𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝟏𝟖+

31. kill

POPPY ELLISON

✥

I'm not entirely sure how I feel when Gabriel drops me to my 'fake' home. Last night was a fucking disaster. I can't believe I blurted out some truths. I can't slip up like that again, not when I know he's going to start digging.

The deathly look in his eye was alarming. If he could have found them there and then, he would have ripped them apart with his bare hands. A sight I would pray to see.

Rexx being destroyed by Gabriel once and for all? It'll be the day I weep.

But that isn't the case. I'll be in more danger if he knows. He'll put two and two together and realise that I've been keeping close to him this whole time for reasons I wish were different.

Gabriel's car stops and I pause, turning to him. "Thank you," I whisper. "For the trip away. I hope your father makes a full recovery soon. I'm sorry about last night again. I–"

"Shhhh," he leans over the centre console and grabs my hands that are sitting limp in my lap. "Do you think I'm annoyed at you when I had my head buried in your cunt shortly after?"

Heat floods my face. How could I forget? The sheer desire and determination in his eyes to get me to climax into oblivion. My heart pounds in my chest so hard that it hurts.

"I know you're always trying to look out for me," I admit as he tilts his head to the side.

He releases my hand and cups my cheek instead. My eyes flutter shut at the softness of his skin on mine. Home. Home. Home. "All I want to do is keep you safe. This town is dangerous and I don't trust a single fucker here. You know you can come to me about anything, right?"

I meet his dark eyes that are glimmering in the morning light. "Yeah," I say quietly. "I know."

His thumb massages my cheekbone gently. He watches me with tenderness that makes me shiver. A big mafia man being soft for someone like me. I suck in a breath. It's only a matter of time before it comes crashing down.

"I'll see you soon?"

Gabriel presses his lips together and hums. "Yeah, Red. I'll see you very, very soon."

The corner of my mouth twitches and when he leans forward, I meet him in the middle. Our lips graze in the sweetest of kisses. His skin is warm and his hand clutches me tighter as if I could slip right through his fingers.

It doesn't last long but my lips tingle with sparks. His warmth gives me life.

I slip from his car with a soft goodbye. I grab the bag with all my new clothes and walk straight towards the house in front of me. I slip around the side of the building and pray that he leaves as soon as possible.

When I don't hear the engine roar to life I curse to myself. I stare at the wall and then attempt to hide around a bin in case he drives by and sees me standing here like an idiot. "I can't believe you're doing this," I grumble to myself.

After a few moments I hear a car start and his suave black car drives off down the road. I duck my head but he can't see me, not when he moved off so quickly. I wait. I don't know why but I do.

Then when I think the coast is clear, I begin walking in the direction of Rexx's house. I never want to call that place home.

Dread fills me instantly. This is the last place I want to be. I already know he's going to be waiting for me to spill every detail of the last few days and it's not going to take it easy on me. He's going to give me hell.