“Ready?” he asked.She nodded, too shaken, too wrecked to say anything at all. Anything she said wouldn’t make a bit of sense anyway.He opened the door and got out and a moment later came around to open hers.“You’re staying over again,” he said as they walked toward the entrance.It wasn’t a request, but there was none of the usual arrogance in his voice. He said it matter-of-factly as though there were no other conceivable possibility. But then he looked at her, and brief uncertainty—so brief she wasn’t even sure if that was what she saw—flashed in his eyes.But she nodded, confirming his dictate.“Of course I’ll stay,” she said softly.They rode up the elevator and as they stepped off, he pulled her back against him, using his body to block the doors.“Wait for me in bed,” he said in a husky voice. “I won’t be too late.”She leaned up and brushed her mouth across his lips. “I’ll wait.”There was immediate satisfaction in his eyes. Then he nudged her forward and stepped back into t
“Now that’s the way I like to start the day,” he murmured.Then he rolled off her, patted her hip and said, “Hop into the shower, baby. We have to get to work.”Damn chipper man.• • •As crazy as the previous day had been, Mia was almost afraid to see what today held in store. Despite their bout of hot morning sex, as soon as they got into the office, he inserted another plug.She never imagined the damn things came in so many sizes! There couldn’t be many more because the one he used today was huge! She felt like she waddled, which only made her more self-conscious about letting anyone see her walk anywhere, so she spent the majority of the day sequestered in Gabe’s office, suffering as she sat and fidgeted in her chair.And damn if Gabe wasn’t insanely busy. Three conference calls. Two meetings, plus countless other calls he had to return. So there was no crazy-hot office sex to alleviate the burn.She was back to sulking, even as ridiculous as that made her feel.By quitting time,
“I have a pretty good idea after placing a few calls after she left the office."Whoa, that was interesting. First, that Lisa was having financial issues and second, that Jace had been so quick to check into the matter. Not that it should have surprised her. Gabe, Jace and Ash were tight. And they had each other’s backs. Always.Jace and Ash had closed ranks around Gabe after the divorce and while it seemed ludicrous that Gabe would need any sort of support, she knew that an unbreakable bond existed among the men. She only hoped to hell it was unbreakable enough to survive the fallout if Jace ever found out about her relationship with Gabe.And then she remembered Caro’s plight.“Hey, speaking of,” Mia said, leaning up to stick her head between the front seats. “Can you do a background check on a guy named Brandon Sullivan? He’s a bouncer who works at a club called Vibe. Just general info. You know, like whether he’s married, shacked up with someone or has a criminal record.”Jace bra
The offices were empty and silent as he made his way down the hall to his own. Mia wouldn’t be in for another hour and a half, and already he was antsy with anticipation. He flexed his hands, curling them as he sat behind his desk. He should have just gone by her apartment on his way in. He should have just sent a car for her after she got finished with her dinner with Jace. But he’d been determined to prove to himself that he didn’t need her. That he didn’t think about her when she wasn’t with him. He needed this space between them, because she was fast becoming an addiction he had no hope of surviving.Yeah, that wasn’t working out so well for him so far.He picked up his phone and dialed his mother’s number, waiting as it rang.“Mom, it’s Gabe. Sorry I didn’t answer. You caught me on my way up to the office.”“You won’t believe this,” she said, distress clear in her voice. She wasted no time getting to the heart of why she’d called.He sighed and leaned back, already knowing what w
It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her what plans and to press her further. It was certainly within his right. But she looked so uncomfortable that he didn’t want to put her on the defensive, and he damn sure didn’t want her to lie to him. And she may well if he cornered her.“I assume it’s only Friday night then?” he said in a short tone.She nodded.“Okay then, be at my apartment Saturday morning. You’ll spend the weekend with me and then we’ll leave Monday afternoon for Paris.”Relief flashed in her eyes and she smiled that thousand-watt smile again.“I can’t wait,” she said. “Paris sounds so exciting! Will we have a chance to see anything?”He smiled at her enthusiasm. “Probably not, but we’ll see what happens.”His phone rang and he checked his watch. Time had slipped away from him and it was time for his conference call. He waved his hand for Mia to go back to what she was doing, and then he got comfortable in his chair before answering the call.**********“Tell Jace thank
The entire evening was somewhat of a blur to her. Dancing. Drinking. Dancing some more. Or maybe it had been drinking some more.“Want to brush my teeth,” she mumbled.“Are you sure you can stand up for that long?”She nodded.“I’ll go get your bed ready so you can lie down,” he said.Gabe left the bathroom, anger still a tight knot in his gut. More than anger, however, had been fear. A sensation that still gripped him right by the balls.If she weren’t so damn drunk, he’d tan her ass right here and now. Of all the irresponsible, idiotic things to pull.He pulled back her covers, fixed the pillows and then arranged the sheets so he could slide her into bed. If she wasn’t so sick, he’d haul her over to his apartment right now and she’d stay there until they left for Paris.He walked back toward the bathroom, frowning when he heard nothing but quiet.“Mia?” he asked as he stepped to the doorway.He shook his head at the sight that greeted him. Mia was sitting on the floor in front of th
His eyes gleamed devilishly. “I’d wait until later before you start saying how much I spoil you.”Her body did an instant clench as heat surged through her veins. Try as she might, she couldn’t muster any dread of the coming spanking he’d promised her. If anything, she was buzzing with anticipation.She caught his gaze and she sobered. “I really am sorry about last night. I had no idea you were so worried. If I would have checked my phone I would have called or texted you, Gabe. I wouldn’t have ignored you.”“I know you wouldn’t,” he said gruffly. “The thing I want you to be conscious of is being careful. You and your girlfriends going out alone and getting drunk only invites trouble. Any number of things could happen to a group of girls alone and vulnerable.”That he was so protective of her gave her immense satisfaction. He had to feel something for her beyond viewing her as a sexual object.“Now if you’re finished, there’s the matter of your punishment,” he said silkily.Holy hell.
He sighed. “I don’t really care what you believe. That’s not my problem. You and I are in the past and that’s where we are staying. Stop doing this to yourself—to me—Lisa. I have work to do and I can’t get it done with constant interruptions.” “So how does a club on sourdough sound?” Mia said as she entered his office, arms full of the takeout bags. She came to a screeching halt when she saw Lisa, and her eyes widened. “Oops. Sorry,” she said awkwardly. She hastily backed from his office and disappeared, bags in hand. He had to bite his lip to keep himself from commanding her back. Damn it, he wanted Lisa gone, not Mia. When his gaze returned to Lisa’s, her eyes were narrowed and recognition flashed. “It’s her isn’t it?” Lisa said softly. There was accusation in her stare. She rose to her feet, fists clenched at her sides. “It’s always been her. I saw the way you looked at her even when we were married. I played it off. She’s Jace’s little sister and so I thought you viewed her