Busy hands, sharp mind. Always keep your edge.

Gambit, the Duke of Thieves

ELLIE

I didn’t know why I kept giving Gabriel small pieces of myself. And I was even more confused about why he didn’t ever seem to look at me any differently. I kept trying to shock him with the reality of who I was. But he just kept coming back with that same placid look on his face, the kindness shining from his eyes as if nothing I said could shake him. What did he want with me? I wasn’t trying to pretend I was someone other than myself, like I had with other men, though they’d left all the same. No, Gabriel still cared for me day after day. Why? Why was I still here in this beautiful house, being watched over, being given rainbows, as if I were someone special?

He obviously didn’t want me for my body. I had nothing to offer in that respect—at least not right now. And he tensed each time he got near me anyway—although I couldn’t help but notice that was lessening by the day. Still, it wasn’t that. It was something else. But what? I couldn’t understand Gabriel’s motives, and I felt lost and confused, almost afraid of him. The fear went deep down into my bones, because I sensed he threatened something vital, only I didn’t know what.

I don’t create beauty, Eloise, I just reveal what’s already there.

After the day I told him about my father, I decided I wouldn’t sit with him on the patio anymore. It was too damn early to get up anyway. And yet the next morning when that golden glow lit my room, and a hundred rainbows appeared, I got out of bed. The lure was too great. I told myself it was the pull of coffee and fresh air, and the peace I felt as I watched the dawn turn into day, and yet I knew I wasn’t being completely honest with myself. The truth was, the thing that drew me to the patio was Gabriel himself. Gabriel with his handsome face, his eyes still slightly squinty from sleep, his broad shoulders, those beautiful artist’s hands, and the strong, gentle air about him.

When I opened the French doors, I expected that he’d look surprised to see me after our exchange the day before, but he didn’t. He just smiled and greeted me as he always did, and we drank our coffee together as the trees swayed in the breeze and the morning sky turned soft pink.

We spent the next few days that way, me still watching him for several hours as he worked on William, revealing the cherub’s small, sweet face feature by feature. The tap, tap, tapping of his chisel was our background music, while small tendrils of dust danced around him and disappeared into the air. I was fascinated as William emerged, almost breathless with wonder to see him take shape. “How do you know?” I asked as he worked.

“Know what?”

“What he’s supposed to look like?”

Gabriel shrugged. “I don’t. He tells me as I go.” He stopped. “Does that sound weird? What I mean is, I have a general idea of his shape and I use it as an outline, but I don’t know what his exact features will look like, for instance.” He went back to work as he spoke. “I imagine it’s similar for many artists. Writers … painters … you start out with a vague vision, and the details emerge through the process. The more you do it, the more you trust your own hands to lead you in the right direction.”

I liked that. I liked the confidence with which he worked, the trust he had in his own talent. And I was jealous. What must it feel like to possess such a gift? To be able to reveal beauty with your own hands? I didn’t have any skills at all. Not unless you counted being able to slide down a pole as an accomplishment. I crossed my arms over my tender ribs, a feeling of worthlessness running through me.

“He’s got curly hair,” Gabriel said, snapping me out of my despondent fog. I watched as Gabriel moved his chisel and hammer to create a smooth wave over William’s forehead. Tenderness replaced the depression I’d been moving toward. I felt almost irrationally attached to William, as if watching him come to life made me somehow responsible for him.

I’d watched William emerge from a square block of stone and now he was a fat, precious little man with laughing eyes and a sweet smile. My heart thrummed with love for him. How stupid! Ridiculous, really. You can’t love a statue. I almost laughed at myself, but I didn’t want to make a sound that Gabriel would question. Yes, not only am I broken and useless, I’m crazy, too. I love that little stone angel you created more than I’ve loved anything in a long, long time.

“Ellie, I wanted to let you know about something.”

My eyes snapped to Gabriel’s at the seriousness in his tone. “Okay.”

“Before you came here, I made plans with a graduate student at the University of Vermont to interview me for her thesis paper. She arrives in Morlea tomorrow.”

I tilted my head, my brow furrowing in question. “Thesis paper?”

Gabriel nodded. “Yeah, it’s about abducted children who subsequently escaped or were rescued.”

“Oh.” I swallowed. “Well that sounds … hard. Will it be? I mean will it be hard for you?” I shivered to think about what it’d be like to answer in-depth questions about the worst parts of my own life. I always tried not to think about the things that had hurt me.

