Page 93 of The Heiress Auction

Her answer tells me little. I already knew who was kissing her. The question is why.

I take a step forward. Gabe and I are shoulder to shoulder now. Touching distance to her.

She shakes her head. “He turned me down six years ago, and we went. . .” she makes a rolling motion with her hand, “went back to being friends. That’s all we’ve been. I had no idea he was even in the country. He’s been in Croatia for months.”

“But he wants you.” There’s not a hint of uncertainty in Gabe’s voice, and on that, I agree.

You don’t kiss a woman like that as a hello, hi, nice to see you.

That was a come-here-i-missed-you-more-than-life-and-I-can’t-wait-another-second-to-tell-you-how-I-feel kiss.

Maybe he didn’t mean to try to claim her in front of us, but he did.

Seeing her with Gabe earlier was surprising because it was so erotic. Because their pleasure pleased me. Both of them. The look on her face as she came was stunning, and I instantly wanted to be the cause of it the next time.

She shakes her head again, her attention on Gabe. “I guess.”

I wait a beat because it feels like she’s still mulling all this over and I don’t want to pressure her into making a snap judgment that will end poorly.

“I don’t want to talk about him. He had his chance. Six years’ worth of chances. More than that!”

Gabe props a foot up on the stairs next to hers. “What do you want?”

She looks from me to him and back but says nothing. I can tell she has something she wants to say. On the tip of her tongue, maybe, and she just won’t voice it.

“I know what I want,” Gabe says.

“You do?” She sounds breathless now, hopeful and damn if that doesn’t slay me.

Of course she wants him. He’s smart, successful and travels in her circles, and he wants all the finer things in life. Things she’s accustomed to.

From the corner of my eye, I see him nod.

She turns her attention to me. “What do you want, Alex?”

“I think you know.”

She sways forward, a hand sliding up my chest. Her lips press against mine in a sweet kiss that speaks of trust but also need. Soul deep, life-altering need. I slide a hand to her hip and kiss her back. Lips roving, promising, and then she backs away.

My eyes have adjusted so I can see the serene smile on her face and when her gaze darts to Gabe.

“What do you want, Gabriel?”

“You.”

No hesitation from my best friend. When he’s made up his mind, he’s all in. Everything else be damned. It’s kind of miraculous to witness. No second guessing. No self-doubt.

He worries. I know he does, but there’s nothing but pure octane desire in his voice.

“Good,” she murmurs as she leans into him.

My chest tightens, but not out of jealousy. It feels right to see her kiss him. To watch him fall for her, kiss by kiss, moment by moment. His left hand slides around her waist, and his right cups her cheek.

She lifts her lips to his, ready, eager, and then they’re locked tight. Fused at the lip, claiming each other without words.

When they come up for air, she immediately turns to me, pressing up on her toes. Her hands slide into my hair, pulling me down for another heart-stopping kiss. My cock flares in my slacks, and I resist the urge to adjust myself because all that matters right now is the warmth and wetness of this sexy woman’s mouth.

Damn, she does it for me. Quietly seeking what she wants. Taking it.

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