Chapter 12
Twelve
Gabriel
The guys and I were gathered at Noah's for our weekly poker night, and the conversation had inevitably turned to Aria. It always did these days.
"So she stayed over Tuesday," Ronan was saying, dealing the cards with practised ease. "Finn woke up looking for me, and when I got home, she was curled up with him in his bed.”
Something twisted in my chest. Not quite jealousy—I was too old for that shit—but something close to it. Longing, maybe.
"That's good," I said, studying my cards without really seeing them. "Kid needs that."
"We all need that," Ethan said quietly, and I glanced up to find him watching me. He knew. They all probably knew.
"She brought me lunch yesterday," Noah added, organising his chips with characteristic precision. "Showed up at my office because she was worried I hadn't eaten."
"When's the last time someone did that for any of us?" Julian asked, and the question hung in the air.
I thought about my ex-wife, about the last few years of our marriage when we'd barely spoken. When I'd come home to an empty house more often than not, even before she left. When caring had become a chore instead of a choice.
"It's different with her," Liam said, and there was something in his voice—wonder, maybe, or disbelief. "She actually wants to be here. With all of us."
"Not all of us," I muttered before I could stop myself.
The table went quiet. I felt five pairs of eyes on me and wanted to take it back, but it was too late.
"Gab—" Ethan started.
"I'm not—" I set my cards down, rubbing a hand over my face. "Look, I'm not trying to be an asshole about this. I know we're taking it slow with her, making sure she's comfortable. I get it. I respect it."
"But?" Ronan prompted.
"But I come home every night and she's there with Caleb, and she's so fucking good with him, and I—" I stopped, surprised by the tightness in my throat. "I haven't had that in a long time. Someone who gives a damn whether I make it home or not."
The admission cost me something. I wasn't good at this—the vulnerability, the honesty. My ex had thrown that in my face often enough.
"She asks about you," Noah said quietly. "Wants to know if you're okay, if the job is getting to you."
"She does?”
"All the time," Liam confirmed. "She cares about you, man. About all of us. She's just waiting for you to make a move."
"Then maybe you should stop waiting," Julian suggested, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Before you drive yourself crazy."
"I'm trying not to rush her," I said. "Or pressure her. She's already dealing with a lot.”
"She's also a grown woman who can make her own choices," Ethan pointed out. "And from what I've seen, she's very clear about what she wants."
"Which is?"
"You, you idiot," Ronan said, but there was affection in it. "All of us. She's all in, Gab. The question is whether you are."
I thought about that—about Aria curled up on my couch in leggings and a sweater, about the way she looked at me when she thought I wasn't watching, about how right it felt when she was in my space.
"I'm in," I said. "I've been in since the day we met her."
"Then show her," Noah said simply.
The rest of the night passed more easily. Either someone had stacked the deck to keep me happy, or I was on a lucky streak, because I won most of the hands we played. By the time I left, I was in a better mood than I'd arrived in, already thinking about what I'd say to Aria when I got home.
I knew she'd be with Caleb—she'd agreed to work overtime on poker nights, and I was grateful for it even as I felt guilty about it. She'd already put in long hours this week.
But when I opened the door and saw her sitting on the couch in the living room, all thoughts of guilt evaporated.
She was wearing a V-neck sweater and black leggings that hugged every curve, her hair down and loose around her shoulders. She looked up when I walked in, and the smile that spread across her face did something to my chest.
"Hey," I greeted, closing the door behind me.
"Hi," she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "How was poker?"
"Wonderful for me. The other guys not so much," I said, moving closer.
She stood up from the couch, and I caught the scent of her perfume—something light and floral that I'd started associating with home.
"Well, someone has to lose," she said. "At least it wasn't you."
"I knew I liked you," I said, and meant it more than she probably realised.
Her head tilted to the side, and I felt a shiver run down my spine at the look in her eyes. "Oh yeah?"
I took a step toward her. "Yeah."
She closed the distance between us, and suddenly we were inches apart. "Funny," she said, her voice dropping lower. "You haven't done anything to show me how much you like me."
Christ, she was going to kill me.
"Don't tempt me," I warned, my voice rough. "I'm not a gentle lover."
Her eyes flared with heat. "That's okay. I like it rough."
