Teaser Tuesday

Time for another teaser, and this time -- for real, barring natural disasters and acts of god and, like, another sinus infection -- there will be another giveaway, too! But first, read some more about Wren's growing feelings for Gabriel ... 

“Wren, let me help, okay? I could do some research. I don’t want you to go through this alone. And I really don’t want you to get hurt.”

     He’s serious, and everything about the defined angles of his body is softer now. But I can’t help blurting, “God, why do you care?”  

     He flinches as if I slapped him. “Isn’t it obvious? I noticed you before I picked up on your power, Wren.”

     That shouldn’t feel as good as it does, a bright hot pulse in my chest. It doesn’t matter if Gabriel likes me, and it really doesn’t matter if I like Gabriel. There’s Danny to think about. Always Danny.

     I don’t know what to say, so I stand there blinking instead, and finally Gabriel gives up and takes a step toward me again. I don’t back up this time, even though I do have to tilt my head to look him in the eye. Why are the only boys who like me always so tall?

     “I saw you, Wren,” Gabriel says, and his voice is so soft, a feather drifting on the air, that I close my eyes to listen. “I saw this girl with these dark eyes and this crazy hair and this fuck you look on her face, and I wanted to talk to you.”

     I laugh and open my eyes. “Wow. Smooth.”

     He smirks, his wide mouth twisting to one side, and shrugs a little. “It’s true. You don’t look like everybody else, and that’s a good thing.”

     “At least the outside and the inside match,” I say, and let myself move just a little closer. I can’t help myself——my life has become a series of balls I’m trying to keep in the air, and I can’t hold onto any of them long enough.

     I want to hold on to Gabriel. 

     My hands find his forearms, and I tangle my fingers in the worn cotton of his sleeves. Another kick of energy washes through me, warm and bright, and the air shimmers around us. I want so much, so much I can’t have, so much I’m not supposed to even think about.

     But I stretch up anyway, trembling, hearing the echo of Gabriel’s voice: I saw you. I saw you. 

I never thought I wanted to be seen like that, so completely. I didn’t think it was possible, after keeping so many secrets for so long. It’s amazing how good it feels.

     When I press my mouth to Gabriel’s, I can feel the shimmer, taste it, sweet, mellow gold where our lips touch, a slow-blooming heat that twines around us like vines. And it’s so bittersweet, so much like that long-ago first kiss with Danny, I break away with a jerk.

     “I have to go,” I manage to get out, and then I’m scrambling, pushing away from Gabriel’s outstretched hands and the sound of his voice to grab my stuff and run. 

Check in later for details about the giveaway!