Page 36 of Gabe

I hadn’t thought about it and didn’t actually know what to say. So, I took a risk and spoke the words that were in my mind without hyper-analyzing them. “It means that you’re upset, and I don’t like it when you’re upset. Someone like you deserves to only experience good things, and I want to be the one to give you those good things. Does that make sense?”

“You know...” He considered me for a moment. “It actually does.”

Then he wrapped both arms around my neck and pulled me in for another kiss. This time, with both of us participating equally, the embrace was even deeper. He licked at my lips, his tongue beckoning me to come play with him. I was happy to oblige, and the minute my lips parted, his tongue immediately darted inside my mouth like it was determined to make a new home there.

We kissed until we couldn’t breathe, then parted just enough to catch our breaths before melding back together. At one point, we lost our balance and tipped over. Frankie ended up lying on his back on the bed with me kneeling over him, but we never broke the kiss. If anything, it only heightened the passion growing between us and I practically crushed Frankie into the mattress as we desperately made out like teenagers.

When I finally pulled back and looked down at Frankie below me, the other man was a mess. With kiss-swollen lips, glazed eyes, and tangled braids that created a halo around him on the bed, he was deserving of a centerfold despite being fully clothed.

It was the first time I could remember that I didn’t mind getting a little messy.

Unfortunately, with only one arm for support, I couldn’t stay kneeling over him. So, I moved to lie beside him instead. He clung to me and buried his face against my chest, and I was happy to act as his pillow.

“Hey, do me a favor,” he said without raising his head, so his vibrating voice tickled me through my shirt.

Now that I was no longer holding myself up, my hand instantly found the back of his head and I started stroking over his braids. “That’s a dangerous agreement to make until I know what the favor is.”

He finally looked up at me and fisted his hands in my shirt like he was afraid I’d disappear.

“You were right earlier. You can’t stop doing your job, and I wouldn’t want you to. However, when you go check out the place where Tansie Bell’s son was seen, take me with you. I know I may not be as capable of a fighter as you, but I’m not useless. I can still help, and you need some support. You can’t do everything alone.”

I pressed a quick peck of a kiss to his lips, silencing him.

“All right. You can come.”

His eyes lit up. “Really?”

“Yes, really. And don’t ever say you’re useless. Nothing could be farther from the truth.”

CHAPTER 14

Frankie

Leaving the safe house without taking the RV felt almost like cheating on a spouse. I had a strange urge to apologize to the RV for leaving it behind and I couldn’t help glaring at the new car suspiciously. In contrast, however, it did feel good to not be the one responsible for driving.

Since the shootout with the FBI a few weeks ago, Gabe had managed to procure a different car, so we didn’t have to take the RV every time, and now, he sat behind the wheel while I rode shotgun. I tried to keep the frown off my face whenever I looked at him, but it was impossible.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Gabe said when he brought the car to a stop at a red light.

I reluctantly turned my gaze out the window. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Gabe let his gaze leave the road to give me a knowing look over the rim of his glasses. “I can feel you glaring at my arm.”

“You’re still injured.” My voice was much softer than I intended, and my glare probably looked more like a pout. “You should still be wearing the sling to support your arm.”

Although Gabe shook his head, there was a slight smile on his face. “It would be too noticeable. Besides, the exercises and stretching you have so diligently insisted I do have helped, and the worst of the internal damage is healed. A sturdy bandage under my shirt will suffice.”

I was about to argue further when he leaned over and kissed me, which put an end to whatever I was going to say.

In fact, it put an end to any coherent thought for a while.

Damn.

For someone who seemed like such an ice-king on the outside, Gabe was a surprisingly good kisser. At this rate, I’d never win another argument now that he knew how to turn my brain to useless mush.

The sudden sound of a car horn made me jump, and even Gabe flinched a little. We’d been so preoccupied that we hadn’t noticed the light turn green, and the drivers of the cars behind us were getting angry.

Gabe didn’t even look embarrassed when he started driving again while my face was on fire. Forget the mafia, the corrupt Senator, and the pedophile ring. This man was going to be the death of me.

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