Page 94 of Every Broken Piece
“Gabriel,” I whisper.
He looks up from his tucking and I grab his cheeks to pull him to me and smash my mouth down on his. It isn’t pretty, or practiced, or probably even the right way to kiss, but I press my lips to his and he makes a surprised sound. Then suddenly he’s taking over, softening my amateur approach, nipping at my lips, his tongue caressing the seam, teaching me, prodding me to open up. And I do. I open up and let his tongue sweep in.
With a groan his hand goes to the back of my head and his other arm wraps comes around my waist to tug me into his chest. I’m halfway out of my seat and halfway in his lap, my good palm pressed against the rapid thud of his heart.
A throat clearing tears us apart. The flight attendant is standing next to Gabe, her cheeks red. “I’m so sorry,” she says. “But we’re preparing to land, and I need everyone to buckle their seatbelts.”
Mortified I rapidly slide back into my seat, fumbling to toss the blanket off so I can find the two ends of the belt buckle.
When I’m situated, Gabe leans over, his lips close to my ear. “We’ll finish that later.”
Chapter forty-five
Gabe
The minute we land my phone starts pinging. Mainly with reports from my team that I requested for the Montrose meeting. Jack has left a list of at least six things I need to do before tomorrow. Jacob emailed to inform me that Montrose has checked into his hotel.
I’m back in Denver and I’ve hit the ground running, yet I can’t stop thinking about Tess kissing me. It was adorably clumsy, yet it set my blood on fire. The fact that she kissed me is a huge step in bringing down those walls of hers and I feel like I’m ten feet tall striding down the tarmac toward the waiting car.
I open the car door for her only to realize that she’s still standing at the bottom of the steps to the plane, staring in wonder at Pikes Peak. Damn it. I’m back home two minutes and I’m already consumed with work, forgetting that I practically dragged her here.
I start to make my way back to her, then pause, taking a moment to enjoy the bright oranges and yellows of the sun sparking off her dark hair, the mountains that I’ve taken forgranted for years, rising up in front of her. Her head is tilted up as she takes it all in and I think of her t-shirts and all the places she’s never been but wants to go and I give her this moment to savor her first look at the Rocky Mountains while I vow to both of us that Iwillmake her t-shirt bucket list a reality.
“That’s Pikes Peak,” I say when she turns her head to me, her eyes so bright with joy she makes my knees weak.
“I’ve heard of Pikes Peak.”
“It’s the highest summit of the Front Range of the Rockies. I’ll take you there someday.”
She turns in a circle, staring at the snow topped mountains then the swiftly moving clouds. It’s brisk, but not freezing, however she’s only wearing a thin hoodie and while I’d stand here all day with her, I’m not about to let her get sick.
“We should go,” I say. “Before you catch a cold.”
“You can’t catch a cold from being cold.” But she starts walking to the car while I smile like a fool at her comeback. That right there is the Tess I started falling for, the Tess of our late-night texting sessions. I love this small glimpse of the woman she could become if we vanquish her fears.
During the ride to my apartment building Tess cranes her neck one way then the other to follow the craggy mountain ridges, her smile so large and bright I feel it shining in my soul.
I’m worried because I know what’s awaiting us at home. My time alone with Tess is now down to minutes and I have this irrational urge to drag her back to the plane and fly her to a place where no one can find us, preferably with sand and water and a little bungalow that’s ours alone. But Montrose awaits and so do Jack and Pax.
We take the elevator to the very top of the building where Pax and I live. With hands shaking far more than I’d like, I press my palm to the sensor and open the door, stepping back so she can enter first. Instead, she shuffles backward, as if feeding off myhesitation. With a hand to the gentle swell of her hip I guide her through the door and shut it.
I kick Pax’s shoes to the side with a spurt of frustration that he can’t even put his shoes away knowing I’m bringing Tess home.
“About time you got here.” Jack rounds the corner from the kitchen and strides toward us, smiling like the idiot he is.
Tess shrinks back, bumping into me as Jack keeps coming toward her, his arms open as he swoops her into a bone crushing hug that squeezes the breath out of her. I can literally hear her heavy exhale.
“Jack, you ass, be careful. She’s hurt.” I pry them apart and his grin falls.
“Damn, Tess, I’m sorry. I forgot. I’m just so happy to finally meet you in person that I got carried away.”
I roll my eyes. “Tess, this is my stupid brother, Jack. Jack, Tess.”
Jack’s grin is back. “We already met. Remember that one time you refused to video chat with her, so I took your place? Remember that Gabe?”
It’s good to see that annoying Jack is here. “I remember.”
“Tess and I got to know each otherreallywell during that chat. Didn’t we, Tess?” He winks at her, and she blinks up at him with wide, confused eyes.
