Page 148 of Knot What I Expected

This is Gabriella.

Stubborn.

Secretive.

Proud.

The female who tells me to fuck off when I piss her off and then looks at my mouth like she wants to drag me back by my hair when I actually listen.

And I fucking love that about her.

Chapter 16

Gabriella

I have officially lost my fucking mind.

That is the only reasonable explanation for why Rowan Cross is standing in my house looking at me like I’m the only woman left on the planet—and why I’m standing here letting him.

No.

Not just letting him.

Wanting him.

Goddess, I want him.

The realization sends another hot shiver rolling through me.

I’ve spent so long surviving that I almost forgot what wanting something for myself feels like.

Everything I do is for Matteo.

Every shift I work.

Every dollar I save.

Every payment I send Nando.

Every lie I tell.

Every time I swallow my fear and remind myself that tomorrow is another day Ethan doesn’t find us.

There hasn’t been room for Gabriella in my life for a long time.

Not the woman.

Not the female.

Definitely not the part of me that misses being touched.

How long has it been?

I honestly can’t remember.

That should probably depress me.

Instead, I’m staring at six-foot-a-million inches of blond, tattooed, Viking-looking Wolf Shifter and wondering whether maybe tonight I could stop being responsible for five fucking minutes.