Page 8 of Always Been Mine

Gabe couldn’t breathe.She was still the vision he remembered.

His Beatrice.

No. Not his. He lost that right three years ago when he left her. Now, he had to earn her forgiveness, and hope she’d take him back.

She didn’t know it yet, but he wasn’t giving her a choice.

In that moment where time stood in a vacuum, he studied her. Beatrice always had the face of an angel, an almost perfect oval that tapered to a delicate, yet stubborn, chin. It really depended on her mood. Cutting wit and dry humor were some of the traits Gabe loved about her. His eyes zeroed in on the jacket keeping her warm and his jaw tightened. When his gaze returned to her eyes, he realized the shock had left her only to be replaced by pure unadulterated fury.

Gabe turned rigid with anticipation. What did he expect? That she would welcome him with open arms?

“What are you doing here?” Her tone was sharp. The hatred dripping from her voice bore a hole in his gut like acid.

“I hoped to see you.”

“And then what?” Beatrice snapped. “Be friends? I’m sorry, Gabe, but friends do not leave the way you did.”

“We were not friends when I left, do not delude yourself. You were my woman.” Giving Beatrice an inch would only make her take a mile. He couldn’t waver and fuck around with what he wanted. Not with her. He’d have to make it clear. His voice turned hoarse. “I threw you away—”

“Yes, you did.”

“I want you back, poppy—”

He expected it, the stinging slap. It cracked in the silence of the night.

The coat over her shoulders fell to the ground, drawing Gabe’s eyes to her nipples, which were pushing against the fabric of her gown, tempting him to just rip that dress from her, suck on her tit, and fuck her senseless. The burn on his cheek was insignificant to the lust that seized him. He’d had a semi since he’d seen her. Now his cock was threatening a full-blown erection.

“You’re the fucking delusional one,” she hissed. “I will never, ever take you back.” She cursed. “Stop looking at my boobs!”

He couldn’t help grinning, but resisted the urge to make a sexual innuendo.

Eyes on the prize, Sullivan.

“I know it’s going to take some time, babe.”

“Oh? For what?”

“For you to trust me again.”

“Trust you to make a fool of me again? You really think I’d waste my time on you? Are you really that hard up, Gabe? If all you want is a fuck, I’m sure there’ll be—”

He didn’t let her finish. Something broke inside him when she had dared think he would fool her again. He wanted her to feel how much he needed her. His hand snaked out and yanked her against him. His mouth came crashing down onhers. Her lips were sealed tightly. Gabe growled low in his throat as he backed her into a dark corner. His fingers dug into her ass, preparing to boost her against the wall.

That was when he felt it.

An unholy pain between his legs.

He lost the ability to breathe, to think. He imploded like a pile of bricks.

“Fuck.” Was that his voice?Fuck.

“Boy, that felt amazing,” Beatrice gushed. Triumph and exhilaration were rolling off her in waves.

Gabe was on his knees, his hands over his crotch, looking up dazedly at her. “You do realize, poppy,” he pushed between gritted teeth, “you could have ruined our chances of ever having children.”

Fuck, he felt like puking. Cold sweat started beading his forehead.

“Hmph, still delusional. I don’t freaking care if you ever get another erection. Period.”

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