Mine to Keep (7 page)

He leaned down and brushed her lips with his. Gabriel pulled away for a split second to see her reaction before taking her lips once again. She responded on the second kiss, her grip tightening in his hair as he held her in his arms. He moved his touch down her back to her ass, squeezing the delightful globes. She was all woman, and she made him hard as rock.

“We shouldn’t be doing this,” she said, pulling away from him.

“Why?” he asked, missing the contact.

She stopped, her gaze going from his eyes to his lips.

“I don’t know.”

“I’m not your ex. I’m not like Steven.” He cupped her cheek and tilted her head back. “I would never hurt you.”

“I know. I guess I’m just scared.” She stared at his chest, and his heart ached for her.

“I’m older than you, and I’m new around here,” he said.

“No. Not any of that. I don’t care about your age at all or the fact that you’re new around here.” She stopped talking. He wanted to take her in his arms so badly. The desire he felt for her threatened to consume him. Instead, he stood and listened. “I’ve never felt anything like this in my whole life.”

She took his hand and pressed it against her rapidly beating heart. “When I’m around you I’m always aching to feel your touch or to see you. I tried to ignore the happiness I felt when you came into the shop to see me. I want to give myself to you in a way I’ve never given myself to another man.”

“You’re scared of being hurt again?” he asked.

“I wasn’t hurt with Steven. He was a bully and a bastard, but I never loved him.”

Gabriel felt his stomach turn over. “Do you love me?”

“I feel like I could love you with time. I never felt anything for Steven at all. With you I feel so much, and I don’t want to be hurt by it.”

“We’ll take it easy.” He wrapped his arms around her and brought her close to him. The dom inside him was put to rest. Amy wasn’t sending him away. She needed the time, and the one thing he’d learnt over the years, was he could be a patient man to get what he wanted.

“Do you want me to cook dinner for your friend? I wouldn’t mind,” she said.

“I’m sure it would be lovely.”

“I’ll make it a late dinner. The kids will be in bed.”

Gabriel saw her to her room. He laid a kiss on her head before going to his own room.

Amy touched her lips and smiled. Gabriel had kissed her. The sensation was such a heady one she didn’t know how to stop herself from giggling like a little school-girl. She collapsed against the door. Her heart pounded inside her chest. This is what she thought love with a guy could be like. The movies she had watched over the years had left her feeling bitter about life and love. What Gabriel made her feel was nothing to be bitter about.

She felt so happy she could burst. Her children adored Gabriel, and she knew she was half in love with him already. His kiss had made her feel faint, and her toes had tingled when he held her close. The magical experience would stay with her for the rest of her life. She went and stood in the mirror and stared at her reflection. For the first time in her life she saw a woman reflecting back at her. A happy woman with a future ahead of her that was filled with love.

The dress meant more to her because Gabriel had picked it out himself. She ran her hand down her body feeling the expense of the fabric and the wonderful sensation of it gliding against her skin. She removed the dress and her underwear and stood looking at her reflection. The last time she’d viewed her body in the mirror she’d seen nothing but skin and bones. The starvation she’d undergone at Steven’s hands had left nothing of her. Now, she was on the plump side. Her hips were thick and her tummy rounded. Her breasts were large and fit with the shape of her body.

There would have been a time in her life where she would have hated seeing her body in any kind of mirror. She stared at her body and saw a survivor.

Twirling her hair around a finger she lost herself in her own fantasy of life with Gabriel. He was so masculine. His tone of voice and presence made her aware that he didn’t take any bullshit. He was a man who went after what he wanted. Did he want her? From the kiss she thought he did.

She pulled on a nightshirt and lay down on her bed. Being Gabriel’s would be a heady experience.

“Amy is my woman, and I love her with all my heart.” She imagined what he would say. Maybe one day she would hear him say the words.

