The store was very dark due to the red and black walls, it actually reminded Salene of a vampire sex layer rather than a lingerie boutique. The measuring took her mind off Gabriel's odd behavior after telling Corrine, the girl helping, about her reduction surgery Corrine seemed even more excited to pick out options for her to try. Stepping out of the private measuring area Salene spotted Gabriel speaking to another attendant.
"Okay, here you are," Corrine handed her a black velvet hangar holding multiple bras. "Just follow me to the changing rooms."
Salene followed the petite girl down an even darker back hallway that was lit with faux gas lamps. Pausing ahead of her Corrine held her hand over her headset, listening to the voice on the other end before walking again.
"Okay, actually I'm going to put you just a little bit further back in our more…luxurious rooms." There was a slight giggle to her tone that confused Salene.
Unlocking the door, she showed Salene into the large dressing area. The room was about three sizes larger than any dressing room she had ever seen. There was a large comfy looking chase on one side and a little black lacquer cabinet on the other. In the middle, there was a large three-panel mirror that had an odd bar running horizontally in the middle. Which seemed odd since it sort of hindered the full-length view a bit. Salene could only assume it was for accessibility purposes or something.
"Right this way Sir." Corrine held the door open for Gabriel as he stepped through into the intimate room. "Just push the button here if you need anything else."
The sound of the door clicking shut seemed to echo around her amidst the silence. Sitting on the chase, Gabriel leaned his elbows on his knees and rested his chin on his laced fingers. Salene reminded herself she shouldn't feel self-conscious to try on bras in front of the man considering he has seen—and tasted everything. Turning towards the large multi-directional mirror Salene pulled her shirt untucked from her green print A-line skirt. The silent observation was making her grow anxious with each passing second.
Laying her shirt on the nearby cabinet Salene reached behind her to unclasp her bra, not able to take the pressing silence she spoke up. "Gabriel, what is going on, why are you not talking?"
"Do not play innocent with me Salene," his voice held none of the warmth it had earlier. "You know very well why I’m pissed."
Folding her arms over her exposed bra Salene turned to look at him directly. "Please don't tell me you are angry I was talking to that kid downstairs?"
Sitting up straight in his seat Gabriel narrowed his gaze at her. "Salene," he said warning really. "I'm not the type of man that will tolerate flirting. Trying to make me jealous will not end well."
Now she was pissed.
Stepping forward in her sandals, skirt, and bra Salene looked down at him with a withering look. "First of all Gabriel," mimicking the way he said her name before," I was not flirting, and more importantly I think you are forgetting I am not the type of woman to take threats."
Standing up to his full height it forced Salene to take a couple of steps back. Still, with her arms folded over her bra, Salene tried to remain calm despite the trickle of nervous awareness that crawled into her mind. A ghost of a smile appeared and vanished as he observed her quietly.
"You say you weren't flirting, but I've never heard you laugh so much and so fake at that."
The accusation felt like a slap to her pride, inner warning bells went off as she calculated her next words. Everything told her not to provoke the man in front of her, especially considering his dangerous mood but she would be damned if she would stand here and take his accusations.
Lifting her chin she gave him her frostiest smile, she could practically feel his whole body tense to stone in response.
"My God, do you even hear yourself? Again I was not flirting nor trying to make you jealous with that kid," she emphasized the word kid. "You were probably just not eavesdropping very well since we were talking about something you could relate to anyway."
Salene regretted the haughty tone she took. Gabriel's eyes widened slightly as he gave her an even colder mean smile to match hers. "And what could I not relate to sweetheart?" The endearment sounded like more a curse rather than affectionate.
Regretting going down this path in her argument Salene had no choice to boldly continue. One simply cannot show weakness to a predator like Gabriel—he would only consume you.
"We were just talking about how much of a struggle it is to work hard and put yourself through college." Salene couldn't help to finish the sentence weakly as she saw the realization hit in his eyes.
"I see," he nodded his head taking a step back towards the door. "So we're back to this."
Fear made Salene's stomach drop. No! This was not what she meant. The look of anger and disappointment on his face cut through her like a knife.
Reaching out her hand she stepped closer, she needed to close the distance between them, she had to explain. "Wait please, just let me…"
Catching her wrist Gabriel held it in an iron grasp, his eyes glittered dangerously. "No, I'll explain." Stepping forward he quickly filled the gap between them, charging the air around them with his dark fury. "You don't know a damn thing about me, but you will learn starting now." There was no mistaking the rough threat he laid down like a gauntlet.
Fear spiked through her as she felt his rough fingers under her short green skirt yanking down her panties.
"No, Gabriel!" She cried as she tried to grab the scrap of fabric before he pulled them down any further. "We can't!"
