“Touch me,” he commanded.
She slid her hand under his shirt and pressed her palms flat across his bulky, ridged muscles. She traced the lines, following the trail down a deep V, reaching the waist of his pants.
She reached lower and unfastened his pants, sliding the zipper down.
“Too slow,” he growled, ripping his pants and briefs down and tossing them to the floor too. She arched an eyebrow at him.
“What?” he asked.
She laughed and shook her head. “Nothing, Mr. Impatient.”
“Hell yes, I’m impatient. Look at you. Perfection laid out for my enjoyment. Now touch me again.”
Smirking, she continued exploring, roaming lower. He hissed when she touched him, wrapping his hand around hers encouragingly. Locked around him, she marveled at the velvet heat and how responsive he was to her touch. “Condom?”
Gabe pressed his eyes closed for a heartbeat, then jerked out of her hand and rolled over, digging into his dresser drawer. In less than a minute, he returned, fully sheathed, and crawled over her. She reached for him, skimming her hand along his wrapped length. He groaned and buried his head in her shoulder.
“Rachael, I need to be in you,” he rumbled. “Now.”
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and tossed her hair back. “Then do it.”
He groaned and spread her legs farther apart. He leaned on his elbows, watching her face as he pressed into her, his thick girth stretching her beyond her limits. She moaned, closing her eyes against the invasion.
“Open your eyes, damn it. Look at me as I take you,” he demanded. Her eyes flew open and he nodded, holding her gaze with his own.
Gabe continued pushing into her and she winced at the pressure. He noticed and slowed. “Do you need me to stop?”
She shook her head. “No, just give me a second.”
“What’s one more second,” he teased, staring at her mouth. He reached between them and massaged her, circling gently, stirring her as she relaxed to accommodate him. Rachael nodded and he dipped to kiss her as he moved in her, his dark curtain of hair closing the world off. He withdrew and returned, pushing deeper each time. She hissed as he surged in again, filling her.
“All in.” He chuckled, kissing her damp forehead.
She wrapped her arms around his neck as he started the dance, slowly at first, moving gently, rocking her whole body back and forth. He braced his elbows on either side of her, wrapping his fingers into her long tresses. He continued easing in and out, kissing her with infinite skill, his tongue twirling to his movements, black hair tickling her cheeks. She dug her nails into his shoulders and unwrapped her legs from his waist. Bracing her feet against the bed, she pushed up to meet him. He grinned and moved more forcefully, slamming and surging deeper, over and over, their bodies sweating and sliding together. Panting, she bit his shoulder, following the sting with a lick. He grunted and groaned, his body swelling further and tightening up.
“I have you,” he panted, crashing into her, over and over. She felt it coming, felt her own climax cresting.
She gasped, her body breaking into a million pieces under him.
“You’re mine, Rachael,” he shouted in triumph, straining forward as his body heaved and shuddered, losing himself in her.
He dropped to her side, cradling her, and whispered, “I love you.”
18
Did he just say he loves me?
She couldn’t say anything. Rachael closed her eyes and relaxed against him.
“You’re bleeding,” Gabe noted as he tossed the condom away. “Did I hurt you?”
“No, I’m fine.”
He rolled over to look at her, worry creasing his forehead. “You don’t have to say it. I understand.” The love was clear in his face.
A thread of uneasy concern ran through her. “Gabe, I care so much for you. I don’t know what I’m feeling right now. But I do care about you. You’re one of my best friends.”
He ran a hand down his face. “I know.”
“And who knows. Maybe this is how things start?”
He smiled sadly. “Love, I don’t know that I’m the one for you.”
She frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Gabe sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “I love you, Rachael. I can’t fucking believe it, but I do. That’s not easy for me to admit.” He turned back to meet her eyes. “I want you to be with me, stay with me, be mine. But I think I’m the right person at the wrong time. Or maybe the wrong person at the right time.”
“Gabe?”
“Shh. Just come here and rest.”
Rachael slid off the bed, and he held his hand out to her. “Where are you going?”
She pointed to the restroom and he nodded.
Shutting the door softly behind her, she leaned heavily against it.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. Rachael, what have you done?
She washed up, glaring at herself in the mirror.
What is wrong with you?! Gabe is perfection. How can you not love him?
“You should have a sign on your forehead: ‘Rachael Eller, world’s biggest screwup,’” she hissed to herself.
Tossing down the hand towel, she flipped the light off and returned to the bed.
He held his arms open and she rolled into him, breathing in his spicy scent and the smell of their sex. She settled in and relaxed, finally finding her voice.
“Gabe?”
“Mhm?”
“Are you upset with me?”
“Yeah. But I’m more pissed at me.”
“You didn’t do this, Gabe. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—”
“Stop, Rachael. It’s done.”
What did that mean? The friendship? The sex?
Rachael breathed and stared at his firm chest, debating what to say, how to make this right. The sex was incredible, but she knew he was a substitute for who she wanted to be with but couldn’t have. And she was pretty sure he knew that too.
“Gabe, I—”
“Damn it, stop, Rachael.”
“Are you sure?”
