AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They’d finally reached the street where she lived. He slowed down and parked his car in front of her house.
“Do you need my help carrying the paintings?” he asked.
“Yes, thank you. If you could maybe just put them inside the house. I’ll arrange for them to be shipped to the gallery in Livingston. Sally will be so happy.” She was talking way too much, too nervously, and quickly got out of the car.
Gavin opened the door at the back of his SUV, and within moments, she was unlocking the front door. He put the painting inside, made a quick second trip, and immediately stepped out onto the porch again.
“Goodnight, Brooke.”
“Gavin...”
He didn’t look at her. “I’ll try to stay out of your way until I leave for Seattle.”
Stunned, she stared at him. “What about our fake relationship? It was your idea, remember?”
He grimaced. “I know. We’ll let it play out until next week. I may leave earlier than planned.” Finally, his gaze found hers, but just for a moment before he turned away. He looked tired. And there was something else she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
Brooke was frozen to the spot. He was walking out of her life. He was going to leave next week anyway; maybe his idea of “scratching an itch” wasn’t such a bad idea. There was at least a possibility that after they’d made love, these strange feelings between them would settle. Maybe they’d even be able to laugh about it at some point, much later on.
He’d reached his car.
“Gavin!” She wasn’t quite sure why she was calling him, but she couldn’t let him leave, not like this.
He ignored her and opened the door or his car. Her feet finally got wings, and she flew out of the house, down the steps, and reached his side of the car just as he sat down.
“Gavin...” She hadn’t thought this through. “I mean...”
“What do you want, Brooke?” he asked, his eyes hooded.
And then it was so easy to say. “You. I want you.” She held out her hand.
For long moments, he stared at her. “You sure?”
She nodded.
“I need to hear the words, babe.”
“I want to be with you. I’ve never been more sure of anything before. And you have to know—what I feel when I’m with you, I’ve never felt before.”
Before she could blink, she was in his arms, and he was carrying her toward the house. His teeth were clenched together, the muscle in his cheek jumping up and down. Fascinated, she stroked over it, loving the sensation of his stubble against her hand.
He tried to open the door with his elbow, but it refused to budge. Cursing softly, he put her down. In any other similar circumstances, she probably would’ve laughed, but there was nothing funny about the way her heart was racing at the moment. If she couldn’t get her hands on him within the next few seconds, she was going to burst into flames.
He pushed the door open and helped her inside before he kicked it closed behind them. He stared at her. They were both breathing hard.
Slowly, he lifted his hand and touched her face. It was such a small gesture, but she felt his touch right down to her toes. Grabbing onto his shirt with both hands, she pulled him closer. And finally his mouth was on hers.
She slipped her arms around his body and held on. A current simply picked her up, and she gratefully capitulated. This was what she’d been craving for since...the first time she’d seen him, to be honest. To be this close to him, to feel the heat of his skin under her fingers, to inhale his scent, to kiss him like this.
––––––––
She was soft and lean, satin and roses. Within seconds, her scent had penetrated his skin, become part of his blood, and was racing through his body. Her fingers pulled at his shirt; he quickly plucked it over his head.
“Your room?” He hardly recognized his own voice, laced with desire.
Her gaze was on her hands, which had lazily begun to explore his chest. “Up the stairs, first one to the right.” It was just a murmur, but he’d heard her. He knew where her room was, she was not just giving him directions, she was giving him permission.
“You sure?”
