Gabi pressed her lips together, fighting back a laugh. It was a relief to see the happiness back in his eyes. Although keeping his friends amused and entertained was his M.O., he carried the weight of the world on those broad shoulders. For tonight, she wanted to make him fall asleep smiling, relieved of all his worries.

“Come here.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her against his chest. “Kiss me.”

She obeyed, lowering her head to meet his upturned face. Their lips brushed in a delicate sweep, and she moaned when his tongue sought entrance to her mouth. His other arm snaked around her back to the clasp of her bra, working it one handed until it came undone. Then both hands drifted lower, cupping her ass in a firm hold.

A ragged breath escaped her and she clung to him, palming his lightly stubbled cheek with one hand while the other went into the hair at his nape. His chest rumbled, the masculine sound beading her nipples and sending desire to pool between her thighs. He made it so easy to love him, physically and emotionally. No other man compared. No other man even existed.

He pulled back, sending her reeling, making her pull tighter on his hair to remain standing. “Take off your panties. I want to taste you.”

She whimpered at his words, at his large dilated pupils, and the way his hands were working her ass like he was kneading bread.

“Now, Gabi.” He dropped his grip on her.

She fumbled backward, her gaze still glued to his, and let her bra straps fall down her arms to the floor. His nostrils flared, sending a blanket of goose bumps over her body while he yanked off his unbuttoned shirt and threw it away.

With shaky fingers, she grabbed the elastic of her white lace g-string and pushed it down her thighs. She stood before him, completely naked except for her cobalt blue high heels and a nervous smile.

“Damn, you make me hot,” he murmured.

She felt the same way. He stole her breath, her heart, her insecurities, and made her soar. Even now, with a foot of space between them, she could feel his touch. The sight of him was something she would never forget, no matter how far he travelled or how long he stayed away. He was a man without physical flaw. His arms were corded with muscle, the intense colors of his tattoos turning her core molten. Then there was the dark stubble that marred his smooth skin and the ruby lips that made her shiver with promise.

“I adore you,” she whispered.

His nostrils flared again, and when he pulled her closer this time, he rose to his feet, pushing her down to lay on the mattress.

“You don’t want me to take off my heels?”

He knelt on the mattress between her parted thighs and held her hips, pushing her higher on the bed. “Hell, no.” Palming the back of her shoe, he lifted and nuzzled her ankle. “So fucking hot.” His mouth ran a trail up the side of her calf, stopping at her knee. His gaze slid up her legs, lingering at her parted sex, then rose to her face. “Ready for a lesson in love, angel?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “I’m always ready for you.”

He smirked, making his features all the more devilish before leaning down to softly blow against her swollen nub. “Lesson one.” His tongue came out to flick her clit, sending an instant burst of pleasure to ping through her body. She arched her back, her hands frantically searching for something to cling to.

“I wouldn’t taste you slowly if we were fucking.” He lowered his mouth to her slit, leisurely licking her from top to bottom and back again. Then he drew her clit into his mouth and sucked. “I’d devour you with your legs around my neck, making you scream my name.”

She encircled his back with her legs, the heels of her shoes clinking together, and squeezed her eyes shut. The tender way he worked her with his tongue made her wish they were fucking instead of the evil way he currently tortured her. The flicks against her clit were light, teasing, and holy heavens, they made her belly flutter.

“If we were fucking…” He ran his finger along the small expanse of skin between her pussy and the entrance to her bottom, adding pressure with each pass. “I would’ve lubed my fingers with your juices and teased your ass, making you squirm until you begged me to penetrate you there.” His touch went lower, to her tight hole.

She tensed and opened her eyes with a start. “Blake.”

He raised his head from her mound and chuckled. “You wouldn’t want me touching you there?”

She shook her head.

“I’d make sure you liked it.”

She didn’t doubt it for a second. Right now, her interest was on penetration of a different kind. “When are you going to stop talking and actually make love to me?”

He leaned down, nipping the tender flesh on the inside of her thigh and quirked a brow. “In a hurry?”

Yes. No. Her mind wanted this to last forever, while her body screamed for completion. “Please, Blake.” She moved to rest on her elbows. “I need you.”

“And your wish is my command.” He scooted from the mattress and stood at the foot of the bed. With quick, efficient movements he pushed his trousers and boxers to the floor, exposing his erection.

“You’re beautiful,” she murmured, taking the time to appreciate every part of him. She loved the soft definition of his stomach, the underlying hint of a six pack. However, it was his pecs and arms that made her mouth dry. They were sculpted, as if from stone, and sinfully wicked with the ink that adorned them.

