ILL-FATED MATCH

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A FRESH START

No sooner had Gabriel descended the stairs than Shawn, Adrian and Mitchell burst through the door.

"She needs to rest," he said before any of them could say a word.

"We'll wait," Shawn grinned, earning him a suspicious look from Mitchell.

"Suit yourselves" he said and walked towards the bar.

"Why do you seem so eager to see another woman?" Mitchell grumbled playfully.

"Oops my bad. You can make me wear a blindfold." Shawn began, grinning. "Or… better still…" he continued, turning to face Gabriel. I change my mind Gabriel. I'm no longer interested in seeing your mate.

Gabriel rolled his eyes and Mitchell chuckled.

"Fix me a drink too" Adrian called out to Gabriel.

"Yes my Lord." Gabriel murmured.

He sat on one of the bar stools and examined the strand of fur.

Mitchell suddenly gave a moan of pleasure and Adrian who had been so intent on reading a message on his phone looked up, and to his horror, Shawn and Mitchell were having a makeout session.

"You guys should get a room. There are kids around." He complained.

The duo totally ignored him.

Mitchell gave another moan of pleasure. Louder this time. Adrian decided that he had had enough. He walked to the bar and took a seat.

"They are at it again" he grumbled

Gabriel merely shrugged. If he had had the chance he would have taken Selena right there and then on one of the restaurant's tables the other day.

"Since when did you start shedding fur in human form?" Adrian questioned pointing at the strand of fur Gabriel had placed on the bar table.

"Selena had it," he replied quietly.

"I don't understand." Adrian was puzzled.

"I don't understand either"

"What's going on Gabriel?"

"I have no idea….." he paused for a moment.

"I had a dream only I'm sure if it was actually a dream. I went for a run and she was right there at the clearing.

"At first she was afraid of the sight of me. But she got bolder and even buried her fingers in my fur."

He paused again and his eyes betrayed his confusion at what he was about to say next.

Adrian stayed silent, afraid that if he said a word, Gabriel might stop talking.

"When I woke up I decided to go for a run. I got to the clearing and her scent was so strong there. Like she had just left. Trust me I wasn't imagining it."

"What if we had both been there somehow?"

"Or how else can I explain how she got this?" He asked, holding up the strand.

"I know for a fact that she doesn't have a pet. I would have smelled it on her, and mind you, we're not even in the arctic region where we can even find animals with snow white fur."

"It's mine"

"I think you should ask her," Adrian concluded.

Gabriel downed the remaining drink in his glass, and for a while they both remained silent.

"Did someone die?" Shawn asked as he and his mate joined the duo at the bar.

"That was fast. I thought you could go an hour." Adrian joked.

Mitchell rolled her eyes. "Trust me we'd get bored. It's better to take breaks in between."

"At the end of the day we spend up to five hours." Shawn grinned

"Jobless" Gabriel muttered.

"What's with the fur?" Shawn asked as he poured himself a drink.

By the time Adrian finished narrating what Gabriel had told him, both Shawn's and Mitchell's jaws were literally on the floor.

"I agree with Adrian. You should ask her." Mitchell said.

● * * *

Selena wondered how she had fallen asleep. One moment she had been admiring the patterns on the bed sheet and the next….. dreaming about butterflies!

Grown women shouldn't be dreaming about butterflies. She thought.

She opened her eyes when she felt someone stroking her hair and was immediately struck with a sense of deja vu.

Who owns these kids!!!

"The first thing I'm going to teach you guys is respecting the personal spaces of others" Selena muttered.

Clara and Raphael giggled.

"I thought nannies were supposed to put the kids to sleep first before going to sleep themselves." Clara joked.

"Oh really? You little….." She sat up abruptly and started to tickle Clara who broke into a fit of giggles. Raphael joined in the fun, tickling his sister too.

Just when Clara thought she was definitely going to burst, Gabriel appeared.

"Sorry to spoil your fun guys but I want your nanny."

