Page 35

Just Living Life

O nce in the hotel lobby, a hurricane hit as his lips over took mine.

Somewhere between the entrance and elevator, we lost Gabe’s suit coat, an earring, and one of my fake eyelashes.

I heard voices around us, but there was no stopping the out-of-control roller coaster that was us.

I clung to his shoulders while he maneuvered us into the elevator.

Somehow, Gabe got his keycard in the door.

It crashed into the wall, and we were finally alone.

He spoke through gritted teeth as he slid my coat down my arms. “We don’t need a do not disturb sign .

We’ll need an Everything’s all right. Don’t call the cops sign after what I’m going to do to you.

” His hands moved through my hair as I tugged at his shirt buttons with my fingers.

I stole his move and gently bit his lower lip that instantly kicked up something inside of him as he turned me around and rammed my back against the wall. His fingers raked up my thigh, moving my dress up inch-by-inch, leaving me almost breathless, waiting for him to find my surprise.

A moment later, he cursed into my mouth as his fingers touched my skin, and he realized I’d opted for no panties. “What are you doing to me?” he growled.

I pushed him back, and in two steps, he was seated on the chair in front of the large window overlooking the night-lights of the Chicago skyline. I slowly pushed my dress up further before straddling him and ripping open his shirt while buttons shot around the room. Yes, just like the movies.

His fingertips trailed up my inner thigh while his mouth dominated mine. The taste of liquor and cigars tore at my senses as my dress slid further up. Before I knew, it was tossed across the room.

He broke the kiss. “So beautiful.” His eyes told me I was his for the taking, and I’d have it no other way. He stood and walked toward the bedroom as I wrapped my legs around his waist and kissed his neck. “It’s killed me not having you.”

His gorgeous emerald eyes became hazy as we fell onto the bed, and I yanked him on top of me, driving my tongue against his.

I whimpered when he pulled away while he slithered down my body.

His teeth teased and nipped my skin as he went lower, and a panic swept through me when he gripped my knees.

My pulse raced while my breath bolted after it.

I felt drugged and overwhelmed as the magic that was Gabe took over and gave me a lesson in what he could do to me. A hot pulse pounded in my temples as I pulled him up to me and worked my hands to get his shirt off.

His weight on me was everything I wanted, and I reached down and tugged his belt buckle as his tongue glided up my neck.

I pushed him on his back as I wanted to take a little bit of control and raised my brows as I got those pants exactly where I wanted them…

in a ball on the floor. Yes, I’d always liked that line.

Nice to finally be able to use it. I shimmied my way down to put my stake on controlling him for a bit.

After being everything I hoped he wanted, he pulled me up by my shoulders as the warmth of his skin and tongue found mine. He rolled on top of me before his steamy lips found my neck and then chest. I pushed into him and felt a restlessness simmering that I didn’t know what to do with.

“Gabe.” It was a plea.

His lips and touch heated my blood at the same time our mouths locked in a feverish battle. His hand slid to my back and pulled me even closer, reminding me that he would do as he pleased. I decided he had an all-access pass forever, and ever, and ever.

“Nobody’s like you.” He hissed as he kissed and sucked his way back to my mouth. “Tell me you’re mine.”

His words flickered in my mind as his whiskers brushed the sensitive area just below my ear, causing my head to spin.

“Fern.” His voice was muffled as he kissed my jaw. “Tell me.”

I clawed his back and pushed my body against his. “I’m yours.”

His hot breath hit my ear. “You belong to me.”

The words sent a surge of kinetic energy through every inch of me. “I belong to you.”

He kissed me so deep I felt it to my toes. Maybe his words were in the throes of passion, but mine were true. I belonged to Gabe.

“You’re fucking mine.” He repeated through the kiss just before he took my breath away and showed me what being owned by Gabe entailed.

The chemistry was explosive, each of us not being able to get close enough.

The way he held me and kissed me left me breathless.

With a gentle push, I was on top of him.

His hands trailed down my sides, causing my tummy to spin until they rested on my hips.

In the dimly lit room, I looked down and could see his eyes taking in every part of me.

He was almost seeing through me. There was no shyness.

I felt I’d known him forever. There was a level of trust that wrapped itself around me.

I looked up at her; so perfect. She was seeping into me more by the hour, causing a swell of panic.

I pulled her down onto my chest. “What the fuck are you doing to me?” I licked her neck. “You’ve twisted everything. I can’t think of anything but your taste and scent and how I’d tear through anything to get to you.”

