Page 48 of Always Been Mine (Always #2)

Gabe pushed out a deep breath. “The start of our relationship had not been ideal. In truth, I was afraid I could never get you back. But I think we have what it takes to make this work. This”—he waved to the house—“I’ve always meant for you to have this whether you took me back or not.

Even with everything that separated us—the distance, the years, and the hurt, you’ve always been mine, Beatrice.

I may have let you go then, but in my heart, I never did.

All my life, I’ve never felt an emotion this intense.

I. Fucking. Love. You. You are my oxygen; you are the heart of me, poppy.

” His voice thickened. “God knows you’ve suffered too much because of me.

” His fingers shifted from her hand and trailed up her forearms, his thumb caressing the smooth expanse of skin where her scars used to be.

Cosmetic surgery, at its finest, took care of all the physical evidence of torture.

“And yet, you’ve accepted me as your man.

You’ve taken me at my darkest and brought me to this dream.

I’m almost afraid if I don’t bind you to me now, I will lose you.

I can’t lose you. So put me out of my misery.

Be mine in every way. Marry me, Beatrice.

” He reached into his pocket and took out the most gorgeous diamond ring Beatrice had ever seen.

Three carats at least, her discerning eye told her.

She must have stared at the ring for too long, and made Gabe nervous. He visibly swallowed. “I took the liberty of choosing the ring, but if you don’t like it—”

“Yes.”

“You don’t like it?” His face fell.

“No, you silly man. Yes, I’ll marry you.

” Her laugh was choked because her heart was almost beating into her throat and she might also be crying.

She didn’t care. She had the most perfect proposal given by the most perfect man.

She loved him so much; it frightened her sometimes, but knowing without a doubt how deeply Gabe loved her, made such fears inconsequential.

“Don’t you dare return the ring. It’s mine. ”

A roguish smile broke through Gabe’s face as he slipped the ring on her finger. He stood up and immediately swept her into his arms, crashing his lips on hers and devouring her like a man starved for too long.

“I love you so much, Gabe,” Beatrice managed to say when he stopped kissing her, which was a while. “Words cannot describe how happy you make me.” She brushed her lips lightly on his and felt him shudder, closing his eyes as though strongly affected by the slight contact. “You never gave up on me.”

Gabe’s face turned solemn. “And I never will. You’re it for me, poppy.”

Beatrice snuggled closer and buried her nose in his neck, inhaling his musk, feeling secure in his tight embrace.

“God,” he whispered. “Who knew proposing could be so nerve-wracking.”

“You didn’t seem all that nervous.”

“I was. And it’s only because it’s you.” His hands slipped to her ass and squeezed. “Dismantling an IED would have been less stressful.” He smiled wryly. “You’re the most unpredictable, infuriating, and independent woman I’ve ever known.”

“And you want to sentence yourself to a lifetime with me?” Beatrice teased.

“You bet,” Gabe muttered. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You’re my unpredictable, infuriating, and independent woman. Make no mistake. All mine.”

“Hmm . . . that goes the same for you, my cocky, bossy, and infuriating man.”

“Speaking of cock . . .”

Beatrice snorted and leaned away, but Gabe molded their bodies together, making her aware of, well, his cock, which was presently springing to life.

His warm breath fanned her ear as he whispered, “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you need some hard fucking to be reminded just how mine you are.”

“But—”

His mouth hit hers, stilling her protests, not kissing her, but murmuring further, “You’re walking inside, stripping your clothes off, and laying on our bed, legs spread and ready for my mouth.”

Oh, yes , Beatrice thought lustily. “Gabe—”

“Inside,” Gabe rasped. “Now.”

Things didn’t happen exactly as planned, especially when you have an eighty pound dog waiting for his evening walk. Beatrice smothered a giggle as Gabe groaned when Rhino met them expectantly at the door.

“I’ll wait for you upstairs,” Beatrice said as she mounted the stairs, looking over her shoulder and shooting him an exaggerated come-hither look. Gabe’s heated eyes followed her up the steps with a promise of retribution.

She took a quick shower and donned a robe.

Then she remembered Gabe’s instructions of being naked and ready, so she discarded the covering and crawled into bed.

The warmth of the shower lulled her into total relaxation, and she must have fallen asleep.

She awakened to a sound. The room was dark, except for the outline of Gabe in front of the bathroom, a towel hanging low on his hips.

Light from the outside window illuminated the ripple of muscle across his torso.

He dropped the towel and prowled to the bed.

“Gabe?”

“You fell asleep?” There was amusement in his voice.

“You took too long.”

The bed dipped as the blanket was drawn away, revealing her nakedness. Gabe sucked in a deep breath as he took in the expanse of bare skin.

“So beautiful,” he murmured. His mouth sought her lips, his tongue dueling with hers, teasing, arousing.

