Angelica Feng looked over her desk in the back office of the Trailblazer Gallery and pinned Gabe with a stare. “You realize the Trailblazer is more like a museum than a gallery?” Her lips twitched to the side, and Gabe couldn’t be sure if it was because he was wasting her time or because she was amused he was even trying to get a showing here.

He nodded. The museum part was a technicality, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him. “That may be true, but I’m a prominent artist in this community.” Angelica’s gaze cooled, and he winced at his own words. He sounded like such an ass. “Sorry. That came out wrong. What I’m trying to say is that I think this show could be a huge asset for the Trailblazer. It’s a picture of idealism set against a Las Vegas backdrop. There’s nothing more relevant than the perspective of a local artist, and it would be a great showpiece for both visitors and locals.”

Angelica’s hair was cut in a sleek, stylish black bob, and it swung slightly as she sat back against her chair with a smile. “Well, I can certainly appreciate the concept.”

Gabe’s fingers tightened around the edges of his iPad. Now was when she should be asking for his portfolio. She’d practically opened the door.

Instead, Angelica fixed him with an assessing gaze. “Tell me why I should even consider this when I hear you got into an, ahem, altercation, with Kevin Holloway at the Illusion Arts gallery. You have to understand that the artists we select are a reflection of our gallery as a whole. Just last month we pulled Bryce Bixby’s work after he made some off-color comments about immigration practices.”

Shit. This was so not good. Sweat slicked across Gabe’s palms. “I don’t make it a habit of beating up normal people,” he said carefully. “But when a powerful man tries to assault a woman, I do take issue with that.”

Angelica shook her head slowly. “I take it Mr. Holloway tried something funny?”

He nodded, and Angelica sighed. She looked like she was trying to make a decision, and he sat under the weight of her gaze for a long moment. At last, she spoke. “My niece interned at Illusion Arts a few years back. Said the owner was a creep.”

“Sounds about right,” he agreed.

She lowered her voice. “Between you and me, I’m pretty sure you did everyone a favor. I spread the word that he hit on my niece, and now it seems worthwhile to remind the rest of the art world that he’s the asshole, here, not you.”

A sigh of relief puffed out of him. “Thank you.”

Angelica sat forward in her chair. “You’re welcome. Now show me what you’ve got.” She offered Gabe an encouraging smile. “If it looks good, we might be able to open up a wall or two for you.”

Gabe strode into The Walton and swept Bex off her barstool to plant a deep kiss on her luscious mouth.

“Nice to see you, too.” She smiled, her eyes dancing. “What’s got you so excited today?”

“Can’t I just be happy to see my woman?” My woman. It had such a nice ring to it.

“You can.” Bex cocked her head. “But there’s something else.”

“I got a new showing space for my fine art exhibit.”

“You gonna keep us all on ice?” Colton said from his side of the table. “Come on, spill already.”

“The Trailblazer Gallery at the Renegade Hotel.”

Gabe only had a few days to pull together the show, but at least he already had prints on order from when he thought he’d be showing at the Illusion Arts gallery. The photographs would arrive in a few days, and then he’d have to hustle to mat and fame everything. It was busy but doable. Totally worth the rush.

Bex squealed and jumped to her feet, throwing her arms around his neck. “Are you kidding me?”

“Not bad?” he asked.

“Not bad at all.” Bex waved Aderyn over. “A round for the table to celebrate.” Bex sat back in her seat and pulled him onto the seat next to her. “It’s a good day all around. I just turned in my design for the competition at work.”

Colton leaned forward. “You going to tell us what it is?”

Bex jerked her head at Emma. “I’m going to keep this anonymous until the results are in, given that there’s a possible competitor in our midst.”

Emma held up her hands. “I’m not looking to steal your trade secrets.”

Bex just winked. “It’s a good one. I had a little extra inspiration.”

Gabe’s hand tightened on her knee. He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “You’re going home with me tonight. Sounds like we both deserve a private celebration.”

She raised an eyebrow, a smirk on her pretty lips. “We should make it a good one.”

“We should.”

Was she going to let him take her there? Hand over her trust and the control? There was nothing that made him happier than making her happy, making her feel her best. And damn—he’d started to unlock that puzzle. Three cheers for trying new things.

Aderyn returned with a round of beers, setting down a glass in front of Emma. When she leaned across the table to hand a glass to Colton, the sweating sides slipped through his hands, and the beer crashed onto the table.

“Oh shit.” Everyone dove for the spill with napkins, but Bex took the brunt of it—a whole wash of beer soaking into her blouse.

“Here.” Emma shoved a wad of napkins at her while Aderyn ran to grab a rag.

Bex waved them off. “No, no, it’s okay.” She wrinkled her nose. “But as much as I love the smell of spilled beer, I think I’m going to go home and shower up.”

Gabe leaned over and pressed his mouth against her ear. “I’ll help.”

Bex whispered back, “Obviously,” and climbed to her feet.

“Both of you?” Emma frowned. “Stay and keep celebrating.”

“That’s okay. You guys will have this covered.”

Gabe stood with breathless anticipation. This was what he wanted anyway—Bex in his arms, riding his cock and making those sounds that he loved so much. It was just as well the beer had spilled. If it hadn’t, he would have needed to come up with an excuse for stealing her away.

Bex followed him onto the sidewalk outside of The Walton, the air fresh and dry as they pushed through the heavy doors.

“Let’s go to my place,” he said.

Bex lifted her eyebrows. “But I need to pick up some clean clothes at home.” The lights from passing cars highlighted her pretty face.

