Chapter Ten
The second he’d realized his place was a mess, Gabe had scrambled to straighten it up. He didn’t want Rachel to think he was a slob, so he’d grabbed all the empty beer bottles and tossed them in the recycling, quickly put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher—even the ones he’d have to take back out to wash by hand—and rearranged the snacks he had out. Then he grabbed some plates and napkins and set them down.
Jace lifted his feet from the table enough for Gabe to finish scooping the crumbs off of it. “It looks great, Martha.”
“Fuck you,” Gabe spat, but he had to admit it was funny. He’d never cared this much what a woman thought of him—or in this case his place—and he wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Who’s Martha?” Manny asked him.
Gabe shook his head at having to clarify the joke that wasn’t even his. “Stewart.”
“Oh,” Manny said, pointing at Jace. “Nice one.”
“Get it all out now,” Gabe warned, “because if you fuckers even think of doing anything—” A knock interrupted Gabe’s threat, so he just gave his friends a two-fingered “I’ll be watching you” gesture and headed for the door.
Gabe always thought it was as corny as it was awkward for people to say, “Hey, you,” but that is exactly what came out of his mouth when he saw Rachel standing in the hall. She looked casual in black leggings that stopped just above her ankle and a long burgundy sweater that came just below her ass. Gabe thought it was unfortunate that she’d chosen to cover such a perfect area.
She looked beautiful despite the comfortable outfit choice, and Gabe found himself thinking how she’d look beautiful in anything. She certainly looked beautiful without any clothes on. “Everyone’s in the man cave,” he said, gesturing for her to walk down the foyer hallway.
Walking beside her, he had the urge to put a hand on her back, or anywhere on her really, but somehow he managed to restrain himself. When they got into the family room, two pairs of eyes transferred their attention from the game to Rachel. It made Gabe feel more uncomfortable than it seemed to make Rachel feel.
Jace waved at her from the couch and told her it was nice to see her again. She gave him a friendly smile back and said hello.
“This is Manny,” Gabe said, causing Manny to ask why wasn’t important enough to be introduced by his last name.
Manny lit up when Rachel told him she knew it anyway. “Manny ‘Big Quick’ Gomez,” she said. “You’re a Premiers legend. It’s so great to meet you.”
Manny rose to shake Rachel’s hand and then settled back into his spot on the couch.
Gabe told her to make herself comfortable and headed to the kitchen to get her a drink. He returned with Rachel’s beer and sat down next to her. “Rachel’s in the city doing an article. It’s like a behind the scenes sort of thing about teams on the east coast,” Gabe said to Manny.
“You’re a reporter?” he asked her, and Gabe realized that he hadn’t actually said what Rachel did for a living.
“Yeah, nothing too exciting yet. Mostly little stories here and there.”
“Okay, okay,” Manny replied. “This is cool. Let me know if you wanna interview me. I’d be happy to help. I’ve got a winning personality.”
“But clearly not a modest one,” Gabe said.
Rachel laughed and thanked Manny politely. “That’s actually what I wanted to discuss with you,” Rachel said, turning to Gabe. “I had another idea. It’s a bit different than the original one, but it’ll allow me to stay in one place instead of hopping from city to city.”
Gabe felt his smile brighten. “You wanna focus on only me, don’t you?”
“And I’m the one who’s conceited,” Manny laughed.
“There’s no way she wants to focus on you,” Jace said. “That’d be the most boring article in like… the history of articles.”
“That was eloquent,” Gabe said.
Jace shrugged. “It’s the truth. No one would want to read a whole article about you, let alone write one. You always think that things are about you.”
“Actually,” Rachel said, “I was thinking that—”
“Don’t say it,” Jace and Manny said nearly in unison, and Gabe could almost feel how scared they were at what Rachel was about to say. It was in direct contrast to Gabe’s growing excitement.
“I was thinking,” Rachel began slowly, “that an article that included Gabe might be—”
“The worst idea ever?” Manny said.
“The biggest mistake of your career?” Jace added.
“Shut up and let the woman speak,” Gabe said. He was already standing in celebratory anticipation. He would not let a bum knee keep him from jumping up and down when Rachel said she was going to write an article about him.
Rachel smiled, clearly amused at their banter. “I was thinking an article about retired athletes from the four major sports would be interesting to a lot of sports fans. People are used to seeing their favorite sports figures in headlines while they’re still playing, but after they retire, typically fans don’t have as much insight into their lives. I thought it would be fun to give people a glimpse into what life is like beyond the buzzer, so to speak.”
