Though right now I’ll admit, I’m shy, I don’t want to see him, it’s sadly not my only concern.
I know that the ride over to his parents home will be a study in how I can keep my damn mouth shut. I’m usually good at keeping secrets but that was before I encountered an enigma named Gideon Black.
I’m not a fool, I know he wants answers.
There is a soft knock on the door and I know, from the way my breath hitches in my throat and my heart starts beating a little slower, I know who it is.
“Are you ready to go?” His deep voice meets my ears as he comes in, causing shivers to rack my body.
After last night; I know we didn’t go far but either way, after last night, I react violently to his nearness. You would think this crazy attraction and connection would go away after last night, but no. Not with him and I have a feeling it will never go away. Not as long as his gaze takes me in so hungrily as it is doing now, taking me into a storm.
“I’m almost ready.” My hoarse voice replies and I clear it, I need my wits about me tonight, damn, I’m meeting the Blacks for Pete’s sake. I can’t be a blubbering, aroused mess.
“You look beautiful.” He compliments as he closes the door softly after himself. Please open that damn door, I can’t be in an enclosed space with you, not right now.
“All thanks to you!” I point out, hurriedly moving away from his intended direction as I go to the dresser, and collect the little clutch bag that has my gum and wallet. I look at my reflection in the mirror attached to the dresser, wanting to see if I look presentable, but it’s his stormy gaze that meets me.
“Are you nervous?” He questions when I keep looking at my feet, and from the corner of my eye, I see his shiny, dress shoes come closer to where I stand, in front of the dresser.
“Nervous? Now why would I be nervous?” I ask incredulously, with false bravado of course.
“Maybe because you are shaking slightly.” He points out and I realize that yes, I not only have goosebumps gracing my arms, but my body is shaking.
Gideon goes to the walk-in closet and comes back with a shawl over his arm. We look at each other for a beat and in his eyes, oh God in his eyes, I see the damn world.
He directs me to turn around, and I do so as if on automatic. It’s like he has an invisible rope around me that he can tug and manipulate anytime he wants. And I? I don’t ever contest his will.
“There is no need to be nervous, or anticipate the worst.” He informs as he gently, covers my shoulders with the black shawl that matches my dress. I saw it earlier but I didn’t think I would need it.
“Easier for you to say, they are your family.” I point out sarcastically.
“Oh, believe me baby, if I could avoid this evening, I would.” He states and our gazes connect through the mirror.
I see him studying me and that makes me break my gaze and move away from him.
“Okay, in the car, you should tell me everything I need to know, and avoid, about your family.” I inform him chirpily. I know that look on his face, he is trying to figure me out and I think he knows that I’m lying to him. About what though is what he wants to know.
I hope against hope that Fred didn’t out me. I’ll kill him for breaking his promise.
“Baby, before we go, I want to say something.” He says as he comes close to me. I feel my heart pounding now, as he moves in his captivating, self-assured and strong stride over to me.
I know I can’t escape this so I stay rooted in my place. Here comes nothing.
“I want to apologize to you.” He starts and I freeze in my tracks.
“Apologize?!” I blurt out, disbelieving. Did this Adonis just say he wants to apologize? He doesn’t want to ask me about the stranger at work?
“Chloe, don’t make me regret my words.” He says, exasperated.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Please continue.” I inform, gesturing to him. I can’t believe I was expecting to get busted. Okay Fred, you didn’t break your promise, good boy.
“As I was saying, before you looked like you could faint from disbelief, I wanted to apologize for the way I lied to you before.” He informs seriously, his voice low and intimate.
“I know, it will take a bit of time for you to trust me now but I promise that I won’t lie to you anymore.” He says and I cock my head slightly to the left.
Trust?
“So, you will tell me everything?” I enquire.
“Yes, I will.” He confirms.
“Okay, you can start now.” I say, about to move to the bed and take a seat but he stops me.
“Not now, I will let you know everything once I have all the details that I need. I won’t give you incomplete information.” He states.
“Yes but, incomplete is better than nothing.” I point out, impatient.
“I know, but not in this game. Not in this war.” He informs seriously, his voice leaving no room for an argument.
“We also have to talk about that asshole Demetri, something is going on with him that I don’t understand.” I start.
“Strangely, I agree with you. We looked into the files that Roach delivered to your office and some of that stuff in incriminating all on its own.” He states.
“Okay great, then we have something.” I say, my excitement almost getting the better of me.
“Not quite, the money trail leads to blocked channels. Not offshore accounts, we have checked that. I think they lead to some heavily protected, untraceable accounts.” He informs.
Untraceable? The only accounts that could ever be evasive and untraceable have to be protected by people with the means and power to keep them hidden, and that’s some next level shit. Almost like top tier security.
“Could it be that . . .”
My response is cut off when a knock comes through the door and I hear the unmistakable voice that belongs to Max.
“Alright kids, we have no time for that. We gotta go because Mama Gideon is blasting my phone!” Max shouts through the door, laughing and vibrating with excitement.
“Oh, and Alice is already there. We have to move before she wipes the cake board clean.” Max shouts impatiently making Gideon chuckle.
