Gabriella stared at the tall building, her body trembling and her stomach churning. Had she done the right thing? She’d left Teague and come back to Toby. Was she nuts? Teague made her laugh! Teague could make her body shiver with delight one moment, then scream out his name with pleasure the next!
Toby was nice. He was calm and sure. He was steady!
A sharp voice in the back of her head reminded her that Teague was steady. Teague hadn’t been with another woman since the day they’d been married.
Not that she suspected that Toby would cheat on her. No way. Not in a million years. He just wasn’t a very sexual person.
And she wanted that! She needed that in her life.
Didn’t she?
Yes! She needed it badly! She’d had crazy insecurities in her childhood. She’d been scorned as the poor kid, the trailer trash. Toby would never allow anyone to say things like that to her. He was kind and sweet and attentive.
Of course, Teague would most likely bash someone’s nose in for even the smallest insult.
But he made her crazy.
Case closed. Toby was the man for her. Teague was her past. He was the man she’d think of and wish…shaking her head, she stepped out of the taxi cab, giving the driver a large tip to thank him for waiting while she contemplated her life and her love for an impossible man.
Toby was wrong for her. She knew it deep down in her soul. Teague was who she needed, and she’d known it from the moment she’d seen him that first day back at the construction site.
She didn’t like the way Teague made her feel. Well, yes, she did. She loved the way he made her feel. She loved how he made her laugh one moment, then moan with pleasure the next. He could drive her nuts in so many ways.
And she loved him.
Goodness, she hadn’t known it was possible to love someone the way she loved Teague. What she felt for Toby was…affection. Friendship. Gabby couldn’t believe she’d been about to marry a man she didn’t love!
Standing on the sidewalk, she was completely unaware of the other pedestrians hurrying along to whatever destination awaited their presence.
Teague made her feel…good.
He loved the real Gabby. He didn’t like the Gabriella side of her.
But she needed to be Gabriella! She needed that security.
With a sigh, she shook her head, unconcerned about the other people on the street, looking at her curiously as she mentally berated herself for being so stupid. She’d left a man that she loved once. Now she had to make everything right again.
Darn it! She’d had her life all mapped out and now…she shook her head and forced her feet to walk into the building. She was going to talk to her lawyer. She and Toby couldn’t get married. Yes, it would be a mess. But he would understand. Besides, Teague hadn’t signed the papers. She’d just have to give the ring back to Toby. It was the right thing to do when she was in love with another man. Her husband!
Gabby laughed as she thought about her life. She was breaking off her engagement to one man because she’d discovered she was in love with her husband!
It wouldn’t be simple, but it was necessary.
Breaking up with Toby would be okay, she reassured herself. It wasn’t like they had any assets together.
Gabriella looked down at the diamond ring around her neck. She’d simply hand Toby’s ring back. She was wearing Teague’s ring again.
Shaking her head, she pushed her feet to move forward. She wasn’t delaying her conversation with Toby. Not at all. She was just…hesitant to hurt him. This was going to cause problems with his friends. There would be an embarrassment. But she’d dealt with worse in her life. The end result would be better. Yes, better to just end things with Toby. Everything would be calm and cool and controlled with Toby.
Gabriella chuckled with that thought. Teague was definitely…she banished that thought, not wanting to remember the way Teague made love to her. His whole mind and body made love to her. He ignored everything when he was touching her. He was in control of her in ways she loved.
So why was she still standing here, debating back and forth about this?
Because she wanted Teague. She wanted him so badly!
And that still scared her.
A tear escaped from her lashes, dripping down onto her cheek. Besides the day that she’d discovered her mother had died, this was the scariest moment of her life!
The sun was shining brightly in the sky and everyone was hurrying around. Lunchtime, she thought. Boston had some great eateries. Teague would love them, she thought. Teague loved food. Good grief, Teague loved life!
So why was she standing here? Why wasn’t she back in Seattle, where she could walk up to Teague and know that he would wrap his arms around her, pull her close against his side? Why was she here? Why had she abandoned Teague? Again!
