“Gabe,” she whispered against his lips, unsure what she was even asking for.
“If you want me to stop…” His voice was rough and frayed.
She curled her fingers tighter in the muscle of his shoulders, holding him to her. Stop? Now? When her body felt like a live wire and he was the only one who knew what to do with the current?
Instead of answering, she slipped her hand into his open flannel shirt, coasting her palms over warm, steely muscle. With one hand, she flicked the final button that had bested her moments before.
He stilled as she stroked a hand down his rippling abs. Each muscle seemed to tense under her touch. Staring up into his eyes, she traced the line of his abs, over the ridge of an old scar.
He dropped his forehead to hers, breathing hard. “You’re going to kill me.”
“You started it.” Her response came out breathless.
He kissed her again, long and deep and so damn thorough that her panties flooded. When he pulled back, his eyes were hooded. “I’m pretty sure you kissed me first, bookshop.”
She had been the one to close that last inch, to take what she wanted, to stand on tiptoe and crash into him like the last wave in a storm.
Or the first.
She pushed upward, closing her lips softly over his bottom one and giving it a small tug that brought a rumble to his throat. As he deepened the kiss, he splayed his fingers just beneath the curve of her breast through the fabric of her sweater.
Her body lit up like he’d flipped a switch. How? He hadn’t squeezed her breast or pinched her nip—
“Ahhh.” She moaned louder as he did just that, gently clamping his thumb and forefinger over her taut bud. There were too many layers of cloth between her body and his hand.
She ran her hands up his chest to his shoulders, pushing his shirt off. He never broke the kiss as he braced himself on first one arm, then the other, to shed his shirt completely.
She looked at him. Really looked at him.
“My god. Your body is amazing.”
His grin stole the air from her lungs. She’d seen Gabe crack a smile or two, but this…was sunrise on a dark land.
“Let’s see more of yours.” His rumble lit her on fire. In a slow glide, he eased her sweater up and over her head. She didn’t have on sexy undergarments—just her everyday nude bra and panties she bought in bulk because it was practical rather than enticing.
As his gaze raked over her, the light in his eyes told her he didn’t care about lacy lingerie. He just wanted her.
She arched, reaching beneath herself to navigate her bra clasp, and his fingers met hers, rough and slightly unsteady. Her bra loosened around her ribs, and he ducked his head to her breasts, stubbled jaw scraping over her skin…her senses…hereverything.
He trapped her hard nipple between his lips and gave a small, sucking pull that yanked a needy gasp from her. She dug her fingers into his hair, holding him, eyes slipping shut on the sensation of his heated mouth doing things to her that she never imagined.
Her pussy squeezed and juices soaked her panties. She slid one leg up to hook over his hip, dragging him closer. And oh god, the hard length of his erection pressing into the V of her thighs just about sent her over the edge.
She went for his waistband. He went for hers too. Of course she had to wear her houndstooth trousers today. They were her favorite, but they had a fussy closure with a hook, a buttonanda zipper.
He gazed down into her eyes while trying to figure it out without looking. Finally, he shook his head. “I’m lost.”
“I got it.” She tore her fly open and pushed her pants down her hips. Her panties came with them, but who cared? She had no intention of stopping until they were both satisfied.
“Jesus, bookshop. You’re…stunning.” He groaned, and it sounded like a warning and a plea wrapped in velvet. “Last chance.”
She searched his handsome face and saw the strain around his eyes that told her he was reining in something powerful.
She gently cupped his face. “I don’t want you to stop.”
A light in his eyes flared, and his mouth came down on hers again. The kiss turned hot, carnal. He stroked a hand over her breast, tweaking her nipple lightly and pulling a cry from her on his way down, down, down her body.
Her insides clutched when he cupped her pussy, just holding her, his breathing hard. Then he eased a fingertip up the seam, burrowing into her soaking folds and blowing her mind.
