Oh God.Was he saying what she thought he was saying?
“So…option one is for sure off the table?
Say yes. Please, God, let him say yes.
Gabe’s intense gaze reached deep into her soul, his image blurring behind a new onslaught of tears forming in her eyes. He leaned in, his deep voice low and determined as he said, “Baby, I fucking hate option one.”
* * *
Ellena barely had time to suck in a breath before Gabe’s lips were on hers. She knew they still had a lot to work through, but they’d just leapt over their biggest hurdle.
Finally,blessedly,Gabe had come to the realization that the loss of their child wasn’t on him.
Her mind raced to catch up to what her body was feeling, and her broken heart began healing itself with every touch. Every nibble.
Thank you, God.
“I love you, Ellena.” Gabe’s mouth ate at hers greedily. “God, I never stopped loving you.”
The remaining fissures from his leaving grew together, the scars there making her heart beat even stronger than ever.
“I love you, too, Gabriel. Only you.”
She thought he’d kiss her longer. Deeper. He broke away.
For a moment, she wanted to scream her denial but then he bent at the waist and scooped her up in his arms. Turning them toward the bed, he gently laid her on the mattress, following her down as she went.
She thought he’d ravish her. Take her like he was starved for her.Like I’m starving for him. But he kept his weight on one elbow to keep from crushing her and simply stared.
“Gabe.” Her hips involuntarily lifted.
“Shh…”
He pressed his index finger to her mouth, letting it trail languidly down over her chin.
Her neck.
Her top button.
“I’ve waited so long for this, sweetheart. So fucking long.” He carefully pulled her earlobe between his teeth before whispering, “There’s no way in hell I’m rushing it.”
Ellena’s insides tingled, the muscles there clenching in anticipation. They’d barely gotten started, and her body was already desperate for relief.
But her soul…her soul was more than willing to wait because this was Gabe. The man of her dreams. The other half of her heart.
The one I was born to love.
Despite their past and the baggage that came with it, surrendering herself to him was one of the easiest decisions Ellena had ever made.
She smiled up at him, relaxing her body beneath his. “Take all the time that you need.”
Gabe’s lips curled into a slow, smooth grin as he leaned down, dropping a warm kiss in the hollow of her throat. He moved lower, his hands working to release the rest of her shirt’s buttons as he went.
Soon her blouse was off, and he was staring down at her as if she’d hung the moon.
“You’re so beautiful.” He kissed the swell of one breast and then the other. His coarse whiskers brushing across her sensitive skin.
“Gabe,” Ellena whispered his name again.