“Whose Alice?” I question.
“That would be my sister and let’s just say, she and Max are not exactly, friends.” He says as he helps me out the room.
Opening the door, we find Max standing there, his large, lethal body vibrating and moving with ill-veiled excitement.
“Damn, I didn’t know you liked cake like that.” I point out, laughing at him.
“Oh, with good reason.” He informs with a wink my way.
“Good reason?” I question as we move down the hall, then down the stairs to the elevator.
“You’ll see.” Max informs in a consorting manner and then moves ahead of us.
“That’s not fair!” I shout from behind him but he just laughs, boisterously.
“Your friend is something else.” I tell Gideon as he places his palm at the small of my back, heating up the skin there and at the same time causing shivers. Damn, I don’t even trust my own body.
“He hasn’t had his sugar fix in a while, he’s excited.” Gideon says seriously and I burst out laughing.
“He’s got a sweet tooth?” I gasp. No way can a man as large and serious looking as Max have a sweet tooth.
“One of the worst cases.” Gideon informs, with a sexy smile that I love with everything within me on his gorgeous face. “He was the one who called my mother to tell her that I was free tonight.”
I gasp, then proceed to laugh. It seems Gideon isn’t very happy about the fact that his friend snitched and hinted to his mother that Gideon has time to be with his family tonight. And I support Max on this one.
“You mean your mother would have forgotten your birthday?” I question.
“I was counting on it. And well, it wouldn’t be the first time.” He says as we enter the elevator, where Max is waiting for us, catching the last bits of conversation.
“Oh, I’m sorry that your parents missed our birthday.” I tell him, looking up at him so he can see my sincerity. I know damn well what it’s like spending your special day by yourself, wishing for someone to be there and just say happy birthday. No need for gifts.
He rubs my back smoothly, softly as Max jumps in.
“Sorry? Girl, why would you be sorry? Those were some of the best times Gideon and I had. Shit, we would hope each year that the folks forget his birthday so we could do our own thing.” Max says, with remembered shenanigans shining in his eyes.
Something tells me this duo was naughty. I mean excessively naughty.
I look up at Gideon again, and he is already watching me react to Max’s words.
“So, you were a rebel?” I question with my eyebrow raised.
The elevator stops and the door slide open slowly. Max leaves first, with Gideon and I following at a leisurely pace.
“The worst.” He confirms.
“Why?”
“Same as you, I guess.” He says, shrugging.
Leaving me speechless. What do I say to that? That I was a naughty kid because I couldn’t deal with the reality of my life? Was Gideon like that?
“Shocked you, didn’t I?” He says softly in my ear.
“Confused me, is more like it.” I inform him.
“Well then my dear, it’s going to be a long night. My family is. . . well, I stay away for a reason.” He informs as he helps me into the car, shuts my door then goes round to his side.
That’s what I was afraid off. An unpredictable situation that I’m not versed in.
But hey, it’s his birthday, I will do anything for him. Including facing his esteemed family.
“This should be good.” I whisper in his ear as the car moves.
“It’s already good. Because you are here.” He responds in that oh so low and intimate voice of his that I love. It’s as if it was designed for me.
Let’s see if anything else is for me.
Chapter 18
Chloe
We arrive at Gideon’s parent’s house at exactly 7 o’clock on a Friday night.
It’s not a house, and I don’t know if I should address it as a mansion because it’s not that. This is not that.
No, this is a beautiful, large and modern but classic building that happens to sit on prime acres of land close to the water.
I mean, it has all the works, a large circular driveway, lit up for the gods. A stately looking stair ramp, a large oak door that I like. Simply put, it’s intimidating.
“Wow.” Is all I can say as I look out the window, trying to take in the endless, beautifully cut and maintained yard. Everything here is perfect, the lawn is cut and it looks like they actually measure its length.
“I know right. Wait until you see the inside.” Max hollers from the front, hearing my awe.
“I don’t think I’d be able to touch anything in there.” I point out, looking at the flower beds that look like they receive all the care and love in the world than most human beings. Myself included.
“Huh, my thoughts too when I came here from the first time.” Max responds.
“Liar, your Grandmother told you not to touch a thing.” Gideon cuts in. Something about the way he says that makes me look at him. It’s like he is annoyed at the attention we give his parent’s house.
He was already looking at me so we stare at each other, with me trying to read him and he, doing his very best to hide his annoyance.
“Oh damn, I almost forgot about that. But honestly, Chloe, this is life on the other side. Don’t touch shit.” Max says as he proceeds to get out of the car once it stops.
“Thanks for the heads up!” I holler before he closes the door and he gives me a thumbs up at the window.
I turn to look at Gideon, who is studying me. “Isn’t he rich?” I ask confused. Max is obviously comfortable in this setting. I mean he isn’t wide-eyed like me.
“Everyone has a story, Chloe.” Gideon says quietly.
“Including you.” I point out softly, to which he just shrugs, not arguing the point.
