I glanced up to find his eyes open, almost black now as he stared at me, hunger written all over his face. “I do want you.”
I’d never stopped.
Even when I hated him for what I thought he’d done, I still wanted him as much as I ever had. I think I’d hated him even more for making me feel like that. But I’d been wrong, and with that realisation, my reasons for denying this, denying us, were slipping away faster than I could hang onto them.
He hadn’t told me the whole truth.
But then, I hadn’t told him either.
You still haven’t.
“Go home, Rys.” He leant towards me as he spoke, only catching himself when he realised what he was doing. I wanted to tug him into my arms, remind him of how good we were together, but I kept my hands to myself.
“Okay.”
His eyes widened, as though surprised that I gave in so easily.
I cocked a brow. “Were you expecting me to force my way in? I know it’s been a while, but I thought you knew me better than that.”
“I do, sorry.” He bit his lip, and I curled my hands into fists to keep from reaching up to tug it away from his teeth.
With every ounce of will I possessed, I took a step back. “Goodnight, Gabriel.” Now that I’d let myself accept that I wanted him, it hurt to walk away. A physical ache behind my ribs that made my breath catch.
But I would never force him to do anything. I’d meant that.
I turned to leave, feet heavy on the pathway.
“Wait.”
That one word had my heartbeat stuttering before setting off at a gallop, anticipation licking through my veins like fire. It wasn’t the word itself, but the way he’d said it. Desperation and need calling out to me and making me spin round to face him.
He stood back from the doorway, making space for me. “Come in.”
“Are you sure?” I wanted to go in there more than anything, but I needed him to understand what this meant for me. “I don’t want to just talk.”
The seconds it took for him to reply seemed to last hours, but I watched the emotions play out on his face, caught the faint scent of arousal, and when he whispered, “I don’t either,” I knew he meant it.
I stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind me, and backed Gabriel against the wall in the small hallway. Caging him in with my hands either side of his head, I did what I’d been longing to for days and ducked, skimming my nose along the base of his throat.
He shuddered, breaths turning ragged as I kissed a trail up the side of his neck.
“I thought you hated me?” he whispered, head falling back against the wall.
“I did.” I nipped along his jaw, the faint hint of stubble rough against my lips. “But that was before.”When I thought you’d killed that day in the forest.
Gabriel tensed. “And now?”
I leant closer, lips brushing his ear. “I don’t know.” Pulling back, I met his gaze, needing to look in his eyes as we had this conversation. “But I can’t stay away from you any longer.” Seeing him now, in the shadows of his hallway, I don’t know how I ever thought he was human. Hair obsidian-black, high cheekbones and a sharp jaw, and eyes that appeared almost violet as I lost myself in them. Yes, Gabriel Mason was beautiful, but he had an ethereal quality that screamed fae.
How had I not seen it before?
“I don’t want you to.” He swallowed and I traced a thumb over his throat, following the movement. “I never did.”
Sinking a hand into his hair, I tugged him close until our lips brushed. “I’m sorry I left without letting you explain.”
He wrapped his hands around my waist and pulled my hips into him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the truth. About everything.”
It was the perfect opportunity.
