Dark Attraction

Chapter 7 - What to do?

Max was up when I got home, and I was glad to see him. There were too many weird things about Gage and I needed to hash them out with someone.

He looked over from the plan of oaty pancakes he was making. "Morning, B. Have a nice night?"

"Really... well, yeah, really good but also kind of really weird," I said. I went into the kitchen, feeling a need to be closer to him.

"Weird how?" Max looked at me sideways and then back at the pan, flipping the pancakes.

"Weird like..." I sighed, raked my hands through my hair. I inadvertently drew Max's attention to my wrists and the faded red marks on my skin.

"Weird like he tied you up?" Max asked. He took hold of one of my hands and turned it, examining the skin. "Securely, apparently?"

"No, well. Yes, obviously, but that was all... fine..." I blushed again, and snatched my hand back off him. "No, it was some other stuff. Like, he has all his windows blacked out, and um." I swallowed, knowing without a doubt I was about to sound utterly crazy. "He said I should go, and I just did. I was in the middle of arguing with him, but he said 'you should go' and I walked out of there, and now I'm annoyed about it all again and I don't know why I left!"

Max frowned and flipped the pancakes out of the pan and onto a waiting plate, turned off the burner and looked at me.

"What did you take last night?"

I opened my mouth and closed it again. Of course, maybe drugs would explain some of what had happened and why I felt so strange... but I'd had a beer, a beer which I had opened and definitely hadn't been tampered with. And before that, just things I'd poured myself.

I shook my head. "No, nothing. I had a beer or two but that was all, seriously Max. I don't even have a hangover this morning."

Max frowned. "I dunno what you expect me to say, it does sound weird. What do you think it means?"

"Part of me thinks something totally unbelievable," I said. "But mostly I'm confused." I thought of all the possible explanations for what had happened but they all seemed as out there as the next.

"Unbelievable?"

"Maybe he hypnotized me?" I said, swallowing. "Like, he implanted something and when he gives me a command I have to do it?"

Max frowned. "Do you remember him doing anything like that? I mean, I've seen TV hypnosis usually starts with like, a whole putting you into a trance... thing." He waved a hand around and then handed me the plate with the pancakes. "You deserve to eat first. Syrup's over there." He put more pancake batter into the pan.

"No, there was nothing like that. I mean, it was just hot, he was kinda intense and yeah, dominating but nothing weird like that." I poured syrup over my pancakes and started to eat, still standing in the kitchen.

"Maybe he just had a really commanding presence," Max said.

"Maybe... you don't think he could be like, magical or something do you?" My mind had wandered back to the news report and the rumors of the 'campus vampire', but that seemed way too out there. Somehow asking if he was magic wasn't quite as bad.

"No, I don't," Max said. "But I do think you should eat and then sleep, you've obviously had a shock or something. Take it easy today, okay?"

"Yes, mother," I said. "These are delicious." I ate some more pancakes.

"I know."

I finished up, gave him a quick side hug and took his advice, giving myself a nice thorough wash in the shower and then laying down on my bed. But as soon as I closed my eyes I saw Gage's face.

His intense eyes, that infuriating smirk.

The way he seemed to be saying come hither and stay away at the same time.

I must have slept, but I continued to see his face in my dreams. The way he'd said my name, and then, at the end, the way he'd told me to go. He'd said 'get your things and leave' and I'd done it. Hadn't questioned it at all.

I startled awake, his voice echoing in my ears as if he was in the room with me, shouting my name.

I got up and pulled on the nearest clothes. The sun was going down and the apartment was empty as I grabbed my keys and hurried out. I knew where Gage lived, I'd go to him and demand answers. No one else could answer the questions, it had to be him.

As I made my way through the campus, I barely noticed anyone else. There were people around, but I didn't take in their faces. They were unimportant, they were inconsequential. I needed to see Gage again and that need was all encompassing.

I zipped my hoodie up, feeling a chill in the air as the last rays of light vanished, and hunched my shoulders.

I went back to his apartment through muscle memory and stood across the road from it. I'd forgotten there was a doorman. I couldn't just barrel in and demand he see me... but maybe I could bluff my way in?

Straightening my back so I projected a confidence I didn't really feel, and pasted on a smile for the doorman. I tried to remember if Gage had called him by name the night before. Was it even the same man who'd been here last night? I couldn't remember. All I could remember was being a little intimidated by how nice the building was and out of my mind with arousal.

I walked in the door to the plush lobby. The doorman looked at me expectantly from his standing desk/podium thing.

"I'm here to see Gage," I said. "In the penthouse."

"Ah, certainly," the doorman said. "I'll just ring and let him know you're here, mister...?"

"Just tell him it's Brandon, Brand," I said. "He'll know." My heart thumped in my chest, sure that Gage would say no, that he wouldn't let me in and then the doorman would have to kick me out.

I drummed my fingers on my hip as I waited. The doorman picked up a phone and in a hushed tone relayed the message. My stomach turned over with anxiety - what if he wouldn't see me? What would I do? Stage a sit in and just occupy the lobby? He had to come out at some point, didn't he?

The doorman gave me a polite smile as he hung up the phone and I bit my lip. "Go on ahead, the elevator is unlocked for you."

Oh, okay, that was easier than I expected.

I got into the elevator and pressed the PH button. My nervousness tinged with excitement at seeing Gage again. He knew I was here, so he was expecting me, but I didn't know what to expect from him.

The elevator dinged as it reached the top floor and I stepped out. Gage was waiting in his doorway, leaning a shoulder against he frame, his arms crossed and his expression a dangerous scowl. But I thought there was something in his eyes, something pleased.

"You came back."

"Yeah," I crossed the floor to him, hardly knowing what to say. I started with the obvious. "I don't want to be a one night stand. I don't know why, I mean, well, the sex was uterly incredible, but I can't stop thinking about you. It's like you're in my blood."

I dangled the last bit out as a temptation, watching to see if he had any reaction to my mention of blood. He smiled slowly. "You came back for more? You know, you're the first one who ever has."

I swallowed, my mouth dry. My heart was pounding but whether from fear or anticipation I had no idea.

"Yeah, I did and if you don't actually want me, that's fine, just say so. I'll go. But I kinda... I kinda think you do. I think you felt it too." I reached out and placed my hand on his chest, trying to feel if his heart was beating as strong as mine. I didn't feel anything at all except his hard muscles.

"Brandon..."

"But I won't leave unless you say you don't want me."

Gage's hand shot up and closed around my wrist. I could see he was battling with something, his eyes flicked with annoyance and then he smirked, his expression clearing as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"Get inside."

"Yes, sir."