Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series (17 page)

Jennifer wiped her tears and looked up at Gabe. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be crying.”

“Babe, you’re human doing a super-human job.” Pulling her tight, he apologized too. “But baby by coming out here alone, you put yourself at great risk and I can’t have you doing that. If something happened to you, I…well, think about Ross.”

Wiping her nose, she quipped, “That’s a low blow.”

“Not meant to be. But you cannot take care of all of the Mr. Courtlands of the world.”

Sniffling, she pulled back and sighed. “I know. I just couldn’t leave him here.”

“You should have called me. If I can’t come, I’ve got a whole pack of Mr. Giants who can come to your rescue.”

She could not hold back the giggle that escaped, “There’s only one Mr. Giant for me.”

He kissed her lips gently, saying, “Glad to hear it. But they’re there if you need help and I want you to call on me.” He cupped her face, tilting it so that his eyes were fastened on hers. “And baby, I know you’re independent and capable…but never, I mean never, come out to a bar alone again. You got a mission, then you have people who have your back. Anything less is a suicide mission. Got me?”

She saw the fear and concern in his eyes and nodded. “Okay. No more Lone Ranger.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Jesus, you’re a nut,” he said as he escorted her over to Vinny’s truck.

Once at the center, the three men quickly got Mr. Courtland into his studio apartment, out of his clothes and into bed. Cora came down from keeping an eye on Ross and bustled around attempting to help while trying to fuss at Jennifer. She finally headed back to bed to check on her husband, leaving the other four in the foyer.

Jennifer looked over at the men, standing around talking with the easy camaraderie of men who had had each other’s back over the years, both in the military and now in their jobs. She could not help but smile thinking that she and Ross had that now.
But…I owe them an apology.

Stepping up to them she looked them in the eyes as she admitted, “Guys, I really screwed up. I should have never gone there by myself and I know that now. So I’m sorry—”

Vinny interrupted her by taking a step forward, leaning down low to get right in her face with his hands on her shoulders. “Darlin’ girl, no apology necessary. You’ve got my brother’s back and we all have yours.” With that he kissed her forehead and then turned to Jobe saying, “I’ll ride with you and let Gabe have my truck.”

Jobe nodded, bent low to kiss her forehead too and then followed Vinny outside. She glanced up at Gabe saying, “I like your friends. And brother.”

“What about me?” he asked as they began the climb up the stairs.

“Oh, I like you too,” she teased.

He swooped her up in his arms and she giggled as she grabbed around his neck. “What are you doing? You shouldn’t carry me up the stairs; you’ll break your back,” she whispered as they neared her door.

“Baby, how much do you weigh?”

“That’s a rude question to ask a lady,” she retorted.

“Well, whatever the answer is, I’ve had rucksacks and weapons heavier than you. So carrying you around is just good exercise,” he whispered in her ear as he used her key to enter.

“Can you think of something else you can do with me that’s good exercise?” she purred as he slowly lowered her, letting her slide along the front of his body.

The feel of her breasts pressed against his chest and his cock answering the call of the wild had him dipping his head to take her lips. Backing her up against the door he angled his head as the kiss deepened, his tongue plunging into her sweet mouth. He lifted her back up in his arms, this time trapped between the door and his large body.

The kiss became consuming, both tongues vying for dominance. He captured her moan with his mouth, feeling his dick swelling painfully. She rubbed her aching pussy on his jean-clad knee, needing the friction as she felt herself begin to lose control.

Ross! I can’t do this here in the living room where he could walk in.

Pushing back on Gabe’s shoulders, she forced him back. He regretted the separation but understood where her mind had gone.

“I know we have to stop, babe,” he sighed, lowering her until her feet met the floor. She looked at him, indecision marring her lovely features. “What’re you thinking?” he asked, rubbing his thumb over her brow.

Quietly taking his hand, she led him past the small kitchen toward her bedroom. Opening Ross’ door she peeked in, seeing him sound asleep. Closing the door gently, she continued to pull Gabe into her room before shutting and locking her door.

Now it was his turn to look at her in question. She gave a little shrug, saying, “Can you be quiet?”

