“I would hope so.” My annoyance faded at his words, and I looped my arms around his neck, pressing my face to one of my favorite places—the soft skin of his nape underneath his silky black hair. “That ass is mine, along with every other part of you.”
“Strong, silent, and bossy as hell. That’s a combination I like.” He nuzzled my cheek. “Hey, Gabriel?”
“Yeah?”
His lips rested against me. “I didn’t mean to push you about your brother and sister. You don’t have to be best friends or friends at all, but if it were me, I’d want the choice. Put the ball in their court and leave the decision up to them. At least that way you can always say you made the effort to try.”
I kept my face buried in his neck.
“And now you finally know the truth about what happened.”
The weight I always carried fell away from me, the blinders coming off my eyes, allowing me to see the light for the first time. Would having my father in my life change me? No. I’d still have trust issues that couldn’t be fixed even if he did miraculously reappear. Ronan and his steadfastness helped me see that I didn’t need my father’s approval. I was fine without him.
“What happened was you. You’re the truth. The only one I need.”
Ronan’s breath hitched. “I never expected this. Especially after I was released and Cassie and Marty turned their backs on me. I figured I’d be alone like I always was. But I accepted it because that’s what I was used to. Then you showed up, and I didn’t want to be alone anymore.”
We sat together, and I wondered how badly Ronan still hurt from the loss of his sister. That wasn’t something you got over easily. Having never really known Amanda and Marshall, I couldn’t truly miss what I never had. Cassie had been in the center of Ronan’s world his entire life.
Ronan kissed my cheek. “I’m going to get ready for bed. You coming?”
An idea sat brewing in my mind, and I shook my head. “I’ll be there in a few. Get ready for me, though.”
He raised his brows. “I always am.” With another kiss and a wink, he left, whistling.
Maybe had I thought about it more, I wouldn’t have done it, but I picked up his phone, scrolled through his contacts until I found Cassie, and typed out a message. I waited a few minutes but received no response.
“Damn you, Cassie,” I muttered to myself.
“Gabriel, what the hell are you doing?” Ronan yelled from the bedroom. Naked, he took a step out into the hallway and gave me a wicked, lazy grin as he ran a hand over his chest. “Get in here now.”
I jumped up and ran to him, desire quickening through my blood. As I tackled him to the bed, I forgot about Cassie, my father, and anything else, losing myself in his kiss.
Chapter Twenty-One
Ronan
I woke up sore and aching, a smile breaking out over my face when I heard the shower running and Gabriel singing Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Badly. Snickering, I rolled out of bed and opened the door, releasing a cloud of steam.
“Please, God, no. You have brains and beauty, but you can’t sing for shit.”
The water stopped, and he opened the glass door and poked his head out. “And a good morning to you.”
“Yes, it is. A very good one, thanks to last night.” A bead of water rested on the tip of his nose, and I leaned forward and licked it off. He set his hands on my waist, pulling my hips close to nestle with his.
“If I’d known you were going to wake up so soon, I would’ve waited. We could’ve showered together.”
I continued kissing his cheek, moving along his jaw to his neck. “Mm, well, we can take one tonight. I’ll wash your back…” I squeezed his ass and felt his dick jerk. “And take care of your front. I can’t seem to keep my hands off you…oh, goddamn.”
Gabriel sank to his knees, taking my throbbing cock to the root. He kneaded my ass, and I pumped my hips hard and fast. Listening to the sexy noises coming out of his mouth as he deep throated me was the biggest turn-on. Fire raced up my legs to my groin, and I groaned.
“Oh, fuck yeah. There. Rightthere.”
He swirled his tongue around my shaft, teasing the sensitive head, and with an almost painful cry, I came, my fingers buried in his soft hair. With one final swipe of his tongue, Gabriel sat on his heels and gazed up at me, eyes glazed, his soft mouth slightly swollen.
“Does that make up for my singing?”
I waited for my pounding heart to settle down. “Oh, yeah.” He got to his feet and continued to towel off, giving me a show of powerful muscles. “Everything about you works for me.”
