She shifted her legs so he’d have room to settle on top of her. Slowly she snaked one arm around his neck. Her fingers tangled in his hair. “I’m not beautiful. I’m just me.”
“You need to realize that to me, what you are is perfect. Beautiful. Irreplaceable.” He placed a kiss alongside her neck with each word.
“I don’t want to lose contact with you again. I’m afraid that will happen.”
He lifted his head and met her gaze. Leaning to the side, he ran a hand from her hip to her breast. “It won’t. I won’t let it. Can I assure you I will be available all the time? No. There are times when I am deployed overseas for weeks on end. I’m training others to do what I do, now, so it won’t always have to be me. It isn’t a perfect scenario, Anna, but if we try, and we believe in each other, maybe this thing between us will grow.”
God, she prayed that would happen. She prayed the love she felt for him would grow. That the affection he held for her would blossom into love. Yes, she even prayed for happily ever after. What she didn’t understand, and didn’t know how to explain to Gabriel, was that she was afraid of “them”. She was terrified of losing him. She’d survive it, sure, but the Anna at the other end of losing Gabriel would be a different woman. She was terrified of pushing him into a relationship that was not reciprocal. McNair’s warnings and accusations continued to haunt her. He’d been off-base about some things, but on others…
“I should have been here earlier, but I was with Delacroix as he interviewed Henderson.”
“The detective thought perhaps Gary was the person who attacked Jackie. You don’t think he was, do you?” Anna’s fingers twirled in his hair as she stared sightlessly at a point someplace over his shoulder. She couldn’t comprehend a world where a person could inflict so much pain. Thinking Gary was a serial killer was incomprehensible.
“There is some circumstantial evidence, but the FBI, the New Orleans Police Department, and my people, have a lot of work to do before that determination can be made.” Gabriel lowered his head and nipped at her collarbone. “I can see the wheels turning in your mind. It’s okay not to have all the answers tonight. You’re safe. I’m here. What we have, together, is real. We are both committed to seeing where this goes. Now, turn off that beautiful, complicated mind of yours, and make love to me.”
Make love to him. Anna’s mind stuttered over the word. She realized she’d been making love to him for some time now. It was just a phrase to him, not to her. She accepted his weight on her as he lowered to take her mouth. His big body nestled between her legs. The cotton sheets pulled across the abrasions on her knees. The tiny prickles of pain couldn’t divert her attention from what Gabriel was doing to her. Not just her body, but her mind. He had opened the door and given her hope. Hope for a future with him. She wanted it. She wanted everything with this man. Her entire life she had given to others. For once, she was taking for herself.
Gabriel absorbed the feel of Anna underneath him. Her body fit him. Anna invaded his soul, pierced his heart, and tattooed her presence onto his DNA. Every fiber of his being had revolted against their forced separation tonight. The fact he could not be with her when she had been hurt gelded him as effectively as a knife, and his anger at his best friend reached catastrophic levels. He forced those thoughts out of his mind. He'd deal with McNair later.
Anna shivered under him. His lips traveled slowly over her heated, soft skin. He was making love to her, because he did love her. It was too soon to say the words, but there was no doubt in his mind. There were so many things that needed to be worked out. A cornucopia of events needed to transpire before he could tell her about his past and hopefully about their future.
Her soft moan cleared the distractions from his mind. He wasn’t going to waste this moment. Every time she trusted her body to him, she gave him a priceless gift. Gabriel needed to touch every part of her tonight. He needed to know she was safe. He worshiped her with his mouth. Told her with his body, the things he could not express with words.
Carefully, he caressed and kissed down her, making sure to pay particular attention to the small abrasions and bruises on her knees. The soft skin of her inner thighs tasted like honey, sweet and soft against his tongue. Her fingertips pushed through his hair and wound around the strands as he centered at her sex. Her soul was all things beautiful and giving. She came to him with complete trust, so willing to let him take care of her, and tonight he had failed. He had failed to keep her from harm. With his body, he pledged he wouldn’t fail her again. It was a vow to her, and to himself. What he did for Guardian was important. But the woman under him? She was everything.
He feasted on her core, and her soft moans stoked his desire. Her hips lifted. She wanted more, and he was willing to oblige. His tongue circled the heated flash and tormented the swollen nub at the top of her sex.
“Gabriel.”
He lifted his eyes at her words. Her tousled short brown hair, flushed face, and desire filled eyes transfixed him.
“Please, I want you in me. Please,” Anna panted her request.
Gabriel lifted over and worked his way back up her body. He had to taste, to touch, to feel. He lowered over her for a kiss. “I should have been with you.” A soft brush of skin against skin. A sweep of his tongue against hers. Physical acts that meant so much more. He lowered over her and pressed against her core. “You’re mine.”
“Yes. Yours. Please, yours.” Anna gasped softly against his mouth. He lifted her leg making room for his body. She wrapped her leg around his thighs as he settled. “Yours. Always.”
He entered her as he had many times before, but as she held his gaze, he knew that this morning, he was making love for the first time in his life. He slid into her; her hot, tight walls consumed him. Her fingernails dug into his back. He held her gaze as he thrust as far as he could go. “Mine.”
