25 Esme's Chic Apartment

Gabriel bit her hand playfully with his fangs. The slight prick startled her, and she started to move her hand, but he tightened his hold; his tongue licked the small bit of blood from his fangs before smirking, "I also bite."

Esme's lips parted at how she was suddenly in this position with none other than the Vampire King. He looked disturbingly hot right now. Something that should have made her run for the hills kept her there merely staring back at such a handsome creature.

"Snap out of it, Es. Hey! Es? Can you hear me? ESME SNOW!" Isana growled out her full name that usually worked, but like Esme, she stared at Gabriel then sighed dreamily, caving into whatever was happening right now.

Esme was still in shock and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind, "I thought werewolves tasted awful to vampires." It had been a while since she lost her cool, and she had to say it was a little refreshing.

Gabriel chuckled and released Esme's hand before leaning close to the side of her face until his nose touched just below her ear, making her inhale sharply from the intimacy and how affected she was from his touch. "Hmm, you are tasty, though." He smirked and abruptly straightened, turning on the spot and quietly said, "Come, I'll show you the apartment."

Grrr, he was just messing with me!

Esme's eyes glowed brightly, and she could feel her wolf pacing at the edges of her mind wanting to be freed. But she kept Isana in check, inhaling deeply; she released her breath and stood up. "I have not agreed to this," She said firmly, quickening her steps to catch up to the vampire.

"You also did not disagree," Gabriel hummed, putting his hands in his pockets.

Esme parted her lips then pouted, looking away from him as she looked outside at the darkening sky in passing, the lounge and waterfall feature to their right. "Well, if it's on a higher floor, do you really think I'd get in that elevator again?"

"There are the stairs," Esme looked at him in disbelief. Gabriel chuckled at her expression. "I thought werewolves were in shape. And from how you seem to spend your nights fighting, I think a little leg workout up the stairs should be fine for you."

"And what if I am bleeding to death?" Esme stopped and looked at him, placing her hands on her hips.

"Firstly, I doubt you would make it back to my building if that was the case, and secondly, if you were so badly injured, you would have to take the elevator. I am quite certain your injury would overcome your claustrophobia." He looked at her smugly as though he would win any argument between them.

"I'm not claustrophobic," Esme murmured under her breath, "I just don't like your lift." She started walking again, not wanting to think more about the lift incident and the events that made her have such a breakdown. She felt pathetic and embarrassed by it. Gabriel didn't comment more about it, but his gaze wandered down to her bare feet on the cool surface of the marble floors.

"Vincent, get Esme some slippers," Gabriel said quietly. Esme looked around for the butler, but she could not see him.

Where the hell was he?!

Esme swore she could never feel his presence nearby; it was pretty eery. She was glad it wasn't someone like Vincent hunting her down. If so, she wouldn't last very long if he found her.

Within the next five seconds, Vincent appeared before them, bowing with his hands holding out two fluffy slippers. "T-thanks," She took the slippers and slid her feet into them, finding them to be a perfect fit.

"Of course, they are a perfect fit. I wonder if Gabriel has a room full of clothes he can give to all the women he has probably slept with," Isana muttered. With her wolf's comment, she also wondered more about Gabriel's love life. But it was only her curiosity, and she shut it down immediately, knowing well that a man with those looks could get anyone he wanted.

"Perfect, let us head down." Gabriel placed his hand on her back, urging her forwards before she could complain. They walked past the elevator and to the far end, where there were large black double doors. Gabriel used a fob and pulled one of the doors back, revealing a small hallway leading to a glass spiral staircase; following it down, they came across two doors and an entrance for the lift in a white marble floor hallway.

"There are two entrances to your apartment. The one behind is, so no one has access to my penthouse from the stairs, and of course, this door is for your apartment." Gabriel tapped the fob against the side of the large black double doors. The doors clicked open and slid to the sides.

"Wait, wait," Esme refused to look inside just yet; she knew it was going to be grand. "When you say others.. I thought you owned the whole building?"

"Of course, I do. I provide some apartments just above ONYX to.." He glanced away briefly, "a few people."

"That pause was very suspicious…" Esme narrowed her eyes at him.

Gabriel grinned and gestured for her to go inside. "There is nothing to hide. Niko lives there, and the others you don't need to know about. Besides, you are more suspicious than anyone here. I know you are on the run, Esme. There is no point in hiding it anymore."

Esme walked ahead, using her awe of the apartment as an excuse to not answer Gabriel quickly. Just like the penthouse, everything was of the highest quality and large enough to be a whole floor than an apartment. The lounge area consisted of a large light grey L-shaped sofa atop a fluffy white rug opposite a large glass wall fireplace and a plasma T.V on the stylishly bricked wall.

Walking past the living room, she saw an open-spaced kitchen with its own island meant for someone who could cook well, and further back, there were a few doors. "You have two bedrooms with ensuites, an office and a bar," Gabriel added as her gaze landed on the doors ahead of them.

"Well, I don't exactly need all of that. This is more than enough, thank you, but I doubt I will need to use it," Esme replied quietly, glancing at the floor to ceiling windows to the side.

Gabriel grabbed her hand and placed the keys and fob in her hand. "You should always have a backup. Look, you don't need to tell me who it is you are exactly running from, but I need to know a bit more and what to expect." He held her gaze with his hands still clasping hers with the keys in.

Esme stared back at him, wondering where these rumours of his ruthlessness came from because so far, he had been nothing but nice to her, sure he seemed to tease her, but if Gabriel was so dangerous, he would not have done this or kept her alive.