30. Gabriel
Chapter Thirty
GAbrIEL
I leaned back in Nora’s bed with a sigh, wincing slightly as I adjusted my leg on a pillow. Nora had insisted I put it under my knee because Quinn said elevation would keep the swelling down.
Nora came walking into the bedroom with two mugs in hand. She was wearing her robe, and her skin was flushed and dewy from a shower. Quinn had reluctantly given me permission to shower as long as I was careful not to get the bandaging over my injury wet.
I wanted to rid myself of the cold, clammy feeling clinging to me from being in the water and the antiseptic smell from the hospital.
Nora had insisted on supervising me, and honestly, I hadn’t minded it one bit.
Being fussed over by her was much nicer than the past few weeks when we’d stumbled out of sync again.
“Tea for me and hot chocolate for you,” she explained as she set a mug on the nightstand beside me and rounded the bed.
“For a second, I thought you were going to try to make me drink tea,” I teased dryly.
After setting her tea down on the other nightstand, she climbed into bed beside me, tucking the covers over her hips before propping the pillows up behind her. Her lips twitched when she looked in my direction. “I know you hate tea, but I know you love hot chocolate.”
“No beer?” I pressed hopefully.
She pursed her lips and narrowed her gaze. “You know Quinn said no alcohol tonight. And if you take pain meds tomorrow, you can’t have it then either,” she said primly.
I leaned deeper into the pillows and let out a sigh. “It’s not like I’m going anywhere, so I don’t see why not.”
She actually clucked at me before reaching over to push down the covers and check on my leg.
“I just want to make sure the bandage isn’t damp.
” Her eyes flicked down as she slid her palm carefully over my thigh and down to check the bandage below my knee.
The injury was on the outer edge of my calf.
I was grateful whatever the hell had slammed into me hadn’t hit me in the knee.
I didn’t need to be worried about trying to heal and screw up my knee while I was at it.
“You already checked the bandage after I showered,” I commented.
“I just want to check again,” she insisted.
“Is it still dry?” I teased.
She pursed her lips again when her eyes lifted to mine. “Yes. It is.”
Because I was who I was, and apparently, I couldn’t be near Nora without wanting her, desire spun like liquid fire through my veins.
It didn’t matter that her touch wasn’t even remotely sexual.
She tugged the covers back over my leg, and I caught her hand, pulling her close quickly enough that she rolled against me with a surprised laugh.
“Gabriel! Be careful.”
She was half leaning on me, and I could feel the soft press of her breasts. A treacherous tenderness stole through me as I stared into her eyes.
“I missed you,” I murmured while I brought her a little closer and dusted my lips across hers.
Sparks flew as if leaping from a bonfire into the air around us. She didn’t draw away, not when I teased my tongue along the seam of her lips and tasted her again, savoring the glide of her tongue against mine. I ached for her—body, heart, and soul.
Alas, she ended our kiss all too soon. Lifting her head, she murmured, “Just a kiss. That’s all.”
I shook my head. “No. I need you tonight.” My voice was low and taut, drawn tight with the force of my need for her.
She opened her mouth to protest, shaking her head wildly.
I shook mine in return. “It’s my leg. I need you right here,” I murmured. Moving swiftly, I tugged her onto my lap, gratified when her knees fell on either side of my hips.
She let out a gasp when she felt the hard ridge of my arousal conveniently nestled under her hot core. When I reached between us, I let out a groan. “You’re not wearing panties.”
“I just got out of the shower. I don’t usually wear underwear under my robe,” she said, biting her bottom lip as her cheeks flushed pretty and pink.
Shifting slightly, I teased my fingers into her slick and swollen folds. “Don’t try to tell me you don’t want me.”
I used my free hand to untie her robe, watching it fall open. I immediately leaned forward to catch one of her nipples with my mouth. Her fingers speared into my hair, and she let out a ragged whimper as I gave her nipple a sweet suck.
“Gabriel—” she began again.
I turned my attention to her other nipple.
Whatever she meant to say was lost in the moment.
I knew if I gave her time to protest, she would scramble off my lap and get all fussy about me.
I needed nothing more than to be inside her.
In another smooth move, I shifted her back on my lap.
The friction of the motion dragged my briefs down with her, and my cock sprang free.
“Come here,” I murmured against her lips. When she hesitated, my brain fired off a rational thought. “Oh, right, condom.” I moved to reach for the table by the bed, but she shook her head.
“I’m on the pill.”
My eyes widened. “Since when?”
“Since before we broke up last time. I was going to tell you, but then?—”
“I was a dumbass,” I offered helpfully.
She bit her lip, her lashes sweeping down. I nudged my knuckles under her chin, and she lifted her eyes to mine. “I’ll still wear a condom if you prefer.” We stared at each other, and it felt as if the air was shimmering around us.
She shook her head slowly, all the while my heart was thudding hard in my chest. I pressed a fierce kiss to her lips before I brought her closer and guided her hips down over me.
The sweet tang of her scent surrounded me as I filled her, savoring the silky clench of her channel around me. When she settled down over me, and I was buried deeply, I leaned back, letting my gaze soak her in.
Her dark hair fell in a tousle around her shoulders. With her robe open, she looked like a goddess in the dim lighting.
My heart beat hard and free in my chest, and a sense of peace stole through me, twining like a vine with my intense desire for her.
“I love you.” My words were a promise, clear and strong.
“I love—” Nora gasped when I leaned up and caught her “you” in a kiss.
We rocked together, and I knew she was already chasing her release. The slick fusion of where we were joined created an intense friction as she rippled around me. A slurred groan escaped at the feel of being bare inside her.
Her breath became tattered, and she gasped, “Gabriel, please?—”
I teased my fingers over her swollen clit, and a sharp, keening cry escaped when she clamped around my cock, pulling me with her as I came inside her in deep surges.
A moment later, she fell against me, whispering, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I promise you didn’t. But if you climb off me now, you’ll break my heart.”
I felt her giggle against my skin where her head was tucked in the curve of my neck. A little while later, I let her fuss over me some more and then fell asleep, my hot chocolate forgotten.