As we race away in the car, a storm of anger and fear swells inside me. How could she be so reckless? How could she risk everything like that?
When the empty road stretches before us, I slam on the brakes, my heart pounding in my chest. I throw the...
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Gabriel's arms were strong around me, and I could feel the steady rhythm of his heart as he carried me through the mansion. His men, all hardened by years of this life, watched in silence, but for once, I didn't care about the eyes on us. There was something about being in his arms that made me feel safe, protected, and above all, loved.
I had waited for this moment, to hear him say the words I had been longing for. The words that were now wrapped around my heart like a warm blanket, soothing every worry, every doubt I had ever had. He loves me. The thought kept replaying in my head, each time making my heart swell with more joy than I thought possible. It wasn't just the relief of knowing he felt the same way-it was the way he had said it.
With conviction. As though there was no room for anything else. I looked up at him, my eyes scanning his face, the lines of tension that usually etched his brow now softened. He glanced down at me, catching my gaze, and there was something in his eyes-something tender, something vulnerable-that made me feel like we were the only two people in the world. It was a moment I wanted to freeze, to capture forever. "Gabriel," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the soft hum of our footsteps down the hallway. "I love you ."
Saying it out loud felt freeing, like I had unlocked some hidden part of myself that had been waiting for him. His grip around me tightened for a moment, and I saw a flicker of emotion cross his face, something unguarded and raw. He didn't need to say anything back. The way his arms held me closer said it all. As we reached the door to our room, he pushed it open with his shoulder and carried me inside with ease.
The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the lamps casting warm shadows on the walls. But before I could fully take it in, Gabriel spun me around, pinning me gently but firmly to the wall. His eyes were dark, intense, and filled with a kind of passion that took my breath away. "Ti amo, Tuono," he whispered, his voice husky and filled with something primal. "I love you."
He leaned in, capturing my lips with his in a kiss that sent shivers down my spine. It was deep, slow, filled with all the unspoken words that we didn't need to say anymore. My hands moved up, tangling in his hair as I kissed him back, pouring every ounce of my love and desire into that kiss.
We pressed our foreheads together, both of us breathing heavily, our eyes still closed as we just stood there, feeling the weight of what had just happened. The love we had for each other was now out in the open, no more hiding, no more walls.
And it felt right. I smiled, a soft, content smile that I couldn't hold back. Gabriel opened his eyes and smiled back, a rare, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. For all the danger, for all the chaos surrounding us, in this moment, everything was perfect. He was mine, and I was his.
Without a word, he scooped me up again, this time carrying me toward the bed. The air between us crackled with anticipation, the silence filled only by the soft sound of his footsteps and the thudding of my heart. He laid me down gently on the bed, his eyes never leaving mine.
I watched as he knelt beside me, his hand caressing my cheek softly, like I was the most delicate thing in the world. It was so different from the controlled, powerful man I had seen in the basement-the man who could command a room with a single look. This Gabriel, the one who was here with me now, was softer, gentler. And I loved both sides of him.
As he leaned over me, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down until his body pressed against mine. His lips found mine again, but this kiss was different-slower, more deliberate. It was as if we had all the time in the world, and for the first time in a long time, I truly believed that we did. I could feel his love in every touch, every caress as his hands roamed over my body, and I responded in kind, my fingers tracing the lines of his strong shoulders, the curve of his jaw.
It was intimate in a way I had never experienced before, a kind of closeness that went beyond just the physical. Gabriel pulled back for a moment, his eyes searching mine, as if he was making sure this was real, that I was really here with him. And I was. I had never been more sure of anything in my life. "I need you," he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. I nodded, my heart swelling with happiness. "I'm yours, Gabriel. Always."
I knelt on the bed and he removed my shirt and threw it away somewhere in the room. It was soon followed by my jeans, panties and bra. The cool air brushing against my bare skin as Gabriel's gaze burned into her. His eyes, dark with intensity, traced every curve and line of my body, lingering on the places he knew so well. I arched my back slightly, teasing him, savoring the power that crackled between us.
"Like what you see?" I purred, my lips curling into a slow, mischievous smile. Gabriel's eyes flashed, a low growl escaping his throat. "I see something I'm going to ruin in the best possible way." My pulse quickened, but I kept my voice steady. "You're wearing too many clothes." my tone was playful, but my eyes dared him.
He chuckled, low and deep, before his fingers went to the buttons of his shirt, unhurried, deliberately teasing. Each button slipped through the fabric with a soft click, revealing more of his toned chest, inch by maddening inch. He swayed his hips as he worked, adding a playful rhythm to the slow strip.
"Am I getting a strip tease?" I teased, tilting my head, unable to hide the grin forming on my lips. Gabriel's smirk was wicked as he whispered, "Whatever my queen wants, my queen gets." my eyes sparkled with amusement.
"Careful, you're setting the bar high." He just grinned, continuing his slow, deliberate show, hips swaying, until he was finally bare before me. The air between us thickened, the playful tension turning electric. In a swift movement, he closed the distance, pushing me gently onto the bed, his weight settling over mine. Before I could catch my breath, his lips crashed into mine, hungry and possessive, sending a thrill down my spine as the night unfolded around us.
My breath hitched as Gabriel's lips moved to my jaw, the warmth of his mouth igniting every nerve. His kisses were slow, deliberate, leaving a trail of heat that made me shiver. When his lips found the sensitive skin of my neck, my eyes fluttered shut, my heart pounding in rhythm with the way he nibbled lightly on my ear, sending a spark straight through my body.
My voice was a soft tease as I whispered, "Are you leaving your mark?" He chuckled, his breath hot against my skin, the sound vibrating through me. "I'm not just leaving a mark-I'm claiming every inch of you." His words were rough, a promise wrapped in a dirty edge that sent a flush through me.
Before I could respond, he continued his path, trailing kisses down to my collarbone. His mouth was hot against my skin, each kiss making my skin hum in anticipation. His hands followed the line of my curves, fingers tracing over my body like they knew exactly how to drive me wild. I could feel the possessiveness in his touch, the way he mapped me out, leaving no part of me untouched or unexplored.
My breath became shallow, my pulse racing as Gabriel's lips and hands worked in unison, building a fire inside me, I couldn't escape from-nor did I want to. I knew his words, his touch, his kiss-every bit of it was claiming me in a way that left me aching for more.
