Read Online Fallen by Kelley R. Martin - Free Book Online Page B

scissors to it. Silk frills sat around the waist of the open-sided garment, and a swath of lace ran down the middle of the stomach, connecting the fabric-less cups and crotchless bottom. This thing screamed “fuck me.” 
    Heat fanned my face as my jaw clenched. I threw it down on the dresser and pulled my clothes on, underwear be damned. Now I wasn’t a prude, and given the right situation, I’d have no problem wearing this, but for Gabriel to commission someone into buying this for me? Totally crossing the line. Did he expect me to spread my legs as thanks for everything he’d done?
    I grabbed the teddy and flung the door open, ready to give Gabriel a piece of my very pissed off mind.

Chapter Sixteen
    GABRIEL
    “What the hell is this?” Emily demanded as she stormed into my bedroom, throwing a piece of clothing at me.
    Holy shit, she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her tits strained against her t-shirt, bouncing as she barged in. 
    Jesus Christ, her nipples are hard.
    I cleared my throat and tore my eyes away, bringing them down to the fabric clutched in my hand. Spreading out the scraps of black lace and silk, I saw the offending object clearly.
    An image of her in the revealing lingerie immediately popped into my head, and my eyes went to her breasts.
    “Hey asshole, my face is up here.” Her harsh voice and suddenly crossed arms made me jerk my head up.
    My cheeks burned, and I scowled. Blushing was not something I did. Ever. “Don’t come in here tits a-blazing next time, and I won’t have to stare.” I tossed the scrap of clothing back to her.
    Catching it, her face turned deadly. “Why would you tell someone to buy this for me? Did you think I’d fuck you as some kind of thank you for everything?”
    Goddamn it, Joseph… “Of course not,” I muttered. “And I didn’t tell anyone to buy this for you. I simply said you needed everything. I didn’t know he’d come back with… that .” I gestured to the clump of lace and silk she had clutched in her hand. 
    Her death-glare slowly faded as the apples of her cheeks pinkened. “Oh…” 
    A lop-sided grin spread across my face. I couldn’t help it. I just had to gloat. “Tell me, Em, how does that crow taste? I bet it’s bitter, right?”
    Her nostrils flared as she silently fumed. Turning on her heel to leave, she mumbled, “I’m going to bed.”
    God, I loved pissing her off. “Sweet dreams, sugar tits,” I called out.
    With her back to me, she flipped me the bird before disappearing out my bedroom door.
     
    Later that night, I slid into bed, letting out a groan at the familiar softness. I’d missed this bed. Flipping over, I reached up to turn off the light as a high-pitched scream broke through the quiet apartment.
    I was on my feet in a flash, running full-speed to Em’s room. The living room and hallways passed me in a blur. Bursting through her door, I skidded to a halt.
    She was asleep, thrashing and crying through her dream.
    I jogged over and knelt beside the bed, shaking her shoulders. “Em, wake up.”
    She jerked awake, eyes wide and panicked as she looked around the room, her breathing rapid and shallow. “It was just a dream,” she murmured to herself.
    Looked more like a nightmare to me. One that I was all too familiar with. “You okay?” I knew the answer, but felt like I should still ask.
    She untangled her legs from the sheets and wiped her crying eyes. “No.”
    Didn’t think so.
    I stayed there for a moment, unsure of what to do. “Do you want to talk about it?” From the scent of her fear and salty tears permeating the room, I knew it had to have been bad.
    She shook her head as fresh tears welled up.
    “It’s okay, you don’t have to.” 
    As I stood to leave, she grabbed my hand. “Stay with me until I fall asleep?” 
    I stared at our interlocked hands. If it had been anybody else that asked, I would’ve said no. This was too personal, too intimate for just anyone. But this was not just anyone. This