Page 254 of The Bonus

“We try to make this work…without sex.”

I stay silent as I think.

“Don’t answer me now, think about it overnight.” He kisses the back of my shoulder blade. “Good night, my love.”

My love.

Maybe…just maybe.

I wake to the feeling of lips dusting my neck. Gabriel’s arm is under my head and his body is snug up against mine, I’m warm and toasty. “Good morning, my Gracie,” he whispers in my ear. “How’s your hand?”

“It’s okay.”

His hard length is up against my behind, he flexes it and I feel it move. “Your breakfast is ready,” he breathes.

“You know, for someone who took sex off the table, there’s a lot of hard dick in my back,” I whisper.

“Yeah, well…it’s morning.” He rolls me onto my back and looks down at me. “Did you think about it?”

All night long.

“I did.”

“And?”

Am I a masochist? One hundred percent.

“I can’t make any promises.”

He gives me a slow sexy smile. “Is that a yes?”

I smile up at him as my hopeful heart thumps in my chest. “That’s a let’s see what happens.”

29

Grace

He smiles, and his lips dust mine.

Bang. The door opens and we jump back from each other.

“Why are you sleeping together?” Dominic demands.

Gabriel rolls onto his back and hides his face from him with the pillow. “Mom needed help with her wrist.”

“Oh.” He sits on the side of the bed and leans down and hugs me for an extended time.

Gabriel widens his eyes in a get-rid-of-him symbol.

“Come on.” I get out of bed and take Dominic’s hand. “Let’s go make breakfast.”

I put my weight onto my foot and wince. “I keep forgetting about this stupid ankle.” I hop into the bathroom. “Go start getting ready, Dom, I’ll be down in a moment.”

“Okay.” He disappears, and Gabriel almost flies into the bathroom and takes me into his arms as he pins me against the sink. He kisses me softly; his lips linger over mine as we share a moment.

“Today is starting out very, very well,” he whispers as he kisses me again.

“No sex,” I breathe.

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