“Yeah.”
“Maybe.”
With her in his arms, his anger had vaporized at this moment. There wasn’t a trace of it in the air between them. He took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, and led her to the bed.
He threw off his clothes and pulled down the blankets.
Ivy slipped in on her side and he on his.
“Hold me?” Her green eyes held trepidation as if she feared he would reject her.
“Yes.” Her familiar body was perfect in his hands as he ran them over her soft flesh. He kissed the back of her neck gently. His hands palmed her breasts.
Ivy moaned, pushing against his hands, urging him on. Gabe kissed her as if punctuating his devotion to her, down her arm, along her rib cage, he palmed her pussy, making slow circles with his fingers.
“I love your hand there,” Ivy said.
Gabe smiled as his fingers slid into her clit, into her wet folds.
Here in their bedroom, he didn’t have to be anyone other than himself. He didn’t have to be the team’s former medic or the guy who hated flying. Or the dude with the famous hockey brother. He was just himself, who hated messes, loved the Lions, and liked to run each morning and watch the game on Saturday nights.
He wasn’t a complicated man, though Ivy always told him he was more intelligent than he believed. He loved playing his guitar. He liked helping people. He knew how to patch people up.
But being with Ivy felt like normal. It felt like it was between them before she made that post.
“You’re so beautiful, all heavy-lidded and flushed like that. You’re going to come on my hand, aren’t you, Princess?”
Ivy moaned, jerked her hips towards him and then pushed his arm away.
“What is it, Princess?”
“Gabe, sorry. I can’t keep in the moment. I don’t want to do this.” Her voice broke and felt like a knife to his heart.
He stared at her and wondered what would happen if he commanded her. If she’d still respond to her cue word. But she was telling him she wasn’t in it right now, which was fair. He didn’t have to make the same mistake twice tonight.
“It’s been a long night,” Gabe croaked out. No reason to push her, not now. He kissed her lightly, pulling the blankets up to her chin.
“I’m going to hit the gym.”
“I’m sorry. Tomorrow we can talk.” Ivy smiled.
“Tomorrow’s another day. Get some rest.”
He took a cold shower, trying to shed the image of Ivy’s teary face at Club Bandit, her being comforted by Ella. How his friends and the other Doms looked at him. He could never get it right.
He threw on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt and filled his water bottle. His phone buzzed on the counter.
“Think I had enough of you,” Gabe said.
“Whatever. You’re going to want to listen to this. Reid needs bodies for dropping a shipment of medical supplies Friday. Chantal recommended your name to her dad. You got another in with them if you want it.”
“You’re not joking?” Gabe’s stomach clenched. Knowing his brother, this could be a prank.
“No. Don’t say I didn’t do anything for you. Sending you over the details now,” Cole said.
Gabe ended the call.Yes!This was precisely what he needed.
Gabe went into the bedroom to grab his gym bag.
