Gabriel's Inferno (Gabriel's Inferno #1)(124)

“Not at all. Not at all. Are you wearing lipstick, or is that the natural shade of your lips?” She leaned forward at the waist and peered far too closely at Julia’s ripe, open mouth, their faces mere inches from one another.

Julia took a step backward. “Um, it’s my natural color.”

Ann took another step forward. “Extraordinary. You know, of course, that the natural shade of the lip is repeated across a woman’s body in more intimate places. Your color is so pleasing on your mouth. I’m sure it’s breathtaking elsewhere.”

Julia’s jaw dropped open.

“Look at yourself in the mirror. How could I not have noticed you downstairs? And fortunately, you noticed me too.” Ann took another step forward and dropped her voice. “Do you like to watch?” she whispered.

“Did you like watching what I was doing to him under the table?”

Julia reddened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Flesh changes color, you know, in response to increased blood flow.

Like now.” She smiled, exposing her teeth. “I’ve embarrassed or aroused you, so your cheeks have grown flushed and so have your lips. But you’re flushed elsewhere, aren’t you?” She dropped her voice stil further. “And lower down, I’m sure you’re begging to be stroked and teased…” She licked her lips and smiled. “My little pink pearl. I think you want me to tease you.

You’d make such a pretty pet.”

Julia stared defiantly. “I’m not interested in being anyone’s pet.”

That made Professor Singer back up. Julia’s sudden show of spirit was wholly unexpected.

“I’m a human being, not an animal. Leave me alone.” Julia did not know where in holy hell she found the nerve to dispute with Professor Singer, but she found it.

Ann laughed. “Human beings are  animals, my dear. We share the same physiology, the same reactions to stimuli, the same needs for food, drink, and sex. Some of us are just more intelligent.”

Julia glared down at her. “I’m intelligent enough to know what an animal is. And I am not interested in being f**ked like one. Excuse me.”

She sidestepped the professor quickly, heading for the door.

“If you change your mind, come and find me,” Ann purred.

“Not a chance in hell,” spat Julia. She fled, inhaling and exhaling very quickly as she began to jog down the hall.

A quick pair of footsteps followed close behind. She let out a shriek as someone pulled her into a darkened room, closing and locking the door behind them. She pushed against a hard chest roughly before someone grabbed her wrists.

“Julianne.”

It was too dark to see his face, but she recognized his voice and the strange sensation that hummed up and down her arms in reaction to his touch. She stopped struggling.

“Please turn on the light. I — I’m claustrophobic.” Her voice sounded to Gabriel’s ears like that of a frightened child.

He released her and pulled out his iPhone, holding it up like a lamp.

“Is this better?” Gabriel suppressed the urge to ask what light had to do with claustrophobia as he wrapped an arm around her trembling shoulders and pressed his lips to her forehead. “Julianne?”

She took a moment to examine their surroundings and realized that they were in a broom closet.

“Julianne?” he repeated, trying to capture her attention. “I saw Ann follow you. Are you all right?”

“No.”

“What did she do?”

“She said I’d make a good pet,” Julia whispered, her eyes downcast.

Gabriel scowled darkly. “Did she touch you?”

She closed her eyes and wiped a few beads of sweat from her forehead.

“Just my hand.”

He quickly dimmed the light on his phone so that they were only partially illuminated, for he was worried that Ann might see the light under the door.

“This is what I was afraid might happen. Why didn’t you do as I asked?”

“I told you, I didn’t get your text until it was too late. I didn’t expect to be hit on at a faculty dinner, by a professor who wasn’t you.”

Gabriel growled. “She was watching you across the table and was probably excited by your shyness, not to mention your beauty. Having you in the same room as her is the equivalent of dangling a lamb in front of a wolf.” He shook his head and cursed. “I tried to keep you away from her.”

Julia searched his eyes. “You weren’t keeping me away because you’re jealous?”

Gabriel let out a sharp exhalation. “Of course I’m jealous. Jealousy is a new emotion for me, Julianne. I’m not practiced in the art of dealing with it. But I would have begged Paul to take you to dinner somewhere, anywhere, just to keep you away from her.”

“Were you involved with Professor Singer?”

His expression darkened, and he pressed his lips into a thin line. “This is not the place to discuss that.”

Julia shook her head as her nausea returned. She’d hoped that Paul was mistaken. But Gabriel’s reaction told her otherwise.

“How could you?”

“You’re shaking. Are you going to be sick?”

“Why won’t you answer my question?”