Page 23 of Culmination
“From where I’m standing, the only danger to me is from two people. One’s in this room, and the other is his father,” she replies, showing strength I’ve never encountered from her before.
I like it. Why did she never show that side to me?
In truth, I liked meek, at-my-beck-and-call, hanging-on-my-every-word Gabriella. I didn’t have to share her. She was wholly mine, undivided attention and all. She was the first, and only, person in my life who thought I was worth something.
If only I’d been half the man she thought I was. Perhaps, she’d still be mine.
I haven’t written it off yet. I saw the way she looked at me in the sanctuary. The way I still affect her. She may think she loves another, but is it love or is it desperate need for protection? I have to know because I can give her both. Hell, I gave her both for the better part of two years, and Matthews has had what? Three months?
When I look at her, her jaw is set, her eyes narrow. Undeterred, I continue. “Gabriella, that man. The one you”—I pause, nearly choking on the words—“the one you’ve left me for… He’s not that man he pretends to be.”
Her face is expressionless. I hate that I can’t read her anymore.
“That man,” she answers bitterly, “said the same of you.”
I release an exasperated sigh. While I’m sure what she’s been told of me is mostly true, I can only imagine the way Matthews has embellished my exploits for his own gain.
“Of course he would, darling. He sought to win your affection from me. Why wouldn’t he say such things? I know how men like him think.”
“You know nothing about him, Adrian. Not a damn thing.”
I can’t help the snort that escapes me at that. “You would be wrong about that. I’ve known all about Rafe Matthews for years. Far longer than the time he’s been gracing your bed.”
My fists tighten into balls. The thought of her—my beautiful, sweet, innocent Gabriella—in bed with another man threatens my patience. All I want to do is throw her over my shoulder, rush to the closest airport, secure her on a private plane, and steal her away until she remembers why she was mine for so long. Why she should be with me above all others. Abovehim.
She gasps then quickly tries to cover up her surprise. She can’t help the widening of her eyes, however, and I know she’s curious.
“What?”
It’s a single syllable, yet it’s so beautiful. It’s hard to contain myself from shouting the truth. So Rafe Matthews hasn’t been candid with Gabriella. Something profound warms my dark heart, a heart that’s been cold from the moment she left me. This is it. My way back in. After all, how can she condemn me as a liar when he is very much the same?
I nod. “As I said. You don’t know the real man.”
She lifts her chin in defiance. “I know who he is. I know he worked for your father, and I know he—” She snaps her mouth closed. Interesting. “Unlikeyou,Adrian, he told me the truth. He told me everything. We have no secrets. It’s one of the many things that set the two of you apart.”
My mouth twitches and I try not to bask in the fact that my sweet Gabriella is still as naïve as she was the day we met. “Everything, darling?”
Frustration emanates across her features at my condescension. “Yes,” she replies through gritted teeth.
My cock aches as her words take me back to how she used to say my name in bed.
“Everything.”
“So he told you heworkedfor Theo?” I prod.
“Ye—yes, of course,” she insists, her voice not so confident anymore,
My brow lifts. “He didn’t just work for my father. Heworksfor him now.”
“He…he what?”
It’s apparent Matthews wasn’t all that honest with Gabriella after all, and I mentally declare it a small victory. Perhaps I can turn it into a rather large one.
“Yes, Gabriella, your Rafe Matthews is currently employed by my father.”
I almost pity her confusion.
“But what about his business?” she asks. “The construction gig…” The way she pulls her plump, bottom lip in between white teeth stirs something in my cock.