Raphael's eyes widened. Gabriel's eyes widened too.

"I mean…I need your nanny's attention" he corrected and decided it was time to have a little chat with his nephew. The kid was too young to start reading other meanings into innocent words.

"What sort of attention?" Clara questioned. "Don't you think you're too old for a nanny?"

Selena watched their exchange with wide eyed fascination and amusement. She was enjoying this too much.

"Guys stop playing with me" he gave them a look.

Raphael whispered something to his sister and she burst out laughing.

"You can have your nanny" Raphael singsonged as he and his sister skipped out of the room.

Gabriel shook his head as he watched them leave and turned to give Selena a "can you believe these kids?" look.

The expression on his face turned wolfish as he took in the sight of her.

Her cheeks were rosy and her glorious curls tumbled down her back and around her shoulders.

She looked so innocent with her beautiful, large eyes and full natural cherry red lips.

He fisted his hands in his pocket to keep from touching her.

"I see someone had a really nice nap" he drawled.

Selena tried not to touch the sides of her mouth to wipe off any imaginary drool.

She was sure her hair resembled a bird's nest.

"The bed's really comfortable." She said.

"I see" he murmured, his gaze traveling to her breasts.

She had taken her bra off earlier to feel more comfortable and now her wayward n*****s were poking through her shirt.

"Did you want something?" She asked breathlessly.

"Oh yes. I want something. His eyes darkened.

He walked slowly towards her, climbed the bed and planted both hands beside her.

Under different circumstances, Selena would have laughed at the ridiculousness of the sight of such a masculine man on a too girly bed.

"What are you doing?" She whispered quite unable to move or look away from his electrifying eyes.

"What do you think?" Gabriel whispered.

The air between them crackled with electricity and temperature of the room increased inspite of the cool air blasting from the air conditioner.

Selena mouth felt dry and she ran her red tongue over her lips.

Gabriel's eyes followed the movement and again Selena saw a flash of silver in them.

He raised one hand off the bed, cupped her chin and ran his thumb over her lower lip.

She closed her eyes and gasped.

"I'll be waiting downstairs." He murmured.

Selena's eyes flew open and watched his retreating form.

She swore and berated herself for being so easy. She hadn't even put up a fight!

After a little pep talk and of course, putting her bra where it belonged, she walked downstairs.

She hesitated when she got to the foot of the stairs, suddenly shy as three pairs of eyes gawked at her.

The people in this house really need to learn some manners. It's rude to stare! Selena thought.

She nearly tripped as she took her place beside Gabriel on the sofa. The only familiar person in the room.

He appeared to be so focused on something on his phone. She gently nudged him with her elbow.

The total silence and stares made her uncomfortable.

It was Adrian who broke the silence.

"I'm Adrian. Gabriel's best friend. Pardon our manners….. We're pleased to finally meet you."

Selena raised her eyebrows and glanced at Gabriel who was giving Adrian a dirty look.

"I'm Shawn. Gabriel's cousin and this is Mitchell, my mate.

Selena's eyes widened slightly at the unusual use of the word 'mate' but she said nothing.

The three of them were a eye full. Stunning in their appearance.

Even though they were seated, Selena could tell that Adrian and Shawn were nearly as tall as Gabriel and they radiated power.

They resembled gods too. Adrian with him raven dark hair and eyes the color of sinful chocolate. He had full pink lips and strong jaw. Quite muscular too. Just like Shawn. His hair was ash silver like his cousin's but his eyes which were full of mischief were golden brown.

Mitchell was Venus personified. She had enviable silky, wavy, golden brown hair. Her large green eyes were fringed with long, dark, silky lashes. She had a rosebud mouth and dainty ears.

Selena was struck by her queenly bearing and she nearly rose up to bow to her.

"I'm Selena….." she started in a coarse voice.

She coughed gently to clear her throat.

"I'm Selena. It's nice to meet you all.

"Have you asked her yet?"Shawn asked.

Selena gave Gabriel a curious glance. "What?"