LUNA

Chapter Five

Selena's eyes flew open as a mother's screams roused her from her deep slumber.

The first thing she registered was the rolling blades of the ceiling fan so close to her face.

She screamed in panic and landed with a thud on her bed. Her father appeared in the doorway alarmed by their screams.

He gave his wife and daughter a quick glance and scanned Selena's room for any sign of a threat.

"What in God's name made you two scream like that?" He questioned after confirming they were unharmed and that there was nothing scary or dangerous in the room.

Her mother pointed one shaky finger at her, not saying a word. Selena herself was still trying to make sense of what had happened. She was still in shock to have been so close to death.

Gerald's gaze ping-ponged between his wife and daughter.

"Nancy what's going on?" He placed his hands on her arms and shook her.

"She was up there. Just about to sliced by the fans blades" she managed to say amidst sobs. "You mean she was trying to kill herself?"

"No she was.. was... asleep and.. and.. suspended in the air" she stuttered

"Nancy don't you think it's too early to be drunk?"

"I'm not drunk, you can ask her'

Gerald went and stood beside his daughter's bed.

"Is your mother drunk?"

"No. I meant ask her if she was suspended or not"

"Selena what's going on? Please be the sane one"

"Mother is right"

"What do you mean mother is right?" Gerald asked in exasperation.

Michael's call saved her the stress of thinking of a reasonable answer for her father. She wondered why he was calling her so early. She had the afternoon shift. Her gaze flew to the clock.

"Shit!!! Selena muttered and fled to the bathroom.

She arrived at the restaurant two hours late and was so focused on berating herself for oversleeping and changing into her uniform that she didn't hear when Michael entered the changing room.

"Now would you look at that"

Selena turned and yelped, holding her t-shirt close to her body. Michael closed the door and turned the lock.

"Mr Knowles I'm so sorry I'm late. There was a family emergency" she said in a rush as Michael advanced towards her.

He stood right in front of her and twirled a lock of her her around his finger.

"You have a gorgeous body. Why do you hide it under baggy shirts and jeans?"

Selena whimpered in fear. She didn't like the gleam in his eyes.

"Curves like yours are meant to be worshipped, he murmured as he ran a finger down her arm. "What are you doing?" she gasped.

"What do you think Selena?"

"I think I need to get to work and attend to the diners"

"Oh come on, you're no fun. I bet you're still a virgin."

 Selena stiffened. He was too close now.

"Or am I wrong?"

He tugged at her shirt and she tightened her grip on it. His hands went around her hips to cup her butt, pressing her body flush against him.

She let go of the shirt and tried to push him off, but he was too strong. He shamelessly ground his hips against her and lowered his head to kiss her. When she tried avoiding the kiss, he gripped her waist tightly with one hand, and with the other hand, held her head in place. His mouth landed on hers and she bit him hard.

"Fuck!!!" he yelled as he touched his bleeding lip.

She grabbed her clothes and made a run for it.

Michael caught and pushed her to the floor promptly going on his knees to hold her legs between them.

"You shouldn't have done that," he said, holding her hands over her head like a vise with one hand. His other hand worked on the fly of his trousers.

She screamed and he hit her so hard she blacked out. His hands were already on her panties to yank them off when the door flew off its hinges.

The curse was still on his lips when Gabriel threw him hard against against the wall promptly knocking him out.

Selena was still unconscious as Gabriel helped her into her shirt, picked her up and carried her out of the building.

● ***

Selena slowly opened her eyes to find two pairs of eyes staring down at her.

"Raphael she's awake" Clara whispered.

"I can see that. Lovely eyes" he murmured and lowered his head to get a closer look at them.

Clara ran her fingers through Selena's hair marveling at the volume and silkiness. Selena groaned and closed her eyes wondering who these kids were and why nobody had ever taught them about the concept of personal space.

Slowly, she remembered what happened that afternoon at the restaurant and sat up abruptly. She immediately regretted the action. Someone was definitely swinging a jackhammer at her skull.

Just then, Gabriel appeared in front of her. She sucked in a deep breath. 

Selena found she couldn't tear her gaze away even if she tried.

He was so tall and big and radiated power. The tight shirt emphasized his broad shoulders, well-defined chest and abs.

His hair was tousled like he had just rolled out of bed. She saw his sensuous lips move but didn't hear a word.

Clara shook her hard. Selena thought she was surprisingly strong for her age. She blushed furiously as Gabriel chuckled.

It was then she noticed he had been holding a glass of water and aspirin tablets.

She took them from him and murmured her thanks.

"Where am I? Where's Mr Knowles?"

"You're with me" he replied with a wolfish grin and made no attempt to answer her second question.

"And Mr Knowles?" she pressed.

Gabriel's jaw tightened. He turned and gave the kids, who were still lingering at the doorway, a look. They huffed and walked off. He shut the door.

"Why do you care so much about someone who tried to rape you? You should be asking if he's dead yet."

"He had always been so kind to me"

 Gabriel snorted.

"I don't know what came over him. Though he had been making advances at me and I...."

She stopped suddenly wondering why she was telling him so much. He was still a stranger. Gabriel raised an eyebrow.

"I take it you were the one who saved me"

He nodded.

"Are we in your house?"

He nodded again.

"Thank you" she murmured.

Selena let her gaze roam the room. It was ridiculously spacious. She was sure her parents house would fit in.

The king sized bed on which she lay, stood at the centre. The grey walls were bare save for a large framed photograph of an extraordinarily stunning woman.

"Of course he's married with two lovely kids" she thought with a sinking feeling in her chest. "She's my late sister.

The kids are hers." Gabriel said softly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." She still wondered if he was married.

Selena mentally slapped herself. She had no business feeling this way. She didn't even want to have a husband or kids ever.

She suddenly sat up straighter.

"Where's my bag? My cellphone is inside it."

"Oops! I wasn't exactly thinking about your bag.

I was too busy saving you" Gabriel replied with a smirk.

Her eyes betrayed her anxiety as she thought about going back to the restaurant to get her bag.

She wasn't ready to face Michael and she was definitely sure she no longer had a job.

"Oh come on, don't look so sad. You don't have to go back there. We'll get you a new one"

"It's not just about the phone. It wasn't easy getting this job and now I have lost it."

Without thinking and because he couldn't stand to see her looking so distressed.

He blurted out,

"Work for me”