"You are unreal," I said, reaching for her.
"If you think that's good, I have great news for you," she responded.
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her against me, my other hand tangling in her hair. She let out a soft gasp and slid her hand down my stomach, over my belt, pressing against the hardness there.
I was already rock hard and ready, and for the first time in months, I didn't have to deny it. I started to guide her down to her knees when my phone erupted, shattering the moment.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me," I growled, pulling it from my pocket. When I read the message, I wanted to throw the damn thing across the room.
"Fuck!"
"Duty calls?" Aria asked, her hand still resting against me, a knowing look in her eyes.
"Robbery and hostage situation," I said. She pulled back, and I wanted nothing more than to reach out and keep her there, but she knew I had to go. So did I. "Can you please stay with—"
"Go," she said, nodding toward the door. "I'll see you when you get home."
That phrase did something to me I wasn't expecting. She'd be there when I got home. It was so simple, but in that moment I realised how much I'd missed it. No one had been waiting for me in years.
No one had cared.
For the first time in a long time, the urge to go to my job was stifled by the urge to stay home, to stay near Aria. Even as I grabbed my keys and gave her a quick kiss, all I could think about was what I had to do to get back to her.
She was waiting for me, and the feeling that gave me was something way heavier than I was willing to examine right now.
My partner and I had to go on a high-speed chase through downtown Dallas to catch the suspect. He caused two car accidents and had nearly killed the woman from the bank that he'd taken hostage.
We got through the night unscathed, but after all the paperwork, getting the victims to the hospital, and writing reports, I was so exhausted I could barely see straight. I trudged into my house hours later, knowing I didn't have it in me to be with Aria the way I wanted to tonight.
When I couldn't find her in any of the common rooms, I headed upstairs and checked Caleb's room. I wasn't expecting her to be there—I just wanted to see my son, to ground myself after the chaos of the night.
But the sight that greeted me stopped me in my tracks.
Aria was curled up on the bed with Caleb wrapped in her arms, both of them sleeping peacefully. She looked like a mother protecting her child, and the expression of pure serenity on Caleb's face told me he was experiencing something he hadn't felt in a long time.
The loving embrace of a mother.
I stood there for a long moment, memorising the scene. I never wanted to forget this.
Finally, I moved quietly into the room and gently touched Aria's shoulder. She stirred, her eyes opening slowly, and when she saw me, she smiled.
"Hey," she whispered. "Welcome back. I wanted to be downstairs when you got home, but Caleb woke up looking for you."
I shook my head.
"Never apologise for this. Come on."
She pressed a soft kiss to Caleb's forehead, then carefully untangled herself from him and climbed off the bed. I leaned down, tucked the blankets around my son, and kissed him too.
He stirred only to burrow deeper into his pillow, letting out tiny snores.
I led Aria out of Caleb's room and into mine. She stood there watching me, and I could see the desire in her eyes, but she was holding back, waiting to see what I needed.
It killed me that I couldn't take her the way I wanted to. Not tonight.
"I'm exhausted," I admitted, and I saw a flash of disappointment cross her face before she masked it with understanding.
"I can only imagine," she said softly.
"You should get some rest."
I reached out and took her hand.
"Will you stay with me?"
Her eyes widened. “Stay?"
"Please," I said, and my voice came out rougher than I intended. "Just stay here with me."
Something shifted in her expression—surprise, then warmth. "Of course I will."
I loaned her one of my shirts to sleep in, and seeing her in it—drowning in the fabric, her legs bare beneath—made me want things I was too tired to act on.
We climbed into bed, and she curled into me, her head on my chest. The skin-to-skin contact, the warmth of another body next to mine—I hadn't realised how desperately I'd been craving this.
We both drifted off to sleep.
The shifting of a body next to me pulled me from sleep sometime later. I wasn't used to sharing my bed anymore, so when Aria moved, I stirred.
I must have rolled away from her in my sleep, because she was scooting backward, her ass pressing against me. Most men woke up hard, but with Aria unintentionally grinding against me, my cock was achingly hard and ready.
I'd gotten enough sleep to feel human again. I was finally ready to take what I wanted so badly earlier.
