Weak with pleasure, Gabe leaned down, resting his head against the dip in her back. His chest rose and fell with harsh, heaving breaths.
“Holy shit, woman.” He eased out of her body and dropped onto the mattress beside her.
“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’d be lying,” Ellena teased.
Blue, sated eyes stared back at him. Knowing he’d been the one to put that look on her face filled Gabe with a primal sense of pride.
“You hungry?”
Just then, a low rumbling sound came from Ellena’s stomach.
Her shoulders shook as she laughed. “I guess that answers your question.”
“I’ll go make us some breakfast.” With a playful smack, Gabe’s palm landed on one of her bare cheeks as he rolled over and off the bed.
“Gabe?”
“Yeah?” He stopped by the doorway and turned around.
Covering herself with the sheet as she went—which was a damn shame—Ellena pushed herself up into a sitting position. Something about her expression bothered him, but he wasn’t sure why.
She hesitated half a second before asking, “What are we doing?”
He frowned. “I thought you were going to take a shower, and I was going to make us some food.”
“No.” She shook her head, the smile she now wore not reaching her eyes. “I mean…this. Us.”
“I don’t understand. I thought we already settled all of that.”
Sighing, Ellena looked down at her lap before meeting his gaze once more. “Being here with you, like this…it’s been great. More than great.”
A gnawing feeling began swirling low in his gut. “But?”
“No but.” Ellena’s silky blonde hair swayed across her shoulders as she shook her head. “Not really. I guess…I guess I’m just wondering what happens next?”
“Next?”
“Yes, Gabe. Next.”
Clearly frustrated, Ellena held the sheet to her body as she stood from the bed and faced him. He watched as she wrapped the thin cotton around her as best she could. She bunched a section of the material between her breasts and held on to keep it from falling.
“Despite our reason for being here, playing house with you this past week has been…fun.”
“Fun?”
“Better than fun.” She blew out a breath, appearing to gather her thoughts. “The way things have been going these last few days makes me think maybe we can really”—she cut herself of abruptly, then gave a quick shake of her head—“but I can’t help but remember how things ended before. How hard it’s been trying to get over you. I know what you said about burning the papers, but I just need to know if…” She looked away, the weary look in her eyes nearly breaking him. But then, she lifted her chin and locked her blue eyes with his. “I need to know if this is real.”
Gabe was stalking back toward Ellena even as her voice was trailing off. He’d already told her how he felt about her. How sorry he was for having walked away.
Knowing she still doubted his love for her--for even asecond—tore his heart to shreds.
“Let me clear all that up for you.” He spoke low and with purpose as he slowly made his way around the foot of the bed. “First, I haven’t beenplayingat anything. Second, I know I screwed up by leaving before, but I’m here. Now.” Gabe stopped moving when their toes were about to touch. “I’m here, sweetheart, and I’m not going anywhere again. Not unless you ask me too. Third, I can’t tell you what’s going to happen tomorrow or next week, because until I know you’re safe, that’s all up in the air, but fourth…and it’s really important you hear this last part… as far as I’m concerned, this”—he motioned a hand between them—“is as real as it fucking gets.”
Ellena’s chest rose with a stuttered breath. Her eyes glistened with a well of tears, and Gabe held his own breath waiting for her response. Thankfully he didn’t have to wait long.
“It’s real for me, too.” Her whispered voice was shaky and thick with emotion. “I just needed to know I wasn’t alone in those thoughts.”
“You’re not alone, baby.” Gabe framed her face with both hands. “You’ll never be alone, again.”
