curled his hands tightly at his sides. “Then Damon came back, messed up from the Special Forces, and he needed my help. I joined the rangers so I could watch over him, even though I hate being outside.” He managed a chuckle. “He always said I was the one who saved him from his demons, but I think we kind of saved each other. Who knows what would have happened if I kept going the way I did?”
Her heart lurched thinking of the pain he had gone through, and she stood there speechless for a moment before she found the words she wanted to say. “Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m not really sure.” He scratched at his chin. “But, well, I’m not perfect, see? Maybe I was acting crazy because of Vicky, but I was an adult. And what happened after, I’m not proud of it. I was pretty rotten, too, and I regret that I may have hurt people along the way.” Carefully, he took another step closer to her. “Maybe you’re right, I do deserve to be with her. We’re the same, she and I, using people like that.”
“Oh, Gabriel, that’s not—” She paused for breath. “You don’t …. You’re not … I mean, she was a terrible, toxic person and turned you into one too. But you changed, and obviously, she hasn’t.” It was strange to see this side of Gabriel—vulnerable and raw. “I’m sorry I ran out on you last night without any explanation, that was childish of me. I should have waited for you to explain. I just saw you guys getting so … close, that I thought maybe you had changed your mind and you would rather have been with her.”
“What? Oh no, baby.” A hand reached out, landing on her shoulder. “I don’t want her. I want you. I like you. Is that so hard to believe?”
That voice of doubt in her screamed yes. But, looking up into his sky-blue eyes, seeing raw emotions play on his face, it was hard to believe his words weren’t sincere. “I like you too,” she whispered. “Can we start again, Gabriel?”
A look of confusion passed across his face before he broke out into a dazzling smile. “Baby, I would love nothing more.” His hand crept up from her shoulder to her neck, cupping the left side of her jaw, then he leaned down, his head lowering toward hers.
Oh God, he was going to kiss her!
Yes! “Um, can I ask you something first?”
His golden brows knitted together as he stopped halfway. “Okay?”
“Would you really have chiseled parts of Fred off?”
The comment made him laugh. “What? No, I wouldn’t do that to poor Fred. And sorry about steal—kidnapping him. I was desperate.”
She hadn’t thought he would do something as cruel as that. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes. Can you kiss me now?”
“Gladly.”
Their lips met in a gentle brush, but it was enough to send a delicious sensation through her body. His mouth moved over hers carefully, but when she let out a low groan, his kisses became more ardent. Hands planted on her waist, his fingers looping into her jeans and tugging her closer until her body was flush against his. God, she could feel how hard and taut his muscles were.
His mouth coaxed hers open, and she complied. His tongue swept inside her mouth, teasing hers until she responded. He tasted like sunshine, all warm and balmy, like laying out on the grass on a summer day. She wanted to experience more of Gabriel, her mind spinning like a top and making her dizzy at the possibilities.
However, disappointment tugged at her when he pulled away. Did he not like kissing her? “What’s wrong?”
He glanced up at the sky and chuckled. “That.”
“Huh?” Something wet pelted her on the forehead, followed by another, then another. “Oh!” Their kiss must have short-circuited her brain, because she didn’t realize it had started raining.
He grabbed her hand and tugged. “C’mon, let’s get outta here.”
She followed his lead, doing her best to keep up with him, but his long legs meant that for every step he took, she had to take two. Seeing her struggle, he slowed down. However, the rain quickly turned into a deluge. As the downpour continued, they dashed across the green lawn, giggling and laughing until they reached the parking lot.
Gabriel opened the passenger door of his Jeep, but instead of helping her up to the seat, he scooped her up into his arms. A zing of electricity coursed through her despite