“It’s time, Gabriel. I need you.”
Oh, she had no idea. If Gabe didn't find his way into the heat of her sinful body, he was going to die. There’d be no doubt. He was so close to the edge, but only Livy would do.
Tugging him forward, he tumbled onto the bed. As he kicked off his shoes, she yanked off her pink bra.
She was giggling in pure glee as she moved back into his body. Gabe was strong, and she loved that about him.
But he was also gentle.
He was careful, and she appreciated that in a man.
As they rolled together, his body was strung tighter than a bow. “You’re wicked,” he muttered, as her hands moved across his flesh. She was now moving to straddle his body.
He could only think one thing.
They were about to…
She slid him home.
His brain went haywire. All Gabe could do was feel. She’d robbed him of his doubt, overanalyzing, and thinking. Instead, she was forcing him to use his emotions, and it floored him.
“Come with me,” she whispered, lowering her mouth to his. As she kissed him, Livy knew he was struggling.
She never loved him more.
Gabe wasn’t difficult by nature. He was created by his past, and she wanted his future to be the exact opposite. From that moment on, she planned on keeping him off balance.
It would be the only way to get to his heart.
“Oh, Livy,” he whispered. “That feels so damn good,” he muttered as her body slid up and down his erection. She was breathing heavily, trying to pull him to the edge. As her body betrayed her, she wasn’t sure that she’d last much longer.
“Gabriel,” she whispered, her voice hitching.
He could feel the vibrations through her body, and his wanted to follow in the worst way. Yet, he couldn’t give this up. Gabe never wanted this to end.
As she came, he rolled, pulling himself from her body. He wouldn’t survive any other way. When she opened her eyes, she was staring up at him.
“We’re not done. Oh, Olivia, we’re far from finished here.” And he was glad. The itch wasn’t even close to being scratched, and he’d bet it never would be.
Not with her.
He needed so much more.
With that, he pushed his way back into her. As she accepted him, he wanted nothing more than to stay like this forever.
Bracing himself over her on his arms, he stared down into her face.
He saw it there.
It wasn’t lust.
It wasn’t about the sex.
Gabe was good at reading people. He swore he saw genuine affection. Dare he call it love?
“Oh, Livy,” he whispered, slowing down the pace. As he pressed her into the mattress, Gabe felt like he was coming home. Livy’s arms wound around his body, holding him trapped in her embrace.
There was tenderness.
There was sweetness.
It was all the things he’d never found in his life before that moment. Gabe had peace.
As he moved, her mouth moved across his, offering more than just a kiss. It was like she was offering him a lifeline.
She knew him too well, and that scared him. He had to hope that what he was feeling was part of her too. Gabe couldn’t do this and walk away. It was why he held out for so long. That hesitation had been a way to protect his heart.
He’d never love anyone but her.
He knew it then, in that very moment.
As they moved together, Gabe could feel his body ready to betray him. While his mind begged him to hold out, his entire being was ready to shatter apart at the amazing pleasure.
Pulling away from the kiss, he stared into her eyes. “Fall with me,” he whispered. “I need you in my life.”
She didn't hold back. “Yes, Gabriel.”
With that, he buried himself deeper in her body, trying to brand her for the rest of their lives. His torso shook, his strength wavered, and he came. Everything poured into the woman beneath him.
His soul.
His heart.
His seed.
He had battled the storm but had come up victorious. As Gabe shouted her name, Livy did the same. Together they fell into something bigger than them both. This was all about them being one, and it changed everything.
It would never be the same.
From that moment on, neither could go back.
Gabe rolled, bringing her with him. As she tucked against the side of his body, Livy felt something that she’d never felt before. She knew this man mattered.
She’d wondered what he was thinking about. Gabe was silent, and she’d known, from past experience, that was always a bad thing.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
Livy tried to figure out how to navigate this. He was going to run. She was damn sure of it.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I’m in love, and I don’t know what to do about it. I think I’ve loved you for the past few weeks, and just didn't know that was what I was feeling.”
She sat up and stared at him. “What?”
“Exactly.”
“I think I may be sick.”
He stared at her. “Well, that can’t be good,” he admitted. Come to think of it, she looked pale.
“Livy,” he began.
She jumped off the bed and raced to her bathroom. When the door slammed, he could hear her tossing her cookies.
Yeah, that wasn’t good at all. He’d just told her what was in his heart, and she’d had an adverse reaction.
Well, shit!
Gabe pulled on his boxers and grabbed his shirt from the floor. As he headed toward the hall, he could hear her violently retching.
“Livy?”
She was also crying.
“Honey? Are you okay?”
Gabe reached for the knob but it wouldn’t turn in his hand. It was locked.
Well, he was just going to have to wait. If she thought he was going to leave, she had another thing coming.
