With a gasp, a nearby waiter turned and scurried to grab a broom. Thalía was suddenly standing next to him. She held out a small towel. Gabriel took it.
“Gracias. (Spa for ‘thank you’)”
“Gabri, you’re wasting your time with her,” Thalía said quietly, nodding toward Calleigh. “You’re going to get hurt, you know that.”
“You’re wrong.”
Gabriel wiped the blood off his hand with the towel. The cuts were superficial.
“She can’t hurt me.”
While saying it, Gabriel knew he was lying. Calleigh had cut him to the bone long ago. But, his lust for her cut far deeper than any blade. Gabriel watched her across the room, dancing with her eyes closed, her arms swaying over her head. Like ev
As Gabriel felt her body tighten, he knew he couldn’t last. Touching Calleigh was pure heaven. Her skin was even softer than he remembered. She tasted sweet, so incredibly sweet. The very first time he slid inside her, he nearly lost control. With every thick thrust, he watched her full breasts sway from the force of his possession, and he gasped out each breath. How long had he wanted her? How had he denied himself for so long? With each slow thrust inside her, Gabriel shattered a little more, until he was coming apart like a castle of cards in front of the sea breeze. His whole body shook with the agony of holding himself back when all he wanted to do was bury himself in her completely, to lose himself in the ecstasy of making love to his Calleigh.
His eyes were dark as they fixed on Calleigh. It was time… “This past summer, I almost lost my business,” Gabriel said in a low voice. “A very important document was stolen from my house which suggested I might be cheating my stockholders of a great deal of money. Of course, that was a huge lie, since I wasn’t. But it cast the company’s finances in a sordid light.” Calleigh stared up at him, shocked. “Oh, God… That’s terrible! Did you find out who did it?” He looked at her, his eyes glittering. “Yes, I did.” “I’m so relieved… I hope you put them in jail! For a long, long time.” Gabriel took a sip of black coffee. “I won’t because it’s not my style.” “Okay… Still, I don’t understand what does that have to do with me…
His assistant’s voice was too well-trained to register surprise. “Investigate Mrs. De León?” “Yes. Have Johnson find out how her real father died. See if there’s any reason it might be tied to me or to my company. Tell him to let me know as soon as he finds out something.” As Gabriel hung up the phone, his gaze lingered on Calleigh, so beautiful and natural in the pink top and short cotton skirt. Instead of stiletto heels, she was exploring this city, and her new life, in flat sandals absolutely made for walking. Her bright, happy face, once so pale, was starting to tan in the Spanish sun. He’d once thought to use her amnesia against her. He’d never imagined that her innocence and warmth would affect him so damn much. Gabriel f
The sunlight was bright, almost blinding against the amazing white villa. Looking between the sky and sea, Calleigh thought she’d never seen so many shades of blue… Turquoise, cobalt, indigo. Was like living in a magical world. This island was a fairyland. As she stretched out on the lounge chair beside the infinity pool, the sky seemed to blend with the sea below. Putting down her pregnancy book, Calleigh watched the wild surf of the Mediterranean Sea crash onto the white sands below. She could stay there forever, just watching the hypnotic dance of the waves. They had only been here a few hours, but Calleigh had already happily changed into a new yellow floral bikini and pretty, translucent pink cover-up with a loose belt. She now had a closet full of comfortable, pretty clothes, brought here by her very own personal assistant. Courtesy of her wo
Gabriel carried her up from the beach as if she weighed nothing at all, walking back to the villa. He took the stairs two at a time as he whisked her upstairs to the master bedroom overlooking the ocean. Behind her husband’s handsome face, Calleigh barely noticed the high ceilings, the open balcony doors, and the white translucent curtains waving in the hot breeze off the Mediterranean Sea. She was shaking with longing, limp with desire. They never even made it to the bed. As they passed the balcony doors with its view of the wide blue sea, Gabriel kissed her. She twisted in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as the kiss intensified. Pushing her against the sliding glass door, he slipped off her yellow bikini as her trembling hands pulled off his swim tr