He stopped working for a moment as if he was taking a few seconds to really consider my question. “I don’t think so, no. I don’t often talk about what happened to me, but I don’t find it distressing anymore, either.”

I frowned again, watching him. How in the world had he come to a place where he wasn’t distressed by the memory of being locked in a basement for six years and tortured in heinous ways I didn’t even want to know about? How had he managed that?

His wise, sensitive, beautiful eyes met mine. “It’s closeness I struggle with. As you know.”

“Oh, yes,” I said softly, feeling suddenly … honored that I might be the only woman on earth who did know that. It felt like a … secret, something personal and private that I alone knew about this man. It made me feel warm and trusted. And I remembered, too, how I had abused that trust, how I’d sent Rita in when he was expecting me. Shame rose up within me, heating my cheeks and making me feel suddenly weak with remorse. “Gabriel …”

His hands stilled and he looked over at me with concern. “What is it?”

I picked at my fingernails for a moment, gathering the words I needed to say. The words that were overdue. “I’m sorry.” It came out as a hoarse whisper, and I blinked up at him. “For what I did at the club … I’m sorry.”

His eyes ran over my face, down to where my hands still fidgeted and back up to my eyes. “I forgive you.”

I tilted my head, my hands ceasing in their pick, pick, picking. “Why?” I whispered.

His smile was slight, sort of sad. “Because what you did hurt me … but I think it hurt you, too.”

I let out a quick rush of breath, the truth of his words running through me. God, yes, it had. How had he known? Still, it wasn’t about me. I’d caused him pain on purpose, and any hurt I felt because of it was well deserved. I shook my head slightly, not able to decide whether I was glad he’d forgiven me or not, wanting to change the subject back to what we’d been talking about. The interview. I cleared my throat. “Well, anyway, it’s nice of you to grant that interview. Sounds like a worthy cause. A contribution to … um, education and all.”

He stared at me for a few heartbeats before smiling slightly again and looking back to William, his hands moving over the cherub’s curls. “I told you about it because I arranged it with her to come here to my house so I’m available if you need me.”

“Oh, you really didn’t have to—”

“I wanted to. But I also wanted to let you know in advance so you know what’s going on.”

“Thank you.” It was his house, so he didn’t owe me that. I knew I was disrupting his life in any number of ways, and yet he was so kind and flexible. Why? It was the one question I kept coming back to and didn’t want to ask because I wasn’t sure how the answer would affect me. “I should be able to move back home in a couple of days—”

Gabriel stopped working again, tilting his head. “Why would you, Ellie? Why would you want to manage three flights of steps and an empty apartment where no one could help you if you needed it? You’re still healing. It’s only been two weeks.”

“I don’t want to be dependent on you,” I mumbled.

Gabriel sighed. “Is it really so bad?”

I opened my mouth to say something, when the sound of a vehicle approaching his house dried up the words on my lips. Gabriel put his tools down and removed his gloves slowly. His back suddenly looked stiff, and I wondered if I was imagining it. Whoever it was pulled out of sight of the open garage, and I heard the engine turn off. Gabriel walked outside to meet the person whose footsteps I heard in the gravel.

“Dom,” I heard Gabriel say. Gabriel’s brother was home.

“Hey, bro.”

“How were the fish?”

“Biting. I brought a cooler full back. Fish fry later?”

They both walked into the light of the open door, Gabriel and a man that looked a little bit like him, although not as much as I’d imagined. He was darker haired and not quite as broad. He was good-looking but definitely didn’t have Gabriel’s stunning brand of handsome. He halted when he saw me, giving me a narrow-eyed look.

Gabriel’s jaw looked rigid. “Dominic, this is Ellie.” He was gazing at him with a warning look.

Dominic appeared confused for a moment. “I thought you said her name was Crystal.”

My eyes darted back and forth between the two of them, trying to figure out what was going on. Gabriel had obviously told his brother about me. Told him I was coming here. Was that why he’d been gone?

“Crystal’s my stage name,” I supplied quietly, half of me hoping Gabriel had told him what I did so I didn’t have to, and the other half hoping he didn’t know.

His expression was so disdainful, I was tempted to look away, but I didn’t. He obviously knew very well what I did. Finally he muttered, “Ellie,” his inflection clearly hostile.

