Chapter 36
Tori
The reflection in the mirror was that of someone I no longer recognized.
I’d lost her so long ago that I had to adjust to seeing her again.
Happy and glowing. Dressed in the cocktail dress I’d bought earlier in the day, I touched up my makeup one more time before leaving the bathroom and crossing through the bedroom I was sharing with Reid.
A month had passed since I’d told Gabe I wanted to slow down, and he’d kept good on his promise.
Too good. He was the perfect gentleman, just like he’d been when we were first together, respecting my boundaries a little too much.
He’d done no more than kiss me since we reconnected, except for that moment in my closet.
The heat of his touch lingered, and I missed it.
But I had done this to us. Needing to be sure, to understand my emotions and to ensure nothing convoluted them.
As I walked out of the room and Gabe’s eyes filled with adoration, that certainty came. I was ready for this, for more, for him and the rest of our journey together.
“You look amazing,” he said, wonder emphasizing his words. His eyes glided over me, and he took my hand, twirling me around before he drew me into his arms.
“Mommy, you look so pretty.”
I looked down at Reid. Backing out of Gabe’s hold, I stooped down and adjusted his tie.
In his suit, he looked like a mini version of Gabe.
I stood and stepped back, taking them both in.
Gabe wore a black suit, designer of course, with silver cufflinks and a black tie.
He looked so handsome it was difficult to catch my breath.
But seeing the two of them together like that had tears pricking the back of my eyes.
“My boys,” I said. “You both look dashing.” I stepped back into Gabe’s body. “And you, I don’t know if I want to let you out of this room because too many women are going to be looking at you.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I think I’m the one who needs to worry with as ravishing as you look. If women look, it will only be because they’re jealous of you.”
“You two are funny,” Reid said, munching on a piece of crust from the pizza Gabe had ordered for him.
Gabe planted a kiss on my nose. “Don’t want to mess that lipstick up,” he said. His cheek brushed over mine. “Not until I’m ready.”
Heat rushed through me, and it warmed my face.
This was what he did to me. Constantly destroying me with his words, small comments that left me flustered and rethinking my decision to keep this slow.
But he’d always had that effect on me, leaving me a wreck with just a word or two before he completely devastated me with his touches. And I missed those touches.
The ringing of his phone stopped whatever comeback was forming in my addled brain, and he released me.
“Yes,” he answered. Terse and confident. Sexy.
I walked away, brushing crumbs from Reid’s jacket to calm myself.
“The car’s here,” Gabe said as his eyes dropped to my wrist.
He lifted it, his finger gently touching the charms that dangled from the bracelet he had bought me for our first Christmas together. I had dug it from under my other jewelry, ready to welcome the firsts it represented for me and Gabe.
“Is that…” His throat bobbed, and I could see the emotion brewing in his eyes.
“I could never convince myself to throw it away,” I admitted. “It held too many wonderful memories for me to let it go.”
He drew me into his arms and kissed me. The love in that kiss worked its way through my body, cascading from my core to my feet, then rose to encompass the rest of my body.
“I love you, Tori.” His words were a murmur that warmed my chest. “I don’t deserve you, but I will spend the rest of my life proving that I do.”
I lifted my hands to his face, forcing his eyes to mine. “You deserve me, Gabe. You don’t have to prove it anymore.”
He gave me another kiss that blazed through me, leaving me teetering when his lips separated from mine.
“You need to stop that, or you’ll mess my lipstick up too early,” I said, touching my lips.
“Then you’ll need to reapply in the car to ensure those lips are still gorgeous when I’m ready to kiss you again.”
I shook my head as he left me standing in the wake of his words. That was Gabe. Constantly devastating me with words and kisses. Ones he had saved for me because, like Cindy had said, we were inevitable.
Gabe strolled across the room and retrieved our coats. Holding mine out to me, he asked, “Ready?”
I wasn’t because my legs were like jelly, but Reid huffed, “Finally,” before running over and grabbing his coat.