A month later, Calleigh still couldn’t understand where things went wrong between them. She lived in an amazing Spanish villa on a private island. She was married to the most handsome man on earth and expecting his child. She was healthy, living in blissful luxury beneath the Mediterranean sun. Even so, for the last month, Gabriel hadn’t touched her. She’d been alone in her marriage… in her life. She’d never felt so miserable. Though they lived in the same house, they lived separate lives. Gabriel worked nights in the office, coming to bed only long after she was asleep, or worse, not coming to bed at all, just sleeping on the couch in his office. She spent her days preparing for the arrival of the baby. She’d done everything she
He saw the light of joy in her eyes, and was astonished to suddenly taste the salt of tears… His own. Gabriel held her tenderly, moving deeply and slowly inside her until he felt her tense. Until he felt her shake. Whatever happened, he couldn’t stop. Whatever happened, he prayed he could love her always. Closing his eyes, he thrust into her one last time. Gabriel felt her coil around him, heard her gasp.“I love you,” he cried. And as the force of his words slammed through his soul, Gabriel threw his head back and poured his seed into her with a shout of pure happiness. Collapsing back on the bed, he held her tightly. She was his love… his life. Gabriel kissed her temple, pressing his hand against her sweaty face. Praying that
Five months later, Calleigh was standing alone by her mother’s grave. It was only the first week of March, but already the first blush of early spring had could be seen. The weeping willows were green and gold beside the lake, splashing the season’s first color over the graveyard of the old gray church. In her white coat and green wellies, Calleigh felt hot and out of breath after crossing the hill from the Swanson estate. Not that it was terribly far, but at nine months pregnant, every move was a huge effort. Even bringing daisies, her mother’s favorite flower, to her grave. Calleigh glanced at the daffodils poking through the cold earth nearby. Just a few weeks ago, the ground had been covered with snow. How had time fled so fast? Why was her pain still very much present in her heart and didn’t go away
Those words hit her deep in her soul… Calleigh always thought her mother had died of a broken heart. She must’ve known that… The way her mother was behaving, her state of mind, her depression. Reading her father’s letter showed everything in a new light, so different from the one she imprinted in her brain for all those years. Endless minutes, hours, days of planning a revenge against someone that had nothing to do with her family’s tragedy. She’d been so wrong… ‘You never named your source. Who was it, Gabriel?’ ‘I can’t say. I gave my word I wouldn’t reveal that.’ Now Calleigh knew that the source was… Leona Medlock-Swanson, her own
Five months later, Calleigh was standing alone by her mother’s grave. It was only the first week of March, but already the first blush of early spring had could be seen. The weeping willows were green and gold beside the lake, splashing the season’s first color over the graveyard of the old gray church. In her white coat and green wellies, Calleigh felt hot and out of breath after crossing the hill from the Swanson estate. Not that it was terribly far, but at nine months pregnant, every move was a huge effort. Even bringing daisies, her mother’s favorite flower, to her grave. Calleigh glanced at the daffodils poking through the cold earth nearby. Just a few weeks ago, the ground had been covered with snow. How had time fled so fast? Why was her pain still very much present in her heart and didn’t go away
He saw the light of joy in her eyes, and was astonished to suddenly taste the salt of tears… His own. Gabriel held her tenderly, moving deeply and slowly inside her until he felt her tense. Until he felt her shake. Whatever happened, he couldn’t stop. Whatever happened, he prayed he could love her always. Closing his eyes, he thrust into her one last time. Gabriel felt her coil around him, heard her gasp.“I love you,” he cried. And as the force of his words slammed through his soul, Gabriel threw his head back and poured his seed into her with a shout of pure happiness. Collapsing back on the bed, he held her tightly. She was his love… his life. Gabriel kissed her temple, pressing his hand against her sweaty face. Praying that
