Page 47 of Forever Mine

“Maybe don’t moan like that, though,” he says huskily, his eyes full of heat as he stares at me.

“Okay, what kind of movie do you want to watch?” I ask as I avert my eyes.

“I’m fine with anything. You pick.”

I scroll through Netflix until I find a romantic comedy I’ve already seen. It’s been a tumultuous day, and I think watching something where I know the ending is preferred. Gabriel approaches me with a throw blanket in his arms and covers me up before taking a seat on the opposite side of the couch. I find myself slightly disappointed he didn’t sit right next to me.

Gabriel reclines his seat but then stretches out, so his head is across the middle of the couch and next to my lap. I catch a whiff of his enticing cologne and have to bite my lip to keep from sighing. I need to sneak into his bathroom and find his cologne so I can buy some. I wonder if the cologne itself will smell as good or if Gabriel’s inherent scent embellishes the cologne to make it so enticing for me.

I become engrossed in the movie, even though I’ve seen it before. Typically I prefer suspenseful movies, but there’s something so calming and optimistic about a romantic comedy. It’s exactly what I need tonight.

“Don’t stop,querida,” Gabriel whispers, jarring me from my focus. I look down at him and realize I’ve got my hand in his hair. I don’t even know when I did that. I must have been sliding my hand through his hair, but now I’m paralyzed with uncertainty. Gabriel takes my hand in his and brings it to his mouth, kissing my palm reverently. He then faces me and stares at me before placing my hand on his cheek. My palm automatically cups his cheek as we stare at each other. Gabriel moves so his head is in my lap, and I sigh contently. This feels so right.

Gabriel slides his left arm around my waist and leans forward to kiss a tiny sliver of my abdomen peeking out under my scrub shirt. I can’t help the moan that falls from my lips this time. I’m sure he can feel the heat from my center burning into the side of his face. My entire body feels like it’s pulsating with need. One touch of his lips, and I’m close to igniting.

“Gabriel,” I breathe. He kisses my abdomen again, then traces a pattern on my skin with his tongue. “Oh, God.”

“Not God, baby. Just me,” he whispers as my hand finds the back of his head and holds him to me. He uses his right hand to pull my scrub shirt up an inch, then continues to kiss my stomach. “You’re shaking,querida. I’m barely touching you, and you’re putty in my hands. Makes me wonder what you’ll do when I can really taste you. Feel you. How it will be when we become one.”

“Jesus,” I mutter as my hand grabs his hair tightly. My shirt has moved up again, and his thumb lightly strokes the underside of my breast. “Oh, fuck!”

“You’re a lightning rod of responsiveness,querida. I can’t wait to bury myself inside of you. To feel you come apart on my fingers, my tongue, my cock,” he murmurs as his kisses get closer and closer to my chest. As I’m about to beg him to take me upstairs and have his way with me, my phone rings. I swear I can hear my nipples cry out in frustration.

“It’s Emily,” I tell him breathlessly.

“Tell the little cockblocker I look forward to meeting her tomorrow,” he says dryly as he moves from the couch to grab my phone where I left it in the kitchen. I accept the call without looking at the number.

“I’m fine,” I answer, which makes Emily laugh.

“Just checking.”

“Probably good that you called when you did,” I whisper when Gabriel is out of earshot. “Things were getting heated here. I’m not sure I’m ready for that, but if you hadn’t called, I think it would have happened.”

“Why don’t you think you’re ready for it?” Em asks quietly.

“I don’t know,” I say exasperatingly. “I’m second-guessing every feeling with him. Every move. Every thought. I don’t trust myself anymore.”

“Marcus did a number on you, babe. He’s the bad guy, not Gabriel. Don’t let Gabriel pay for the bad choices of another man.”

“Easy for you to say. You’ve got Nathan wrapped around your pinkie,” I tell her sarcastically.

“It wasn’t always that way, though. We had a rough period too. Relationships aren’t perfect. We all fuck up. Being in love means you choose to continue loving someone despite their misgivings and fuck ups.”

“Woah woah woah! Who said anything about the L-word?” I hiss quietly.

“Oh, girlie. I know you. I know your heart. You’ve been falling for that man for months.”

“No, I have not!” I exclaim.

“I’m really not going to argue with you about this. I was just calling to make sure you are still alive. Your voice sounds hoarse. Are you drinking enough water?” Em asks. I chuckle inwardly. Once a mom, always a mom.

“Yes, mom, Gabriel has been forcing me to stay hydrated. Can I go now?” I ask.

“I’m calling you back in the morning.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

As we end our call, my phone dings with a text message.

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