“Are you sure?” he whispered, hope mixed with desire flaring on his face.

Smiling, she pulled off her shirt in answer to his question. Her white lacey bra glowed in the moonlight that slipped through the blinds. Sliding her yoga pants and panties down her legs, she said, “Does this answer your question?” Her bra was quickly divested and tossed onto the floor.

His breath caught in his throat as he perused her perfect, tiny body. Curves, calling to his hands, filled her petite frame and her rosy tipped nipples begged for his mouth. Taking one step backward in the small bedroom brought her knees to the bed. His eyes glanced behind her and he stopped moving.

“What’s wrong?” she whispered, wondering what had him halting.

“That bed,” he said, looking at the tiny twin-sized bed. “There’s no way it’ll hold me.”

She twisted around to see how small her bed really was and then looked back at him.
He’s right. We’ll never fit.

Disappointment filled her face as she heaved a sigh.

No fuckin’ way am I leaving her like this.
“Babe, are you up for being a little creative?”

Her face lit up immediately. “Absolutely, as long as we can be quiet,” she reminded him.

“I know, sweetheart. I’ll be quiet but what about you?” he teased. He quickly divested himself of his clothes as well, pulling a condom packet out of his jeans and tossing it on the bed. “Lay back with your sweet ass right on the edge. I’ll take care of you,” he promised.

She did as she was told and he dropped to his knees between her legs. Smoothing his hands over her feet and calves, he lifted each leg over his shoulders opening her up to him. Leaning forward he slid both hands over her mound, up her stomach to her breasts. Palming the fullness, he lowered his head to her slick folds, licking and sucking as Jennifer began to writhe under the sensations. She clapped one hand over her mouth to keep from crying out loud as his hands slid back down and under her ass to lift it higher.

His tongue plunged into her wetness and lapped like a starving man.
Every time with her is like no other,
he thought as he realized that years of fucking for fuck’s sake had never felt like this.
I’ve never felt so connected.

He pushed all thoughts out of his head as he concentrated on giving her pleasure. One hand maneuvered back to her nipple and he rolled it between his thumb and forefinger.

“Gabe,” moaning as softly as she could, she begged, “please.” At this, she felt him move to her clit, sucking it deeply into his mouth and biting down ever so gently. “Aughhh,” she cried out with her hand still covering her lips, desperately trying to not wake Ross as her orgasm threw over the edge. As the tremors subsided, she dropped her hand just as Gabe leaned over the bed, his weight on his arms. He kissed her and tasted of the heady combination of her juices and his essence.

“What about you?” she asked. “How are we going to make this work?” she whispered, licking her lips.

His eyes dilated in lust seeing her pink tongue flick out. “Oh baby, we’re not nearly finished,” he growled. Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight and he held out his hand. “Come on up.”

He gently pulled her off of the bed and placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her around. “Crawl on your knees, ass in the air and stay right near the edge of the bed.”

She quickly did as she was told and he rubbed her ass in satisfaction. Leaning over her body, he tweaked both nipples and she gave a little yelp. With his breath tickling her ear, he admonished, “Gotta stay quiet, baby.”

Giving a little moan, she nodded. She saw that he was standing on the floor, his impressive cock standing at attention.

“Good girl.” Placing his aching dick at her entrance he rubbed the head in her still wet folds before plunging in. To keep the bed from moving, he grabbed her hips holding her in place. Trying to be careful, he knew she was probably going to have bruises.
Marked by me. Jesus, how caveman that sounds.

He moved in and out quickly, building up the heat and friction to the point that she could feel herself ready to fly apart. Her body rocked back and forth as he pounded into her, his balls slapping against her ass.

“Touch yourself, babe,” he ordered, smiling as she quickly acquiesced.
Fuck, that’s hot.
Her innocence was more of a turn-on than any coy flirt he had ever known. Feeling his balls tighten, he growled softly, “You almost there, babe?”

“Yes, yes, please…” she begged once more as the tightening in her core burst free, sending sparks outward from her pulsating pussy to her whole being.

