AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Gabe seems to think about this for a moment. “Fine. Then you would have no problem hanging out with me again?”
“Why the hell would I do that?” It's out of my mouth before I can help myself. “I mean, no thanks. I wouldn't want to tarnish that shiny armor of yours.” I smile sweetly. Then I get up and go to my door, opening it so there's no doubt of what I want.
Gabe runs his hands down his thighs and then stands. Finally! He walks over, coming to a stop in front of me. His head tilts as he looks at me like I'm a puzzle he can't solve. I think he's about to walk on out, but instead, he steps forward, cups my cheeks with his hands, and kisses me. Without meaning to, I relax into him as he gently parts my lips with his tongue. God, he's a fantastic kisser. Our mouths move slowly, like not a thing in the world exists more than savoring this moment.
And boy, is it worth savoring. For what seems like a lifetime, I'm lost in him with no hopes of ever being found again. But then Gabe pulls away after a final kiss. I can't find it in myself to open my eyes yet. My lips are buzzing from the lovin' they just got, as is the skin surrounding my mouth thanks to his facial hair, and my body is still paralyzed in place by his hands.
Gabe's breath fans out over my mouth as he softly says, “You look beautiful right now.”
My eyes pop open immediately. The corners of his mouth lift in a smile. In a whisper, I become completely honest with him. “No one has ever said something like that to me.”
“What? How you look after a kiss?”
I shake my head. “No. Well, yeah, that too, but I meant the beautiful part.”
Gabe's smile falls. Oh, fuck. I shouldn't have said that. Stupid, stupid, stupid girl! He's probably going to think I'm weak or something because no one calls me beautiful. That is so not the case, and I need to make sure he understands that. Before I can recover, he kisses me softly just once.
“Well, they should because you are,” he mumbles against my lips. He strong gaze bores into me. “Absolutely beautiful.”
My muscles are tense, waiting for him to laugh and add that he was joking. I've never been told that I'm beautiful. Hot or sexy, sure. Beautiful? No. My grandmother used to tell me that I was, but that was a long time ago. She was old and probably thought all little girls were beautiful. That hardly counts. Gabe holds my eyes, letting me absorb what he said. For the first time in my life, I ask him to do something that doesn't include sex. The funny thing about it is that my question embarrasses me more than if I had of outright asked him to sleep with me.
“Would you like to spend the night?” I ask quietly. “No sex, though.”
Gabe grins. I was really expecting a frown or a confused look, but I'll take a grin. “Only if I get a second date.”
I laugh, finally able to release some of my tension. “Okay, sure.”
He drops his hands from my cheeks and removes my hand from the doorknob before closing and locking the door. Like the confident, sure-of-herself girl that I am, I take his hand and lead him to my bathroom first.
“There's an extra toothbrush and anything else you might need in the medicine cabinet. I'm going to go put my pajamas on.”
While he's in there, I pick up the few clothes that were lying on the floor and toss them into my closet before changing into a cute pair of blue pajama shorts and taking off my bra. My tank top can stay on. Now that Gabe isn't right here with me, I'm a little tired, stifling a yawn when I hear the bathroom door open. Seconds later, Gabe appears at my bedroom door, still dressed.
“Just a second,” I tell him, lifting a finger. I turn to my dresser, open a drawer, and start looking for what I know is in there. When I find them, I hold them up. “I have mens' basketball shorts and a shirt if you want to wear them. They drown on me, so they would probably fit you.”
He raises an eyebrow at me. “You keep mens' clothing on hand?”
“They're mine. I bought them.” His brows both rise higher. Why is he making me flustered? This is ridiculous. “Look, when I get sick, I wear these because they are the ultimate comfortable clothes. Do you want to wear the damn things or not?”
Gabe chuckles. “Sure.”
I slam them into his chest as I walk past him to go to the bathroom myself, and I hear him chuckle again. Once I've washed my face, brushed my hair and teeth, and used the restroom, I go back to my room. I find him with his ass in the air because he's bending over to put his folded clothes on top of his shoes near my dresser. But when he turns around, I see that he's not wearing the shirt. Only the shorts.
Oh, he looks so hot. I would have never thought I would be a fan of chest hair, but it looks like heaven on him. Not to mention his happy trail and then those deep, V muscles. Fuck. It's going to be me who is resisting having sex. Not him! This is not fair.
“The shirt was too small,” he explains.
Thank God. He doesn't need to cover up that body or those muscled legs. Before I have to wipe away drool, I manage a nod. “I'm so not sorry about that.”
Gabe laughs. “Turn off the light and get in bed.”
That's all I needed to hear.
Chapter Five
Gabe
I don't even know where to start with this girl. First, her friend calls, freaking out that something bad had happened to her. When I get to her apartment, that jackass had her pinned against the door, wanting to go inside. I overheard what he said about her being easy and her response. Yet I still texted her later about coming over. Ryan obviously noticed how I looked when I left the other day because she interpreted what I said about being scared into that. That wasn't how I meant it. And then she kept turning me down with outrageous excuses. When she got up and opened the door, I had every intention on leaving.
