Page 16 of My Girl
“It really is exquisite here, isn’t it?” Her soft voice broke into his thoughts.
“Yeah. It’s my favourite part of the clinic. I’ve spent so much time here in the last three weeks. It’s just so peaceful.” Checking his cell, he sighed. It was time to leave. He rose and held out a hand. “Come on then. Time to head home. I’m ready to blow this popsicle stand.”
Taking his hand, Sheridan got to her feet. “I can imagine. Let’s go.”
The release papers completed, luggage stowed in the trunk, Sheridan held out her car keys to Gabriel. Surprised, he hesitated. “Are you sure? I know how protective you are of your baby.”
She grinned at him. “It’s a onetime offer. But I will warn you, it will be bad for your health if you do her any harm.”
He laughed out loud. “Yeah, don’t I know it.”
Thrilled at the chance to drive her car, he opened the passenger door for her, then hurried around to the driver’s side. He had no intention of giving her time to change her mind. He started the engine and revved it a few times, grinning at her like he’d won the lotto.
They chatted about this and that, things of little consequence on the way home. Gabriel was grateful she hadn’t asked about his time at the clinic. Digging through the memories he’d tried so hard to bury over the years had been painful at best. If he was being brutally honest with himself though, being forced to deal with his issues head-on was probably the best thing that could have happened.
He’d known the psychologist in Texas had been right to be concerned about him. Lord knew he’d been hiding from his past, and it had festered like an unhealed wound below the surface of his mind.
Shaking off his thoughts, he focused on enjoying the exhilarating drive.
By the time they got home, he was like a child hyped up on too much sugar. The rush from the speed of the classic muscle car was incredible. It had been a long time since he’d shared times like this with Jarrod and Mr Daniels, and he hadn’t realised how much he’d missed it until that instant.
Talking and laughing, they tumbled into the house, high on nothing more than life. He closed the door behind them, and as he turned, he caught sight of Sheridan standing next to the breakfast bar. Sunlight streamed in from the multitude of window, creating a halo effect around her. He felt his heart trip. Was there ever a woman as beautiful? He didn’t think so.
She had her phone in her hand and appeared to be reading a message, expression soft. He couldn’t help himself. He had to have her. His feet not making a sound as he moved over to where she stood, she didn’t seem to hear him coming. She made the sweetest squeak when he stopped in front of her.
“Anything urgent?” He indicated the phone.
“No, just a friend sending me funnies.”
He nodded and slipped the phone from her fingers. Putting it down on the counter behind her, he cupped her cheeks in his hands, lowered his head, and ran his tongue along the seam of her closed lips. A silent plea for her to let him in.
And let him in she did. The kiss ignited. Sexual tension had been building between them for weeks, since the kiss they’d shared that day weeks ago. And in the days that followed. Sheridan had always been a touchy-feely kind of person. When she talked, she liked to use her hands to emphasise her point, and that often included her touching the person she was talking to.
It had never been an issue before, but since that day, each time she’d touched him when she visited him at the clinic, it had wound him tighter. The exquisite agony had kept him awake at night as he wondered what it would be like to have the magnificence that was Sheridan beneath him.
As the kiss burned hotter, clothing came off hurriedly, landing in a jumbled heap on the floor. Hands touched, tongues duelled, and one of them groaned out loud. He was sure it was him. So impatient, they couldn’t wait long enough to make it to one of the rooms.
Sheridan broke the kiss, panting. “Condom?” was all she managed to say. He rummaged through the tangle of clothes and found his pants. Yanking his wallet out, he grabbed a condom. Ripping the foil, he swore as he battled to get it on in his haste. With the sheath in place, he slid his hands under her ass, and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He backed her up against the wall, testing her wetness before sinking into her in a single stroke.
“More, more, more,” Sheridan chanted.
Tightening his grip, he granted her wish and thrust into her, over and over, until his eyes crossed. He felt a warning tingle in his spine. He prayed Sheridan came before he did. If she didn’t, he wasn’t sure he could hold out until she did.
He was about to give up hope of that when she sank her teeth into his shoulder, and he felt her tighten almost impossibly around him. As her inner muscles clenched and released as she came, she dragged him right over the edge into his own release.
He orgasmed so hard stars danced around the edges of his vision. Sheridan slumped onto his shoulder, blowing out a breath.
“Well damn,” she muttered into his neck.
He couldn’t hold back a chuckle. Well damn, indeed. He briefly debated whether to shuffle over to the sofa or if he should take her into the bedroom. Deciding on the bedroom, he hitched her up and made his way to her room.
He tenderly lowered her to the bed before collapsing beside her. She snuggled into his side. “How about a quick rest, and then we do that again?” she asked.
Hugging her close, he laughed. “Sounds like a solid plan to me.”
Twilight was falling as his eyes opened. Gabriel glanced over at where Sheridan lay and saw she was quietly studying him.
“Hi,” she whispered.