Following immediately, he threw his head back while his thick neck muscles strained with the force of his orgasm. Her inner walls grabbed his cock as he poured himself into her. Peeling his fingers off of her hips, smoothing the red marks, he leaned over her body. Not wanting to crush her, he fell to the side taking her with him. They lay sideways on the small bed, legs tangled, his arms around her, breaths ragged, bodies slick with sweat, and hearts beating as one.

I want this,
he thought.
Every day. Every night. In my place. In my bed. In my heart.
Turning her so that she faced him, he wanted to see her eyes. Crystal clear. Blue. Shining.
With tears?

“Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked, his thumb wiping the single tear that slid out. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, no,” she said. “I just…never.”

“Never what, beautiful?”

“I never thought I would have…this.”

Gabe leaned up, piled the pillows against the small headboard then lay back pulling her up onto his lap. “What? What did you not think you would have?”

“This. You. Everything.” Seeing his concerned face, she added, “I’m not making much sense am I?” Taking a deep, shuttering breath, she said, “I knew being a social worker was going to be a lot of work for little pay. But I wanted it. And when I focused on elder care and housing, I felt like I had found my calling.” She looked around the tiny room, smiling as her mind wandered.

Gabe gave her a gentle squeeze to pull her back into the present.

Her eyes sought his and she blushed as she said, “I had a couple of boyfriends, nothing serious,” she rushed to say when she saw the tight look on his face. “But I figured that it didn’t matter if I had a little apartment surrounded by older people. I had friends and I was happy. Then when mom and dad were killed, everything changed in a flash. It was hard to grieve when I had Ross who was just turning seven years old.

“I gave up most things for him, and gladly did it. I wouldn’t trade him for anything, but I…assumed that I also gave up on love. I mean who’d want a woman with an eight-year-old brother. I was okay with that until you. And now you’re giving me something that I didn’t think I could have.”

Looking into his strong face with his massive arms around her, she said, “I love you, Gabe Malloy.”

Sliding his hand up to cup her face, he whispered, “Oh baby. You have no idea what you’ve brought into my life. Smiles that could light up a room. A heart so big that it takes in all others. You care, you give, you work to make things happen. You make so many lives better just by being who you are. And when you shine that light on me? Fuck baby. I’ve never known anything like it.”

He leaned in and kissed her lips. Soft. Gentle. A barely there whisper of a kiss. He leaned back and held her eyes again. “And Ross? Baby, providing for the two of you will be my mission. I think I’ve searched for a mission since I got out of the Special Forces and I’ve found it with you and that sweet boy.”

He leaned in and kissed her again. This time cupping both cheeks with his hands, pulling her close. Breathing her in. Living her essence.

Sliding down in the bed, he said, “I’ve got my alarm set. You go to sleep here and I’ll leave before Ross gets up.”

“Honey, you can’t possibly be comfortable on this tiny bed,” she fretted.

“Baby, with you in my arms, I’ll sleep better than in years,” he promised.

And he did. No nightmares. Only dreams of a future.

T
he morning of
the picnic dawned bright and clear. Before Jennifer and Ross headed over to Gabe’s place earlier, she tried to prepare Ross for the shock of seeing the large apartment, but he was all-boy when he went in. Warned to be on his best behavior, he stood at the entrance and just stared around at the open space. Watching him bounce on the balls of his feet, she knew that he was itching to take a flying run and jump onto the large L-shaped sofa.

“This is all yours? You don’t have to share it with anyone? Does Mr. Vinny live here with you? Can you see the whole world from these windows?”

Gabe laughed and tried to answer the rapid-fire questions.

Jennifer stood, feeling awkward knowing that the questions would become more complicated as Ross took it all in.

Gabe glanced over at her, knowing that she was trying to figure out a way to explain to Ross how one person could live in so much space and they shared such a small place.
Their parents were Peace Corps. Ross has probably never seen anything like this.

Before he could think of anything to say, Ross bounced again and said, “Jennybenny, I gotta go pee.”

“Ross, you just went and you know how to say it,” she said patiently.

“But I gotta go again. To the men’s room,” he pleaded politely.