Intrigue wrapped in beauty

 "Well as I live and breathe! Abriel?" Miriam squeals as she throws the screen door open. She wraps me in a hug. "It's been what four years?"

 "Something like that." I chuckle. I look around her small living room. "This is a nice place, Miriam." She shrugs. Her curly brown hair is short and frames her face, she is still beautiful even with the changes to her body due to having a baby.

 "So, Abby how are you doing?" Miriam plops down on the couch and I follow. I run a hand through my blonde hair.

 "I guess okay. My career is taking off I've started several different tech startups, and volunteer for a couple of nonprofit organizations. I've started blogging and vlogging. Trying to rewrite my story, one that isn't tied to Abe." I look away trying to keep the tears from coming. I scan her walls. My eyes land on one picture of her, Georgie, and me. "Do you hear from Georgie?" I ask getting up to take a closer look at the picture.

 "Uh...yeah he checks in," Miriam says with hesitation. I sigh as I touch the frame.

 "I can't shake the feeling that he hates me for leaving." I look back at Miriam whose expression softens.

 "I think he just doesn't know what to say. He asks about you." She comes to my side, "he feels guilty for not staying. Said he had a bad feeling, but was worried about being late for work the next day."

 I shake my head. "He doesn't need to feel guilty it isn't his fault. It's not anyone's fault but the man who did it." I sigh again as my hands begin to shake. It becomes a little hard to breathe, but I force myself to breathe deeply. "At least that's what my therapist keeps telling me." I try to smile. There is a long moment of silence.

 "So, what brings you back to New York? I didn't think you'd ever come back." Miriam asks changing the subject as we sit back down on the couch.

 "Well, I have a meeting with Mr. Drummond in the morning. He wants to offer me a job. Not exactly what it is but it has to do with media outsource or something." I say rolling my eyes. "If I take it I'll be moving back here."

 "That'd be awesome for sure, but are you going to be okay with living here again? I mean..." She trails off.

 "Yeah, I'll be okay. I mean I left because I was a mess and couldn't deal with what happened to me, but no matter where I am it's always in my mind." I look away. "Besides, I can't let it ruin or rule my life anymore. I am choosing to not be a victim." She smiles at me. We talk for several hours. Miriam tells me about her son Zack and her husband James. We laugh and catch up until I realize that it is dark outside. "I should probably go, but we should do lunch or something." She hugs me tight. "I've missed you," I say as I pull away.

 "For sure. You be safe okay?" She smiles and I nod. The cab pulls up to the curb and I get in.

 "The Hatterson please," I say. The cab driver turns and I scream it was him he gives a devilish smile.

 I jolt awake my heart pounding. Sweat pours from my forehead. I look around my hotel room and look for things to ground me. Taking several deep breaths I try to clear my mind of the nightmare. Slipping on my slippers I go into the bathroom and splash my face. I think about Dravens voice. All these years his voice is what calms me. Though I have never actually met the man it's his voice that my mind associates with comfort. Probably because it was the voice I thought heard when I was rescued.

 After calming down a bit I decided to go downstairs to smoke a cigarette. It is a habit I thought I'd never pick up, but I did. I say hello to the receptionist as I walk outside to the semi-lit smoking section. The night air has that familiar bite to it. The burn in my chest from the cold brings back that night in my mind I sit down my legs feeling like lead weights. Just when I am about to bolt back inside I hear his voice.

 "Do you have a light I seem to have left mine inside." I look up at him. His full lips curl up into a lazy smirk. His face is partially obscured by a shadow, but I can see his ice-blue eyes and that his hair is short but hangs over his forehead on one side like an edgy and sophisticated version of a comb-over. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to bother you." He gives a low chuckle his voice so alluring.

 "No, no not at all." I say shaking my head "here." I hand him my lighter and our fingers touch and my breath hitches.

 "Thank you." He cups his cigarette with one hand and lights it with the other he hands the lighter back. I figure he'll just walk away but he doesn't he takes a seat on the other bench and takes a long drag I am memorized by how his cheeks contour as he puffs. "So, can't sleep?" He asks like he's known me for years.

