He'd never come so hard in his life. The sight of her rubbing herself on him had blown his fucking mind. Hell, waking up to find her licking his cock like her favorite flavor of lollipop had nearly done him in. He nearly shot his load into her mouth when she'd wrapped her pretty lips around the head of his cock, but then he'd noticed her glassy-eyed look and wanted to cry in frustration.
She'd come awake slowly, the surprise at what she'd been doing dawning on her face, but at the same time excited. She wanted to pull away, he could see the uncertainty in her eyes, heard it in her stuttered apology.
Really? Apologizing because she was sucking his dick? Someday they'd both laugh about that, he was sure.
He'd rushed her, yanked her up his body, and seduced her before she changed her mind. Seeing her bloom into a sexual creature almost made him weep. The sight of her arching her back and screaming his name as she gushed and came all over his dick actually did make him shed a tear. It pushed him over, his ejaculate shooting all over the both of them.
He kissed her hard, loving the feel of his juices making her flesh slide erotically over his. He wanted to smear it all over her and mark his territory.
And then, he'd opened his mouth and spilled his guts.
"Marry me."
The sound of those words still echoed in the room and he'd felt her tense up.
He had to tamp down his damned possessive anger. His hand cupped her ass and he rolled them over, ignoring the searing pain it caused across his ribs and in his leg. He caged her beneath him, the loose strands of his hair coming down around her face.
She gazed up at him, dazed.
"We've barely known each other two months now," she replied in a quiet, almost frightened voice.
Great. First time he asks a chick to marry him and she doesn't jump at the chance. His male ego snarled like a vicious dog at that.
"I don't need any more time to figure out you're the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."
Her mouth opened and closed, eyes searching his. Suddenly, to his alarm, they began to well, big blue eyes swimming in tears.
"But, why? You can have anyone you want. Why me?" she whispered, voice choked.
His heart melted. "Why not?" He used his thumbs to brush away the two tears that spilled over. "You're beautiful to me, Abigail. But it's more than that. I love every exasperating thing about you."
She winced. "Exasperating?"
He frowned down at her. "Yeah. Like how you always play down your best attributes, like your hair in that infuriating little knot. I just want to bury my hands in it, but can't, and how you cover yourself up too much. Baby, I'm all for being demure and dressing classy, but you go overboard."
She frowned back at him. "But that's who I am, Gabriel. I refuse to dress like a—like a—"
"Floozy?" he asked.
She bit her lower lip.
He began to chuckle. "I'm too jealous to let you dress that way either, but no more black dresses that come up to your ears and trail a foot around you either."
She let out a pent up breath and broke eye contact with him. "Hey," he said cupping her cheeks, making her look at him again. "I love you Abigail. I'm sorry for pushing so much, but I really do love you."
Her eyes welled again. "I love you too, Gabriel."
He kissed her then, slowly, firmly, trying to transcend his feelings for her in his kiss. He could feel himself growing hard again and ached to take her.
"Never be ashamed of what we share between us, Abby," he said finally letting her breathe again. "What we do belongs to us. I'm yours and you're mine. I don't want any shame in what we share."
She closed her eyes making him worry.
"It's just that..." she took a deep breath. "I was taught—"
"Well, I'll unteach you, Abby. We'll go slowly. I promise not to penetrate you until we walk down that aisle, but we are definitely going to explore and learn each other."
Her gaze slid to his. "Yes, Gabriel," she said softly, eyes focused intensely on his. Goosebumps rose over his body. "Yes, I'll marry you."
Gabriel couldn't contain the grin. He was going to get her the biggest rock on Earth. She'd need a wheelbarrow to carry it around on her finger.
"God-baby. I just want to lick you all over and eat you out until you squirt my face."
She gasped loudly, her eyes growing round and face turning scarlet. "Gabriel!"
He chuckled and nipped her neck. "Sorry," he growled, not really meaning the apology one bit.
"What is this sticky stuff on us?"
He laughed some more, and rolled over, sliding his fingers in the remains of semen on her belly. He trailed his fingers lower until he smeared it right between her legs. Someday he'd come there. Someday soon.
She flinched at his touch and slammed her thighs shut tight, her face going red, and gaze darting away in embarrassment.
He gathered her close to his body as his lips brushed her nose. "You're mine, Abigail soon to be..." He stuttered to a stop. "My wife," he finally murmured.
His surname. Over his dead body he'd give her the surname of the bastard that had gunned his mother down. He needed to do something about that damned name. Raven was only his stage name. Legally he was still Brinks.
"Let's get cleaned up and get a bite to eat."
She nodded, her fingers twining in the loose locks of his hair. She looked so shy and sweet, his heart nearly burst just looking at her.
