Page 54 of Desperate
"Whatare you doing?!" She screamed trying to step in front of Derek, she wouldnot let Gabriel kill the man.
Asif changing targets Gabriel's serious green eyes settled on her narrowingdangerously.
"Salene,"he growled warningly, she could see him flex and un-flex his fist as he stood afew feet away, as if not trusting himself to come closer. "I swear to GodI love you, but I will beat you do you understand."
Therelief washed over her that nearly took the strength from her legs from beneathher closing the gap between them she put her arms around the tense man.
"Doyou really? Please tell me you mean that?" She didn't care how shesounded, weak or not she needed to know.
Gabrielgave her the most pained look, grabbing her around the waist he held herpainfully tight nearly lifting her off the ground. "Salene how can you askme that?” The normally arrogant tone was now filled with desperate anger thatonly made her want to kiss and soothe him. "I have been trying to show youhow much I fucking love you every day. But if you think I am just going…"
Closingher arms tight around his neck Salene kissed him stopping his angry tirade."I love you too."
Holdingher tight he looked deep into her eyes. "Then what the fuck is goingon?" His voice was dangerously low.
Saleneknew there was no way anybody was going to come out of this alive she didn'ttell the truth. The impossibly iron-like hold he had her in told her she wasn'tgoing anywhere.
"Derekwas helping me."
Greeneyes flared. "With fucking what?"
"Buyingpregnancy test." She said simply, holding her breath for his reaction.
Nothing.
Itwas as if he was frozen in time.
Theslight rustle of movement and the sound of the door closing soon after told herDerek slipped out. Now it was just the two of them.
Slowlythe steel band grip around her disengaged. The look on his face was starting toalarm her, she couldn't read any other emotion other than shock. What was hethinking?!
Bendingto one knee before her it was her turn to go perfectly still. Pulling out aring box Gabriel never took his eyes off hers as he pulled the gold ring fromthe black box, chucking the box behind him Gabriel grabbed her left hand andslipped on the ring to her finger.
"Iwas going to ask you to marry me Salene," his voice sounded hoarse."But I'm not going to give you the option, you will be my wife, you willbe the mother of my children," burying his face into her stomach his wordsmuffled into her dress. "And we're going to spend the rest of our livestogether. "
Tearsran down her face as she hugged his head deeper into her stomach. "I wasso scared you didn’t …you might not feel…”
Feelinghis lips on her stomach his words rumbled against her body. “You are everythingto me baby.” Looking up at her Gabriel stood up slowly, cupping her face withboth hands. “I know we started off rough to say the least,” his bright greeneyes searched hers as looked down at her. “But know that I will spend the restof my life loving you with every single breath.”
Saleneclung to each word like a life line as he continued.
“Tellme sweetheart, that you will be my wife.”
Notbothering to wipe the tears from her face, she pulled him down to her level tolet her kiss say what words could not.
Epilogue
Spottinghis two curly head targets Gabriel politely excused himself to the front of theconcession stand line. Standing at eye level with the counter, both girls weredressed in their grass stained soccer uniforms.
“Whatare you two getting?” Gabriel smiled as both twin girls turned and smiled up athim.
“Pickles!”they exclaimed loudly and in unison, causing some of the people in line laugh.
Gabrieljust laughed at their excitement on their current favorite food obsession. Itwas their mother’s fault, Salene one day had a craving for pickles, sonaturally his little warrior princesses followed suit. Now pickles were allthey ever wanted.
“Thatwill be three dollars.” The familiar voice of the attendant brought hisattention up to the counter.
Gabrieljust blinked as he stared face-to-face with his ex, Amber. She looked nearlythe same, if not a little tired looking.
