Chapter Twelve
Gabriel
I’m fucking miserable.
It’s been two days since I temporarily ended things with Brooke, and I’ve regretted every moment without her.
I’m going crazy.
I can’t function without her.
I’ve barely eaten, and I haven’t been to work.
It’s your fault, dumbass.
Her sweet vanilla scent lingers in my bedroom, and I can’t handle going in there.
You caused this.
Even though Trevor is watching her, I’ve driven by her house countless times in Eric’s car, so no one would recognize my truck. Neither of them said a word when I told them what I’d done, but I could see the disappointment on their faces.
Why did I think this was the better option? I thought I was keeping her safe, but this is by far the stupidest thing I’ve ever fucking done.
I’ve hurt us both.
You don’t deserve her.
I don’t, but I have to make her understand. I’ll spend the rest of my days on my knees, begging for her forgiveness, if that’s what it takes.
After changing my clothes, I drive to her house. I’m nervous as fuck, but I have to get her back.
I’m nothing without her.
Pulling into her driveway, I shut the truck off. Breathing deeply, it does nothing to still my nerves as I make my way to the front porch. Knocking twice, I’m paralyzed when she opens the door.
What the fuck have I done?
She moves to close the door, but I wedge my foot in between it and the frame. “Brooke, please.”
“What do you want?” She snaps, looking exhausted, completely broken. Dark circles line her swollen eyes, and she looks like she hasn’t slept in a week.
It’s been two days since I’ve laid eyes on her, but it might as well be an eternity. Even in her misery, she’s fucking beautiful.
“You don’t owe me anything, and I don’t deserve it, but hear me out. Please.”
She closes her eyes for a moment before they snap open, and she steps aside, waving me inside.
She gives me her back, walking deeper into the living room.
Closing the door, I follow behind her like the pathetic, lost fucking puppy I am.
She stops abruptly, spinning to face me, and I freeze under her cold gaze.
Have I lost her?
It would serve you right, asshole.
My eyes roam over her, and I want to die for the pain I’ve caused her. She looks shattered, and it’s all my fault. She tilts her head to the side, waiting expectantly. I take a step forward and she retreats until her back hits the wall.
Anger flashes in her eyes. “Gabriel, I don’t have time for this shit. What do you want?”
I deserve her wrath, but I have to believe she doesn’t hate me. I didn’t want to break her heart, but what choice did I have? If Johnson thought we weren’t together anymore, he’d leave her alone. Trevor hasn’t seen anything suspicious, but I couldn’t take the chance. Not with his threat.
“I’m so fucking sorry, angel. Please let me fix this.” I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to repair the damage I’ve done.
Rolling her eyes, she levels me with a glare.
“Oh, now you want to fix this? I begged you two days ago to tell me what happened. You gave me nothing. You broke my heart and stomped all over the motherfucker before you left me. As far as I’m concerned, your ass can leave the way you came in, and don’t come back. ”
The air is punched from my lungs. “Don’t shut me out.” I don’t know how to make her see I did what I thought was right to keep her safe.
“You shut me out, you bastard! You fucking did this, not me. What do you want from me?” She screams, the agony in her voice shredding my fucking soul.
“Everything! I want everything! I want your mind. Your body. Your heart. I want your fucking soul! You belong to me. Only me.” I grit out, hating myself for what I’ve done to us.
Her face contorts with rage, and she slaps me across the cheek.
My breath hitches, both stunned and turned on by her temper.
“How fucking dare you! You left me, Gabriel. You did this! Everything happened so fast between us and I was terrified, but I couldn’t deny my feelings for you.
I didn’t think you’d hurt me. I can’t go through that again.
No matter what I feel for you, I won’t stand by watching you come in and out of my life.
” Her face is flushed, and I’m aching to touch her.
Her words strike fear inside my chest, and I won’t accept the finality of them.
Two strides and my fingers wrap around her throat, pinning her against the wall.
It’s pure fucking torture as her breath hitches, her pupils dilating as my hand squeezes her delicate neck.
All I want is to fix this mess I’ve created between us.
“I left to keep you safe, Brooke. He fucking threatened you. I stupidly thought I could protect you if he thought we weren’t together anymore.
I’d never intentionally hurt you. I’d stab myself in the fucking heart before I ever purposely caused you pain.
You mean everything to me. I love you. Can’t you see that? ”
She doesn’t say a word. Her eyes meet mine, and I’m shattered by what I see.
Doubt.