****

The following day Amy went to the store to get some groceries. Gabriel had phoned her after she dropped Billy and Mia at school to warn her that William would be arriving that night and leaving on Friday. She ignored the stares of people and placed the ingredients she needed inside her trolley. No one would force her to go back into her shell any more. When she was at the till paying for her items she noticed the other people had stopped staring and were getting on with their own business. She smiled to herself. If she’d ignored them in the first place maybe she would have been happier a lot earlier. Deciding not to bother, she said goodbye to the woman who served her and made her way out the shop. Gabriel was leaning against his truck. Amy stopped, watching him. He was so tall, and his presence always caught her off guard.

His arms were folded over his chest. The muscles bulged, making her shiver inside. He would be so strong, and she wondered what he would look like naked. The thought caught her unawares, and she stumbled into his arms.

“Hey, baby. Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes. You know you can startle a woman just standing like that,” she said before she could stop herself. He chuckled, and the sound made her pussy get wetter.

“You’re blushing, Amy Grant. Why do I get the feeling you’re thinking nasty thoughts?” he said.

“Maybe because I am.” She lifted her gaze to his. The boldness inside her came out of nowhere.

The world fell away, and he and she were the only two who existed.

“I think I like this daring woman before me.” He cupped her cheek tilting her head back. She held the groceries in her hands, and she couldn’t touch him. The intensity of his stare kept her in the same spot waiting for him to make the first move.

“You know everyone is staring at us. We’ll be the talk at the tea table tonight.”

Amy smiled. “I’ve been the talk of the tea table for quite some time. You could kiss me and give them something fresh to talk about.”

Who was this woman?

“You’re tempting me, Amy. I think I should take you home and spank this hot little ass of yours.” He squeezed her left ass cheek, and she gasped.

What was happening to them?

“I think we should give them something to talk about,” Gabriel said. He took her bag of groceries and dumped them in the back of his truck. Next, she was in his arms, and his lips were on hers. She wrapped her arms around him and gave him everything in her kiss. Her heart raced, and the heat spilled from her pussy. All he had to do was kiss her, and she was wet for him. The power he held over her scared her at times, but in this instance she liked being his. The whole town would know she belonged to Gabriel Anderson, and they couldn’t do a thing about it.

With him at her side, she knew she would be able to achieve everything.

He pulled away. “I think that’ll keep them talking for the rest of the year.”

She giggled and kissed him back. “That was for me. I don’t care what the rest of the town think.”

“You’re going to be the death of me. I didn’t kiss you to put on a show, Amy. I kissed you because I couldn’t not kiss you.”

He opened the truck door and helped her into the passenger seat. “Shouldn’t you be working?” she asked.

“I am working. I’m helping my woman home.”

The thrill went through her at his words. “Am I your woman?”

“You’re no one else’s.”

Gabriel pulled away from the path, and they travelled out of the town. For a Wednesday there weren’t many people around. Amy said as much to Gabriel.

“They’re all in the town hall trying to protest several businesses from being sponsored in the town.”

“I hadn’t heard of anyone wanting to open up a new shop,” she said.

“Paul and David Steer are the ones who are sponsoring the new businesses.”

“Do I even want to know what will be opening up in CapeFalls?” She looked out of the window, and she saw the doors opened to the main town hall doors. She saw how busy it was.

“What makes you think they’ll succeed in getting them to open?” Gabriel asked.

“The Steer brothers know what they’re doing. I’m sure they’re only doing this for their own amusement. What’s opening up?”

“A tattoo parlour and a gentlemen’s club.”

“That’s it?” Two businesses didn’t sound all that troublesome.

“For now, but I think they have other plans for this little town. They want to create their own entertainment.” Gabriel pulled out of the town and drove along the road. “William called. He’s going to be in town this afternoon.”

“Are you bringing him home with you?” she asked.

“No. He’ll come straight to the house. Don’t be worried about him. I’ll be home at five the latest tonight.” He tapped her knee.

“Do you want me to leave him alone in your house while I pick up the kids?”

“Yes. He won’t steal the silver, Amy. He’s a friend.”

Amy chuckled as he pulled up outside his front door. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. William is a strange man, but you’ll see he’s very charming.” Gabriel got out of his truck and grabbed her groceries for her.

“I’ve got to get back to town. Take care, and I’ll see you later.”

