Page 13 of Tempting His True Mate
I blinked. I didn’t know those council members and Justine and Randy wouldn’t be leaving. I was about to disagree when the slight smile tugged at his otherwise serious expression. He was making fun of me.
“So, I’m not the most social person,” I said, my arms wrapping around my chest defensively. “I barely know anyone here, so I’m sure they won’t be heartbroken that I decided to come up and rest for a while.”
“No, you’re right. The council members probably didn’t even notice you leaving, but I think Mariam was a little sad to see you go.” He entered the room and crossed the space without waiting for an invitation. I stiffened as he took a seat next to me.
“I’m sure she’ll understand when I explain that I’m not feeling well. I should rest up and save my energy for tomorrow, anyway. That’s when she’ll really be depending on me.”
Gabe nodded but didn’t seem convinced. I sighed, frustrated that he couldn’t take a hint. I wasn’t up for company, especially his.
“So…I’ll see you at the ceremony tomorrow, Gabe. Have a good night.” I tried standing and walking to the door to show him out, but the minute I was on my feet, Gabe was there with me. He grabbed my wrists and tugged them above my head, backing me gently against the wall.
My heart raced so fast that I thought it would beat out of my chest.
“Ella,” he whispered again, saying it in that same magical way that was enough to make me weak at the knees. “What am I going to do with you? You’re driving me crazy. You know that?”
Did I know that? Did it matter?
“Gabe,” I said, my voice strained. I tried to remain firm in my resolve, but the pressure from his hips grinding into mine was difficult to ignore. “I’m going home tomorrow. Just…can you just give me some space?”
“No,” he said simply. With that, he lowered his head and brought his lips close to mine. My eyelids fluttered, and I knew there was no way I could stop him if he wanted to kiss me. Even I, the ice queen, according to Mariam, was melting.
We moved at once, together, so it was impossible to tell who started the kiss. I take that back— he was thoroughly, completely kissing me, and I was letting him. He licked the seam of my mouth, and I opened for him without hesitation, eager to feel more of him. Eager to have him inside of me.
He growled low in his chest, clearly pleased with my enthusiastic compliance. His hands wrapped tightly around my waist, drawing me closer. He traveled lower to cup and squeezed my butt through the dress.
Mariam would say ass. I should grow up and just say ass, too.
He grabbed my ass. There. Much better.
I had never felt so wild and out of control, but I didn't want it to end. I slanted my mouth and brought my hands up to Gabe's hair, gripping it at the roots to keep him inplace. Gabe nipped at my lips, maybe in encouragement, maybe as a warning.
It didn't matter which because then my wolf caught my attention. She should be jumping for joy, begging me to let him mark my throat with a mating bite, but instead, she was glaring and pacing angrily in the corner of my mind. I froze, trying to figure out what had her so pissed off. But then I remembered the cafe. And the waitress.
I reeled back, throwing us both off balance, and we came crashing to the floor. Gabe moved fast, pulling me on top of him so he would hit the floor and break my fall. The force of the crash reverberated through the walls, yet, somehow, his hand was still on my ass.
"What was that, Ella?" he asked. His voice was thick, almost a grunt. Probably from hitting the hard floor, and it didn't help that he was still bearing my full weight. I tried to shift and take some of the pressure off him, but he refused to let me wiggle away.
“Nothing,” I spat. “That was nothing. This is nothing. Let me up!”
“Ella, you’re not going anywhere until we talk about what’s going on with you,” Gabe said. “You’re running hot and cold. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel something just now. No one kisses like that if they don’t feel something.”
“No one? Not even waitresses at the cafe?”
His eyes narrowed. I took advantage of the moment and scrambled to my feet. Slowly he sat up, too.
“What waitress? Samantha?”
“I don’t need to know her name,” I growled. But now that I knew, I wouldn’t be able to forget it. “I know what I saw, and I don’t care if you have a girlfriend. Just stopmessing with my head and let me leave so you can pursue…whatever you want with her.”
Gabe’s gaze softened, his expression of bewilderment melting into one of affection. “You’re jealous of Samantha.”
It was not a question. He said it as a statement. I turned red.
“Not even a little bit. I’m just grateful that you showed your true colors early on, and now I can go home. Which, by the way, is all I’ve wanted to do since I got here.”
My voice boomed with confidence, cutting through the room like a knife. When had I gotten this bold? The regular Ella would have crawled away to lick her wounded pride alone, but here I was, confronting him face-to-face. I had to admit that it felt kind of good.
“I’m not interested in Samantha,” Gabe said. He rose to his feet and tried to take me back into his arms, but I quickly moved out of reach. His arms hung limp at his side. “Samantha and I have been friends forever. I could see how it might look, though. She’s always been one to push the limits of what’s appropriate, and frankly, I think she does it because she knows it makes me uncomfortable.”