I cringed inside to hear my real name in his disapproving voice. I plastered an unaffected smile on my face, the one I’d perfected so long ago. For some reason, it was difficult to muster. It’d only been two weeks, and I was already out of practice. I felt twitchy and self-conscious just like I’d been at the start of every school year when I’d shown up in my old, ugly clothes and too-small shoes, some years with a bruise I’d covered as best I could. My cold detachment had always been my armor, and now I felt as if I’d misplaced it somehow. I wanted it back. Needed it back.

“Dominic. It’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry for not getting up.” I pointed to my cast and gave him a small quirk of my lips.

Dominic grunted, turning to Gabriel. “I’m going to go unpack my gear.” He turned and left without another word, walking through the garage door that led into the house.

Gabriel let out a ragged breath and ran his hands through his hair. He looked back at me, obviously weighing what to say.

“He’s not happy I’m here,” I said so he didn’t have to.

He huffed out a small sigh. “Dom’s … protective of me. He thinks he’s looking out for my welfare.”

“He’s not happy you’re keeping company with a stripper.” I hated the wave of shame that enveloped me. Had I forgotten that’s what I was? How stupid.

Gabriel walked around my lounge chair and took a seat on the edge. Close. So close. He took a deep breath and picked up my hands in his. My eyes moved down to where our fingers were laced, my heart skipping a beat. His hands trembled very slightly, but he was relaxed, the look on his face determined. Oh, Gabriel.

“Ellie, he doesn’t know you. He’ll come around.”

I snorted. “Once he gets to know my charming personality, you mean?”

He grinned and my stupid heart skipped yet another beat. At this rate I’d go into arrhythmia. “Yes.” It was only one word, but he said it with so much conviction.

I startled myself by laughing softly. “You’re … God, I don’t even know what you are.” I laid my head back on the lounge chair. “It’s not fair for me to be here if it makes him uncomfortable. This is his home.”

He squeezed my hands gently. “This is my home. I own it. And I’ve been thinking lately that maybe my brother and I could use some space anyway.”

“Not because of me.”

He shook his head. “No, actually, not at all because of you. But if he doesn’t welcome one of my guests, then it’s just another reason.” He let go of my hands and stood up. I felt the loss of his warm body next to mine, his tender grip. He went back to work, focusing on William, but his expression remained tense.

* * *

The next day, Chloe Bryant arrived. I’d gone to bed early the night before, thinking it best to give Dom and Gabriel some time together without me there. I’d been becoming more comfortable in Gabriel’s home, but now I felt strange and uneasy again—as if I didn’t belong. Technically I didn’t and never would. Despite Gabriel’s best efforts to make me feel otherwise, frankly, I agreed with Dominic. I wasn’t the type of friend Gabriel needed in his life. Me, a stripper who had nothing at all to offer. Me, a girl who had only taken from him, and had no hope of ever offering anything in return. Me.

I’d spent the early morning with Gabriel as usual since apparently Dominic didn’t wake until right before he had to be at work. He left while I was showering, and I was happy I wouldn’t have to see him until later that evening. Maybe I could just avoid him completely until I was well enough to leave.

I was limping out of my bedroom when the doorbell rang. Gabriel came out of the kitchen, shooting me a quick smile before he went to answer the door. He pulled it open and a young woman was standing there. Her smile was instantaneous.

“Gabriel?”

“Yes, hi, Chloe.” When he stepped back to allow her entrance, she practically bounced in, petite and pretty with brown curls and a dimple in one cheek.

“It’s so great to meet you in person.” Her smile—impossibly—widened even more. “God, this area is gorgeous. And your home …” She looked up and around as Gabriel closed the door. “It’s breathtaking.”

As she continued to look around, her eyes caught on me where I was standing, practically behind a lamp. “Oh, hi,” she said brightly, walking toward me. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there.”

I limped forward, trying my best not to look like the pitiful creature I actually was.

“Chloe, this is Ellie,” Gabriel said from behind her.

As she approached, her smile wilted. “Oh my goodness, were you in an accident? You poor thing. What happened? Are you okay?”

I smiled a small smile. This girl was like a whirlwind. “I’m fine, thank you. An accident, yes.” I cleared my throat, hoping she wouldn’t ask any more questions.

Her face crumpled into distress. “Oh, that’s awful. Let me help you to a chair.”

