Page 35 of The Photograph

My orgasm tears through me and I scream in his mouth.

When I eventually open my eyes into his fevered gaze, his bass voice vibrates through me.

“Can you take more, baby?”

My body clenches around his before I can say the words. “Yes. Yes. I want more.”

He leans back, seizes my hips and thrusts inside me fast, hard.Oh, my God.I lose my breath, and splinter in a sob while Gabe grunts in my neck.

We stay like this until my lungs remember how to breathe. Gently, Gabe unties my arms, kisses the inside of my wrists, the crook of my elbows, and my palms before he slides my bathrobe back over my shoulders.

I curve both my hands around his handsome face and brush my lips over his eyelids, his nose, cheeks, chin, and finally his mouth. We kiss slow and soft until he shifts back and rubs his nose against mine. “Give me a minute, baby.”

While he takes care of the condom, I make my way to the kitchen for a glass of water and the last bit of cleanup.

I’m putting the last Tupperware in the fridge when Gabe enters the kitchen. Bare chested with the first button of his jeans undone, he’s everything male. I meet him in the middle of the room and wrap my arms around his waist. I don’t know how to tell him how important, how precious tonight is for me, so I burrow against his warm chest.

His voice rumbles against my cheek. “You must be tired, baby.”

I don’t know what I am, but there’s no way I’m missing even a second of him. When Gabe holds me close with one hand on my nape and the other flat across my lower back, I press closer, and we stay like this until I lift my grin to him.

Why can’t I read whatever’s happening behind those dark eyes?

The pad of his thumb sweeps lightly over my bottom lip. “Go to bed, baby.”

My smile gets wider.Sleep is overrated anyway.I fold my hand in his much bigger one and tug. But when he doesn’t move, my chest tightens.He can’t leave. Not after tonight. Not after…

I don’t recognize the smallness of my voice. “You’re not coming with me?”

Gabe’s eyes harden as they set on mine.“Has any man ever said no to you?”

Yes, every single one of them. I thought after we had sex, he’d … but he had sex before. Often, judging by how he knew my body better than I did.

Heat burns my face and my throat clogs. I uncurl my fingers, but Gabe tightens his hand around mine and yanks me to him. I collide, palm first, with his chest. His mouth descends on mine in a kiss so deep, I’m shaking when it ends.

He scoops me in his arms and takes us to my bedroom where he lays me on top of my crumpled duvet. As he braces his arms by my sides to stand up, I fist my hands in his hair while my heart hammers.

“Please, stay…”

After a drugging kiss, he gets to his feet, and I crush the plea burning my throat. His eyes on me, he takes off his jeans, and tears press behind my eyes. We slide under the duvet, and I bury my face in his neck, shivering at the heat of his body when he tugs me tight to his side.

His warm breath fans in my hair. “Sleep, baby.”

And I do just that.

I wake up surrounded by everything Gabe. My face is in the crook of his shoulder while his arm lays heavy on my waist. I inhale his scent, male and sexy, listen to his slow breathing while I spread my fingers on his chest to feel his strong heartbeat. My body reminds me of why it woke me up, and I roll carefully to the edge of the bed. Once in my bathrobe, I creep to the bathroom then to the kitchen where I gulp down a tall tumbler of fresh water. As I place the glass in the sink, the hairs on my nape raise and my skin tingles.

I wheel around to Gabe whose muscled shoulder slants against the doorjamb with his hands in his pockets.He’s magnificent. Raising my gaze to his searing one, I pad to him.

“Are you tired?”

The corner of his mouth lifts in that irresistible combination of sex and tenderness as he shakes his head. I want to touch him everywhere, explore every ridge and taste every inch of his skin.

I graze my fingers down his chest. “Can I play now?”

The muscles of his stomach contract under my touch as he nods slowly. I kiss his defined pecs, nibble his tight nipples, and taste the saltiness of his skin.

When I curl my hand around his nape and roll on my toes, Gabe grabs the back of my legs and I wrap myself around him while he walks us to my bedroom. As soon as we clear the door, I get on my feet, take his hand to pull him toward the bed, and kneel on the firm mattress while he stands before me.

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