twin consequences of that night

When Gabi opened the door to see Nathanial Harcourt standing, with one hand braced against the stone arch and the other fisted at his side, dark eyes bright and sparking with dangerous gold flecks, she was utterly and completely stunned.

        ‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, finally finding her voice.

        Nate glared at her with a flinty gaze. He opened his mouth as if to answer her question and slammed it shut again before he could.

        Gabi’s body shivered as goosebumps scattered over her skin. He looked…incredible. Perhaps it was because earlier, back in Madrid, she’d been expecting him, prepared for the sheer might of his presence. But here? In her little home, her sanctuary, it hit her with full force.

        He drew from her the kind of response she’d only read about in story books, seen on TV and felt in person only once in her life—the night they’d spent together. It started with a rush that flooded her from head to toe, like a wave that crested over her skin, drenching her in a heat that burned but didn’t leave a mark. It prickled her hair like static and snapped at her fingers like firecrackers. And she’d have thought she were going mad if she wasn’t almost one hundred percent sure that he felt exactly the same way.

        ‘How did you find me?’ she asked, forcing herself to speak again to break the inexplicable connection that had formed between them.

        ‘I have people for that.’ His voice scraped gravel over her sensitised skin.

        ‘What do you want?’ she asked, her voice trembling. It wasn’t a physical fear—not for a minute did she think she was in physical jeopardy—but there was a threat here and it was very real.

        He barked out a laugh, as if something she’d said was funny, and she knew. She knew without knowing, she knew despite her heart still hoping. He had taken one look at Ana and Antonio and he’d known.

        ‘Lie to me and tell me they’re not mine,’ he commanded. ‘Do it, and I swear you’ll live to regret it.’