Page 43 of The Rancher's Cinderella Bride

The longer she stayed, the more difficult it would be to leave. And maybe the more in love with him she would be.

Regardless, she wanted tonight with Gabe.

But what if he asked her to stay longer? Would she stay?

She couldn’t. If she did, she would never want to leave him. Gabe had been her best friend as a child and growing up—he was still her best friend in too many ways.

Running her hands over him, she pushed away his jacket and let it fall. She twisted the buttons on his tailored white shirt free, taking out the gold cuff links he wore and dropping them in his trouser pocket while they continued to kiss.

She looked up at him. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m not gone,” he said. “Not yet.” He tangled his fingers in her hair, tugged lightly to tilt her head back and then kissed her, his tongue stroking her lower lip, the corners of her mouth, before going deep with slow thrusts that made her hot, made her want him.

She unfastened his trousers to free him. Unbuckling his belt, she pushed away the trousers and briefs and he stepped out of them, yanking off his boots and socks.

He had already pulled down the zipper at the back of her dress and it fell around her ankles. He held her away from him while his gaze roamed over her and his hands followed.

“You’re so incredibly beautiful. I want to look at you and touch you all night. I want you in my arms, your naked body against mine all night. I want everything, Meg. You’ll never know how much I want you.”

As he looked at her, she studied him, tingling at the sight of his strong, virile male body. He was fully aroused, ready to love. He was tan, fit, all hard muscles and flat planes. She knelt to caress him, running her hands between his legs along his inner thighs and taking his thick shaft in hand to stroke and run her tongue over him.

He tangled his fingers in her hair again, groaning quietly, his throbbing manhood dark and hard.

With a harsh cry, he slipped his hands beneath her arms to pull her slowly to her feet. She rubbed against him while his hands roamed over her and she showered kisses over him. Her hands traveled across his belly and down his legs, moving in feathery caresses all over him.

Finally, he picked her up and carried her to the nearest bedroom, tossing back covers and placing her on the bed, coming down to hold her close.

She loved him with abandon, kissing him and knowing it was the last time, memorizing how he looked and felt, and exciting him until he shook.

She did everything she could to pleasure him, to give him a night he would remember, lovemaking that would be important to him and intimacy that he couldn’t forget. Her hands were everywhere over him, touching, stroking and teasing while she showered kisses on him, rubbing and caressing him and letting him do what he wanted to her.

With a groan, he stilled her hands and moved between her legs, pausing to put on a condom before he lowered himself and entered her in one thrust.

She locked her legs around him and held him while they kissed. They drew out their lovemaking, rising to a brink and falling back, then rising again until she could take no more. She gasped and clung to him, crying out when his control went and they climaxed together, hard and fast.

Exhausted and euphoric, they held each other. He stroked her lightly, his hand caressing her, moving over her. “You’re marvelous, every inch of you,” he whispered, showering light kisses on her temple, her cheek, her ear and her throat. He gently combed long strands of hair from her face with his fingers.

“Meg, I want you to stay. Stay this month.”

While she felt a pang and longing enveloped her, she shook her head.

“I can’t do that, Gabe. I’d be so in love I could never leave. The month would end and we would be right back where we are now.”

“Stay this week then. That’s not long and you won’t fall in love in the few days left in the week.”

She ran her hands over him. She lay pressed against him, her leg thrown over his while her hands continued to roam over him. She couldn’t tell him that she was already in love with him. “No. You have your life and your things you like to do. I have my work that I need to get back to. I can’t be casual about lovemaking. Physical love for me is still all tied up with my emotions and my heart.”

“You always were sentimental. I guess that’s why you still have that silly brown bear I gave you so long ago.”

“I suppose.” She turned on her side to face him. “I want you to know that this has been special, Gabe. You did a good job and saved the day for me. You gave me that beautiful necklace. You’re the one who should get a present because you did just what I asked.”

“This is my present, Meg, holding you in my arms, loving you all night, kissing you. Will you go to dinner with me next Friday?”

She looked down a moment while she twisted her fingers in his chest hair. Finally, she shook her head. “No, I don’t think I should, because you’ll want me to come back here and sleep with you and I’m not going to continue to do that.”

“If you change your mind, call me,” he said, looking solemn.

“I will. I haven’t looked in the mirror at my beautiful necklace that I’m still wearing. I’m going to do that, then shower and get dressed and go home to Downly. We’ll say goodbye.”

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