Page 119 of The Photograph

“Those heels are killing me…” Cara groans and takes off one shoe then reaches for the straps of the other one and blows a noisy breath out before she drops back on her chair.

Crouching besides her, I remove her other sandal. “Cara, I love you, but if you get sick here, I’ll make you pay for the new chair I’ll have to buy.”

Cara’s eyes widen, and she grins. “Girls. One word. Caleb. What’s up with that? This man is freaking alpha candy on legs!”

As Em nods enthusiastically, I shake my head. “I have to go back downstairs. Stay here, and I’ll see you later, my loves.”

After closing the door, I step out of the main bedroom and run down the side stairs leading to the mud room as discreetly as possible. After asking one of the servers to take a tray of drinks and food upstairs, I text Emma to let her know. On my way to the kitchen, I stop Joan and Kirk and thank them again for the marvelous set up.

Peeking my head through the doorjamb of the main-ball room, I’m happy to see people dancing. I wheel back and crash into a human wall.

“Oh, sorry—” My wall catches my waist before I hit the floor, and I blink as I lift my gaze to Gabe’s heated dark eyes.

“Gabe, hi. I’m sorry for, uh … disappearing on you like that, I was upstairs with—”

He opens his mouth on mine, and I sigh in his kiss. I instinctively raise on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck.God, I’ve missed him.

The slow kiss is shiver-inducing. My nipples pebble while my belly clenches. Before getting lost in him and beg him again to make love to me, I pull back out of the kiss to scan our surroundings for a possible audience. Gabe curls his fingers under my chin, and I fall into the melted chocolate of his eyes.

His thumb caresses my bottom lip, and his husky voice skitters over my skin. “When is this over?”

“Wh…What?”

“The party. When is it over?”

I grin at his scowl. “Gabe, it’s your house. It’s over whenever you say it is.”

His eyes bore into mine and my heartbeat kicks up. “After the party, go home and pack a bag. You’re coming home with me.”

So we can make out before you put me back on a shelf?I shake my head. “Gabe—”

He pulls me flush against him and his lips brush mine. “Baby, pack a bag or don’t pack, but just come home with me tonight.”

Then he kisses me again. Longer, deeper. And I’m lost.

Pulling back, I look at him. “Gabe—”

“Aelin, every time you say my name like that, I want to rip off your clothes and take you.”

My eyes widen while my low belly spasms. “I’m sorry—”

He wraps his hand around my nape. “No, baby, never be sorry for that, and the only reason I didn’t want you to kiss me in the restaurant was because you got me so hard, I would have taken you right there and I needed a bed, time, and privacy.”

Something melts in my chest. “Oh, so I’m not sorry then.”

When he smiles happy, I grin back.

****

A few hours later, Emma’s fast asleep in the guest bedroom. After a shower and change of clothes, I pace the front room, chew on the side of my thumb, and pace some more. Gabe went from I-can’t -touch-you-again to I-have-to-have-you-now.

Perching on the sofa, I take a deep breath.Please, Universe, don’t let him change his mind.

I check my cell to stop my mind from spinning and read the congratulatory messages from guests. I’ve schmoozed enough to last me for a year. Most of the people I met were nice and I think I’ll be busy for a while.

When the doorbell rings, I leap up, my heart racing, to open the door on Gabe whose still wet hair is slicked back and curls on his nape. In faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt, he looks … and I just want to…

“Gabe, hi.”

---