Chapter Fourteen
***Gabriel***
When Gabriel came back up the stairs, a tray in his hands, he could tell immediately that Chloe had been crying. Her eyes were red, and she was sniffling. But she looked over at him with a huge smile on her face. “I’m not sure what to ask; you’ve been crying, but you’re smiling. Now I’m confused,” he said, putting the tray down on a scarred table by one of the windows.
He picked up a cup, dropped in the cat-shaped infuser full of tea, and was just reaching for the hot water when Chloe said, “You may not believe this, but my parents just visited me.”
The cup clattered back onto the tray and he turned around to look at her, then over at the stairs. “Since I didn’t see anyone leaving, I’m guessing this was a special visit,” he said, surprised how much that rattled him. “Are they here now?”
Chloe laughed. “No, silly, spirits can’t manifest that long,” she said, jumping up out of the bed. “I’ve wanted to see them for so long, and now, well...they were together, and they looked happy.”
He could tell that there was something she was leaving out, but he wasn’t going to press her. “Well, then it sounds like my idea paid off, not quite the way I was hoping it would, but I’m happy for you, Chloe.”
Chloe grinned at him. “Thank you, Gabriel,” she said, then practically skipped across the room and planted a big kiss on his cheek. “Let’s have tea, and then I want to get out of here.”
“You’re not going back to work,” he said, a bit stunned by the change in Chloe.
She shook her. “No, I was thinking I’d like to take a walk around town,” she said. “But first I want to hear all about the people. If I’m going to live here, I should know more about the people who are going to be important to me.”
Gabriel studied her for a second, his heart soaring with happiness. He didn’t quite understand what had happened when he was gone, but whatever it was, he was thankful. “I think a walk around town sounds like a great idea,” he said, a smile creeping across his face. “But I’m not sure I’m the right one to tell you about everyone in town. I’m not a very good gossip.”
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine,” she said, picking her cup up off the tray. “Start with Charlie. I met her, you know, the morning after the ball; she was sitting alone having breakfast so I sat down with her. I was so sure that something bad was going to happen to her when she left, but I guess I was wrong.”
He nearly dropped his teacup. “What? You’re kidding. Charlie was kidnapped right after you saw her.”
“Kidnapped?” Chloe asked. “Okay, now you really have to tell me the story.”
While they drank their tea and nibbled on the sweets Belinda had added at the last minute, Gabriel filled her in on Prospect Falls, the demons, and all the problems they’d been having. He wasn’t sure he’d ever talked as much as he did that afternoon, but as the sun finally began to fall behind the mountains, he came to the end of his tale.
Chloe was silent for a long time, swishing the last of her tea around in the bottom of her cup. “So, you ran Sebastian off, but he’s going to be back, and we have to worry about Darrell too,” she said, setting the cup down.
Gabriel nodded. “Basically, although you must understand that the demons will never go away,” he said.
“Yeah, I get that, but normally the demons aren’t any problem, right?” Chloe asked, her brow furrowed.
“That’s true, but if we don’t stop Sebastian soon, he might finally win,” Gabriel said.
“Well then, we’ll just have to stop him,” Chloe said, getting to her feet. “I think I’m ready for that walk now.”
“Are you saying you’ll do the protection spell at the festival?” he asked.
“I’m not promising anything; that book still scares me, but I’m willing to think about it,” she said, grinning at him.
The evening was beginning to turn cool by the time they walked out of the house, but Gabriel didn’t feel it; with Chloe’s hand in his, he was only aware of the connection building between them. It felt so right to stroll down the streets of his home town, the woman he was falling in love with walking beside him, and he wondered why he’d fought this for so long.
Each time they met someone new and he introduced her, he felt both a sense of pride and joy that she was his, that he’d been lucky enough to find a woman who was perfect for him in every way. Now, when knowing looks were exchanged as they walked away, he didn’t care, was, in fact, thrilled that other people could see how perfect they were together.