Amy stood and watching him drive off before going inside. She went straight to the kitchen and put her cheese and milk in the fridge. When the rest of her food was unpacked she grabbed the chicken from the fridge and marinated it in lemon, garlic, chili, and olive oil to give it flavour.

Next she began making the crème brûlée for desert. She’d enjoyed it once when Laura had made it at one of her dinner parties, and she wanted to give it a try. She was on the final stages of stirring the custard when the doorbell rang.

“Hold on,” she called.

A quick beat and she poured the vanilla custard into the cold dish and placed it in the fridge.

The doorbell kept ringing as the person refused to hold on.

Red-faced and annoyed she stormed to the door.

“When I say hold on that means hold on.” She yelled the last part as she flung open the door. A man who was easily six foot six stood on her doorstep. His dark black hair was cut short with a hint of greys. He was large like Gabriel with thick arms, but that was where their likeness ended.

“Well, hello. You must be Amy.” He leaned against the door frame. His whole body filled the doorway.

“Does that mean you’re William?” she asked.

“The one and only.” He bowed down low, and she chuckled. “I take it Gabriel told you about me.”

“He didn’t have much of a choice. You’ll be staying here, and so am I.”

“May I come in?” he asked.

“Of course. Sorry.”

She moved out of the way giving him plenty of room to enter.

“That smells heavenly. Is that vanilla?”

“You know your scents,” she said, leading him to the kitchen. “I was making crème brûlée.”

“I use vanilla often but not in cooking.” The saucepan was left on the side. She watched him dip his finger inside the pan of custard. He sucked on his custard covered finger with a moan. “Wow, that is tasty. I can’t wait for more.”

“I’ve got to go and get my children. Can I leave you here, or would you like to come for the walk?” she asked.

“I think walking would be such fun.”

Gabriel drove home feeling the weight of the whole town on his shoulders. He’d never heard so many complaints. Nearly every member of the town had stopped by the station to ask him if they could stop the Steers from sponsoring a new business.

The sun was setting, and when he walked in he heard William straight away. Amy was laughing, and the children were giggling. He moved to the dining room and found William fighting with a meatball and chip.

“I have to say your fights have gotten rather meaty since the last time,” Gabriel said.

His friend looked up and gave him a smile. “Well look at you. You’re the small town sheriff through and through.” William ate the meatball and chip. Mia and Billy were talking excitedly.

“Guys, this is Gabriel’s friend. Let them catch up. William will still be here after dinner.” Amy smiled and gave him a wave.

He went to the sitting room and closed the door.

“I have to say, Gabriel, you’re one lucky guy,” William said, taking a seat in front of the open fire.

“I know.”

“If you hadn’t claimed her as your own I’d have to make a play for her. Did you see those curves? Man, she’d fill my hands, and she’d take a nice hard fucking as well.”

Gabriel let him have his fantasy. There was no way he’d be touching Amy.

“You’re smitten with her.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Because she’s moved in with you, which you’ve never let a woman do. And secondly, you look happy and settled, and I’ve never seen you do both. Does she know who you are?”

Gabriel poured himself a shot of whisky from the bottle and poured another for William.

“No, she doesn’t know about me.” He knew she would find out about him eventually. Being a dominant wasn’t an easy secret to keep from the woman in your life. Are you really a dominant? Gabriel couldn’t help but feel as if his dominant side was leaving him. His instincts were changing where Amy was concerned. He wanted her for much more than being a submissive.

“She’s got fire, but she trusts you without completely knowing you. That’s rare. I envy you, Gabriel. I have yet to find a woman for myself who will give me everything I desire.” He heard the sadness in his friend’s voice.

“I heard you had already requested permission to set up your club in CapeFalls. How you managed to call it a gentlemen’s club baffles me,” Gabriel said.

“Do you really think I wouldn’t have joined you here eventually? CapeFalls is just the right town to cause a few problems. I think it will do the folk good. I walked ‘round the main town before I got a cab to here. Wow, some men need to loosen up, and the women look like they need a good fucking.”