Gabe nudged her side. “You might find what you’re looking for at my apartment.”

She searched his face with her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know what you’re up to, but okay.”

He linked his hand with hers, smiling without giving anything else away. “Let’s go find out.”

Gabe steered Bex into his bedroom and nodded at the dresser. “Check in there, would you?”

She gave him a skeptical look but crossed the room, running her fingers over the drawer pulls. “Are you sure there’s not a snake in here ready to jump out and surprise me?”

“First of all, snakes don’t jump. Second, just open the damn drawer.”

His palms sweat as she pulled open one of the drawers, and he fought the urge to fidget. Even from his spot in the doorway, he could hear her small gasp.

“Gabriel.”

He walked up behind her, stepping close enough to see the pajama set he’d bought for her, along with the dress the saleswoman at Mon Amour had insisted Bex would be able to wear to work.

“I know the drawer’s half empty,” he said. “But the rest is for you to fill however you want.”

Bex’s mouth was on his before he could react, and he dropped his hands to her hips. Until he was holding her, he didn’t realize how much he’d needed this moment of connection. With Bex, he was still dizzy half the time, never quite sure if she’d accept what he offered or use it as an excuse to run.

“I’ll take that as a thank you.”

Bex tilted her chin up to him. “When did you become my favorite person?”

Favorite person, huh? The knowledge tugged a smile on his face. “When you were so busy fighting it.”

“That was silly of me. I should have caved in a long time ago.”

Gabe nuzzled the spot below her ear, smiling as her head dropped back to allow him more access. He loved that she gave in to him, that they could build this thing together. This, right here, might be the only thing he needed in the world.

He kissed and sucked his way down her neck, his cock growing hard at the soft little moans she was making. Then he unbuttoned her silk blouse and pushed it off her shoulders before sinking to his knees in front of her.

“You can be stubborn,” he agreed. He caught her hips again and leaned forward to lick across her belly.

She giggled at the light touch. “What are you doing?”

“Taste-testing. Gotta see what parts taste like beer.”

Bex laughed and raked a hand through his hair. Her touch sent lightning shooting to his cock. “Hopefully none of them, if you let me shower.”

He held up a hand. “Maybe so, but I have to be sure.”

She didn’t taste like beer at all, just like Bex. The smell of oranges and body wash and underneath that her own unique taste, salty and a little sweet.

He kissed around her belly button, dipping his tongue inside and swirling until her breath hitched higher. Then he helped her out of her pants and underwear, so very hard at the sight of her.

“Jesus Christ, Bex. I’m going to need to be inside you soon.”

She murmured her agreement and wiggled her hips at him. He couldn’t help but lean forward to taste her, lapping at her wet, silky folds.

She closed her legs slightly and nudged him away. “No, Gabe. I need to shower. I smell like beer.”

He looked up at her. “You smell like you, Bex. You taste like you. The single most intoxicating thing in the world.”

She shook her head, her tone light and teasing. “You really want to get laid, don’t you?”

“I really want to make love to you.” He couldn’t help the way everything turned suddenly serious. “However you want me to love you, I’ll love you. With my hands. With my mouth. With my cock. Just say the word, Bex. I’m yours.”

She looked down at him with wide eyes. “You love me?” she whispered.

Of course he did. He couldn’t stop himself even if he tried.

He looked into her pretty eyes and showed her his heart. “Yeah. I do.”

This time when he leaned forward and licked a trail over her slit, she didn’t protest. She just shifted her hips to give him better access.

Gabe slid a finger inside her, all heat and sensation. Bex moaned and reached behind her to grab the dresser for support.

“You okay?” he asked.

“It’s so hard to stand when you do that.”

He smiled at her. “Then let’s get you off your feet.” He lay on his back on the bed, and when she followed him, he arranged her aching cunt just above his face. He pulled her down onto him, demanding access so he could spear her with his tongue.

“Oh god, Gabe.” Her voice came out shallow and wild, and his heart hammered. “Wait.”

Gabe pulled away just long enough for Bex to undress him, then she settled back into position. This time she wrapped her lips around him and used the flat stroke of her tongue to trace the veins on his cock. It was like he was fifteen and getting his first blow job—everything wonderful and addicting and new. She touched him like she was made for him, the layers peeling back on his control.

“Just like that,” Gabe murmured.

While Bex sucked him with abandon, he continued his seduction, licking at her slit with fevered intensity until she started to ride his face shamelessly. “You taste so good,” he whispered. “I need you soft and ready for what comes next.”

Bex writhed, moaning loudly now. Coming apart at the seams. He pulled out of her mouth when he sensed she was getting close, and she made a soft, disappointed sound. Being outside of her hot, wet mouth was almost painful, but he didn’t need her to clamp down on his cock when she came. And she was going to come hard.

“Don’t worry, honey. I’m going to finish inside you later.” Bex moaned her agreement and grasped him with her hands, jacking him, lubricated by the moisture her mouth left behind.

His body bucked. “Easy, honey. Not yet.” He returned his tongue to Bex’s body and kept his tongue pulsing inside her while he reached back behind her to spread her arousal between her cheeks. Then he slipped a finger inside and pushed up to the knuckle.

Bex accepted him with a small, greedy cry.

“Oh fuck, Gabe. I’m going to come.” That single touch sent her over the edge, climaxing around him in a shudder that tightened her grip on his cock and almost made him come, too.

Bex rolled to the side, breathing heavy, her eyelids slitted.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he said, aware of his heavy cock still stretched across his stomach.

“Oh?” she smiled.

“It’s time for that shower now.”