Page 47 of The Forbidden

Then he moves, and oh wow… this is the thing I’d never forget. That connection, the feel of his body locking with mine as if it was the crucial last piece of a puzzle. His thickness filling me, his slow thrusts causing mad ripples of pleasure to assault my every sense.

I’m overwhelmed, out of control, and I hate it all.

Love it all.

Gabe’s hand presses between our bodies, his fingers finding that bundle of nerves that he knows will dismantle every last bit of dominion I have over myself. Tension coils tight, the rubber band pulled taut within me, and I consider holding it back but why bother. He’ll get it anyway.

I succumb to Gabe, giving it up to the man I should hate but don’t. The explosion of pleasure is violent and destructive, tearing me up from the inside out, and I’ve never felt anything more amazing in my life. I don’t know if it’s the deep well of bitter emotions we’re trying to wade through or the fact that I once loved this man with all my heart, but my orgasm is so powerful, I’m not sure I’m going to be okay.

I groan through the release, my body locking tight.

“Fuck yes,” Gabe mutters, his eyes alight with praise. His hips move faster and he tunnels deeper.

As I start to come down from the pinnacle, I feel my eyes closing. Gabe grabs my jaw with his hand and snarls, “Eyes on me, Hell Kat.”

I think to disobey him but curiosity wins out. I want to see if he’s going to be as undone as I was.

Teeth gritted, neck muscles straining, Gabe rides me fast and hard. I memorize the planes of his face, the pace of his breath, and with one hard thrust, Gabe’s expression twists into a ghastly but beautiful portrait of painful pleasure as he orgasms.

“Katherine.” My full name, a graveled prayer falling from his mouth.

A long rush of pent-up breath blows across my face and Gabe lowers his body onto mine, utterly spent. Without thought, only by emotion, I wrap my arms around his lower back, my legs around his thighs. He rests his chin on my shoulder, mouth pressed into my neck as his breathing regulates.

After what seems like forever, Gabe speaks first, although he keeps his head lowered. “Are you filled with regret and recrimination?”

“I’m too blissed out to feel anything negative right now, but give me a moment.”

I expect him to laugh but instead, he lifts his head and stares down at me. “This wasn’t a onetime-only thing, so if you’re going to have regrets, let’s hash them out now.”

My breath catches when I see how serious he is. This wasn’t about scratching an itch or giving into some type of hate fuck. Gabe wants to continue, and I had not considered that when I gave in to him tonight.

“I don’t have regrets,” I say carefully. “But I don’t know what this is.”

“I don’t either. I just know it’s not over.”

Something inside of me thrills at the confidence he’s exhibiting, but at the same time, I can feel the barriers rising up around me. “We’re over. Have been for years.”

The corner of his mouth twitches, his eyes twinkling. “We’re starting new then.”

I shake my head, but his hand grips my jaw again. “Don’t deny it. You know there’s still something here between us, and if we can get past the hurt…” I try to talk but he amends the path he was taking. “If you can forgive me for what I did to you, then we could build something good, Kat.”

Forgive him? Is that what he’s seeking?

And he wants to build something new?

“I don’t think I can trust you,” I say, all the old hurt welling up.

“Let me try at least,” he says, his tone slightly pleading, which is something Gabe Mardraggon would never do. “Just… let’s keep seeing each other, okay?”

“For sex?”

“Well, yes, for sex. Wasn’t that fucking fantastic?” Yeah, it was. The best ever if I’m honest. “But let’s continue to rebuild our friendship. We have Sylvie to worry about and it’s in her best interests if we all get along.”

“That’s convenient,” I mutter.

“I’m being serious,” he growls, pressing his lips down hard on mine. When he lifts, he says, “Please… promise me we can see each other.”

I’m not opposed to what we just did. He’s right… fucking fantastic. I could do that over and over again with Gabe, but I’m not letting this get any deeper than sex.

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