Gabe couldn’t believe any of this.
He told a woman he was in love, and she started puking.
What the hell was wrong with his life? Why couldn’t it be black and white?
Why couldn’t it be simple?
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
When her phone rang, she was just dropping her bag in her room. She and Chris had landed and had just checked into the hotel. As she flipped open her phone, she saw the ID.
“What’s up, Gabe? Shouldn’t you be wooing the girl, not talking to me?”
“I made her sick.”
“What?”
“We had sex, and now, she’s puking in her bathroom. What the hell am I supposed to do? You know her better than I do, Elizabeth. Should I leave? Is this her way of telling me to get the hell out?”
Elizabeth couldn’t help herself. She started laughing. She saw this coming, and she was NEVER going to let Livy live this one down.
Oh, she’d warned her partner.
This was exactly what happened when you ate meat at a place coated in grime.
“Elizabeth! Stop laughing! I’m going to puke too! I’m sick over all of this!”
She heard the panic in his voice, and immediately calmed down. “Gabe, chill. It’s not you. We went to ‘The Bog’ to do the interviews, and she ate there. I warned her, but she probably has food poisoning.”
He relaxed. Well, that he could deal with. It wasn’t him, and that made the situation easier to handle.
If she was sick, he’d take care of her.
“Really?”
“Yep. She ate all this really crazy food and blood sausage. She was nervous as hell about tonight, and when she’s freaked out, she eats. You can’t hold this against her.”
“Jesus. She’s insane, and for the record, I’d never do that. She’s locked in her bathroom, and I needed to know it wasn’t me.”
Elizabeth laughed. “Yep, and she’s sick. I’d grab your gear and head out. I�
��ll check on her tomorrow when I land.”
There was a pause. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?” she asked, knowing she was testing him. Livy was like her sister, Gabe her brother, and she wanted proof they would work.
“She’s sick. I can’t leave her like this. I’ll tuck her in, make dinner, and stick around.”
She grinned. “You love her, huh?”
“Shut up.”
“The sex was hot, wasn’t it?”
“I love you, Elizabeth, but we’re not having this conversation. Thank you for your help, but you’ll have to use your imagination.”
When he hung up the phone, she started laughing. Yeah, they would be fine. Now, she had a bigger problem, and it wasn’t the murder.
It was the ME.
As she dropped her gear, she knew what was going to happen next. Chris Leonard was going to come knocking, and she had to set the record straight.
The man was smitten.
She wasn’t.
Someone was about to get hurt, and she only hoped he’d forgive her. After all, she really liked him.
A lot.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
He saw the lights on in her townhouse, and he knew she was in there with him.
He’d followed her back here when her partner dropped her off, and it was time to make his presence known.
Oh, she was going to get a warning.
See, the others didn't get that and that was proof that she was going to be special.
He’d never killed a cop before—let alone a Fed.
He didn't like them enough to bother, but this one…she had potential. She was going to make him famous. Soon, the news would have her face on it, and they would be talking about what had been done.
She’d be immortalized.
The Fed would live forever as art.
Yes, it was time.
Reaching into his bag, he removed the gutted cat. It was a bloody mess, and not his best work. What could he say? It wasn’t his favorite medium to work with.
He preferred beautiful Irish women like the one from his past. Every Artist was entitled.
Sue him.
As he crept through the shadows, he waited for the right moment to make his move. Once his token of affection was dropped on her doorstep, he wouldn’t have much time. He hoped he could get the message written and fast.
When all the traffic on the street slowed, he moved in to do the job. Dumping the cat, he wrote the warning in its blood.
It made him incredibly happy. This would throw them off, and he’d have the upper hand.
One last thing…
Ringing the doorbell, he raced away. It was time to escape. He couldn’t get caught.
It was too soon.
He had to have her first.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Gabe knocked on the bathroom door. He needed to get in there. Now that he knew she wasn’t sick because of him, he was taking charge of the situation.
“Livy, open up, honey. I need to take care of you. You’ve got food poisoning.”
There was even more weeping.
His heart ached.
“Livy, it’s okay. I spoke to Elizabeth. She explained everything. I’m going to make sure you’re taken care of, honey.”
The sobbing intensified.
Gabe had no choice.
He sighed. When would Livy learn?
Turning, he placed his back against the door. Later, he’d have to fix the lock, but it didn't matter. She wasn’t hiding from him. They’d discussed this before. If they did this, it would change everything.
Well, he meant it.
With the sole of his foot, he slammed it into the door. The lock broke, and it burst open.
That’s when he found her.
She was splayed across the tile floor with a towel wrapped around her. She looked like death warmed over.
“Honey,” he whispered, getting down on his knees. She looked like shit. “Oh, Livy, blood sausages?”