***Chloe***
When they got to the front door, Gabriel hesitated, and Chloe knew that he wasn’t coming in. “I think I need to go home and take a shower, maybe check in with the hospital,” he said.
“Oh, Gabriel, I’ve been so selfish; you haven’t been home for days, and there are other people who need you,” she said, feeling guilty. “You should go; we’re fine now.”
He pulled her into his arms and tipped her chin up. “I’ve been right where I wanted to be, and right where I was needed,” he said.
Chloe looked up at him, and their eyes met. Almost instantly, she felt the connection between them, felt their magic entwine and pleasure spread through her. “Would you like to come back for a late dinner?” she asked, knowing that there would be no turning back if he did.
An hour later, she was standing in the middle of the workroom looking around and debating with herself. Night had fallen while she’d been visiting with Emma Jean, who had insisted that she call her grandma, and as strange as it felt, it was also comforting to know that she wasn’t alone. Looking out at the stars that sparkled in the sky, she saw that the moon was hanging low, casting its glow over the room, and made up her mind.
Romance was what she had in mind, and with a little help, the room would be perfect. Feeling only slightly guilty, she called on her magic, and for the first time in her life, it came to her easily, warming her and making her body tingle. Closing her eyes and lifting her arms into the air, she recited the words of a spell that came to her without any effort. The air around her began to stir, but she didn’t open her eyes, just kept repeating the spell until she heard a whoosh and felt the energy drain from the room.
When she met Gabriel at the top of the stairs, the white dress she wore glimmering in the candlelight, he stopped and stared at her, his eyes drinking in every inch of her body. Desire leaped to life in his eyes, the air around them began to crackle with energy, and her breath caught in her throat.
“I thought it would be nice to eat up here,” she said, her voice husky with desire.
Gabriel tore his eyes away from her and looked around. “You used your magic,” he said, a smile spreading across his face. “This is amazing, just like you.”
She felt herself blushing and wondered if she would really have the guts to seduce him like she planned. “I just thought...well, it seemed like a good place to start, a bit selfish, maybe, but...”
“That’s quite the bed,” he said, walking over to it, leaving her trembling and staring at him. “Definitely big enough for two.”
When he turned and looked back at her, her stomach did flip flops, and suddenly, she wasn’t sure she was ready to change her life again. But then he smiled at her, and she knew that it was time to take a leap of faith, time to follow her heart like her mother had instructed. Heart pounding in her chest, she closed the space between them, unable to speak, afraid she’d lose her nerve if she did.
Gabriel’s eyes widened when he saw the look on her face, but he didn’t move, just let his eyes roam over her body, making it begin to throb deep inside. When she reached him, she unbuttoned his shirt, then ran her hands over his chest, feeling the muscles ripple under her hands. She slipped the shirt off his shoulders, then reached for the buckle of his pants, but he grabbed her hands and stopped her.
“Not that I don’t want you; I want you so much it hurts,” he said, gritting his teeth when she slipped the button free. “But I want to m
ake sure that you’re ready, that you understand what this means.”
She slid his zipper down and took him in her hands. “I wasn’t ready for any of this, Gabriel,” she said, feeling her cheeks blazing but stepping closer to him. “I want you, Gabriel, I want you so much it scares me, but someone recently told me to follow my heart, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“And your heart is telling you to do this?” he asked, sucking in a breath.
“My heart is telling me that you’re the right man for me; my heart is telling me that I’d be an idiot to drive you away,” she said, shoving his pants down over his hips. “It’s my body that’s telling me to do this.”
Gabriel groaned, stepped out of his pants, and pulled her into his arms. When his mouth came down on hers, she moaned, letting his tongue slip into her mouth, and he kissed her until, breathless, they broke apart. Chloe turned around, lifted her hair without a word, and felt Gabriel’s shaking hands sliding her zipper down, making her throb and tingle at the same time.
