Page 91 of Vengeful Lies

“You know,” he said slowly, dipping his head so that his lips hovered above hers, Gabriella drifted closer as his breath puffed against her plump lips. “I’ve already told you several times to stop thanking me and you don’t seem to be getting the message.”

His free hand landed on her spine and trailed its way slowly down her back until it cupped her backside. She was still too thin but was putting back on the weight she’d lost and she had a perfect little bottom, one he’d stared at a thousand times before.

Stroking the small curves, he felt her moan and shudder against his touch, pressing closer where she could no doubt feel the evidence of his arousal pressing into her stomach.

“Maybe a punishment would be a more effective method of teaching you a lesson,” he said huskily. Reading her body language, not wanting to do a single thing to trigger or upset her in any way, when all he got from her was need and an arousal echoing his own he lightly tapped his hand against her backside.

Another moan tumbled from her lips and the hand that was still entwined with his tightened its grip.

“Do. Not. Thank. Me. Again. For. Sharing. My. Daughter,” he said, a light smack accompanying each word. “Is she mine or ours?”

“Ours,” the word escaped on a breathy moan as she wriggled in his hold.

“That’s right. Ours. Who does she call mommy?”

“Me.”

“Who’s going to marry me one day and adopt her, making it official?” Already he was starting to plan out the perfect proposal. When he was young and even less romantic than he was now, he’d asked Gretel to marry him when he’d gotten back from basic training, no fanfare, nothing, just a ring and a question on her doorstep. This time he was going to do it right.

“I am,” Gabriella said, her voice hitching with emotion.

Bringing his hand down one more time, a little harder, he then grabbed her hips and lifted her. Immediately Gabriella wrapped her legs around his waist, pinning his hard length between them, and her arms around his shoulders.

Wanting to be certain she was okay with this, they’d talked in more depth about her time being held captive and he was sure she wasn't holding back any more secrets, but he didn't want the fact that she’d had sex with him before he fired her to mean she was okay with this now.

“Sweetheart, can I?—”

“You better,” she said before he could even get the question out and ground her hot center against his erection.

Chuckling, he quickly carried her down the hall to their bedroom, a room Gabriella was already beginning to make her own. Her clothes now hung in the walk-in wardrobe, and her bedding and curtains had replaced his. The ragdoll that he’d continued to cling to after throwing her out once again sat on the bed, only now it sat on their bed rather than hers.

Tossing her onto said bed, Gabriella landed with a bounce and a giggle, and his heart broke wide open at the carefree sound. This was the Gabriella he wanted back, the one who was open and confident, bright and bubbly, and lit up his world.

But he was aware it would take time for her to recover from her ordeal, so moments like this were ones to cherish.

“Hurry up, Cade. You're wearing too many clothes, and I'm wearing too many clothes, and I want you to hurry up and get inside me. I've missed you and dreamed about you being mine for so long.”

Unable to deny her anything, especially pleasure when she deserved all the good things in the world, he stripped out of his clothes in what had to be record time and then climbed on the bed. Taking his time removing Gabriella’s clothes, he enjoyed each brush of his fingertips against her petal-soft skin, each frustrated huff she made because he wasn't moving quickly enough for her liking.

By the time he had her naked and spread out before him, he licked his lips as he appreciated every inch of her body. Even the healing wound on her left breast because it spoke of her strength and bravery.

How could she ever think that she was garbage?

She was a treasure.

His treasure.

Leaning down, he touched his lips to the bite mark.

“Cade,” she whispered, her voice wavering with emotion, and when he looked at her, he saw tears shimmering in her eyes, making them appear an almost ethereal shade of green.

“You're so strong, sweetheart, so brave. I'm so in awe of you and love you so much.”

A half sob escaped and then she reached up and framed his face, pulling it down so their lips met. Both poured all their feelings into that kiss and he could feel them building, filling the room with their intensity.

Without breaking the kiss, he shifted so he was spread out above her, then balanced his weight on one hand and his knees which found their place between her spread legs and swirledthe pad of a finger over her bundle of nerves. Her responsive body squirmed and writhed as he alternated between teasing her entrance and then her bud.

Somehow, their kiss only deepened the more it went on, and he couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have this woman for his own. To belong to her in every way.

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