“Daddy?” Gino blinks and lifts his head. “Daddy!” He grins and wraps his arms and legs around his father, squeezing him with happiness.
“Hey, Buddy.” Gabriel closes his eyes and hugs him back.
“It’s okay, slugger.” I pat his back and laugh. “You can make it up to me later.”
His eyes snap open. “Oh, I definitely will.”
“I can wait.” The savage heat in his gaze elicits a shiver to rake down my spine. He bites his bottom lip and gives me a smoldering look. Damn it. “Never mind. I can’t wait. I have one of those rose things in the shower that might help me relax.” The walls on my sex clench in anticipation.
He grasps my arm. “You will–”
“Oh, there you are.” Havana breezes into the living room, collects Gino from Gabriel, and backtracks toward the kitchen. “Let’s get you cleaned up and ready for the evening. How about we play a game of Candy Land?”
“Yes!” He pumps his arm into the air.
Gabriel leans down and nips my neck. “How about we play a game of Ring Around the Rosie?”
I should laugh at his joke, but I don’t. “Parents don’t get two free passes.” I grab his hand and march up the stairs.
On the third one, I stumble as I realize what I said. Heat covers my face until Gabriel grabs my chin. “Baby, you’re a better mother to Gino than he’s ever had. He’s lucky to have you.” He lifts my hand and kisses the back of it. “I’ll make things official between us, but I can’t say how long that’s going to take until I can. But as far as I’m concerned, you’re Gino’s mother and my future wife.”
My knees buckle as I sling my arms around his neck. “No one has said anything that sweet to me before.”
He smirks. “Besides Sawyer.”
“Stop,” I growl and smash my mouth against his. I’ve never been happier in my life, and I can’t imagine how I could ever be happier.
forty-two
GABRIEL
Warmth crawlsalong my skin as I shut the door with a snap. “Where’s this rose thing?”
I can’t decide whether I’m intrigued or offended that she packed a vibrator to come with me on a trip. There’s a part of me that fears I’m not good enough at pleasing her, and there’s another side of me that’s equally excited to use it on her and watch her use it.
“It’s in the shower. On the ledge by my razor.” She wipes her hands on her jeans. As soon as I retrieve it, I stalk back into the bedroom.
“Why did you bring a vibrator?” The red object is light against my palm.
Her eyes dance as she brushes a strand of hair behind her ear. “Why? Are you jealous?”
“Of course, I’m jealous. I’m jealous of anything that takes your attention off me.” I stop in front of her, taking in her scent and letting it fill my lungs. And it doesn’t bother me that I’m speaking the truth. I’ve never wanted anyone like I do her and seeing her curled up on the sofa with Gino has ignited a flame inside of me. A determination to finalize my divorce and make her mine. Permanently. The need thrums in my veins.
Her lips curve up at the corners. “I have a shave balm that’s the same shape and color, and I grabbed the wrong one when I was rushing to pack.” She rests her hands on my heaving chest. “It wasn’t an intentional slight.”
“Hmm….” I cock my head sideways. “I hope so because I’d hate to think that I wasn’t pleasing you enough.” I clasp the vibrator in my hand and wrap my arms around her, pulling her flush to my body. “If I’m not doing something you like, please tell me.” Seriousness settles over me. “I’m serious. The last thing I’d want is for you to be unsatisfied.”
Her hands slowly flow up my chest, and then her arms loop around my neck. “You satisfy me completely.”
“Good.” Relief washes over me. A relief that I didn’t know I needed. “I don’t want you to think I’m opposed to sex toys when we’re together. Or even when I’m gone, but the thought of you choosing a sex toy over me….”
“Hush.” She stands on her tiptoes and places her lips against mine.
I groan and pull her tighter. I love the feeling of her lips against mine. The soft sweetness of her. Her tongue swipes the seam of my lips, and I open greedily, meeting her tongue with my own as the need between us ignites with one touch. Our hands make quick work of our clothes, and we tumble onto the bed.
When we break apart, she stares with a mixture of love and desire. “I love you, Gabriel.”
“I love you, too.” I crawl down her body and shift her legs upward and apart until her sex is exposed to me. “You look beautiful like this. Spread wide open and ready for me.