Taking her phone out of her purse, she looked down at the messages. None from Teague. But she hadn’t expected anything from him. Not after she’d left him again.
This time, she’d left him a note, but thinking back to it, she wasn’t sure that the note was enough. She’d just said that she had to fix things. She’d been so rushed, so hurried to get back to Boston so she could clean up everything that she hadn’t given Teague enough information. She hadn't said she’d be back! She hadn’t told him she loved him. She’d snuck out of his cabin in the early morning hours and driven straight to the airport, caught a flight, and here she was, standing in front of Toby’s building, wondering how she was going to break off her engagement with such a kind, sweet, gentle man.
But she had to do it. And she had to hurry. Teague needed her. And…she took a deep breath as she finished her thought…she needed him. More than she’d thought possible!
Okay, so she was going to have to grovel. She wanted Teague. She was nuts to come back here to Toby when she knew how she felt about Teague. Yes, the tall, obnoxious man drove her nuts. No, that wasn’t what she’d thought she wanted for her future. But she had to accept that Teague might make her crazy, but he also made her laugh. He made her feel good about herself. Toby was calm and sensible, but when he glanced at her figure, she’d always felt as if he were judging her appearance. When Teague looked at her, she knew he was wondering what she was wearing underneath her clothes.
She wanted to slap herself for being so stupid! Teague was the man of her dreams. She just hadn’t ever realized that her dreams had been so clouded by her past! On the surface, Toby would fit into her future. But digging down even just a little bit, she knew that Toby was too stuffy for her. Oh, she’d thought that was what she’d wanted. Toby represented respectability. He knew the kinds of people that used to look down at her, taunt her.
Teague might know of those people, but he didn’t give a damn about them.
She still worried about respectability. But with Teague by her side, she was going to learn to ignore that superficial-ness. She would work at not wanting societal approval. Because everyone had their own secrets, their own past foibles that they needed to hide from the world. Poverty was hers. But she’d climbed out of that life. She was strong and competent. She could look at numbers and know what was happening, so she would always have a job.
If she needed a house, she’d buy a house! Teague would be Teague. He was happy in his trailer, but he wanted her. She was sure that she could find a reasonable compromise.
He loved her!
And she loved him. More than she’d thought possible! Goodness, the tight band that had been wrapped around her chest suddenly disappeared! She felt free with that admission.
For so long, she’d ignored her need to be with Teague, telling herself that the man was just a fool. Teague was no fool! He was just a guy who lived life fully! And he was incredibly knowledgeable about construction. If he wanted to be the foreman at a construction site, she would love that part of him! She loved him! She loved him so much, she felt like flying! Or dancing! Or just singing and being crazy!
“Gabriella?” a feminine voice called out from behind her.
Gabby turned around, unaware of and unconcerned about the goofy smile lighting up her face.
“It is you!” Doris Weatherby said and moved closer. “Goodness, dear! We’d heard that you’d left on business two weeks ago.”
Gabby laughed. “Yes. But my business has been resolved. Everything is worked out. For the best,” she said. Of course, Teague might be furious that she’d left him again. But she’d just close up her life here in Boston, fly out to Seattle and make her life there. He’d been stubborn about their divorce in the past. She’d be stubborn about it now. He wasn’t getting a divorce. No way! Teague was her husband!
That crazy giddiness made her want to clap her hands with joy. So she did!
Doris Weatherby’s head pulled back with surprise and she smiled carefully. “You’re excited about your wedding day, aren’t you dear?” Her eyes turned admonishing. “Decorum, child! We must maintain our decorum despite our inner excitement.” She nodded, trying to emphasize her words.
Gabby laughed. “You’re absolutely correct, Doris,” Gabby said, ignoring the woman’s disapproval when Gabby used the matron’s first name. It simply wasn’t done, she knew.
“I have to go. I must talk with Toby.”
“Of course you do, dear,” Ms. Weatherby agreed with a patronizing pat on her arm. “Go on. Talk to your fiancé and we’ll see you in your beautiful white dress in a couple of weeks.”
