I cried out. I never knew I could sound so feminine and soft.
“Nothing bad. Yet.” Gabriel bit me again. The car jerked forward and the sound of metal assaulted our ears. “There goes second gear.”
“That’s not my fault! I know how to drive a manual.”
“Really? I wouldn’t have guessed, but then again I don’t really care. Grind away, Emma.”
I rolled my eyes. “Only a rich person would say that.”
“Guilty.” Gabriel’s hand played with the end of my sapphire satin dress. “Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?”
We pulled up to a stop light. I glared at him, mouth pressed into a hard line. “Gabriel Gordon, how can you even ask? When you get behind the wheel you have a responsibility to everyone else on the road. You don’t drink and drive. Period. Ever. If you even think you’re going to drink, get a driver. Call a cab. Walk. Whatever you do, don’t ever, ever drink and drive. Got it?”
Gabriel smiled beautifully. His expression hinted at great humor. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve been a bad boy, Ms. Adams. Are you going to punish me by stripping…my gears…further so my car is garaged? I won’t mind—especially if you promise to pick me up and take me home every day.”
“You can ride the bus—that is if your pack of girls would let that happen.”
“Oh, that’s not nice, Emma. I don’t want a pack. Never did. Just wanted you…”
“Hey! Watch your hand, Gordon!”
“Which hand? This one? Aw, Emma. Don’t be mean to my hand. It just wants to make the acquaintance of this one precious spot…right…here.” The spot in question being high on my thigh near my panty line. “Don’t be rude, my dear. Let them make friends.”
I reached for the arm making its way steadily up my thigh. “I have to drive and I can’t do it if you’re touching me like that.”
“Then pull over. I certainly don’t mind.” Gabriel kissed my ear, chuckling when I shuddered violently. “And apparently neither do you.”
The light turned green. I blew out a steadying breath and concentrated on not grinding the gears of his luxury convertible. So far, so good.
Then Gabriel rubbed his cheek against my chest. My foot slipped off the clutch before we could get into second gear. Thankfully no one was behind us. Gritting my teeth, I re-engaged the clutch and got into the right gear.
“Come on, Emma. Pull over. Just for a little bit. I just want to kiss you. One minute. That’s all.” Gabriel clasped his hands together in prayer. His eyes fluttered, innocence defined.
I licked my lips. I could already imagine the drugging pressure of his mouth over mine. I wanted to feel it again. Mind made up, I took the first right into an empty lot and parked.
“Good girl. I’m so glad you saw things my way,” he crooned while unbuckling our seat belts.
Lunging across the center console, I clasped his face and kissed him. I didn’t have the finesse he had, but what I lacked in technique I more than made up with enthusiasm.
Gabriel let me set the pace for a bit before taking over. He cupped the back of my head and then curved the long fingers of his free hand around my jaw. He teased the seam of my lips with the tip of his tongue, darting it past my parted lips until I moaned.
“I love kissing you, Emma!” Gabriel swore between long pulls of my mouth. “I could kiss you forever. I knew it would be like this…”
Lost in a wash of sensation, I ran my fingers greedily through his soft hair, loving the silkiness of his golden strands. I pushed against him harder, wishing the layers between us were reduced. I didn’t want to lose any bit of contact between our bodies.
“You’re mine, Emma,” he growled possessively. “Say it.”
Later I’d probably look back at this moment in equal parts embarrassment and wonder. Bewitched and unable to resist the siren call of obeying him, I whispered, “I’m yours, Gabriel.”
“Louder.”
“I’m yours!”
“For how long?”
“Always!”
He groaned and resumed kissing me breathless. I reached into his jacket and pressed my palm against Gabriel’s heart. It pounded against his ribs, mirroring the excited beat of mine.
We lost track of time, ravenous to taste every bit of each other. I never could’ve guessed how good it would feel to kiss.
It wouldn’t be like this with just anybody. It’s Gabriel that makes this different. Special.
As if he’d heard my thoughts, Gabriel pulled away long enough to ask, “Have you ever kissed anyone else, Emma?”
“What?” I stalled while licking my lips. I didn’t want to talk. I wanted more and tried to get it. Gabriel wasn’t to be denied an answer.