Mine

“Gabe . . .” He licked that spot that made her vision blur and she wanted more. “There.”

Her voice dripped with heat. She heard the tone and refused to apologize for it. The room faded away until all she saw was his shoulders and that dark hair. Just as the orgasm started to ripple through her he sat up. Her i

Sweat collected at the base of her throat as the need to find her release gripped her. “God, Gabe. No.”

Then she saw a flash of something and a wrapper fell to the side. A second later he slid in deep and sure, pressing her thighs back close to her chest and opening her even wider. She could feel his hands on her legs and his cock inside her. He said her name and plunged inside her again.

She tried to hold on to every moment, every thought. To savor each blinding touch, but her body betrayed her. Her hips started to buck and her head shifted on the pillow. He had her entire body in motion as he filled her. Trying to fight off the orgasm as long as possible, she dug her fingernails into the cuffs.

Her body trembled as she came. The grabbing sensation inside of her gave way as a sudden warmth washed through her. She couldn’t control her breathing or her body. Her lungs strained to the point of bursting. Her heartbeat hammered in her ears. She felt it all as his body leaned forward and a low moan escaped his lips.

She knew he was coming but she couldn’t help him. Didn’t have the strength to do anything. Spent, her hands fell back against the pillows with her palms open. Her legs curled around him but she could barely feel his skin. Her body had turned to mush beneath him.

She lay there, gasping. When she turned her head to the side, the room came back into focus. The picture of Gabe and Brandon on the end of the dresser. Gabe smiling and so proud. The big wall mirror where she could have stolen peeks of him during their lovemaking before she lost the ability to think. It all registered, slow at first but then with greater clarity.

Gabe’s hot breath blew across her collarbone. His weight pressed her deeper into the mattress but she didn’t care. It anchored her. Filled her with an odd sense of security.

“Holy shit.” He mumbled the words against her skin.

She couldn’t help but laugh. Her body still tingled from the joint caress of his mouth and tongue. He’d been gentle at times and so determined at others. His hands had readied her until every cell begged for release. And when that release came . . . damn.

“You are a man of your word.” She could barely get the words out because her breathing refused to return to normal.

He lifted his head then. Balanced his elbow against the bed and pushed up a bit. “And you are pure fire.”

From him it sounded sweet. She was about to tell him that when he reached up and massaged her tight arm muscles. Feeling came back in bursts, like being poked with tiny needles. She gasped from the shock as he untied her arms and lowered them to drape over him.

His brow wrinkled. “You sore?”

She rubbed a hand over her opposite wrist then smoothed out the lines on his forehead. “Are you asking about my arms?”

His eyes roamed a little then. “I was, but now I want to know about all of you. You okay?”

He couldn’t think he hurt her. That never happened and she would never pretend he did. “I’m great.”

She meant that. He gave her so much. Treated her both as precious and as an equal. He had her head spi

“Are you pla

“We’re staying here.”

He didn’t say “together,” but she heard the word anyway. Couldn’t believe she filled it in. That the panic stayed away. For some reason she needed him to know. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

His finger traced the line of her jaw. “You’re safe here.”

The words he didn’t say kept playing in her mind. He knew about her father. Understood that she’d never been really safe.

“I trust you.” She delivered the truth with more than a little shock.

His eyes closed for a second. When he opened them again they were clear and matched his grin. “Thank you.”

The perfect response. Not a surprise he knew what to say. He always seemed to. He hit life head-on and fought for what he wanted. The only bump to his peace was this Rick issue, and it loomed large. She wanted nothing more than to hand him an answer so he could move forward. His needs meant more than her own. Her life carried on in a confusing mess, not knowing what came next. But he deserved to know.

She brushed her fingertips across the line of his shoulders. “Would it be possible to arrange a meeting with Eli?”

“For what?”

“Lawyer stuff. He can pass messages to Bast for me.”

“About taking off?”

“No.” The thought of that sent bile rushing up the back of her throat. “You said I can stay, and I’m going to.”

“Good.” Gabe hesitated for a second then nodded. “Eli can come here. He understands safety protocols.”

“Not here.” For some reason the idea of breaching that line had anxiety swelling inside her. Gabe deserved his sanctuary. She didn’t want to take that away. They could use that cabin or somewhere else. “Don’t change your life for me.”

“Maybe I think you’re worth the effort.”

No one had ever found her to be worth the effort. “I’m not looking to make your life difficult.”

“You’re staying here. With me.” Gabe placed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Andy can get in touch with Eli.”

She knew the history. Talking to Eli involved Andy, which meant her deception moved out in circles, swallowing up the very people she wanted to protect. “Is that a good idea?”

“This is about what you need.” When she started to protest, Gabe put a finger over her lips. “You come first.”

Every word he said tied them tighter together. She’d spent her life pushing and clawing. With Gabe, she cuddled in close. The realization scared her and excited her. Had her brain ticking with denials and plans for a future she never thought she’d have.

She turned it all off and let herself feel.

“Speaking of that . . .” She lifted her hips and rubbed against him.

A spark of heat flashed across his face. “Naughty girl.”

She slipped her arms around his back and tugged him in even closer. “I was thinking we’d try it without the ties this time.”

If possible, his smile grew even wider. “You’re in charge.”

She felt that vow to her bones.

TWENTY-TWO

Andy saw the outline of two heads through the conference room’s shaded glass. Two men at the table, not one. The realization deflated him. It shouldn’t. He knew the score. Wade had been clear. Hell, people lined up to talk about Eli being with Wade now.

Fucking message received.

He shoved open the door, letting it bang against the far wall as he walked in. “We meet again.” His gaze lingered on Eli’s dark hair then zipped to Wade. “I called Eli in.”

Wade lifted his hands off the chair’s armrests. “Which means you get both of us.”

The headaches that rolled over Andy so often after he got back from deployment and after Eli had died down. One ticked up now, threatening to swamp him with a debilitating migraine. “I’m not trying to—”

“Okay.” Eli thumped a palm against the wood table. “Let’s stick to work.”

“Sure.” That was the right answer. Andy understood the need to keep the conversation on track. He kept veering off because he didn’t want it to be true that Eli finally committed to someone and it wasn’t him. He blocked the rush of disappointment and listened to Eli’s suggestion. Work only. “Natalie would like to see you.”