“I earned a reputation for being difficult to work with. For being spoiled and too demanding. When word got back to me about what was being said, I made excuses. Others were just jealous. They wished they had the success I had.
“Anything to avoid the fact that it was my stupid commitment to him and his wants that was killing my career.”
She swiped at her eyes and blinked away the water I saw in them.
“I’m no good at relationships, Gabriel.”
Her voice was low, resolute.
Our gazes connected.
“I appreciate you’re trying to help me with my writing, and I’ve had a lot of fun with you,” she continued as I rose from my chair. “And obviously, our physical connection is insane. But that’s where it has to end.”
I moved in front of her and took hold of her elbows. “What the hell are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’m not the relationship type. So, we can continue this only if we can agree that it’s nothing more than two people with great physical chemistry who’ll never be more than friends with benefits.”
My chest rumbled with something thunderous. I tamped down on my immediate reaction as not to let myself fly off the handle.
“No.” My one word response came out harsher than I anticipated.
Lena startled with a shake of her head and looked up at me. Her eyebrows dipped. “What do you mean, no?”
“I mean, that’s all bullshit.” I held up my hand to stop her from talking. “I’m not that douchebag. And I’ll be damned if I settle for a piece or even half of you. Because that’s what a fucked up friends with benefits relationship would be. That was enough for me with the women in my past but not you.”
“Then what do you want?” Lena asked.
“All of you, Lena. I want it all.” I leaned in and brought us close enough that our lips were only a few inches apart. “I want all of you, and I won’t grace you with the pleasure of my dick making you call out my name until you say you want me to have all of you.”
Her mouth was pretty much on the floor when I pulled back. Those cinnamon eyes of hers were as wide as saucers as they searched mine.
“Let’s finish our lunch,” I said.
Chapter 14
Lena
“I’m coming,” Jodi yelled through her door a few seconds after I rang the bell. Days after lunch in Gabriel’s office, I found myself unable to concentrate on anything else.
I’d been stupefied in his office by his declaration. He made it even after I revealed to him the craziness that went on in my last relationship. I just knew telling Gabe all of that stuff would have him running for the hills. Yet, the opposite happened. He remained as immovable as Mount Everest when he said he wanted all of me.
“Hey,” Jodi said as she opened the door. She wore a pair of cut-off jean shorts and a T-shirt that read ‘Society has a distorted view of beauty.’
“Nice shirt,’” I said, holding up the bags of food from a local Tex-Mex restaurant.
“You like?” She posed, holding the shirt out on display. “Micah got me this one.” She took a step back. “Come in.”
Micah was out of town working a case, so Jodi invited me over for dinner.
“Follow me.”
“Oh.” I jumped when Hound came bounding out of what I assumed to be the living room. He wasn’t aggressive, but he was so big that if you weren’t expecting him, it could be a shock.
“Hound, we talked about this,” Jodi said as she kneeled, wrapping her arms around him, petting. “You’re too big to sneak up on people like that.”
He actually whimpered.
Jodi chuckled. “It’s okay. Lena forgives you, right?” She peered up at me.
