Page 86 of Absinthe Minded

“Because his wife would find out he was seeing other people?”

“Probably.” I nuzzled into her chest. “I’ll never let anything happen to you.”

“I know, but—”

“No buts and no more snooping.”

“Gabe—”

This time, I surprised her by pinning her to the bed and kissing her stupid.

28

Maggie

While the conversationhad gone better than I’d hoped, I still had questions—earth shattering questions. Despite what Wayne said, labels did matter. A shrewd businessman and a member of the millennial version of the mafia were two entirely different things.

Are you a mobster? Simple as that. Why can’t I spit out the words? Because if he tells me what I already know, I’ll have to do something about it. This’ll end, and I don’t want it to. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

“Maggie, stop thinking and start kissing.” Gabe nipped my earlobe.

Before I had a chance to do as he asked, he moved down and drew my nipple into his mouth. I must have gasped, because he met my eyes and ran his tongue over the hardened flesh.

“Still thinking?” He flashed me a grin hot enough to melt my lingering doubts.

“I can’t remember. Did I give you that file of receipts?”

“Maggie…” Leaving a moist trail of kisses in his wake, Gabe worked his way down my body. “How about now?”

“Uh huh. Thinking about the grocery list.”

He settled between my thighs and buried his face between my legs. No teasing, no warning, no nothing except his tongue and lips and teeth.

“Oh God.” I dug my heels into the mattress and raised my hips.

He slid his hands under my butt and lifted my lower body from the bed. I had no choice but to give in. The position made it impossible for me to move.

Gabe added fingers into the mix, and it took all my strength not to cry out. The man played my body like he played the guitar—practice and skill and passion. I closed my eyes and counted backward from ten. Somewhere between eight and seven, the orgasm crashed over me, but he wasn’t finished.

“Stop. Stop. Stop. I can’t.” I twisted and turned until he let me go.

Gabe slid out of his flannel pants and climbed up my body until his face hovered above mine. “Still want me to stop?”

“No.” I slid my hand down his chest and wrapped my hand around his length. “I want this.”

He growled and lowered his mouth to mine, but otherwise, remained still. While I felt as if I’d spontaneously combust, he seemed content to kiss me silly. The more I tried to speed things along, the more he teased.

I curled my free hand in his long hair and tugged until he broke the kiss. “I need you inside me now.”

Gabe fished around in the nightstand and came up with an empty box. “Shit. Hang on. I have one in my wallet.”

Talk about a buzz kill. I pulled the sheet to my chin and tried really hard not to think. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.

He returned and waved the foil packet like a victory flag. “Add condoms to your grocery list.”

“You’d better check the expiration date on that thing.” I was only half teasing. He and Leo had both said he hadn’t dated anyone since Chantal.

He flipped the light on, studied the wrapper, and grinned. “It’s still good.”

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