Gabriel Read online

  “Well, I hate to drink and run, but I really should get back to my friend before she gets worried about what happened to me. It was nice talking to you.”

  “You're not going to finish your drink?” I asked, pointing at the half-empty glass.

  “No. I think I've had enough as it is,” she answered, pushing it away. “Never been much of a drinker. Too much to do and too many responsibilities to spend my time getting wasted. I have to get up early for work in the morning.”

  I nodded and stood awkwardly.

  She noticed my cane hanging from the bar and placed a hand on my arm. “You don't have to get up.”

  “A gentleman always stands up when a lady leaves,” I answered.

  She motioned toward my leg.

  “What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  I shrugged, half dismissing the question.

  “I don’t mind. An accident while I was in the Army. It's nothing serious.”

  We stood there with neither one of us wanting to move. The song suddenly ended, and the rowdy crowd left the dance floor to surge towards the bar. Someone’s elbow pushed into her back, causing her to lose her balance on the tiny stool and trip towards me.

  I caught her with both hands, careful to not to lose my own balance in the process. As she landed against me, she let out a soft moan that made me tingle in all the right places. So much that I had to shift my weight. My hands were on her back with her head pressed against my chest. I hoped that my heart was the only thing she felt beating.

  She placed her hands on my chest to push herself away from me and hesitated for a split-second.

  I wasn't sure why.

  Maybe our bodies close together felt as good to her as it did to me. I moved my hand up. The skin on her exposed back was soft and smooth. She glanced up at me and her eyes were on fire.

  God help me, I wanted her.

  “Have we met before?” she mumbled. “In another life?”

  “Never before,” I said. “I would’ve remembered a woman like you.”

  I leaned forward, closing the distance between us, drawing her even closer. The touch of her lips against mine was a shock. My lips brushed hers softly, questioning, testing. She pushed against me, and wrapped her arms around my neck, filling what little space was left between our bodies.

  I gripped her even tighter, and parted her lips with my own, slipping my tongue into her mouth tasting of vodka, coaxing hers into action. She returned my kiss and my hand traveled down her back to cup her ample ass.

  “Hey! What the hell are you doing! You totally ditched me,” a female voice yelled over the noise of the crowd. “Oh, never mind. I can see what you’re doing! What happened to our girl’s night out?”

  Lynn dropped her hands and pulled away from me.

  A young redhead stood in front of us, grinning widely. Lynn glanced at me briefly and backed away.

  “Who’s your new friend?” her friend asked after looking me up and down.

  “He’s in town for business.”

  “I’m Cheryl,” she said, introducing herself.

  “Gabriel.”

  “We’d better go,” Lynn said to her friend. “It’s getting late.”

  Cheryl twisted her face into a confused expression. “Why? We’re having fun, or at least you’re having fun.”

  “Let’s go,” Lynn said more adamantly this time.

  “Well, okay. If that’s what you want to do. Bye, Gabriel.” Cheryl waved when Lynn dragged her off through the crowd.

  I raised my hand briefly and watched as they quickly disappeared. I downed the rest of my drink and slammed the glass back down on the wooden bar. That’s when I noticed the gold handbag on the counter.

  I picked it up before someone else could.

  She’ll be back in a minute.

  And if not, I’ll go find her.

  Chapter Two

  Lynette

  “What the hell is going on with him?” Cheryl hissed.

  I didn't explain. I just kept dragging Cheryl behind me. I needed to get out of there.

  “Did that guy do something? I'll call security!”

  I gripped Cheryl's arm.

  “No, it's fine.”

  “Then what?”

  Once outside I stopped and took deep gulping breaths. The air was hot and heavy around us, and my ears rang from the loud music.

  “Mind telling me what the hell that was all about in there? Because if that guy tried something.”

  “No, he didn’t,” I reassured. “He was a perfect gentleman. I've just had too much to drink. I need to go home and crawl into bed.”