Gabby’s smile widened. “You have a very nice day,” and she turned around, almost skipping into the building.
She typed out a message to Teague. “I love you. I’m sorry I left and I should have explained more than the silly note. I was wrong. You were right. Please forgive me! I’m coming back. I just have one thing left to do.” She felt better after sending that message.
The receptionist smiled as soon as Gabby stepped through the door. “Good morning, Ms. Hicks,” she greeted graciously, immediately handing Gabby a visitor’s badge.
“Thank you, Jennifer,” Gabby smiled as she pinned the badge to her collar. Walking over to the bank of elevators, she felt a different spring to her step. She was practically bouncing on her toes. She was excited! Not to see Toby. But she was excited to get back to Teague.
Oh, he was probably furious with her. But she’d figure out how to reassure him that she was completely, irrevocably, crazy in love with the man. Just like he’d convinced her.
It was going to be a great life, she thought with satisfaction as she stepped into the elevator.
A few moments later, she stepped out onto the top floor. Toby liked being on the highest floor, thinking that it made him feel more exclusive. Gabby thought about Teague’s style of management. He talked with his crews, discussed various ideas with them. Toby didn’t really do that. He stayed up here in his tower, dictating memos through his assistant.
Hmmm…odd. Danielle wasn’t at her desk. That was definitely weird, Gabby thought, because Danielle normally guarded Toby’s office door like a lioness. The woman was an outstanding assistant. At least, that’s what Toby said constantly.
She must have gone out to lunch, Gabby thought. Was Toby gone as well? She hadn’t given him warning that she would be stopping by. Normally, he would be irritated with her about that, but she suspected he would be even angrier with her about what she was about to do. Breaking off one’s engagement two weeks before the wedding was…well, it was bad form, Toby would say.
Gabby almost laughed, but then she heard a noise in Toby’s office. It was a strange sound. Was that…?
Her mind couldn’t even picture what might be going on but it definitely sounded strange. Very un-Toby-like. He would be furious if someone was in his office.
Stepping over to the door, she realized that it wasn’t completely closed. Someone was in his office! Someone was…
“Oh my,” Gabby whispered as she pushed the door to Toby’s office open.
If Gabby had imagined the craziest, most insane scene in her mind, she still would not have pictured Toby like this. Bent over the woman, his hands bound behind his back, and his ankles in some sort of strange contraption, as well…and was that…leather? Was Toby wearing a leather thong? As he shifted, she realized that it wasn’t all leather. There was some sort of metal contraption around the base of his very erect penis. Gabby’s eyes moved to his body. She’d never seen Toby naked before, but she was fairly certain that his hairy butt wasn’t normally that red. Sure enough, the woman in the crotchless body suit whipped Toby, causing him to groan with…pleasure? Most likely, since he increased his efforts at pleasuring the woman with the spread legs sitting on Toby’s desk. Another whack, this time to Toby’s legs and he seemed to double his efforts at pleasing the woman.
As Gabby took in the scene, a part of her mind told her that she shouldn’t be here. She should turn around and leave. This was a private…scene…? She wasn’t sure what to call this. A tryst? That word seemed too innocent for what was happening here.
“Gabriella…” a feminine voice said from right behind Gabby.
Gabby was too busy staring at her fiancé and…oh my, was that… “Danielle?” Gabby asked, looking at the older woman in the crotchless body suit with the whip in the air. She was wearing a black mask over her eyes and her lipstick was red. Bright red. Normally Danielle wore no lipstick, her mouth pressed into a disapproving frown. But this Dominatrix was lovely! And scary!
Toby looked over, his mouth gasping for breath and his erection…well, upon being discovered his erection…deflated. “Gabriella!” he gasped.
Danielle was in mid-whip but she stopped herself, jumping off Toby’s desk, covering herself…well, covering her crotch area at least. Gabby noted that the body suit wasn’t just crotchless. It had nothing covering the woman’s breasts!
“Good heavens!” Ms. Weatherby shrieked from behind Gabby. “Tobias! What in the world is going on here?” she demanded.
