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Downstairs, the driver is waiting in front of the black sedan. He’s wearing a black suit and hat, holding my door open for me. He introduces himself as Paul, and I recognize him from the first day I crashed into Gabriel.
The ride to Gabriel’s Apartment is surprisingly quick for the city, only about twenty minutes. I guess it’s probably practical to live so close to his workplace. His apartment is, as I imagined, in another high rise building. Paul the driver escorts me to the elevator and punches in the code for me before gracefully exiting the lift and leaving me to ascend on my own.
A couple minutes later, the doors open into a hallway and I walk to his door. I take a deep breath, knocking quietly. A moment later Gabriel appears, looking sexy as hell. He seems relaxed with a white V-neck tee and loose black pants. Part of my dirty imagination wonders how quickly those clothes could come off.
Once I’m inside, he pulls me into his arms without hesitation, smashing my lips to his. His hands clasp my cheeks as he gives me a hungry and passionate kiss, leaving me gasping for air by the time he pulls away. He takes a step back with a bewildered look on his face as if even he is surprised by his overly warm greeting towards me.
He holds me at arm’s length, examining my body from head to toe.
“God, Victoria,” he groans. “You and these outfits, they are so fucking sexy.”
I break eye contact, feeling shy under his appraisal. I can’t tell if he’s being genuine or just trying to lay it on thick, but either way I’m definitely not used to men talking to me like that. He must sense my withdrawal, because he gently cups my chin, pulling my gaze back toward him. Today, in the bright light of the apartment, his eyes are a gentle shade of pale blue. It amazes me how someone so menacing can have the most beautiful eyes.
Gabriel grabs my hand and leads me to the kitchen, motioning for me to sit at the breakfast bar. He goes to the fridge, giving me the first chance to take in his apartment. It’s moderately sized, and much less grand than I imagined it would be. I half expected to see a butler walking around a mansion this morning when I envisioned it.
Everything is black. Black leather couches, black walls, and shiny black floors. In the living room, I notice all the furnishings seem to have sharp edges. I can’t really see how any of it could be comfortable. There are no family photos, and the only artwork that hangs is a few large printed photos of cityscapes.
On the opposite wall, there is floor to ceiling glass which showcases an outdoor balcony with a private spa overlooking the city below. It’s the only detail of the apartment I really like. The space just seems so sterile and cold, like an office building rather than a home. I wonder idly if this reflects Gabriel’s personality as well. On the outside, he does seem somewhat cold, but I know on at least a couple of occasions I’ve seen a glimpse of another side to him.
But I, better than anyone, should know not to judge a book by its cover. There are probably a whole lot of reasons Gabriel is the way he is, and it isn’t my place to make assumptions. Still, a small part of me hopes that I will see more of his real personality… the one he hides away from the world.
Gabriel interrupts my thoughts when he reappears with two Mimosas, setting one on the breakfast bar in front of me. “A little hair of the dog.”
I take a small sip first, unsure if more alcohol is what I really want after this morning. But the taste is light and surprisingly refreshing, and I find it to be exactly what I need. He watches me approvingly as I drink, leaving his own drink untouched.
“You want me, Victoria,” he states in a matter of fact tone, getting straight down to business.
“Excuse me?” I shoot him a look of annoyance. What a cocky bastard.
“Well, it’s true, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t. There’s no need for either of us to play coy. I want you too, very much, and I will make no show of hiding it.”
“Glad to see your ego is still in check,” I retort sarcastically.
I take another long pull of my cool drink, feeling like I’m going to need it for this conversation. I really shouldn’t be surprised by his attitude anymore. Yep, this apartment is definitely a reflection of his personality.
