by Eden Summers
“Well, I hope she never realizes how much of a tool you are.”
“Yeah.” Blake laughed but didn’t feel the humor. “Me too.” Karma must have fucked up somewhere along the line because Blake definitely didn’t deserve to have Gabi in his life.
Mitch glanced around the room and frowned. “So where is she?”
I have no fucking clue.
Something moved in his periphery and he stepped forward without thought. Gabi. She was outside, walking along the fence surrounding the yard with Ryan beside her, his suit jacket over her shoulders.
He let out a deep breath, releasing the tightness in his chest. Thank god.
She tilted her head to focus on the house and met his gaze. The soft smile she sent him almost knocked him off his feet.
“Uh, why is she with Ryan?” Mitch asked.
“Long story.” Blake opened the glass sliding door and moved onto the balcony. Gabi and Ryan walked out of view, and moments later the side gate clanged. When footfalls sounded on the steps, his heart ramped up a notch. He’d been worried. He hadn’t realized how much until his body flooded with relief at seeing her again.
Ryan reached the top step first—his eyes filled with remorse—and jerked his head in greeting. “Where’s Leah?”
“Inside.”
“Right. I might keep my distance for a while. I’ll meet you at the chopper.” Ryan moved to walk past him.
Blake placed a hand on his friend’s chest, halting his progression. “Look Rye, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, and Leah didn’t mean to hurt you either. I knew she was worried about something, and I hounded her until she told me.”
Ryan ran a hand through his tangled shoulder-length hair. “I understand.”
Yeah, Ryan was the most understanding guy Blake knew, which made the situation harder to bear. Blake dropped his hand and watched him walk away, leaving down the stairs on the other side of the balcony. Once his footfalls died under the burr of the distant helicopter noise, he turned his focus to Gabi who stood waiting at the top of the stairs.
“You had me worried.”
She padded toward him in bare feet, her high heels hanging from her hand. “I needed to take a walk and clear my head.”
“You were running from me.” He kept his expression impassive, hiding the hurt that gripped him by the balls. He’d hoped she’d gone in search of Ryan, instead of leaving to get away from him.
She came forward, her big blue eyes dark with widened pupils. “No.” She shook her head slightly. “I was overwhelmed. I needed time to think.”
His palms itched to touch her, to swipe Ryan’s jacket from her shoulders and replace it with his own. “Did I do something wrong?”
Gabi stepped into him, running her arms around his waist. “You didn’t do anything wrong,” she whispered, her voice almost drowning under the turning propeller blades in the field beside them. “I think I was in shock at seeing you and Ryan almost come to blows. It scared me, that’s all.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? When I turned to find you gone, I didn’t know what to think.”
She nestled her head under his chin, hugging him tighter. “You were busy…with Leah.”
He stiffened. When Ryan had stormed off earlier, Blake had been consumed with guilt. He’d been the cause of all the anger and had instinctively gone to comfort Leah. It was his fault she was crying.
“Leah’s a part of the family,” he spoke his thoughts aloud.
“I know.” Gabi nodded against his chest.
“She’s like a sister to me.”
“Yeah… I know that, too.”
He ran an arm around her back, running his hand up and down the material of Ryan’s suit jacket. “The last few days have been crazy, haven’t they?” Meeting for the first time was monumental enough. Add to that all the other external influences that had been flung their way, and it made for a highly emotional situation. He was surprised one of them hadn’t cracked earlier.
“Mmm-hmm.”
And tomorrow will be worse.
“Was that what you were worried about?” she asked, pulling back to peer up at him. “The secrets about Ryan’s wife, was that what you had to deal with earlier?”
He stared into her hopeful eyes. His answer should’ve been an easy “No,” yet he paused and contemplated if it would be better to take away her worry with a little white lie.
“It was part of it.” The words didn’t sting as much as he expected. In reality, it was kind of the truth. The issues with Julie’s fidelity had hovered in the back of his mind.
