AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He leans even closer to me. “Surely you can tell how much I want you. I’m hoping you feel the same. This kind of instant connection doesn’t happen every day.” His eyes search my face, then drop to my lips.
Is he going to kiss me? Do I want him to?
Yes, I totally do.
But then my mouth forms the words, “I need things to move slowly.”
His smile is genuine. “I can do that. Anything you want.”
chapter
six
Verity
Two weeks later, and we’ve fallen into a rhythm of sorts. Most days after work, I head to Gideon’s to work in the library. He often joins me, and we chat while I work, or he reads quietly across from me. He’s never very far away from me. He’s given me space, taking things slowly. So slowly that I’m now convinced he doesn’t want me.
I sit at my desk in my office, staring at my phone. I swipe the screen over and over as I scroll through the pictures. So many images taken over the last two weeks. I pause on some taken a few nights ago at a bar Gideon talked me into going to with him.
I smile despite the remembered pain of the hangover I had the following day. For once, I dared to look briefly at Gideon’s beautiful golden eyes without worrying I’d be turned to stone again. I was so stiff and polite during that first hour, but after a couple of glasses of red wine, I accepted his offer to dance. It felt good, right, to be in his arms, and the attraction I tried to deny flamed to life within me.
I almost gave in to my need to know what his lips felt like after a third glass of wine. By the fourth, we were laughing together, and I was taking pictures to prove to Alice that I hadn’t been kidnapped.His snakes were surprisingly well-behaved, not hissing at me once, even when Gideon’s lips brushed my cheek. I think they’re warming to me.
I sigh, my memories of that night clear despite the alcohol.
My fingers trace the spot where he kissed my cheek. Deep down, in a part of myself I don’t often admit exists, I’m lonely. Alice is here, but we don’t live together and she has her job and a busy schedule.
I didn’t realize how lonely I was until Gideon came into my life. My parents died on an archeological dig in Rome when the cave they were working in collapsed. I was eighteen at the time, and as an only child, I forged on with my life alone.
But now, the thought keeps popping up—what would it be like to have a man in my life again? I dated when I was studying ancient languages at Merriam's Magical Universityand almost became engaged. But that jerk proved to be a cheater, and I cut myself off from that part of life.
In the rare instances I feel the need for a man, I take care of the urges myself. But my Black Mamba vibrator has been in overdrive since meeting Gideon. There’s an irony if ever there was one: my vibrator is named after a snake.
That night at the bar, I wanted to lift on my tiptoes, loop my arms around Gideon’s neck, and kiss him. Then I wanted to wrap my legs around his waist and cling to him while whispering ancient words into his ear, words of passion and love. There’s no explanation I can think of why I feel this way. Infatuation?
It isn’t simply that he’s a gorgon and deeply mysterious. It goes deeper than that. Gideon has a way of holding my attention with his conversation, with his understanding of the things that interest me about languages, and with his need to laugh and have a good time.
I’ve focused on my career for years and haven’t felt the need to relax or have a good time. But Gideon does, and he keeps enticing me to places I don’t usually frequent, like the bar the other night. Maybe getting out and interacting with others is good for me, after all?
I’m on sexual overload because of my attraction to him, yet at the same time, I’m also incredibly relaxed around him. Let’s not forget that he also stimulates me intellectually. He might be nearly as gifted as me with languages.
He claims it’s beginners luck, but I’m no fool.
Then, a few days ago, we were working in the library, and he groaned loudly about needing fresh air.He left the room only to return with a picnic basket. I wanted to refuse, but I also wanted to see more of the grounds of his gorgeous estate. I took a picture of him after we ate the sandwiches and sweet pastries in the basket. He looked so handsome as he relaxed, enjoying the sunshine on his face.
I sigh as I look at it now, tracing my fingers over his strong features.
There are more pictures of him, of us, so many that it amazes me. We’ve barely known each other for more than a few weeks. Another photo of Gideon studying one of the pages from the book catches my eye. He asked me to translate a word he wasn’t familiar with. And another of him smiling at me when we had dinner at his home. Some of the pictures were to reassure Alice that I was fine, while others I took for my enjoyment.
Because the truth is, I like looking at him. He’s beautiful and complex and infinitely interesting.
He'd be the perfect guy if not for those snakes on his head. Gideon is funny and kind, and he’s considerate to me. He’s even nice to Alice, who makes crappy snake jokes whenever she sees him like she invented them. He never gets annoyed, and it makes my heart melt, whether I’m near him or not. He isn’t a monster, though those with magical abilities are accustomed to the term. He’s a great guy.
I sit back in my chair in my office, my eyes on the petrified bee still trapped in lapis lazuli. Gideon is drop-dead gorgeous and has a body made for sin, but it goes deeper than that. Am I falling for him?
Of course I am. There’s a good chance that should be in the past tense at this point. I’ve fallen for him. Despite how different we are. I even made a list of all the reasons we wouldn’t work. But none of those reasons seem all that important.
He loves sci-fi movies and football, while I prefer the written word to television or movies. He’s wealthy, and I’m … not, but his money doesn’t interest me. He’s lived a privileged life while I’ve struggled to pay for my education and eaten rice flavored with bouillon cubes to get by more than once. And yeah, his idea of a good time is dancing all night, while I like my old standby of reading. But I enjoyed our night out. I enjoyed the picnic and dinner I had with him.
