Dangerous for You (16 page)

“Emma, we’ll begin your first punishment. Now.”

“Now?”

“Do I have an echo? Hmm?”

I kept my mouth shut, barely able to fight off my grin. Then I thought of what he’d just said. “Gabriel, you’re going to punish me here and now? In front of everyone?”

“What everyone? It’s just you and me, my girl.”

“What about—”

“Ssh. Just focus on me, Emma. Can you do that for me?”

God, when he crooned in my ear like that! I licked my lips, eyes staring blindly ahead of me. “Yes, I can do that.”

“Lovely.” Gabriel dropped a brown bag onto my lap and opened it. He pulled out a small box and flicked the lid open. Inside was a large cinnamon bun dripping with icing.

“You really got me one too?”

“You sound surprised, Emma. Why wouldn’t I get you one too?”

I shook my head and murmured, “Never mind me.”

“Okay, open up and take a nice big bite.”

“Wait. We’re not supposed to eat here.”

Gabriel shifted until he could look at me. His gaze widened in mock-innocent. “Really? How do you know?”

“There are signs everywhere.”

“Yes, I know. The mysteries of life are great and mysterious…oh, wait. You mean literal signs.” Gabriel craned his head and spotted one on a pillar. “Yes, I see what you mean.” Looking back at me, he held the sweet up. “Now open up, buttercup.”

“Gabriel, I don’t think we should be doing this.”

He sighed heavily. “And why would that be?”

“Because.”

“Because it’s against the rules? Why should that stop us?”

“Didn’t you just get onto me for not respecting the rules?”

“That’s different.” Gabriel raised his brows, obviously waiting for me to ask the question. When I stayed quiet he gestured with the bun as if to say, “Well?”

With exaggerated wonder, I obliged. “
Why
is that different?”

His exquisite smile blinded me. I was tempted to shade my eyes. “Because they’re
my
rules.”

“Gabriel—”

“Nope. Q&A is over. Now eat.”

“This isn’t really punishment, Gabriel. I mean you’re feeding me a cinnamon bun—which I love. How is that a punishment?”

“Excuse me, Emma, but did you somehow become the Master of Punishments sometime between lunch and now?”

“But what if someone sees us?”

“You worry too much about what people will think.”

“I do not!”

“Emma, remember who you’re speaking to. I’ve known you forever and I remember exactly how keyed up you’d get when people would look at you for more than a second.”

I shrugged sheepishly. “You’re right, I guess.”

“No guessing about it.” Gabriel’s arms closed over mine. He broke off a large piece. “Open.” I took the treat obediently while he continued. “You’re always on edge, baby, and that just can’t be good for you.”

My posture drooped. “It’s true. I’ve got a huge chip on my shoulder and I’m not sure exactly how to fill it.”

“I can think of a thing or two to help…
fill
…it.”

“Pervert!”

“Always. Now take another bite, sweet Emma.”

It was while chewing the rather large bit of bun that Jason, the employee with a gymnast’s body, caught us. His brows snapped into a deep frown as he jogged up the stairs. “Excuse me but no food is allowed within the premises.”

My fingers whipped up to cover my lips. “I’m sorry,” I mumbled around a mouthful of incriminating evidence. Gabriel’s hand closed over my shoulder.

“You’ll have to excuse my pretty girlfriend here, but I was the big, bad rule breaker here that made her do it.”

Jason did not seem amused. “Are you a member here, sir?”

“You could say that.”

“Would you mind coming down to the front desk then?”

“Actually I would mind.” I looked up to see Gabriel’s lazy smile. “I’m not done here. Emma still has half a bun left to eat.”

“Gabriel!”

“Sir—”

My mischievous love held up his hand. “Just a moment please.” He looked down to address me, “Are you ready to leave?”

“Yes.”

“You cede to me?” Gaze roving to Jason furtively, I jumped a little when Gabriel said my name in his most serious tone. “Don’t look to him. Pay attention only to me.”

Every now and then I seemed to forget Gabriel’s ruthless dominant side, usually seeing him as my charming, self-deprecating companion. The sharp reminder did wonders for my libido. I wished we were in bed.

“I cede to you, Gabriel.”

His stare bored into mine for delicious seconds. We were so close I could see every long lash framing his beautiful eyes. Whatever he saw in me finally caused him to smile. “Good.” Gabriel stood up fluidly, holding a hand out. “Up, up, Emma. It’s time to go.”

Jason moved out of the way, doing his best to conceal his glower. He followed right behind us until we reached the front desk. “Miss, you’re going to need to hand over your visitor badge before you go and we’ll also need to check you out, Sir.”

I could feel Gabriel’s growing irritation with the rule-oriented employee. It was also obvious he didn’t know who Gabriel was or that he owned the entire building.

Keri jumped to her feet, girlish grin plastered on her pretty face. “Mr. Gordon, it’s so good to see you. I see you found Ms. Adams with no problems.”

What? Oh, so that’s who was on the phone.

Gabriel avoided my subtle but outraged look. “Hello, Keri. I trust everything is running smoothly under your capable command?”

“Yes, sir.”

I shot Gabriel another look. Ridiculous as it might seem and knowing how my love reacted when I said it, I considered that three-letter word mine. Jealously so.

Amusement glittered as he shot a gloating look back at me. “Good. Apparently, my girlfriend needs to check out. Can you take care of that for us?” Gabriel then gestured to Jason. “By the way, your coworker caught us.”

“Caught you?” Keri’s adorable face scrunched into an uneasy frown.

“Caught us with banned substances.” Gabriel held up the half-eaten cinnamon bun. Keri giggled at his woeful expression.