She shook. “Please don’t say the words. I’m never eating again.”
He ran his hand down her arm.
“You should go, Gabe. I’ll be okay. By morning, I should be back on my feet.”
Yeah, he wouldn’t bet on it.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be at work.”
“Livy, that you even think that’s my biggest concern right now shows you don’t know me all that well. I’m not worried about the job. I’m worried about you.”
“This was horrible timing. You told me you loved me, and I ruined the night. You should go. I won’t blame you.”
“Livy, I’m not leaving. I’m going to get you cleaned up, and then I’m going to make dinner for me. I’ll sit here with you all night.”
She started crying. “I’m sorry. Elizabeth was right. I shouldn’t have eaten lunch. I was so damn nervous about this. I couldn’t stop myself.”
He understood.
Standing, he turned on the shower. Then, he stripped out of his boxers. “We’ll shower, and then I’ll tuck you into bed.”
She whimpered as he picked her up.
“Just don’t puke on me,” he teased.
She cried even more.
“Oh, Livy, it’s okay. I was kidding. Let’s take a cool shower.” She felt feverish to his touch. “It’ll be okay. I promise. Once you get it all out of your system, you’ll feel better.”
She held on to him, her head on his shoulder. When he stepped them under the water, she felt a little better.
It wasn’t the water.
It was him.
Gabe was a miracle.
“About what I said,” he began.
“I love you too,” she said, figuring why not go for it. She jumped him, and then puked. This was about as bad as it could get. This was the pinnacle of shittiness.
He didn't speak. “Are you just saying that because I put it out there?” he asked.
She held on to him. “No. I’ve loved you for a while. I was stalking you. If that doesn’t say love…”
“Actually, it says crazy and most courts would agree.”
She tried to laugh. “I only took a few photographs. Don’t look in my closet.”
Now he laughed even more. This woman undid the knots in his soul. “What am I going to do with you, Olivia?” he asked.
“I suggest put me down, because I’m going to be horribly sick.”
He moved them out of the shower.
Gabe had just got her to the toilet when she began purging everything in her body. He held her hair.
Funny, before her, he would have left. Gabe probably would have tucked her in and ran for it.
Now…
Something had happened to him. When they came together, something changed.
“I think I’ll just die here,” she muttered.
Gabe handed her a cup of water. “Don’t swallow. I never thought I’d be saying that on a date.”
Tears filled her eyes.
He wasn’t sure if it was from laughter or if she was that upset.
“Shhhh, honey, it’s all good. Let’s get you into bed. We can have dinner another night.”
He knew there’d be so many more. Already, he could tell.
When he placed her there, Gabe gently tucked her in. She looked better. He was pretty sure she got it all out of her system. Leaning down, he kissed her on the forehead.
“I’ll be downstairs. I’ll clean up and then be up, okay?”
She barely nodded.
“Gabe?” she said, when he walked away.
“What?”
“I meant what I said to you.”
“Me too.” He must be crazy, but he did mean every word of it. He’d never felt like this.
“What are we going to do about it?” she asked, almost afraid to get his answer.
He didn't have an answer. “I don’t know.” And that was the total truth. She’d blindsided him. For now, he needed to think.
For the first time, in a long time, he didn't want to turn his back and leave. Livy made him want to chase, not escape.
“It’s not going to happen, Olivia. I already told you that. For now, just rest, okay?”
She closed her eyes.
On his way down the stairs, he heard the doorbell.
Gabe looked down at his boxer clad body, and shook his head. “I swear this night couldn’t get any worse. It’s probably the media.”
When he opened the door, no one was there.
Then he looked down.
He nearly puked. On the top step was a cat, and someone had cut it open. Inside, there was a medallion. It was very familiar, because he’d seen it before.
It was the same one the ME had found.
On the door there was a message.
It chilled him to the bone.
‘You’re mine. I’m coming.’
He didn't have to wonder who left it.
Gabe was well aware. It looked like the director got his wish. Livy was marked.
And now they were really screwed.
* * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *
Boston
At the knock on her door, she knew who it was. Elizabeth took the liberty to order a pizza, because they weren’t going out to eat.
It would give Chris the wrong idea, and until they had this talk, she wasn’t taking any chances.
The last thing she wanted to do was lead him on or hurt him. She had genuine feelings for them man, but just not romantic ones.
Building relationships sucked. The more people you let in, the messier it became. She was more than happy with just Livy and Gabe. They completed her circle.
They were enough.
Then she had to fall for her ME. No, she wasn’t in love, but she was attached. His dopy grin, those glasses and blue eyes, tripped her up. He watched her with wonder, and Elizabeth couldn’t let him get that beat out of him.
In their jobs, it would dissipate soon enough. Until that day, someone had to protect him.
It might as well be her.
Past Will Haunt Page 21
