Chapter 27 Ash #2
His eyes narrow, and he takes my hand. I’m about to shut down when he places it over his sweatpants and lifts a brow. My hand wraps around his very hard cock, and I didn’t know it was even possible for my heart to pound harder, but it does.
“I fucking want to. I just don’t want to screw this up. I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret tomorrow. But make no mistake, if I knew for sure you were ready, I’d have buried this in you ten minutes ago.”
I stare at him with wide eyes, my hand still on his dick. His words have me feeling like he didn’t just get me off two minutes ago.
Shifting onto my knees, I lift my chin and take a deep breath. “I won’t regret it.”
“Ash—”
My grip tightens, and I rub my hand over him through the fabric. “I won’t. I’m not caught in the moment. I’m not even a little unsure. I want this.” My words catch in my throat. “Please—”
Before I can finish my thought, he flips me onto my back again, kicking off his pants and tearing my panties off. His nostrils flare, and he stops for a moment. “If you change your mind, we’ll stop.”
“I won’t change my mind.”
He grabs my thigh, hiking it up before sinking into me. His movements are slow, letting me adjust an inch or so at a time, but it still stings a little.
I can see the question even before it leaves his lips, so I nod. “I’m okay.”
He moves in a slow, gentle rhythm, staring down at me and bracing himself on his forearms above my head. His lips meet my neck, and I writhe under him, balling my fists in his plaid sheets.
A noise I don’t think I’ve ever made before leaves my throat. It’s part groan, part purr, part whimper—all feral. His eyes light. “You look so pretty when you do that.”
There he goes again, calling me pretty. And I have to say, it has just as fierce of an effect the second time. Placing a hand on the back of his head, I bring his mouth down to mine. This time, I consume him.
I roll my hips trying to get closer—to get more—and lock my legs around him, my heels digging into his ass.
His lids grow heavy, and a crease appears between his eyes as he groans, “Fuck.”
I love that face.
He’s always so in control. Every expression and word is deliberate and thought out. But not right now. This is Gabriel unraveled. Just like he was last night when he kissed me.
“You’re so fucking perfect, baby,” he mutters, flipping us over so I’m on top of him again. He doesn’t wait for me to ask before he says, “You can’t do it wrong. Just move.”
His hands guide my hips, and any thoughts I was having disappear at the feeling. My head falls back.
He sits up, sliding in the bed until his back is against the wall and tangling his fingers into my hair before guiding my face to his.
As I move, his eyes burn into me, and he says, “Just like that. You’re doing so well.”
My forehead falls to his as his hands run over my skin under the shirt.
Then he yanks it over my head, tossing it to the floor.
He rests his palms on my hips before sliding them up my body in an excruciatingly slow trail to my ribs.
His thumbs brush the edge of my breasts, and I quicken my pace.
The moment they graze my nipples, I shudder.
He’s watching me so closely, but I don’t feel afraid. I’m not questioning what he’s thinking or what he’s feeling. I can almost see every thought as it moves across his eyes.
Instead, I feel beautiful. I’m the one doing this to him. Just me.
With one final roll, I collapse into him with a moan. He palms the back of my head, resting the other on my ass, and swells inside me before groaning, “Fuck, Ash.”
My cheek lies against his warm shoulder, our breaths heaving as I relax into him. Not a single regret in my mind.
The moment it was over with Jordan, my chest squeezed as panic tried to strangle me. This time, it’s just peace. My mind is clear of every thought except how much I like him.
His hand kneads the back of my head as he lets out a deep breath, kissing my hair. “You okay?”
I nod against him. “I am fantastic.”
He wraps an arm around the middle of my back, squeezing. “You really are.”
The corner of my mouth lifts. I could stay like this forever.
He shifts us until we’re curled up under the blanket with his chest pressed against my back. A muscular arm wraps around my shoulders.
He’s quiet for a minute before saying, “What’s going on in that pretty little head?”
I half laugh. “Nothing. I’m just happy to be here with you. I’m so happy, Gabriel.”
He presses a kiss to the side of my head. “Why do you keep calling me that?”
“That’s what you signed your letters as.” I shrug. “It feels like that’s what this version of you is called.”
“And what version is that?”
“The one that’s mine.”
Iwake to the sound of a woman’s voice in the other room. When I toss my arm back, it lands in the empty sheets, and my eyes pop open. Climbing from the bed, I grab his T-shirt off the floor and pull it on.
As I open the door to his room, the unfamiliar female voice fills the room. “Jesus, you’d think you’d warn your mother before she walks in on you half naked.”
“You could knock. That’d fix that problem,” Gabriel grumbles, slipping his sweatpants on over his black briefs in the middle of the living room. His voice is husky and rough like he too just woke up. God, everything he does is hot. The pants ride low on his hips as he ties the drawstring.
Stop eye fucking him in front of his mother.
“I’ve been showing up every Sunday morning for two years, and it’s never been a problem.” The floor creaks, and they notice me in the doorway.
The tall blonde woman turns her bright blue eyes to me.
She smiles warmly. “Well, hello.”
She’s wearing a pair of low-rise boot-cut jeans and a black V-neck shirt and doesn’t look even remotely old enough to be his mom.
“Hi.” I lift a hand to wave awkwardly.
“You must be the Michaels girl I’ve heard so much about.” Her voice is bright and welcoming, and her amber-and-saffron perfume fills the space.
What does she mean she’s heard about me? Probably from Shane, right? Is it naive to think Gabriel told his mom about me?
“Mom,” Gabriel warns, and I think I have my answer. My cheeks heat.
She waves him off, moving to put the groceries in Gabriel’s fridge.
“Your dad’s going up to Durham this morning to meet with their new president. Your Aunt Corrine wanted me to come help with the store today. I was gonna tell her I had plans with my son but”—she glances between Gabriel and me before winking—“something tells me you’ll let me off the hook this time.”
He puts a gallon of milk in the fridge and says, “Dad didn’t say anything. Did everyone else go with him?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Just Dean and Mike.”
He nods and she moves to wrap him in a hug. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“Love you too, Mom.”
When she pulls back, she flicks her attention to me. “Nice to meet you, honey. I hope to see you around.” She narrows her eyes at her son. “Maybe next time with more clothes.”
He rolls his eyes as she leaves, closing the door behind her.
Then he flashes me the most devastating smile. “Morning.”