Ashamed of me? Of us?
“What are you so afraid of, Gabriel?”
“All I want to do is protect you, and keep you safe, Mel Bell. If I keep you too close, you might just slip away. And then I would lose everything.”
My chest tightened, my gut flipped. “What? What do you mean?”
He let out a sigh that seemed to bear all the weight of the world. “You were feeling vulnerable tonight. I took advantage of that.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my words growing sharp. “Does this have something to do with your freakish strength? Your so-called ‘adrenaline.’ You won’t hurt me if that’s what you’re afraid of.”
“It’s not that.”
I waited for an answer, an explanation, anything. Nothing came.
Maybe he really was into the whole celibacy thing. I mean, he was terrible at it because he had a girlfriend in college. Little Miss Perfect Ass hadn’t really been subtle with the whole ‘yeah, I just shagged your best friend’ thing. Almost like the bitch had been rubbing it in my face. And Gabe had just seemed…embarrassed by the whole thing. And their whole relationship ended pretty shortly after it started.
Maybe he was still into her?
I met her once. She was a goddess, with a perfect body, round ass, full lips, and long platinum hair that flowed down to her knees.
If I was into women, I probably would still think about her too.
Now he had me, a clumsy, curvy accountant, to compare to her.
I was still angry. I’d been friend-zoned big time by the guy I just gave my virginity to.
What a fucking dick.
“We live together, y—you flirt with me. You buy me things. You act like you love me. Now you fuck me, but suddenly it’s a sin? What the hell?”
He shook his head, his expression darkening. At that moment, I hated how beautiful he was. I hated to even look at him.
“I do love you, Melanie,” he whispered on a short breath like he was admitting some dark secret.
“Like a sister?” I asked, wounded.
“No.Godno. Do you think you’re the only one dealing with temptation? After all these years, you don’t think I’ve ached to make you mine? You’re Eve’s fruit, Mel. That’s what you are.”
I gaped at him, wearing a stupid look of complete confusion. “I’m fruit?”
“Or you’re the serpent or both or—” He shook his head, grumbling through gritted teeth. “I don’t know; it was a stupid analogy. The point is, I’ve longed for you. You don’t know how many nights I’ve seen you walk out of the shower, wrapped in nothing but a towel, sopping wet. I’ve wanted to rip that towel off you and lap the hot steam from your skin and suckle the water from your nipples.”
His dirty words conjured that exact scene to mind, and my cheeks flared with heat.
“I’ve heard you, pleasuring yourself in your room, you know?”
My heart jumped in my chest, and my mouth went dry. “You have?”
He nodded, his eyes still glued to the dark road ahead.
“Yes. I heard you whimper my name once. It took all my strength not to go to you because all that sat between me and your body was a flimsy door. That was the night I almost threw everything away just so that I could have you. That night I couldn’t stop imagining you underneath me, your skin red and raw. Your body writhing in ecstasy around my shaft.”
I watched him, completely entranced by his sensual words. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “So you’re not the only one with desires. I’ve had fantasies. Where your voice is raw and ragged from screaming my name as I pump you so full of my seed that no man would have any hope of ever washing my scent off you again.”
I squirmed in my seat. My clit was hot and throbbing for more attention from this glorious specimen of male. I’d never heard Gabriel talk like that, and never ever would I have thought he would be talking like this aboutme.“I never knew you imagined me in that way.”
“How could I not? You’re perfect. You’re so perfect that you’ve made me into a greedy creature. I’msupposedto be selfless. I’m notsupposedto lust for you!” he snarled in anger. His eyes were wide and wild, and his chest was heavy like he’d become some crazed beast.
