Paxton's Promise (Gloves Off #3)(17)

“I don’t think I’d do that if I were you,” he warned. Slowly, Cliff reached behind his back and my eyes went wide. Was he reaching for a f*cking gun?

Paxton stopped, but he didn’t let me go. “Gabby, so help me God, either get in my car now, or get in the Hummer and follow me home. I don’t want this night to get ugly.”

“Then put the testosterone away and let me handle this.” Reluctantly, he let me go and walked back to his car, keeping his venomous stare on Cliff.

Cliff never took his eyes away from Paxton, even when I was safely away. “Please tell me you’re not going back to his place. I can take you to your apartment if you need me to. I’m not scared of that f*cker.”

Sighing, I grabbed my purse and faced him. Now that Pax wasn’t hiding his feelings, the tension between us had come to a breaking point and it was about to explode. It was time to let it.

“I’m not going back to my apartment, Cliff.”

He scoffed. “You can’t be f*cking serious. I never thought you’d let someone talk to you like that.”

“Trust me, I don’t. He’s going to get an earful when we get back.”

“Why do you have to go with him at all?”

I chuckled, but he didn’t see the humor in it. “It’s complicated. I honestly can’t explain any more than that. But if you would, please call me if you see or hear anything.”

He nodded and huffed. “All right, I’ll call. Are you sure you’re going to be okay? You’re not being forced into anything are you? You can tell me and I’ll get you out of here.”

Pax wouldn’t have to force me to do anything. I couldn’t wait to get back to his place. First, I would give him a piece of my mind. Then, I’d give him a piece of something else. “No, he’s not forcing me. Believe me, this is something I want to do. I made a deal and I won’t break it.”

Clenching his jaw, he sneered at Paxton over my shoulder before turning back to me. “Well, if that’s what you have to do, I can’t stop you. Just be careful.”

“I’ll be okay. I promise. Besides, I can handle myself.”

A gleam twinkled in his eye. “So I can tell. I’ll keep in touch.” Turning on his heel, he looked back at me once and smiled before getting into his truck. I didn’t even bother looking at Paxton when I got in his Hummer because I knew he was fuming. Quickly, I started up the car and headed on my way to his house with him close behind.

I couldn’t take it anymore. His open jealousy had shown me a glimpse of how he really feels. And my flimsy excuses were no longer enough to hide behind. My brother would be disappointed in me, but what else could I do?





AS SOON AS I pulled into his driveway, I quickly jumped out of his car and headed into the house. I couldn’t wait any longer.

“Gabriella,” he shouted, racing to catch up. “She’s my cousin,” he yelled. “Do you remember my Aunt Jackie? April’s her daughter. My uncle owns the track. Gabby, wait up.”

He thought I was mad. I had been jealous, but it didn’t matter right now. He didn’t know what was coming next, but it was inevitable—like the tide, or the sunrise.

I leapt up the steps two at a time; Pax hot on my heels. Walking right through the door, I stopped a few feet into the room, threw my purse on the floor and turned to watch him enter.

“Look, I’m sorry,” he began, but stopped when he saw me just standing there, arms at my sides, breathing heavy.

Our eyes locked and just as he was about to continue talking, I closed the distance between us, shoving him against the wall. Pushing my tongue inside his mouth, I felt the fire instantly blaze between us. It took him a split second to catch up to the moment, but then his hands snaked around my waist, pulling me in tight—his grip almost bruising.

“Fuck,” he growled into my mouth.

Nothing in that moment mattered other than the feel of his warm, large hands caressing me feverishly. It was almost as if we were starved for each other and not able to get enough. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever quench my thirst for him. I’d fought it for so long, I almost felt like a ravenous beast.

Paxton turned us, slamming my back into the wall. I wrapped my legs around his waist and began moving against him, his cock growing rapidly against my core. I grabbed my shirt and ripped it over my head. Groaning, he sucked and nipped the top of my breast before he stopped and looked up at me. I bit my lip and smiled.

He shook his head and smirked, leaning in to devour my mouth. Grabbing my ass, he held me in place as he stood up straight and made his way up the stairs, never breaking his lips from mine. Bumping into a few walls, we finally made it to our destination.

We fell onto his bed. It smelled just like him. “I want you so bad,” I mumbled against his mouth, moving my hips in circles under his weight.

He unclasped my bra with one hand. Once I was free, he closed his lips over a nipple and sucked, pulling and biting it until I screamed out. I cried in pleasure as he massaged and kissed every square inch of my breasts, fondling my nipples with his tongue. My underwear was soaked and even more so when he bit my tender flesh. The pain of it felt so damn good.

Sliding his lips up my neck to my cheek, he closed them over my lips. “And I’ve wanted you,” he murmured low. “Fuck, you have no idea how bad.”