Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (19 page)

At the reminder of her sudden disappearance, Gabriel’s face droops. “Do you have any idea how worried I was? Sadie’s convinced some psycho kidnapped you. William has been putting up signs with your picture on it all over the neighborhood. I wouldn’t put it past him to get you plastered on a milk cartoon!”

“I know,” she sighs, bowing her head. The tips of her greasy hair brush the cigarette-burned carpet.

“I thought I lost you,” he mutters. Roseline closes her eyes to the pain in his voice. It hurts just knowing that he was upset. He drops to the floor before her. “I can’t imagine living without you.”

A tear escapes through her clenched eyes. “I know.”

“Do you?” he asks. His hand reaches out to push back the clumped curtain of hair from her face. “I stopped going to school, stopped going to practice, and royally ticked off Steve, but none of that mattered anymore. You consumed my thoughts and pushed out the rest of the world. I thought I would go crazy if I couldn’t find you.”

“How did you?” she whispers, staring up into his glorious face through her tears. It is the face of an angel, her guardian angel. Suddenly she wonders why she had ever been foolish enough to leave his side. This is where she belongs. She knew that from the first time she felt the tug toward him, but she fought it. A lot of good that did!

“I felt you,” he whispers, gently rubbing his thumb along her cheek. “I can’t really explain it without sounding crazy, but I could. I knew you were alive but I didn’t know where you were. Then this morning I just couldn’t stand it anymore. I got in my car and drove around the city, trying to think, and that’s when I felt you. It was faint, almost like a small pulse when I turned onto the interstate but I decided to follow it.”

“This pulse led you to my door?” she asks, amazed.

He nods, a smile stretching across his face. “It was the strangest thing, but I knew I would find you. I didn’t care how far I would have to drive or how much it would cost me, I was going to see you again. Thankfully you were only a few hours away ‘cause I sort of forgot my wallet when I ran out of the house this morning and didn’t love the idea of having to thumb a ride when I ran out of gas.”

A small laugh escapes her lips. “Somehow I think someone would have given you a lift.”

He returns the smile. His hand slips around to the back of her neck. “I found you and I am not letting go this time.”

The intensity of his promise stakes Roseline to the ground. The fire in his eyes cannot be denied, nor can the flames burning within her chest. This is right, as incredible as it is, and Roseline doesn’t want to fight it any more.

She had been wrong to assume that he would be able to forget her. By whatever magic that binds them together, Gabriel has become just as in tuned with the bond as she is. The why’s and how’s will no doubt plague her for many nights to come, but in this moment she feels her resistance falter.

Her fingers curl around his shirt, pulling him toward her. His eyes widen but she only smiles as she brings her lips to within a hairsbreadth of his. Gabriel’s hands press firmly on her arms. She frowns, leaning back, annoyed at his rejection.

“No offense,” he says, crinkling his nose. “But you kinda reek.”

“Oh,” she gasps, scrambling to her feet as she realizes the state she is in. “Don’t look at me.”

She makes a mad dash for the bathroom and slams the door behind her. She slides down the door as Gabriel’s chuckle reaches her. “Take all the time you need. I don’t want you stinking up my car.”

“Be thankful I can’t reach you right now,” she threatens through the door as she reaches to turn on the shower. Freezing water sprays in erratic squirts as she strips and jumps in. “You never said what your dad did when you stopped going to practice. Did he flip?”

“You could say that,” Gabriel responds. “I practically had to sign over my life to him to make up for nearly getting kicked off the team. If it weren’t for the fact that they need me to win State, I would be long gone.”

“So what did you have to agree to?” Roseline rubs the suds into her hair, sighing with relief as days of filth wash away.

“I’m not allowed to miss any more practice. I have to make up all of my homework that I’ve missed and I have to wax his car every weekend until I leave for college.”

Roseline reaches out to shut off the water. Small wisps of steam rise from her unnaturally warm skin. She yanks down a towel and dries off before tiptoeing to the door. “I’m really sorry, Gabriel.”

“It’s worth it.”