 "What makes you say that?" I chuckle nervously with a slight shiver I blame the cold.

 "Just a lucky guess. But you know you shouldn't be out here alone." He looks me dead in the eyes the corners crinkle and it's like he can see into me. I chuckle nervously.

 "I'm not alone unless, of course, you are a hallucination," I say with a grin I take a drag.

 "Definitely not." He scratches his stubble as he chuckles.

 "I am Abriel by the way." I extend my hand toward him. He takes it in his and it's all I can do to not melt. There is so much electricity. His lips twitch upwards.

 "Nice to make your acquaintance, Abriel." He gives that half-cocked smile.

 "And you are?" I ask hesitantly. He looks around nervously for a minute almost like he's not sure he wants to tell me. "Draven Ambrose?" I ask and he freezes slightly. His posture stiffens and he tilts his head and a serious expression crosses his face.

 "Do I know you?" He rubs his thumb across his fingers in a circular motion.

 "Not exactly, I just recognized your voice from a conference four years ago?" I say looking away.

 "Hmm." He studies me for a second. "Would you like a drink?" My heart nearly stops I don't know how but I manage to nod. He places his hand on the small of my back as he leads me to a secluded area on the back side of the hotel. My PTSD kicks in and I stop almost unable to breathe. "Hey!" Draven stands in front of me and pulls my chin up. So I'm forced to meet his gaze. "You are safe okay?" His expression is unreadable. I nod and continue walking. We come to a door Draven places his palm on the scanner and it opens just inside there's an elevator.

 "Wow, a secret entrance," I say nervously.

 "Yeah, I can't risk being seen." He smiles. We get into the elevator. I study him from the corner of the elevator. His shoulders are broad and relaxed his back muscles ripple as he flexes I imagine it's my gaze making him slightly uncomfortable, or maybe he is flattered by it. I catch him staring at me in his peripheral. His black and grey sweats hang a little low and his white shirt is open showing a white T-shirt. This man is perfect in looks that it is. One word could describe him, Adonis. So why the secrecy? Why hide from the public? He shifts nervously transferring weight from one foot to the other only slightly.

 "I'm sorry." I try to look anywhere but his body. I decide to watch the numbers tick as the elevator ascends.

 "For?" He turns his head towards me his movements are so poised almost arrogant but not to the point of being egotistical. He tilts his head and his hair falls away from his forehead slightly. He squints vaguely as he studies my face. I can feel the heat rushing through my body and my pussy is slick. I swallow hard. The way he is looking at me is like he already knows what I am thinking and god I hope not. His voice was enough to make me cum in the past and now I have a face and I plan to use it at least in my mind.

 "I didn't mean to stare." I chuckle trying to calm myself. It's my turn to shift now trying to stop the ache.

 "Yeah, you did." His mouth curves into this dazzling but sheepish smile as he brings a thumb to his lips. I open my mouth to protest but he waves his hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I don't mind." The words roll off his tongue so fluidly. Everything about this man is pure sex. The way he carries himself is so regal. Makes sense his father is a senator and his mother a debutant.

 Before I can make myself look more like an idiot the elevator dings and opens up to the living room of a luxurious penthouse. He helps me down the two steps into the room."make yourself comfortable. Vodka soda?" I look at him wondering how he knew that. "Or something else?" He chuckles at me.

 "No Vodka Soda is fine." I look around the room. There is a white stone fireplace in the center of the living room. And the kitchen is on the other side of the fireplace just beyond that is a loft I can't help but think that's his bedroom. I imagine.

Him in bed. He hands me my drink pulling me back into reality. "Oh thank you. So is this where you try to buy me off? Pay me to be silent that I have seen you."