It was too late, one long hand held her back against the mirror while he snatched the flimsy material to her ankles. Shocked and a little scared Salene gripped the cold metal bar on either side of her as he pressed her into the cold mirror. The green eyes that were so beautiful and warm earlier only stared at her with a hard, unyielding fury. Gabriel's essential need to conquer and subdue took center stage. This look in his eyes reminded her of the night he broke the mirror in the living room.
"Gabriel, please," she begged. Salene didn't want it like this, she didn't want to be subjugated by sex.
Ignoring her hands pushing at his chest, Gabriel stepped even closer until he was sandwiching her body completely with his own. The grip of his hand in her hair made her jump in fear while his other hand traveled in between their bodies spearing through her secret curls.
"Since you never bothered asking me, let me clear up some of the preconceived notions you have made," he informed her caustically as one thick finger slipped into her damp folds. Salene watched as the look of satisfaction crossed his face at her evident desire. "My dad paid for exactly three years of my college in exchange for working full-time at his company. All the rest including law school was up to me sweetheart." By now his coated fingers were roughly teasing her sensitive clit causing her to lose some of the fight she was putting up. The strength she was using to push him back withered as she clutched at his shirt.
"And since student loans are obviously your requirement for your ideal man Salene," angrily he reached deeper between them sleeping two of his long fingers into her tight warmth. Salene couldn't stop the moan before it was already out, she hated that she was responding to this tyrannical assault. Using the grip on her hair Gabriel pulled her back until he was looking down at her with half lidded eyes of emerald fire. "I have the papers to prove that I paid all those off a couple of years ago. I worked hard Salene, for everything I have and I have made sacrifices just like you. So you can throw away this rich kid theory you have held against me since the moment we met."
Salene's mind was going crazy, his words felt like lashes of a whip to her conscious while his fingers were picking up such a wonderful friction. She needed just a minute to think, to process his words but her hips ground against his fingers on their own accord. Shaking her head she used her last surge of strength to push him away.
"Please stop," Salene cried, the escalating feeling he was building within her felt like it was going to break any second.
>
Immediately his fingers stopped.
The sudden absence was a thousand times worse. With a defeated whimper Salene watched with wide eyes as he brought his slick fingers to his mouth. Closing his mouth over his fingers, he sucked the digits clean, never breaking eye contact.
It felt like her soul dissipated at the sight.
"Please Gabriel," she wasn't even sure what exactly she was asking for anymore. "I'm sorry."
Narrowing his eyes, he stared at her for a couple of beats before grabbing her waist and spinning her in place. With one stroke he lifted her bra until her breasts bounced free beneath the garment. Looking up in the reflection she caught the dark gaze over her shoulder.
"Beg me Salene," his deep voice was dark and sinister.
Naked with only her skirt bunched at her waist Salene stared at her helpless position in the mirror. Carefully her gaze settled on his right hand pressed flat against the mirror trapping her in place. The thick corded muscles wrapped around his forearm flexed in tension causing one vein to bulge slightly. Swallowing nervously she met his gaze again she could see the anger and lust coursing through them. Ignoring the rebellious voice in her head that told her to fight back Salene gripped the bar on the mirror. At this point, she could only follow her instincts.
Bending at the waist Salene could feel her overly sensitive folds rub across the crotch of his jeans. "I'm sorry, please forgive me."
Shock, satisfaction, and primal lust all of it passed over him as he quickly freed himself. Rubbing the blunt hot tip against her exposed folds, Salene let out a low moan as she bent deeper at the waist. Giving her no time to adjust to his invasion Gabriel grabbed her hips with both hands and thrusted himself inside fully.
Salene's grip on the bar tightened as she held back her cry. Though they had made love numerous times since the first time, this position was new. This position he felt deeper almost painfully so.
With heavy grunts, Gabriel used his rough grip on her hips to push and pull her back against his swollen length. The sound of her ass slapping against his flesh rhythmically filled the air between her ragged moans. With no choice but to hold onto the bar, Salene accepted everything he was giving. Her breasts bounced and swayed violently at the quick, brutal pace he was putting her through.
No this was not the normal lovemaking, this was pure domination. This was a reminder of who was in control and dear God if her body didn't crave it. The proof of her desire was evident as it flowed down her thigh and glided his length with ease repeatedly into her body. Her mind was in a storm of chaos, she needed him to bring her to that shattering moment she was so close to. Looking up in the mirror Salene's breath caught in her throat by the savagery on his face. It was not a look she had ever seen before.
"Please Gabriel," she panted in a whining plea, she felt that she needed to give him what he wanted to hear. "Please, I'm sorry."
Reaching forward Salene watched in shock as he wrapped one hand around her throat pulling her straight up until her back arched. Frightened she immediately grabbed at the hand on her neck. Ignoring her Gabriel reached his other hand around her waist stroking and pinching at her aching clit.
