Gabriela was frozen, a deer caught in headlights look on her face. Until she finally sucked in a hissing breath through her teeth, breaking out of her motionless state. “Pardon me?”
“You heard me. Let’s put on a show for him.”
She shook her head. “This is ridiculous.” And chuckled nervously with an airy tone. “Tom won’t care if I’m making out with another guy whenheended it with me.”
“Trust me, he will.” Tom was the kind of dude who didn’t like it when someone touched his possessions. Even the old ones he discarded.
Fuck, I was still wrapping my mind around the fact that she’d had a ‘casual arrangement’ with him—a purely physical one.
The burn of jealousy sizzled under my skin and coursed through my veins like lava as I imagined them together. His hands running over her skin. Her hands diving into his hair. Their bodies colliding. Over and over and over again.
Generally speaking, I got along with everyone on the football team and I took my responsibility as quarterback seriously—making plays and trying to be a good leader. However, Tom was the exception. I hated the degrading way he viewed women. He had the obnoxious habit of discussing his girlfriends in the most classless manner. I usually tuned out his voice during locker room talk because it grated on my nerves.
Now I also hated the motherfucker because he’d had a piece of Gabriela when he wasn’t even worthy of breathing the same air as her.
She deserved so much better than him.
God as my witness, if she gave me the chance, I’d show her whatbetterentailed.
Gabriela placed a hand on her hip, eyeing me up and down like I had a hidden agenda.
I almost smirked. She had no idea about the extent of my desperation. Could you blame me, though? After more than a year of wanting her, desperate times called for desperate measures.
“What’s in it for you?” she asked.
I get to feel the taste of your lips on mine after eons of longing.
“I can’t stand Tom. I have a personal bone to pick with him.”Now that I know he’s hurt you.“And I figured if we kiss in front of him, it’ll be like killing two birds with one stone. You get your revenge and I get to piss him off.”
Thankfully, Gabriela didn’t ask what ‘bone’ I had to pick with him. Instead, she appeared to simmer over my words while I held my breath.
It took a lot of bravado for me to follow her out, to step out of my shell, to converse with her, and to ask for a kiss. If she said no, I didn’t know what I’d do with myself.
Something in my expression convinced Gabriela as she suddenly nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this. I want to get back at the asshole.”
I ignored the excitement—because she said yes—and the slight twinge—because she only wanted to kiss me for his sake—travelling through my chest. A year of yearning turned me into a pathetic beggar who ached for crumbs of Gabriela.
Stepping ahead of me, Gabriela offered her hand. “Ready?”
My heart started racing embarrassingly fast as I zeroed in on her open palm. Fairer than mine and with gentle lines that made me wish I knew the art of palmistry so I could see what the future held for us. And if there was any possibility that I could weave myself like a stitch forevermore in the tapestry of her destiny.
Sliding my fingers against hers, I grasped her hand.
Electricity crackled at the touch.
We both jerked but didn’t let go of each other.
“Ready,” I said, my voice inexplicably hoarse.
“If you grip my hand any harder, I may lose blood circulation,” she teased.
I winced and loosened my hold a wee bit. “Sorry.”
She started walking, guiding me away from the terrace and back into the party.
I followed Gabriela Regina Bellafiore blindly like a wretched devotee living to please her every whim. The smile she gave me made her resemble a wicked witch getting her way with her lowly disciple. And like a fool, I would let her lead me anywhere she desired, including oblivion.
“Are you hanging in there?”
