She dropped a pair of open toed heels to the floor and wiggled her tiny feet into them. He smiled to himself, knowing she felt short at five-two standing next to him.
“I’m ready.”
“Then let’s go.” He helped Angel climb on him for a piggyback ride.
They climbed down the rickety staircase.
“It’s oddly quiet out here. Usually there’s a bunch of kids hanging out in the parking lot.” Amy nodded toward broken down chairs and a picnic table.
“Yeah, they all scattered when I pulled in. Most of them I’ve busted two or three times for drugs.”
“Oh.”
He watched Amy the rest of the way until he had to strap Angel’s car seat in. Then he buckled her up and got in himself. Amy was already in the front seat, or he would have opened the door for her. I should have done that first.
A few moments later driving down the road, Amy’s voice broke through Angel’s excited squeals. “What are you smiling about?”
“I got my A-list girls with me tonight. That’s enough to make any man smile.” He glanced back at the four-year-old playing with a rag doll. She was so sweet and innocent, and he wished she was his. Then he would have his girls with him every day and night. The dream seemed like it would never become reality.
He needed Amy like he needed air. She completed him, knew him inside and out, supported his ideas, listen to him when things went wrong and cheered for him when thing were right. And at this very moment, things were oh so right.
He pulled into his parent’s drive. “Stay here. I’ll be back.” He unbuckled.
“I can take her in.” She reached for her seatbelt clasp.
“No, no! You two women will get to talkin’ and the next thing I know, it’ll be time to take you home. I want you all to myself tonight. Stay put.”
He ran in with Angel, dropped her off and came back before five minutes had passed.
“That was fast.”
“I can be fast or I can be slow.” He lowered his voice, “I hope you want to explore both avenues.” He watched in wicked delight as a slow flush spread across her cheeks. God, her smile drove him crazy with need.
“Just dinner, remember?” Her finger wagged at him like he was a child.
She really needed to get out more.
“Yeah, I remember.” He hadn’t promised her anything, but he promised himself he would touch her ass before the night was through.
Chapter 4
Feeling relaxed in Gabe’s presence, Amy chatted away on the ride back to his parents’ house after dinner and a movie. It seemed like old times when they were teenagers. She missed hanging out, the two of them, alone. Not a care in the world. No mouths to feed or bills to pay.
As nice as it sounded, she would never wish away her little girl. Change her father, yes. But never Angel.
They talked so much, Gabe must have turned on the wrong street. “This is your house.” She laughed. “Your mom’s is two streets down.”
He shut off the car engine. “I know.” No laughter laced his words.
“I said no funny business.” He really needed to get past the fact they were never going to be together again. Things were different now, and she had a kid by his brother. A line she wasn’t prepared to cross.
“Come in and have some coffee. I’m not ready for the night to end.” He leaned close and ran a finger down her cheek, and she felt his warm minty breath on her skin.
She wanted him to kiss her. Make her forget everything but the moment. Her breasts tingled with anticipation. What would happen if she went inside? Would she drop her guard and act on her fantasies about him?
No, she was an adult now. Losing her head led to trouble. A lesson she had learned the hard way.
She shifted her body and turned toward him. “It’s almost ten. I really should pick up Angel and get her in bed.”
“Just one cup, and then if you’re ready, we’ll get Angel.” He ran his hand through her hair.
Her neck tingled from his touch. Her mind screamed no, but her body refused to listen. “Okay. One cup, but then we really need to go.” Another half an hour wouldn’t hurt, right? Angel was probably sleeping anyway. At least she was in a safe location, unlike the crime ridden area they called home.
Gabe exited the car and opened her door. Once inside his house, they walked to the kitchen, and he turned on the coffee pot.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” he asked as he got two mugs from the cabinet.