“There’s no food allowed in the facility.”

I winced hearing Jason’s unyielding reiteration. Surely Gabriel’s patience was about to run out.

Keri apparently thought the same because she said meaningfully, “Jason, this is Mr. Gordon. He owns the whole building.”

Before Jason finished stammering out an apology, Gabriel mused, “You remind me so much of someone I know.” He shook his head. “Rules, rules, rules! Do they never end? No. You have my sympathy.” He rolled his eyes and whisked me out to the whispered sounds of “Oh shit! I didn’t know he was the boss man, Keri!”

“You’re lucky he didn’t fire your ass.”

We left the gym and walked to the elevator hand in hand. “You’re not going to fire him, are you?”

“For doing his job? Of course not. Oh, you mean for not knowing who I am and kissing my ass? Double of course not. He takes his job seriously and I respect that.”

“Keri knew.”

“Knew what?”

“Who you were.”

Gabriel stopped abruptly. He bent down until his lips were scant inches away from mine. “Is that jealousy I hear, Emma?”

My chin lifted. “It’s an observation.”

“Yes, well. She should know me since I hired her.”

“I see.”

We arrived at the elevator. Gabriel pushed the button and we waited. “Do you really?”

“I do.”

“But you’re still a little suspicious?”

“No, not really.” I meant it. Apparently, Gabriel believed me.

“Then why is your beautiful face so glum?”

I sighed, a tad forlornly. “Because I spent all this time running around and you got me so hot.”

“That sounds like a good thing to my ear.”

“Yes, but we’re now so far away from your bed.”

Gabriel smiled like the handsome devil he was. “In that case…” He pushed another button for the elevator. “Up we go.”

“Where?”

“You’ll see.”

ELEVEN

A couple of minutes later I found my legs really were made of jelly. I also was thoroughly convinced that my lover was indeed a sadist. I wanted him to take me to bed and he decided to give me a heart attack instead.

Plastered against a wall, I watched in mounting terror as Gabriel walked along a path cutting through and across an infinity edge pool. While the execution of the design was jaw-dropping, there was a huge flaw that kept me from fully appreciating the view.

Namely, the lack of railing to keep Gabriel from falling forty stories.

A biting wind whipped through in bursts, making it hard to believe we weren’t just going to be plucked and tossed off the private terrace at any moment.

Unperturbed at how close to death he was, Gabriel strolled along the edge of the pool. He stopped and ran a hand through his golden hair. It shone like a beacon in the setting sun, bringing imaginations to my fevered mind of fallen angels and pagan gods. When he turned his perfect face up to the darkened sky I half-expected him to take one step off the edge before taking flight.

Beautiful. He’s always so damned beautiful.

My fascination slowly brought me away from the wall. I wandered past the plush outdoor seating, fire pit, and potted greenery. “Be careful, Gabriel.”

He threw me a glance full of grace and wickedness. “I’m more than fine, love.” He crooked his finger. “Why don’t you join me and see for yourself?”

Realization of exactly how far I’d moved away from my safety zone hit me hard. My legs locked up and I couldn’t take another step. I wanted to come closer but I just couldn’t.

“No, I believe you.”

My answer and obvious paralysis amused him. “Come on, Emma. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of heights.”

It was difficult to swallow past the enormous lump clogging my throat. “Only sometimes and only when there’s no railing. Gabriel, why don’t you come over here?” I called out in a raspy whisper, hoping my words hadn’t been whisked away without even being heard.

“Oh, because this is much more fun. Aren’t you even the slightest bit curious, baby?”

“No, I’m good here. Really.”

He laughed and rocked back on his heels. I rushed forward to yank him back before once more freezing in place when he stopped. “Gabriel, please be careful.”

My golden boy walked along the edge, hands in pockets, as if he was simply strolling along the sidewalk 400 hundred feet down below. “You know I used to come out here all the time. It was the best place for me to get away and clear my head.”

“Why’d you stop?”

His kissable lips curled into an unrepentant grin. “Because I’ve had my mind full of a certain girl who’s the love of my life. Why would I want to clear her away?”

I blushed, momentarily forgetting how scared I was being up this high.

“You know my penthouse isn’t much lower than this. You weren’t scared then.”

“That’s because there’s a wall to keep us from going splat.”

“There’s a safety net here.”

“Really?” I perked up only to be dashed.

“Well, of sorts. More like another narrow balcony below this floor. We’d probably break our arms and legs but at least we’d survive. Does that give you a little more comfort, Emma?”

I shook my head.

“Really? That’s too bad. The view here truly is magnificent.” Gabriel turned away, giving me his profile. His face relaxed, eyes becoming heavy-lidded with pleasure.

Mesmerized, I sank to the ground and curled my legs beneath me. My fingertips dipped into the pool’s cool water as I stared at him. Gabriel stood there at the edge of the world, completely removed from fear. I envied him because deep down inside I’d always been influenced and controlled by my fear.

Gabriel glided forward. He came down the middle of the pool, steps clicking rhythmically in the lull of silence. “I can see it in your eyes, Emma. You want to see what I see, don’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“Because I spent years watching you. I know that look.” He stopped, beautifully attired body standing halfway between me and the building’s ledge. “Do you trust me, Emma?”

My answer took no time coming. “Yes.”

“Do you trust me to keep you safe?”

This time my gaze bounced from his hand to the ground and to the sky beyond. “I do, but—”

“No. Don’t explain further.” Gabriel stood perfectly still. The dying sun cast his hair in a halo. “I want you to come to me, Emma.”

I inhaled deeply, trying to muster the strength to stem my beating heart. “I’d like to.”