Page 3 of Fragile

Ash spoke about his older brother like he was some type of God. And now I knew why. He had that leadership quality and he was huge—big and imposing, his massive chest and athletic body suggesting he spent a huge amount of his time at the gym. When he wasn’t studying, of course. Ash said that his brother was at Law School and worked like a maniac.

Drop-dead gorgeous is how you would describe him. With a chiselled handsome face; the only flaw, if you could call it that, was a thin white scar which ran through his eyebrow. He looked more like a male model than a student. I so hoped my mouth wasn’t hanging open. The way he had leaned against the door as I had spoken to Ash looked like he was posing for a photo shoot.

“I take it he’s on his way back,” he said, speaking at last. His voice was a deep, rich rumble that vibrated across my skin like a caress. He sounded nothing like his younger brother.

My body continued to tremble. I wasn’t sure if it was due to the coldness of the lobby or the nervous knots that twisted in my belly.

Pursing my lips, I nodded. “Yes, he’ll be around ten minutes?” My reply was initially fine until I ruined it by muttering, “I must say you don’t look anything like I thought you would.” Where the heck did that come from?

He frowned, those jet-black brows of his coming together as he stared down at me with an unreadable expression. “And what did you think I’d look like?”

I swallowed, cursing my rudeness but I replied honestly. “I don’t know—Angelic—I suppose?”

The furrow left his brow and his mouth twisted into a lopsided smile; those deep dark pools of his eyes glittering at me.

“I can assure you there’s nothing angelic about me, kitten. In looks or temperament.” His voice had taken on a sharpness, his amusement at my description fading with his reply.

I ignored the pet name he delivered with such smoothness, shivering as his eyes roamed over me. Gabriel opened his mouth to speak but I cut in with, “Asher said to meet him upstairs?”

He shrugged his massive shoulders. “Let’s head up then,” he replied, motioning towards the lift before shoving his hands into the pockets of his well-worn jeans.

“Thank you.”

I turned and walked over to the large silver doors, pressing the call button. I was in the grandest lobby I had ever been in. My ballet flats made no sound against the polished tiles which were printed with a grey and white damask design. The walls were neutral and a large posh light fitting hung above us. It appeared there were two lifts and a door to access the stairs. I wondered what floor their property was on. The penthouse no doubt.

My breath caught in my throat as Gabriel came to stand beside me.

“Asher has told me all about the apartment. It sounds amazing,” I said, wanting to fill the silence. Complimenting him was also tactical. I was there to view their spare room in the hope of renting it from them. I didn’t say that though, as I wasn’t sure if Asher had asked his brother about me staying with them yet.

“It’s not bad,” Gabriel replied in a bland voice. Not bad? The lobby was grander than anywhere I had ever stepped. No doubt he’d be used to luxury, coming from a wealthy family.

“I take it you’re here to see our spare room?”

I tilted my head as he came to stand beside me. So, Asher had told him.

Our eyes tangled briefly as the small screen to state which floor the lift was on counted down. Gabriel looked every bit like the lord and master he was, irrespective of the building being his father’s. I was aware from Ash that his dad owned the entire block and the Knight brothers were currently the only occupants.

“He says you need somewhere to stay temporarily?”

“Yes, that’s right?” I replied, smoothing my hair back over my shoulders. I needed something to do with my hands and so I pushed them into the pockets of my coat. Gabriel was only wearing faded jeans and a black ACDC tee, but he looked as fit as hell without one hair out of place. I felt shabby in comparison, in my ripped skinny jeans and belted raincoat. I had bought it from a charity shop the other week and the coat was well worn, it probably wasn’t even waterproof anymore.

Gabriel cleared his throat, making me jump as he said, “Surely you could just stay in my brother’s room with him?”

My heart leapt in my chest at such a personal comment. He thought Asher and I were sleeping together which was so not the case; would never be the case bearing in mind his brother's sexual orientation. But of course, Gabriel didn’t know that. And was not to know, that was why my friend had created the ploy of us being together. The guilt of that lie sat heavier in my stomach now that I had met this man in person. If he questioned me about my relationship with Asher, he’d probably see straight through me. I wasn’t well practised with deceit.

When I didn’t reply immediately, he prompted, “Well?”

I found my tongue which had cemented itself to the roof of my mouth. “No, definitely not. It’s not like that—,” I stuttered, my cheeks stinging as my stunned eyes locked with his penetrative ones. It was like he was trying to see inside me, take over my thoughts and steal my secrets.

The lift appeared and he waited for me to enter the space first. So, there was a gentleman in there somewhere. I watched as he entered a code into a number panel above the buttons for all floors. There were eight in total.

“What does that mean, it’s not like that?” Gabriel questioned, slightly mimicking my voice.

“I mean, we’re not at that stage yet.” The words felt uncomfortable as they left my mouth.

The lift doors slid closed, trapping us together in that tight area. My pulse took off as he turned to face me, forcing me to do the same. What he said next, was even more shocking.

“So, you’re saying, you and Asher are not at the fucking stage yet?” he commented with a smirk.

---