A month later, Calleigh still couldn’t understand where things went wrong between them. She lived in an amazing Spanish villa on a private island. She was married to the most handsome man on earth and expecting his child. She was healthy, living in blissful luxury beneath the Mediterranean sun. Even so, for the last month, Gabriel hadn’t touched her. She’d been alone in her marriage… in her life. She’d never felt so miserable. Though they lived in the same house, they lived separate lives. Gabriel worked nights in the office, coming to bed only long after she was asleep, or worse, not coming to bed at all, just sleeping on the couch in his office. She spent her days preparing for the arrival of the baby. She’d done everything she
Gabriel carried her up from the beach as if she weighed nothing at all, walking back to the villa. He took the stairs two at a time as he whisked her upstairs to the master bedroom overlooking the ocean. Behind her husband’s handsome face, Calleigh barely noticed the high ceilings, the open balcony doors, and the white translucent curtains waving in the hot breeze off the Mediterranean Sea. She was shaking with longing, limp with desire. They never even made it to the bed. As they passed the balcony doors with its view of the wide blue sea, Gabriel kissed her. She twisted in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as the kiss intensified. Pushing her against the sliding glass door, he slipped off her yellow bikini as her trembling hands pulled off his swim tr
The sunlight was bright, almost blinding against the amazing white villa. Looking between the sky and sea, Calleigh thought she’d never seen so many shades of blue… Turquoise, cobalt, indigo. Was like living in a magical world. This island was a fairyland. As she stretched out on the lounge chair beside the infinity pool, the sky seemed to blend with the sea below. Putting down her pregnancy book, Calleigh watched the wild surf of the Mediterranean Sea crash onto the white sands below. She could stay there forever, just watching the hypnotic dance of the waves. They had only been here a few hours, but Calleigh had already happily changed into a new yellow floral bikini and pretty, translucent pink cover-up with a loose belt. She now had a closet full of comfortable, pretty clothes, brought here by her very own personal assistant. Courtesy of her wo
His assistant’s voice was too well-trained to register surprise. “Investigate Mrs. De León?” “Yes. Have Johnson find out how her real father died. See if there’s any reason it might be tied to me or to my company. Tell him to let me know as soon as he finds out something.” As Gabriel hung up the phone, his gaze lingered on Calleigh, so beautiful and natural in the pink top and short cotton skirt. Instead of stiletto heels, she was exploring this city, and her new life, in flat sandals absolutely made for walking. Her bright, happy face, once so pale, was starting to tan in the Spanish sun. He’d once thought to use her amnesia against her. He’d never imagined that her innocence and warmth would affect him so damn much. Gabriel f
His eyes were dark as they fixed on Calleigh. It was time… “This past summer, I almost lost my business,” Gabriel said in a low voice. “A very important document was stolen from my house which suggested I might be cheating my stockholders of a great deal of money. Of course, that was a huge lie, since I wasn’t. But it cast the company’s finances in a sordid light.” Calleigh stared up at him, shocked. “Oh, God… That’s terrible! Did you find out who did it?” He looked at her, his eyes glittering. “Yes, I did.” “I’m so relieved… I hope you put them in jail! For a long, long time.” Gabriel took a sip of black coffee. “I won’t because it’s not my style.” “Okay… Still, I don’t understand what does that have to do with me…
As Gabriel felt her body tighten, he knew he couldn’t last. Touching Calleigh was pure heaven. Her skin was even softer than he remembered. She tasted sweet, so incredibly sweet. The very first time he slid inside her, he nearly lost control. With every thick thrust, he watched her full breasts sway from the force of his possession, and he gasped out each breath. How long had he wanted her? How had he denied himself for so long? With each slow thrust inside her, Gabriel shattered a little more, until he was coming apart like a castle of cards in front of the sea breeze. His whole body shook with the agony of holding himself back when all he wanted to do was bury himself in her completely, to lose himself in the ecstasy of making love to his Calleigh.