 "And here I thought I was perceptive. Name your price, Abriel." Shock spread across my face I didn't think I was right. Suddenly he laughs, "Sorry I couldn't resist. You were so cocky about it." I should be offended by the statement but that damn mouth and his laugh. He takes a large drink. "So tell me Abriel are you the same Abriel that is related to Abraham Jefferson." My eyes snap to his. I can feel my throat close up. No one has asked me about my Brother or what he had supposedly done in years. Honestly, I didn't want to talk about him.

 "He is my twin brother." I take half my drink in one drink. "And to be honest I would rather not talk about him. His actions have fucked up my life in a lot of ways." Putting the glass on the coffee table. My shoulders tense and I look around to find something to root me into this moment before my mind takes me away to the darkness I keep buried. My eyes land on him. He shrugs nonchalantly.

 "Someone can only fuck up your life if you let them." He takes another sip. "Look everyone has demons. Some are just better at hiding them..." he flashes me a smug smile. My stomach twists. It almost sounds like he is defending my brother. I cannot hide the disdain on my face. I have no respect for my brother or anyone who agrees and defends his actions. "I've seemed to strike a nerve." Something about his cavalier posture or the condescending tone he uses rubs me wrong.

 "Look, I can't indulge anyone who would defend my brother's behavior or play it off like it's no big deal. Especially not after..." the statement hangs in the air like a lead balloon.

 "So it was you? I wasn't sure at first." He sips his drink. He's casual about it like he was remembering picking up a penny off of the sidewalk. I nod then shake my head.

 "You were the one who stopped him." So many emotions fill me in this moment. Anger, gratitude, and others that I can't identify.

 "No, another gentleman pulled him off you. I tended to you." The tone of his voice is calm as if I asked him what the weather was. "And for the record, I didn't defend your brother's actions. What I said was everyone has their demons."

 My jaw is tight. The attraction and adoration I felt for him now replaced with an palpable urge to slap him. "How can you be so..." the whirlwind of anger that I feel right now has made it impossible to think.

 "Unaffected?" He finishes my statement and goes to the bar and pours himself another drink, "cold? Indifferent? Unmoved?"

 "Yeah" I am gobsmacked not to sure what to say, except I am understanding why he hides his face.

 "You think I am Indifferent to the fact you were taken advantage of?" He crosses one leg of the other. Bringing my glass to my lips into let the cool liquid quinch the fire rising from belly. "I think you put yourself in risky positions."

 "So you are saying it's my fault?" I slam the glass down with a thud.

 "Definitely not. I would never say that. The man was a pig and got what he deserved. But you...mmm" Draven stands and strides to where I'm sitting. His hand grips my chin and his thumb rubs my bottom lip as he bites his own "You are intrigue wrapped in beauty." My stomach flips at his touch. "Mmm...you are trouble." Draven chuckles darkly his piercing gaze never leaving my face his thumb still tracing my lip. He moves a stray hair behind my ear. "You are going to let me kiss you now." His tone brokered for no argument. Its a statement. He is telling me not asking and for some reason that turns me on. His lips crash against mine in a bruising almost brutal way. With a swift motion he pulls my head back, he firmly grasps my throat not in a choking way but more possessive. He bites my bottom lip hard then soothes it with his tongue.

 It's not until I'm begging to breathe does he finally release my mouth. His gaze is on my wet swollen lips. The tension is palpable and electric. My heart is pounding as he slowly removes his hand from hair and lets it rest on the back of the couch. Absentmindedly I lay my head against his hand. He brings his other from my throat and brushes my blonde hair away from my face.

 "So fantastically broken." His voice comes out in a husky whisper. Something inside is waving a red flag trying to warn me, but I don't care i stare into his gaze those beautiful blue eyes and I'm hooked. It's like trying drugs for the first time you know they are toxic but they make you feel good. It may have been one kiss but Draven has this pull that is so enticing. All I want in this moment is for him to numb me and take away the pain. It's an ache that I can't explain. "You should sleep. That elevator will take you to your floor. It was nice meeting you Abriel." He gives me a crooked grin and helps me to my feet. I smile with an undertone of disappointment and head for the elevator.