Gabby covered her mouth, trying not to laugh at the horrified expressions on Toby and Danielle’s faces.
Ms. Weatherby’s mouth fell open as the leather-clad couple stared. “What in the name of all that is good and decent are you doing?” the commanding matron demanded in an outraged hiss.
Gabby stepped backwards, trying to avoid this scene. She loved the things that Teague did to her, so she didn’t want to judge another person’s sexual desires. But she couldn’t deny that she was enormously relieved that her issues with breaking off the wedding were gone.
“Is that your secretary?” Ms. Weatherby demanded. Gabby wasn’t sure if Ms. Weatherby was more horrified by the fact that Toby was having sex with his secretary, or that Toby was bound up and being whipped.
Poor Danielle, the woman couldn’t cover up enough with her hands. Well, nor could Toby, since his hands were still bound behind his back. He was looking at the elderly society matron, not with horror but with…well, his look was completely blank.
Another noise behind her had her turning around to see who else was about to witness this scene. She was going to hurry out, backing out of Toby’s office, but a huge shadow came up behind her, blocking her escape.
“Damn!” Teague breathed as he too took in the scene in Toby’s office.
Looking down at Gabby, he chuckled. “I can’t wait to do that to you!” and with that, he took her hand and tugged her back to the elevators while Gabby laughed. She was laughing so hard, she couldn’t see where she was going.
All she heard behind her was Ms. Weatherby screeching at Toby and Danielle to get dressed and stop “the nonsense”. Poor Toby, Gabby thought.
“How long had you been there?” Teague asked.
She smothered another wave of laughter as she leaned against his hard chest. “Maybe ten seconds before you walked in. I had no idea!”
“Got an eyeful in those ten seconds though, didn’t you?” he teased, chuckling as his arm tightened around her.
“Oh my yes!”
The elevator doors opened up and he pulled her out of the building, into the dark car that was obviously waiting for them at the curb. “Come on, honey. You’re going home.”
“With you?’ she asked, leaning against him again when they were settled against the black, leather seats.
He pulled her onto his lap, his hands firm as he held her in place as the limousine pulled away from the curb. “Yes. And you’re not leaving me again.”
Her arms wrapped around his neck, perfectly content to be on his lap. Exactly where she should be, she thought with happiness. “You came after me,” she murmured, her eyes widening as that realization hit her.
He pulled her closer, his hands resting on her bottom. A few weeks ago, she would have been horrified that he would touch her like that, thinking it wasn’t dignified. But now, she loved it. “I didn’t come after you the first time, but I know better now, Gabby. You’re my wife. I won’t let you go again.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Okay. Sounds good to me,” she replied and leaned against him.
His eyes narrowed at her easy agreement. “I mean it, Gabby. You’re mine! I won’t let you leave me. We’ve both been miserable over the past year. You’re staying with me.”
She nodded her head. “Okay.”
He pulled back slightly, trying to see her eyes. “Gabby, what’s going on?”
She shrugged. “I realize that I love you. Didn’t you get my messages?”
He stilled, and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “I turned it off mid-flight because Zeke was being an ass.”
She lifted her head, looking up into his green eyes and worried that his brothers were sick of her silliness. “About you coming here to talk to me?”
Teague shook his head. “Hell no! All three of my brothers would have kicked my ass if I hadn’t come after you.”
She leaned her head back against his shoulder, snuggling closer to him. “I understand if they thought I was bad for you. But I’ll prove them wrong. I’ll prove everyone wrong.”
He flipped his phone back on and read the messages. She knew the moment he’d gotten to the end because his arms tightened around her. Smiling, she kissed his neck. “I meant it.”
He looked at the time stamp on the messages. “You’d come to that conclusion even before you’d walked in on Toby and his Domme, eh?”
Gabby couldn’t stop the laughter with his comment. “Oh my, he was in trouble, wasn’t he?”
Teague chuckled as well, the deep sound making her shiver with anticipation. “I don’t know if he was more turned on by his Domme or by the old biddy yelling at him.”
Gabby laughed again. “That ‘old biddy’ is one of Boston’s society ladies. She’s in charge of…well, everything. Without her approval, you’re not going to make it in Boston society.”
