taking up what was left of the bench, then handed over her purse.
She didn’t appreciate the dismissive tone, but she let a beat pass as she tucked away a strand of hair that had escaped her updo. “Yes. Why won’t you tell me?” she pressed.
“Because you really don’t want to know.”
Annoying. “Were those other guys also a part of your security?”
“One of them. The other is the business partner I mentioned earlier, as well as one of my closest friends. They’re all friends, really.”
“One was Russian,” she mused distractedly, shivering as paranoia came out of nowhere. “How…how did you know…I mean, did you know…” She struggled, not sure how to ask what she wanted without sounding conceited or weird. “How did you come to be out here in time to stop that guy?” Were you watching me from the shadows? “Were you in an office? Did you see what was happening on a monitor or something?”
“I was making a call in the solarium.” He nodded to an enclosed area about fifty feet to their right that showcased an abundance of plant life surrounding a large waterfall. “Quan spotted you through the window.”
Oh. Well, that was a simple enough explanation. But with everything going on lately, she forgave herself for being suspicious. “Sorry. I’m just spooked. That guy said he had a message for me. I wonder what he meant.” She was rubbing away the goosebumps that popped up on her arms when she felt the gentle brush of Gabriel’s knuckles across her jaw. She lifted her eyes and their gazes locked.
“Don’t be afraid, Eva. I won’t allow anyone to hurt you.”
As her heart rate kicked to life, he dropped his hand, and then his eyes, severing the connection.
Rattled to the core, she tried to think of something—other than You’re my hero—to say. “Are you someone important?” was all she came up with as she fidgeted with the clasp on her clutch.
“Why would you ask that?”
“Regular people don’t have private security following them around.”
“Hmm. I’m no one of any importance. Big money brings out parasites who want a cut but are too lazy to work for it. I have guys to take care of them if they bother me. Why were you crying earlier?”
So he’d seen that through the window, too. She shrugged. “I was talking with my mom’s friends. I guess seeing them made me emotional. I’m getting better,” she reassured him in case he thought she was about to fall apart. “But it’s still hard.”
“Of course it is, sweetheart. Don’t rush your grief. It’ll get easier, as everything does, and you’ll come out okay on the other side.”
She melted, appreciating the supportive words more than he’d ever know. She placed her hand on his forearm. “Thank you, Gabriel. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t come out when you did.”
He straightened, charging the energy between them in the blink of an eye when the movement brought their faces close enough for her to feel the warmth of his breath. “It was my pleasure.”
God, he was really beautiful. Sexy. And charming. Powerful. Would he taste as good as he smelled? she wondered, unable to prevent her gaze from landing on his mouth.
Her breath caught.
His head…
It was coming down…
He paused, as though giving her time. Time she didn’t need or want. She was ready.
When he continued to hesitate, she gave in to the pull and closed the distance. The moment their lips met, Gabriel made a rough sound and she felt his fingers slide into the hair at her nape. Using the hold, he took control by tipping her head, deepening the kiss by bringing his other hand up to cup her jaw. Using a slight pressure from his thumb on her chin, he opened her so that his tongue could invade in a deep, wet sweep she felt throughout her entire body.
Holy…shit.
The foundation of Eva’s world shook, so much meaningless shit crumbling and falling around her. When the tremors faded, a disturbing sense of rightness was left behind to spread through her as this man she barely knew ravaged her mouth with a skill she should probably want to slap his face for having. But, no. She accepted it, gave in to it, to him, and savored the softness of his lips. His firm, controlling hand. His absolute confidence in his actions. And that…that sound he’d just made. Like a low growl, it thrilled her into moaning a response into his mouth.