I moved my hand around her stomach and slipped it up under the shirt she wore—my shirt. She'd taken off her bra to sleep, and her bare breasts were warm and soft under my palm.
I brushed my fingers over her nipple, and her body twitched. I did it again, and she responded with a soft sound. She was sensitive there, definitely awake now.
I circled her nipple gently at first, then began to tug and roll it between my fingers, bringing it to a stiff peak. As I worked, Aria started to let out sleepy, half-awake moans. My other hand slid down into her underwear, finding her already wet.
I teased her entrance, then circled her clit, alternating between the two while continuing to play with her breasts.
Aria's moans grew louder, and suddenly she was pressing back against my hand, seeking more.
"Gabriel," she breathed.
"Good morning," I whispered against her ear. I circled her clit faster while squeezing and teasing her breast.
"You're so wet already."
She turned her head, and I captured her mouth in a kiss, our tongues sliding together as the heat built between us. She continued to press against my hands, moaning into my mouth.
Feeling how ready she was, I knew exactly what I wanted. I threw back the blanket and repositioned myself between her legs. I kissed her deeply, then moved down her body until I could settle between her thighs.
I hooked my fingers in her underwear and pulled them off, tossing them aside. I pressed a kiss to her centre, and she let out a sharp breath.
I kissed her again, then again, finally sliding my tongue along her slit. She moaned loudly and threaded her fingers into my hair.
I started methodically—dipping my tongue inside her, then licking up to her clit, sucking there before sliding back down. Aria was making continuous sounds of pleasure, and I could feel her body shuddering each time I focused on her clit.
But before long, I lost myself in it. She tasted incredible, and I was quickly becoming addicted. I started devouring her with intensity, and she began to come apart, one orgasm rolling into the next. Each time she tried to pull away, I wrapped my arms around her thighs and held her in place.
I could see my fingers pressing white marks into her skin, and she was crying out so loudly I briefly worried about waking Caleb—but not enough to stop.
I was consumed by her, wildly working my tongue over her clit, obsessed with the way her body shook in response. I slid a finger inside her and worked it in and out while I continued to taste her everywhere else.
"Gabriel," she whimpered. "It's too much."
Too bad. She was so sweet I couldn't get enough, and she was just going to have to endure a few more.
I sucked her clit into my mouth, and suddenly Aria went quiet. I worried for a second that I'd hurt her, but then I felt a rush of wetness around my finger. I pulled it out, and she released a stream of fluid, letting out a loud moan as her hips shook.
I'd never made a woman do that before, and the sight of it made me wild.
I stood and yanked off my pants, and when I caught a glimpse of Aria's face, my cock throbbed. Her cheeks were flushed, her pupils blown wide, her hair a mess across the pillow. She looked thoroughly wrecked, and I'd done that to her.
"Hurry," she breathed. "I want you inside me. Make me come again.”
I didn't hesitate. I grabbed her legs, pulled her to the edge of the bed, and thrust inside her in one smooth motion.
"Yes!" she cried out.
"Christ," I hissed. The feeling of entering her—so wet, so ready—was unlike anything I'd experienced.
I started moving, and the slick sounds of our bodies joining filled the room. The world could be ending outside and I wouldn't have noticed or cared.
I took my time at first, savouring the way she hooked her knees back, opening herself completely to me. I wasn't sure exactly what I'd done to make her come that way, but I wanted to do it again.
I adjusted my angle, curving upward to where I knew her g-spot would be, and started thrusting harder.
"God, right there," Aria gasped. "Right there."
"Yeah? You going to come for me again?" I asked, driving into that spot over and over.
She was nodding, her mouth open, no sound coming out. I thrust faster and harder until suddenly she pushed against me.
I felt the rush of fluid again and pulled out just in time for another wave to release. I pushed back inside her and moved as fast as I could.
My cock started to pulse, pleasure building at the base of my spine. I hit that spot inside her one more time, and after a string of moans, she went quiet again. I pulled out as more wetness flooded from her, and I came hard, spilling across her stomach.
I collapsed on my back next to her, both of us breathing heavily, trying to recover.
"I've never done that before," Aria said finally.
"I've never made anyone do that before," I responded.
She started laughing, then looked over at me with mischief in her eyes. "Want to do it again?"
I grinned. She was perfect.