The Banshee's Revenge (The Banshee's Embrace Trilogy) Read Online Free Page B

passed to me tonight from six lovely ladies."
    "Whatever." Angela pouted, her bottom lip sticking out in the way that Gabe found enticing. What he wouldn't give to nibble on it! "Are you going to call any of them?"
    "What do you think?"
    "Well, there are some hot chicks in here." Angela glanced around and then patted her hair. "Of course, I'm still the fairest in the land."
    "Is that so?" Gabe grinned. "Did your magic mirror tell you that?"
    "Nope. The seven cell numbers I got from seven handsome men did." She stuck her tongue out as Gabe laughed. "So take that, Mister Terrible Flirt."
    Gabe watched her swig from her beer bottle. Her eyes were bright with just a hint of drunken glossiness to them. Her pale skin was set off perfectly by the deep red of her hair. She was a looker alright, and he felt a pang of jealousy at the thought of any man giving her their cell number.
    Not that he would be admitting that any time soon.
    Thoughts of a kiss he'd stolen from her when she thought he was someone else lingered in his mind, causing him to stare at her speculatively. What would she think if she knew it wasn't Derek Spark she'd been kissing, but him? Back then he'd been out for revenge, trying to best his father and prove himself loyal to Derek.
    But things had changed. The last few months had seen him go from wanting a seat on the Brotherhood to gain more power. Now he was thinking the whole revenge game was a waste of time. The things he'd seen go down between Toby and Jacqueline had taught him how hurtful revenge could be.
    And as for a seat on the Brotherhood…what Brotherhood? Jacqueline had managed to just about wipe that out. As he stared at Angela, all he could think about was that maybe it was a good thing. He didn't want her to experience the darker side of his life.
    "What you lookin' at?" Angela asked. "Do I have something on my face?"
    "You're really beautiful."
    She put the beer down with a thud and gave him her full attention.
    "You know just the right thing to say." Her shy grin charmed even his jaded heart. "Would you…would you want to get out of here? Maybe go someplace quieter?"
    Would he? There was no mistaking the meaning of what she intended. Hell yes!
    Yet, another part of him hesitated. Angela was special and the thought of hurting her tore at his conscience.
    And he would hurt her.
    Men like him were destined to do terrible things despite their best intentions.
    Dragging Angela down wasn't part of his agenda. She was becoming too special to him.
    "I can tell you're having some kind of internal debate." Angela sighed. "Look, it was just a suggestion. You don't have to. I know I'm a lot older and--"
    "It's not that. I like my women…experienced," Gabe said, causing Angela to laugh. "It's just…I don't know if changing the status of our relationship is a good idea."
    Angela frowned and Gabe hurried to explain himself.
    "Look, sex with you is what I've been thinking about for over a month now," Gabe admitted, absurdly touched at the pure delight he saw flicker through her eyes. "But you're the kind of woman who needs a man that can offer her more."
    "And if sex is all I'm looking for?" She gave him a suggestive smile. "I have been around the block a few times, you know. I'm definitely…experienced. Maybe I'm not looking for anything more. Did you ever think of that?"
    He didn't believe her, but he also didn't want to get into a deep discussion about it in the bar. She looked at him expectantly, unconsciously licking her lips, causing his imagination to go wild at the thought of her tongue anywhere on his body.
    Damn, but she was sexy!
    "Okay," he decided. "Let me tell Toby I'm leaving early."
    Gabe looked around, feeling the heat of anticipation rising in him. A night with Angela. It was finally going to happen!
    But of course, Toby was nowhere in sight.
    "I saw him slip outside a little while ago," Angela said. "He's probably going down to the river."
    "Watch the bar for me?" he asked, knowing Toby had