21. Alejandro
ALEJANDRO
“DID YOU EVER actually date Count Mossimo, or did the press make that up because you sat beside each other at Wimbledon?”
Gabriel turned his head to look at me, where we lay catching our breaths after another round of “taken by the pirate”—which was quickly becoming my favorite role-play.
Heavy rain battered the yacht windows and the sea rocked beneath us, the storm keeping us docked at the coastal marina for the foreseeable future.
I wasn’t complaining. There were no parents, no siblings, no staff intruding or hovering just outside the door. It was just us, and I’d never admit it to Gabriel, but it had been one of the most thoroughly enjoyable days I could remember.
Gabriel lay beside me in the massive bed, his hair wild from my hands, the sheets pulled carelessly over his body. I wanted to rip them off, since a body like his should never be covered. It was practically a work of art.
But with the way he was looking far too pleased with himself, I’d be damned if I told him.
“You did not just ask me that,” I said.
“I did. Call me curious.”
I snorted. “More like nosy.”
“Is there a reason you’re avoiding the question?” He turned on his side to face me and pushed up on his elbow, far too much interest flickering in his eyes. “Oh, it wasn’t dating at all, was it? It was fucking.”
“Jesus.”
“He made you see Jesus?”
“Definitely not.”
“Ah, so there was fucking.” Gabriel’s mouth quirked. “Was it bad? Did you have immediate regret?”
“You are such a shit,” I said. “We met at Wimbledon, hooked up, haven’t seen him since. Happy?”
“Yep, that sounds like immediate regret to me. What about that billionaire philanthropist, Roman Sterling?”
“Gabriel—”
“If you don’t tell me, I’m gonna think the worst.”
“Knowing you, I can’t even imagine how bad it gets in your head.”
He waggled his brows. “You have no idea, but I’d be more than happy to share.”
I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. He was ridiculous. Entertaining. Sexy as hell. And the infuriating thing was, he absolutely knew it and used it to his advantage.
“Fine. We spent a couple of summers together when he vacationed on the coast.”
“A repeat customer. He must’ve been excellent in bed.”
“He was.”
Gabriel frowned, an unfamiliar expression on his handsome face. “Was he the best you ever had until me?”
“Oh my God.”
“Is that a yes?”
I sat up and leaned back against the headboard, all the pillows we’d tossed off earlier still littered around the floor.
I didn’t bother with the sheet, leaving my body on full display, which immediately had Gabriel’s gaze roving all over me.
He licked his lips, and I saw the way his cock stirred against the sheet.
He was insatiable. I fucking loved it.
“Don’t act like I’m the only conquest you’ve ever had,” I said. “What about Cassian Villere? The indie rock star? The one who called you his muse.”
Gabriel groaned and ran a hand over his face. “Can we not?”
“You started it.”
“This is supposed to be a one-sided question-and-answer.”
“So you can dish it out but not take it. I see.”
His eyes took on a wicked gleam, and he looked pointedly at my dick. “I think I did a helluva job taking it. Wouldn’t you agree?”
When I only smirked, he sat up, indignant.
“I’ll have you know,” he said, leaning over me, his arms caging me in on either side, “that Cassian found me very inspiring. Something all of the men I’ve been with could say.” His eyes dropped to my mouth. “So go ahead. Say it.”
“I’ll do no such thing.”
“How about this? I’ll stop asking about all your previous lovers if…”
His mouth moved even closer to mine, and I could taste his breath. I instinctively went to close the distance between us, but he pulled back.
“If?” I found myself asking.
“If you tell me I’m the best you ever had.”
I snorted. “Christ, you’re arrogant.”
“And you’re not?”
“I never said that.”
“Exactly. Now go ahead, tell me.”
I feigned a yawn and closed my eyes. “You know what? I’m tired. I think I might—”
“Why can’t you admit it?”
“Why do you need me to? Are you jealous?”
“That would go against rule number four.”
“So just insecure, then?”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed, and I couldn’t help but grin. If there was one thing Gabriel Valemont didn’t lack in, it was confidence. But I wasn’t above poking at it a little. The man was too damn sexy for his own good. The last thing he needed was for me to tell him.