“Well, happy birthday, Mr. Black.” I quietly whisper. We are alone in the car but I still want this to be for his ears only. I look at him and watch as his irises cloud over, turning almost black with arousal.
“I expect my gift, later tonight.” He responds.
And I die right there. I feel my cheeks burning and I can’t look him in the eye anymore.
He takes my palm, prompting me to look at him as he does. He looks me deep in the eyes then kisses the top of my palm. All the while, still not breaking gaze.
“You are breathtaking. Thank you for being here with me.”
Is it possible to die a second time? Because I just did.
“My pleasure.” I gasp out, heat flooding my southern regions, making thought patterns almost impossible.
“Oh no, the pleasure will be all mine.” And with that he opens his car door and gets out. Granting me a moment to compose myself. God knows, I need it.
He opens my door and extends his hand for me to take, I look at it and I calculate. Do I touch him or not? Because I know damn well it’s only electricity that I will feel. Electricity and desire.
“Really? You are going to be an independent woman now?” He questions, with a serious expression on his face, but his eyes, his captivating eyes are laughing.
“Of course, but I don’t want to bruise your large ego so, shall we?” I say as I bravely place my hand in his palm and proceed to get out of the car, as ceremoniously and graceful as I can.
And well, I try.
When my feet are on safe ground once more, there is a little moment where Gideon looks down at me, down at my lips as if he wants to devour me.
Gosh, I could devour him myself, if we weren’t here. My thoughts are violently broken when a loud round of applause and cheering comes from somewhere.
I turn away from Gideon to inspect where the noise is coming from and there, at the top of the stairs, by the open doors of the front entrance stands what I suppose is Gideon’s entire family. All of them applauding and cheering at Gideon and I.
I guess, it’s possible to die for the third time in a space of minutes.
“OH, MY GOODNESS, YOU are a sight for sore eyes.” An elderly woman says when Gideon and I reach the top of the stairs.
She steps closer to where we stand, Gideon’s palm like a comforting anchor, at the small of my back. She then proceeds to grab both my hands and pulls me away from the safety that I know, away from Gideon.
And then the strangest thing happens. She lets go of my hands and I watch as if in slow motion as her arms lift, and continue to enfold me in a strong, bear hug.
I freeze.
I freeze for a second I don’t know what to do. My eyes widen a bit and I feel myself begin to panic. This is not one of those scenes in the movies where the shy girl is hugged by the mother of the guy she likes, then every wall in her life falls away and she melts in her arms. No, nothing about this moment is sweet like that.
I can feel myself panicking and I think I stop breathing for a second, my arms are squished beside me and the worst thing that I was hoping she wouldn’t do happens. She starts rocking me from side to side.
“Whoa, whoa, careful Mom. You are smothering her to death.” Gideon’s stern voice comes through from the haziness that starts clouding me.
I feel hands touching me and the next moment, a burst of fresh air is suddenly in my direction.
“Breathe, baby.” Gideon whispers in my ear.
“Oh my word, I’m so sorry dear. I mean, I just got too over-excited and . . .”
“Clearly.” Gideon’s stern response cuts the woman, who I now know is his mother.
I gulp in as much air as I can, grabbing Gideon’s arm to gain his attention. That’s no way to be speaking to one’s mother.
“You okay?” He questions when I successfully gain it. “You need water?” He questions
“I’ll grab the water!” Someone shouts from somewhere.
I shake my head, looking at Gideon. Judging by the tight pressing of his lips together, he isn’t happy. Not with his mother.
“Don’t say that to her.” I whisper for his ears only and he just looks at me. Then he nods his head after a few beats of a stare down.
I’m gathering that Gideon is a sexy, controlling and domineering alpha male. And that side of him comes out when I’m around. But certainly not to his own mother.
“Really, I’m so sorry dear, Oh my gosh.” The sweet melodic voice that belongs to Gideon’s mother comes from somewhere behind me and I can’t stand to hear the sadness in it.
So, I turn back around, my vision becoming clearer and I seek her out.
“No, it’s my fault.” I start when I’m certain I can speak without wheezing, “I wasn’t breathing way before you could do any damage, too many nerves.” I inform.
There is a pause for a beat and then there is laughter. I guess I said the right thing.
“Yeah, I get you. That was quite a welcoming committee.” Someone says, but I am just looking at Gideon’s mother, letting her know that honestly, it’s alright. It’s not her fault that I’m messed up in the head and don’t really know how to receive and accept affection readily like a normal human being.
“Really, I’m alright.” I say to Gideon’s mother, her dark eyes shining softly, standing there looking uncertain.
“Either way, my apologies dear.” There is sincerity in her voice and I know she meant well, so I step closer to her and grab her right palm with both my hands, something my mother used to do when she was comforting my dad.
“It’s okay, really.” I say softly, hoping she knows that I mean it. “I’m Chloe by the way.” I inform her.
She squeezes my hands and brings her other palm to cover our joined hands and she smiles. It’s in that moment that I really like her, because that smile, I’ve seen that smile, albeit fleetingly, but I have seen that smile and I love every inch of it.
A Billion Broken Pieces (Incongruity Series Book 2) Page 13