Gabe helped me put mine on before he bent down and fixed Reid’s buttons for him. He slid his arms through his long black coat, and my heart stuttered when he looked back up at me.
His sexy smirk and a shake of his head had my knees weakening even more. “You can tell me what you were just thinking when we’re alone later.”
I inhaled, hating how easily he read me.
He led us out, his hand resting gently on my back as he guided me.
Walking through the lobby, I felt the eyes on us, saw the looks.
Tucking my arm in his, I let him pull me closer, knowing it was as much a claim of ownership as I’d made in giving him my arm.
I was ready for him to be mine again, completely.
To stop dragging my feet and let Gabe own me again.
Again? He had never stopped owning me. Never relinquished his hold on me, and I had never denied it, even in the worst of times.
The capital was lit up as we drove through.
The rush of cars still filled the streets.
Reid bounced up and down in his seat, asking Gabe question after question, but still Gabe didn’t tell us where we were going.
When we pulled up to the National Theater, and I saw the signs for The Nutcracker, I froze.
He had remembered, even after all these years.
The sight brought back memories of our past like a rush of emotions.
His love encompassed every cell in my body along with the knowledge that this man was mine and worshipped me the way I’d always dreamed.
“Tori.” I looked up to see his hand in front of me, the door open as he and Reid stood waiting for me to exit the car. I tried to fight the tears, knowing I’d look a mess of smeared mascara if I didn’t.
Taking his hand, I let him help me out. My legs threatened to give out, and I leaned against him.
“Is this okay?” he asked, concern tingeing his eyes.
I nodded, trying to gather my words. “It’s more than okay,” I said, my voice a soft whisper. I pulled his face to mine, kissing him and not caring that we were surrounded by people entering the theater. “I love it.”
“I figured we could make it our tradition?”
Smiling, I nodded again, those pesky tears stinging this time.
“Come on,” Reid said, and I looked down to see him tugging Gabe’s hand.
My laugh came out mingled with a sob, and Gabe wiped a tear from my cheek. He kissed its trail, murmuring, “Please don’t cry, luna mia.”
Goosebumps pebbled my skin, and a sense of completeness fell over me.
“They’re happy tears,” I told him as he brushed another one away. “Very happy tears.”
He kissed every spot where a tear had fallen.
Taking my hand in his and keeping Reid’s in his other, he led us up the steps.
In a way, it was like returning home, stepping into the past with him and reclaiming what we’d been.
Accepting that our pasts had damaged us but that our wounds had healed.
That what we’d lost had been a blip in time I knew we would spend every day of the rest of our lives making up for.
Exhaustion hit Reid before we were even out of the theater. Gabe carried him to the car and then to the hotel room, where he laid him in bed. I changed him as much as I could without waking him and closed the door softly.
Gabe was standing at the window, overlooking the city. I wound my arms around his waist and leaned my head against his back, hearing the steady, firm heartbeats below.
“I love you, Tori,” he said, bringing my hand to his mouth and kissing it. “And I will continue spoiling you and surprising you even after I’ve earned you back.”
Twisting so that I faced him, I brought my hands to his chest. “You’ve won me back.” His eyes widened. “I love you, William Gabriel Icinda, and I’m ready to reach the end with you.”
A sharp inhale accompanied the flitting of his eyes between mine. “The end? No middle?”
With a laugh, I shook my head. “No middle. I want my happy ending.”
“I love you so much, Tori.”
“I know. Can I sleep with you tonight?” My heart was pounding so hard I thought the whole of DC could hear it.
“Thought you’d never ask,” he said, giving me a confident grin and sweeping me into his arms.
His kiss muffled my giggle, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, bringing his mouth further into mine. He bumped us into the door on the way in, muttering an apology as he kicked the door shut.
He lowered me to the bed, hovering over me, his eyes hooded and leaving me breathless with the way they seemed to devour me.
I drew him back to me, my fingers struggling with his buttons as he laughed against my mouth.
There was no hesitation, no nervousness because this man knew me, every inch of me, just like I knew every inch of him.