?” His face was impossible to read but I wasn’t in the mood for a diet lecture.
“Thanks, but I’ll pass. I’m not into chicken nuggets,” I sassed, purposefully labelling Asher’s go-to meal. It was a low blow considering I knew Gabriel’s taste for steak. The other night he sat at the table tucking into a piece of meat the size of my head, served with steamy vegetables. Lean fillet steak and vegetables were a staple diet for most professional dancers as they needed the protein. Being on such a strict diet I’d struggled to not stare at what looked like half a cow, sitting on his plate.
“Funny. You know it’s pasta.”
Not trusting his offer after balling me out for not coming clean about where I worked, I arched a freshly tweezed eyebrow. “Again, too many carbs.”
I made to turn away but Gabriel grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. The skin where his fingers were wrapped fizzed under his touch.
“Fine. But in future, you need to tell us where you’re going. How can we look out for you if we don’t know where you are?” he husked, staring down at me. Gabriel had drawn me closer, still holding me firmly. His breath was warm on my face.
“Asher knows,” I stuttered.
“Not good enough. I need to know.”
I tugged my arm, suddenly confused. “I don’t understand. I’ve been working for the last few weeks and it never bothered you before.”
I was confused and a choked sound left my mouth as he tugged me closer and lowered his face into mine.
“Well, it bothers me now. A girl was attacked at a Tube station the other night. Don’t you read the news?” he stated angrily.
“I, no. I didn’t realise.”
Gabriel’s expression then softened as he pinned me with an intense gaze, his eyes roaming over my face taking in every feature.
There was a clanging sound from behind him which broke that connection as Asher huffed. “Let her go, man, she’s going to be late,” his brother said as our eyes met over Gabriel’s shoulder.
My skin started to tingle at Gabriel’s touch and I lowered my gaze away from the blazing heat in his. After a beat or two, Gabriel released me and I drew a breath of relief into my lungs. I felt his touch everywhere to the point where my nipples had hardened against my top.
Raising my head, I swallowed nervously as he crossed those impressive arms over his chest. How my mouth didn’t water was anyone’s guess. I stood there, eating him up in silence; unable to hide my ogle.
Gabriel’s lip curled into a sneer. “See something you like?” he said.
Heat stung my cheeks and I lowered my gaze to the floor, not knowing what to say. The sharpness in his next words brought my head back up.
“Go on then. Fuck off and earn me some money,” Gabriel sneered with a flick of his head toward the lift. “What time do you finish?”
“After midnight.”
“I’ll send Marco to pick you up,” he informed me.
“No, it’s fine, honestly. I won’t take the Tube, I’ll get a taxi.”
Gabriel stood watching me for a beat longer before he said. “See that you do.”
After a helpless glance at Asher, I put one foot into the other and left the apartment, with a lump the size of London in my throat and confusion flooding my thoughts.