Oh no. This can’t be happening.
“No, it’s okay,” she says quickly. “None of them show your face, I promise. I looked through every single article. They are dark and blurry and trust me it could be anybody in those photos. There is no way she’ll ever know it’s you.”
My relief is swallowed by my guilt as I think about how close I came to revealing us. “God, I can’t believe how stupid I was. You’re right, I need to be more careful.”
“So you’ll still go see him?” she asks with a hopeful expression. God love her, the woman is like an infectious ray of sunshine.
“Yes, Alanna.” I grin. “I’ll go see him. I’ll wear a hat and glasses or something.”
“Good plan,” she says, reaching into the box for another strawberry.
An hour later, I’m freshly showered and feeling slightly better as I prepare to see Gabriel again. True to his domineering nature, he demanded that I be picked up by his personal driver. I argued with him about it at first, but ultimately I ended up relenting. I have a feeling that might be a common occurrence with us.
Now I have thirty minutes to get ready, and I have no idea what to wear. I sort through my lingerie, trying not to pick anything too racy. I don’t want Gabriel to think I’m handing myself to him on a silver platter. Because I’m using him just as much as he is using me. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
I end up settling on a black bra and thong set with little pink bows. Simple, cute, and straightforward. That’s the easy part because now I have to pick out actual clothing. At first I feel like nothing in my closet is good enough for the likes of Gabriel Maddox. But then I remind myself that I don’t really care what he thinks, this is just sex. I throw on a black slashed tank top with lace underneath and a jean mini skirt, paired with some short studded boots.
For once my hair cooperates, and I actually like what I see. By the time I finish applying my signature lipstick and mascara, I have exactly two minutes to get downstairs in time to be picked up.
When I walk into the living room, Alanna is busy munching away at the chocolate covered strawberries again. “Oh great,” she says. “You’re going to go get laid, and I’m just sitting here getting fat courtesy of your hot new man.”
“Finally, a reversal of roles!” I grin and self-consciously smooth my skirt down. “So do I look alright?”
“Like sex on legs, baby. You’re a knockout, as always. He’s going to be eating out of the palm of your hand.”
I smile gratefully because Alanna would never tell me I looked good if I really didn’t. “Okay, well I better get going then, wouldn’t want to be late and upset Mr. Testy again.”
“Have fun!” Alanna calls after me as I step out the door.
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.