Manny looked incredulous. “And you thought it was a good professional decision to include Gabe in an article that’s supposed to be ‘fun’ and ‘interesting’?” he said, using air quotes to emphasize how ridiculous he thought the idea was.
“You guys are assholes,” Gabe said, but he couldn’t help but laugh.
“I do,” Rachel replied with a nod. “My plan is to focus on athletes of different ages and places in their lives. Gabe’s still young, and he retired at the height of his career. He doesn’t have a wife or kids or anything tying him down. The possibilities of what he could do with his time are endless.”
“And yet he’s chosen to do nothing,” Jace said. “What could be more interesting than that?”
“I do stuff,” Gabe defended.
Jace looked at him, obviously knowing there was no way that Gabe would reveal that he’d taken over the club.
“You’re helping all of those animals,” Rachel said. “I think people would be surprised to know that.”
“I know I was surprised,” Jace said, causing Gabe to mouth a Fuck you at him. At least Gabe had thought to adopt two kittens after telling Rachel about his latest way of giving back. It made him feel better knowing his claim about helping animals wasn’t a complete lie. The fact that he was somewhat allergic to cats had no bearing on his decision to suddenly share his place with Tom and Jerry—who were no doubt hiding somewhere because of all the company. There was no way he was getting a dog. No. Way.
Gabe managed to avoid any glances toward Manny, who he was sure was wondering what the fuck Rachel was talking about. Thankfully, even if Manny was skeptical, their bro code wouldn’t allow him to call Gabe out on it.
Rachel continued. “That’s actually what made me think that profiling you first might be a good idea. I saw that commercial with Sarah McLaughlin and all of those sad puppies, and I thought, people need to know everything you’re doing for the local community—that your contribution to the Philadelphia area didn’t stop when your baseball career ended. I thought I could do kind of like a day in the life of Gabriel Torres kind of thing and follow you around. You know, really see what you do with your time now that it’s not devoted to baseball.”
Gabe had been so excited at the prospect of Rachel wanting to focus a quarter of the article on him that he hadn’t stopped to consider how she’d get her information or what the article might include. It would be more trouble than it was worth to let Rachel see the ins and outs of his daily routine. “That’s nice and all,” Gabe began, “but to be honest, the guys are right. I’m not that interesting. But I’m sure I could hook you up with some people who are. Manny’s got a lot going on actually, like with the…”
He pointed at Manny, hoping his friend would help him out. Gabe should’ve known better. “I don’t know what he’s talking about,” Manny said. “Coming here is the most I’ve done in weeks.”
“Well, I for one, think it’s a great idea to profile our friend here,” Jace said, squeezing the back of Gabe’s neck so hard he thought he might pass out.
Obviously sensing Gabe’s hesitation, Rachel assured him that she only wanted to include Gabe in the article if he wanted to do it. She didn’t want to force him into anything.
“Are you kidding?” Jace said. “Gabe’s been waiting for the day when someone would devote pages to him, right buddy?”
Though Jace obviously didn’t want Rachel finding out about the club, he also probably knew that Gabe could prevent that from happening. It would just be a huge pain in his ass. Which was exactly why Jace was suddenly on board with the idea.
And since Gabe was never one to back down from a challenge, he found himself giving Rachel a wide smile and saying how he couldn’t be more excited. Add that to the list of ridiculous lies he’d told her.
***
Rachel hadn’t been lying when she’d said that it would be like she was one of the guys. She’d watched the second half of the game with Gabe and his friends and had thoroughly enjoyed herself. They’d discussed who they all thought would make it to the finals, and Rachel had easily taken part in the conversation. After Jace and Manny had left, she’d teased Gabe about how awestruck he’d looked while she was interacting with the guys. But he’d simply said that he’d never been more turned on talking about sports before.
“So maybe I’m not one of the guys after all,” she said, laughing.
“No. You're way hotter than Manny. I promise.”
“You’re crazy,” she said with a shake of her head as she opened Gabe’s recycling and put her empty bottle inside.
“And you’re beautiful.” When she turned back around to face him, his normally easygoing expression had transformed into something more serious. She could feel the weight of his stare on her, his eyes heavy with the same desire she felt whenever she thought of him now. “I mean it,” he said, moving closer to her.
