Chapter Seven
Innocent Flirting Leads to Sinful Pleasures
Ender
“Guys, I want to make a reservation at Stonewood’s for a Saturday a week or two after they open. Who wants to go with me?”
Kaden’s question takes my attention away from my phone, as I’m beaming with pride that I texted Gabe something so explicit.
I was initially scared of sending it because it’s not something I would’ve ever done before, joking or otherwise.
I’d been so irritable while I’d waited for Connor to get ready, and Gabe’s sweet good morning message had been a welcome distraction.
Then he sent those goofy selfies a little later, and my mood had done a full one-eighty as something resembling butterflies had spread through my entire body.
It had sparked something mischievous in me—call it payback for all his innuendos.
“I’ve already promised Jackson and Dakota I’d go with them and their aunts the weekend after they open.
Can I take a rain check?” Lanie pouts at her brother, probably disappointed she can’t exactly invite Kaden to join them, since Kaden hasn’t met Luke and Jackson’s aunts yet.
I’ve already heard Kaden talk about how important they are to Luke, so I guess it’d be rude for her to invite him to meet them before Luke has had a chance to do it himself.
“You know I’m coming whether you like it or not,” Connor chimes in before he’s even invited to go.
“That goes without saying. Ender, what about you?”
As I turn to Kaden, my first thought is if Gabe would mind me ambushing him at work—especially right after they open, when they’ll probably be incredibly busy.
“You don’t think we’d be distracting them?
” I ask Kaden. I hope I’m not being too transparent since no one knows Gabe and I have been getting to know each other for the past week.
At least I haven’t told any of my friends yet—I wonder if Gabe has told Luke.
I mean, it’s not like this is serious or anything.
We’ve only flirted with each other—until just a few minutes ago.
“I think they would like to see us both there.”
Well, I guess that answers my question. Gabe must have told Luke, and Luke must’ve told Kaden.
“Okay, sounds good. Count me in.” I give Kaden a slight smile, thankful for his discretion. He evidently hasn’t said anything to Connor, in particular, because Connor definitely would’ve given me the third degree if he had.
To avoid anyone getting suspicious, I make a show grumbling about how hungry I am, begging for someone to feed me until our food arrives a minute later.
I leave my phone on the table next to my plate, facing up, while I eat my burger and fries, even though I don’t expect him to text back given his last message—but a guy can dream, right?
It’s not until I get home later in the evening, after we all decided to do a little shopping, that I receive a message from Gabe after he went dark during his workday.
I just want you to know, you’ve made this day the longest day in history for me.
I burst out laughing at the thought of Gabe being sexually frustrated all day because of what I said—loud enough for Connor to hear.
“I heard that!” he hollers from his room. “Is that a real person making you laugh? And if so, I need details.”
“It’s just a funny video I found. Stop being so damn nosy,” I yell back at him. Although I hate that I had to lie to him, I’m just not ready to have this conversation with him.
Poor baby
I feel like I should be sorry I told you what I was really thinking earlier.
I’m not
Fair warning, I’m going to need your address soon if you keep this up.
Not happening. Connor is home.
And you are not ready for that kind of energy when it comes to his prying into everyone’s business.
I guess you need to behave then.
The line rings once before Gabe answers.
“Ender.” The stern warning carried in that single word sends a wave of anticipation through every inch of my body, making the hair on my arms stand up. This is not the same Gabe I’ve been getting to know the past week—this Gabe is clearly taking control of the situation.
“Gabe.” His name comes out with breathless caution.
“I don’t think you’re prepared for whatever it is you think you’re doing here.”
“And what exactly is it you think I’m doing?” If this is the reaction I’m already getting from him, I’ll probably be in a world of trouble if I let this man get his hands on me any time soon. I can’t wait.
The whooshing of my heart as it tries to keep my body from giving out is the only thing filling the silence between us. Finally, Gabe speaks. “Why don’t you tell me exactly what you want tonight, and I’ll do my best to make it happen?”
I take a second to think before I reply, trying to decide what I want from him. Turns out, it’s a little different from this morning.
“I need you to take control, Gabe.” I force out the barely audible request before I have a chance to overthink it.
