Page 24 of Gabe's Obsession

In his job and his life, he focused on the details. They were everything to him. And from his experience, he already knew that everyone gave away insights about themselves without ever realizing it.

"But you want to be." He narrowed his eyes and shook his head when she started to speak. "Don't waste your breath. Actions always speak louder than words, babe, and your actions and reactions say something totally different than your mouth. So instead of following some ideal you have in your brain, why don't you try listening to your heart? Stop fighting and give yourself a chance to be whatever it isyouwant to be. For once in your life, stop worrying about what everyone else thinks and give something to yourself."

Several seconds ticked by with neither of them saying anything else as he let his words sink in. Gabe dug deep to find a little extra patience so he could give her the time she needed right now to think this through.

"That's not as easy as you think. I may have the weirdest family on the planet, but we're very connected. What they think matters."

Gabe's chest loosened. This woman gave so much for her family. It was past time someone gave back to her. "You deserve to be cared for as much as they do. Look around you. They've all found a way to carve out some happiness in the midst of the chaos. You can too. Marry me and I will do everything in my power to help you. We can talk to Savannah together. If that doesn't work, we'll try something else. If you hear nothing else I've said, hear this. I will do anything, and I literally mean anything, to make you happy. Will I demand we do things my way? Hell yes. I thrive on control. Especially when obedience is given freely. The crux however, is about pleasure and happiness. It would be my goal in life to give you everything your heart desires in a way that suits us both. It's not wrong to be a submissive. Especially not when you have a Dom who desires nothing more than to provide for anything that you need. I don't want to change you, baby. I want you to be free."

Chapter Nine

Nina sat silentlyin the back seat of Gabe's town car as his driver rushed her to the courthouse after a quick stop at her house to change into something more marriage appropriate and to pack. Not only were they supposedly getting married, but apparently, they were going on a secret honeymoon for the weekend as well.

She could still hardly believe that she'd said yes to this insanity. Maybe it had been a moment of weakness. Maybe not. The constant fluttering of her stomach made her uneasy. Was it due to excitement or fear?

This was Gabe. The man she'd counted on forever. The friend she'd dreamed about having benefits with. She dropped her gaze from the passing scenery to the hands she had clenched in her lap. These last few weeks had turned her world upside down and that was clearly saying something considering how weird her life had always been.

Devout religious mother who had a thing for the extreme. An absentee father who had turned out to be an egotistical serial polygamist and a preacher, too. Then there were the half siblings coming out of the woodwork. Not that she had any real numbers on that. Her brother Mason had a stubborn streak about keeping family information under wraps. That included keeping her somewhat in the dark.

Then there was the sudden confession of Savannah Lewis to the murder of her husband and Nina's father, Reverend Lewis. No matter how hard she tried to distract herself, it all went back to Savannah and that night.

Gah!She was so tired of going round and round about this in her head. This persistent memory block had taken enough of her life. Now she had a decision to make. Go through with this farce of a marriage. Let Gabe provide her the protection she needed to truly explore her mind while submitting to his control—or not.

Of course there was a lot more at stake than that. There was the matter of her heart and whether she could save it from being irreparably broken while allowing him to invade her life and her body.

Nina sighed. Why did she make a stupid pact with her mother and why after everything she'd been through, did she feel the need to honor it? That point burned inside her. She'd used that lame excuse as her crutch since—well, for more years than she cared to count.

It made it easy to keep her life in a forward moving progression without letting anyone get too close. In a weird way it had given her the freedom to observe Gabe in his natural environment without any pressure to do anything more.

What she'd learned over the years was that Gabe Michaels could be as ruthless as he was giving. He gladly helped anyone who needed it, but always on his terms. A pushover he was not.

As the car pulled into the parking garage attached to the county courthouse, the butterflies in her stomach grew frantic. The time for her final decision grew near and she didn't know what to do.

Part of her believed every word Gabe promised. She had no doubt he would do anything and everything to protect her from not only anyone who might come after her, but from herself.

And she certainly had no doubts that Gabe could and would follow through on his sexual promises as well. She had a feeling he would fulfill every dream she ever had and some she hadn't even thought of yet.

The moment the car came to a full stop, the rear door across from her opened and Gabe slid inside next to her as the driver exited the vehicle.

Nina clutched her chest. "Jesus, you scared the hell out of me."

He grinned over at her. "Who else were you expecting?"

"I wasn't expecting anyone. I just thought we were meeting inside."

Gabe leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. "Not yet. We've got one more thing to deal with before we get married."

He handed her a slim manila folder. "What is it?" she asked.

"Prenup agreement."

She looked up at him, her eyes widening. "You think I'm going to try and steal your money? That's a little insulting at this point, don't you think? Not to mention a shitty way to prove you don't trust me after all. So much for all that talk back at your house."

Gabe laid the folder on her lap. "Babe, slow down. This prenup is for you not me. You want half of what I have if this doesn't work out? Done. That's how confident I am that this isn't going to be as temporary as you think. You are far more important than money to me. But you, babe, if we don't sign this and protect your assets, your brothers will kick my ass with Mason leading the charge."

She was pretty sure her mouth was hanging open but she didn't care. She was so stunned he'd gone to this length to protectherinterests. He could have knocked her over with a feather.

She shook her head and closed her mouth, trying to clear her thoughts. "This was sweet and all, but I don't imagine you wanting anything to do with my cafe or the little cottage I own. You've got a lot more to lose than I do." At least when it came to financial assets, anyway. Unfortunately, there was no paperwork that could protect her heart in this situation. When she walked away from this deal with a broken heart that would have to be on her. She wasn't exactly going in on this blind.

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