He looked down at her, his arms tightening. “You don’t need approval from anyone, Gabby. You’re beautiful and wonderful.”
“And all yours,” she lifted her head to kiss him. She’d been aiming for his jaw but he turned his head and captured her lips with his, deepening the kiss as his fingers tangled in her hair, holding her head in place for his kiss.
“You’re all mine, Gabriella Steele,” he grumbled.
“Gabby Steele,” she corrected, then pulled his head back down to hers, kissing him again. “I love you, Teague Steele.”
When he had thoroughly kissed her again, he lifted his head, leaning his forehead against hers. “I love you, Gabby,” he told her with heartfelt sincerity.
Her eyes turned sad. “I’m so sorry for running away last year. I should have known that you were the right man for me.”
His rough hand moved up and down her back. “You weren’t ready for what we could have between us. I pushed you too fast in Vegas. But I knew what I wanted. You.”
She smiled, her fingers teasing the hair on the back of his neck. “You were right.”
He laughed. “I love hearing those words.”
She chuckled again. “I also know that you’re annoying and obnoxious and...”
He stopped whatever she was going to say by kissing her again. When he lifted his head this time, she was breathless and clinging to him. “And you love all of me,” he argued right back.
She smiled, her fingers enjoying the soft feel of his hair while her body enjoyed the hard feel of him everywhere else. “Yeah, I do.”
The car pulled into what she suspected was the airport, but it wasn’t Logan International Airport. Or was it? She looked around and, sure enough, commercial flights were taking off in the distance. “Where are we?’ she asked because nothing looked familiar.
“At the airport,” he answered and stepped out of the vehicle. Turning, he extended his hand to help her out, then pulled her against his side. “We’re flying home together this time.”
She looked around his broad shoulders and gasped when she spied the private plane he was leading her towards. She glanced back and the uniformed chauffer was stepping back into the black vehicle and driving off. “Teague, you don’t have to…”
“Relax, Gabby. This is the Steele Industries’ company plane. Pete is the pilot and he’s very experienced. No need to get nervous.”
She shook her head, stunned and confused. “Steele Industries owns a private plane?”
He shrugged, not understanding why she looked so mystified. “Four actually. We have to fly to various sites across the country, so it was easier and more efficient to just get a couple of planes than to try and fit our needs into the commercial flight schedule.”
She tried to close her mouth, to hide her stunned surprise. But it was hard. Especially when she stepped onto the plane and the incredible luxury hit her.
“Ready, Pete?” Teague asked the pilot as he led Gabby over to one of the leather seats.
“Fueled up and ready, sir,” the pilot replied. “I’ve even gotten a takeoff slot for you. We should be in the air in thirty minutes.”
Teague nodded and winked at the flight attendant. “Gabby, this is Olivia. She’s Pete’s husband.”
Gabby’s eyes narrowed on Teague’s, wondering how he knew to make that explanation. She wasn’t jealous. Not at all! The woman was gorgeous, but….
“Relax, darlin’,” he teased as Pete moved into the cockpit. “You’re my woman. I have eyes only for you.”
She humphed, but he was just too handsome for her to ignore. “So tell me more about Seattle,” she urged. “I will need to find a job.”
He leaned back and started regaling her with all of the good aspects of the city where he lived. Gabby listened to his deep voice, her mind enjoying the relaxing flight. Maybe too much. Because the next thing she knew, Teague was gently shaking her awake.
“Honey, we’re home,” he said with that rough voice that never failed to make her smile.
Gabby’s eyes fluttered as Teague watched, his whole body and mind in love with this woman. He hadn’t thought it was possible, but he loved her even more since she’d come back with him.
She was the first woman he’d ever had to fight for and she would be the last. His life was going to be tied to this woman and it was going to be amazing.
“Home?” she asked, lifting her head and looking around. “We’re still on the plane.”
“Yeah, but my truck is outside waiting for us. We’re back in Seattle.”
