Page 73 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

“Well, I’d love it if you would—oh!”

His wet fingers had moved up to her clit, pressing into the tight little nub with fast, circular motions, playing with her flesh until she was quivering, and he felt her muscles spasm.

“Oh, God, I’m . . . I’m gonna . . .”

She screamed his name as she came, and he kept her riding the wave until her body relaxed under him. Swiftly reaching into the drawer, he pulled out a condom.

Once he was sheathed, he gripped her hips and angled himself. Thrusting hard, he watched her hands grip the comforter in the dim light as he pulled out, heard her breathy moan as he went back in high and came out low. Then he stopped thinking about anything but the softness of her skin beneath his calloused hands and the way her channel squeezed him as he moved within her, and he realized he didn’t want to stop, didn’t want her to come up from this and tell him it was another fling, just a release or that it meant nothing. He’d never wanted a woman this way, and damn it, he wanted her to crave him. To want only him.

Gabe took her hair gently in one hand and tugged lightly. Taking her from behind had just happened, but as she lifted up off the bed, the angle changed, sending him deeper.

Shaking and fighting his desire to move inside her, he pressed his mouth against her ear. “Do you like this?”

“Yes . . .”

“Say you want me.”

“I do. God, don’t stop . . .”

“My name. Tell me you want me.”

He noticed her body stiffen for a split second, but it was so brief, he wondered if he’d imagined it. He took her earlobe between his teeth, and she moaned. “Caroline. I want to hear you say my name.”

She turned her face to the side so she could look back at him. Their gazes held in the twilight, and then she turned, breaking the connection of their bodies to wrap her arms around his neck. When she pushed at the back of his neck, he let her bring his mouth down to meet hers. The kiss was wet, messy, and damn, he loved it.

Against his mouth, she whispered, “I want you, Gabriel.”

CAROLINE PROTESTED AS Gabe pulled away from her. “Don’t go—”

His dark eyes were so intense that her stomach twisted up. “I want to watch your face as you come.”

Hotter words had never been spoken and despite his demanding, say-my-name bedroom manner, she had to admit it turned her on. Usually, she wore the pants in the bedroom—taking the lead and offering suggestions—but damn, Gabe didn’t need any help getting her off.

As he laid her back on the bed, she arched up, waiting for him to cover her with that big, hard body, but he hovered above her on his hands. When she opened her eyes, she saw him watching her with a half-smile on his lips.

“What?”

He lifted one hand to smooth it over her cheek but didn’t answer. The moment was almost tender, and she swallowed back the panic.

This was Gabe. Gabe, her savior. The man who played on the floor with four-week-old kittens and thrashed men who abused women. He was a good man, despite his protests. The look on his face wasn’t what she’d expected from the large, dark man, but she just kept telling herself there was nothing to be afraid of.

She was safe with him.

She placed her hands on his shoulders as he came down on his elbows and kissed her, stealing her breath and the last of her reservations. Gabe’s lips were like magic, sending tingles through her with every brush, and her arms wrapped around his neck, wanting to keep him there.

He pulled back, and she lifted her hips to take him inside once more, an active participant as they moved together. Each time he thrust, the pressure built, and she held on tightly, chanting his name as pleasure erupted inside her. A few minutes later, he stiffened above her.

When he came down on his elbows again, his lips buried themselves in the side of her neck and hair, his breath warming her as he tried to catch it.

This was the moment she hated; usually, she wanted the man to just get up and go, so she could clean up and go to bed. Her first instinct was to tell him, “Time to go,” but the light kisses just under her ear were nice, relaxing her already liquid body as her eyes started to flutter shut. She didn’t even realize he had moved off her until he was bringing the covers up over her, and she reached out sleepily for his hand.

“Stay.”

The brush of his mouth on her shoulder was th

e last thing she felt as she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Chapter Twenty

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