“I had a great time. No dishes to clean or mouths to wash. Not to mention, an R rated movie. Thank you for a nice evening.” She leaned her back against the counter and looked around the room. The kitchen was about the size of her dining room, living room and kitchen combined. Stainless steel appliances sparkled and shined. For a second, she envisioned Angel wiping a gooey ketchup hand across the refrigerator.
A clang from the mugs brought her back from dream world, and she noticed Gabe staring at her breasts. He moved in front of her and rested his hands on the counter, dangerously close to her waist.
“I’ve dreamed of you standing in this kitchen, making coffee in the morning.” His sky blue eyes gleamed with mischief. “Everything was picked out with you in mind.”
Her muscles tightened as he threatened to kiss her. She wanted to taste his lips, feel his hands on her breasts, make love to him and never let him go. But it was too late. Too many things had happened, and they could never go back.
“I think we should leave before we do something we’ll regret.” Her hands shook as she placed them on his chest. She intended to push him back, but she liked the feel of his muscular pecs under the dress shirt hiding his torso. He’d been a teen the last time she touched his chest. Tall and skinny. Now, he stood before her, all grown up, shoulders broadened, lean and powerful.
“I’ll never regret anything I do with you.” He leaned down and brushed a kiss over her lips. When she didn’t object, his hands wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. Then one traveled down to cup her butt. “I’ve been wanting to touch your ass all night.”
He covered her mouth with his. Hunger rose inside her. She opened for his searching tongue. A low groan escaped his throat, and his chest quaked beneath her hands.
His fingers dug in her hair, and he deepened the kiss. Their tongues wrestled while his other hand roamed over her back and squeezed her butt.
She had to stop this craziness before their hearts broke all over again, but she wanted one night with him. One night so she didn’t have to only imagine his cock inside her. One night so she had a memory and not a fantasy. One night of their flesh intertwining until they fell asleep from exhaustion.
He started to unbutton her shirt, but stopped when she took hold of his hands.
“Let me fuck you. Let me bury myself in you and stay there forever.”
Oh, God, how she wanted that. How she wanted to be his wife, wake up next to him every morning, fuck him every night.
“No. We have to stop. Angel…We have to pick up Angel.”
He kissed her again. Slow and sweet. “I asked Mom to keep her overnight. We don’t have to pick her up until morning.” His lips moved to kiss the curve of her neck.
She should be mad at him, but her mind turned to mush with his body so close. Angel was safe and cared for tonight. But Angel wasn’t her only concern. If she slept with Gabe, he’d never let her go. She couldn’t let things go that far or she’d lose everything dear to her.
“Angel.” Her voice sounded raspy to her ear, and she tried to catch her breath.
He released her this time. “Is it Angel? Or is it Lou?” He paused and stepped away. “Do you want him?”
“No! I don’t want Lou.” She shook her head.
“Are you sure? I’ve been told you’re still sleeping with him?” His eyes flashed ocean blue, and she turned her face from his glare.
Tears loomed behind her lids. She could bear sleeping with Lou since he was Gabe’s identical twin and she could image
it was Gabe holding her. But she couldn’t live without Angel or thought of something terrible happening to Gabe. “I can’t talk about it with you.”
“So it’s true. I’m gonna kick his ass.” Gabe slammed his fist against the counter.
She grabbed his arms. “No, please don’t.” The thought of Gabe injured even the slightest ripped at her heart.
Anger laced his words. “You fuck a man who used you to get even with me and tossed you aside. Yet I’m standing here, willing to forget everything, marry you, raise Angel as my own, and you want him.” He pulled away, his jaws clenched and fists still tight. “Damn it, Amy! Why the fuck do you want a guy that treats you like shit?”
“I swear to you, I don’t want him. He’s Angel’s father and he drops by sometimes. People talk, that’s all. Please, you have to believe me.” She choked out the half-lie. Gabe meant everything to her and she couldn’t stand to see him get hurt more. She should have left town a long time ago, but she’d been selfish, holding on to his short visits to the diner, seeing him around town and the occasional family functions she took Angel to. Without those short moments of delight she feared she’d loss all sanity. “Gabe, I swear it.”