Sitting up, she pushed the soft blanket off, feeling safe and secure. “Home,” she repeated, testing out the words as she looked out of the window of the plane. “Yes. Home.”
Teague took her hands and pulled her to a standing position. “Let’s get out of here before my brothers find out that we landed and start demanding information.”
She smiled up at him, feeling that craziness start to overwhelm her once again. Teague could always do this to her. She wanted to jump into his arms, wrap her legs around his waist and kiss him.
Instead, she smoothed her hair down and glanced at her clothes. They were a wrinkled mess. “I must look horrible,’ she mumbled.
Teague pulled her against him and kissed her until she melted once more. When he lifted his head, he winked down at her. “You look amazing,” he told her with a sincerity that made her heart melt even more.
“Come on,” he said and tugged her out of the plane. He shook hands with Pete, thanking him for another smooth flight. When they were on the tarmac again, he walked over to his truck, unaware that she had to almost run to keep up with his longer stride. He didn’t slow down though. When they were at his truck, he opened the door and lifted her into the seat.
“Are you going to do that all the time?” she teased.
“I might,” he slammed the door, walking around to the driver’s side.
Gabby waited until he’d maneuvered through the airport traffic and they were back on the highway. “I was thinking,” she started off, not wanting to offend him but needing a real home.
“What’s wrong, honey?” he asked, and reached over, taking her hand.
She stared at his strong, callused hand with amazement and relief. She could talk to him about anything, she told herself. He wouldn’t be hurt.
“I want a house,” she blurted out. “I know that your trailer is very nice and it suits your needs, but I would love to live in a house. I grew up in a trailer and I hated it. In college, I shared an apartment with four other people. We were all crammed together and I hated it. After college, my first priority was to get my own apartment, my own space. But now that we’re going to stay married, I would like to start looking at houses.” She held her breath after that lecture, waiting for his reaction.
All of her muscles relaxed when he only chuckled. “A house, huh?”
Not exactly the response that she was waiting for, but he didn’t seem to be hurt or offended by her desire to live in something that didn’t have wheels. “Yes. I can get a job and, once I’ve been working there for a year or two, I’m sure we could qualify for a mortgage. I don’t need anything big,” she explained. “Maybe two or three bedrooms with a small yard.”
“Two or three? I thought you wanted lots of kids,” he told her.
She shrugged. “How about if we start off with one after I’m settled into a job?” She watched him carefully, wondering what he might be thinking. His thumb was rubbing back and forth against her wrist, sending tremors of awareness up her arm. But she didn’t want to just jump into bed with him. She wanted to talk with him, plan a future…to have a real marriage.
Her shoulders relaxed when he nodded his head. “We can start with one kid,” he teased and winked at her as he turned off the highway. They weren’t heading into downtown Seattle as she’d expected. “But I think a house filled with four or five kids would be a whole lot better.”
She laughed, feeling free once again. “And a dog? I would take the dog on walks so that we wouldn’t really need a big yard. I’ve always wanted a dog. And a cat.”
He shook his head. “Nope. No cats,” he told her firmly.
“Are you allergic to cats?” she asked, relieved when he didn’t veto the dog idea.
“I’m not allergic, but you can’t have a dog and a cat. They’re natural enemies.”
Gabby laughed, delighted and more than ready to tackle the idea of a cat at a later date. “Okay, a dog then. And maybe two kids.”
“Four kids, two dogs, no cats,” he announced as if he’d just decided for the both of them.
Gabby smiled, her fingers tightening on his. “Two kids, two dogs, four cats,” she argued back, just teasing because there was no way she wanted six animals in her house.
Teague laughed, thrilled with her plan. “We’ll see.” He loved kids and two might not be enough for him.
When he turned down another street, this one filled with trees, she looked around, trying to figure out where they were heading. The street was narrow, only two lanes, and it seemed to lead to nowhere.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, looking around and loving the privacy afforded by all of the pine trees.
“You’ll see,” he said and turned down yet another street. Well, this wasn’t really a street. It was more of a driveway, with room only for one vehicle.
Gabby wasn’t sure what was going on, but she trusted Teague. “Is this some land that you like?” she asked.
