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"Excellent, even," she agrees, kissing the bridge of my nose. "Now do me well."

With an evil grin, I slide my hand down the curve of her thigh and grasp  the crook of her knee, bringing it up to my hip. Exposed, she's  glistening wet, pretty pink. My cock pulses in approval.

"As you wish," I say, guiding myself to her warm, wet well of addiction and pushing in deep.

She gasps and groans, the sound so erotic, I thrust harder than planned.  But she merely grins. "Quotes The Princess Bride and has a big, hard  cock. I've hit the jackpot."         

     



 

I know I'm the true winner, but that doesn't stop me from taking her  hands in mine and raising them over her head so her pretty tits lift  high.

"Hush now and spread those lovely thighs wider like a good, chatty girl. I've work to do here."







Sophie drifts away from my side as we take the elevator down to the  lobby in the morning. I tug her right back where she belongs, and wrap  an arm around her waist to keep her there.

A soft blush colors her cheeks as she smiles up at me. "I wouldn't have taken you for a handsy guy."

I've had my hands on every inch of her at this point-an experience I  want to repeat. Often. I rub the delectable curve of her hip, because I  can.

"I'm not. This is a Sophie only condition. Does it bother you?"

I don't know what I'll do if she doesn't like it. Probably live with my  hands permanently tucked into my pockets to keep from reaching for her.  But she simply grins wide and rests her head on my shoulder, her hand  smoothing down my chest. It feels so good, I find myself leaning into  her touch.

"I think last night made it clear that I love you touching me," she says.

Last night. Heat licks over my skin and settles in my cock. We fucked  until we were shaking and breathless. I kissed her until I couldn't feel  my own lips. And still I kissed her some more.

I want more now. But I'm not sure I can handle it. The battering my body  took fighting, the lack of sleep when I feared I'd lost my chance with  Sophie, and the lack of sleep when I finally had Sophie is catching up  on me.

I'm lightheaded, slightly dizzy-euphoric and just plain exhausted. I  wouldn't change a thing, however. Not when the end result is Sophie  being well and truly mine.

The elevator arrives at the lobby, and we exit. Across the way, the guys  have congregated, drinking coffee in the lounge. They've drawn a fair  bit of attention, but they don't seem to care.

At my side, Sophie's steps slow.

I slow too. "What is it?"

She nibbles on the corner of her lip. "How do you want to play this?"

"This?" I ask blankly.

She glances toward the guys. "I'm thinking you're not big on public  displays of affection. If you'd rather we kept things to ourselves-"

I step into her space, cup her cheeks, and kiss her. Do I care for  public displays? No. Can I keep my hands, my mouth off Sophie? Hell no.

When her lips yield to mine, the world falls away. I groan, tilt my  head, and go deeper, luxuriating in the feel of her mouth and the taste  of her tongue on mine.

I kiss her until I run out of air. And even then it is a struggle to stop.

She utters a happy sigh, her lips returning to mine again and again.

Behind us, someone gives a wolf whistle. I'm guessing it's Rye by the sound of it. He can sod off.

I end the kiss with one last nibble on her lower lip. "Consider yourself outed," I whisper against her mouth.

She smiles, her brown eyes dazed. "Wow, you really go all in."

"For you? Yes."

She grins. "As long as you're okay, I'm okay."

I'm dizzy again, sweating a bit. I need a strong pot of tea and a good  breakfast. But Sophie's needs come first. I give her a reassuring peck  on her nose. "Don't worry, chatty girl. All is well now."

I take two steps. The world goes black.





Chapter Twenty-Two





Sophie







"I do not need to be here," Gabriel announces. "Get this IV out of my arm."

Gabriel Scott: worst patient ever. I should have expected as much.

Brenna apparently thinks the same. "Shut up and take your medicine, Colossus."

He narrows his eyes in warning. "Colossus?"

Brenna gives him a cheeky look. "You know, the Colossus of Rhodes? One  of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They say when it fell, it was  quite the spectacle."

"Hilarious," he deadpans.

