Rock Hard (Rock Kiss #2)(58)

Holding her against him without trapping her in a way that might make her panic, Gabriel tried to temper his rage. Charlotte didn’t need him to be a macho stud right now. She needed him to hold her, his fierce, shy Charlotte who’d survived the horror with her soul and her spirit intact. Maybe it was a little bruised, but so many people would’ve just given up after such a brutal attack. She’d built a life, a career.

Hell, she’d fought with him.

It staggered him to realize how much courage it must’ve taken for her to stand up to him when she didn’t know how he might react. “No one will ever hurt you again,” he whispered against her hair, the promise one he’d kill to keep. “You’re safe.”




TEN MINUTES LATER, GABRIEL cuddling her close the entire time, Charlotte was no longer crying. She’d dried her face using tissues from her handbag, but now she didn’t know what to do. She’d never felt so exposed, so naked. She couldn’t look at Gabriel, terrified at what she’d see now that he knew the extent of the damage.

Not the physical, though she did bear some scars, but the psychological. Richard might not have killed her, but he’d shattered her, fracturing her psyche into countless pieces. She’d gathered up those pieces, put them back together, but the seams were jagged and rigid with scars, while other parts were hopelessly fragile.

“Hey.” A big rough-skinned hand cupped her cheek, Gabriel’s thumb brushing over her chin. “Look at me.”

The command in his voice made her wounded soul struggle to the surface. “You’re not my boss,” she said, forcing up her head. “Not here.”

Gabriel ran his thumb over her chin again, the tip brushing her lower lip. “You sure?” he asked, his voice a deep drawl. “It’s kind of hot giving you orders, Ms. Baird.”

She sucked in a breath, red-hot flames melting the lump of ice around her heart. She’d been so afraid he’d stop flirting so outrageously with her, that he’d start handling her with kid gloves, like something that wasn’t strong enough to bear anything harsher—as if she wasn’t woman enough to handle him. “Just don’t expect me to obey,” she said on the wave of her relief.

His lips curved, his thumb continuing to caress her lower lip with every stroke. “What would be the fun in that? How can I seduce you out of your panties if you take them off on command?”

“Gabriel.” Her skin burned, but she could feel the sunshine again, see the brilliant colors of the flowers, the shadows retreating under the raw seduction of his voice and his touch.

“Charlotte,” he said in an echo of her tone, and then he kissed her.

It was a brush, nothing more, but it was a kiss.

Breathless despite the short contact, she bit down on her lower lip and blurted out, “You don’t mind?”

It should’ve been a nonsensical question, but Gabriel’s eyebrows drew together. His answer was a growl of sound. “That you’re a f*cking amazing woman? No.”

Charlotte didn’t know which aspect of his statement to respond to first. Jumping off the branch, she turned to him, her hands on her hips. “I can’t believe you just growled at me after what I told you!”

Arms folded, he leaned back against the branch. “I’ll do more than growl if you repeat that particular question.” He ran his eyes down her body, lingering on her breasts, her hips, her thighs, before coming back up to her lips. “I might just put my hand in your panties or my mouth on your * and tease you until you’re screaming for an orgasm and not give it to you until you say ‘Sorry, Gabriel. I can’t believe I’d ask such a ridiculous question.’”

Hands pressed to her cheeks, Charlotte looked around. Thankfully, no one was close enough to have overheard his sinful response. “I’m going for a walk.” She needed to cool down, her breasts swollen and the place between her thighs throbbing as it never had before a certain T-Rex.

Of course he came after her, placing his hand on her lower back in a way that had already become familiar and walking with her toward the fountain. Her emotions were all akilter. She’d expected to feel broken and lost after her confession, and shards of pain lingered, but overwhelming it all was flustered delight. Charlotte didn’t know if she could get over her fears to the point where she no longer had to worry about panic attacks, but it meant everything that Gabriel hadn’t written her off.

“Have you had breakfast?” he asked as they reached the flower clock.

“No.” She’d been too nervous. “I make really good pancakes.” Cooking was her outlet, her sport, and she needed to do some right now. “I think you have almost all the ingredients—it’ll only take us a couple of minutes to pick up some bananas if you’d like banana pancakes.”

“Well,” Gabriel said, his lips curved in a way that made her breath hitch, “I was going to take you out, but since I’d much rather have you in my lair, all to myself, I’m sold.” He leaned in to press a wickedly sweet kiss to her cheekbone. “I promise I won’t devour you unless you ask very nicely.”





23


A KISS TODAY, NAKEDNESS TOMORROW





GABRIEL SAT ON A breakfast stool he’d brought over to the freestanding counter and sliced some strawberries for Charlotte as she padded around barefoot in his kitchen. She’d taken off her shoes and her cardigan, the spaghetti straps of her pretty sundress exposing the elegant line of her throat, the gentle curves of her shoulders.