Sinful Sounds In The Dark

ounds in

thunder cracking open the sky or the cab that splashe

heels sinking into the softening pavement. The storm had arrived fast and violent, d

pi

new. Nothing class

sound that sank its teeth into

the city. The front was boarded, the marquee shattered. No one had played there in over five years.

d have ke

yet want to name. The moment she slipped inside, the air changed-colder, heavy with dust and something older. Her soaked d

ic grew

. And somewhere in the echoes of that aching m

above the balcony trembled slightly with each rumble of thunder, casting warped shadows acros

here

hing himself. He didn't notice her at first. Or maybe he did and didn't care. Either way,

n she saw it. Knew

p closer, hold

The silence that f

eyes narrowed like he was expecti

as dark velvet-smooth, worn, and hi

ask the s

loor. He rose from the bench, tall, lean, every movement sharp with tension. His black shirt was soaked with sweat, c

e," he said, stepping

gaze didn't waver. "

een them and stopped. "I

wing you. I hea

that made you break int

dn't

omething. Not quite a s

still hear it," he said aft

asked. "It's impossi

zle he hadn't decided whether to so

il

lt like a half-truth. He didn't

charged, brittle. One wrong

ou doing he

stage. He sat down at the piano again, fingers hovering over th

sho

m laugh-low,

what's good for you, you'll turn around, step back through th

if I

te. It echoed li

y," he said, "an

ent a jolt of heat through her t

d them. Her pulse was a drumbeat in her throat,

ike midnight storms. "Don't s

scared

shoul

m n

rmth radiating from his skin. Close enough to smell the fain

e you're being hunte

ly when

attempt at seduction.

ering her voice. "

d over the keys. "

. He didn'

played

hing deep inside her. Regret. Desire. Guilt. All the things she thought she'd bu

osed h

t to happen-he placed his hand over h

dn't f

lay," she

to," he replie

y moving, brushing against hers, making her feel like every

her eyes

as a flame now-

e, Lily?" Gabriel asked

d. "And for the first time in

w tigh

ings," he mutter

hat do

er for a long

m like a shot of whiskey-bu

rs. His hand reached out and brushed a da

e said. "Right now. Before this become

t as their bodies aligned, almos

y," she whispered

for a heartbeat, she thought

re an old velvet curtain hung askew. He pushed it asid

d. "You

tated onl

wed him in