Anna arched under him. Her kiss-swollen lips taunted him. His body covered hers. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders to pull her closer. He needed her closer. There was no urgency beyond the joining of their two bodies. Hell, nothing existed beyond what was happening now. His hips found a rhythm that echoed in their kiss. It was sweet, sublime, and heady.
He wished they could go on like this forever, but his body wasn’t listening to his mind. The fire fueled by their joined passion reached a point of no return. He lifted to his knees and pulled her closer. He watched as her fingers trailed to her breasts. With her eyes closed and her back arched, Anna ran her fingertips across her puckered nipples. A moan preceded the tight clenching of her sex against his shaft. Against his will, his eyes closed, he followed her over the edge. His hips stuttered against her as he came.
Careful not to allow too much of his weight to rest on her, he fell onto his elbows above her. Struggling to catch his breath, he placed his forehead against hers. “I should have been there.”
Her hand lifted and cupped his cheek. “There was no way for you to know that Henderson would follow me from that restaurant. There was nothing you could have done to protect me other than keep me here as a prisoner. Bad things happen to good people. No matter how careful people are, bad things happen. Worrying about what you should have done, could have done, or what could have been, will only drive you crazy. I’m here, now. I’m with you, now. I’ll be here for as long as you want me.”
Gabriel lifted so he could see her. His mother had obsessed about his safety. Before she lost her mind to dementia, she’d been so paranoid she’d locked herself away. She was a prisoner her entire life. Anna was right in that aspect. He would never want to make her a prisoner. The obvious solution was to ensure her safety. With the resources he controlled, her safety would never be in jeopardy again. A slow smile spread across his face. He had ways to guarantee nothing happened to her.
“Oh, what are you thinking? That look you have on your face right now says you’re up to something.” Anna’s eyebrows lifted, and she cocked her head to the side.
Gabriel waggled his eyebrows. “
I think I want you here for a very, very long time.”
“That’s not all you were thinking, is it?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Gabriel laughed as she struck. Her fingers digging in his sides, trying to tickle him. He wasn’t ticklish, but he loved the fact that she was playing with him. The normalcy of the moment was what he needed. He gathered her in his arms, preventing her from attacking him.
Anna settled on top of him. His fingers traveled through her soft brown hair. “When you can tell me what’s going on, I promise I’ll never say a word to anyone. I will take your secrets to my grave.” Anna’s soft words plowed through any remaining doubts he had about their future.
“My real name is David.”
She turned so she could see him. A soft smile formed on her lips. “Hi. It's nice to meet you, David.” she whispered.
He pulled her to him and kissed her softly before he closed his eyes, exhausted. He'd taken the first step. If he wasn't so damn tired, he would have smiled. Instead, he inhaled the wonderful scent of the woman next to him and allowed himself to hope the future would provide the answers to both their dreams.
Chapter 25
Even with three hours of sleep, Gabriel had a spring in his step. He’d left Anna upstairs with Jacqueline minutes ago. Stepping off the elevator into his command center, he was met with a flurry of activity. One of his team members approached him with the inevitable stack of messages. “Nothing urgent sir, all marked routine.”
“Thank you.” Gabriel sifted through the slips of paper and took note of several that were new from Chance King and those which were routine. He headed down the hall to his office. There were two distinct courses of action he needed to take today. He’d deal with McNair first, the messages would have to wait.
As he entered his office, he caught sight of Craig exiting his. “We need to talk.” Gabriel issued the command. It was a command; he wasn’t requesting his friend's attention.
“Can this wait? There are developments in the Israel situation.” Craig lifted a folder and nodded toward the office where they had set up their communication center.
Gabriel shook his head. “No, unless you tell me the world is falling apart, this comes first.”
McNair gave a huge sigh and flopped into the chair in front of Gabriel’s desk. “Okay. Let’s do this. You are going to go off on me because you think I withheld something from you.”
“You’re damn right, I am.”
McNair lifted his hand. “I did not withhold anything from you. It was the other way around. You did not tell me about your relationship with this woman. How was I supposed to know that a minor altercation meant so much to you?”
“Do not assume that my life is an open book for you to page through.” Gabriel pointed at his best friend and continued, “We’ve shared a hell of a lot, Craig. You’re my best friend. You know everything there is to know about me, except what my dreams are. I want a future with her.”
“Oh my God, you’re joking.” Craig stood and almost yelled the words.
Gabriel leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers together, narrowing his eyes at McNair. “Tread carefully, Craig.”
“We’ve been through this before, Gabriel.” McNair shook his head and threw a disgusted look Gabriel’s way.
“I’m at a point in my life where I believe I can have a future, a family, a life outside of the confines my family’s legacy has left me.” Gabriel swiveled his chair and looked out the window. “I can protect her.”
Craig shook his head. “You know I have your back. I only want what’s best for you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted. I wish you could see the mistake you’re making.”
“Friendship only goes so far, Craig.”
“What we have is more than a friendship, and you know it.” Craig stared at him. Gabriel could see his profile in the reflection of the window.
“What I have with Anna is more than friendship. I care for her.”