She gazes at his profile through a narrow opening in the door, wishing she could run her finger over his smile. The memory of their kiss in the museum makes her weak in the knees. Heat begins to flame in places best ignored during situations like this, alone, in a grimy motel room.

“Can you throw me that bag by the door?” She holds the bathroom door tightly against her chest to minimize his view.

Gabriel snatches the bag and peeks inside. “You mean this one? The one with all of your clothes?”

Roseline narrows her eyes at his mischievous chuckle. “Don’t even think about it.”

“What?” he says, grinning from ear to ear. “Would it be my fault if I accidentally threw it just out of reach so you’d have to come get it?”

“Trust me, you will regret it if you do.” Her threat falls weak as she bursts into giggles.

Silence fills the room. She leans back against the bathroom wall. “Gabriel?”

“I’m thinking.”

Roseline chews on her lip, thinking over her options. She shrugs and gives into her reckless side as she slips out of the bathroom. The towel she is wearing is small, more like a glorified hand towel, but it covers her well enough. Gabriel stands just a few feet away, twirling the bag around his finger. The moment he sees her, his mouth drops open and the bag falls to the floor, forgotten.

His gaze follows the beads of water slowly sliding down her shoulder, dripping from her wet hair. The farther south he looks, the hotter his cheeks grow. All of Roseline’s former confidence vanishes as she fidgets under Gabriel’s intense scrutiny. For the first time she is struck with low self-confidence. It’s a foreign feeling, one that she detests. He gulps, finally returning to meet her gaze.

“Wow,” Gabriel says.

Roseline smiles timidly. “Can I have my bag now?” Her fingers dig into the towel’s rough material, praying that her trembling hands do not betray her and let go.

Gabriel’s Adam’s apple bobs as he nods, dipping low to pick up the bag. He steps forward, leaning to hand it to her. His rampaging pulse sounds loud in her ears as he closes the distance. The instant his fingers touch hers, Gabriel jerks back and marches determinedly towards the bed. He flops onto it and plunges his hands through his hair. A heavy sigh escapes his lips.

“Are you okay?” Roseline asks, suddenly unsure. She has never had a guy react like this before but, then again, she has never been with a guy who is physically able to walk away, especially when she presents herself in such an appealing manner.

“Uh…yeah,” Gabriel clears his throat, blinking slowly. “I think so. I’m just not sure how much self-control I can manage at the moment.”

“Right, well I’ll just go get dressed.” Roseline slips back into the bathroom. Even through the closed door, she can hear his whispered groan. “Calm down, you idiot. You’ve just found her so don’t mess this up.”

Roseline’s fists pump in a small surge of triumph. So, Gabriel isn’t completely immune to her charms.

Nineteen

The ride back to Chicago is filled with lengthy silences and awkward sideways glances. Neither of them knows what to say after the towel incident but it is obvious by Gabriel’s heavy breathing that it lingers in his thoughts.

Roseline takes another bite of the massive burger Gabriel insisted on ordering her from a roadside truck stop with the spare change in his car. Greasy fast food has never tasted so good.

“Is your dad going to force you to play in the State Finals next month?” Her words come out garbled as she chews.

Gabriel casts a worried glance her way. “Rose, the game is this weekend. Don’t you realize how long you’ve been gone?”

The burger loses all taste in her mouth. Three weeks? Was she really gone that long? Roseline lowers the passenger side window and chucks her half-eaten burger out. She can’t stomach any more.

“No.” She shakes her head. “I guess the days all ran together. I didn’t really have the strength to care.”

His eyes remain glued to the road ahead, but his concern is nearly palpable. “Will you come to the game?”

Of course she wants to see him play, even though she has decided that she loathes the sport, but is unsure how she should answer.

“Sadie will probably be there,” he says.

Roseline nods. Of course, Sadie will be there. She is swept up into football fever along with the rest of the school. “Well, then I should probably go.”

Gabriel agrees. “Sure. For Sadie.”

“Definitely,” Roseline agrees. “For Sadie.”

As if this agreement has decided how they should move forward with their awkwardly intense relationship, they fall into silence. The miles pass by slowly. Bleak, wintry farmland stretches as far as she can see. Chicago rises on the horizon as the sky begins to darken with a vibrant dusk.