“You’re drunk” was her only reply.
He shook his head. “Uh-uh. No such thing as beer goggles when I’ve only had three beers. You’re gorgeous.”
Rachel wanted to roll her eyes but managed to stop herself. Gabe was being incredibly sweet. She didn’t know why she felt the need to tease him about the compliment. Though when she thought more about it, she realized it probably had something to do with the fact that she rarely received such overt compliments from the men she’d dated.
Wait, was she dating Gabe? They’d had sex once and gone on one date. That hardly qualified as dating. But she found herself wanting more—whatever “more” meant.
When they were in college, Gabe had always been so free with his compliments, and she’d attributed it to his “player” lifestyle, like she was just one more girl he hoped to add to the already long list of women he’d been with. It had been the main reason she’d turned him down so many times when he’d asked her out. She couldn’t be some name he’d forget one day. Mainly because she knew she wouldn’t forget him.
And now years later their paths had somehow crossed again when they’d run into each other at the Super Bowl after party. And then again when Rick had said that the lead to article of her career happened to be in Gabe’s town. The universe had thought it was a good idea to throw them together again, and she couldn’t pretend she was disappointed in that. She knew even if she and Kellan hadn’t run into Gabe that day at lunch, she could only avoid telling him she was in town for so long before she eventually called him. And though she hated that her true reason for being in Philly was something she couldn’t share with Gabe, she’d done what she could to rectify that by coming up with an article that she would not only actually write, but would hopefully allow her to get some time and money from Rick while she focused on both articles.
“Why are you so nice?” she asked, her head tilting to the side as she placed her hands on the counter behind her.
He lifted an eyebrow at her and slid a hand into the pocket of the white mesh shorts he was wearing. She found herself remembering what was underneath them and had to direct her attention back to his other head. “Um… because if I wasn’t, my mom would find a wooden spoon that reached from Puerto Rico to Pennsylvania and beat my ass with it.” Then he smiled this shy little smile that was somehow so not Gabe. “And also because I like you,” he said. “And for the first time since I met you, I think you like me too.”
Rachel felt herself blush at his words. “I always liked you.”
Rachel noticed the corner of his mouth turn up as he jerked his head back in surprise. “No way.”
“It’s true.”
“Was it like when kids have a crush on someone in grade school and they tease and torment them to show they care?” Gabe joked.
“I never tortured you. And we hung out once or twice after I interviewed you.”
“We did. But you didn’t seem all that interested in taking things any further than coffee or lunch or whatever.”
Her shoulders lifted into a shy shrug. “I was interested in you. I just wasn’t interested in being Gabriel Torres’s next conquest.”
She hadn’t meant for her words to sting. But when she saw Gabe try to hide a wince, she regretted saying them. “I’m sorry. That’s not what—”
“No, it is,” Gabe said quietly. “It’s okay though. I deserved that.” He brought a hand up to cup her face while he looked into her eyes with his warm brown ones. “But for what it’s worth, you were never a conquest. And you certainly aren’t now.”
“Then what am I?” she asked.
“Someone I enjoy spending time with. Someone who’s incredibly beautiful. And smart. Someone I wanna kiss so badly right now it’s hard for me to keep using my mouth to speak.”
“Then you should probably stop talking and kiss me.”
And just like that his lips were on hers, his solid body pressing against her as she relaxed into him. Her whole body responded to his touch. It seemed like every nerve, every inch of skin was alive with pleasure.
Gabe’s hands roamed her body slowly—carefully, as if he wanted to savor every second of their encounter. It was different from their first time together, which felt rushed and frantic with need. She sucked in a breath when she felt Gabe’s mouth on her neck. He remained there for what felt like an eternity because, though she was thoroughly enjoying it, she wanted his mouth on other, more intimate parts of her.
“I love the little sounds you make,” Gabe whispered against her skin.
She'd been so focused on what he was doing, she wasn't even aware she'd made any sounds. “Yeah?” she said, more as a moan than an actual word.
He let out a low “mm-hmm” against her throat as he gradually worked his way to her collarbone. He pulled her sweater to the side to gain access to her shoulder, but the shirt didn’t stay on for long anyway. Gabe pulled it over her head and set it on the counter behind her, and now kissed the swell of her breasts as he carried her toward what she assumed was his bedroom.
