Abduction (A Psychic Romance Novella Series) by Larissa Ladd Read Free Book Online Page B

holding back, or if he was contemplating what he knew.
    “I had a picture of you, of course… but I have to admit, it didn’t live up to the reality.” Dustin licked his lips unconsciously, and Gabrielle felt a flare of heat in her chest.
    She looked away. “What say we take a bathroom break?”

Chapter Six
    They finally arrived at a small house, deep in the woods; a glorified cabin, Gabrielle thought at first. It was thickly screened by the trees around, the long drive into it little more than a dirt path. She wondered if it even had running water.
    Dustin pulled the car around into a hidden shed, shutting it off and looking at her. “I didn’t notice anyone following us,” he said, “But you should probably do your thing anyway.”
    Gabrielle closed her eyes to focus and dropped her mental shields, listening intently for any sign of mental activity near them. She cast her thoughts out as broadly as she could, sending them into the depths of the woods, trying to catch even the faintest echo of a thought, any brain that might be lurking nearby. There was nothing—absolute silence. It was even more peaceful than her shielded apartment.
    For a long moment, Gabrielle savored it, relaxing more fully than she had all day. She could dimly sense that Dustin’s brain was nearby, but she couldn’t hear his thoughts—nothing more than faint static in her mind, a sense of something solid and impenetrable in the darkness.
    “No one’s here but us,” she told him finally.
    Dustin got out of the car quickly. Gabrielle unbuckled her seat belt and unfolded herself from the seat, opening her own door and stepping out of the car. In spite of the fact that her legs were asleep, almost cramping from sitting for so long, she felt absurdly relieved. She wouldn’t have to shield for the rest of the day—or all night. The thought that she didn’t even know what was coming next bothered her in theory, but in the freedom of not having to guard herself against the intrusive thoughts of others, it seemed like a small matter at the moment.
    “Come on , then,” Dustin said, and Gabrielle opened her eyes to see him pulling her duffel bag out of the back seat of the car.
    Gabrielle grabbed her snacks, reasoning that she would probably be hungry later, and it would save a trip. She followed him out of the small garage, wondering just how medieval the cabin would be—and why exactly this particular place was Dustin’s choice of refuge. He had said earlier that they were going to a friend’s house; but had that plan changed in light of the attack at her apartment?
    Gabrielle looked around the property, taking in the serene beauty of it. One thing was certain; without any shielding on the house, she would hear anyone at all who came by, unless they were gifted with the same kind of mental stealth as Dustin had. But surely, that wasn’t common.
    Dustin didn’t bother looking for a key, Gabrielle noticed. He just raised his hand and made a few gestures towards the door, and she heard the locks—there was more than one—click quietly.
    He opened the door and glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow. “That’s how I got into your apartment, by the way ,” he said with a faint smile, stepping over the threshold.
    When Gabrielle walked into the house, she was surprised . The humble exterior had concealed the fact that the house was as modern as any she’d ever been in. The kitchen had an expensive-looking culinary-grade range, deep sinks, and stone countertops. The house looked smaller from the outside than it really was, Gabrielle decided as she followed Dustin. The living room wasn’t immense, but it was big enough for there to be space between the couch and the recliner, and for both to have plenty of space between them and the fireplace set into the wall. A small hallway to the side of the living room clearly led to bedrooms; Dustin wafted her bag down the hall, letting it come to rest outside of a closed door. “The other