“I like the land, yes. But you’re going to have to be patient,” he told her.
A moment later, the truck pulled through the trees and Gabby gasped. “What is this?” she asked, staring at the enormous, beautiful house in front of her. It was a craftsman style house with several different sections, a four-car garage, and huge windows that looked out at the forest. There were evergreen bushes growing against the foundation, a stone walkway leading up to the huge, double door entryway and a large porch with more of those great wooden chairs that she’d enjoyed at his mountain cabin.
“I love this place!” she yelped and stepped out of his truck, staring up at the structure. “Who lives here?”
Teague slammed his door shut and came around to her side, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close. “I do,” he said simply, staring up at the house with pride.
Gabby heard his words, but she didn’t react for a long moment. She simply stared. Stunned and confused. “You live here?”
She looked up at him, needing to see his eyes, to see the truth. Was he teasing her? “You mean you want to buy this house?”
He shook his head. “No. This is my house. Logan did the plans for it, to my specifications, and I built it with one of the construction crews.”
She continued to stare at him but then turned to look back at the house. “This is where you live?”
He nodded. “When I’m not on a job that needs close attention. I have been living at the site in the trailer just for convenience. Normally, I’m only there during the week.”
She glared up at him, feeling like a fool. “So all this time, I’ve been worried that my children would grow up in a trailer park and you have this beautiful house nestled back in the woods?”
He shrugged, completely unrepentant. “Yeah, that about sums it up.”
Gabby pulled out of his arms, furious with him. “Teague! Do you have any idea how many times I’ve gone over numbers in my head, trying to figure out how we could afford a small house? Just something that would…” She couldn’t finish her rant because he simply walked over to her and lifted her into his arms, tossing her over his shoulder. “Teague!” she screamed, trying not to laugh. This was serious!
He smacked her bottom, although not very hard. “If you’d talked to me about your concerns, woman, I would have told you that you were being ridiculous.”
Gabby tried to look around, wanting to see more of his house, but her hair was falling in her eyes. She got the impression of wood and large windows with lots of light coming in, but the next thing she knew, she was being flipped onto her back on an enormous bed.
“Teague, I’m going to…” Again, he wouldn’t let her finish the sentence. He kissed her, his mouth moving over hers even while his hands started to pull her clothes away from her body.
“What were you saying?” he asked when his mouth moved from hers to her bared breast.
Gabby couldn’t reply except for the scream as her body arched into his, pressing her breast against his mouth. Her fingers dove into his hair and she moaned when his teeth nibbled.
“You’re going to drive me crazy!” she gasped, trying to catch her breath before he moved to the other breast.
“That’s the plan,” he told her and captured her other nipple a moment after he tore his own shirt off over his head.
A long time later, Gabby stared up at the skylights centered above the bed, her fingers tangling in the hair on his muscular chest as she tried hard to breathe normally again. As always, Teague was a whirlwind that left her breathless. And more satisfied that she’d ever thought possible.
“You okay?” he asked, his own hands tangling in her hair.
“No,” she replied. But earned another tug at that answer. Laughing, she turned her head so that she was looking up at him. “Yes. I’m more than okay.” She wiggled higher onto his chest. “You know what would make me more okay?”
Teague had some good ideas. “Give me a clue,” he said as he lifted her higher, pulling her leg over his waist so that she was straddling him.
Gabby leaned over so that her lips were less than an inch from his. Teasing him, not touching him but lowering her lashes with promise. She heard him groan and smiled ever so slightly.
“What?” he demanded, his hands cupping her bottom to press her closer.
She looked into his green eyes, thinking he was the most glorious man she’d ever met. “A cat.”
Teague didn’t move for a long moment. A cat?
Then he saw the teasing glint in her eyes and roared, tossing her over so that she was once again underneath him. “You’re going to pay for that, woman!” he said.
Gabby laughed, her body already trying to wiggle away from his strong hands. But it was pointless. When Teague wanted something, he didn’t stop until he got it. And she loved him all the more for his stubborn craziness.