Gabriella looked away from me into the fire. As she stared at the flames, something shifted in her expression — became conflicted. “I need to tell you something else,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Anything.” “If I tell you, promise me that you won’t freak out.”
I panicked internally. Gabriella had already told me she was half-succubus and that her parents had been murdered by The Sorrow — the same nightmare that was after me — and neither times had she looked as nervous as she did now. What could possibly freak me out more than what she’s already told me?
“I won’t,” I promised.
She turned back to face me. Her expression looked so torn, I could feel the knots wrapping around my insides. “No it’s too soon, oh god, I don’t know-”
“Gabriella, tell me!”
“I think I’m in love with you.”
The words burst from her mouth as if they had escaped without permission. For a few seconds they didn’t register. Then like a delayed response, my body came alive with emotions. My heart skipped so many beats it seemed like it would never regain its rhythm. The knots transformed into a flurry of butterflies that beat a storm of wings against the walls of my stomach. Adrenaline surged through me, igniting every inch of my body and pushing all of my senses into overdrive.
Gabriella looked away. “I’m sorry. I know it’s a lot to take in. I–I’m confused myself. Maybe it’s the soulmate thing. I don’t know…I can’t help it.”
This can’t be real. I’m dreaming. But the look in her eyes told me it was real. I was sat in front of the most incredible girl ever to grace the Earth, and she was confessing her love for me.
Words were beyond my reach.
Gabriella stood up suddenly. “Look, don’t worry, it was stupid. Forget I said anything. I’m going to go downstairs.” She started moving towards the door.
Not this time.
I sprang off the sofa and marched after her, grabbing hold of her arm.
“Gabriella.”
I pulled her around to face me and pressed my lips against hers. They felt a thousand times better than in my imagination. The charges rolled through my body — they were different this time, more exciting. Our mouths parted and tongues gently touched and explored. Gabriella’s lips slid along mine as we kissed and a soft moan escaped her throat.
I pulled away and stared into her eyes. “I love you too. I did from the second I saw you.”
Gabriella’s face broke into a smile. She grabbed at the back of my neck and pulled me close. We kissed in short, breathless bursts. A wave of charges rolled down my spine making me shudder with pleasure. I ran my fingers up and down her bare arms, each one sending a fresh wave of electricity coursing through my fingers. My heart was racing.
With a sudden burst of control, I lifted Gabriella up. She wrapped her legs around my waist and placed her hands either side of my neck. Still kissing, we stumbled towards the sofa. I threw her down and slid on top of her. I slowly kissed the side of her neck as she let out sharp breaths, fingers raking through my hair. My lips buzzed every time they met her skin and she shook gently in response. She grabbed at my t-shirt, and I stopped so she could slide it off. I placed my hand in the small of her back and lifted her up into a sitting position. Gabriella crossed her arms and pulled her own top off. My breath caught in my throat as I saw her naked skin, covered only by a bra. She’s perfect.
Gabriella wildly kissed me all over. My face, neck, collarbone, chest. Each kiss sent vibrations rushing through my body. I wrapped my arms around her and felt the warmth of her Umbra skin on my hands. I sank back down onto her and pushed my lips against hers. The charges made everything more intense. I couldn’t believe I’d ever seen them as a bad thing. The more intense we got, the more pleasurable the electric connection got. I had no idea that anything could feel this good. Gabriella’s sweet breath filled my mouth as our tongues wrapped around each other. Her breathing grew heavier and she pushed a hand against my chest, breaking away. She moved her mouth to my ear and whispered into it, her voice breathless.
“Alex I want you… now.”
I didn’t refuse.
I woke up to a red glow pouring through a crack in the curtains. For a split second I thought the base was on fire, before I realised it was only the sunrise.
Gabriella’s naked body was wrapped around me, her head resting on my chest. Her raven hair flowed over it, spilling onto the sheets. I ran my fingers up and down her arm, letting the tips flow over her soft skin. She sighed in her sleep and nestled into me. At that moment, I was the happiest I’d ever been in my life.
In the tranquil silence of the morning, I let myself remember the night before and my stomach filled with butterflies all over again. It had been the most amazing experience of my life. At some point we’d ended up in the bedroom. Afterwards, I’d held Gabriella close and listened as she told me the rest of her story.
She’d still been wrapped in her mother’s arms when the HASEA had found her. Gabriella had thought it was the ‘giant’ come back to finish her off. But instead she’d been picked up by a kind female Guardian who soothed her, whilst another spoke on the phone. He’d told the person on the other end that they’d been too late. He had moved away from her and lowered his voice, but she’d still heard him say, ‘one more thing Sage Etorre. They had a child.’
I kissed Gabriella’s cheek and gently slipped from underneath her. I pulled the duvet up and wrapped it around her body, tucking her in. Moving over to the window, I opened the glowing curtains.
The sky looked as though it were on fire. Streaks of scorched clouds stretched into the horizon. Directly above was a yawning hole of blackness as dark as death. I twisted the drapes in my hands. This isn’t a sunrise.
“It’s the Red Storm.”
Gabriella’s voice made me start. I turned away from the window. She was sitting up, covers drawn up to her collarbones. “The Sorrow’s influence.” “What does it do?” “It’s a symbol used to invoke fear. The storm always arrives before The Sorrow does.” “But I thought Faru sealed the Veil?” “He did. But unfortunately that doesn’t stop its influence.” “Will it do anything?” “Not without The Sorrow to control it. Except that now every Rogue within a hundred mile radius knows where to come.”
I took a second look at the vicious hellfire sky. It felt like I was watching Armageddon unfold. “It’s not the end of the world. But you can see it from here.”
“Sorry, what did you say?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter, just a saying I heard once.”
Someone knocked at the door. I looked at Gabriella, who shrugged. Grabbing a dressing gown from the wardrobe, I padded into the lounge, tying the chord as I walked.
I opened the door to see Delagio leaning against the frame. He stepped back, surveying me through a squinted eye. Then he gave a broad smile.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Oh nothin’,” he grinned. “Ah was lookin’ for a feisty brunette. Only there seems ta be one missin’ from her apartment. Say, you haven’t seen her have you?”
I could feel my face growing hot with embarrassment. Before I could answer, Gabriella’s voice floated over my shoulder.
“I’m here. What’s up Delagio?”
I turned to see her appear next to me, wearing one of my t-shirts. Delagio’s eyes widened as he saw her. Gabriella sighed and leaned against the door. “Yes it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s five in the morning, what’s going on?”
He nodded his head approvingly, giving me a not too subtle wink. Then his face was all business. “I’m here for Alex.”
“How come?” I asked.
“Support from the other bases is comin’ soon. Faru wants to mind merge with you again. See if he can identify any more SOS that were at that meeting. You know, make sure everyone fightin’ with us is on our side.”
“Give me a couple of minutes?”
“I’ll be right out here.” He let out a long sigh. “Looks like this is really happenin’.” With that he pushed off the door frame and settled against the opposite wall — marble spinning between his fingers.