She turned back around, let the dress slip off her shoulders, then stood, cheeks flaming as Gabriel’s eyes feasted on her body. “You are so beautiful,” he said, finally sweeping her into his arms. “And you belong to me.”
When his mouth came down on hers this time, his kiss was different, and she sensed that he was claiming her, that after tonight, she would belong to him and him only for the rest of her life. Swept away by his kiss, the future faded, and she was aware only of the passion that erupted between them and made sparks fly around the room.
Chapter Fifteen
***Gabriel***
Gabriel’s body was throbbing, the feel of Chloe’s naked skin on his making every nerve flush with pleasure. He’d been thinking about this moment since he met her, but he’d never expected her to give herself to him so openly; it had thrilled him so much, he’d nearly taken her right then. But he wanted more, wanted her thrashing under him as he drove her over the edge again and again. He wanted her begging for him, mindless with pleasure and completely his.
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her across the room, his mouth never leaving hers, then laid her on the bed. She lay, chest heaving, looking up at him, her eyes full of desire, and he let his eyes roam over her body one last time before he joined her. The silk of the fluffy comforter under him was almost as soft as Chloe’s skin as he let his hand drift over her stomach and up to one swollen breast.
It fit perfectly in his hand, the taut nipple tempting him to lower his head and suck it into his mouth, making Chloe gasp and dig her nails into his shoulder. Her little moans of pleasure sent a new and deeper thrill rushing through him, and his body began to throb harder, but he ignored his needs and slid his hand down until it hovered between her legs.
He switched to the other breast, teasing the nipple with his teeth until Chloe was arching her back, whimpers of pleasure escaping with each breath. When he slid his finger between her folds, she was wet and dripping, ready for him, but he again ignored his body's demands. Instead, he slowly slid his finger over her swollen nib, making Chloe gasp again and spread her legs further for him.
The throbbing deep inside him was becoming hard to ignore, but he held on, stroking Chloe’s pleasure center with his finger, making her thrash beneath him until, nails digging into his back, her body shaking, she tumbled over the edge, crying out his name. When he slid between her legs, his body screaming for satisfaction, she opened her eyes, looked up at him, wrapped her legs around him, and lifted her hips to him.
He needed no other invitation, and with one powerful thrust of his hips, he drove himself into her, finally completing the connection between them. Overwhelmed by the pleasure of being buried so deep inside her, he paused, but Chloe lifted her hips again, and the last bit of his restraint vanished. Driven by an instinct that was as old as time, the world around him disappeared, and he was only aware of Chloe’s welcoming body.
Thrust after thrust, he drove them closer to the edge, Chloe’s body trembling under him, her velvet sweetness bathing him in her juices until, like a dam bursting, their passion carried them away. Wave after wave of pure sensation left him gasping as Chloe’s muscles gripped him tightly, increasing the pleasure until he was sure that he was going to explode into a million pieces. Chloe’s cries of pleasure faded as her body stilled, but he stayed buried deep inside her, his body still pulsing, unable to move.
As the fog in his head began to clear, he was aware of Chloe under him, and, afraid that he was crushing her, he finally rolled off her. But he quickly gathered her up in his arms, still desperate to feel her naked skin against his, and she snuggled into him with a huge sigh.
“Not that I’m complaining,” he said, “but I thought we were having dinner?”
“That was part of the plan,” she said, looking up at him, her cheeks pink. “But I was afraid I’d lose my nerve, so I skipped dinner.”
He studied her for a second. “Again, I’m not complaining, but what changed your mind?”
Chloe was silent for a long time, and he wasn’t sure that she was going to answer, but then she said, “I think I’m ready to talk about my parents now. I think you should know what I did. Maybe I should have told you first, but I was afraid you’d think...”
“It’s not going to make any difference what you did,” he said, scooting them both up in the bed and leaning against the headboard. “I lo...”