His breathing slowed and his tone changed from anger to pain. “Then why don’t you want to stay with me tonight? What am I doing wrong?”
Chapter 5
“Nothing.” Amy reached out and touched his cheek. “You’ve done nothing wrong. Tonight’s been perfect,” Until the subject of Lou came up.
He grabbed her wrist. “Then why are you pushing me away?”
Only because of Lou. Damn, I want to be with you. She wanted to scream it at the top at her lungs, standing right in front of both men. She wanted Lou to leave her alone to be with Gabe, but he wouldn’t, and she could never give up her child. Even if it meant she’d never truly have Gabe.
“I’ve never been away from Angel all night.” He dropped her wrist, and his expression softened. She felt guilty, but it wasn’t a lie. Her parents had disowned her, and when you were a young single mom, friends forgot to call or stop by. Seems as if they had better things to do than wipe up baby drool.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her head to his chest. “I should’ve thought about that. I’m sorry, shortcake. If you want to pick her up, we can.”
He had called her shortcake ever since his growth spurt in the ninth grade, which made him tower above her. It brought back memories of stolen kisses between classes and the glances shared during math. Those days were gone and she had to forget about them.
They were adults now. Couldn’t they have a night of meaningless sex? People did it all the time these days. Besides, Lou was seventy-five miles away in another town. He’d never find out.
Gabe’s heartbeat thundered in her ear as his hands caressed her butt and hips. She could smell his cologne. Feel his erection through his jeans pressed against her stomach. What would it feel like inside her? Would he be soft and gentle with her as he promised as a kid, or would he be strong and take control like the cop he’d grown to be? A question she had asked herself many times, and she hoped to find out the answer before morning.
He bent down and captured her lips again, licked the crease. Soft and slow. Lips, molded to the shape of hers. Hands, dug into her hair. Wetness, formed between her thighs. Visions of him pumping inside her clouded her judgment.
“I want you,” she murmured between his kisses. Her resistance vanished. “Take me. Please.”
His kisses grew hot and rapid as he swept her up in his arms and carried her to his bed.
“Do you know how many times I’ve imagined you lying in my bed?” He sat on his knees looking down at her. “Only, in my dreams, you were naked.”
Her body warmed under his gaze. How had she resisted him for so long? She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Fantasies were no longer enough, neither were her nights with Lou where she told herself it was Gabe.
She unbuttoned her blouse and let it fall open. Teasing him, her hands glided over her sexy bra, chosen just for him, and toyed with the front clasp. His hard swallow created an ache for his hands on her now exposed breasts.
“Damn.” Reaching down and cupping one, he massaged it, ran the pad of his thumb over the nipple. A low moan escaped his throat. “God, they’re beautiful.” He readjusted and drew one nipple between his teeth, flicked his tongue over it.
She arched her back, and he took her breast into his mouth, sucked it. Gentle and sweet, but his hands rushed to unbutton her jeans and tug them off, taking her panties with them. His fingers found her wet and slick as he rubbed between the folds.
“Slow down. We have all night.” She drew his head up to kiss him.
“I’m just afraid you’ll stop me, again.” His hand rested on her waist. “I want you so bad.”
This time would be different. To hell with Lou. She undid his shirt and pushed it off. Then she worked on his jeans, trying to get them over his erection. When his boxer briefs were off, her gaze landed on his cock. He might look like his twin in every other way, but Gabe’s dick was a good inch longer. Would he be skilled in using what the good Lord had given him?
“On second thought, I have waited a long time for this, but you have to remember, it’s just sex. Nothing more.” She wanted it to be more, but she couldn’t take that chance. Just being here tonight was enough of a risk.
“Whatever you say, shortcake.” He reached in the nightstand and pulled out a condom.