Instinctually, her legs wrapped around his waist as he carried her, though it was more for pleasure than it was to ensure she didn’t fall. She was practically writhing against him. She had no idea how he was able to carry her so easily, and though it made her wonder if it bothered his knee, she decided not to ask.
Once inside his room, the two collapsed onto his soft mattress—causing his two new kittens, Tom and Jerry, to finally make an appearance by darting out from under the bed. Rachel and Gabe both laughed softly as they watched the gray furry felines disappear into the hall.
When Gabe’s focus returned to her, the weight of his body was a welcome feeling over hers. He wasn’t quite resting himself fully on her, but was putting enough pressure against her clit to make her wonder if he would make her come from this alone. There were only a few thin layers of fabric between them, and somehow they caused the sensation of his erection to be more powerful. The way the seams of their clothing rubbed her, how thick and fully ready he was as he moved between her legs. His movements were slow, causing a gradual build deep inside her that had her aching for him to move faster, thrust harder.
When she could feel her release creeping down her body, she clung onto him harder, sliding her hands down the back of his shorts and digging her nails into the meat of his ass. She knew what Gabe meant when he’d said he’d liked the sounds she made because the raspy and labored groan he let out had her nearly convulsing under him.
“Gabe,” she huffed out. “I need you to…” Her brain somehow disconnected from her voice, making her unable to finish the sentence. She was incapable of any coherent thoughts as Gabe’s cock continued to stroke her.
“You need me to what?” Gabe asked. His movements had stopped with his words and his face held concern. But for what, she wasn’t sure. “Is this okay? What I was doing? We can… I can…”
Oh God. He thought she wanted him to stop or was unsure if she wanted him to keep going. Pulling at the back of his hair, which was slightly damp with sweat, she gave him a sweet smile and guided him toward her for a kiss that was as innocent as Rachel could manage for the moment. But despite its softness, there was a heat to it—an attraction that made her entire body crave him in a way that she’d never craved anyone before. “Yes,” she finally said when their lips parted. “This is… God, it’s perfect.” She wasn’t quite sure what could make fooling around with your clothes still on perfect, but Gabe had accomplished it.
“Oh, okay. That’s good,” he whispered, his shy smile growing wider at her words. “Because I really didn’t want to stop.”
“Well that makes two of us,” she said before pressing her lips to his again.
But this time was different. The kiss was long and passionate and completely consuming. It held a power that made her lose all sense of time. The only thing that mattered was now. She thought of nothing but Gabe’s hands on her and hers on him as they explored all the parts of him she hadn’t been sober enough their first time together to pay any attention to. She focused on every freckle, every scar and soft hair. He was quite possibly the sexiest man she’d ever seen naked.
She felt herself submit to him as one of his hands pinned both of hers over her head. She was sure she could get up if she wanted to, but there was no way in hell she was moving right now. Not with Gabe’s scruff tickling her neck as he kissed it. And definitely not when his mouth went to her breasts, lavishing each nipple with equal attention.
Somehow there was no rush despite their need for one another, and when Gabe finally sheathed himself in the condom he’d grabbed from the table next to his bed and slid inside her, she nearly came from that feeling alone. She was so full, so ready. And with him seated fully inside her and momentarily still, she could feel how thick he was.
His thrusts were long and slow and had her begging for more. She felt him chuckle against her ear more than she heard it, and she supposed it was because he was enjoying how needy she was. He continued his measured strokes inside her until at last he rolled her onto him so she could set the pace. She was almost embarrassed of how frantic she was as she rode him, but it was Gabe. Somehow she was able to let herself go around him and let go of all her insecurities.
Her hands were on her own chest and then on her clit as she rubbed herself shamelessly toward an orgasm she was certain she’d never be able to replicate alone.
“I’d tell you how hot that is, but I’m pretty sure you already know,” Gabe said, his voice low and raw.
Too turned on, she couldn’t even respond, and she knew it wouldn’t be long before she lost complete control of herself.
“Let me,” Gabe said, taking over where she’d left off.
Her hands went to his shoulders and then to his thighs so she could lean back and give Gabe the access he needed. Their labored breaths were practically in sync with one another, and she wondered if Gabe was as close as she was. A few seconds later her body shook with her release, and as she tightened around him, Rachel could feel Gabe follow behind her. Their moans and choppy breaths mingled in the heat between them.
And now that Rachel had gotten to thoroughly enjoy Gabriel Torres, she was sure no one else would ever match up to him.