As soon as the line disconnects, the vibration in my hand alerts me to what I assume is his address. My plans for the night just got a whole lot more interesting.
The next forty minutes rush by as I prep myself, in every way, for what’s in store for me tonight—I regret eating earlier now—but then my heart flutters thinking about Gabe, pumping pure excitement through my veins.
With featherlight steps through the apartment, I escape without Connor noticing.
Even so, I leave a sticky note on his door to let him know I went out, so he doesn’t worry.
It’s inevitable he’ll text me at some point, wanting to know where I went and who I’m with, but a short answer is easier through text than in person.
The drive to Gabe’s house takes less than twenty minutes, and I’m filled with equal parts anticipation and nervousness, my music the only thing keeping me from turning the car around and abandoning this crazy mission.
As I pull up to the address Gabe sent, I wonder if he lives alone. The residence in front of me is a two-story, single-family home, way too big for one person. It reminds me of the Ackerman’s house.
Steeling myself, I rap lightly so as not to wake any potential roommates.
The door opens in seconds, and Gabe greets me.
His white tank top makes his sun-kissed skin appear even more tanned, and his mouthwatering gray sweats cling to his frame in all the right ways.
One side of his lip turns up in a devious grin, as he steps aside for me to pass him.
As if I were a rabbit walking into a wolf’s den, his predatory eyes stay locked on me as I slip past him, not stopping until I reach the living room.
I can sense his presence behind me the whole way, and when I come to a halt, his warm breath caresses the nape of my neck as his palm encases my Adam’s apple, his fingers squeezing gently enough to not restrict the airflow.
The skin-to-skin connection nearly blinds me with desire.
I haven’t had physical contact like this in almost two years, and even then, it was with Kaden, merely for comfort.
He sure as hell didn’t lust for me the way it’s radiating off Gabe in this moment.
“Is there anything I need to know before I do as I please with you?”
His breath whispers against me like the wings of a bird in flight, his lips making their way from my shoulder to my ear. He’s letting me choose any boundary I want, but I know in a heartbeat that there isn’t one.
Allowing my head to fall back onto his shoulder, I seize his jaw between my teeth, biting gently before running my tongue over his skin. He tastes like a mixture of lavender and sandalwood—it’s intoxicating. “Fuck me like you mean it.”
With a strong grip on my chin, he pulls me closer to fuse our mouths together, sliding his fingers to the base of my skull as his thumb massages my jawline.
The embrace makes my head spin in the best way possible, only intensifying as his hands start to wander.
Reaching behind me, I grasp his hair tightly, wanting to keep the connection as long as we can before having to come up for air.
Gabe’s fingers move quickly to unfasten my fly, stripping my jeans and boxers down to my ankles before all but ripping my T-shirt off in his haste to undress me.
My thickened cock, already pointing skyward and screaming for attention, releases its first drop of precum when Gabe wraps his fist around it.
The sensation is like a lightning strike, sending an electrical current crackling through me from my toes to the very tips of each strand of hair on my head.
My breathy gasp must turn Gabe on more than he already is, and he moans as he bites my lower lip, soothing the sting with a swipe of his tongue.
His free hand wraps around my waist, holding me steady until I feel his hardened cock lined up with the crease of my ass, and I curse his sweatpants for separating us. Both of us simultaneously moan despite his clothing when I grab his firm backside to hold him still against me.
I was unaware of just how much my body ached for a man’s touch until the moment our skin made contact.
The more parts of me he puts his hands on, the more the stimulation overwhelms me, and I’m helpless to stop my persistent whimpering, muffled by Gabe’s tongue in my mouth.
His long, powerful strokes drive me wild until he stops suddenly, spinning me around to bend at the waist and hauling me up over his shoulder with ease, walking toward the staircase before I even have a second to protest.
“Gabe, put me down before you drop me.” The words come out as a whining plea.
Whack!
“Fuck! Put me down, Gabe.” My body jerking from the stinging on my ass doesn’t throw him off balance as we walk up the stairs.
Whack!
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stop complaining before we get to the bedroom.” His voice is huskier than I’m used to hearing, the threat in it sending a thrill tingling through me.