Page 49 of It's Always Been You
“On a Sunday?”
She groans and rolls her eyes. “Yep. People who work for Harvey Randall tend to do what he asks, and in this case, he asked for a Sunday meeting because he’s leaving for a yachting vacation in the Caribbean on Monday morning.”
“Sounds like a delightful guy,” I say dryly.
“He is the opposite of that, really, but he’s my oldest and biggest client, so concessions must be made. Besides, I’m looking forward to kicking asshole Brad’s ass.”
I push up to stand and hold out a hand for Molly. “I don’t love that you have to go work with the guy who gave you bruises on your arm in the shape of his hands.”
Molly gives me a sweet smile. “Well, then, it’s lucky you have no say in my professional life and who I do and do not meet with.”
“I don’t know what it says about me that your stubborn, slightly mean side turns me on more than anything else.”
She puts her hand in mine and stands, patting my cheek. “It says you’re a man, Gabriel. A very good man, but still a man.”
“Very good, huh?” I ask, leading her toward the stairs.
“Fishing for complements?”
“From you? Always.”
She laughs as we climb the stairs together, and I try my hardest to keep my eyes off her ass. But, well, like she said, I’m just a man, and her ass is even more amazing than I remember. Then she glances over her shoulder.
“Enjoying the view?”
Busted.
“Can’t help it, Rory baby, it’s just right there.”
“Don’t apologize, Gabriel; there’s not one single inch of me that’s not spectacular.”
“Got that right,” I say, as we reach the top of the stairs. We walk down the hall, and I pause outside her room. She leans against the closed door, and I put one hand on the doorframe above her head, leaning into her space. Her pupils dilate, and she inhales sharply at my proximity. I drink up her reaction, loving how responsive she still is to me, even after all this time.
“You know it’s not just your body, right? I like every damn thing about you, Rory. Your brilliant mind and your artist’s soul and your fierce independence, and your big, beautiful heart. Ten years ago, you were the most incredible person I had ever known. But now? You are dazzling. You dazzle me, Rory. And you being here, in my space, after everything? I’ll never take that for granted. No one in the world is as lucky as I am right now, having you here with me.”
“Gabe,” Molly whispers. “Ask me a question.”
I plant my other hand on the door next to her head and lean in a little closer, repeating the question I asked her earlier tonight.
“Can I kiss you, Rory?”
This time she doesn’t answer. Instead, she leans up and lays her lips on mine. My body reacts to her immediately. To the smell of her strawberry shampoo and the way she tastes like chocolate and peanut butter and the little sigh she lets out when I tease her lips open, tangling my tongue with hers.
I wrap a hand around Molly’s neck, pushing my fingers in her hair and using my thumb to tip her chin up, taking the kiss deeper. She grips my shirt in both hands while I taste every inch of her. My other hand leaves the doorframe and drops to her hip, pulling her against me so she can feel exactly how this kiss is affecting me. I can tell the second she realizes because she moans into my mouth and the sound goes straight to my cock.
I give it another few seconds because, god, I could kiss her forever. Then I break the kiss, pressing my lips to Molly’s forehead and leaning back to look at her, enjoying the dazed expression on her face. Wishing I could take her into my room, lay her on my bed, and spend the rest of the night worshipping her body.
There’s time for that.
Now is not that time.
I really wish now was that time.
“Fuck, you can really kiss.” Molly’s voice low and just incredulous enough that I laugh.
“Did you think I forgot how?”
Molly huffs out a laugh. “No, it’s just that you’re better than I remember. And I remember quite a lot. Photographic memory, remember? It makes me…wonder what else you’d be better at.”