  I started walking toward the car.

  “That's not what it looked like to me. You two looked mighty cozy in there. I thought for a second that you were going to actually be nice to someone, if you know what I mean,” Cheryl said, following close behind me.

  “I just tripped into him. That's all. That's all there was.”

  Someone shouted behind me. Calling a name.

  “Lynn!”

  “Just tripped right into that kiss, huh?” Cheryl teased. “Wish I could trip into somebody that sexy.”

  I recognized the name being called out but couldn't place it. I should’ve turned down the drink. The effects of the alcohol were hitting me hard and heavy now. My ears were thumping. I blinked to try to clear the fog settling into my brain.

  “Yeah, I don't know. . .” I trailed off as the man called out the name again.

  Lynn. Right, that's me.

  I turned to face the sound. Gabriel was walking towards me, cane in hand, a pronounced limp on his left leg. He waved my clutch purse in the air. I looked back at Cheryl who frowned at me.

  “Maybe you have had too much to drink,” she said. “You never forget your purse.”

  “See, I told you,” I replied, hurrying toward Gabriel across the parking lot.

  He stopped and waited for me to meet him. As I approached he held out the purse. The tiny gold sequined bag looked ridiculous in his massive hand.

  “You left this on the bar.”

  His voice still had the deep husky tinge, but his eyes were hidden in shadow.

  God help me. I can't walk away from those eyes again.

  “Thank you,” I said, taking it from his hand. I laughed nervously. “Can't believe I left this. I’m usually not this careless.”

  He nodded and smiled.

  “Have a good night. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I didn't mean to.”

  “No!” The word came out much harsher than I meant, so I repeated it again, softer, “No, it wasn't you. I just...” I paused, thinking for a moment. “I just can't do this. Whatever this is, I can't. I'm sorry. I'm on my way home. Good luck with whatever it is you're here for and thanks for bringing my purse out to me.”

  He nodded.

  I moved to walk away when he reached for me, his hands clasping my arm gently. I turned and found myself stepping into his arms, back into his warmth and masculine scent. His grip was loose on me as he bent and quickly kissed my cheek, the stubble of his chin rubbing against my skin, sending tingles through my body, flooding me with desire.

  “Thank you for talking to me,” he whispered to me.

  I nodded, my tongue felt too big for my own mouth and there were no words. I knew I should move away but there was something about him, something keeping me still. Something that felt safe in him.

  I shivered and looked back at Cheryl for a moment. His hand was still resting on my arm, his fingertips burning my skin.

  Cheryl grinned and gave me a thumbs-up.

  I turned back to Gabriel and asked, “You’re leaving tomorrow, right?”

  He nodded.

  “You don’t have to go home with me. I mean, if you want to of course, but you seem hesitant. And I don’t take advantage of intoxicated ladies.”

  I stopped him, pressing my lips against his half-opened mouth. His left hand caressed the side of my face before dropping to my lower back and pullin
g me closer.

  The kiss was feverish. The press of his body was urgent against me. His chest was a wall against my breasts, the hand on me steady, and still. The questioning from earlier was gone, it was clear what he wanted, what his need was. I responded, letting my fingers find their way into his short hair, surprised at its softness.

  He ended the kiss, tapering it off slowly. His forehead leaned against mine, his breathing deep. His hand left my back and went back to my face. His thumb traced my bottom lip. I licked the tip of it as it passed and felt him shudder against me. His mouth was covered in lipstick stains.

  A car honked twice behind us. I turned just in time to see Cheryl driving off.

  “Figures,” I mumbled to myself. “She ditched me.”

  He shot me a questioning look.

  “Where is she going?” he asked.

  I shrugged.

  “She didn’t want to give me time to change my mind.”

  He pushed me back gently with both hands.

  “Lynn,” he said, as if the name was foreign. “We don’t have to do this. We don’t have to do anything. I can take you straight home or call you a cab. Do you live far from here?”