“I know you love me. You may not be ready to admit it, but I know you do. I fucked up, baby. Please forgive me. I can’t lose you.”
A lone tear trickles down her cheek, and my eyes begin to burn. Releasing my grip around her throat, I swipe the tear away with my thumb. Pressing it to my lips, I taste her salty misery.
It fucking breaks me.
“What do you mean he threatened me?” She whispers.
“He left a note at my office threatening to take you away from me. I couldn’t let that happen. Even after I left, Trevor’s been with you, and I couldn’t stay away either. I’d drive by here just to make sure you were safe.” I tell her, trailing my knuckles down her cheek.
Her body trembles. “I need time to think. I need tonight.”
My body deflates, but I’ll give her anything as long as it leads her back to me.
“I’ll give you whatever you need.” Leaning down, I gently kiss her lips.
I don’t know what I’d do if this was the last time I tasted her.
She’s tense at first, but her soft lips finally move against mine and I groan, pulling away as her eyes open slowly.
“I’ve been dead the past two days without you. I should’ve told you what happened. I don’t deserve it, but please bring me back to life. You’re the only one who can.” Her eyes widen as I turn to walk towards the door, each step feeling heavier than the last.
“Gabriel.” She croaks, her voice cracking with emotion. When I catch her gaze, she smiles sadly. “I love you.”
My chest tightens and my dead heart beats for just a moment. “I know, baby. I love you, too.”
I step outside, locking the doorknob behind me. I take a moment to gather myself, but I hear a sound that shatters my soul and will haunt me until the day I die.
The woman I love is sobbing in pain on the other side of the door.
My breaths become ragged as I clench my fists, ready to break the fucking thing down.
She said to give her tonight, asshole.
I stand here, silently at war with myself. The heartbreaking cries don’t stop, and I snap.
Fuck this!
My leg comes up, my foot connecting, a crashing boom filling the night air as the door splinters from the impact. It swings open, and I stalk inside, my eyes locking on hers, crazed and unhinged. Kicking the door shut, the doorknob is trashed, so I lock the deadbolt.
My eyes land on Brooke once again, sitting on the floor, arms wrapped around her legs, mouth gaping open in shock.
“I can’t give you tonight to think. I can’t be away from you one more second. I fucking love you and we’re going to work this shit out. I’m an asshole, but you’re mine.” My voice is thick with desperation and the need to mend my woman’s broken heart.
“Gabriel.” She whimpers and it’s all I need.
Two strides and I bend over, lifting her in my arms. She climbs my body, wrapping her arms around my neck, her legs around my waist. She’s a sobbing, trembling mess.
A beautiful mess.
“I’m so fucking sorry. I’ll spend the rest of my life begging for your forgiveness, but you’ll be by my side while I do it. We’ll never be apart again. Do you understand?”
“You fucked up.” Through the sadness, a challenge shines in her eyes.
Loving her has turned me into a possessive motherfucker. She’s brought out emotions in me I never knew existed, much less felt. Licking the side of her face, she whimpers as my tongue tastes her skin. “You’re fucking mine.”
Her chest heaves with the aftershocks of crying, but the tears have disappeared.
I waste no time carrying her to the bedroom, tossing her on the bed, ripping the oversized t-shirt from her body.
She’s wearing pink cotton panties, and the sight makes my cock twitch.
I grip the material at her hips, sliding them down her legs, dropping them onto the floor.
She’s a fucking goddess and I fall to my knees worshipping her. Pulling her ass to the edge of the bed, I gaze into her eyes as she lifts up on her elbows. “This pussy was made for my mouth to devour. For my cock to punish.”
A moan escapes her lips as I spear my tongue inside her. “Fuck, I’ve missed you.” Her eyes widen at the confession.
“Tell me.” Flattening my tongue, I lick from her tight, little asshole to her pink, swollen clit. Sucking it into my mouth, I hold it between my teeth, flicking my tongue back and forth until she whimpers.
Sliding her fingers through my hair, she pulls me closer, grinding against my face. “I want to hate you.”
“I know, baby. Punish me. Suffocate me with your pussy.”
She moans, and I slide two fingers inside her soaked cunt. She’s dripping and I drink it all as I find her g-spot, applying the pressure that always sends her over the edge.
She grips my hair painfully, and it fuels my need to make her come. “Soak my fucking face, baby girl.”
My hard cock throbs painfully, and when she clenches around my fingers, screaming my name, I nearly come in my pants.