Page 1 of Fragile

One

Fragile

adjective

easily broken or damaged

Gabe

There was no doubt about it, Leonie Smith had the power to ruin me.

My body’s immediate reaction to the way she looked pissed me off at first; a sexual pull unlike anything I had ever experienced. Her expression suggested she felt it too, that instant connection, a spark of chemistry that couldn’t be denied.

What the hell? Loss of control equalled weakness, and I was anything but weak. I had never lost control of a situation so quickly, but when I opened the main door of my building, that’s exactly what I did.

Clichéd as fuck I know, but Leonie was one of the most attractive girls I had ever seen. Beautiful, strike that stunning, with pale flawless skin, and a tight little body; every gentle curve crying out to be traced by my fingertips. She possessed a fragile quality that suggested she would bruise if you breathed too heavily over her. The beast within me roared as my darker side kicked in.

Leonie was standing on the doorstep of my father’s apartment complex, a recent acquisition of his; looking up at me with the bluest eyes. They were wide and looked huge in her face; watching me as if I had all the answers. Her white blonde hair fell all around her, like a curtain of silk. Leonie possessed a ripe mouth, a delicate jaw, and a long slender neck. Her nose was small and straight with a smattering of freckles across the surface. Adorable.

She must have noticed my appraisal of her body which was deliciously encased in a tight white top and skinny jeans. I watched her knowingly as she drew the open raincoat around herself and belted it. Looking the way she did, Leonie would be used to male attention and I was surprised she felt the need to cover herself. Her actions suggested I made her nervous and I liked that, it fed the monster in me.

God knows how long I stood there gawking at her like a teenager who had just seen his first pair of tits. Thankfully she spoke, which dragged me back to earth.

“Sorry to bother you, but—is Asher in?” Leonie’s voice was soft and sweet, a dulcet melody which I felt hum across my skin.

From the effect her presence was having on me, I was surprised I could remember my name, let alone my brothers.

“No sorry, he isn’t here,” I replied as my eyes flickered over her. Fuck me, the things I could do to that body.

I didn’t believe in fairytales but that’s what she was, a walking talking one. An ethereal apparition from all your dreams and fantasies rolled into one. Perfect.

Come on Gabe, get a fucking grip and speak instead of staring at her like a dirty old letch.

“Leonie, right?” I said, pointing a finger. It was more of a statement than a question and it encouraged a slight smile. God, she was sweet. Her cat-like eyes were narrowed but she was more like a kitten, one who would purr when you stroked her. My dick twitched.

“Right,” she said in agreement, her face highlighted at the fact that I knew who she was. “And you must be Asher’s brother, Gabriel?”

“The very same, but I prefer, Gabe.” My tone was firmer than I intended but my little brother’s name on her lips annoyed me. Irrational I know.

It was nuts; the level of attraction I felt toward her when we had literally just met was senseless, a head-fuck I had never experienced before. I just hoped she didn’t notice the tent I was now sporting in my jeans.

Managing to put my tongue in gear, I said, “He shouldn’t be long. Do you want to come in and wait?” My offer caused Leonie to glance behind her as if my brother would suddenly materialise.

She took her time to answer which I found intriguing. Those pretty eyes roamed over my frame, taking in my build. She was weighing up whether I was a threat. And I was, she just didn’t know it yet.

“You’ll be quite safe. I don’t bite on Sundays,” I tagged on for reassurance. Leonie shot me a shy look of amusement. She was blatantly uneasy at the thought of us being alone together. Why I gave a shit was beyond me.

Because you want her to come inside.

Leonie worried her lip a moment before answering, “Well—if you don’t mind?”

“Of course not, kitten. Come in,” I replied with a swooping arm gesture, stepping aside to give her space to pass me. Leonie didn’t comment on the nickname which had unintentionally fallen from my mouth.

Her scent as she walked into the lobby of my building was also arousing; it reminded me of strawberries. I noted how small she was, the top of her head sat well beneath my shoulders.

Pushing the door closed, I turned and leaned back against it, my eyes drilling into her back. Leonie moved further into the lobby before twisting to face me again, her eyes darting around the décor of the space.

“You have a lovely hallway. Asher described this place like a building site,” she announced with a cute grin.

---