AllFreeNovel
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He’s not wrong. Still, I stubbornly reply, “I’m just a little… humid.”
“Well, let’s get you less humid.”
He goes inside and comes back a minute later with a giant, fluffy towel that he drapes around my shoulders as a blanket. The warmth is amazing, and I can’t help but close my eyes and breathe in the scent of clean cotton and the rich sweetness of caramel, honey, and charred wood. Dang, it smells like him and it’s heavenly.
My lids flutter open and I find MGM still crowding my space. Okay, maybe the paradisiac fragrance didn’t come from the towel. I’m still standing so close to the source, the two mingle. MGM needs to take a step back and take his delicious smell with him.
Instead, he leans closer still as he asks, “If you’re not lost, should I be glad you came to my cabin on purpose?”
“If I were you, I’d worry I was trying to off you in the woods, where no one could hear you scream.”
“You’re right.” He gives in too easily. “No one would hear our screams over here… be them of pain or pleasure.”
His words send a shudder through my body.
MGM’s expression is dark, stormy, and fierce, but I also detect a touch of mischief in his eyes.
Gabriel’s gaze shifts from my mouth to my eyes, then back again, as if he was about to test his “pleasure” theory. I take a step back and put some distance between us. “You know, when someone threatens to murder you, you should take the warning more seriously.”
“Nah, I thought you were going for a public spectacle tomorrow at our panel.” He removes a twig from my hair, and I have to muster all my self-control not to purr in response. Gabriel tosses the small branch to the side and continues his teasing. “Wouldn’t you rather have a crowd cheer as you annihilate me?”
“You have a point.”
“Tell me, Blake.” He takes a step closer, reducing the distance between us yet again. “Should I wear protection?”
“Always. Didn’t you listen in Sex Ed?”
“My, my.” His smile turns wicked. “Cracking jokes.” The jerk waggles his eyebrows. “And steamy, too. Happy to see we’re making progress.”
The only steam here is the one literally evaporating off my clothes under the towel. No matter that I was shivering two minutes ago. Now I’m boiling.
“Keep dreaming,” I whimper, taking another step back.
The dance where I retract and he advances continues until my back hits the baluster and there’s nowhere left for me to go.
MGM braces his arms on the railing on either side of me. “I’m a determined man. I have a way of not giving up until my dreams come true.”
Damn velvet voice.
I swallow. I can’t breathe.
“What are you doing?” I whisper; the words are quiet but they grate against my throat like a scream.
Gabriel smiles. “Nothing, just making polite conversation. Something the matter? You seem a little flustered.” His voice drops lower as he adds, “Don’t you like it when I flirt with you, Blake?”
I’m helpless to stop my eyes from roaming over his face, drinking in his features and details. I’m powerless to prevent my gaze from lingering on his beautiful lips, or the way my heart beats a little faster and my skin warms under the intensity of his stare. And I’m even more helpless to prevent my fingers from inching forward, itching to brush over his very tempting mouth.
I stop my hand midway, suddenly remembering myself. We both stare at it hanging awkwardly between us until MGM leans down the last few inches and cups his cheek with it.
His skin is smooth and warm under my fingers and I can’t control the way my thumb brushes over his cheekbone. As I slide down to his jaw, the feel of his stubble on my palm is the most sensual thing I’ve ever touched. At least until Gabriel turns his face and kisses the sensitive skin of my palm.
I look at him, breathing hard, completely mesmerized. He hasn’t kissed me yet, but a few more millimeters and our mouths will be touching.
I want him. I want this.
His lips lower, dangerously close to mine, and my entire body seizes up with fear so intense I drop my hand as if burned and move my face to the side, away from him.
Gabriel lowers his forehead to my temple. “Why are you resisting this? I can see you’re attracted to me.”