A jealous feeling washed over her. How many others had been in his bed? He couldn’t be a virgin, but she’d wanted to be his first, something they’d planned years ago, but those plans had been destroyed. The thought of other women in his bed hadn’t entered her mind tonight, until now. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she couldn’t have meaningless sex with Gabe.
“What’s a matter? Don’t tell me you’re having a third thought.”
“How many others have you been with?” She clutched at the covers.
“What?” He sat on the edge of the bed, his muscles tense. “Amy, I’m a grown man. I have needs. Needs I wish to hell you would meet. You have no right to be jealous.” He stood and paced. “If you hadn’t fucked Lou and gotten knocked up, we never would’ve broken up. I would’ve married you, was going to ask you that night and then you’d be the only one.”
Oh, God! She’d really screwed up. The man she loved had wanted to marry her and she’d stabbed a knife in his heart. It had to have wounded him because she was hurt just thinking about him and another woman. Gabe, on the other hand, had an image of her and someone else seared into his mind.
He stopped pacing and glared at her. “I love you, damn it. I’ve always loved you. I didn’t screw around. You did.”
How could she respond? He spoke the truth. She had committed the crime he spoke of, but she hadn’t planned on it. The trick had been played on her just as much as it had been on him.
“I know. Hell, I know it every time I look in your eyes how I hurt you. We’ve been through this a hundred times.” Tonight, however, seemed more painful with them being so close to sharing an intimacy they’d both waited so long for. “I swear to God, I thought he was you. We planned the whole night, you and me. You’re the one who told Lou about our plans in the first place. How was I to know it was him and not you?” She rose up and knelt on the bed, still clutching the covers.
“Couldn’t you tell by our kisses? Our voices? Something? Anything?” His voice cracked.
“How? I was a virgin. Nervous and scared I wouldn’t please you. I wanted everything to be perfect.”
“You could’ve made him wear a condom. Damn, Amy!” He stopped pacing. “Do you know how I felt when I saw the two of you…screwing?”
She knew he was hurt, but she had been too. A twinge of anger pulled at her. “Do you know how I felt? Violated. Hurt. I can’t change what happened. If I could, I would.” She reached out and grabbed his hand, pulling him back on the bed. This was their night and she sure as hell didn�
�t want to spend it arguing about Lou. “I want to change that whole night.”
“Don’t say that when you don’t mean it. I don’t want you to mean it.”
“Why?” Had he stopped loving her? Had she pushed him as far she’d lost his heart? Was tonight only about sex?
Chapter 6
“Because, I love that little girl. I want her to be mine, so bad.” A tear ran down Gabe’s cheek. He would never erase Angel, even if his brother had knocked up Amy to hurt him. Angel was perfect. The little girl he’d dreamed of having with Amy. He wanted her and two or three more babies as well. How could Amy ever want to change that little miracle?
Amy brushed away the tear and swept a kiss across his cheek. Then she straddled his lap. “Tell me how you envision us. How you dream of taking me.”
He pushed Angel out of his mind and looked at Amy’s naked body on top of his own. His hands ran up her thighs, over her hips, and squeezed her breasts. “This position has entered my mind numerous times. Me, grasping your hips. You, riding my cock.” He licked his lips, grabbed her face and kissed her.
He slid his tongue across her teeth, begging for entrance. Instead of allowing him access, she wrapped her lips around his tongue and sucked.
What could she do to his dick with that same mouth? The thought sent blood rushing south and his cock ached to be inside her.
She took his hand, guided it to her clit. He groaned when he touched her. “Oh, you’re so wet.”
She moved forward against his hand, and moaned in his ear. “Fuck me.”
Her request was simple and to the point. Words he had longed to hear her say for years. He slid his dick inside her hot wet pussy. “Damn, you’re tight.” No other woman had wrapped around him so perfectly. If he didn’t think about something else, he feared he’d come too soon, and he wanted to make this last.
All For An Angel Page 2