He kissed her forehead and groaned. “I’d like to be more angry. But being used by you is the most fun I’ve had in quite some time.”
Rachael flinched at his description and heard the truth in his words. She was so going to hell.
“Can we still be friends?” She couldn’t imagine not being friends with him.
Gabe was quiet for some time. “I don’t know.”
She nodded against his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“For fuck’s sake, Rachael. Please stop apologizing. I did this of my own free will. I wanted you as much as you needed me. I don’t regret it. I would appreciate knowing that you didn’t either.”
“I don’t. In fact, I’d say it was the highlight of my day,” she teased.
“Of your day? Damn. I’m losing my touch.” He tickled her sides and they both rolled onto their backs.
“I do love you, Gabe. Just not that way.”
“I know, love. Now zip it and let me catch my breath before I take you home.”
Relief washed over her and she kissed him on the shoulder. She was a selfish mess, but he seemed to understand what she was going through better than she did.
Acknowledging the truth, she owned that she was an absolutely terrible person. Rachael just hoped it didn’t cost her his friendship. She might not be in love, and she definitely didn’t deserve it, but she was loved. And right now, she needed to know she was loveable.
19
The next week flew by with work and meetings. She tried not to think about how quiet her phone had been. Nothing from Gabe, not that she expected it. Nothing from Rick, no surprise there. And it seemed like half the country was on vacation. Her Instagram feed was full of beaches and palm trees.
Deciding it was time to find her groove, Rachael doubled down and threw herself into her work, tearing through the stacks of contracts and proposals she had let accumulate during her meltdown. Maybe she
could forget everything that happened and find her blissful workaholic escape. She loved her job, truly. But right now, it didn’t fill her with the satisfaction she had known before.
Time. Time would help.
Her mom stopped by her office a few times, but never stayed for more than a minute. They remained mum about things at home. Maybe her parents knew, maybe they didn’t. Either way, she was grateful her mother never brought it up.
In the mornings, Rachael and her dad fell into a routine, each of them enjoying their coffee in companionable silence. She would let the dogs out. He would grumble and complain, but would always agree to let them in so she could leave early. Olive and Martini were undoubtedly working their magic on him. They were kind of impossible not to love.
Olive was due for her next checkup, and Independence Day was approaching. Rachael wondered how the dogs would handle it. Some dogs got severe anxiety and hid in the bathroom or under furniture to get away from the booming displays. She glanced down at Olive in the passenger seat and frowned. How would she and Martini respond to the fireworks?
Laughing quietly to herself, Rachael reflected how different her life was now than a few months ago. While she had loved animals and working in the shelters, she never considered herself to be the maternal type. Maybe after hitting the snooze button so many times throughout her twenties, her clock had finally started ticking. But instead of babies cooing, she melted over dog kisses.
They arrived at the animal hospital, and she parked in the shadow of a large oak tree, willing to suffer whatever droppings the birds had planned. It was still hot as Hades outside, and sitting in a sun-scorched patch of leather upon her return to the car was so not going to happen today. Attaching Olive’s leash to her collar, Rachael told her furry companion how lucky she was to be getting her cast off today. The dog looked at her curiously, head tilting and tongue lolling.
Rachael opened the car door, letting Olive hop down to the shaded pavement ahead of her. Rachael slid her bag over her arm and followed the trotting girl toward the entrance. She chuckled at Olive strutting her stuff, the little cast on her hind leg hardly a bother at this point.
“Olive?” came a cheerful voice.
Rachael turned and smiled at the young college student. Olive panted happily. “Cora! It’s so good to see you again.”
“How is she doing?”
“She’s good. The stitches have healed over perfectly. You did a great job.”
Blushing, Cora adjusted her glasses. “I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you when you were here before, Miss Eller. I tend to zero in on my patients.”
Rachael brushed off the apology. “And that’s why you’re going to be an amazing doctor. Have you applied to veterinary programs yet?”
Cora knelt to greet her patient, who soaked up every blessed moment of attention.
Cora and Rachael chatted for a few minutes about graduate schools, and the future vet promised to visit the animal shelter where Rachael volunteered. Cora would love it there, and they could use someone with her dedication.
Waving goodbye, Rachael met Olive’s impatient, adorable face. “Ready, girl?”
She pranced ahead and Rachael shook out the leash, switching it to her other hand. It was somehow tangled up in her purse strap. Crap. Glancing down at Olive, Rachael pulled her to a halt in the shade of the entrance’s small awning. Surveying the jumbled mess, she tried to unknot the two strands and sighed in frustration as it only got worse. For God’s sake, how did that happen? She must have been toying with it while talking with the intern.
Bending over her handbag, she examined the intricate cluster and twisted the leash, this way and that. If she could figure out how to weave her purse through a tiny loop she’d managed to loosen up—
The world went black.
* * *
She was lying down, but the world was dark. Where was she? The surface underneath her back and hips felt uncomfortable, but her head throbbed to the point that everything else faded to insignificance.
“What happened?” Rachael groaned.
“She’s waking up, Rick,” she heard a female voice murmur.
Rick? What?