  I smiled up at his earnest expression.

  “I know, but I want to.”

  He nodded and walked me to his car. I laughed at the fancy Audi in the parking lot full of trucks.

  “What?” he asked, opening the door for me.

  “An Audi? Really?”

  He laughed back.

  “It’s a rental. I’m only in town one night so I figured, why not have a little fun?”

  I slid into the leather seat and he closed the door behind me.

  That’s right, this is just a little fun. Why not have some fun for a change?

  He slid into the driver’s side seemingly having no trouble with the leg or the cane.

  “Sorry for seeming nervous,” I stumbled out. “I never do this kind of thing.”

  He ran his fingertips over my thigh.

  “It’s alright. I never do this either.”

  A blast of warm air hit me when he started the car which quickly cooled as the A/C kicked on. The drive to the hotel didn’t take long. We didn’t speak on the way.

  I was surprised when we pulled up in the front of a rundown hotel. For all the money he spent renting the car, I noticed he was frugal about the room.

  Almost reading my mind he said, “Yeah I didn’t much care where I slept. Just so long as it was clean. I wasn’t expecting company.”

  He had a little bit of difficulty navigating the steep, metal stairs leading up to the second floor, but I acted like I didn’t notice.

  The room itself was clean, if bare. Just a bed, small desk, and TV. The bathroom was off to the side providing the only light in the small space. The A/C was blasting, making it chilly. I took my heels off, dropping down about three inches in height.

  The door clicked closed and I felt his body surge against my back. His arms wrapped around my belly, while he traced the curve of my neck with his lips.

  My sex tingled and flooded as his mouth met my ear.

  “We don’t have to do this,” he whispered. “Tell me what you want.”

  He pressed against my back, his own desire apparent against my body. He licked the cusp of my ear. I moaned softly as his fingers slid over my breast, finding my nipple, teasing it with tiny strokes.

  I hadn’t been touched like this in months and my body responded by flooding with desire. I arched my back against him. He groaned as I pressed my ass against his body.

  “Touch me,” I said, in a small voice, almost half in a whisper. “Just touch me.”

  He pushed the dress down with one hand and unclasped my bra with the other, letting the garments fall silently to the carpet. I gasped as the sudden cold hit my nipples and then again as the chilly air was quickly replaced with the teasing touch of his fingers. He stroked my breasts, drawing the nipples into points.

  My fingers fumbled against his pants, finding his belt and undoing it behind my back. He dropped one hand from my breast to between my legs. His fingers ran over the soaked cotton of my panties. I shivered as his fingers traced the line of my slit through the thin fabric.

  “Keep going,” he whispered.

  He caressed me slowly, his arms caging me, keeping me upright. My legs felt weak as my fingers found their way past the buckle and belt of his pants until there was only him filling my hand. He leaned back against the wall, still holding me as I stroked him, feeling him harden in my hand. I released him to tug at his shirt. He pulled it off himself exposing his bare chest thickly strung with muscle. Standing on my tiptoes I reached up and kissed him.

  He locked me in his arms, drawing me closer, my bare breasts pressing against his. His light chest hairs tickled me. I met his hunger with my own, drawing his mouth down to mine, letting my tongue dance with his. I pulled back from the kiss, half dazed and full of want. I kissed his neck, biting at the soft skin there making him gasp then moved down. I made a trail with my lips until I was on my knees in front of him.

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that, you really don’t.”

  He sucked in air as I took his cock into my mouth. I moved slowly, focusing on the head. He was thick and heavy in my mouth. He was dripping, and he tasted like salt against my tongue.

  I could feel his fingers clutching my hair. I moved down taking more, sucking slowly against him. Gasping, I could feel him fighting not to thrust his hips against me. With a regretful sigh, he pulled himself out of my mouth.

  “Easy there,” he said.

  He hauled me up to my feet and pressed his mouth against me.

  “Take off your panties. Now.”

