Unbound

Chapter 27

"Kiera?" Gabriel was standing in the doorway of his office. Despite this house being made for him, his broad shoulders nearly filled the frame. He'd caught me leaving the medical room for the evening and he wasn't shy about letting his eyes roam over me. My breath caught and I shook my head nervously, motioning for him to go away just as Ephraim exited behind me. Smooth as ever, Gabriel stepped back out of sight.

"I think I left my scarf," I said quickly. "I can lock up."

Ephraim grumbled something and handed me the keys. I took them and went back inside where I stood in the dark, eyes shut, listening for the front door to close. After several minutes, there was a soft knock on the door. I cracked it open to find Gabriel standing in the hall, smirking.

"Find your scarf?" He teased.

"I think I liked you better before you found this sense of humor." I turned and locked the door as he stepped close, almost pressing against my back.

Gabriel gave the end of my braid a gentle tug. "So, you did like me?"

I tilted my head to lean back into his presence as it engulfed me. "Maybe," I replied with a slight smile, enjoying the increasing tension between us. His closeness sent a shiver down my spine and ignited a fire within me that spread from the points on my back where I could almost, almost feel him against me.

He leaned in closer, his warm breath tickling my ear. "Good," he murmured. "Because I can't seem to get you out of my head."

"Can't you?" I turned around to face him and our gazes locked with an intensity that made my heart race. His eyes held a mixture of desire and uncertainty that closely mirrored my own conflicting emotions.

A hint of a smile played on his lips as his fingers traced a delicate path along my jawline. "No, Kiera, I can't," he admitted. His voice was husky now and laced with longing.

I leaned into his touch, my breathing becoming shallower. "You're a bit of a smooth talker."

Gabriel studied me, his hand now cupping my cheek. It was warm and his skin was rough against mine. "Is it working?"

God yes. "Maybe," I said coyly, "but don't let it go to your head."

"Too late." He leaned in closer, lips nearly brushing my ear. His smell invaded my senses as it cascaded over me and it was all I could do not to close my eyes and breathe him in. "It's already gone to my head, among...other places."

I couldn't help but laugh, the electricity between us dissipating somewhat. I pushed him away gently. "Who are you and what have you done with that irritable Alpha that used to live here?"

Truly, he looked absolutely at ease. There was no hint of the tension he always seemed to carry in his neck and shoulders. Even when he'd seemed relaxed in the past, there was always an edge to it, always a countdown clock ticking away the minutes until that tension returned. Tonight, he seemed a different person entirely.

He took my hand. "Come with me."

I let him lead me back into his office, transfixed on the way our hands fit together. The feeling of his wrapped around mine settled my racing heart and that feeling of comfort, for the briefest moment, told me that I was making the right decision.

He led me to stand in front of the fire and planted me there before moving to his desk, and my hand felt cold the second he let it go. I watched him curiously as he pulled a paper bag from his backpack that looked suspiciously like—

"I thought you didn't sell alcohol here," I said. He unwrapped a bottle of red wine and a glass and got to work uncorking it clumsily. It looked like this was his first time doing so.