“Good luck,” Erik said.
“See you.” Gabe waved to his friends. He caught up to Ivy in the lobby and grabbed her hand. She wrenched it away.
Hell no.
Ivy could be upset with him all she wanted, but she was going to walk into their home with him by her side, if she liked it or not. He put the palm of his hand against her back and ushered her into the elevator.
Her mascara streaked down her face, her sleeves were torn, a hole in her pants, her hair tumbled but god, did she look sexy as hell; she was so damn strong. Her posture was erect, her eyes blazing with anger as she looked at him.
Because his asshole brother took her and threw her in the hangar for pick up by who knows whom, to be sent to who knows where, though Gabe could make an educated guess.
He wanted to scream; he needed to punch something, but damn it, right now, he had to take care of his Princess. He hated she was in pain.
But you didn’t mind the pain you caused her. But he did, more than anything.
As soon as they were behind their front door, she marched down the hall to the bedroom. He shut the front door and followed her.
“Gabe, I just want to forget this.”
“Yeah? You can’t. It sucked that it happened.” He threw his jacket on the chair. “It was horrible. I will never talk to Cole again.”
Surprise flashed across her eyes, and her chin jutted out. “Gabe, I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”
“Ivy, I should have taken better care of you.” His voice broke.
She shook her head, brushing by him.
He grabbed her arm, pressing her against the wall.
“I’m fucked up. I’ve been horrible to you. Maybe I’m more sadistic than we thought. I left you and ran away from you, thinking you had betrayed me like my father and brother had so many times. I didn’t view what you did as out of love for me.”
And cupping her cheek face in his hands, he kissed her as if he could apologize for all the damn pain he’d caused her. His hand tangled in her hair, pulling it by the root. Her eyes flew open in surprise. She pushed back against him.
“Hell no. Say ‘Red.’ I will not listen to your protests unless that word tumbles out of your lips. Why did you get in the car with my brother?”
She snarled at him and kicked him, her nails scratching his arms. “Because he said that you had a migraine and weren’t right. I tried to call you.”
He laughed. Taking her wrists in his hand, he held them above her head. “Most fucking girls would be a wreck right now, crying and shivering. But you, you want to fight, right?”
“No! Gabe, get off of me!” Ivy said.
She looked so damn cute, half-heartedly pushing at his chest.
“Too bad we’re not as good outside the bedroom as we are in it.” Gabe dropped her wrist, grabbed the hem of her shirt, and threw it off. He knew he should look her over, get some water in her and substance but damn it, he wasn’t going to stop.
Holding her in place with his hips, he dropped her wrists and worked the button on her pants, pulling them off. Leaving her standing there in her purple lacy underwear.
“Damn you,” she bit out.
His eyes roamed every inch of her, rubbing her shoulders. Other than a bruise on her knee, she was fine. Thank God.
“Stop looking.”
“Never, Princess.”
A small smile broke on her lips, and needing to taste her again, he kissed her with all the angst he felt while yanking down her bra straps. She pushed him back, and he broke the kiss, taking her breast in his palm as if weighing it.
He squeezed her soft flesh, twisting her nipple, wanting to wipe off that look of scorn from her face. Her mouth relaxed as he kneaded and pinched, then her eyes rolled upwards.
