Eva looked beyond Nika’s tense features to scan the bar for Kevin’s friends, offering, “Why don’t you go get your friends and join—”
Her gasp was swallowed up by the music when her searching gaze clashed with a familiar pair of eyes that were currently trained on her.
Gabriel, towering over the people around him. Dark. Utterly commanding.
Excitement bloomed under her skin, making her flushed and hot. How could he do that to her with just a look? she wondered as he said something to the guy beside him—his business partner. Quan was there, too.
She straightened, her lower belly twisting with anticipation as she watched Gabriel approach their table. He wore black pants and a gray summer-knit that had the sleeves pushed up to expose his muscular tattooed forearms. The top two buttons were undone to reveal an obsidian wolf tooth hanging by a chain. His only other adornment was the heavy ring on his thumb and a chunky platinum watch on his left wrist. He was low-key and all the more gorgeous for it.
When he reached her, he didn’t say a word, just extended his hand.
Without thought, she touched her fingers to his palm and was immediately enveloped in his strong grip.
Mmm. Yes. There it was again. That…that…feeling. God, what was that?
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nika and Kevin stop talking, the two of them watching her curiously. She gave Nika’s arm a light squeeze as she passed and took a calming breath as Gabriel steered her to the far edge of the dance floor. But instead of leading her onto it, he continued on and brought her to an empty corner, tucking her into it so that if she wanted to leave, she’d have to go through him to do it.
“I thought we were going to dance.” She gazed up at him, her pulse hammering erratically because her memory of him hadn’t done him justice.
His mouth curved in a sexy half smile. “I have limits. And holding your half-naked body in a crowded club would test them.”
She frowned. “I’m dressed no differently than any other girl here,” she defended.
“You put them all to shame.”
Before she could even think to be flattered by that, he went on.
“But I gotta tell you, you’re showing way too much skin. And while I would enjoy that in private, standing around here watching others do so is…” His mouth tightened and he shook his head once. “It’s enraging, in a word.”
Her eyes widened and she instinctively understood the possessive sentiment. Understood it on a level that reached deep into a place that wasn’t in the least bit familiar to her. It was new and exciting and naughty, but also chilling and scary as hell. Dangerous. To her mind. And heart?
“You know,” she cleared her throat as the sadness that had lived in her mom’s eyes flashed through her mind. “I’m not sure…uh…” She placed her hand on her stomach, suddenly feeling sick. “Maybe we shouldn’t…” She paused as fear erupted inside her.
True fear.
But not of him.
The fear came from what he made her feel. She was helplessness against it. Defenseless.
As if to prove it, Gabriel brought his hand up to cup just below her ear, running his thumb softly along her jaw. When he drew her forward, she went willingly. She fucking went right to him. Couldn’t help it. His other hand landed on her nape before his fingers traced down the length of her back. She swayed into him, lips parting, heat blooming between her legs.
Her response had his eyes blazing and she felt the intense scorch on her skin. “I understand why this makes you wary. But I give you my word that I will honor and respect you as I’ve never done with another. Please trust me on that, Eva.”
Not only taken aback by the archaic reassurance, she was deeply touched that he’d recognized she’d needed to hear it. Butterflies battered her stomach when his gaze lowered to her mouth, because, scared or not, she knew she was going to give in to this. Just for a little while. She’d blame a basic human need to connect with others.
“Um, that’s really sweet.” She pulled back, trying to put some distance between them. “But how do I know you don’t say that to every woman you want to sleep with?”
He cupped the back of her head and bent to her ear again, and she had to put her hands on his waist to keep herself steady in her heels.