“I know things are confusing right now and I’ll admit I’m kinda freaked out by all of this, but I need you to promise me that you won’t run away again.” Gabriel’s voice is strained as they reach the outskirts of the city. His fingers grasp the steering wheel in a death grip. “I can’t lose you again, Rose.”

I can’t lose you either
, her mind fills in silently.

She turns in her seat and admires his handsome profile. The ridge of his brow sweeps into a blunt nose; his lips are soft as silk. The memory of their fiery embrace makes her close her eyes as she speaks her heart. “I think we should try to make this work.”

“Are you sure?” He flips on his turn signal and pulls off at their exit. His foot adds more pressure to the gas pedal than is necessary to take the ramp. “I thought you were worried about us being well…us.”

“I am,” she sighs. She has had plenty of time to think it over during the agonizing drive home. “Obviously being apart didn’t work out so well for either of us and, to be honest, I’m sick of fighting it. Contrary to what I have said in the past, I really do want to be with you, Gabriel. I’m just…worried.”

“About that guy?”

She nods. “Let’s just hope the past stays in the past.” It is a painfully flippant answer but she is too weary to think beyond this moment. Fighting against the bond that holds them together is too difficult.

Gabriel’s silence worries her. What is he thinking? Is she wrong about how he feels about her? No, surely not. He just threw his life out of the window because of her. That has to count for something.

“What are you thinking?” she whispers, too nervous to look at him.

Blowing out a breath, Gabriel shakes his head. “I’m not really sure. A part of me keeps waiting for you to change your mind.”

“I won’t,” she promises, biting down on her lip. “I can’t.”

“Why not?” Gabriel glances at her as he eases the Range Rover to the side of the road, only a block from his house.

When she looks back at him, she watches his face soften against the tears curling down her cheek. “Because I am bound to you.”

Gabriel stretches out his hand and gently brushes back a stray hair from her forehead. Golden highlights in her hair shimmer under the streetlight glowing through the sunroof. His hand pauses as he gently cups her cheek. “That’s the way I feel too,” he whispers.

Roseline leans into his hand, closing her eyes. Warmth radiates from his palm. It is not the same searing blaze she is used to. This is tender…loving.

“I shouldn’t let this happen,” she mutters, holding his hand to her, refusing to let him pull back. “But I’m not strong enough to resist you anymore.”

“So this is what you want? To be with me?” Gabriel asks, his hope shining through his words.

She nods, pulling Gabriel’s hand away from her face. She softly brushes her lips against each of his knuckles before releasing him. “Yes. I want this…but I need time. And I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything,” Gabriel says as his gaze rises from his knuckles.

“If something were to happen to me…” her voice cracks. “Please don’t come after me. I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt.”

His thumb tucks under her chin as he raises it to look at him. An intense heat burns in the depths of his eyes. “I found you this time, Rose. I will always come for you.”

His altered promise ignites a fire in her chest. Never before has anyone spoken words with such fathomless love. Roseline knows Gabriel would move heaven and earth to find her. “I know. But I had to try.”

Gabriel leans across the console. He stops a nose length from her. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Rose. Now that I’ve found you I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

She desperately wishes she could believe him, but the reality is that Gabriel would never stand a chance against Vladimir. “I should probably get home.”

“You want some company? Your mom might be pretty ticked.”

“No. She’s away for work. I doubt she even realizes I’m missing.” She hates to carry on the lie with him but knows that opening completely up to him will only further endanger his life.

“Lucky you,” he smirks as he turns down his street. “Steve’s gonna be furious when he sees me.”

She reaches out to squeeze his arm. “You’ll be fine. I’m not sure so about me,” she groans as Sadie barrels out her front door as the Range Rover pulls into the driveway. “Sadie is going to kill me.”

Twenty

As odd as it might sound, Roseline is thrilled at Sadie’s refusal to speak to her after their initial reunion. She decided that the only fitting punishment for abandoning her without so much as a phone call is to implement the cold shoulder tactic. Roseline walks silently beside her friend, trying desperately to hide her smile. It feels so good to have a friend who cares enough for her to be that put out.