Her breath was ragged while she barely whispered. “I don’t want you to think of anything but me.”

“Only you.”

“Only me.” Her lips brushed against mine.

“I take what I want, and all I want to do is hear you whimper and feel you trembling against me like now.”

She pulled back and held my eyes with hers while she put my hands on her hips and continued to move while her hair spilled over her shoulder. “Anything you want.”

I woke early and sat in the chair next to the bed, watching her. She looked as if she belonged in a priceless painting as she lay sleeping on her stomach. The sheet rested just around her waist, exposing her beautiful bare back as her long dark hair surrounded her like a halo.

I pulled my thoughts away from Fern and back onto myself and the fact I was sitting in a dimly-lit room staring at her like a lunatic. I was in too deep. So much so, I may have just bought a home in Stalkerville.

Three hours later, we landed and were back in St. Paul.

“We’re going to get dropped off at my place, and I’ll take you home.”

“You have practice. I’ll just catch an Uber.” Her fingers tickled the inside of my arm as the driver pulled onto the freeway.

“No way in hell I’m letting you get into a car with a stranger.”

She nudged me with her shoulder. “Look at you, all jealous of an Uber driver we haven’t even met yet.”

I wanted to laugh it off but couldn’t. “Stop. I just wouldn’t like you with a man I don’t know.”

“So a man you did know would be okay?” She wore a teasing grin.

“I will call the Uber, size him up, and determine if it’s in your best interest to travel across town in that vehicle.”

She kissed my cheek. “Aw.”

We hopped out of the car, and she looked up at my building.

“Wow, this is amazing.”

The door opened, and we were in the lobby. It was large and had a high-end hotel flair to it. I enjoyed every amenity from the restaurant that would send up hot wings at two in the morning to the state of the art gym and hot tub that came in handy after games.

“Gabe, how are you?” Josh, the doorman, gave me a wave.

He was a good guy who had helped me to my door too many times to mention.

I made sure to get him a little envelope of cash from time to time because he was discrete when I drank too much and would keep out unwanted people during playoffs when my building address got out on social media.

“Good morning, Josh. How’s Taylor, Penny, and baby Jameson?”

I had Fern’s hand in mine as we stopped in front of the counter.

“Family is doing great,” he answered with a laugh.

“Glad to hear it. This is Fern Novotny by the way.”

“Nice to meet you, Fern.”

She nodded. “You too.”

“Josh here owns two haunted houses that are pretty epic. Hillside House of Hell and Bloodrush in Elkhorn.”

“What? I’ve seen you all over social media!”

“Thanks.”

I slapped my hand on the counter. “Please make a note somewhere that Fern Ethel Novotny is allowed up to my place anytime.”

“Got it.” Josh typed into his computer. “Anything else?”

“Nope. Thank you.”

When we arrived at my penthouse door, I pointed to the key code. “Now, if you ever want to stop by the code is 1213.”

“That seems like a code any crook could easily crack. You should change it.”

I shook my head. “But it’s easy to remember. It’s my birthday.”

Gasp. “They say you should never use your birthday for passwords of any kind. Totally unsafe.”

I nudged her with my shoulder. “I’m a hunter, and I have a gun safe inside, I’m always safe.”

“Really? I bet you one hundred bucks your gun safe has the same combination.”

I stared down at the suddenly serious woman in front of me.

“So you could have a stalker who gets into your apartment and your guns. How safe does that make you feel?”

“Not extremely. So maybe the code should contain a haiku, capital letter, gang sign, and the blood of a virgin? That would be better?”

She pointed up at me. “Okay, if you’re gonna be a smart-ass, first you have to be smart. Otherwise, you’re just an ass.”

“I feel that being a smart-ass is my duty.” I grabbed her waist and tickled as she screamed. “The pay sucks, but it’s quite rewarding.”

She laughed and pushed me away, “If you tickle me, I’m not responsible for your injuries!”

“Well, you’ve made some valid points here this morning, Fern. I will take your suggestion under advisement and let you know when I render a verdict.” I leaned over and kissed her forehead. “It’s nice you care about my beating heart.”

Her eyes rolled, which was something I was growing way too fond of. “Do whatever. Your beating heart is your business, not mine.”

“Ouch.” I pushed open the door as she shook her head.

“Are you serious right now?” She slapped my chest as she walked past me. “This is stunning.”