“You were my world, Ellena.”
Her short intake of air seemed to fill the entire cabin. “You’re still mine.”
It was a confession Ellena hadn’t intended to share, but now that she had, she couldn’t bring herself to be sorry.
She rose up slightly, shifting her weight to her tiptoes as he leaned inward. Kissing Gabe may very well be a monumental mistake, but in that moment, it was one Ellena was more than willing to make.
Gabe pressed his lips to hers, his familiar touch filling her with a consuming excitement. And when she opened her mouth to let him inside, it felt like coming home.
Their tongues danced together as he pulled her tightly against his chest, Ellena’s breasts pressed against his solid form. His well-trimmed beard tickled her skin.
Oh, how she’d longed to feel this again. To have him hold her in his arms. To taste him.
To love him.
Gabe took the kiss deeper, the low rumble of his deep moan sending shockwaves of pleasure throughout her entire system. Ellena dug her fingers into his biceps, terrified if she let go, he’d disappear.
“Ah, baby.” Gabe moved his mouth lower to her jawline, his words escaping with panted breaths. “I’ve missed you so damn much.”
Though the words had already been said, Ellena felt their power from her heart to her toes. “Gabe…”
He lowered his hands to her hips. Turning their bodies, he claimed her mouth once more as he slowly guided them toward the couch.
Once they were there, Gabe released his gun from his back waistband and placed it on the coffee table before easing them down onto the cushions. The weight of his body was a welcome feeling as he settled between her open legs.
Despite the thick barrier of his jeans—and hers—Ellena couldn’t miss his solid erection pressing against her heated core. On reflex, her hips lifted, her body’s natural instinct to get as close to this man as was humanly possible.
“This is a mistake.” She breathed between kisses.
Gabe froze.
Carefully hovering over her, he shifted his body so most of his weight was being supported by one elbow. Looking down at her with all the love he used to show, he brushed some hair from her face and whispered, “Ah, sweetheart. Being with you has never been a mistake.”
Her damaged heart swelled inside her chest.
Logically, she knew sleeping with Gabe again didn’t mean he was back for good. Nor did it mean their situation had changed.
He was here to protect her, not reconcile the marriage they’d once shared. She knew that. The psychologist in her understood the situation was the reason for their reunion. Theonlyreason.
And yes, she was also fully aware of the setback having sex with him could cause in her mission to move on without him. But even with all of that knowledge and all of her professional training…Ellena still couldn’t find it in herself to care.
If this is all I can have of him, I’ll take it.
“Make love to me, Gabriel.” She smiled up at him, ran her fingertips through the silver and black hair at his temple. “Please.”
He pressed his lips to her forehead. The tip of her nose. Her lips. His hot breath caressed her face as he stared back at her and smiled.
“You don’t ever have to beg me for that, baby. Not ever.”
Chapter 10
One second they were talking, and the next Gabe was slamming his mouth against hers.
In a frenzy of kisses, they began tearing at each other’s clothes with no thoughts of stopping. She helped him pull off his t-shirt. He unbuttoned her blouse.
Ellena slid her hands between them, her fingers working to release his belt.
Though he hated to do it, Gabe broke away from another mouthwatering kiss and rose to his knees to give her better access. She pulled the leather strap through the buckle, released it from its clasp, and was reaching for the button on his jeans when an alarm began to blare loudly from somewhere behind him.
