Page 19 of Gabe's Obsession

"Nina." He gently grasped her chin again and moved her head until their gazes met again. "I need you here with me, baby, not in your head. This is important."

"I know," she gasped as panic inside her rose. "I just don't know what to tell you."

"The truth. Always. Whatever it is we'll deal with it together."

"Why?"

His forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Why, what? Why do I need the truth? We've already been over that. I can't help you if you can't be honest."

She furiously shook her head. "No. That's not what I meant," She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before she continued. She was walking onto dangerous ground now and she knew it. "Why are we going to deal with it together? Why are you subjecting yourself to this drama? You don't have to do this. I mean, it's not fair to you."

Gabe reared back, an unreadable look on his face. She held her breath.

"What the fuck, Nina? What the hell kind of question is that?"

Her whole body began to tremble. "I know we're kinda sorta family in a way, but what you're taking on with me is way more than is called for."

In a way, it sickened her to burden him, of all people, with her problems. He certainly didn't deserve having to clean up this mess. Hence, why she wanted to go and talk to Savannah on her own and figure this crap out.

His eyes narrowed slightly and she swore his dark eyes got darker as anger flared across his face.

"That's fucking bullshit. I'm here now and I've been here every time you have needed me because? You. Are. Mine. I may not be your lover,yet, but I'm not one of your brothers either. So get that out of your head right now."

She sucked in a sharp breath as he moved his face closer to hers, her mind reeling. "But you are mine, nonetheless. And you have been for a very long time. Obviously I waited way too long to make that crystal clear right here." He tapped the side of her head. "In fact, this isn't working." He lifted her off his lap and deposited her on the leather couch.

Immediately, she missed his touch. She might have let out a strangled cry to confirm that. Nonetheless, he stood and crossed the room. He opened one of the cabinets behind his desk and pulled out something she couldn't see. He then returned to the couch and crouched down in front of her.

Now she could tell that he had some sort of roll that looked like it was made out of velvet. She scrunched her forehead. What the hell? He unrolled what ended up looking like nothing more than a thin piece of padding and placed it on the floor in front of where she sat.

He then stood and took several steps back.

"On your knees, Nina."

Taken aback by his sudden request, she went stock-still. Her mind reeled at the sudden turn of events.

"Excuse me?” she said.

"I said, on your knees. I didn't ask for your questions or invite you to say anything further. You will do as I request, answer all of my questions truthfully and in return I will give you whatever you need."

Nina blinked at the harsh tone of his words. They shocked her to hear them after all this time. Yet, somewhere deep inside her, they connected. So much so, that a huge part of her was already aching to just do it already.

Seconds ticked by as she remained frozen in her indecision. Gabe said nothing more. He only stared down at her, practically daring her to do it. At least, that was how she chose to interpret the hard look in his eyes.

Her body softened with desire. How many times had she dreamed of this exact scenario? In those dreams, her braver self gave herself over to this man time and time again and she loved every second of it.

So what was holding her back now?

Fear, she wanted to cry out.

This was the one aspect of her life she'd been unable to face thus far, despite all of her bravado and success in other ways. Move out on her own? Check. Start her own business? Check. Develop friendships and have some fun? Check. Meet a man and enjoy a healthy sex life? Uhhh...

With all of those thoughts running wild through her head, Nina had not realized she'd moved from the couch. At least, not until her knees caressed the soft velvet padding underneath them.

She inhaled sharply at the realization she'd done it. Oh. My. God.

"Jesus Christ, you're beautiful on your knees."

Her head shot up at the reverent tone from Gabe. He seemed just as surprised as she felt. She swallowed thickly around the lump in her throat and closed her eyes, letting the moment wash over her.

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