“Oh, I’m okay, really. I’ve been sitting all morning. I know you and Gabriel have some business to get to. I was just going to make lunch and I’ll be out of your way.”

Gabriel came up next to Chloe, his smile relaxed. “Are you going to be okay while we talk?”

“Of course, yes.” There was another knock at the door and we all turned, Gabriel’s brow furrowing slightly.

“I’m not sure who that could be,” he muttered. “Excuse me.” He pulled the door open and Kayla was standing there. She was wearing a tiny pair of booty shorts, a tight, sheer tank top that clearly showed her black bra beneath, and a pair of hot-pink heels. The polar opposite of the sweet, wholesome girl who had just entered Gabriel’s house minutes before wearing a modest yellow sundress and a pair of low-heeled navy sandals.

“Hey, Gabe,” she greeted. I limped forward and her eyes turned to me. “Hey, Crystal.” She smiled, but as I got closer, I saw she looked haggard, and I could clearly see she’d lost some weight.

“Hi, Kay.”

She came in and Gabriel closed the door. “We’ll just go in my room so we don’t disturb you,” I said to Gabriel, taking Kayla’s arm. He nodded and I smiled at Chloe. She had a small, confused look on her face, but returned my smile as we passed her.

I led Kayla to my room, hearing Gabriel ask Chloe if she wanted anything to drink before I closed the door behind us.

I propped my crutches against the wall, taking a seat on the bed. Kayla sat at the end, bringing one leg up underneath her. “Sorry I haven’t been visiting more. Things have been crazy. We’ve all been working extra shifts since you’ve been gone.”

“That’s okay. You’ve been a good friend to me, Kayla, and I appreciate it. How is everything?”

She sighed. “Oh, all right. You know, the usual. Blew a tire out on my car and had to get that fixed.” The mention of her car reminded me that mine was still in the shop, presumably fixed but unpaid for, unclaimed. I should call Ricky, but I’d shut out my real life since I’d been here. I hadn’t wanted to think about it, hadn’t wanted to consider the myriad of dilemmas I was going to face when I was well again.

“At least being extra busy has helped me shed a few pounds,” Kayla said.

“I noticed. You look good, just make sure you’re taking care of yourself, okay?”

She nodded. “I will.”

Out in the living room, I heard the peal of Chloe’s laughter followed by Gabriel’s masculine chuckle. My stomach tightened in discomfort, and I adjusted myself on the bed. Good grief, was I jealous? My God, I was. I was jealous at the easy conversation Gabriel and Chloe were obviously having in the other room. I heard him say something, his voice rising and falling with a sort of vibrant enthusiasm I’d never heard. That’s because being around me was depressing and morose. I provided nothing more than dull, dreary conversation and awkward confessions. Good Lord.

“You all right, honey?” My thoughts must have been reflected on my face because Kayla was looking at me with concern.

I released a loud breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. I just get … you know, pains.” I ran a hand across my ribs as if that were the place causing me hurt.

Kayla nodded in sympathy. “I was so relieved to hear about the arrests. They called Rodney and he told us. Some of the girls were worried they might come back.”

I shook my head. “No, it was personal.”

Kayla tilted her head. “Yeah, I guess. I heard they’re out already, though. You worried?”

I met her eyes. As a courtesy, the detective had called to let me know the three men had made bail. I’d received the news with a numb sort of acceptance, the detective reassuring me that it was in their interest to be on their very best behavior. I’d need to testify at the trial once a date was set, but I wasn’t going to think about that just now. “Am I worried that they’ll try to find me?” I shook my head. “No. I haven’t thought about that.” I chewed at my lip. “I feel …safe here.”

She nodded. “I would, too. It’s real nice. Nicest house I’ve ever seen. And there’d be no way for them to find you here. Even if they wanted to. Which would only make things worse for them.”

“Yeah.” I studied my nails as I heard another ring of laughter from Chloe.

“He’s treating you well, Crys?”

“Yeah. Yeah, he treats me really well. Better than I deserve, Kay.”

She smiled at me. “Nah, I think he’s just what you deserve.” I smiled, even knowing how wrong she was.

Kayla stayed for another hour or so. We chatted about what had been going on at the Platinum Pearl, what had been going on in Kayla’s life, some gossip about the other girls. I had one ear tuned to her and one ear tuned to the other room, where the hum of Gabriel and Chloe’s conversation continued. I wondered what they were talking about, wondered if she’d started interviewing him, or if they were just getting to know each other. From what I could hear, it sounded like they were chatting casually. I was grateful Kayla had arrived when she did. If not for her, I’d surely be standing at the door listening like a stalker.

