Stay away from me!

I leaned back in slowly to give Foster the kiss he was obviously asking for. Foster vocalized a faint whine as soon as our lips touched and kept it up the entire kiss. That sound made something weird twist and curl in my gut, drowning out my fears and suspicions and theories. My desire fogged out every other rational thought in my head. I was breathing harder when I finally pulled away. A moment later, stark fear replaced the blinding lust. I didn't know what Foster was doing to me, but he was doing something. I couldn't think when the man was kissing me, touching me. Maybe that was Foster's goal? I couldn't take it. I started disengaging and moving away.

"Hey, hey! Wait!" Foster tried to hang onto me, but his grabbiness only fueled my paranoia. I shoved him away, scooting backwards off the piano bench.

I scrambled to my feet, trying to think of what Foster got out of doing this to me. He got off, obviously, but there had to be some other advantage, perhaps control he intended to exert over me. It wouldn't be the first time someone had sunk their hooks into my heart and tried to manipulate me with whispers of love. Even if Foster was generally honest and good-hearted, that only underscored how desperate he'd have to be to do what he'd just done with me, of all people. If he'd go this far, then there was no telling what depths he might fall to. I regarded him with my lips slightly parted and teeth clenched, the beginnings of a snarl on my face.

Foster looked confused, but he would, wouldn't he? He'd act completely innocent right now and do anything, anything at all to smooth things over. I shook my head, ignoring the soothing idiocy Foster was starting to spew as he stepped closer. Taunting me, mocking me, showing me what I could have just so he can tear it away from me …

"Stay away from me," I growled, putting every shred of hate and rage into my words. I turned and went to stride out of the room, fists balled. How could I have been so blind?

"Hey, Gabriel … No!" Foster ran after me and the rage inside of me surged into a roaring flame. I turned and swung with everything I had. Foster's forward momentum carried him right into the blow. My roundhouse smashed my fist squarely into Foster's cheek. Foster made a strange choked noise and fell flat on his back, his head hitting the hard floor and bouncing once, one leg folded under at the knee.

I stood over him, thinking about kicking him, too, while I had the chance, but Foster was perfectly still. He didn't even seem to be breathing. After a few seconds, my brows drew together. I'd hit him hard, probably harder than I'd ever hit anyone in my life. Did I kill him? Oh no...Please, no. Panic clutched at my heart, but then Foster sucked in a breath and groaned in pain. His hands moved erratically, twitching more than anything else. His lids fluttered and I let out the breath I'd been holding. I shook my head. He'll be fine. He deserves worse. I stalked out, leaving Foster on the floor.

Gabriel.

I know it was stupid. It's better now.