Chapter 46 Ash
ASH
OCTOBER PRESENT DAY
Gabriel lifts me, his hands splayed across my ribs, and I wrap my legs around him before he walks us through the living room to the kitchen.
Setting me on the counter, he pulls away, taking me in.
His chest heaves as he creeps closer to me, each step causing my heart to beat just a little harder.
As he gets close enough to touch me, he runs his hands up my thighs and under my dress before ripping it up over my head to leave me in nothing but a black thong.
He takes half a step back to run his eyes over my bare skin, and I feel like I can’t breathe.
“Fuuuuck, Ash,” he practically growls before grabbing my hips.
My heart explodes. I didn’t realize just how much I needed to hear him say I’m not less than he remembered.
He closes in, stopping before his lips meet mine to say, “My imagination over the last six years doesn’t even come close to the real thing.”
Catching my ear between his teeth, he presses himself between my legs and inhales me.
I grin to myself because I know that feeling. I could breathe him in for eternity and it wouldn’t be enough. I grip the countertop, and he presses harder, causing my thighs to clench around him.
He pulls back, sliding his hand into my hair. His lips caress mine, gentle and sweet. It’s not passion or the heat of the moment. It’s like savoring something.
When our mouths part, he drops to the floor between my legs.
Here’s the thing, no man has ever compared to him like this. He’s the only one who’s ever known my body and my mind the way he does. We know parts of each other that no one else can ever know, and that’s part of what makes it so hard to stay away.
He kisses the inside of my thigh, wrapping his hand around it. With each inch he travels closer to my core, my skin pebbles in the wake of his path. When he reaches his destination, he slides his fingers under the lace and pulls the thong down my legs, tossing it aside. I tremble in his grip.
When his eyes land on the faded scar on the inside of my leg, he swallows and closes his eyes, letting out a deep breath before his lips brush over the place I was shot.
I want to tell him that it’s okay, and that I’m fine, when his glistening gaze lifts to me.
But nothing that happened was okay, and we both know that.
Eventually, he runs his hands up my bare thighs and swallows down the pain we’ve both been feeling since that day.
He wraps his other arm around my leg, and his breath lands on my core, causing me to shudder.
Pulling me forward until my ass is at the edge of the counter, he places his mouth to my center, his tongue finding my clit.
My back arches, my head falling back to rest against the cabinet.
I reach down, gripping his hair as his tongue works in long, slow strokes.
Gabriel works me slowly into coming without much effort at all. It sneaks up on me, and I moan, holding onto him for dear life.
He stands, wiping his mouth with his thumb. His eyes darken. “That was my last apology. Now, it’s your turn.”
I rear back, pinching my brows.
He leans in closer. “You lied about that tattoo on your ass. You’re gonna pay for that.”
I squeal as he wraps an arm around my waist and picks me up. He explores every inch of my mouth as he carries me to his bedroom and drops me onto the mattress.
Towering over me, he tears his shirt off over his head.
He really is a work of art. Especially now.
Every muscle is visible under his smooth sun-kissed skin.
I’m gawking but I can’t help it. He unbuckles his belt so slow, I think I might scream.
I squirm, rubbing my legs together, and the corner of his mouth lifts.
He’s fucking with me.
“Jesus, Gabriel. Could you hurry the fuck up? If you aren’t inside of me in about thirty seconds, I might explode.”
He laughs. “I don’t know how, but I think you’ve gotten more impatient.”
I glare at him. “You’re gonna think impatient when I get up and leave.”
“You’re not leaving.” He undoes his pants, and my eyes snag on just how badly he wants me.
“I might.”
When I lift them back to his face, he winks, slipping out of his jeans.
He bites his bottom lip. “You’re in enough shit right now, I wouldn’t test your luck.”
I roll my eyes. “Because I lied about the tattoo?”
In one swift move, he grabs my hair and yanks my head back. “Because you’ve been driving me fucking crazy for six months since you came back. You’re all I think about. All I dream about. Just you all the goddamn time.”
I smirk up at him. “That sounds like a you problem. I don’t know why I’m being blamed.”
He huffs. “I do kinda like it when you’re mean, though. That’s new.”
Just as I start to respond he adds, “With that being said, lay down and shut up.”
My mouth pops open at his fucking audacity. If I wasn’t on the verge of spontaneous combustion, I might actually walk out right now.
“Close your mouth, love.” He takes my hand, placing it over the bulge in his briefs. “Unless you’d like me to shove this down your throat instead.”
I stare up at him wide-eyed. I’d like to say I don’t like it when he talks like that. That this Gabriel doesn’t do it for me, but damn it—It’s so fucking hot.
I scramble forward, perching on the edge of the bed on my knees. “And what if I want you to do that?”
His breath hitches, and his lip’s part. I caught him off guard. Good. He should have known I wouldn’t back down.
I grin, batting my lashes and flipping over on to my back with my head hanging off the bed.
He’s still looking down at me without moving.
“What are you waiting for? An invitation?” I sigh. Dramatically, I say, “Please, Gabriel, put your cock in my mouth.”
He narrows his eyes, trying to hold back a smile, but it doesn’t work. He slides down his briefs until it springs free, and I lick my lips just before he steps forward and places the tip to my mouth. I open, letting him slide against my tongue. He groans, his head falling back.
He glides back and forth before sliding all the way to the back of my throat. I gag and he pulls back.
“Take a breath.” This time, his voice is soft and tender.
I suck air in through my nose.
“Ready?” he asks, and I nod before he slides it back again.
When I swirl my tongue around the tip, he groans. “Fuuuuck, Ash.”
Pulling away from me, he slides out of my mouth altogether with a pop. “Turn around.”
I nod, flipping around, but when I start to lay back, he shakes his head. “On your belly.”
Letting my feet drop to the floor, I spin and feel his hand press between my shoulder blades until I’m bent over the edge of the bed.
As he slides into me, his fingers dig into my hips.
My legs shake from his long, slow thrusts.
Grabbing the back of my thigh, he props one of my knees on the edge of the bed.
“You feel—” A gravelly sound similar to a growl leaves his throat.
“More,” I beg.
He doesn’t pick up his pace, but slams into me harder. I grip the sheets, whimpering and squirming under him.
His weight presses down on me as he leans forward, gripping under my chin to turn my head before pressing his lips to mine.
Unable to hold back, I break apart again, moaning into his mouth. When he lets go, I go limp on the bed as he swells inside me and lets out a guttural sound, his hold on my hips tightening.
We take our time, soaking up every minute of make-up sex before heading back downstairs to finish cleaning. Everyone filters out until it’s just us, Jess, and JT. She’s sitting on a barstool next to him, laughing.
“She’s gonna ruin him.” I giggle, leaning back into Gabriel’s arms.
“Nah, he’s a fucking masochist.” He chuckles. “He loves a woman who can tear him apart. There’s something wrong with him.”
“Some could say the same thing about you.”
“I’d rather you not ruin me, but if that’s the only way I get you, I’ll gladly go along.”