“Caring for her and letting her in are two different things. Before you do something rash, think this through. Your mother went to great lengths to ensure you would never have to worry. Telling your deepest secrets to a woman whom you’ve known for less than a month is fatally stupid.”
Gabriel pushed the chair back toward his desk and swung his attention to the hall beyond McNair. “No, it isn’t. What is stupid is not reaching out and grasping for the happiness I never thought I could have. I’m not willing to lose her.”
“Gabriel…” Craig held his arms out to his side. “She’s a nobody.” The contempt in the man's voice was impossible to miss.
As he sat and looked at the man who had accompanied him on almost every step of his adult life, Gabriel felt a sinking sense of loss. How could they be so different? When had they become so different? He thought it had several years ago, when Craig had raised a hand in anger against a woman. A sinking feeling pulled at his heart. This man, his brother in arms, steadfast friend and confidant, had slowly become a stranger.
He nodded toward the open doorway. “I believe you said you had something to do.”
Craig looked down at the folder in his hand. “Yeah.” He nodded and lifted his eyes to gaze steadily at Gabriel.
Gabriel saw it. He saw the recognition of change. He saw a reflection of the same helpless feeling of loss he felt, but he would do nothing to stop what was happening. He deserved to be happy. They both deserved a life outside of the auspices of the work they did. “What about you, Craig?”
The man threw him a confused look. “What do you mean, what about me?”
Gabriel leaned forward. “I’d never stop you from finding what gives meaning to your life. Guardian can’t be the sum of all that you hope for. You must want more than this job.”
“You don’t see it, Gabriel. You’ve never seen it.” Craig smiled sadly and shook his head. “This—” he motioned between them with his hand “—what we share… what’s between us? It’s absolutely everything to me. Everything.” Craig spun on his heel and walked out of the office without a backward glance.
Gabriel leaned back in his chair and stared sightlessly down the hall. He was missing something crucial, but damn it all to hell if he knew what it was.
“Sir, you have a call on line three.” The intercom to his office blared.
He turned and lifted the receiver, punching down the flashing button. “Gabriel.”
“Delacroix here.”
Gabriel scanned the stack of telephone calls he’d received. None of them had been from Harvey or Olsen. He'd hoped to have an update by now. “Have you learned anything more?”
The detective snorted. “Not yet. I’m on my way to your building to pick up the final statement from Miss Harriger. I tried to call her, but I can’t reach her. Do you know what her schedule is?”
“I just left her at the penthouse. She’s with Miss Brenner. When I talked to her this morning, she said she didn’t recall anything more than what she told you yesterday.” Gabriel reached for his cell phone and spun it on the desk as he spoke.
“Okay, but I still need a signed statement. Can you announce me to your security?” Delacroix asked.
“I can do that. What time will you be coming?” Gabriel reached for a pen and a piece of paper.
“I’m just clearing at the office now. After I hang up, depending on traffic, ten or fifteen minutes.”
“I’ll clear you up to my level. Let me know when you arrive.” Gabriel waved down one of his men as he was walking by the office. He put his hand over the phone receiver and gave directions to allow Delacroix through security and elevator access to his level. “I just cleared you through.”
“Sir, you’re needed in the communications center.” An urgent voice paged him over the office intercom.
Gabriel hit the intercom button. “I’ll be there in one minute.”
Delacroix chuckled in his ear. “Sounds like you’re busy. Don’t worry about me. I know what I have to do to finish this up. I’ll get to the
people I need to get to. Go take care of your business, and I’ll take care of mine.”
“I want to be there when you talk to Anna, and nobody is allowed in the penthouse without armed escort.” Gabriel stood and adjusted his suit jacket as he spoke.
“Yeah, I got a damn good look at your security yesterday. Mighty impressive. Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” There was a muffled conversation in the background. “I may be a few minutes later than anticipated. Work never ends for the wicked.”
Gabriel laughed ruefully. “Then I must be one evil motherfucker.”
“I guess we both are,” Delacroix said, somewhat distractedly. “See you soon.”
Gabriel hung up the phone and skirted his desk. There was a commotion at the end of the hall. He made his way to the communication room and glanced at the large projection screen that showcased the national news.
“Boss, shit in the Middle East is getting real.” McNair stood with his hands on his hips. “What do you need us to do?”
Gabriel sat down and leaned forward, staring at the screen. “We need a visual assessment on all resources in that theater of operations. Get a hold of our assets in Jordan. I want a team on the outside of Israel’s border by nightfall. Craig, I’ll need you to pull any idle teams from the Asian theater. The amount of unrest in the Middle East is going to require us to shift.”
People scurried to follow his directions. He sat quietly as they worked. He needed responsible, dedicated people to form the domestic operations branch so he could focus on overseas missions. Focus on them, not participate in them. He wanted more than that now. His mind sifted over the candidates from which he could select. McNair, of course, was at the top of the list. There were others who didn’t have his skill set, although they could be taught. A stepped-up approach to management was a must, particularly now. On the screen, the television reporter dodged suddenly. An explosion filled the background before the connection ended. The station's anchor came back on, flustered and stuttering.
Gabriel (Guardian Defenders Book 1) Page 26
