Rush (Breathless #1)(92)

Then he pulled away just enough that he could rest his forehead against hers.

“Let’s go home, Mia. I want to put this behind us. I want you to be able to forget it and wipe it from your memory. I know I hurt you terribly. I swear to you I’m going to make it up to you.”

She savored the fervent promise, held tightly to it. He spoke as if they had a future, as if he wanted more than just contractual sex. Was she a fool for believing that?

She looped her arms around his neck. “Make love to me, Gabe. Make our last night in Paris special.”

“Ah baby,” he said, a catch in his voice. “I’m going to love every inch of you tonight. And then I’ll hold you all the way home while you rest on the plane.”

• • •

Mia woke in the middle of the night and blinked to adjust to the low light. There was a narrow beam shining from the bathroom, and it illuminated Gabe’s sleeping features.

She was tucked securely into his side, his leg thrown over both of hers, effectively trapping her against him. His arm was slung securely over her body. Even in sleep he was intensely possessive.

Only he had been willing to allow other men to touch her, so how possessive could he really be?

But there was no faking the very real regret and agony in his face when he’d apologized profusely to her. She still wasn’t sure of the reasons why, but she knew it had done something to him. Something profound. Something maybe even he didn’t understand.

She tried to disentangle herself from his hold and he came awake, his eyes bleary with sleep.

“Bathroom,” she whispered.

“Hurry back,” he murmured, loosening his hold so she could get up.

She went into the bathroom and after peeing she checked her appearance in the mirror. She winced at the still-swollen corner of her mouth and the shadow of an already formed bruise. How on earth was she going to explain this to Jace? He’d freak when he saw her.

Caro would have to work her makeup wonders on this.

Her entire body was tender, but not for the usual reasons. Gabe had been exceedingly gentle with her. Shockingly so. He was always so out of control. Crazy hot for her, which made her crazy hot for him in return. And yet tonight?

He’d taken forever. Teasing, taunting, gentle and so very loving. Her chest still fluttered and butterflies scuttled around her belly at how achingly beautiful their lovemaking had been.

For the first time, she hadn’t felt like it was just sex.

Knowing he’d come to find her if she kept him waiting for too long, she went back into the bedroom and crawled onto the bed. Gabe’s eyelids fluttered open and he viewed her through half-lidded, sleepy eyes. He reached for her but she didn’t go into his arms. Instead she rocked back on her heels, studying him in the low light.

He was so incredibly beautiful, and she’d ached to be able to touch and explore him from day one. She’d never been afforded the chance because Gabe was always, always in control.

Gabe frowned, pushing up on his elbow. The action sent the sheet sliding down his body, baring his chest and then lower, bunching around his hips as he stared at her, concern etched into his forehead.

“Mia?”

There was uncertainty in his voice, a thread of fear that surprised her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked softly.

“Nothing,” she said in a husky voice.

His eyes narrowed. “Then why are you not right here?” He patted the indentation where her body had rested moments earlier.

She shifted up on her knees and crawled closer to him, and then she placed her hands on his chest, carefully gauging his reaction to her advances.

His body was a magnet for her hands. She itched to touch him and explore all the muscled lines and contours.

“I want to touch you, Gabe. Can I touch you?” she whispered.

His eyes glittered brightly in the dim light. He sucked in a discernible breath and then his chest caved at the explosive expulsion. “Hell yes.”

She leaned forward until her hair swept over his skin and her face hung just over his. “I want to do more than touch.”

He reached up to cup her cheek, his thumb gently brushing over the bruise at the corner of her mouth. “Baby, you do whatever you want to do. I’m not going to complain.”

“Well. Okay then,” she breathed.

Now that she had him exactly where she wanted, she wasn’t entirely certain where to begin. She let her hands roam over his chest, to his shoulders, and then down his arms before going to his taut belly. She traced every line of his six-pack and then lowered her mouth to trace a similar pattern with her tongue.

His hand tangled roughly in her hair and he squeezed, wrapping his fingers tightly against her scalp, holding her down so her mouth stayed in contact with his skin.

Emboldened by his seeming approval, she gained more confidence. She yanked the sheet down, completely uncovering him. His c**k was in a state of semi-arousal, long and thick, rising from the dark hair between his legs.

She smacked her lips in anticipation and Gabe groaned aloud.

“For God’s sake, Mia.”

She threw her leg over his thighs to straddle him, positioning herself just below his cock, which was growing more erect by the second. It strained upward, reaching toward his firm abdomen. Unable to resist the temptation she reached down and wrapped both hands around his thick length.