Gabe’s lips lifted slightly, but then he sighed and put his finger under my chin and lifted it so we were looking at each other. “I’m so sorry, Kian. For everything.” He hung his head, and his shoulders slumped. He looked absolutely dejected. The guilt and remorse poured off him in waves.
I thought about it logically, and there was no doubt I hated the way things had gone after our first time together, but with this new information, I kind of got it. This was a huge secret. A life-changing, world-altering secret, and Gabe couldn’t just blurt it out in a conversation. I would bet there were rules about even telling. I would imagine they went to extreme lengths to guard this truth for fear of being exploited, feared, and hunted. If Rhys could, he would have told me because Rhys told me everything. So I knew he hadn’t been able to share this.
But Gabe had broken the rules for me. He didn’t have to tell me; he could have simply let me leave. But he showed himself, put everything on the line just to make me stay.
At least, I hoped that was why. I really did.
I slipped my hand into his and squeezed. “Can we talk in the car? You’re kind of naked in the middle of the road, for everyone to see.” I really didn’t want anyone else seeing Gabe like this. He was mine. A deep, very instinctive part of me knew it.
Fuck! I had never felt like this before. So possessive of another human being. It was both thrilling and scary because that just meant the heartbreak could wreck me.
“I kind of love that you care about my modesty.” Gabe’s voice was teasing. “Come on.” He led me to the car and put me in the passenger side before going over to the driver’s. I saw him wave, and I realized I’d completely forgotten about Rhys.
Suddenly, all those moments when it’d felt like Rhys had wanted to tell me something but stopped himself made sense. I would speak to my best friend, and we would be fine. I knew it, but right now, I needed Gabe.
I squeezed my eyes shut at the thought. Yeah, it was definitely scary, especially after Friday, but could I really hold it against him? What was it like having such a monumental secret?
Gabe sat sideways with his legs hanging out of the car as he moved the seat all the way back. I smiled because I really did love how much bigger he was than me.
When Gabe finally got in the car, he twisted his body so he was facing me. He was still shirtless, and I couldn’t help it. I traced his chest, but of course I couldn’t stop there. My eyes wandered lower, and I was a little disappointed to see he’d found some sweats.
Probably, Rhys had brought a pair for him.
Rhys. I looked in the mirror and found he’d left. I’d forgotten about my best friend completely. Way to go, Kian.
Who could blame him, though? Seeing Gabe naked reminded me of how much pleasure his body had brought mine. My chest tightened at what had followed, though—the aftermath.
I drew in a long breath, then let it out slowly before screwing up the courage to ask, “Was this… This was the only reason why you…” Even while my heart said that was why—it had to be—I couldn’t seem to complete the sentence. I wrapped my arms around myself and closed my eyes, trying not to relive the moment.
Gabe lifted me out of my seat, and I eeped as I was placed in his lap. His arms tightened around me, and he buried his face in my neck.
We sat like that for… I wasn’t sure how long until he cupped my cheek. I leaned back so I could see him, and I read guilt in on his face.
“I am so sorry for hurting you, Kian.” Gabe’s usually deep voice was wobbly. “Gods. I fucked up. I am so sorry.” He put his head on my chest. “I didn’t want to lie to you, but I didn’t know… There’s no excuse.” Gabe sighed. “Please forgive me, Kian.”
Hearing how broken up he was about it, knowing it wasn’t something I did, soothed my jagged heart and started knitting it back together.
“I want to tell you everything,” Gabe whispered.
I chuckled and ran my hands through his hair. Gabe groaned his pleasure, and I grinned.
“I have so many questions.” I leaned into his chest and sighed. “But maybe we can move out of the middle of the road to have this conversation.”
Gabe smiled against my neck. “I kind of like the feel of you in my arms.”
I shivered at his warm breath against my skin and shifted in his lap. Gabe moaned and nipped my earlobe, making me squirm even more.
“Kian.” Gabe growled my name, and I pressed my forehead to his. “Gabe.”
His hands wrapped around my waist. “Gabe,” I sighed.
I brushed my lips over his. It was the lightest of kisses, but I felt it through my whole body. Gabe’s arms tightened around me.
His lips were so close, and I couldn’t help it, I leaned in for another kiss. I needed to taste him again.
Gabe let me control the kiss until I pulled back. The smile on his face was soft.
I stroked his jaw and across his lips, and his eyes darkened. They were as dark as they’d been when he was a bear, and he growled. My breath caught.
