Gabriel held me effortlessly as though I weighed nothing at all. “Well, now you’ve been rescued, or rather, returned for a refund, what can I do for you?”
I paused and considered some things I’d like him to do, but I resisted enlightening him.
I hopped down and shivered as I removed my jacket. “Tea…!”
ELEVEN
ONE CUP OF TEA and several chocolate cookies later, I lay my head in Gabriel’s lap, my tangled hair covering my face. My boots were strewn by the side of the sofa, and I felt myself drifting off.
Sweetly playing with the curls at the ends of my hair, Gabriel proceeded to stroke the length of my arm, finally circling his fingers inside my palm. I was only dozing, yet I was very aware of his hands and what they were finding.
Lightly, he undid the top few buttons at the back of my blouse. He rested his hand on my shoulder, holding it there tentatively before running it around to just under the left side of my neck. Moving aside my crystal ring, which was dangling at the bottom of the cold chain, he spread his whole hand out.
I realized then that he was searching for my pulse. I was worried that he would feel it beating at a hundred miles an hour as his skin touched mine.
I tried to think of anything else, but no amount of distracting thoughts could stop my heart from thudding against my chest at his touch.
“Your heart’s racing,” he whispered in my ear, gradually moving his hand to my head. I guessed he was checking that I was feeling all right.
Nervously I sat up, relocating his hand away from my forehead down to my waist, and—caught in the moment—I released a few buttons from the top of his crisp shirt.
Fluttering my eyelids closed I placed my hand over his chest in return. He wrapped his hand over the top of mine, pressing it down more firmly. It was like his soul was enveloped around me tightly, and I imagined cupping his light, watching his purity dance in the palm of my hand.
“So is yours,” I murmured back, keeping my eyes shut.
As the dancing light subsided from my mind, I repositioned his shirt back together and returned to my dozing position. Now content, I began to nap.
* * *
I WAS RELUCTANTLY WOKEN AN HOUR LATER. As I stirred, Gabriel informed me that he had to leave with Michael to “see to something.”
“There’s fresh food in the fridge if you want some supper, and plenty of milk and tea,” he said as he paced toward the door, with an edgy-looking Michael in tow.
There was something about Michael I didn’t like, something that wasn’t quite right. Gabriel had told me that he was important; his connection was the deepest and freshest with a Pureblood. He could detect changes in his Gualtiero’s behavior, such as his moods, and apparently being in this position made him an asset; however I couldn’t help but think that our best asset was also our Achilles’ heel. Michael was the most recent Vampire in the group to have been separated from his Gualtiero and clan. Gabriel hadn’t spent long guiding him back to some form of humanity, and I had a bad feeling about Gabriel being alone with him.
Just as Gabriel and Michael reached the doorway, I shouted, “Why don’t I come with you? I might be useful?” I tried to stop my suggestion from sounding like a plea.
Gabriel turned to me and smiled. “No, you stay here, curl up with a good book and rest. Michael and I will be fine, won’t we?”
Standing behind Gabriel, Michael half turned in my direction, making sure Gabriel could see his enthusiastic thumbs-up to me, with a sweet smile spread wide across his face.
But as Gabriel walked through the door, Michael’s grin fell away and he stared at me with a blank expression, and in a low murmur said, “As Gabriel said, enjoy your time.… I’m sure we’ll find a use for you soon enough.”
A shiver made its way up my spine, and as Michael followed Gabriel through the hallway, I paced after them.
“Gabriel, I really think you could do with another pair of hands. If you won’t take me, at least have Ruadhan go with you? His are strong and, well, Irish—you always need a pair of those!”
Just then, Hanora appeared. Bumping me out of the way, she started trailing them, swishing her perfect hair as she went. “I couldn’t agree with you more, but it’s mine he needs. Don’t worry, I’ll look after him, I always do,” she shouted down the hall back to where I was now standing still.
I wasn’t sure if that was worse, but at least if she was there he wouldn’t be alone with Michael. I tried to make myself feel happier about it. The sinister undertone in Michael’s words only made me feel more wary and suspicious of him.
As the front door slammed shut, Ruadhan appeared, a book in his hand. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“Yeah. I wanted to go out with Gabriel, but he’s taken Michael and Hanora with him instead.”
“Business,” Ruadhan said. “Best for you to stay here, where I can keep an eye on you. It’s not safe out there.”
“Do you know where they’re going? What they’re doing?” I asked.
Ruadhan shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “As I said, business. Nothing for you to worry about. You’ll stay indoors, maybe get an early night?” he suggested.
“Doesn’t seem like I have a lot of choice in the matter.” I forced a smile.
“I’ll be in the study if you need anything.” Ruadhan went to leave, but then hesitated.
He stepped closer, and to my surprise brought me in to his chest for a hug. Awkwardly, I returned it, and he kissed the top of my head and said, “Night, love.”
I didn’t want to go to bed yet, so I decided to stay occupied by raiding the fridge.
It was a huge fridge/freezer, which was ludicrous given that until now it had probably never been used.
Gabriel had stocked it well for me. There was an abundance of yummy things to eat: eggs, cheese, pizza, chicken, fruit juices. I wasn’t hungry, but I needed to busy my hands, so I decided to make a sandwich. I placed the bag of green shredded lettuce, together with the cucumber, tomatoes, precooked chicken, and bread on the counter next to the sink and went about washing the vegetables in a colander. To draw out the process, I chopped the lettuce into smaller pieces, placing it neatly into a clear glass bowl.
“Hey, Cessie.” Jonah’s voice traveled from the entrance of the kitchen.
I swiveled around. “Hi, you all right?” I replied.