I shake my head, reining in a grin because he’s not joking. The grin is because he looks deadly serious about enforcing my decision, whatever it might be.
Gabe turns back to the man. “There. You heard it from her. Leave. And stay the fuck away from another man’s date.She is mine.”
I’m not grinning now. I’ve been heating up since he appeared in the corridor. The quickened heartbeat from earlier? Now I feel a rapid ache. And I am soaked.
The man deflates and mumbles, “Sorry,” to Gabe, who points to me.
“You were rude to her. Tellheryou’re sorry.”
“Sorry,” the guy says to me, dipping his face.
“Thanks,” I say, then he rushes past Gabe with his tail between his legs.
Gabe watches till he’s gone then turns to me, jaw ticking, dark eyes flaring with heat and residual anger.
“You shouldn’t have to deal with that shit,” he says, his voice tight, “whether you’re with me or alone.”
I lick my lips. “But I’m with you tonight,” I whisper.
“Damn right you are,” he says.
My skin sizzles. My pulse surges. “So I’m yours?”
His eyes glimmer with desire. All his annoyance seems to have vanished. He closes the distance, grabs my wrists, then pins them behind my back. He presses his strong, big frame against mine, his hard-on grinding against my hip.
Dear god.
“Yes, you are,” he growls.
I wait for him to come for my lips.
But instead, he lays a hot, hungry kiss on the hollow of my throat.
I moan.
When he pulls back, he says, “Want to know why I looked you up?”
“I do,” I say, breathless.
“Because you’re finally old enough that I can ask the next question.”
I tug on his shirt, gripping the fabric in my fist. “What is it?”
His eyes roam up and down my face, my tits, my legs. I’m pretty sure he’s already undressed me mentally. Pretty sure, in his mind, his face is between my thighs right now.
He stares hotly at me, then asks, “Can I take you home and fuck you?”
So I was wrong. It’s not his face between my legs. And I’m more than okay with that.
I gasp out a throaty “yes.”
9
HANDY LESSONS
Gabe
I got carried away back at the bar. Came on too strong and demanded too much. Now I’m walking Ellie home, with her slowly riding her scooter beside me, and my brain’s taken over the thinking from my dick once more.