Her lips curved in relief, and she snuggled back under his chin. “Can we go home now?”
Home.
If only he could take her back to his apartment in the US. Things would be much simpler there. He’d tie her to his bed and take care of her every want and desire, never letting her leave.
“Yeah, angel.” He kissed the top of her head and inhaled the sweet smell of honeysuckle. As he straightened, Leah caught his eye from inside the glass doors. She mouthed for him to “hurry up,” then turned on her heel and walked from the room. “I think everyone else has made their way to the helicopter.”
Gabi stepped out of his arms. “Just let me get my shoes on.” She bent her tight ass over in front of him and tied her straps.
When she stood, he grabbed for her hand, pulling her close so he could speak in her ear. “Remember what I promised to teach you when we get back to the hotel?” She sucked in a breath and shivered. He ran a finger down the sensitive skin of her neck and followed the trail with his tongue. “I thought so.”
Blake was thankful the flight back to Melbourne didn’t take as long. Travelling over land instead of the ocean cut half an hour off the trip, which was a bonus when no one was talking.
After takeoff, Gabi nestled her head against his shoulder and hadn’t spoken a word since. Alana and Mitch were in the back of the helicopter, snuggled together, eyes closed. Mason and Ryan sat together in front of Blake, Ryan leaning against the window while Mason stared out the opposite side. And Sean was in the front seat beside Leah, his arm resting comfortingly around her shoulders.
The limo ride was equally entertaining.
They arrived at the Crown a few minutes past one in the morning with no crowd in sight. A few gasps of recognition sounded when they strode through the lobby, but hotel security kept people at bay.
The elevator ascended in silence—all of them too tired or uncomfortable to speak. When the doors opened on their floor, Leah stepped out first, her head low as she said a quiet, “Night, guys.”
Blake followed, holding Gabi’s hand with Mitch and Alana walking out behind them. They all had king suites, while Mason, Sean, and Ryan shared the bigger room upstairs.
“Late breakfast in our suite at eleven?” Mason asked.
“Sounds good,” Mitch called over his shoulder.
“Yeah.” Blake dropped Gabi’s hand and walked backward, watching as Ryan placed a foot out of the elevator.
Leah didn’t answer. She’d already begun striding in the opposite direction to her suite.
“Hey, Leah,” Ryan called, his face haunted, his lips in a thin line.
Leah paused, and then slowly turned on her heels. She looked at Ryan, remaining quiet while her fingers clutched at the purse in her hands.
“Do you mind if we talk?” He took another step, moving out of the elevator and allowing the doors to close with Mason and Sean still inside.
Leah pressed her lips together and nodded. Without a word, she continued down the hall, not stopping for Ryan who jogged to catch up.
Blake watched them enter her suite and tensed at the guilt that ate away at his stomach. Why the hell had he opened his mouth?
“They’ll be fine,” Gabi whispered from beside him, entwining their fingers. “Come on.” She tugged his arm, and they walked the remaining steps to their door.
Gabi took the key card from his hand and unlocked the suite. He followed her down the dimly l
it hall, around the small dining and kitchen area to their bedroom, and dropped onto the end of their king size bed. She flipped on the light and closed the curtain, shutting out the world.
He tugged at his tie, loosening the restrictive material, and then started on his shirt buttons. The hours of silence had given him perspective—not a favorable one. Why was he such a fucking failure? He’d caused a rift between his friends, ruined his last night with Gabi, and on top of all that, he had Michelle to deal with.
“Talk to me,” she said softly, lifting her hands to unclasp her necklace and place it on the top of her closed suitcase.
He pushed to his feet, caught her hand, and dragged her back to the bed to stand between his knees. She was the light in his life. The brightness that made all the darkness easier to bear.
“What do you want me to say?” He was numb, his limbs, his chest, his mind. The only thing he could feel was his heart and the warmth it held for his angel.
She ran a hand through his hair. The delicate fabric of her dress swished against his thighs. He watched it glint in the bedroom light, clinging to her curves, hugging her breasts. Her scent filled his lungs—sweet and feminine, with the finest hint of her arousal.
