Mine - HelenKay Dimon Page 0,25

talk. Gabe had never been a runner, but he’d needed to break away. Gain perspective. Not kill Rick even though every word he uttered begged for it.

“Here.” She took Gabe’s hand, weaving her fingers through his.

Her warm palm pressed against his as her shoulder touched his arm. The brush must have had her nerves jumping around because her legs shifted in a flurry of constant motion. She’d gone from stiff with an expression of deep concern, to one of wonder.

A danger sign flashed in his brain. He should drop her hand and scoot his ass off that bed. Should have done a lot of things. He picked kissing her. Not a shattering move. A simple one. Lifted their joint hands and pressed his lips to the back of hers. Licked his tongue down to her wrist.

She watched him, her gaze following every touch. “The beard.”

“You don’t like it?”

“The opposite.” She traced a finger around his mouth. “I can’t help but wonder what it will feel like everywhere.”

Jesus. “You are a temptation, Natalie Udall.”

And that was a fucking understatement.

He didn’t hold back one more second. Shifting his weight, he leaned in, giving her all the time to pull back, slap him, hell, knee him in the groin. But none of that headed his way. If anything, she lifted her chin, bringing her mouth closer to his.

Then he was kissing her. Not sweet or lingering. No, he dove right into a devouring, oxygen-sucking kiss. Heat blasted around him as a hand slipped around her waist and tugged her in closer. Soft grumbling sounds filled the room as he crossed his mouth over hers.

Forget treading water. Hands, lips, the sweep of his tongue over hers . . . it all mixed together and combined to pull him under. Before his brain could send a signal to his hands to keep still, they started moving.

His fingers slid under the covers. Over her stomach, learning every amazing curve. He didn’t stop until his palm rested on top of her underwear. Her heat warmed his hand. Raising his head, his gaze locked with hers as he started a gentle rub, a brushing back and forth of his thumb, inching lower.

When she opened her legs even wider, he peeled away the sheets and blankets cocooning her. Pushed them to the side, freeing her.

He needed to see her, all of her. Touch her.

A sudden burst of energy pumped through him. He could feel his nerve endings snapping to life as he trailed his fingertips along the inside of her thigh. The lean muscles intrigued him, but the softness of her skin turned him inside out. The curves, every inch of her alive with feminine power.

She didn’t wait for him. She covered his hand with hers and brought his fingers right to the place she wanted them—between her legs—pressing them tight against her.

He leaned down and kissed her neck. Felt the thump of her erratic heartbeat under his lips. His mouth traveled over her as his finger slipped under the elastic band of her underwear. Over the soft patch of hair. Sliding down as he drew the tip through the wetness there.

He circled and caressed as her muscles tightened. “You’re ready.”

“Yes.” Her fingers clenched against his arm.

“This time.” He kissed a line from her throat to the back of her ear and felt her shiver in response. “But you won’t be in charge after this.”

“Yes.” She exhaled the word on a breath.

He eased his finger inside, just barely, and stopped. “Say it, Natalie.”

Her head shifted on the pillow as she reached down to drag him in deeper. “Now, Gabe.”

“I say when.” He toyed with her. Licking her ear. Rubbing his fingertip around her clit.

A low groan rumbled in her throat. Her knees rose and her inner muscles clamped down on him.

Sweet damn, she was ready. Her body begged for more, and he needed to see her lose it. Watch that mouth drop open and feel her close around him. But not yet. He knew he could get her there, make them both ache for release.

He kissed her, deep and long, as his fingers slid in just a bit farther. When he raised his head, she grabbed the back of his neck and kept him close. “Gabe . . .”

“What do you need, baby?” He kissed his way back down her throat to that sexy collarbone. “Tell me.”

Her back arched. “I want to come.”

Good girl. He debated using his finger versus his mouth but the need to taste her overtook