Nicola's POV

I opened my eyes and the first thing I realised was that it's not my room. I looked around quickly, realizing that this was Gabriel's room. I recognized it from the other night.

I was alone in the room. I had no idea where Gabriel was, but I do not want to be here when he comes back. I'm not ready to see him yet. I thought as I hastily threw the blankets off of me and jumped out of bed.

I ran to the door, but realized, I can't open my room without the keys. I looked around in panick, as I remembered I had forgotten my bag last night.

But discovering my bag on the nightstand, I sighed in relief. Some angel must have brought it back for me. Namely, Sophie. I ran to the nightstand, grabbed my bag, and checked if it had the keys.

As soon as my fingers touched metal,I grabbed them, racing out the room towards mine.

Opening the door, I went inside, locking it, finally being able to breathe.

Now that I was in the privacy of my room, I could finally allow myself to recall what happened last night.

Starting with going to the club, dancing with a stranger, who found me attractive and desirable, and then him asking me to sleep with him, and the pathetic me wishing Gabriel would feel the same about me.

I had been overpowered by sadness and self-pity, which had left me vulnerable and in no control of my emotions.

And then the most disastrous thing that could happen at that moment, happening.

Gabriel showed up! And seeing him there at that moment had made me into an emotional mess because he shocked me by showing up there while I was in the midst of my own misery.

Now that I have calmed down, I realized just what I had let be revealed to Gabriel. What am I going to do? Last night was bad, really bad.

I had decided last night that I couldn't be here. I had planned on making up an excuse today and going back home. But now...

But why had he come anyway. Why couldn't he have just let me be. He had gone out with Camille. He had made his choice, and I had made mine.

Camille was his choice, and my choice is to go home, get over Gabriel for good, find someone who would love and appreciate me for who I am, and live happily ever after.

I am done allowing Gabriel to own my heart. He has had my heart for about fifteen or so years now. I only thought I was over him by moving to another city and making something out of myself, but I had never bothered about men. I had poured my entire self into my career. I had something to show for that, but still, that's just existing. I had never actually lived.

So now I am done just existing. I want to find my happiness, and I can't find it being near Gabriel. I needed him out of my sight so I could start getting him out of my mind.

Taking that decision, I went to the wardrobe, dragging out my suitcase and opening it on the bed. I grabbed all my clothes, stuffing it in the suitcase, leaving one on the bed for me to wear now.

I will pack my toiletries after I shower. I decided, looking down at my clothes, an oversized white t-shirt, which I do not remember changing into. And no, if it wasn't me who changed myself into this last night, I don't want to know who did!

I went to the bathroom taking a quick shower because the sooner I was ready, the sooner I could get out of here.

I felt guilty for having to run out on Livy and Bella. I will be completely ruining their holiday by doing this. But I really hoped Emma and Sophie could make up for it in some way. I didn't want them getting hurt in all of this. But I really couldn't stay. I just couldn't.

When I finished showering, I dried myself and wrapped a towel around my body. I brushed my teeth, and once I was done, I stepped out of the bathroom.

But my heart almost leaped out of my throat seeing Gabriel sitting at the foot of the bed, waiting for me.

He was sitting with his legs apart, leaning forward, resting his elbows on him knees, while his hands were clasped together, resting his chin on them.

His stance looked casual enough, but his blank expression and cold eyes spoke another story.

I gulped, feeling panicked again. My heart had started beating really hard, so I put my hand on my chest to calm it down as well as to make sure my towel would stay in place.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. My voice came out barely a whisper.

"What's this?" He asked in return, pointing his thumb at his back where my suitcase was lying, still open, with piles of clothes spilling out of it.

"How did you get in here?" I asked back. Neither of us seemed to be interested in answering each other's questions. Also, I remember specifically that I had locked that door.

He shrugged, finally being the one to answer. Without answering. I thought in annoyance.

He slowly stood up, and I felt my breathing stop as I looked up at him. The room suddenly felt really small, and I started feeling cramped in this space, especially with him coming closer and closer to me. He stopped when he came to stand right in front of me. Looming over me, making me feel very small and very aware that I was naked except for a towel.

He looked and smelt delicious up close. He was wearing a plain blue t-shirt with khaki pants. I gulped again. I have yet to look up and meet his eyes.

"Ummm, could you please leave so I could get dressed?" I tried asking, hopefully. My heart is still thumping loudly.

"Why?" He replied, making my eyes go wide. "So you could leave again?" He asked angrily. Oh. That's what he meant by why. He was on full attack mode.

And I am in full denial mode.

He waited for me to answer but when I didn't he grabbed at my towel, which would have come off if not for my quick reflex in holding on to it, and pushed me against the wall letting his other hand rest against the wall next to my face.

I gasped, looking at him wide-eyed. He didn't hurt me, and I wasn't afraid, but I could feel his anger that was vibrating inside of him that he wasn't letting out. His eyes were burning in fury, capturing me in its flames. Yet his voice came out gentle, almost soothing.

"Answer me," he whispered. His face was so close to mine that his breath fanned my face when he spoke.

His closeness was playing with my mind and it took everything in me not to loose myself in the desires that was burning inside of me, begging me to just pull him to me and capture those lush pink lips in mine and finally discover the taste of them.

But I tried to remember that he had rejected me and that's why I was leaving. It helped to calm my desires, looking up at his eyes, not allowing him to see my emotions.

"Yes," I said, my breath coming out ragged.

I remembered him being this close to me before and then leaping away from me all of a sudden, like as if the mere thought of being near me was horrifying.

I can't keep allowing myself to be humiliated. To be rejected over and over again. I need to come to terms with the fact that Gabriel can never be mine. He doesn't want me.

Suddenly, he closed his eyes, pulling me to him.

I was left breathless, uncertain of what was happening. He captured me in a hug, pulling me so close, my feet barely touching the floor. I put my hands on his shoulders, trying to push him away from me, but he held me closer.

"Stop, Nicola! Why don't you just stop?!" He finally burst out, and I remember screaming at him last night for him to stop it. He was still holding me tightly, and my attempts to be free were futile.

"If you are angry, shout at me, scream, hit, I don't care. But stop leaving me dammit!" He shouted, pulling me away, holding me by my shoulders and slightly shaking me.

I stood there frozen, my mouth agape, staring at him, not understanding his sudden burst of emotions.

"Nicola." He dragged out my name, groaning. He took my face in his hands, placing his forehead against mine.

Closing his eyes, he whispered to me, "Please talk to me, Nicola. Your silence is killing me, and you have been silent for six years."

He lifted his head, opening his eyes. I gasped, looking in them, seeing the vulnerability that he was allowing me to see, that left me breathless.

But I still couldn't utter a single word. I felt so scared, so vulnerable myself, as I stared up at those beautiful blue eyes that were begging me to let him in.

He finally groaned closing his eyes again, before opening them revealing a a dark predatory look that made me widen my eyes and try backing away, only for him to take a step forward pinning me against the wall with his body while capturing my lips in a kiss....

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