Haze(50)

That would be the first time. They've never come here. I doubt they ever will. They love Chicago. It's where they belong.

"What's wrong?" I lower myself to the corner of the bed. "Is it Nigel?"

She sets her hands on her thighs. "He asked me to marry him."

My eyes dart down to her empty left hand. There's no ring. I ask even though the answer is obvious. "What did you say?"

"I love him," she confesses softly. "Maybe I didn't realize how much until he asked me to be his wife."

"You're going to marry him?" I hear the shock in my own voice, there's no possible way she won't pick up on it.

She smiles, revealing her perfect teeth. "Not yet. One day I think I will."

"He's okay with that?"

Her hands reach to grab one of mine. "I'm going to move in with him, Isla. We're going to get a place together, that's just for us."

Relief wouldn't have been the first emotion I expected, but it's what's there. The surprise is buried beneath it.

"I hate to do this to you." She gestures towards the hallway. "I know how expensive this place is and I know how hard it will be to find a new roommate."

I can afford it. I can turn her bedroom into a music room. The acoustics aren't great but it's a place I can practice without fear of disturbing anyone. I can cook. I can read. I can be me, just me.

I move so I can pull her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you, Cassia. Don't worry about me. I have a feeling I'm going to be just fine."

***

"Thank you for bringing your violin tonight," Gabriel says as he carries it in his left hand. His right is holding one of mine. "I was hoping that you'd give me a private concert."

I look up and into his face. He'd been just as entranced with the symphony's performance as I had been. He'd held my hand throughout and once the room had cleared, he'd kissed me there in the orchestra seats, telling me that he loved how I leaned forward in my seat the entire night. My eyes were half closed as I listened to the music.

"I'd love to play for you." I step into the elevator before he does. "Do you have a special request?"

"You'll play your favorite piece for me."

I knew he would say that before the words left his lips. He's demanding and intimidating in business, but when he's with me, he wants to see the world through my eyes. I sense that. I feel it more and more each time we're together.

"I will. Do you want me to do that when we get up to your place?" I watch the lights on the panel as the car travels towards the top floor.

"I want to punish you for what you did in my office yesterday." There's a dark bite in his tone.

"I came twice. How does that deserve a punishment, sir?"

His hand jumps to his lips. I know he's trying to shield a smile. "I'm talking about what happened prior to that. You have yet to tell me if you really showed your body to a customer."

"There are security cameras in the boutique." I grab the rail as the elevator jars to a stop. "Why don't you check for yourself?"





CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX


Gabriel




"You're a tease, Isla." I carefully place the violin case on the table near the door.

"A cock tease." She turns towards me as she pulls on the hem of the simple black dress she's wearing. "Or just a tease."

"Both," I say under my breath as I slide my suit jacket off. "I'm having a scotch. What can I get you?"

"Water."

I walk into the kitchen and pour myself a scotch, neat, and then drop a few ice cubes in a tumbler before opening a bottle of sparkling water to empty half into the glass. I take them back to where she's now seated on the sofa.

She takes the tumbler, drinking a quarter of the liquid before she pulls a piece of ice between her teeth and pops it into her mouth. She's by far the most sensual woman I've ever been with. What makes it even more erotic is that she isn't aware of her charm.

"Tell me why you don't drink." I sip the scotch. "I commend it, but you once mentioned that you were avoiding alcohol because it makes you foggy. I believe that's the word you used."

The ice cube pops out momentarily before she sucks it back onto her tongue.

Jesus. How is this making me hard?

"I went to a club one night." She bites the ice cube. "I used a fake ID to get in."

"There's obviously more to this story." I lean back, crossing my legs.

She picks up the glass and drinks more of the water. "I was partying hard, like way too hard. I almost did some stuff with a dentist."

"A dentist?" I ask, leveling my tone. She means that * that had his hands all over her at Skyn. Fuck that bastard for touching her.

"Supposedly." She arches a brow. "It's the kind of club where you don't ask a lot of questions."

"No questions." I sip more scotch.

She reaches back to scratch her neck; the motion graceful and compelling. Her entire torso stretches, pushing her breasts forward. "You have to ask some questions I guess. I don't know a lot about the place but there's a rumor that people f*ck in the back rooms."