Page 26 of A Lot Like Adiós
He kissed her through it instead, swallowing her soft cries. He held her tight as her core spasmed and her body shook with tremors of release on top of him.
And when she was done, her body draped limply across his, he gripped her hips. “Baby, I gotta—”
“Do it,” she murmured.
He flipped her over and fucked her.
It didn’t take long, just a few more strokes. He’d barely held it together while she’d come apart on his cock. With his face pressed into the curve of her neck, with her limbs wrapped around him like vines, he gave one last thrust. And came with a low groan.
Breathing harshly, he felt his pulse thundering in his ears like an oncoming 2 train rattling along the elevated track. All the strength drained from him, and with it, the impulse to run.
As his scattered thoughts returned, he was aware of every inch of his skin against hers. Her soft breasts pillowing his chest, her strong thighs hugging his waist, her hands resting on his lower back, her breath tickling his ear.
And in the back of his mind, all he could think was that they’d finally done it.They’d had sex.
As much as Gabe loved the feeling of being inside her, he was softening. He had to get rid of the condom, and Michelle probably didn’t enjoy being crushed by him.
With great effort, he rolled off her, flopping onto his back.
I just had sex with Michelle, he thought, staring at the ceiling.I just. Had sex. With Michelle.
Fuck. Now what did they do?
Michelle cleared her throat. “Did we just have angry sex?” she asked softly.
“Not angry,” he replied. “Just... mildly disgruntled.”
She huffed out a laugh. “Well, this is awkward.”
Gabe swallowed hard. His heart still pounded his rib cage like fists against a punching bag. “You’re right,” he rasped.
“I know.”
He shook his head. “No, I mean... we do have unresolved...”
“Issues?” she suggested. “Baggage? Tension?”
“All of that.” He turned to look into her eyes, and his heart flip-flopped in his chest. How was it possible to feel utterly satisfied but also terrified about what was to come? “I owe it to you to stay here and work this out.”
Her expression softened and she looked away to gaze up at the ceiling. “For how long?”
“Until I leave on Friday.” He didn’t know if she meant staying or screwing, but either way, Friday was the end.
She nodded, still not looking at him. After a moment, she asked, “What are we doing here, Gabe?”
“I don’t know. But I don’t regret it.” Sex had unlocked something between them. Or maybe that kiss all those years ago had turned the key, and now they were finally opening the door to see what was inside.
Michelle let out a soft sigh. “Neither do I.”
“I did miss you,” he admitted.
“You said that in your email.”
Gabe slid his hand over sheets warmed by their bodies until he found hers on the bed between them, then he laced their fingers together. “And I’m sorry.”
Her lips curved, but she still didn’t look at him. “You already said that too.”
“I needed to say it again.” He waited until she turned her face to him before he went on. “Mich, I’m sorry I lied about leaving. I didn’t know how to tell you, and it took so much finagling—a private scholarship, scraping together loans—I didn’t know it was happening for sure until late in the process.”
