He reaches down and pulls a loose strand of hair from my face, searching my eyes once more. “The other day, when I met you, you were clearly running from someone or something. You looked panicked. I should have asked you about it then, and I apologize that I didn’t.”
I pause, fantasizing for a moment that I could actually tell him. Unload all of my secrets to someone other than Alanna. That he would take me in his arms and comfort me and tell me everything is going to be okay. That’s what I want more than anything, but I know it’s unrealistic and foolish and not even remotely a possibility. So I muster all the conviction I can find to speak. “I was running late. That’s all, Gabriel. All of these parcels have deadlines, and I was in a hurry to get them delivered on time. Now I’m sorry, but I really have to go.”
He releases me regretfully as I turn to leave. “This conversation isn’t over,” he calls after me. “Not by a long shot.”
And I roll my eyes because somehow I know it’s true.
Chapter Five
Gabriel
Sitting in my home office, I muddle through the little information Allan Ricketts gave me on Victoria for the thousandth time. After going through the background check on this mystery woman, my curiosity still hasn’t been satisfied. Allan wasn’t able to find much since she’s apparently using a fake name and only works cash in hand jobs. She has no social media accounts, no internet references, nothing.
After this morning’s rejection, I’m all out of ideas, and I feel like I’m going crazy. I need to be inside of her… at least once.
I’ve never had to throw myself at a woman before. Hell, they practically line up, begging me to take them to bed. So why does it have to be her? There is just something off about her and I can’t figure out what it is. Allan showed me the surveillance video and it doesn’t make any sense. She was looking across the street at another woman as if she had seen a ghost. And then she ran. But the other woman didn’t seem to recognize her or even care. The mystery surrounding her only intensifies my desire to see her again. For some strange reason, I find myself worrying about her. It’s not an emotion I particularly like because it reminds me of Parker.
I know I should just cut my losses and run. There’s always someone willing to do what I want. But…. they won’t be her. I want to see her bound and trembling before me while I fuck her senseless. Covering her in my come, marking her as mine… mine? Where the fuck did that come from? No, not mine. I will fuck her, but only once. And then I can put this shit behind me.
***
Victoria
It’s Wednesday morning, and after yesterday’s delivery, I’m relieved to see the Temp office calling me finally. Hopefully, they’ll have a project to keep me distracted for a couple days and keep my mind off Gabriel. That man has bad idea written all over him. And yet I can’t stop thinking about him anyways. I roll my eyes at my naivety as I pick up the phone.
“Victoria, hi it’s Julie from the temp pool. Hey listen, I don’t know what your plans are for the rest of the week, but we just got a high priority request for an administration assistant. Can you do it?”
“Definitely!” I reply a little too enthusiastically.
“Okay, great. I will email you the details. They need someone to start this morning at nine. Is that going to be alright?”
“No problem.”
I hang up the phone and hug myself. This is exactly what I need. I’ve been signed up with the temp pool since I moved here but hardly ever get assignments. It’s a smaller business, and luckily they let me work as an independent contractor so I’m able to keep my tracks covered.
As I open my closet, I pull out the only business like clothes I have, and the only clothing I actually took the time to hang up. I lay them on the bed and sort through them carefully. I end up choosing a black sleeveless blouse with cherries on it, along with a red pencil skirt.
Then I scramble to my lingerie selection to find what I like to call my secret weapon. I don’t know why but I’ve always had an affinity for racy lingerie. If it’s black and lacy, chances are I own it. There’s something about wearing these things beneath my normal clothing that makes me feel confident like I can take on the world. I end up choosing a garter belt and sheer black nylons along with my thong and demi-bra.
I pull my hair up into a neat bun which is by no means an easy feat. After putting on my makeup, I rustle through my nightstand for my sleek black reading glasses. I hate wearing them because it makes me feel like a librarian, but clear vision is a necessity for a job like this. I complete my outfit with some black Mary Jane pumps and a black cardigan before heading out the door.