Page 69 of Pure Abandon

Half hiding myself under the sheet, I nodded in slow mortification.

He looked down at me and smiled, pulling the sheet off my face, and leaned down to kiss me with the most tender kiss I’d ever felt in my life.

“You are the greatest surprise I’ve had in a long time. Who are you and where have you been these last three years?”

I giggled. “Saving myself for the right moment, I guess.”

“Stay the night. I don’t want you to go.”

“I won’t.”

A look of alarm crossed his face. “You won’t stay?”

I laughed again. “I won’t leave. I’ll stay as long as you want.”

And I never left.

“Shit. You scared me,” he says, taking a step back when he sees me.

Not the reaction I was hoping for. I lean over and pull down the duvet on his side of the bed. Gabriel climbs in and adjusts his pillow.

“What are you still doing up?” he asks.

“Waiting for you. What time is it?”

“After midnight.” Gabriel rolls over, facing away from me. “I’m beat, baby. Go back to sleep.” He adjusts his pillow one more time and settles his body into the mattress.

I roll toward him and press my chest against his back and drape my right arm around him. My head is buried between his shoulder blades, so I take the opportunity to place soft kisses along his back.

The action causes Gabriel to roll over toward me, onto his back. As Gabriel’s arm snakes around me, I find my new home in the crook, lying with my arm across his stomach.

Raising my hand, I gently run my fingers through the sprinkle of hairs on his belly that lead to a very happy place. My fingers draw small circles from his navel and start their descent down to the elastic of his boxer shorts.

My fingers cross the barrier, and as I am about to grab hold of my prize, Gabriel’s hand lands on top of mine and lifts it up and out of his shorts.

“No, baby. I’m tired. Not tonight,” Gabriel says as he rolls back over away from me.

What kind of man refuses sex with his wife? After his office visit today, I was sure he would want to make love tonight. Instead, it’s the same story. I feel like Jackson’s building blocks.

Build them up. Knock them down. Repeat.

I arrive at the office later than expected. I overslept, and of course, Gabriel was already gone. Gwen is still there, so I left her with Carmen. I couldn’t deal with her this morning.

And those goddamn flowers are blocking the redhead!

“Trish, is Malory in yet?” I scowl.

“Yes, she’s in her office.” Trish rises and rounds the reception area. “Kat, I have to talk to you.”

“Not a good time.” I walk past reception and head down the concrete hallway.

“Listen, I was reading emails this morning and…” Trish follows me. She has a frantic tone to her voice.

“No!” I condescend, stopping in the hallway to put the little redhead in her place. “Trish, what have I told you about reading other people’s email?”

She looks me square in the eye, remorseful yet determined. “I know, but listen. I was looking for—”

“Say one more word about emails and I am marching right into Erik’s office.”