Seducing Serenity

Chapter 10

Serenity

I managed to avoid Mr. Kingston for two days and was starting to feel more comfortable in my role. Everyone I'd met had been very friendly and helpful, with the exception of Cynthia. She was clearly not happy that I was her boss, and I wondered if she'd applied for a promotion and not gotten it.

By Thursday morning, I was surprised to find that I wanted to see him. Not only that, but I was feeling almost hurt that he hadn't come to see me. I'd mentioned the feeling to Lena and after she'd teased me about crushing on the boss, she encouraged me to explore the possibility of acting on the feelings. "You've closed yourself off for so long. I know you've been through a lot, but you deserve to be happy."

I shook my head. "I can't, Lena. I trusted Devin and he almost destroyed me. I'm not going to let anyone else do that to me."

"I get it! He was a major asshole! Not every guy is like him. You are an amazing woman, and you can't let one douchebag prevent you from living the rest of your life! Are you really saying you never want to be in a relationship, or have sex ever again?" Lena was always honest with me, sometimes brutally so. Usually, it was something I greatly appreciated and even relied on, but today it hit wrong. I felt judged and attacked.

"You don't have to agree with my choices. Maybe you need a relationship, but I don't. I don't need sex, either. I don't see what all the fuss is about, anyway. I am living my life the way I see fit." I held my head high and looked at her. "If you don't agree with it, then you don't have to be a part of it."

I could see the hurt in her eyes and knew I'd gone too far. Worse, I knew I didn't mean a word of it. She was my best friend, and I'd never wish her out of my life. She sighed and looked down at her hands. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that and let you make it up to me with food and drinks later. You know I just want you to be happy, and if focusing only on your career is what you want, I'll keep my mouth shut. I just think you're selling yourself short."

She came over and gave me a hug and then walked out the door, leaving me feeling guilty. I'd left for the office shortly after that, determined to prove to myself that I was strong enough to back up my words to Lena. I wasn't going to search him out.

I made it till Friday morning, and then I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to see him. I was craving his very presence, and I was more than hurt that he obviously didn't crave mine.

Gabriel

I'd decided after Serenity's reaction to me on Monday, I was going to give her time to settle in and give her some space. I also hoped she would feel my absence. If she didn't, I honestly didn't know what I was going to do. By Thursday, I was going crazy and so was Cain. I had to see her, and it killed me to know she wasn't missing me. No matter how many times I told myself she was human and didn't feel the mating bond like I did, it didn't help. I knew she felt something when I touched her, but she was apparently able to ignore it. My ego was bruised, I wanted her like crazy, and Cain was making me miserable.

When I got to the office Friday morning, I was an agitated mess. Lillian looked up from her desk when I walked in and the look on her face told me it was obvious. She shook her head and looked down at her desk. I could see the smile on her face and knew what she was thinking. I went into my office and slammed the door behind me.

"Just go to her already. Why are you being so stubborn?" Cain asked me for the hundredth time.

He was right. I got up from my desk and strode towards the door, determined to find her and tell her exactly what was going on. I opened the door and almost slammed into someone standing on the other side. It was Serenity, her hand raised to knock on the door. I stopped short and looked down into her brown eyes, all anger and frustration draining out of me. I saw Lillian smile at her desk before going back to her work, trying to seem like she wasn't watching things unfold with interest.

"Ms. Monti, good morning. What can I do for you?" I tried not to stutter.

"I need to talk to you." She said as she walked by me into my office. I shut the door and closed the blinds on either side of the door. When I turned to look at her, I was surprised to see she looked angry.

"What is it?" I asked, concerned. "Has something happened?"

"Yes! No. I don't know!" She was clearly frustrated, and I hoped it was for the same reason I was.

I crossed the room and stopped short of touching her. "Tell me what you're feeling, Serenity."

She shook her head. "I can't." she said, "I don't understand it."

"Then let me tell you how I feel." I knew I was taking a chance, but not telling her wasn't working, so I had to put it all out there. "I can't stop thinking about you, and I want to be with you, in every sense of the word. I've been waiting for you, Serenity, and I haven't felt this way about anyone, ever. I want to protect you, and make sure you're happy. I want to..."

"Stop." she said, in a whisper, shaking her head. "This doesn't make any sense. This doesn't happen anywhere but in cheesy romances. It's lust, that's all it is. If we give in to this, it'll burn us both."

"Let me prove to you that it's more than that." I asked, not even knowing how exactly I was going to do that. "Have dinner with me tonight, and we'll talk through it."

She looked up at me, her brown eyes looking skeptically at me. I was afraid she'd say no, but finally, she nodded. "Okay, but I don't see how you're going to make any of this make sense."

I put my hands on either side of her face and felt her shudder. "Mr. Kingston," she started, but I cut her off.

"Call me Gabriel." I said, lowering my lips to her forehead.

"Gabriel." she said in a whisper that almost sounded like a moan.

I couldn't hold back anymore and brushed my lips against hers, waiting to see if she would react by pulling away. Instead, she sighed and leaned in towards me. My pulse raced and Cain howled in my head. I deepened the kiss and savored the taste and smell of her. The scent of oranges and sandalwood surrounded me, and I was having a hard time controlling Cain's urges which intensified my own. My arms wound around her as my mouth devoured hers. Her hands found their way into my hair and her body molded itself to mine. I knew if I didn't stop soon, I wouldn't be able to at all. I slowed the kiss and then reluctantly separated my lips from her, brushing them down her neck, lingering on the spot where I hoped I would leave my mark before long. Her sharp intake of breath let me know it impacted her, even though she wouldn't know why.

She rested her head on my chest, and I knew she could probably hear my heart pounding, but I wanted her to see the impact she had on me. I rested my chin on her head and held her tightly, not wanting the moment to end.

She sighed and pulled away, leaving me feeling cold, and also exposing the second piece of evidence showing the impact she had on me. She didn't look, but I knew she must've felt it pressed against her while I was holding her. Her cheeks were flushed, and her lips looked well kissed. She looked up at me. "Mr. Kingston," she began, and I shook my head, "Gabriel, I-"

"Serenity, please don't feel the need to say anything. Just have dinner with me and we'll sort this all out, okay?"

She nodded. "Pick me up at seven?"

"I'll be there."

She nodded again, looking somewhat shellshocked and walked out of my office, leaving me with certain parts of my anatomy aching, but finally feeling optimistic.