NOCB 008 - Scions 02.5 - Patrice Michelle - Perception Read Online Free Page A

sighing in pleasure.
    As she lathered her skin with lavender-and-rose scented soap, thoughts of Gabriel floated through her mind. His earlier comment that “being her boyfriend is a start”
    shocked her, reminding her of al the warnings that had scattered through her mind downstairs.
    From an early age, Abby had learned from her mother’s mistakes never to al ow any relationship to get serious. She’d lost count of the number of times her mother had cried herself to sleep because her latest lover had walked out and never come back, or because he’d left her for another woman. The men treated her mother like she was a piece of disposable tissue to use up and then throw away. Al Abby’s adult life, the only person she ever truly depended on was herself, for money and for personal happiness. Staying emotional y detached meant that if things didn’t work out, the only person she could be disappointed in was herself. And so far, with every relationship she’d had, she’d made the right decision to move on. Abby squeezed shampoo into her hair and lathered it up, scrubbing her scalp hard to try and rub away her instantaneous reaction to Gabriel. It was almost surreal how she’d so easily fal en into his embrace, desperate for his touch and achy with need. Such an intense response to his earthy smel and the feel of his hard body wrapping around her, like a protective circle of hard steel, smacked of emotional dependence, and she didn’t like it. At al .
    Closing her eyes, Abby bent her head back under the hard spray. As the suds washed away, her mind conjured an arousing picture of Gabriel standing in the shower with her, water beading on the barbel in his eyebrow, highlighting his sexy scar. She’d run her hands down his muscular chest and touch every hol ow between his cut abs. His hands would slide along her slick skin, exploring every intimate place, arousing her to a fever pitch of need. Despite the warm water, her skin prickled and her body throbbed. Even in her imagination, the man’s magnetism was palpable and his dark intensity irresistibly seductive. She couldn’t deny it. Their attraction was inexplicably powerful. What was wrong with giving into her desires? She’d never had a problem doing that in the past.
    Because this enigmatic man’s penetrating eyes don’t miss a single detail. His blatant invasion of your personal space was purposeful and predatory. He won’t let you keep him at arm’s length. He’l burrow deep, and once you’ve fal en completely, he’l walk away, leaving you raw and empty inside . Gabriel didn’t appear to be anything like her past lovers or the losers her mother had lived with, but al men eventual y showed their true colors. Huffing in frustration for mental y arguing with herself on Gabriel’s behalf, Abby turned to shut off the water and gasped when she opened her eyes. Someone had turned out the lights, leaving the windowless bathroom completely black. Abby’s heart seized and her throat shriveled to a dry husk, preventing the instinctive scream of terror from escaping.
    Breathing hard through her nose, she tried to pul in air, but it didn’t seem like she’d ever get enough. Her heart thudded and she blindly reached for the tap, managing to shut it off. Over her whooshing pulse, she barely heard the last trickle of water washing down the drain. Gripping the curtain, she closed her eyes tight and tried to swal ow the old fears, but her throat and chest cinched tight, stepping her back in time. It didn’t matter that decades had passed. She was eleven al over again. In the dark and al alone.
    Tiny sparks began to dance in her vision and Abby let go of her pride. She didn’t want to pass out stark naked in a bathtub! “Gabriel, please help me,” she managed a squeaky whisper.
    “I’m here,” he said at the same time the curtain yanked from her hand. Relief flooded through her when strong fingers gripped hers.
    “The storm knocked out the power,” he