Moments ago, he’d been dead inside. Now, in an instant, she had his blood heating and his cock thickening.
She lifted his chin and peered down at him. “I want you to tell me what I can do to make you smile again.”
A crooked grin pulled at his lips. “That’s a loaded question.”
Her cheeks lifted. “And one you could’ve used to your advantage, but now you’re already smiling. My work here is done.” She turned to walk away. He reached for her hips, and she squealed when he pulled her back into him.
He tightened his thighs around her, staring her down, daring her to move while he undid the belt of his pants and lowered his zipper. “Take it off,” he demanded, indicating her dress with a jut of his chin.
She raised a brow, raked her haughty gaze down his body, all the way to the erection tenting his boxers, and swallowed. Hard. A second later she complied, reaching behind her back to undo the zipper. He widened his legs, giving her room to move and felt his pulse kick up a gear at the seductive way she flicked the straps from her shoulders, allowing the dress to fall to the floor.
“Now what, Master?”
Gabi pressed her lips together, fighting back a laugh. It was a relief to see the happiness back in his eyes. Although keeping his friends amused and entertained was his M.O., he carried the weight of the world on those broad shoulders. For tonight, she wanted to make him fall asleep smiling, relieved of all his worries.
“Come here.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “Kiss me.”
She obeyed, lowering her head to meet his upturned face. Their lips brushed in a delicate sweep, and she moaned when his tongue sought entrance to her mouth. His other arm snaked around her back to the clasp of her bra, working it one handed until it came undone. Then both hands drifted lower, cupping her ass in a firm hold.
A ragged breath escaped her and she clung to him, palming his lightly stubbled cheek with one hand while the other went into the hair at his nape. His chest rumbled, the masculine sound beading her nipples and sending desire to pool between her thighs. He made it so easy to love him, physically and emotionally. No other man compared. No other man even existed.
He pulled back, sending her reeling, making her pull tighter on his hair to remain standing. “Take off your panties. I want to taste you.”
She whimpered at his words, at his large dilated pupils, and the way his hands were working her ass like he was kneading bread.
“Now, Gabi.” He dropped his grip on her.
She fumbled backward, her gaze still glued to his, and let her bra straps fall down her arms to the floor. His nostrils flared, sending a blanket of goose bumps over her body while he yanked off his unbuttoned shirt and threw it away.
With shaky fingers, she grabbed the elastic of her white lace g-string and pushed it down her thighs. She stood before him, completely naked except for her cobalt blue high heels and a nervous smile.
“Damn, you make me hot,” he murmured.
She felt the same way. He stole her breath, her heart, her insecurities, and made her soar. Even now, with a foot of space between them, she could feel his touch. The sight of him was something she would never forget, no matter how far he travelled or how long he stayed away. He was a man without physical flaw. His arms were corded with muscle, the intense colors of his tattoos turning her core molten. Then there was the dark stubble that marred his smooth skin and the ruby lips that made her shiver with promise.
“I adore you,” she whispered.
His nostrils flared again, and when he pulled her closer this time, he rose to his feet, pushing her down to lay on the mattress.
“You don’t want me to take off my heels?”
He knelt on the mattress between her parted thighs and held her hips, pushing her higher on the bed. “Hell, no.” Palming the back of her shoe, he lifted and nuzzled her ankle. “So fucking hot.” His mouth ran a trail up the side of her calf, stopping at her knee. His gaze slid up her legs, lingering at her parted sex, then rose to her face. “Ready for a lesson in love, angel?”
She bit her lip and nodded. “I’m always ready for you.”
He smirked, making his features all the more devilish before leaning down to softly blow against her swollen nub. “Lesson one.” His tongue came out to flick her clit, sending an instant burst of pleasure to ping through her body. She arched her back, her hands frantically searching for something to cling to.