She cut him off. “Don’t say that yet,” she said. “Not until you’ve heard my story.”
He shrugged. “It’s not going to matter.”
Chloe sighed and looked up at him. “Will you just listen?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, Chloe, I didn’t mean to make it seem unimportant,” he said. “I just want you to know that it won’t matter to me.”
She smiled up at him. “Thank you, Gabriel, but I think it’s time I talked about it.”
“I’m all ears,” he said, kissing her on the forehead.
Chloe took a deep breath. “When I was ten, my parents led the coven in the little town we lived in. It was a small coven in a small town. What made it different was the number of very powerful witches who belonged to the coven, and that attracted the attention of a woman named Melinda. She wasn’t a very powerful witch, but she had a way with people, and before long, she’d divided the coven in half, turned some of the witches against my parents,” she said, her voice beginning to tremble.
“It’s okay; take your time,” he said, pulling her closer.
She looked up at him. “I’ve never told anyone this story, not the whole thing,” she said.
He smiled down at her. “Then, I think it’s time you did.”
Chloe smiled up at him, then took a deep breath. “One day, on my way home from school, Melinda stopped me. I’d been told that she was a bad witch, but she seemed so nice, so I stayed and talked to her. She convinced me that the fight with my parents was a mistake and that she wanted to apologize,” she said, then paused. “I was ten, and stupid. I believed her, and before I knew what I was doing, I’d stolen my mother’s locket and given it to Melinda. She put a spell on it, and when I brought it back, the locket used my magic to kill my parents.”
Gabriel felt like his heart was breaking and knew that he was feeling Chloe’s emotions. “Oh, Chloe, you were just a child. It wasn’t your fault,” he said, wrapping her in his arms when she began to shake. “Why didn’t you talk to someone about this sooner?”
***Chloe***
It took Chloe a second to answer; she was waiting for the guilt and shame to surface, but although it was there, it was muted, covered up by something else. Looking up at Gabriel, she realized that he was taking some of the pain away and reached up to stroke the frown lines between his eyes.
“You don’t have to do that,” she said, taking the pain back from him.
The lines disappeared, and he looked a little surprised. “I think it’s going to take a little while to get used to you being in my head,” he said.
; She grinned up at him. “You did it first.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I was just trying to help,” he said, sounding a bit hurt.
“And you do, more than you could ever know,” she said, leaning up to kiss him. “I’ve never been able to talk about that night until now.”
“Emma Jean might have helped too,” he said, but he was smiling again. “But you never answered my question.”
“It was a mess after my parents died. The other witches realized that it was Melinda behind the attack and stripped her of her magic. But the damage had already been done, and within only days, I was shipped off to my father’s family,” she said. “I’d already promised myself not to ever use my magic again, so it was easy just to avoid talking about it at first, and no one ever pushed me. I think they were all a little bit scared of me, and I guess I can’t blame them. They shuffled me around until I was eighteen and I took off on my own.”
“No one ever thought about sending you back here?” Gabriel asked, wondering what would have happened if they’d grown up together.
Chloe snorted. “They all thought my mother was a country bumpkin, never tired of telling me that she came from nowhere. It would have never occurred to them to send me here,” she said.
“And Emma Jean didn’t know about you,” Gabriel said, pulling her into his arms again. “I’m sorry you had such a hard time, but Chloe, you have to know it wasn’t your fault. That woman took advantage of you. Think about it from an adult perspective; would you blame a ten-year-old?”
Chloe looked up at him. “I guess when I look at it that way, I can see now that it wasn’t really my fault,” she said. “But I’m still scared of my magic, Gabriel. I don’t know if I can control it, especially now that it’s stronger.”
“Stronger?” he asked, confused.
She nodded. “I haven’t said anything, but the book did something to my magic, made it stronger or connected it to the magic in town. I’m not sure exactly what happened.”
Guardian Dragons of Prospect Falls: (A Paranormal Shifter Romance) Page 45
