Page 121 of The Photograph

My chest tightens. “Gabe, I’m okay, I’ve—”

His lips silence me, and I whimper into his brain melting kiss. When I turn my head to the side to catch my breath, Gabe hauls me up and lays me down on my back on the cool sheets. Braced on his forearms on either sides of my head, his gaze dives into mine, and my breath hitches at the need in his eyes.

I frame his face while my heartbeat stutters. “I’m perfectly fine.”

He rubs his nose on mine and his lips quirk up. “I hope you are because I’m keeping you in my bed until you beg me to stop.” Another touch of his lips. “But, baby, if you touch me now, it’ll be all over way too soon.”

Oh.A bubble bursts in my chest, and I peck his lips before I wrap my fingers around the slim bars of his bedhead and grin. “No hands.”

“Beautiful.” Gabe croons.

His lips trail down my throat. He licks and tastes my breasts, twirling his tongue around my nipples before sucking on them. My eyes closed, I arch into his touch.

I’m hot, itchy, fevered as his open mouth traces a path of fire on my belly. I gasp when he parts my legs wide and bite on a whimper. I want… I need… “Gabe.”

He opens his mouth on my sex and at the first glide of his tongue over my clit, I latch onto his hair. At the third, I bow my back in a scream.

Oh. My. God.when I lose him, I snap my eyes open as he kneels between my legs to slide a condom on. Supporting most of his weight on his forearms, he blankets me, and I moan in his mouth when his heavy shaft grazes my sex.

“Baby.” His eyes never leaving mine, he pushes slowly inside me and hilts himself deep.

I feel full, tears press behind my eyes, and I lock my ankles around his hips. Moaning at the burning stretch, I tremble as he rocks slowly inside me. A wave of heat engulfs me, and I cling to him.

“Gabe...”

When pleasure crashes through me, he plunges his tongue in my mouth and his thrusts become blunt, heavy.

“Aelin.”

My eyes lock on his while he arches his back and his face twists in pleasure. And I come again.

****

I wake up alone and stretch my deliciously sore body. So much pleasure. I burrow my smile into his pillow.

“Morning, sleepyhead.”

I half lift, half twist my body toward the door and smile at the gorgeous, gorgeous Mr. Matthews. “Hi…”

Then all at once, I register the daylight filtering through the blinds, the smell of coffee, and the fact that Gabe is fully dressed.

Oh crap.I’ve overstayed my welcome. Again.My heart sinks as I cover my breasts with the rumpled sheet and force a smile. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was that late.” I swing my legs to the side of the bed, clear my throat and say without looking at Gabe, “I’ll just grab a quick shower, and be on my way.”

As I get on my feet, I yelp when Gabe is suddenly towering over me. I lift my gaze to his and hold my breath. The next second I’m on my back with a very pissed off Gabe lying on top me.

“Gab—”

Even though anger churns in his eyes, his fingers sweeping my hair off my temples are gentle.

“Don’t you ever run away from me again.”

When I just stare at him, his eyes soften a smidgen, and I touch his cheek.

“I didn’t know… Before, you—”

“Before I was a stupid asshole who didn’t know shit.”

Wow. Okay.

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