“Where am I?” Rachael groaned, the words echoing in her head.
“Now, now, honey. You’re safe. It appears you took a nasty couple of bumps to the head.”
“Nancy?” she mumbled, straining unsuccessfully to open her eyes.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Nancy. Animal hospital.
Olive!
“Where’s Olive?” She felt a cool, damp cloth pressed across her face. She peeled it back, flinching at the way it pulled at her tender skin, and cringed at the bright lights.
“She’s fine. Gil took her back to remove the cast.”
Rachael heard Nancy bustling around the room and felt the wet cloth in her hand being swapped out with a soft, dry towel.
“Gil? Rick?” Nancy called.
Rachael slowly adjusted to the light and could still only open one eye. She gingerly touched the closed eye and cringed, fingering a puffy mess.
“You’re going to want to keep ice on that for a while,” an achingly familiar voice said, approaching the row of padded chairs she was laid out on. His warm hand touched the side of her face before he drifted away again.
“Rick?” she wondered aloud, shifting her head to try to see him. What was happening?
“It’s okay, dear,” Nancy patted her hand.
Head throbbing, the room began spinning faster, and to her horror, she vomited profusely before thankfully passing out again.
* * *
“Rachael? Rachael, you need to wake up. I need you to wake up.”
She groaned and tried not to move her head. If she could arrange it, she never wanted to move again.
Animal hospital.
Right.
She stretched her hand out and felt a sheet. Nancy must have covered her up. That was thoughtful.
“Rachael, wake the fuck up.”
What?
“Nancy?”
The woman sighed, muttering under her breath. “No, I’m not Nancy, you moron.”
“Kim?!”
Rachael’s head spun again and she struggled to catch the whirling globe, halt the world if possible.
“Where?”
“You’re at the hospital.”
“What?”
“Hos-spit-al,” Kim exaggerated.
“Animal hospital,” Rachael amended groggily.
“Seriously? The hospital-hospital, the people-hospital. You got knocked out cold at the vet’s office, then I guess things went downhill so they sent you here. Carlie asked me to come check on you. You look like hell, by the way.”
“Olive?”
“Is this your new thing? One-word questions? To be honest, I wouldn’t mind the change. You talk too damn much for my liking.”
“Olive!” Rachael barked, the sound richocheting around her too-full, throbbing head.
“Jeeze, no need to bite my head off. The vet people have her. She’s fine.”
“Thank you.” Rachael closed her eyes, wanting to go back to sleep.
“Hey!” Kim shouted at her, nudging her arm. “Did you not hear me? You need to wake up, girlfriend.”
“Why?” she mumbled.
“Because the damn doctor said so.”
“Why?”
“‘Why, why, why?’ You’re like a two-year-old. I don’t know why. Artist here, remember? If it were up to me, you could sleep all day and night.”
She heard heels clacking down the hallway and the metal-on-metal screeching of a curtain being dragged opened very nearby. Could anyone else hear how obnoxious that was?
“Rachael?”
Jesus. Was she dying? What took Mom out of the office at this time of day? Or . . . “What time is it?”
“Holy shit. More than two words. I think she’s going to make it.”
“Kim,” Mary Eller warned. She turned to Rachael. “It’s nearly seven o’
clock.”
Rachael tried to calculate. Olive’s appointment was at four. Three hours had gone by.
“My bag? My car? What happened?”
Her mother sat on the side of the bed. “Dr. Thomas said you took a hit to the head with a door, of all things, then again to the back of your head when you hit the pavement. Why were you crouching in front of a door?”
Rick. She talked to Rick?
Rachael shook her head, then immediately groaned. “Shit.”
Gritting her teeth, she willed the room to stop spinning. Once the rotation ebbed, Rachael thought through the question and rolled her eyes. “Her leash. The leash was knotted around my bag’s strap. I was trying to undo it.”
“Well, thank God you weren’t standing in the middle of the street. Honestly, you girls need to pay more attention to what’s happening around you . . .” She rattled on about how terrible this generation of young people was. Nothing Rachael hadn’t heard before. Easing her eye open, Rachael took in her surroundings. Kim was hunched over in a gray plastic chair against a bland beige wall, and her mother was sitting at her side, both still dressed for work.
Her mom’s voice drifted back into her ears. “I hope you learned a valuable lesson from this.”
Rachael smiled numbly and mumbled what her mom expected to hear.
Kim winked and mock-strangled Rachael’s mother. Rachael choked down a laugh.
“How long do I have to stay here?”
“Doc said a CT scan then you should be good to go. But you have to stay awake,” Kim repeated.
“Why?”
“Don’t start this again. Do I look like a doctor to you?”
Mom glared at Kim and gave an exasperated sigh. “Just until you get the CT scan, honey. You’ll be able to sleep soon.”
As if on cue, a pair of nurses and a doctor entered the room. Mom and Kim waved goodbye as the nurses wheeled Rachael from the room, the doctor in tow.
The medical staff brought her to a different room where they performed the CT scan. It felt like ages until it was over, but when Rachael thought she was finally free, she was transported back to her hospital room.
Animal Attraction Page 12
