Gabriel's POVSix months later…"Who's next?" I asked, flipping through paperwork at my desk. The blinds were open, letting sunlight stream into my office. I'd admit that was the biggest thing I'd miss from my humanity—the sun. But I could enjoy the warmth as the high-end glass protected blocked out the rays. My tie was loose around my neck. Still hated the things. That didn't change. My suit jacket thrown on the coat rack behind me. I rolled my sleeves up, gazing over the recently closed cases, and filing them into the proper categories.VampireShifter.Ghost.Demon.Boogeyman.Etc. I'd make a new file if we came across a new type of monster.The scent of strawberries filled my nose as Lucy plopped onto my lap, setting her laptop down to scroll the schedule. I brushed her longer blonde hair over her shoulder, peppering kisses against her throat.When we were human, her pulse would jump, but her reactions were still the same. She'd lean against my mouth, h
A churning stomach.Eyes blurring with tears.My shoulders felt so heavy. So fucking heavy.I wanted to scream but I couldn't get out of my own head. They were in my head. I could hear them. Laughing. Whispering behind closed doors. But I couldn't bring myself to say anything. My boyfriend, Deacon's voice was unmistakable. "Shh, Nova. Don't be too loud. She'll hear us."Followed by the noise of my supposed best friend giggling and sighing. How the fuck was I supposed to look at them right now?Pretend everything was fine?Like I didn't know? I guess I should be angry, but instead, I felt lonely. Empty. The last two people I had in my life betrayed me. I didn't have anyone else. My fingers traced the deep scar marring the side of my face. Maybe I was pretty once upon a time, but Deacon was always fast to point out how I wasn't pretty anymore. How I let myself go after my mother died.I don't know why I held on so tight.My lungs constricted as if I was barely holding on u
Ugh…where am I?My head pounded, blood rushing in my ears. I reached out from under the covers to prod at my temples, rubbing circles in an attempt to offset the discomfort. Blurry flashes from last night occupied my mind.It was all a haze. Sensations of Orion's hands on me, but I couldn't remember his face. All I could remember was how he made me feel. I couldn't imagine his smile but I knew how it pooled warmth in my belly. I couldn't remember what color his eyes were, but I could remember the hunger in his gaze. The predatory desire enveloped me entirely. A wet, hot tongue sliding across my skin. A fire scorched under my skin so hot I didn't know if I could ever put it out. Everything he did just propelled me higher. Made me hungrier.I felt so fucking exquisite. Desired. Wanted.But that was last night. Time to get back to reality. Open my eyes, get dressed and leave. Pretend it never happened. If I talked to him, that would only make this worse. Guilt plagued
My car idled in the parking lot across from The Den of Sin. All day, all I could think about was what really happened last night. How I got home. I didn't remember anything after dancing with Orion. If he was even real. Fuck. I felt like I was losing my mind. I could blame it all on stress, but last night felt so real. My entire body quivered just thinking about it. About how he made me feel. It had to be real. He had to exist. Spending the day driving around, I picked up applications from various places that said: HIRING NOW on their windows. I wasn't dressed for an interview, much less to go clubbing. But damn it, I couldn't get it out of my head. I couldn't get him out of my head.The sun lowered across the horizon, and the club just opened for the night. No one was in line yet, but the same bouncer from last night guarded right outside. I could ask him. Orion said he owned the place. I mean, the man took me upstairs…I think. Surely the bouncer would know the owner.
"Four businesses down. Two more left," I murmured to myself as I left the last cafe. Next on the list was a corner diner and I hoped they were short-staffed enough to hire me. The girl with the fucked up face.But that wouldn't stop me. Not today. I was determined to get a job. I didn't care what it was, I'd work my ass off regardless. I'd been waitressing before. Not my favorite, but I'd do what I needed to.Rolling my shoulders, I turned the wheel and pulled beside a parking meter about a block away from the diner. Not too bad considering parking in LA was a fucking endeavor. As confused as I felt when I woke up, very much alive, I also felt fucking spectacular. My eyes flew open at five o'clock in the morning, completely rested, still dressed in my pajamas. Tucked under the covers like I was when I fell asleep that night. Confidence poured off me as I dressed nicely to make a nice first impression. Cute but comfortable kitten heels, a flattering blazer, and a flared ski
A heaviness settled over my body as I curled up in bed. I sought escape. To forget about the events of that afternoon. The humiliation I felt when Deacon showed up at my place of work and dug into me. I would rather he just hit me instead of playing with me. But I didn't know how to play the game because he held the rulebook over me. Laughing behind my back when I didn't understand something. It was always more fun for him when there was an audience."So you live," A silky smooth voice greeted me. "Fascinating."Instantly, excitement flooded through my veins. Heating like liquid fire.Orion.The invisible weight over me vanished, allowing me to open my eyes. My mouth felt dry, a hunger churning in my belly. My core clenched in anticipation. An ache I needed to have filled. His bright amber eyes met mine, the dull light of the moon the only illumination.Arms folded over his chest, shirt unbuttoned down the middle, sleeves rolled up to reveal strong golden arms. Veins bulge
Like the previous day, I felt amazing. Free from pain. Delightfully sated in a way I couldn't explain. But this time, I could remember everything. I scrambled out of bed, my nightshirt torn down the middle.Holy shit. I threw my messy hair to the side, seeing an angry red lovebite adorning my skin. My skin tingled as my fingers brushed the mark. Heat pooled between my legs. He marked me.It happened. Last night really happened.Every little detail of my dreams. The delicious stretch of Orion…or whatever his name actually was… filled me to the brim with his cock. The burn of the carpet against my back. The predatory gaze. His hunger and how mine mirrored his.I couldn't get enough of him. The taste of his lips. The buzzing adrenaline flooded with power. I never knew what power tasted like before I kissed him. Felt his tongue twist with mine in a sinful dance.His body was imprinted in my mind so I would see him every time I closed my eyes. His gorgeous strong features.
"Leave me alone," I whispered, pulling my face away from his inviting hands. I must look so pathetic. I didn't want anyone to see me like this. But the tears didn't subside. And neither did he.Orion tipped his head to the side, kneeling on the floor beside me. His mouth was set into a slight frown, but it wasn't directed at me. My eyes helplessly darted past him to the wall where I heard Nova's bed frame slam repeatedly against the wall earlier.He turned to where I was looking, then slowly back to me again. "Does that hurt you?""What the fuck do you think?" I snapped before I could stop myself. My fingers touched my lips in shock. "I-I'm…sorry. I—"He lifted his finger to his lips, the side of his mouth ticking upwards into a salacious dimpled smirk. My belly coiled. "Don't apologize, Adira. I like it when you spit fire. Perhaps there's something under all that self-pity." He glanced back at the wall. "If it makes you feel any better, it's not love.""How would you know