Dominion (Guardian Angels) - By Melody Manful Page 0,25
were you,” he said, placing the card on the table.
“Don’t count on it,” Doreen said in her sexy voice—the one I’d heard her use whenever she wanted something from someone. “I’ll see you around.”
“I hope not,” Gideon answered, and although I couldn’t see Doreen’s expression, I was sure she was surprised and maybe a little embarrassed.
“They always come around,” Doreen said and then turned and walked out the door.
“What a jerk,” I mumbled as I collected my things.
“Now, Miss Cells, that’s a bit judgmental, don’t you think?”
At the sound of Gideon’s voice, I froze. I didn’t know when he got there, but Gideon now stood directly beside me. I had been a good four seats away from him. Breathe in, breathe out—I thought I might collapse. Maybe if I closed my eyes and prayed really hard, a meteor would crash into Earth. Worst-case scenario, but it would be the best thing that could happen to me given the situation.
“Do you have a sight problem?” he asked, and then without warning, he sat down beside me.
“Excuse me?”
“It seems, Miss Cells, that you have a hearing problem, too,” he said as he took my history book from the table.
“I don’t have a hearing problem, and there’s nothing wrong with my eyes.” I was going to apologize for calling him a jerk, but he could just forget it.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “You did run into me.” He opened my book and started flipping lazily through the pages.
“I was—” I decided to leave the pee thing out of it.
“Go on, I’m listening,” he said, his eyes focusing on the contents of the history book.
I had no idea how I went from wanting him to disappear to talking with him. Now I wished I had only thought he was a jerk rather than saying it out loud. “I was—”
“On second thought, don’t tell me,” he cut me off.
“You don’t have to be rude,” I replied, snatching my book away from him. I stood. I didn’t want to go outside and have people stare at me, but if it meant I’d be away from Gideon, I’d take it.
He stood, too. “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that I’m not—”
“Used to thinking before you speak?” I finished for him, feeling a surge of confidence.
He smiled. “No, I was going to say not used to human conversations.”
“Human conversations?” I asked. What the hell was that supposed to mean? “I’m pretty sure non-human creatures have brains, too.” I shoved my books into my bag.
“I know what this is,” he said as I shoved my laptop into my bag. “You’re angry.” He dangled my notebook in front of me.
“What gave that away?” I snapped.
“Your heartbeat.”
I wasn’t expecting that answer.
“So, where are you taking me?” Gideon asked, a cocky smile playing on his lips. “I figured since you bumped into me, you owe me a tour.”
“I’m pretty sure I heard Doreen offering to take you.”
“Eavesdropping doesn’t suit you, Miss Cells.” He handed me my notebook.
“Abigail,” I corrected. “And I wasn’t…” Suddenly I couldn’t breathe because he stepped closer toward me.
“Abigail.” Gideon leaned toward me. My heart started thumping. “Breathe,” he whispered, and then he proceeded to tuck a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.
The sound of him speaking my name was alluring. My name on his lips brought with it an accent I hadn’t heard before, making the name itself seem intimate and special, as though on his lips it made sense. Come back to Earth, Abigail!
“I…I can’t take you on a tour.” I turned away from him and untucked my hair from behind my ear in an attempt to hide my face. I glanced up at Mr. Bernard, but he stared at a book in his hands. His focus was lost on us.
“Why not, Abigail?” Gideon asked.
I zipped my bag. “Because,” I breathed out, shaking off my sudden shivers, “I’m trying to avoid going outside, and you’re…” A stranger. A jerk. Scary. All of the above.
“That doesn’t sound like enough of a reason,” Even though I was kind of annoyed at him, I wasn’t completely immune to his charm. “Come on, it won’t take long.”
“I just…” I just can’t because you freak me out. “I’d like to give you a tour, but frankly, you’re kind of a jerk.”
He sat on the table. “Heard that this morning.”
“And arrogant.”
“My middle name.” He smirked, making my heart jump.
“Are you a serial killer?” I asked without thinking. His smile quickly disappeared before returning with less enthusiasm.