“No, sweetheart, you’re beautiful.” He slid over her body, leaving a kiss on the inside of her thigh, a graze of teeth against her hip, a lick of his tongue over her nipple. “And tempting.” He sank his mouth onto the low of her neck, suckling and licking. “And made only for me.”

She let her head fall back and moaned at the sensations spiraling through her body. Her nipples tingled. Her stomach tightened, and between her thighs was the most delicious throb that only Blake could relieve.

She wrapped her thighs around his waist and ground her pelvis into him. The friction was light at best and did nothing to alleviate her need. And still he continued to bathe her with kisses, his hands gliding over every curve, loving her, adoring her in a way she'd never experienced before.

Blake knew how to fuck, there had never been any doubt. But the way he loved her, cherishing her with tiny kisses and soft growls when he found a sensitive spot on her body, reaffirmed the deep emotion he spoke of.

He'd been her secret friend for years, listening to her share things she couldn't voice with people who surrounded her on a daily basis. He comforted her, made her laugh, turned her on, and now he was fulfilling her dreams, loving her in a way that would never be compared.

She relaxed into the mattress, releasing her grip on the covers to touch him in return. She ran her fingers up the smooth skin of his back, trailing her nails along his shoulder blades. He responded to her touch with harder kisses, softer flicks of his tongue, and the nuzzling and grazing of his teeth.

“You mean everything to me,” he murmured in her ear. “I mean it, Gabi. There's no one else. There never will be.”

She closed her eyes briefly and filled her lungs to capacity, floating on a cloud. This would be the moment she cherished. The time when she was naked in Blake’s arms, being loved by his body and his words. “I feel the same way.”

He pulled back to stare down at her, climbing just a little higher so his pelvis rested against hers. A smile pulled at his lips, subtle, yet it made her toes curl. “You're my happiness.”

He kissed her lips, sliding his tongue into her mouth and dancing it over hers. His erection nudged her entrance, teasing, adding more torment to her already tortured body. He leaned over her, reaching for the bedside table with an outstretched hand and retrieved a condom. The packet was torn apart in seconds, the protection placed over his cock with equal virility. Then he was poised at her pussy again, the head of his shaft nudging her entrance in tiny increments.

She kissed his jaw, his mouth, his neck, each caress of her lips slow and gentle, like the undulation of his body. “I love you.” Her heart was overflowing with emotion.

He palmed her breast and tweaked her nipple. “Doesn't count. You should know better.” His smile was made of heaven and happiness. Nothing in life had ever gripped her in such a consuming hold like the slight tilt of his lips. “But I'll take your love anyway I can get it, Gabi.”

Then his mouth found hers, taking her breath, making her cling to his shoulders for spiritual grounding. This kiss was demanding, and in one hard thrust he was inside her, sliding home. Their moans filled the room, the noise increasing as his hips began to move, gliding in and out with slow deliberation.

“Touch yourself,” he commanded. “I want to feel your fingers on your clit.”

A whimper escaped her lips. She'd always needed that friction to achieve orgasm, yet at this moment, she felt ready to explode without it.

“Do it.”

He continued to thrust, his hips rocking in a languid motion as her hand slid down to where they joined. She felt for him, letting her fingertips brush against his cock while he moved.

“Not a good idea,” he ground out.

She made eye contact and quirked a brow while she encircled the base of his shaft. He closed his eyes and growled, his head tilting back slightly.

“Ahh, damn you feel good.” He pumped harder, once, twice, then stopped. “You've gotta move your hand, sweetheart.”

With reluctance, she withdrew and moved her touch to the top of her mound. His lips found her ear, sucking her lobe into his mouth, his breath coming hot and heavy down her neck. “Never forget me, Gabi. I couldn't take it if you moved on while we were apart.”

She turned her head and gazed into his dark irises, finding renewed anguish lurking in their depths. “You're a part of my life, Blake. One I can't live without. I'll never forget you. It isn't possible. I love you too much.”

He rested his forehead against hers, keeping eye contact while he thrust and withdrew. “I want to make you happy.”

She chuckled softly. “You're currently doing a really great job.”

He let out a whisper of a laugh, his eyes brightening for a moment before sorrow settled back in its place. “My angel,” he whispered, then closed his eyes and ground into her.

Their hips rocked together, the friction igniting her impending release. She arched her back, thrusting her breasts out to rub her nipples against the fine sprinkling of hair on his chest. “So close...”

