Hiding in the Dark

Chapter 4

I immediately respond to the kiss, moving my lips in time with his. The kiss starts off slow, as if we are testing it out. But then I feel Gabriel tongue ask for entrance and I part my mouth slightly to grant him access. He deepens the kiss and I can't help but moan at the feeling, which encourages him more. 

Leaning back on the couch, I grasp onto his shirt to pull him down with me without breaking the kiss. He places his arms beside my head to hold himself up, his body barely pressing against mine but enough for me to feel his warmth. Gabriel moves his lips to towards my neck and I turn my head to give him more room. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tangle my hands in his hair. I pull on his hair when he lightly bites my neck before soothing over it with his tongue. I know that there will be a mark there but I can't bring myself to care.

"Fuck." I said before pulling on his hair harder and bring his lips back to mine. I kiss him desperately and he reciprocates with the same intensity. Holding himself up with one of his hands, he moves the other one to trace the hem of my shirt. Pushing it up slightly, his hand grazes my stomach and I arch up to chance the feeling. 

However, I forgot about the huge bruise on my rib and a wince loudly in pain. Gabriel immediately stops and gets off of me. Though I was in pain, I groan in protest of losing his warmth.

"What happened, Nico? Are you okay?" He asks, his eyes raking my body until his eyes narrow onto the bruise.

"Sorry. I forgot I had a bruise there." I said sheepishly, moving to sit up.

"Don't worry about it. Although it looks really painful so I'm not sure how you could forget about it." He said, looking up to meet my eyes.

I looked down, blushing a little. "I think the pleasure overtook the pain for a little bit."

He smiles at my words. "Give me a minute. I should have something that will help." Standing up, he walks out of the room and returns a few minutes later with a bottle of something.

"This is almost like a numbing cream. Of course, if you touch the bruise, it will hurt. But this should help reduce the pain when you are walking. Here, lift up your shirt and I'll apply some." He uncaps the bottle as I lift my shirt so that the bruise was fully visible.

"I can't believe your father would allow something like this to happen." He says as he begins to apply the cream.

"Yeah, my father isn't considered to be a standard father." I said vaguely.

He just hums and it is silent until he finishes applying the cream. "Okay, you should be good to go." Gabriel places the bottle onto the coffee table.

"Thank you." Looking at the clock on the wall, I see that it is well past midnight. "I should probably start heading home. I had a good time tonight."

"I did as well. And I was hoping I could get your number. I would love to get to know you better." He said.

While my brain was saying no, my heart was saying yes. For the first time in a while, I decide to go with my heart. "I would love that as well." I turn on my phone to see calls from all of my brothers plus my father. Shaking my head, I go to my contacts and give Gabriel my phone so he could put his number in. He gave me his phone as well and once our numbers were in each others phones, we handed them back.

"Do you want my to drop you off back at the bar so you can get your car? I took an Uber there so I have my car." 

"If it isn't too much trouble, then yes, I would like that."

The car ride back to the bar is filled with chatter and music. Saying our goodnights, I get in Lorenzo's car before driving back home. The happiness I was just feeling was replaced with dread. I was hoping that everyone was already asleep but I knew that was unlikely.