I picked up my crutches and walked—well, limped—Kayla out of my room, and when we entered the living area, Chloe was standing, too, obviously getting ready to leave. She was smiling brightly, and Gabriel was just finishing a sentence, the expression on his face open and happy. Jealousy overcame me again, but I stuffed it down. He’s not mine.

Kayla gave them both a small wave as we moved past, and I hugged her goodbye at the door. When I came back in, Chloe was walking toward me. “Ellie, it was so nice to meet you. I’ll be back tomorrow so I’ll see you then.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll, um, see you then. Nice to meet you, too.”

“Bye, Gabriel.” She smiled at him, and it was tender and full of undeniable affection. I looked away, feeling like I was intruding on a personal moment.

“Bye, Chloe. See you tomorrow.”

He held the door open for her as she passed through, turning and giving us both a small wave before Gabriel shut the door behind her. We stood awkwardly for a second before Gabriel smiled at me in that sweetly bashful way of his.

“It seemed like it went well?” I asked.

“Yeah, it did.” There was happiness in his voice, and it caused a tightening in my chest.

“Good,” I said, clearing my throat when the word came out sounding hoarse. “I, uh, I need to take my medication and then I’m going to take a nap.”

“Okay. You all right? Your visit with Kayla was good?”

“Yeah, yeah, it was good.” I turned and limped toward my room, wanting to be alone, wanting to turn off the emotions running rampant inside of me because I didn’t understand them. Gabriel Dalton was way beyond my league, and I would never have anything lasting with someone like him anyway. Sweet, gentle men like Gabriel Dalton ended up with pretty, respectable girls like Chloe Bryant. And girls like me ended up alone.

* * *

I awoke to a quiet house and tears streaming down my cheeks. I looked frantically around the darkened room, trying to get my bearings.

You’re going the wrong way. You must turn back, sweetness.

The words echoed in my mind, the memory of my mother’s voice causing both grief and joy to crash through me. I hiccupped, bringing myself to a sitting position.

Why did I keep hearing her voice? Why did I keep having that dream? God, it made me feel desperate and lonely.

I pulled myself out of bed and used the bathroom, still hiccupping on the way out. I needed a glass of water. The clock on my bedside table read ten p.m. I opened my door as quietly as possible and listened but didn’t hear any sounds coming from the house. Were Dominic and Gabriel sleeping? I’d make a quick trip to the kitchen and then go right back to my room. I’d been successful at avoiding Dominic around the house, and I wanted to keep it that way.

The water from the tap tasted cool and fresh, and after downing a whole glass, my diaphragm relaxed. I put the glass in the dishwasher and started heading toward my room. As I glanced in the living room, something on the mantel caught my attention, and I walked toward it. Next to a plant sat a small marble sparrow. I ran a finger lightly over it, tilting my head as I took in the fine details, the feathery wings, the small eyes that somehow managed to be soulful, the beak open as if it were singing.

I heard a creak from the floor behind me and whirled around. Gabriel was standing there, having just spotted me as well, his eyes wide with surprise.

He was wearing nothing but a pair of boxers.

I swallowed heavily, my mouth going dry as I took in the masculine beauty of his practically naked body. He was … divine. That was the word that immediately came to mind. Divine. Angelic. Godly.

My gaze soaked in his strong, broad shoulders, the tight, lean muscles of his chest, the taut ripples of his stomach. As if my eyes were drawn to him like a magnet, they moved down his chest to his muscled thighs, his well-formed calves and then back up to his boxers, where the outline of his male anatomy was just barely visible against the thin material.

My core clenched, wetness pooling between my thighs. I blinked, completely unaccustomed to this kind of reaction when it came to a man’s body. I wanted to simultaneously run away and step toward him, to reach out and trail a finger down his chest the way I’d just run a finger over the tiny stone bird.

“My father made that.”

“W-what?” God, my voice sounded too breathy, too stunned.

“The sparrow.”

He crossed his arms over his chest, obviously self-conscious about his state of undress. He gave a quick nod downward. “Sorry, I didn’t know you’d be up.”

Again, my eyes moved to his bare chest. There was a sparse trail of hair under his belly button leading into the waistband of his boxers. My eyes leapt back up to his, and I practically gulped, sure he had heard it when his eyebrows twitched slightly.

