full suit. The cotton clings to the muscles of his chest, and I have to rip my eyes away while I decide the best way to phrase what I am about to say.
“I’ve started a new initiative,” I say finally. “Something that I think could help take down the Cartel.”
Gabriel sits straighter, his mouth tightening. “What have you done?”
“Nothing yet,” I reply. “I only just started today. I’m going to hire a team of reporters to expose them. Like I did in my article but on a grander scale.”
Gabriel rises from his chair and leans against the front of his desk, scowling. “You should have talked to me,” he says, irritation threading through his words. “You can’t just start making plays on your own. That’s not how it works. You might have interfered with a plan I already had in motion, or one I intended to set into motion soon. You could have really screwed things up.”
“If you were putting a plan into motion, shouldn’t you tell me? I thought we were going to be partners in this,” I say haughtily.
“No.” He stops to face me, dark eyes boring into mine. “I am still the boss. Do not mistake my indulgences for testaments of your autonomy.”
I bristle a little at this, but what did I expect? There is a reason he is in charge. Did I think that just because we have a child together, he was going to hand me the mantle and tell me to do as I please?
That being said…
“I get that, but I still think I deserve a little leeway,” I reply. With a sigh, I add, “I’m trying, Gabriel.”
“I know.” He shakes his head. “Take Harry to bed. I have work to do.”
And with that, I’m dismissed. I’m feeling chastened enough not to argue further with him, so I go to the door and hope Harry doesn’t complain about not finishing his book once we get to the nursery.
“Alexis?” Gabriel says as I pull on the handle.
I pause and look over my shoulder at him.
“It’s a good idea,” he says, folding his arms over his chest. “But make sure you ask me next time.”
I nod and leave, heart skipping with victorious joy.
I awake slowly in the middle of the night. At first I’m not sure why I’m awake, as I’m still wrapped cozily in my comforter, darkness lying heavily over me. I smell sandalwood and earth. And then I feel something silken tighten on my wrist.
I blink my eyes open just as Gabriel leans over me and pulls my bound wrist toward my other wrist, where, in a moment, he will bind them together, and I will be completely at his mercy.
My heart kicks up into overdrive, and before I even have a chance to think, I wrap one leg around his waist and heave all my weight onto my side. Gabriel is not expecting this, and the benefit of surprise allows me to roll him onto his back.
He reaches up to grab me, and I slam my hands over his wrists, pinning him to the bed. I doubt I could keep him there if he really wanted to escape, so I’m surprised that he doesn’t shake me off.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“What do you think I’m doing, Tiger?” Gabriel asks in a thick voice.
I sit up, straddling his waist, and loosen the cord on my wrist. “I think that you’re trying to feel like a big man again after being forced to concede that I know what I’m doing earlier.”
Before he can reply, I lash the cord around one of his wrists and start to tie it.
Gabriel laughs, a deep, throaty sound that makes my stomach flutter. “Do you think my ego is so fragile?”
I am amazed that I’ve managed to tie the cord around his wrist, and I quickly lean over to secure it to the headboard. His free hand cups my ass, squeezing indulgently.
“Maybe,” I say breathlessly. “Why else would you try to tie me to the bed while I’m asleep? You clearly had it in your head to teach me a lesson.”
I finish, and one of his arms is now lifted over his head, bicep bulging. He’s shirtless, and the sight of his muscles rippling with every breath is nearly enough to distract me from the task at hand. I feel around on the bed for another cord to do the other wrist, and my fingers close on it.