Please Remember Me

Chapter 10

"Lucian Taylor! If you do NOT drop that spoon right now, I swear to GOD I will beat your ass five ways to Sunday!"

"Oooooh kinky! What if that's how I like it Nate?"

"Run, Luke, fucking Run!"

I recognized two of the three voices. 

The first one was unfamiliar, and Nathan's, according to Luke's response. The third voice was definitely Gabriel's. However, I couldn't see either when we entered through the door. Immediately in front of us was a grand wooden staircase leading to the second floor. On our left was a seating area absent of any person. To the right was a massive living room with a blazing fireplace in the center of the wall. Above the fireplace a huge plasma TV was mounted showing a local news channel's afternoon report. 

There was a large L-shaped couch and two comfortable looking seating chairs. Near the front windows that looked into the living room was a reading nook and more seating chairs around a  coffee table. Three individual's sat in those seats. 

Victor, and a man I didn't recognize, were focused on a chess set between them. Victor was facing in our direction while the other man was hunched over in thought, back towards us. Besides Victor sat Mr. Blackborne who was casually reading the novel in his hand.

Mr. Blackbornes' arm was resting across the small couch, settled behind Victor's form, while his other  hand held the book. One of his legs was placed over the other in the classic way that men crossed their legs. He wore a deep purple sweater with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows and  black slacks. Black socks covered his feet. It was the most comfortable I had ever seen him; and it was devastatingly attractive. Victor wore a gray turtleneck, long sleeved shirt and similar black slacks as Mr. Blackborne. He had on fuzzy gray socks. 

I couldn't help the smile as I observed them; they looked cute and not as intimidating. From what I could see of the new man, he wore an olive green sweatshirt and had hair a color similar to my own brown. 

His was far more vibrant and healthy. 

There was a thundering of footsteps. Someone was running, and towards us from an area beyond the stairs. Deep laughter echoed beyond the sounds of the news anchor; I knew it was Luke and Gabe laughing. 

The unfamiliar voice  roared in outrage. 

Everything next happened in mere seconds.

I watched as Sean and North headed in the direction of the chaos. I turned to look back towards the chess match. I made eye contact with Mr. Blackborne, who had looked up from his book. His eyes showed amusement, his face more relaxed than ever before, and he snapped the book shut. 

This caught Victor's attention, who looked briefly at Mr. Blackborne before following his gaze towards me. A welcoming smile overtook Victor's face when he spotted me. Just as the stranger facing away from me realized his companions attention was elsewhere, and he was turning to face my direction, I was bulldozed by a body.

We fell to the floor in a tumble of limbs and lost breath. 

I could feel a sharp pain radiate through the back of my head as it made contact with the hardwood flooring. The person on top of me was heavy; crushing. There were voices yelling, but I couldn't focus on anything. The massive headache developing drew all my focus. Opening my eyes I groaned, at the same time as whoever crashed into me. 

His long blonde hair immediately gave his identity away.

"Oh shit! Get off her, Luke!" 

It was Gabriel who spoke and helped us to detangle our limbs.