Page 25 of Justified Lies

“Of course, you do.” She laughed without a trace of humor. “I wish you would be man enough to admit it.”

The smug way she crossed her arms told Gabe she was baiting him into a fight. But it was too late. All his anger and most of the embarrassment were fleeing, replaced with something entirely different. Something that felt a lot like relief she wasn’t involved with her neighbor.

The urge to kiss her was overwhelming. Gabe’s eyes were pulled down to her chest heaving with frustration. He took a step forward.

“I’m tired of tiptoeing around you, Gabe. One second, you’re avoiding me, the next you’re barking commands and getting mad that I made peace with my neighbors.”

“I’ve never been mad with you.” He shook his head, taking another step closer.

“As a matter of fact,” she continued as if she couldn’t hear him, “I’m not going to keep begging you to like me, to want to spend time with us.”

By the time she had said her piece, he was close enough to reach out and stroke her cheek. The foyer was dim except for the sunlight filtering in from the windows atop the front door. But Gabe could see enough, and he stood there marveling at her.

She was so beautiful, her tan skin flushed from their argument, her chest still rising and falling exaggeratedly with each breath. Thick dark hair was piled on top of her head in some messy knot while loose curls framed her face. The sweatshirt she wore hung slightly off one shoulder. It begged him to bend and kiss the exposed skin there. Standing this close, her vanilla scent filled his nose and had the insides of his mouth watering. He was overcome.

As she glared up at him, her hands placed firmly on her hips, he wondered if she had any idea how perfect a creature she was. The thought had him smiling.

“It’s all a joke to you?”

Before he could react, she turned and stalked to the front door. Yanking it open, she said, “Thanks for stopping by, I truly appreciate your help, but I can handle this on my own now. Bye, Gabe.”

****

Lianna was fuming. Gabe had enraged her.How dare he?But as she stood at the open front door, her anger was quickly retreating. The look he wore on his face had panic setting in. She prayed that he would just leave. He looked so … intense.

Maybe she had pushed him a little too far. Maybe he was just as enraged with her. But as Gabe’s eyes bored into hers, she felt no fear. Succumbing to the weight of his stare, she looked down at her socks.Wimp. Make that a wimp with bad fashion sense, because her white scrunch socks looked ridiculous with her black leggings.

They stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity. Just when she was about to ask him to leave again, Gabe strode to the front door without choking her. Lianna released a giant breath, thankful for tiny miracles. The reprieve was short lived however, as the front door closed, followed by him clearing his throat. Startled, her eyes darted up.

Gabe stood directly in front of her. Steady wisps of breath caressed her face as he stared down. His chest rose and fell so fast, she couldn’t help but imagine what it would feel like to place her hand over his heart and feel its mighty thump. Lianna’s gaze continued up to lips that were slightly parted, then to heavy lidded brown eyes.

“I like you too much,” he whispered the words.

Lianna searched his hooded eyes for the truth.

“What?” she hissed, grateful to form words at all under the scrutiny of his stare.

“You said I didn’t like being with you, but I do. Too much.”

Lianna’s insides stirred. Withering under the severe eye contact, she instead focused on the collar of his t-shirt. A big hand entered her peripheral vision, coming up to cup her jaw. Gently, he nudged her face upwards. His eyes locked on her lips, and she swallowed.

Gabe slowly ducked down and ever so slightly brushed his lips across hers. Shivers raced through her as his hand slid up to the side of her face. He kissed her again before pulling back and nudging her nose with his. It was such a simple gesture, but it made her knees buckle.

Gabe searched her eyes, presumably finding permission in them as he resumed with his tender kisses. Feathering each one so delicately, all she could manage was to stand there like a deer in headlights. Eyes wide open, mouth parted but seemingly paralyzed. Lianna didn’t understand why he was kissing her, but more than that, she didn’t want him to stop.

The thought of ending this little preview of heaven kicked her into action, as she tentatively kissed back. Instead of stopping, he moved his other hand up so that he was cradling her cheeks in both hands now. Gabe angled her face, his kissesbecoming firmer. The scruff of his beard rasped the sensitive skin around her mouth.

Lianna’s hands acted on their own accord, sliding up his chest to revel at the firm muscles beneath. A rumble came from the back of his throat, and he took a step towards her. They were already standing toe-to-toe, so the movement sandwiched her against the front door.

The length of Gabe’s body pressed against her entire front, providing satisfying warmth. Lianna’s hands left his chest, gliding up and around his neck. The incredible feel of all that muscle and heat had her up on tiptoes searching for more. She got what she was looking for when Gabe’s tongue stroked hers. It searched her mouth, finding hers eager to participate. Groaning again, he pushed her against the door with more force.

Lianna had seen passionate kisses in movies and read about them in novels, but never experienced something so all-consuming before. The kiss was an exercise in zero to sixty, one-minute tenderness, the next desperation. Where he was gentle before, he was hungry and greedy now.

Lianna’s fingers wound into his thick dark hair, as his hands traveled down to her waist. She was finally getting what she had wanted for so long, but it wasn’t enough. She yearned for more of him.

Clearly sensing her need, Gabe encouraged their bodies even closer. A strong hand traveled up her shirt onto the small of her back, anchoring her in place. She rubbed shamelessly against him, sighing at the contact.

With one hand still on the small of her back, Gabe’s other hand traveled down to grab her behind. He kneaded it possessively as he eagerly rocked himself into her. She felt her own tension building until it was almost painful. To say she was lost in him was the understatement of the century.

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