His shirt dropped to the ground and he walked outside my window onto the roof. I still didn't know how I felt about him. He'd just told me he'd loved a woman and he'd killed her. But it helped me see him in a different light. A vulnerable one. It made me feel special. Like he was trying to help me understand him.
He jumped down to the ground from my two story roof. I'd done many times before when the Five were bothering me enough to get me down and go hunting with them. But the way he did it made it seem a mix between confidence and cocky. I couldn't decide which. It just made me smile. I took my shirt off and jumped after him. He'd already started to Change. I followed his lead, just this once, and started Changing as well.
We ran into the forest and he bolted by my left shoulder at a fast pace. Oh, it was on. I ran after him and soon caught up just enough that I nipped at his tail. I heard him emit a playful growl. He veered off into a bunch of bushes with me close behind. Then all I could see was green. I didn't see where he went and immediately got into a low crouch producing a low playful growl. I was hit in the side and was sent rolling. Gabriel and I were both trying to stay on top to assert our dominance. Gabriel got me, taking advantage that he was close to a hundred pounds heavier in wolf form than I was. I just huffed as he got a cocky look on his face.
He licked my face and then slowly got off me showing me it was his way of allowing me to get up. I nudged him as to say that I would have found a way to get up without his help. He made a cough like sound that was his way of hiding a laugh. We slowly walked back to my house where he and I both changed back into human form. We picked up our discarded clothes and put them back on. He walked me to my door and said he'd see me tomorrow.
We were immediately going to start packing the next day so we could start moving people up to the inn in two weeks. I went up to my room trying not to wake Esme and closed the door as I entered the room. How was I going to handle this? Gabriel was attractive but he didn't know me and I didn't know him. But when I was with him I could feel that he wanted to know me. He made me feel different.
I'd always been pursued by the Five before the episode with Aiden. They always objectified me most of the time like the teenage boys that they were. I wouldn't fault them for that but I'd certainly kick their asses for that. When Gabriel looked at me there was something in his gaze, a heat, and it made me feel like he wanted me. And not just in that way but I could feel that he felt he saw an equal in me. I walked over to my bed and fell asleep quickly with confusing dreams of what I thought I wanted.
I woke up and heard talking downstairs and went to investigate. I threw on jeans and a short-sleeved grey t-shirt. I walked downstairs to find out who Esme, I'd assume she was one of the people in the kitchen, was talking to. I saw Esme by the stove frying some eggs while she was deep in conversation with Tomas. When I came down the stairs Esme enveloped me in her arms. "Honey, I'm so glad you're back to normal," she said to me with what I could assume was happiness.
She hurriedly got three plates out when Tomas got up and excused himself. Esme smiled, knowing he was letting us be alone and gave him a loving kiss. I still didn't know how I felt about it. Oh wait, I did know that I felt extremely odd. I just looked down at the table and waited for the moment to pass and then I waited some more. The fact that my mother didn't mind bothered me also.
Finally Tomas pulled away and left with a wave of goodbye towards me. "Mom, do you seriously have to do that in front of me? You know that most mother's try to hide that stuff, right?" I asked knowing that if I didn't bring it up she would.
"You'll have to get used to him eventually and I'd rather it be now than later. Because I want you to know that Tomas is here to stay," she said seriously but because my mother couldn't stay serious for long she smiled suddenly, "And don't feel afraid to kiss Gabriel in front of me," she said and held her hand up to stop me from cutting her off, "You should start to try and feel comfortable around Gabriel in front of the Pack, and I am in the Pack, so get used to it."
I just solemnly shook my head. She put some eggs on my plate and I started eating Esme said that Willem was going to bring by supplies like boxes, tape, and bubble wrap for packing. I went upstairs and changed. I went to my shelves holding pictures of the Five and me with pictures of my mother and father. It made me stop when I found the picture. It was when I was fifteen. I had gone hunting that day with just my dad. I missed him so much. But now it didn't hurt so much. I was able to be sad and happy at the same time. I was able to remember the happy times with my dad. I was thankful for that.
I heard someone coming up the stairs and turned expecting Esme. It wasn't. Gabriel was wearing washed out jeans with several holes in them and a faded gray t-shirt that showed off his muscular build. I just stared for a minute and he looked pleased to say the least. When I regained my sense I frowned at him. "Shut up," I said miffed. He just smiled broader. I guess a woman telling him, the alpha, to shut up seemed funny. I had to smile as well, it was a little funny. Even other men in the Pack wouldn't say that to Gabriel now, unless they had a death wish.
He put boxes that needed to be folded, bubble wrap and a big thing of masking tape on my bed. "I thought Willem was giving out the supplies?" I asked knowing the relative answer. He just looked down and chuckled.
"I thought it was obvious," he said coming towards me. He brushed a piece of hair that had fallen out of my ponytail, "I just wanted to see you. And I've been wanting to do this for a while," he said. And then his lips brushed mine. He was making me make the first move. I was too impatient to resist. I felt him smile against my lips and call me something like, "overeager" and I just laughed. I ran my hands through his hair as he wrapped his hands around my waist. I pulled back out of lack of air because otherwise I would still be kissing him right now.
I looked down and realized I was sitting on my desk with my legs wrapped around his waist. I made a vague motion about my sitting on the desk and said, "I don't remember getting up here."
Gabriel smiled and started nuzzling my neck. I couldn't stop the whimper that escaped my mouth. I heard a chuckle come from him as he lightly nipped my neck. Oh. This had to stop or I wouldn't be able to. I pushed against his shoulders and he slowly withdrew placing a kiss on my nose before he let go of my waist. My body missed the heat of his.
"You're distracting me," I said, sliding off the desk, "I need to start packing." He gave me a measured look. I raised my eyebrow at him.
"What?" I asked, oh so gracefully. "Why are you looking at me like that?" He got a sudden smile on his face. My eloquence did that. I couldn't help but smile at his smile.
"If I leave you alone now will you go out with me tonight?" He asked and I pretended to think about it. I leaned on the edge of my desk and gave an exasperated sigh, "I don't know, I have a lot of other things going on," I said and he looked chagrinned. "I think I could fit you into my schedule," I said sarcastically.
"I'll pick you up at eight." He said and kissed me on the cheek. He walked out and I heard him turn on his motorcycle. I just agreed to go on a date with Gabriel. I was actually okay with that. As long as we didn't go to Tooley's I was just fine. I was so screwed. And soon it was going to be in every meaning of the word, I had no doubt.
