Gabe pulled in front of my house a couple of minutes later. He followed me up the pathway and waited patiently while I fumbled with the lock. Evan confirmed he was out with a few mutual friends via text and gave me coordinates to meet up with them later. I sent a thumbs-up emoji but I didn’t intend to go anywhere. Not tonight.

I headed for the living area and pointed at the flat screen on the far wall above the fireplace. “Wanna watch…something?”

“Sure. If you want.”

I fixated on Gabe’s mouth then lowered my gaze to his chest and his trim waist. I was aware of him giving me the same thorough once-over. I didn’t know what he saw but I liked the hungry look in his eyes. It was evidence if I needed it that he meant what he’d said. Whatever this was, we were in it together. That was reassuring but I obviously didn’t know how to proceed if Netflix was the best I could do.

I sat next to him and reached for the remote then scrolled through adventures flicks and comedies, reading the selections aloud in a feeble attempt to refocus and get my pulse under control. We settled on Jurassic Park. I had no clue which number it was in the series. Hell, it could have been another movie starring a slew of dinosaurs. My concentration was shot. My senses were buzzing with awareness for the guy next to me. Tyrannosaurus Rex didn’t stand a chance.

“Do you want anything to drink?” I whispered.

“No thanks. Why are you whispering?”

“I don’t know.” I swiped my hands on my jeans and then crossed my arms and uncrossed them. “I think I need water. I’ll be right back.”

Gabe hooked his fingers in my belt loop when I stood and yanked me backward so I landed almost on top of him. I scooted back a few inches and licked my bottom lip, noting his hungry stare with a satisfaction that felt foreign to me. I couldn’t analyze it. I only knew I liked the way it made me feel.

He lifted his fingers to my chin and tentatively traced my jawline while his eyes roamed over my face, taking inventory or memorizing my features. He placed his hand over my throat in a proprietary grip that was borderline possessive before cupping the back of my neck and leaning in to brush his nose across my cheek. My heart slammed against my chest when he rested his forehead against mine.

“Are you breathing?”

“No.”

Gabe smiled. “Don’t pass out.”

“I’ll try not to. I— are you gonna kiss me?”

“Do you want me to?”

“I think so,” I replied in a raspy tone.

“I shouldn’t do it if you aren’t sure.”

His words were laced with the perfect amount of humor. I let out a half chuckle and nodded. “I think I’m sure.”

Gabe tsked and shook his head. “Not good enough. You have to be one hundred percent, absolutely, positi—”

I threaded my fingers in his hair and covered his mouth in a searing kiss before I lost my nerve and did something stupid, like started thinking. Rational thought wasn’t welcome ’cause yeah, I wanted him. Badly. As long as this felt good, I wasn’t going to question or second guess. I’d take everything he gave… and maybe ask for a little more.