But I laugh, grateful for the emotion. I was terrified when he fainted.  Gabriel is eternal in my eyes. Superman in a tailored suit. He cannot  topple. To see him take a step and suddenly crumple to the ground as if  the strings of life had been cut is a sight I never want to witness  again.

Now, he sits stiff and pissed off on our bed, because, according to  Brenna, Kill John and company have a strict,  no-alerting-the-press-by-going-to-the-hospital-unless-you're-truly-dying  rule. One that pissed me off when my man was lying prone on the floor,  but in hindsight, I can appreciate it. I know for a fact that Gabriel  would have gone ballistic if he'd woken in a hospital room.

He's so pissy now that he's scared away the guys. Only Brenna and I  remain. I'm guessing this is because Gabriel never yells at women.         

     



 

There's a light knock on the bedroom door, and Dr. Stern lets herself  in. She is the band's on-call physician. Apparently she's been going on  tour with Kill John for years. I met her once-she keeps to herself and  flies to all the cities instead of using a coach.

Elegant yet down to earth, she reminds me of the Upper West Side moms  who work full time but still take their kids to the Museum of Natural  History on Sundays.

"How is my patient doing?"

"Annoyed." Gabriel lifts his arm. "Would you please remove this?"

The doctor is immune to his evil glare. "When it's finished. You mind telling me how you felt before you fainted?"

"As though I were about to faint but hoped very much it wouldn't happen."

"Stubborn," I mutter under my breath.

Dr. Stern nods. "And have you felt this way before?"

A mulish expression mars Gabriel's face. When he doesn't speak, Brenna stands. "I'm gonna head out."

As soon as she leaves, Dr. Stern asks him the question again.

With a sigh, he answers. "Yes."

"How many times, Scottie?" she persists. "And for how long?"

Seconds tick by.

"Since the beginning of the tour. On and off, perhaps ten times. I didn't count."

"Jesus," I blurt out, getting up from my seat and pacing to the window before rounding on him. "What the hell, Gabriel?"

He won't meet my eyes.

Dr. Stern sighs. "I'd say you're extremely stressed and overworked. Have you been sleeping well?"

A faint flush hits his cheeks. "Not lately."

God, it's my turn to blush.

"You need more than a good night's sleep, Scottie. In fact, I'd prescribe a long vacation."

"I'll go on holiday when the tour is over."

The promise does not sound very convincing.

Dr. Stern apparently feels the same. "You're ignoring your health, which is never a good thing."

"I have not ignored the situation," he snaps. "Christ, I was willing to turn my life upside down to get a proper night's sleep-"

He abruptly shuts up and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Shit."

"By asking me to room with you," I finish for him.

His gaze slides to mine, and I see him wince. "Are you upset?" he asks.

"Why should I be? You told me from the beginning me why you wanted me there."

He can't hide the flinch of surprise. But he doesn't say a word, just eyes me as if waiting for me to explode.

I laugh. "How could I be mad about that? I'm the one you needed. If I'm honest, it kind of melts me."

He begins to smile.

"But I am pissed at you."

"Oh, for pity's sake," he bursts out, lifting his hands in exasperation,  as he turns to the doctor. "You see? Lei è completamente pazza."

Whatever he said makes Dr. Stern chuckle.

I glare at both of them, stalking over to his bedside. "Don't you go  yammering off in Italian. I don't care if it sounds like hot, buttered  sex; I'm still pissed."

Gabriel shakes his head. "Why are you angry? I don't understand."

"You never told me how badly you were suffering, you stubborn ass. You  let it get to this point." I lean in until we're nose to nose. "I care  about you. I don't want to see you faint like that ever again."

"Trust me, Darling, I'm not planning on fainting like that ever again."

"Is that supposed to reassure me, when you refuse to see a doctor when  you're feeling ill? You can't control everything, you know."

My answer is his stubborn chin lifting and his lush mouth flattening.  But I see the flash of fear in his eyes before he conceals it. I've been  so worried, I missed the signs. He's terrified right now. I glance at  Dr. Stern.

"May we have a moment?"

"Certainly."

As soon as she leaves, I sit by Gabriel's side and take his hand. It's cold and clammy. "Talk to me."