As she came apart in his arms, her vision was blurring slightly as she felt the hard jolts of his own release being pumped into her. Utterly and completely spent Salene hung like a ragdoll in Gabriel's grip. Guiding her limp body to the nearby chase Gabriel sat her down in a heap of exhaustion.
The only noise between them were the clicks and jingle of his belt as he fastened his pants. Besides a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead Gabriel didn't look any different than normal. Feeling self-conscious, especially under the intense silence Salene bent down to pull up her forgotten panties.
Turning his back to her, he stepped away, her heart went completely still for a moment until she heard the cabinet door open and close. Pulling up his jeans a little Gabriel squatted deeply until he rested gracefully on his haunches. For a moment there she feared that he was just going to walk away.
"Here, let me," the cold, wet swipe of the hygienic towelette against her sensitive heat made her jump.
Salene was highly embarrassed by the intimate act but too tired to fight back. Lifting her hips as he slid the damp underwear back in place Salene looked at his eyes searchingly.
Finally, he spoke. "I won't lie to you and tell you I didn't mean this. Because I knew exactly what was doing when I requested the fitting room."
"How did you even know about this?" Salene wanted to add 'sex parlor' but refrained, she was a little apprehensive to even know how he knew.
Smiling rakishly he handed her one of the bras to try on. "There is a coworker of mine who used to date one of the attendants here that told me."
"Oh," nodding her head numbly Salene couldn't help but inwardly sigh in relief. There was just no way she was strong enough to hear that he "used" this place before.
"Salene," he paused as if looking for the right words while letting his thumbs caress back and forth on the inner part of each thigh. "I'm trying to scrape together my control I lost a moment ago." Letting both hands glide up further Gabriel's eyes hardened at whatever thought crosses mind. "When I saw you talking to that piece of shit kid down there that was one thing but when I realize you still had so little respect for me even…"
"Gabriel stop please," Salene couldn't take it anymore. Clasping his face with both hands, she leaned his face upwards until they were eye to eye. "Please, stop I said I was sorry I was just speaking out of anger. I didn't mean it."
Grabbing each wrist he swiftly stood straight up bringing her with him, holding her close he spoke. "I know baby and that why when we get home we are going to talk."
"Talk?" She asked dubiously.
Smiling and her skepticism he kissed her on the lips. "Yes, talk. Talk and start over. There are too many things we don't know about each other or lies that bitch told. We need to clear the air. I want to know more about you."
Burying her face into his soft T-shirt, Salene smiled. "Yes, I want to know more about you as well."
Bending down he kissed her as his hands rubbed up and down her bare back, reminding her she was still topless.
"Mmm," he groaned deeply. "Come on before they kick us out. I have a feeling I'm going to need to buy some more lingerie for the extra time spent."
Chapter 24
Gabriel rolled his neck slowly popping the tense muscles in his neck. Leaning back in the large black leather office chair he swiveled around towards the massive floor-to-ceiling window behind him. Looking over the city Gabriel was able to see the greater part of Dallas from his thirty-second floor office and the edges of neighboring Fort Worth too. Dallas was a beautiful flat city making it easy to see just about anything from the right height and angle. Staring out at the expanse of the blue-and-white sky his thoughts drifted to where they always seem to go—Salene.
Leaning his chin on one fist, he thought of the past week with a smile. Things couldn't be more fucking perfect if he tried. That night after the mall Gabriel eventually pulled himself from her tired, spent body and collapsed next to hers in bed. She asked some questions about his childhood, his dad, his interests, and even hesitantly asked him about his mom. It was spellbinding to watch her laugh and listen intently to his childhood stories. To watch her sadness and anger over the facts about his mom taking off at a young age made him only want possess her more.
That incident in the mall they both realized quite thoroughly his possessiveness for her ran deep. When he heard her laughter float delicately around him in the store, Gabriel could still practically feel the trickle of fury that iced his heart. Watching her laugh and smile as that punk tried to work his way up to asking her out made him see red. Salene was his in every sense of the word, and it was apparent he needed the remind her of that fact. When she did relent to his anger and begged him, Gabriel could feel his soul ignite. Closing his eyes, he could still easily imagine her soaking wet heat stretching around him as he took her from behind. Tha
t night he resumed his lesson on her body practically once they set foot inside. Gabriel made her repeat over and over again that she belonged only to him.
For the first time in his life, Gabriel could completely see why some men could go to the lengths to kill for their women. Gabriel had no trouble seeing himself beat another man to death for that shapely little woman. Salene sweet smile, her soft moans, her sharp tongue, the way she held onto him as he drove into her tight body—everything gave meaning to his day.
Hell, even his father was entranced by her. During Thanksgiving dinner, a small but delicious feast Salene prepared, Gabriel watched his father and Salene bicker like two old men—full of good-natured snappish jibes. The old man hardly wanted to leave and made no secret he planned on taking every scrap of leftovers with him on the way out.
Desperate (A Contemporary Romance) Page 17
