Dangerous for You (10 page)

I sighed long and loud. “You make me a pervert and then complain because I like it.”

“I’m absolutely perverse, aren’t I?”

“And a damn tease at that!” I crossed my arms and huffed at his laughter. My eyes widened when I realized what I had done. Oh my God—I huffed! Huffed like Gabriel when he was in a snit. He was definitely rubbing off on me.

Gabriel cut me a look and although his eyes were hidden, he apparently was doing his best not to smile. It seemed he found the same humor in the situation as I did. Pulling the car over again, he turned off the engine. Before I could uncross my arms, Gabriel pulled me close and dared me to try to wiggle away. “So I’m a tease, huh?”

“The worse.”

Gabriel grinned, his smile a touch malevolent. Warmth spread liquid fast. I was lost in sweet lust once again, especially because we were tapping into something new. A bit of exhibitionism, a bit of discipline…what was going to happen next?

“Emma, Emma.”

“Gabriel, Gabriel.”

“You’ve hurt my feelings, you know? Calling me a tease, practically accusing me of neglecting your needs…that’s not giving me the warm and fuzzies, Emma.”

“I do feel a
little
bit neglected.”

“Well, then isn’t it wonderful that this car is part of my space?”

“Your space, your rules,” I breathed happily.

“That’s right.” Gabriel shifted me so that my chest was plastered right against his, leaving my backside open and clear for whatever he chose to do. “You’ve already gotten addicted to a bit of a smacking, have you?”

“Maybe a little.”

“We’ve come so far from that very first spanking, haven’t we?”

I moaned softly. “You mean how I was a crying jagged mess that needed a nap afterwards?”

“Hmm, but you were so cute!”

“Cute? How was I cute, Gabriel? Was it the swollen eyes or the snot running down my face?”

“Both.” He kissed the corners of my mouth. “You were so vulnerable that evening. Honest. Free. You enchanted me with that alone…”

Gabriel palmed my bottom. The heat of his hand penetrated through my clothes. I moved closer to him, excited and anticipating the sweet sting that was sure to come next.

“We’re going Gemma so what do you want, Emma? Do you want me to spank you here?” He tapped a spot low on the curve.

Mouth dry and heart beating loudly in my ears, I managed a slow nod.

“Words, Emma. Use your words.”

I swallowed and whispered, “If you want to.”

“Just like that? That’s rather a stingy, non-eloquent reply, don’t you think?”

“What would you like me to say?”

“The truth. I’m a fan of it, you could say. Don’t see enough of it generally. Ah, there it is. There’s my little wrinkle.” Gabriel lightly tapped the space between my brows. “I’m irritating you a bit, aren’t I?”

I
was
irritated. A little bit.

I was irritated because I’d been the biggest liar of us all. Always pretending I wasn’t afraid when I really was. Never coming out and saying exactly what I wanted because I was afraid it would make me look weak.

Old habits were apparently hard to break.

“Gabriel, I want you to give me a spanking. I mean, just a little one.”

“Just a little one?” His smile flashed before disappearing. “Why?”

Wishing he’d take off his sunglasses, I tried to read his inscrutable expression and failed. “Because you brought it up and now I want it.”

“Deflection. Tsk, tsk. You can do better than that, Emma.”

I sighed and looked down. “You absolutely are perverse.”

“Truly. Tell me more. I’d love to hear it.”

Looking back at him, I said flatly, “You know what I want.”

“Of course I do.” Gabriel’s wolfish smile tempted me to come and play with him, to pet the beast in the hopes that he’d lick my hand and maybe more. Much more.

“But you won’t just give it to me without discussion, will you?”

“I’m afraid not, my girl. I’m a wordy kind of fellow.”

Logically, I should’ve had my eye on the clock. I should’ve been encouraging Gabriel to make haste for the office and not trying to get him to spank me in broad daylight. Truthfully, I didn’t care enough at the moment, but I hoped that wouldn’t change later.

“I want to tell you to just do what you want, Gabriel. Or even better—that I don’t really give a damn if you do or don’t do what I want. But that’s not even close to being true.”

“Then what is?”

A shudder went through me as I responded to his seductive whisper. “Now that you’ve shown me what it’s like, I want it. Need it. I like it when you’re physical with me like that. It makes me feel…cared for…wanted.”

“Even loved?”

I stared at him, gaze open and unflinching. “Yes. Especially that.”

Gabriel squeezed my backside. The rhythmic opening and closing of his hand lulled me.

“And I do love you. So very much, Emma. More than anything. You believe me, don’t you?”

Hearing that he loved me thrilled me. It was like falling in love over and over again. “I know, Gabriel. I feel the same way about you.”

“Then say it,” he commanded, mouth hovering over mine.

“I love you, Gabriel. More than anything. Forever.”

His body uncoiled and relaxed against mine. I whispered it again and again. I didn’t take pleasure in Gabriel’s vulnerability but I did take comfort. Despite our outward faces, we were both sometimes a little scared in regards to love.

Gabriel dropped tiny kisses all along the curve of my shoulder. “You feel all wound up, don’t you? Tight with tension. You need me to release it for you.”

I dropped my head back and moaned an affirmative.

“You were scared at lunch today, weren’t you?”

“Yes, I was. Sometimes my old fears have a way of not feeling so old.”

“But you still managed to be so gracious towards my mother. It means the world to me that you met her, Emma.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So this is the least I can do, right?”

Before I could reply, Gabriel’s hand landed hard. I bucked against him, half in surprise and half in discomfort. Longing flooded me as my pain centered on the growing heat. I wanted more and Gabriel gave it to me.

I counted ten strikes silently before the adrenaline rush surged and crashed, leaving me feeling better than if I had cried for an hour. Molded to him, I rested my head on Gabriel’s shoulder and heaved several breaths.