  His voice was husky and deep and I felt my own wetness begin to seep into my panties.

  I smiled and walked over to the bed, letting the underwear slowly drop to the floor, exposing my ass. Behind me I could hear him pulling off his pants.

  I turned and sat on the bed. In the half shadow of the room I could see him, naked. There were scars all along his left side, but his eyes trapped my attention. They flicked over me as he moved towards the bed.

  He sat down next to me, his weight lifting me slightly. One hand grasped my face and turned me to meet his mouth. The other slid between my legs finding my heat and wetness. He pushed my thighs apart, stroking my clit. I shuddered and moaned against his mouth.

  He pushed me back on the bed and slid his fingers into me. I moved his fingers slowly in and out of me, letting his thumb run over my clit. Waves of pleasure were building inside of my body.

  “You’re so wet,” he murmured pulling his hand away.

  I whimpered, and he smiled, moving his slick fingers over my swollen clit. My hands tightened on his arms.

  “Tell me what you want,” he whispered, his fingers teasing my pussy.

  I didn’t hold anything back. Knowing I would never see him again freed any inhibitions I had.

  “Oh God! I want you inside me,” I half-begged.

  He nodded, pushing me back on to the bed. He let his left leg hang straight off the edge of the bed, using his right to hold his weight.

  “Are you on the pill? Or something?”

  I shook my head slowly. He held up a finger and reached for the bag next to the bed. Digging around for a few moments he pulled out a condom and ripped the wrapper open with his teeth. Rolling the condom on, he bent towards me. The tip of his cock shivered at my opening. He rubbed against me and I moaned.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck as he slid into me. He moved slowly, letting my body adjust to him. I gripped his back, panting as he teased his cock into the tight space of me, willing my body to open to him. He kissed my lips, keeping his body close to me as my hands pushed against him, willing him further, deeper.

  I wrapped my legs around him, holding him closer. I felt the pleasure building up in me, demanding to be pushed over the edge.

  He pulled me up suddenly, his arms around me, my legs straddling h
is thighs. He pushed me down onto him, burying his cock inside of me, filling me completely with his width.

  I rocked against him, nonsense spilling from my lips to the sound of his moans and gasps. My hips moved faster until finally I felt a break within myself. A shuddering wave of pleasure washed over my body as he released deep inside of my warm wetness.

  When we were both spent, he pulled my face up from his shoulder and kissed me gently before stretching down beside me.

  I rolled over onto my side, facing away from him. I was pleasantly sleepy. He settled into the bed next to me, breathing softly. As he wrapped his arms around me, his heat beating back the sudden chill in the room, the reality of the situation came back.

  This wasn't permanent.

  It was only for one night.

  He stroked my arm softly, letting his fingers trail up and down my arm.

  “Stay,” he whispered. “For the night. This can be over in the morning, but everything is perfect right now.”

  I nodded, feeling the lie inside of myself. Because it wasn't perfect. Not for me.

  This was a stolen moment and soon my reality would come flooding back. He pulled the blanket over our bodies and curled himself back around my body.

  I listened to his breathing change and deepen. When I was sure he was asleep, I slipped out of his embrace. The sudden cold made me shiver. I gathered my clothes up and dressed quickly. Going out the door quietly, I waited until I had turned the corner to put back on my heels.

  I pulled my cell phone out of the tiny clutch and called a cab.

  Time to return to the real world.

  Chapter Three

  Lynette

  I slept fitfully, with intense eyes haunting my dreams. I couldn’t remember the last time I had a decent night’s sleep. Not since before I received a notice from the bank saying they were foreclosing on my father’s bar.

  Day and night, I constantly tried to think of ways to prevent the foreclosure from happening. The thoughts fried my brain, especially on mornings like this when I was dealing with a vodka hangover too.

  I needed to take a shower and go to the bar. Do some housekeeping, or cleaning, or something, just to get my mind off the foreclosing, as well as those damn green eyes.