“I wouldn’t taste you slowly if we were fucking.” He lowered his mouth to her slit, leisurely licking her from top to bottom and back again. Then he drew her clit into his mouth and sucked. “I’d devour you with your legs around my neck, making you scream my name.”
She encircled his back with her legs, the heels of her shoes clinking together, and squeezed her eyes shut. The tender way he worked her with his tongue made her wish they were fucking instead of the evil way he currently tortured her. The flicks against her clit were light, teasing, and holy heavens, they made her belly flutter.
“If we were fucking…” He ran his finger along the small expanse of skin between her pussy and the entrance to her bottom, adding pressure with each pass. “I would’ve lubed my fingers with your juices and teased your ass, making you squirm until you begged me to penetrate you there.” His touch went lower, to her tight hole.
She tensed and opened her eyes with a start. “Blake.”
He raised his head from her mound and chuckled. “You wouldn’t want me touching you there?”
She shook her head.
“I’d make sure you liked it.”
She didn’t doubt it for a second. Right now, her interest was on penetration of a different kind. “When are you going to stop talking and actually make love to me?”
He leaned down, nipping the tender flesh on the inside of her thigh and quirked a brow. “In a hurry?”
Yes. No. Her mind wanted this to last forever, while her body screamed for completion. “Please, Blake.” She moved to rest on her elbows. “I need you.”
“And your wish is my command.” He scooted from the mattress and stood at the foot of the bed. With quick, efficient movements he pushed his trousers and boxers to the floor, exposing his erection.
“You’re beautiful,” she murmured, taking the time to appreciate every part of him. She loved the soft definition of his stomach, the underlying hint of a six pack. However, it was his pecs and arms that made her mouth dry. They were sculpted, as if from stone, and sinfully wicked with the ink that adorned them.
“No, sweetheart, you’re beautiful.” He slid over her body, leaving a kiss on the inside of her thigh, a graze of teeth against her hip, a lick of his tongue over her nipple. “And tempting.” He sank his mouth onto the low of her neck, suckling and licking. “And made only fo
r me.”
She let her head fall back and moaned at the sensations spiraling through her body. Her nipples tingled. Her stomach tightened, and between her thighs was the most delicious throb that only Blake could relieve.
She wrapped her thighs around his waist and ground her pelvis into him. The friction was light at best and did nothing to alleviate her need. And still he continued to bathe her with kisses, his hands gliding over every curve, loving her, adoring her in a way she'd never experienced before.
Blake knew how to fuck, there had never been any doubt. But the way he loved her, cherishing her with tiny kisses and soft growls when he found a sensitive spot on her body, reaffirmed the deep emotion he spoke of.
He'd been her secret friend for years, listening to her share things she couldn't voice with people who surrounded her on a daily basis. He comforted her, made her laugh, turned her on, and now he was fulfilling her dreams, loving her in a way that would never be compared.
She relaxed into the mattress, releasing her grip on the covers to touch him in return. She ran her fingers up the smooth skin of his back, trailing her nails along his shoulder blades. He responded to her touch with harder kisses, softer flicks of his tongue, and the nuzzling and grazing of his teeth.
“You mean everything to me,” he murmured in her ear. “I mean it, Gabi. There's no one else. There never will be.”
She closed her eyes briefly and filled her lungs to capacity, floating on a cloud. This would be the moment she cherished. The time when she was naked in Blake’s arms, being loved by his body and his words. “I feel the same way.”
He pulled back to stare down at her, climbing just a little higher so his pelvis rested against hers. A smile pulled at his lips, subtle, yet it made her toes curl. “You're my happiness.”
He kissed her lips, sliding his tongue into her mouth and dancing it over hers. His erection nudged her entrance, teasing, adding more torment to her already tortured body. He leaned over her, reaching for the bedside table with an outstretched hand and retrieved a condom. The packet was torn apart in seconds, the protection placed over his cock with equal virility. Then he was poised at her pussy again, the head of his shaft nudging her entrance in tiny increments.
