Page 12 of Forbidden Sins

“I work late,” she told him.

“It’s open late,” he assured her.

Ellie raised her glass to her lips, and Gabe did the same. They watched each other over their glasses, letting the silence enfold them, just as they’d done before. And just this once, Ellie allowed herself to revel in the memories she’d made with him the night before. How Gabe had touched her, how they’d connected, and she could tell from the way his pupils dilated, darkening his eyes to a deep emerald, that he was also thinking about the same.

Gabe put down his glass and exhaled. “You know,” he started. “No matter how it all turned out, I really did have one of the most fun nights of my life with you.”

“It really was a lot of fun.”

“I don’t think I’ll ever think of the High Roller in the same way again.”

Ellie laughed. “I still can’t believe we did that. We could have gotten arrested.”

“That would have been pretty embarrassing, huh?”

“At least we probably would have skipped the cheesy Elvis wedding.”

They laughed together. Such a simple moment between two people, but Ellie could feel the still present sexual tension between them, just as surely as she could feel the desire that caused her to clench her thighs together.

“Oh.” Gabe stood, suddenly disrupting the moment. “I should give this back to you.”

“What is it?”

He reached into a bowl that sat on his dark marble countertop. “Here,” he said, extending his hand. She stood in front of him, and it took her a moment to see what he’d pinched between his thumb and forefinger. It was the elegant, delicate band she’d had on her finger when she’d woken up that morning. The overhead lights splintered off the diamonds that encircled it. It was stunning. But he was trying to give it to her.

“That isn’t mine,” she insisted.

“It is.”

“It must have cost a fortune.”

He shrugged. “Probably a small fortune,” he said with a wink. “But you should have it. I mean it.”

She wasn’t going to keep the ring. Even though, judging by his house and lifestyle, Gabe had money, it wouldn’t be right. But it didn’t stop her from reaching out. She took the ring, but as she did, her fingers grazed his. Their eyes connected over the band. She couldn’t have known who made the first move, but in just two seconds, the ring had bounced on the tiled floor, and their arms were around each other. And the ring forgotten, she went to him.

She wanted Gabe again. This time, she couldn’t blame intoxication. It was all him, the way he moved, the way he laughed, the way he looked in his grungy T-shirt and fitted jeans. Her lips crashed to his, their mouths parted, and his tongue found hers—oh God, the way he kissed.

Ellie pushed her hands underneath his T-shirt and scratched her fingernails along his rippled abs, then tracked them upward to his nipples. Her tickles sent a shudder through him and he chuckled into her mouth. He pulled his mouth away only long enough to reach his arm behind his head and pull his T-shirt off, treating her to the view of his upper body. He was all tanned skin, firm muscle, and soft golden hair that peppered his chest and stomach.

Their separation was short-lived, however, as he pulled her close again, kissing her so hard that she knew his lips might bruise hers. His fingers found the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head, and before she knew it, her shorts had followed suit, and sat in a pile at her feet. Their kisses were frantic. Their hands frenzied as they traveled and became reacquainted with each other’s bodies.

Ellie undid his jeans and pushed them over his hips. He lifted her onto the table. She reached for her purse that was hanging on her chair and pulled out the condom she’d hopefully put there before leaving her bedroom.

Gabe chuckled, taking it from her. “You’re so helpful,” he murmured against her lips.

“Always be prepared,” she told him. “That’s my motto.”

“Good motto.” All humor vacated his expression, and he took his place between her knees. She watched, riveted, as he lowered his pants and boxers. She watched as his cock sprung free, released from the tensile material, and he covered himself with the latex.

With his free hand, he grasped for the band of her panties, and she lifted her hips obediently so he could peel them away from her. He tossed the satin to the floor. Taking her ankle, he rested her foot on the tabletop, and then the other, so that her legs were spread and she was revealed to him. He grabbed her hips, aligning her with him, and pushed inside of her.

Ellie sighed with the sweet relief of him filling her, stretching her to his size. He stilled for a moment, and she was grateful for it—she needed to learn how to breathe again.

“Ah, Ellie,” Gabe muttered, his voice thick and heavy with pleasure. “You feel fucking incredible. I didn’t think I’d get another chance with you.”

“Neither did I,” Ellie concurred. “But if you don’t move soon, I might explode.”

“You got it,” he promised, pulling back, extracting most of his length from her, and then filling her again, drawing a loud cry from between her lips.

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