I turned my head, my heart beating so loudly in my own ears I was sure he could hear that, too, even from where he stood. “It’s only fair, I suppose,” I murmured.

“What’s that?”

“Now we’ve both seen each other half-naked.”

Gabriel tilted his head, assessing me in some mysterious way. He suddenly turned and walked back toward his room. I stood rooted to the spot, confused, when he returned just as quickly as he’d left, pulling a T-shirt over his head. He walked toward me, coming to stand directly in front of where I stood. His expression was slightly shy, slightly teasing. “I hope … that if we see each other naked again, it won’t be a job, or an accident. It will be because we both want it, and because it means something.”

What?

Visions swirled through my mind, unbidden: tangled limbs and twisted sheets. Heat filled my veins, blood pumping between my legs. It was too much. It was … out of my control and it scared me. I didn’t want to think of Gabriel that way, couldn’t think of Gabriel that way. In truth, had never thought of any man that way. “Mean something?” My voice was a mere whisper.

He nodded, his expression going serious, his eyes filled with sudden gravity. His hand slowly moved up to my hair, and he brushed a piece back from my face. His hand lingered, his knuckle brushing gently down my cheekbone. My breath hitched at the subtle touch. His full lips parted slightly, those angel eyes moving over my features as if he was memorizing me, memorizing the moment. I was spellbound, caught once again in his gaze. No one had ever looked at me the way Gabriel was right then, not in all my life.

“Yes.” It was all he said, leaving me to try to comprehend his meaning. But of course getting naked always meant something. A bribe, a paycheck, a coercion, a means to an end … only I knew very well Gabriel didn’t mean any of those things, and it was impossible to convince myself he could. I already knew better. And I didn’t want to think about what getting naked would mean to Gabriel because the very idea filled me with terror and an aching, needy want. But mostly terror.

I turned back to the sparrow, a jerky movement as I pivoted on my crutches. “Y-your father, he was a stone carver, too?”

“Eloise.”

I clenched my eyes shut, refusing to turn my face back to his. “He was very good.”

Gabriel let out a very small sigh. I didn’t know if I had imagined disappointment in it or not. “Yes, he was very good.” His hand brushed my bare shoulder as he reached past me to pick up the sparrow. His touch left a blaze of heat on that small patch of skin, and I wanted to rub it away but I didn’t. Couldn’t. I turned back to find him studying the small bird. He had a smile on his lips. “When I was eight, I went away to summer camp. I was nervous to sleep away from my family. There was a tree right outside my bedroom window, and sparrows would perch in it and sing. My dad carved this guy so I could bring one of the sparrows along. So I’d have a little piece of home with me—a little token of comfort.”

I watched him as he spoke, a wistful happiness in his expression, and I wondered what it’d be like to have memories that made you feel like that. Memories that brought happiness instead of fear and loneliness and sorrow. And I couldn’t help wondering at the depths of Gabriel’s despair when he’d finally made it home after all those years of being locked in a dark, lonely basement, only to experience the loss of that happiness all over again. “He sounds like such a good man,” I whispered.

His eyes met mine. “Yeah, he was the best.” The stark love in his expression when he spoke of his father jolted something inside me, and for a breath of a moment I found myself afraid for him—for his vulnerability and pure heart. Afraid of how the world would hurt him. But that was ludicrous. He’d already been hurt—in the most unfathomable way possible. So how did he retain that gentleness? The shy tenderness? How did he still wear his heart on his sleeve the way he did? And why would he want to? I couldn’t begin to understand.

Silence lingered between us, clunky and awkward as if we were both waiting for the other one to speak. Finally, I nodded. “Well, good night, Gabriel.” I started to turn.

He took a step forward. “Aren’t you hungry? You missed dinner. I could make you something.”

I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m just … extra tired today.” I turned. I didn’t really feel tired. What I felt was confused and scared, and most of all, deeply worried that I’d begun to fall in love with Gabriel. Oh, Ellie, you fool. You stupid fool.

That night I didn’t dream about dark corridors that grew gradually smaller. Instead I dreamed about moonlight on bare skin, hands that caressed, a mouth that explored all the secret places of my body, and angel eyes in the dark. I woke heated and panting, a cry of pleasure on my lips, reaching for someone who wasn’t there.