*******
The restaurant was beautiful, with a breathtaking view of the Pacific. Gabriel had opted for a table on the outside terrace. The sun was just setting beneath the horizon painting the sky in dramatic hues of deep blues, pinks and reds. The balmy breeze made the fronds of palms rustle and blew strands of her hair across her neck. The flickering candle set in the center of the table made Gabriel's eyes look like glowing jade. He grinned at her as he sucked down his sixth oyster.
The waiter had brought an enormous shell-shaped platter filled with ice and a dozen oysters. Again, he'd pulled his hair back into a tail at his nape, but he wore a long-sleeved charcoal Henley and a pair of washed out grey jeans. Where he'd gotten the extra clothing, she had no idea, but he looked utterly drool-worthy.
She'd donned a pair of cropped, white, linen, drawstring pants, with a delicately crocheted pale-grey top that bared her belly button. It was unlike anything she'd ever worn, but she loved it. Especially the strappy little beaded sandals. He'd taken her to the spa where they'd pampered her from head to toe. Looking down at her fingers, she grinned at the cute French manicure that matched her toes. They'd even painted a little daisy on her ring finger.
Gabriel grabbed her hand and kissed it again. Her belly always flipped when he did that. Under the table, her toes curled when his leg brushed against hers.
He looked like he wanted to eat her alive, the same intense gaze he had as they'd showered together. Another first for her.
Would it always be this way? This intensity, this feeling of free-falling through the clouds. Would she splatter into a million pieces when she hit the ground?
"Don't be scared," his million dollar voice purred.
She gulped. How easy it was for him to read her.
"We'll date a while, but I'm not dragging this out for months. You're it for me, Abigail. I've never meant anything more in my life."
She just stared at him. What was she supposed to say to that? To the intensity in his eyes?
She swallowed. "I want to be on my own a while."
He flinched and suddenly there was fire in his eyes. He leaned back to study her, clearly unhappy.
"I've been too sheltered all my life, Gabriel. I just wanted to be on my own a while. It doesn't mean I don't want to be your girlfriend or marry you. I just want to have my own little place and work. Live normal."
His gaze lowered, thumb rubbing over her knuckles. "I can get a smaller place if you want. I already contacted my broker and put the beach house up for sale."
Her jaw dropped. "What? Why?"
His brows drew tight over angry eyes. 'Rafe brought a bunch of people over last night. I don't want anyone knowing where I live. I need to get away from it all sometimes. I don't want the fucking paps sitting on my doorstep every time shit hits the fan."
She nodded, understanding. The circus of media around the hospital was reminder enough of what he meant. She'd hated every second of it. "Yeah. I understand, but..." How to tell him? Her gaze strayed to the rolling waves surging up onto the sand, leaving sparkling white foam in their wake.
She felt him tense, making her nibble her lower lip in unease.
"But?" he growled.
"I want to have my own little place for a while."
When he remained silent, she dared turn her gaze to peek at him again.
His face was a mask of stone, only his eyes blazed scarily. Slowly he nodded. "I don't like it, but if that's what you want—"
She didn't let him finish. Grabbing his face, she kissed him fiercely. His hand landed on her thigh, squeezing, a low groan sounding in his throat.
Off to her their right, she heard chuckling and sprang back from him, mortified by her brazen display.
Gabriel leaned closer and nipped her earlobe, sending more heat into her cheeks.
The table next to theirs had two couples staring and laughing at them.
Abigail readjusted her glasses on her nose and cleared her throat as Gabriel pulled away just enough to look her in the eyes again. "At least let me pay for the apartment, and get you what you need."
"Absolutely not," she said arranging her napkin on her lap when the waiter appeared with their lobster dinners.
Gabriel clenched his hands into fists. "Damn-it, Abby. I'm supposed to take care of you."
"We're not married yet."
The waiter's eyes widened before he asked them if they needed anything else.
"We're good," Gabriel snapped, his eyes never leaving Abigail's face. He leaned closer. "You won't live with me, you won't let me put a roof over your head. I feel like I'm being emasculated here."
She gaped at him. "Gabriel, honestly. You're being a caveman about this."
"I told you I was a caveman."
She almost wanted to back down and let him have his way, but that was how she always acted, letting people walk all over her. She'd been pulled from the safety of the convent, her eyes and mind rudely awakened. She needed to take control over some part of her life before becoming nothing more than his wife.
"I won't change my mind," she said looking down at her fists in her lap. "It's just not fair, I always have to give in to what others want. I just want this one little thing. To feel like I can be a real person—"
His hand cupped her face and turned her to him.
"Baby, he whispered. "I don't want to take your choices from you."
