"Oh,I am real good at spotting the touch of sadness in fellow debtors eyes."He smiled widely as his eyes boldly drifted down her body.
Salenecouldn't lie to herself and say that the attention didn't feel good. Maybe itwas the new breast size or the extra dose of confidence running through her,she couldn't be sure, but the extra attention male her feel great.
"Wellyou're spot on because I am in the middle of paying off my last loan, and it'sbleeding me dry." Just thinking about that extra money going out eachmonth hurt.
Smilinghe put his arm on the display rack next to her leaning casually on it. Did heget closer? Salene wasn't sure, but he definitely seemed a little closer thanbefore.
"SoI was wondering would you…" He was leaning forward asking her somethingwhen Salene felt the presence.
Turningher head Salene was a little surprised to see Gabriel standing stoically at theend of the aisle. Looking at his hand, she saw he was carrying a simple navyblue paper bag with the store's gold emblem on it.
"Oh,are you ready?" Already walking towards the silent man.
Gabrielsaid nothing as he looked over her head giving an unreadable look before takingher hand and walking out. Salene didn't get a chance to wave bye to the clerk,with the pace Gabriel set they were half way up the escalator by the time sheremembered.
"Gabrielwhat's…" Salene was cut off asking him what was wrong by the chipperattendant that greeted them as they entered the lingerie shop.
"Hithere how may I be of assistance?" The tiny redhead was super cute with alarge smile. Her outfit, like the other attendants Salene spied, matched thestore's decor perfectly. Wearing a deep blood red faux corset with black laceaccents and a black mini-skirt she ushered Salene to the private measuring arealeaving Gabriel by himself on the red couch.
Thestore was very dark due to the red and black walls, it actually reminded Saleneof a vampire sex layer rather than a lingerie boutique. The measuring took hermind off Gabriel's odd behavior after telling Corrine, the girl helping, abouther reduction surgery Corrine seemed even more excited to pick out options forher to try. Stepping out of the private measuring area Salene spotted Gabrielspeaking to another attendant.
"Okay,here you are," Corrine handed her a black velvet hangar holding multiplebras. "Just follow me to the changing rooms."
Salenefollowed the petite girl down an even darker back hallway that was lit withfaux gas lamps. Pausing ahead of her Corrine held her hand over her headset,listening to the voice on the other end before walking again.
"Okay,actually I'm going to put you just a little bit further back in ourmore…luxurious rooms." There was a slight giggle to her tone that confusedSalene.
Unlockingthe door, she showed Salene into the large dressing area. The room was aboutthree sizes larger than any dressing room she had ever seen. There was a largecomfy looking chase on one side and a little black lacquer cabinet on theother. In the middle, there was a large three-panel mirror that had an odd barrunning horizontally in the middle. Which seemed odd since it sort of hindered thefull-length view a bit. Salene could only assume it was for accessibilitypurposes or something.
"Rightthis way Sir." Corrine held the door open for Gabriel as he steppedthrough into the intimate room. "Just push the button here if you needanything else."
Thesound of the door clicking shut seemed to echo around her amidst the silence.Sitting on the chase, Gabriel leaned his elbows on his knees and rested hischin on his laced fingers. Salene reminded herself she shouldn't feelself-conscious to try on bras in front of the man considering he has seen—andtasted everything. Turning towards the large multi-directional mirror Salenepulled her shirt untucked from her green print A-line skirt. The silentobservation was making her grow anxious with each passing second.
Layingher shirt on the nearby cabinet Salene reached behind her to unclasp her bra,not able to take the pressing silence she spoke up. "Gabriel, what isgoing on, why are you not talking?"
"Donot play innocent with me Salene," his voice held none of the warmth ithad earlier. "You know very well why I’m pissed."
Foldingher arms over her exposed bra Salene turned to look at him directly."Please don't tell me you are angry I was talking to that kiddownstairs?"
Sittingup straight in his seat Gabriel narrowed his gaze at her. "Salene,"he said warning really. "I'm not the type of man that will tolerateflirting. Trying to make me jealous will not end well."
Nowshe was pissed.
Steppingforward in her sandals, skirt, and bra Salene looked down at him with awithering look. "First of all Gabriel," mimicking the way he said hername before," I was not flirting, and more importantly I think you areforgetting I am not the type of woman to take threats."
Standingup to his full height it forced Salene to take a couple of steps back. Still,with her arms folded over her bra, Salene tried to remain calm despite thetrickle of nervous awareness that crawled into her mind. A ghost of a smileappeared and vanished as he observed her quietly.
"Yousay you weren't flirting, but I've never heard you laugh so much and so fake atthat."
Theaccusation felt like a slap to her pride, inner warning bells went off as shecalculated her next words. Everything told her not to provoke the man in frontof her, especially considering his dangerous mood but she would be damned ifshe would stand here and take his accusations.
Liftingher chin she gave him her frostiest smile, she could practically feel his wholebody tense to stone in response.
"MyGod, do you even hear yourself? Again I was not flirting nor trying to make youjealous with that kid," she emphasized the word kid. "You wereprobably just not eavesdropping very well since we were talking about somethingyou could relate to anyway."
Saleneregretted the haughty tone she took. Gabriel's eyes widened slightly as he gaveher an even colder mean smile to match hers. "And what could I not relateto sweetheart?" The endearment sounded like more a curse rather thanaffectionate.
Regrettinggoing down this path in her argument Salene had no choice to boldly continue.One simply cannot show weakness to a predator like Gabriel—he would onlyconsume you.