He did this for a while, just kissing her, the back of his fingers caressing her side.

Finally, he moved on top of her, coaxing her legs open to cradle his hips.

His hardness pressed against her core. But he didn’t rock against her.

He kept his lower body steady even as she sought to rub herself against him.

“Easy,” he broke off. “I want this to last.” He slowly trailed his lips down her throat, leaving open-mouthed kisses along her collarbone until he reached her breasts. He gently sucked one taut peak into his hot mouth.

“Gabe . . . oh . . . ah,” Beatrice mewled helplessly. He swirled his tongue and flicked one nipple, and then he went to the other breast and did the same. He lightly bit on the turgid tip and Beatrice arched her back in response. “Oh, Gabe, I need . . . I need . . .”

This man had broken down her walls and made her need. She needed all of him—his body, heart, and soul.

“What do you need?” he mumbled against her skin as he went lower.

“All of you. ”

“I’m all yours, babe.” He kissed her belly button, and then the sensitive area of her hip bone all the time muttering, “Mine.” Her skin was tingling with anticipation.

Every pore was alive to his touch, and when he pushed her legs further apart, moisture pooled between her thighs.

Beatrice tilted her head down and watched Gabe’s head move up and down one leg and then the other.

“Gabe, please . . .”

And then he was there. The roughness of his tongue lashed up and down the seam of her sex.

Parting the dewy folds to invade the core of her, he fucked her with his tongue.

Tunneling inside her pussy and then sucking her clit between his lips before fluttering his tongue maddeningly on the swollen evidence of her arousal.

He slid two fingers in, curling them up and touched her sweet spot.

She went off like a firecracker, spiraling into ecstatic heights, climbing and climbing until . . .

“Ahhhh! Oh, stop!” She just couldn’t breathe as her climax crested. She just kept coming, over and over. Her body trembled; her pussy throbbed. He ate her out, lapping every drop of her wetness, groaning into her and licking, sucking even harder. She had never come so hard in her life.

He bolted up her body and crashed his mouth against hers to swallow her cries.

His kisses turned brutal as he ground his erection against her clit, prolonging her pleasure.

He lifted her legs under his arms, spreading her wider.

His hips rocked against her, the head of his cock nudging ever so slowly inside her, driving her insane with want.

He broke the kiss, stared down at her, and growled, “Fucking love you.”

He slammed in, and she gasped as his girth stretched the sensitive walls to the limit.

“You okay?” he whispered. He always asked this because she had trouble taking in his unusual thickness sometimes.

“Give me a sec,” she whispered. Oh, God, how he filled her and stimulated every corner of her sex. She nodded for him to go ahead and anticipated to be taken over the edge once more.

Gabe was drunk on Beatrice. Sinking inside her always felt amazing; nothing ever compared to the feeling of her squeezing him tight like a silken vise.

He started moving, raising himself slightly to watch where his cock disappeared into her pussy.

The slide in and out excited him. His burning gaze returned hungrily to her face.

Her hooded eyes were intent on him. He liked that; having her watch him fuck her, possess her.

He quickened the pace, thrusting in and out, hearing her moan and whisper his name. His name on her lips spurred a possessive satisfaction that he was the reason for her sexual frenzy.

“Gabe . . .”

He was close, but he held back, wanting to make her crave him the way he craved her.

“Come on, Beatrice . . . give me one more, babe.” He nearly came when her nails raked his back. He grunted with a decisive thrust, the force pushing her up. He adjusted his grip on her, locking her down as he bucked harder.

“Yes . . . oh, yes . . . hard . . . like that.”

Fuck, yes . He drilled into her, crashing their pelvises together.

Her eyes widened then squeezed shut as a scream ripped through her.

He went crazy, rotating his hips and fucking her harder.

He canted the angle of his thrust, taking her savagely, rutting into her.

His spine tingled; the muscles of his neck bulged.

He pumped once, twice. Finally, he tumbled over the precipice, slamming home and emptying inside her.

His climax rippled through him in sensual aftershocks. Gabe sagged on top of her, but quickly fell on his back, so he could gather her in his arms .

Beatrice touched her nose to his neck; her lips brushed against his jaw in feathery touches.

“Love you,” she mumbled. Her head rested on his chest, her breathing evening out as she fell asleep.

Gabe’s arms tightened around her, shifting slightly so he could press a kiss on her damp skin. He savored these moments when he had her in his arms, watching over her.

The moonlight illuminating the room reminded him how Beatrice had pulled him from the darkness.

Overcome by emotion, he could only exhale and whisper the words he felt in his heart.

She couldn’t hear him right now, but he would spend the rest of his life showing her just how deeply he loved her, and just how much he treasured this second chance with her.

She was his light.

His prize.

His redemption.

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Nate’s book is next with A Love For Always .