Gabriel raised his glass. “To you, Halston Devereux, until you morph into someone else.”
She clinked his glass. “To the secrets we keep and the ones we share.”
Gabriel could drink to that. His entire life had been one secret after another.
“What’s your story?” he asked as she placed the stemless wine glass to her lips, tipped the dark-red liquid into her mouth.
So fucking beautiful…
“You first,” she replied.
“You know about me.” He ran his fingers through her long strands, tugged on the end of her hair, leaned close. “I want to know about you,” he whispered.
A whisper-soft moan escaped her lips. “You make me crazy.”
He glanced at her mouth, those sultry lips beckoned.
“You know you want to,” she whispered.
“What doyouwant?”
“I want you to maul me, then drag me to your man cave and do naughty things to me.”
A groan shot out of him. “With pleasure.”
Teddy bounded over. “You guys hungry?”
“Famished,” Halston replied.
Teddy shifted toward him. “How ‘bout you, G?”
With his gaze drilling into Halston, he said, “Hungrier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
Teddy glanced from one to the other, then chuffed out a laugh.
“Time to eat.”
With a wink for Gabriel, she followed Teddy toward the buffet line at the expansive center island.
He paused to admire her curves, the sway of her hips, her silky-long hair.
I gotta have her.
Two easy strides and he caught up to her. “Not so fast. You aren’t getting away from me.”
“I wasn’t trying,” she replied. “If I was, I’d already be gone.”
Gabriel took that as a challenge. From what he could tell about the mysterious Halston Devereux, she was the perfect woman to give him one.
HALSTON
Halston’s heartwas pounding out of her chest. She couldn’t regulate her breathing, and the small space between her legs was begging for attention.
She was thrilled she hadn’t bolted, grateful they’d invited a playmate for her.
There was so much food, she wondered if they’d even make a dent in it. Beef tenderloin, a large baked salmon, insalata caprese, a green bean casserole, a medley of steamed vegetables, dozens of French fries, and twice-baked garlic potatoes.
“Once you’ve filled your plate, we’re eating in the dining room,” Sydney announced as the buffet line circled around the island.
