Storm Warning - By Kadi Dillon Page 0,32

girl like her. Why would he? He had money, fame, and he could have any of those beauties he’d been pictured with by crooking his finger.

What would world famous photographer, Gabe Wills want with orphan and nobody Tory Fairchild—waitress and storm chaser? On an oath, Tory spun around and finished stuffing papers back into their files.

She wouldn’t dwell on Gabe anymore. She would just get through the next eight weeks and enjoy the time she had left with him. When August came around, Gabe would walk away. Her heart would be broken and she would deal with that. What choice did she have?

Gabe came back as promised with the rest of the crew in tow. Tory watched them all walking to the hotel from her window and sighed. He looked so right there, she realized, like he belonged. Would it seem empty when he was gone?

However things went between them, her feelings were her responsibility. She wouldn’t burden him with silly declarations of love and need. He had enough to deal with, she thought, aching for him all over again. After having lost both parents recently, she was surprised he managed to laugh and smile as much as he did and make her laugh in return.

She hadn’t handled it as well as he was. True, she’d only been a child. She remembered when the caseworker had come to pick her up, she'd let her pick some things out of her parent’s room to keep.

Tory horded her mother’s jewelry box, never wearing any of the pieces, but keeping them locked away along with her father’s favorite deck of cards and box of cigars he hadn’t had the chance to smoke.

Gabe hadn’t grieved like that. He’d simply buried his beloved parents, hopped on a plane, and was immediately bombarded with her hostility and foolish insecurities.

He was strong, she reminded herself. And for right now, she thought as she watched him from the window, he was hers.

His gaze met hers in the window and he grinned. She smiled back without thinking and felt her heart go to her throat. Love, she mused, was scary as hell. She loved the way he walked, his long, lazy strides eating up the concrete. She watched the lean muscles in his legs bunch and strain with each step beneath his form-fitting jeans.

Absently, she wrapped her hair around her finger and wet her lips, ready to feel his mouth there. His grin turned a little wicked as he watched her. She saw the change in his eyes and reveled in it.

He winked at her before disappearing behind a clutch of trees outside the hotel entry way. Tory closed her eyes on a wistful sigh and rested her head against the window.

She heard the soft click of the door opening, then closing. He crossed the room silently and stopped behind her. His warm fingers touched her scalp, sending delicious tingles to her stomach. Her hair was damp from her shower, making his hand feel hot against her chilled flesh.

His eyes met hers in the glass. Her breath caught in her throat at the raw desire she saw there. “You are so lovely.”

“I’ve been waiting for you to come in here.”

“Have you?” he murmured, running his hand down the side of her silk robe. He untied the sash and she felt the material slide down her skin. His hands replaced the discarded robe making her burn.

“You’re so soft. Your skin feels like the underside of a rose petal. I can’t seem to get enough of it—or of you.”

Tears welled, but she blinked them back. Hadn’t she told herself she didn’t need words? Didn’t want them? Now, they stripped her bare. She was afraid that in that moment, she would give him anything he asked for—even knowing he would give it back to her eventually.

But he didn’t ask. He took. He seemed to know what she wanted, what she needed, and he gave it to her. His lips were warm on hers as he kissed her. His hands were everywhere stroking and feeling. Gentle, then strong. Everywhere he touched, she burned.

“Gabe.” She wanted to tell him things like he was telling her—the way he felt, the way he tasted, but she couldn’t form the words.

“Shh.” He took his mouth down her neck and began to nibble lightly, torturously on her collar bone. His hands gripped her hips as he slid down to sit on the bed, bringing her down to straddle him.

“I’ve thought about doing this all day,” he said as