“I get it. I’d be intimidated by my past t—”
Before I could finish, Gabriel tumbled us across the bed until he was on his back and I was stretched out over the top of his naked body, his legs hooking over the back of mine, his hands squeezing and plumping my ass cheeks.
“You think I’m intimidated by your past lovers?”
There was no way in hell I thought that. He knew what he had and exactly how to use it. Kind of like now, as he rolled his hips up against mine. But two could play at that game, and he’d just given me a distinct advantage.
I planted my hands on the mattress and leaned down until I could take the kiss I’d wanted—and did he deny me?
Not a chance.
Instead, his lips parted, my tongue slipped inside, and I tasted every inch of his teasing tongue.
Gabriel groaned and arched his hips up against me, his fingers digging in my ass as he ground against me, ready and raring to go again.
There was no way this man was insecure.
When my cock started issuing checks I didn’t have the energy to cash, I nipped at his lip and said, “You’re jealous. That’s okay. I told you you’d fall for me once you had me.”
“I’m not jealous.”
“Would it make it easier for you if I admit you’re…” Gabriel raised his brows, waiting, and then I busted out laughing and rolled off him, turning my head on the pillow to look at him. “…insane to think I would ever feed your ego.”
His eyes trailed down to where my cock was pointing right at him.
“That’s okay,” he said, repeating my words back to me. “I knew you’d be wrecked for all others once you had me.”
The man was ridiculous, but as his mischievous blue eyes twinkled at me, my stomach flipped and my heartbeat began a rapid tattoo.
God, how was he doing that? I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let another Valemont make a fool out of me. Still, I found myself wondering how much longer I’d have with him.
A day? Two? A week? Longer?
I wasn’t sure, and was stunned when that unknown made my heart beat even faster.
It was a remarkable turn of events, considering not too long ago I’d had fantasies of stabbing him with my sword—and not my metaphorical one.
“You’ve gone quiet.” Gabriel’s voice had me blinking him back into focus. He’d turned onto his side and slipped an arm under his pillow. “Plotting my demise, no doubt.”
“Actually, I was just wondering when I’d stopped doing that.”
He chuckled, and the sound warmed something deep inside me—something highly inconvenient when I was trying to convince myself I wasn’t interested in more than this, what we had right here and now.
“Probably right around the time you let me put my cock in you.”
“You’d think so,” I mused, a grin curling my lip. “But I still wanted to maim you then.”
“Then maybe when I stole your saffron?”
I should’ve denied him again, and continued to do so until I declared that I was wrong, and I was still plotting. But as my eyes roamed over his handsome face, memorizing the curve of his smile, the crinkles around his laughing eyes, I couldn’t do it—I couldn’t lie.
Instead, I reached over and flicked off the lamp, hoping the darkness might help the lie come a little easier.
If anything, it made it worse. The thunder rumbled outside and the lightning lit up the sky, bolts of electricity illuminating him as he lay naked in my bed. The sheet was now long forgotten.
“You should sleep,” I said into the night, as he continued to stare at me across the bed.
“Probably. But I’m waiting.”
“For?”
“You know what for.”
I shook my head and rolled to my back. “Go to sleep, Gabriel.”
“Not until you tell me when my spicy kitten decided to sheathe his claws.”
That damn nickname. I wanted to hate it. I did hate it. But at the same time, it was starting to grow on me.
“Around the same time you got jealous.” Lightning flashed across the sky, followed by a loud boom, and I added, “Now go to sleep. I’m tired.”
Several minutes passed and the sky continued to put on a spectacular light show as the ship rocked back and forth on the water.
Then I said, “From the best sex I’ve ever had in my life.”
Gabriel was across the bed and kissing me—hard before the words were out of my mouth. “I knew it.”
“Sleep,” I said, shifting to face away from him, and he draped an arm across my waist.
“I will now that my kitten’s purring in my arms.”
Damn it. I didn’t want to be falling for this man. I wasn’t falling for this man.
It was just the effects of a day spent so close to him and the stormy night.
Tomorrow, everything would go back to normal.
He’d annoy me, and I’d remember why I wanted to strangle him.
This was just a moment. One that would end the second the sun came up.