His hand stroked my back and his heavy breathing matched mine. “Did that hit the spot, Emma?”

“Absolutely.”

Gabriel cupped my face with both hands. His lips caressed mine chastely, sweetly. “I wish we didn’t have to go back to the office.”

“Neither do I.”

“You know, you never played hooky with me back in school.”

“Probably because I was afraid your hooky involved taking me to a hotel and having your way with me.”

“Nah. I would’ve just taken you home for that.”

I chuckled and slapped him on the arm for good measure. “You’re shameless, Gabriel! Simply shameless.”

“I know, I know.” He kissed me long and slow before saying, “We should probably get going. We haven’t drawn much attention yet, but I don’t want to push our luck.”

With that I ended up making it to my desk with a scant minute to spare. I also spent the rest of the afternoon finding it difficult to sit in one position for more than a few minutes.

And I regretted nothing about it.

SEVEN

If only I’d know everything was on the verge of unraveling, that chaos would know my name, I would’ve enjoyed my last few days with Gabriel more. The tragedy of human nature cursed us to never know when the good days were about to be a thing of the past…

Tuesday

“Emma! Where’s my boots?” Gabriel called from his bedroom.

“Which ones? The black ones?”

“No! The brown ones.”

“Probably where you last left them.”

I heard his footsteps as he made his way quickly down the short hall. Honestly, I was picking up quite a few habits from my boyfriend because I loved riling Gabriel up. He was so damned cute at those times. It made it easier to forgive him when he got me red-faced and irritated speechless for the same reason.

“Lovely answer! Really. You’re lucky we’re here and not at the penthouse.”

I looked over my shoulder while continuing to stir the chili. “You know that threat doesn’t hold the same kind of menace you seem to think it does.”

“Wow! Shots fired, Emma!”

I shrugged and stuck my tongue out. “I thought you liked my honesty.”

“I do, I do. But your newfound honesty is like a toddler gone wild. There’s absolutely no filter.”

My unrepentant grin had Gabriel shaking his head. “I’ve unleashed a titan unto the world. I wonder how titan-like you’ll be when you’re tied up, gagged, and lying naked at my feet.”

“Ooh, sounds like fun.” I purred for added effect. “Should we take a rain check on dinner and head right over to the penthouse? I vote yes.”

“Why did I think you’d ever be against my kinky side? You’re obviously ten times the kinkster I am. I’ve created a monster!”

“Are you complaining because you made it so good that I happen to crave your domination daily?”

“Well, it would be disingenuous if I complained, wouldn’t it?” He hopped up on a bar stool. “Now, my darling. My sweet, sweet girl—have you seen my boots?”

“You’re convinced I had something to do with their disappearance.”

“Of course, you did. You cleaned and when you clean everything gets moved about.”

“Oh! You mean like everything gets put back in its place?”

“I suppose you might call it that. Except for this.”

“You could always wear another pair.”

“Yes, but that would require me to change my clothes.”

“So why don’t you?” I already knew the answer.

“Because I don’t want to.” Gabriel drew a pattern on the bar with his index finger, beautiful eyes hooded as he stared at me. “Tell me true, Emma. You’re holding them hostage.”

I swallowed my thoroughly girlish giggle and gave him my back so I could tend to our dinner. “Why would I do that?”

“Hmm, why indeed? Perhaps because you really don’t want to go shopping for a new dress?”

I put my wooden spoon down and turned back around. “You’re telling me I hid your boots so that I don’t have to get a new dress?”

“Yup.”

“You do realize how demented that sounds?”

“Doesn’t make it any less true. The ballet is tomorrow and so tonight we must find something for you to wear. I could always send out for a dress but that takes the fun out of it for me. And it’s such fun, isn’t it?”

I frowned and then quickly smoothed my face into a pleasant expression.

“Ha! I saw that. The truth is all over your face. Go ahead, love. Try to deny it. No? I didn’t think so.” He smirked and waggled his finger. “Your move, Ms. Adams.”

I crossed my arms and then re-crossed them. Finally I sighed. “How did you know?”

“Because, my dearest, I know you.” He threw a glance at the stove. “I also find it convenient that you started cooking chili when you’re supposed to be getting ready.”

“What?” I tugged at my tank top. “I am ready.”

Gabriel nodded quickly as he stood up. He walked into the kitchen a couple of seconds later and joined me at the stove. “Baby, you could wear a sack and make it look delicious, but I think the pajama bottoms really don’t say ‘boutique shopping.’ You know what I mean?”

“Fine. But you know my chili will be ruined if we leave now.”

“Wrong.” Gabriel ducked into his pantry and brought out a large cooker. “I already read the manual, Emma. You can put the chili in this and we can still eat it tonight.”

“Honey! You bought a crock pot!”

Gabriel puffed his chest out. I giggled again, charmed by his boyish delight. He cleared a spot on the counter and plugged it in. Quickly, Gabriel poured the chili into the crock pot and pushed a button. “Did I do it right, Professor Adams?”

I peeked around his arm. “Perfectly.”

“Wonderful.” Gabriel turned around and crossed his arms. “Now, Emma. Where are my boots?”

I sighed and pushed off the counter. “Under the bed. The first place you should’ve looked, by the way.”

“Now why ever would I look there?”

“It’s the most obvious, isn’t it?” I called over my shoulder as I walked down the hall. Once I reached the bed, I neatly plucked his large boots out from under it. “Here you are. Happy?”

“Very much so. You know these are my happy boots. I can’t help but feel a springy step each time I wear them.” Gabriel accepted his footwear with a flawless bow. “Thank you, madam. You’re so very kind.”