He rocked harder, faster, opening his eyes to stare down at her. Determination replaced his pain and a fine sheen of sweat covered his skin. The low of her belly tightened, her core convulsed and with his next hard plunge, he sent her over the edge, crying out with the ecstasy that took over her body.

Her ears buzzed, and she was sure her grip was tight enough to draw blood. But she couldn't help herself, couldn't regain control with the liquid fire coursing through her veins. His moan vibrated against the walls, the sound of his release spurring her a little longer as her pussy clamped down on his length.

Thrusts turned into gentle rocking which faded away until Blake collapsed at her side, pulling her with him. Gabi sucked in air, trying to regain her steady breathing while her gaze ran over him. His lips were flushed, ruby red and swollen. His normally spiked hair lay limp against his forehead. His shoulders were slumped, the angel over his heart rising and falling in rapid movements.

“Why did you stop?” she asked, working her finger over the lines that made up the angel’s wings.

“Hmm?” He raised a brow.

“Your tattoos. When we first started talking, you were getting them all the time. Some you told me about, like the snake.” She traced her finger along the scaly body until it ran round to the back of his arm and out of view. “But others I had no clue, like the angel.” She placed a kiss over his heart and loved the way he shuddered under her lips. “Then you stopped.”

“I didn't need them anymore.”

She raised her gaze from his chest and frowned. “What do you mean?”

He ran his arm around her belly and pulled her closer. “They were reminders—of the mistakes I've made and the things I need to hold onto to keep me grounded. The pain also helped. Getting a new tat was like a punishment for my fuck ups.” He shrugged. “Then I found you.” He raised his arm and tilted it so she could see the script writing on the inside of his forearm. You saved my soul. Gave me new meaning. Fought against my demons, while I lay sleeping.

“Those are Reckless lyrics.”

He shook his head. “Those are your lyrics. The song is about you.”

She swallowed to douse the tightening in her throat and gripped his wrist to read the writing again.

“I owe you my life, Gabi. I wouldn’t have made it through without you. I had no one else to help me, and after we met in the chat room, I didn’t want anyone else. Nobody could’ve given me the support you did. And when we spoke for the first time,” his face brightened with a smile, “I knew, without a doubt, I wouldn’t go back again. Because I had you.”

Her hand fell away. Yes, she’d known he’d been alone in his struggles, but hadn’t fathomed how much her support had meant.

Blake narrowed his gaze. “Too much?”

She shook her head.

He ran his hand through her hair, brushing it behind her ear, his sight following the movements. “I stopped marking myself when I no longer needed to.” His lashes lifted and his dilated pupils ensnared her, tightening her chest. “I stopped with this,” he pointed to the angel.

Again, words escaped her. She didn’t know how to respond, or move, or breathe. He’d blown her away with his brutal honesty. She let out a ragged breath, then wished she hadn’t when Blake stiffened. “I wish I’d known,” she said in a rush, trying to ease his concern. “Then maybe we would’ve met sooner.”

He gave a shake of his head and placed a kiss on her forehead. “I don’t. I wasn’t good enough for you back then… I’m still not. But at least now I’ve overcome one of my demons, and I can focus on trying to be the man you deserve.”

“Blake.” Her voice held a warning. “Please don’t do that.” She tilted her chin and placed a soft kiss on his lips, feeling his softening flesh slide from her body. “You need to forgive yourself. We both have insecurities, and we can’t focus on those things. We need to trust each other and let go of the doubt. From now on, it’s just you and me, as equals, OK?”

“Yeah. OK.” He spoke into her mouth and swept his tongue against hers. “I can do that.”

“Good.” She went to deepen the kiss but a yawn overtook her.

“Oh, yeah, that’s great. Tell me not to feel insecure, then yawn in my mouth. That really boosts my ego.”

She chuckled and snuggled under his chin. “Sorry. I couldn’t help it.”

He kissed her temple and slid off the mattress. “Go to sleep.”

Her eyelids drooped while he walked around the bed, removing the condom. Water ran in the bathroom, then the lights flicked off and moments later he was tugging at the bed covers and sliding her limp body to lie on the cool sheets. “Goodnight, angel.” He spooned in behind her, resting the hardness of his chest against her back, nestling his face in her hair.

Gabi moaned, loving the feel of his possessive arm around her belly. “Love you.”

“Mmm, still doesn’t count,” he murmured. “But nice try, sweetheart.”