Page 49 of Fragile

“She’s OK—but she has nothing on you,” Gabriel said softly, his eyes roaming appreciatively over me. He spoke in code but I knew what he meant. My insides ignited at the compliment, especially as he sounded so sincere.

The need for him to say more nice things stirred in my belly. I was desperate for him to repeat himself, and shower me with praise. “What did you say?”

Heat stung my cheeks as Gabriel shut me down with, “You heard.” His lips inched into an amused, knowing smile.

Lowering my eyes, I swallowed before lifting my chin with a grin, “Thank you I guess.”

“You blush like a schoolgirl.” Gabriel’s brow threaded as he tilted his head to one side. “Surely you know the power you have over men?”

“Not really,” I replied, a twinge of nerves fluttering in my gut.

Gabriel leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table, “And that only makes you more appealing.”

Now we were getting somewhere and the nerves started to dissolve as my confidence was stoked. “So, you admit you’re attracted to me.” I watched him from beneath my lashes as I started to enjoy myself.

He steepled his fingers before arching an eyebrow, “Of course. I’m neither blind nor dead.” The way he said that sentence forced another surge of pleasure to hum through my body. I ate him up with my eyes. My gosh, he was sinfully good-looking, even with that faint scar which only added to his looks.

Regarding him thoughtfully, I clasped my hands together. “Which brings me back to my question of why you are helping me.”

His next words were drawn out; the deep timber of his voice rolling across my bones, “Why do you think?” My heart skipped a beat.

I desperately tried to stop the palpitations thumping through my chest. Dashing a hand across my hot cheeks I replied, “I guess if you find me attractive, it has something to do with that?”

Gabriel shot me a mock wounded look, dropping his arms and placing a hand flat against his chest, his posture softened, “Can’t I just be helping you out of the goodness of my heart?”

“No. You already told me you don’t have one,” I pointed out, recalling that he reminded me of that on several occasions.

Gabriel lowered his arms to the table again, his eyes drilling into mine across the space, “I think we both know which part of my anatomy is the driving force behind any of my good deeds, Leonie.”

I watched through eyelids which now felt quite heavy as he raised one hand and ran his thumb across his bottom lip, his face full of contemplation.

My spirits sank slightly. Squaring my shoulders, I attempted to make my tone as firm as possible, “So to show my appreciation, you think I’m going to sleep with you? What if I don’t find you attractive,” I stated tartly.

This caused him to lower his hand, the renewed grin on his face emphasised his masculine features as his eyes glistened with a sexual challenge, “I think we both know that you do. Actions speak louder than words. You know that.”

My brow threaded but I managed to make my mouth move; one of us had to bring it up again, “You mean when you kissed me?”

His lips curled sardonically and he shook his head slowly, his gaze forceful, “No. When you were eye-fucking me in the car.”

My mouth made an O, but no sound came out so I cleared my throat nervously. “It’s never going to happen Gabriel.”

He rolled his massive shoulders before leaning back in his chair and saying, “We’ll see.”

The confidence in his tone was unbending, power bleeding from every pore. And with those two words came a feeling of weakness. If this man decided to turn on the charm and seduce me, how could I fight it? Even before that kiss, my body craved his touch. But I had to be strong and fight the attraction. Any chink I showed to him would make me vulnerable, something he would no doubt exploit. Gabriel had probably broken many hearts, but I couldn’t allow mine to be next. I wasn’t ignorant, I recognised that I had started to develop feelings for him, but loving someone like Gabriel Knight would surely be like a death sentence. Something I had to avoid at all costs.

I jumped slightly as the annoying waitress appeared with our drinks. She placed the glasses out neatly, her gaze only wavering from the hunk sitting opposite me so she didn’t spill anything. It was a good thing she didn’t hang around long; at least her ovaries would remain intact. Another hint of jealousy forced me to pick my glass up and take in a mouthful.

“Easy. That’s a strong drink you little lush; a fourteen percenter,” Gabriel said with a quirk of his head. I knew he was teasing and I lowered my wine glass and watched him over the rim.

“You ordered for me, remember,” I explained with an unimpressed look.

“You’re supposed to sip it, roll it around your mouth and then swallow,” he pointed out with a grin.

He was so much classier and worldly-wise than me, making me feel very much like the school girl he’d accused me of being.

Our gazes remained locked as we sat in silence until a different waitress appeared with our food. I wondered where the other one was, probably playing with herself in the toilet. I shook off the out-of-character thought. The steak looked amazing and my stomach growled its delight.

As we tucked into our food, the atmosphere slowly shifted, almost like a truce had fallen between us, one that I so hoped would last. Gabriel was so much easier to talk to when he wasn’t being purposefully angsty. The way he ate was mesmerizingly slow and sultry, that movement of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed stirring something inside me. It was unique as most men I knew ate so fast, almost inhaling their food.

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