Track 13: All I Ask
Gabe
The day of the wedding is so completely hectic that I don’t even see Kate until she’s lining up behind me with Nathan. She doesn’t even glance at me, and I wonder if I’ve pissed her off or something. She’s barely spoken to me in two days.
I want to spend the night with Kate, even if that’s all I’ll ever get with her, but something’s changed since that day we spent together. She’s scared, and I can’t say I don’t blame her. I felt it, too. Getting close, feeling vulnerable. She doesn’t want to open up to someone that’ll just be leaving afterward.
After the ceremony, a hundred or two of pictures, and heading to the reception in the party bus, I’m determined to get her alone, even if just for a minute. She’s clung to Natalee most of the day, so getting any time with her hasn’t been easy. The other girls in the party have been obvious in giving me their attention, and I wonder if that’s what’s been bothering her.
I don’t plan to go home with any of those girls tonight, or ever. My only plan tonight is spending it with Kate and if it’s the last thing I do, I will kiss her lips again.
Once the party bus arrives to the venue, we have a few minutes outside before going in, and I take the opportunity to find Kate.
I grab her arm and pull her back to me, the warmth of her body pressed against mine is immediate. “Hey,” I say with a smile, relieved to finally get her attention.
“What do you want?” she asks, pushing away so bodies part.
I furrow my brows, confused by her harsh tone. “I haven’t been able to talk to you all day or yesterday.” She keeps her hard stare, looking unimpressed by my presence. “I’ve missed you. I want to dance with you later.” I take a step closer, and when she doesn’t step back, I take another.
“I don’t think so.” Her voice is sharp and final. The rest of the wedding party starts walking in and she follows without another word.
Well, that didn’t go as I anticipated.
I have no idea why she’s pissed or what I did to make her upset, but I’m not about to let her walk away from the week we’ve shared.
The reception is packed, filled with high energy. Trace had a lot of college and work friends, multiplied by all their families and extended family members. Kate sits next to Natalee at the head table, putting her too far away from me to grab her attention. I decide to watch for an opening when she stands up, but then I realize she’s holding a microphone for her maid of honor speech.
I watch, mesmerized, her face completely lit up as she talks about Natalee and how they grew up together. She talks about how Natalee talked about Trace from day one and that if anyone deserved eternal happiness, it was them. I see the sincerity in her face and for a split moment, I want to stand up and scream at her—scream at her for pushing me away before I even got close, scream that I’m right here, wanting her.
But I keep my cool and when she excuses herself from the table to use the restroom, I take the opportunity to follow her. She turns the corner into a quiet hallway and when I’m sure no one else is around, I catch up to her and pin her against the wall.
“What the hell, Gabe?” she snaps. “Let me go.”
“No,” I say firmly. “Not until you tell me what you’re so pissed about.”
“Oh, like you don’t know,” she fires at me. “We’re not doing this. Not here.”
“Oh, we are,” I retort. “So just tell me what your problem is.”
“Fine! You wanna know?” she hisses. I nod, loosening my grip around her. “I heard you last night, okay? I was in the bathtub and when you came into your room with your little visitor, I heard. And well, it pissed me off. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t stand the thought of you being with someone, so I thought it was best to just keep my distance.”
I narrow my eyes, trying to hold in satisfied grin. “You were jealous,” I say, taunting.
“Screw you, asshole!” She slaps my chest, but I catch it before she can pull back. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m done. Whatever this is—was—it’s done.”
This time my grin spreads wide, my eyes fixed on hers. “You’re adorable.”
She pauses, scowling at me. “Was that you getting even with me or something?”
“Listen, Kate…” I press my body to hers, lowering my body to capture her chin with my fingers. “I didn’t even sleep in my bed last night. When I walked in and saw two people laying naked on my bed, I went and slept on the couch.”
Her breath hitches. “You slept on the couch?”
I nod. “Alone.”
“Did you change your sheets?” she asks with concern.
I laugh and nod my head. “Ripped them off first thing this morning.”
She licks her lips, and I can almost see the thoughts spinning in her head. “Why didn’t you come in by me then?”
“I thought about it, but it was late. I was afraid I’d wake up again to you screaming at me,” I say with a smirk.
She rolls her eyes, a smile finally forming on her lips. “Fair enough.”
“So you were jealous, huh?” I taunt.
“Shut up. You’re still an asshole.”
I shrug, curling my lips. “But a cute asshole, right?”
“You’re going to need a bigger fedora. It’s about to burst with that ego of yours.”
I laugh, happy that she’s finally relaxed around me again. “You look beautiful, by the way. Pearls and feather bands really suit you.”
“You mean a 1920s hooker?”
“But a classy hooker.”
She rolls her eyes again and chuckles. “God, Gabriel Cooper. What am I going to do with you?”
“You sound pretty sexy saying my name like that,” I say, pressing my lips to hers before she can pull away. “Say it again.”
“No,” she says, parting our mouths.
“I love it when you’re defiant.”
She giggles, and I nearly lose it right then and there.
“I need to use the restroom,” she reminds me, pushing me back.
“Fine, but I get a dance with you.”
She starts to walk away, her heels accentuating her ass as my eyes following her down the hallway. “We’ll see,” she taunts, briefly looking over her shoulder at me with those smoldering eyes that tell me everything else I need to know.
Kate
My mind races as I think about Gabe and the last dance we had together. The way he touched me. The way he stole my breath with just his eyes. The way he pressed my body tenderly to his, clenching me as if he couldn’t hold me tight enough.
It was the first time I allowed myself to feel vulnerable around him. The walls that surrounded me lowered and I let myself feel the moment with him—even if it were just for tonight.
After sending Natalee and Trace off, I stayed to help clean up. Gabe and I exchanged looks the entire time, but something was stopping me from making that final step into his arms. The battle of my heart and mind kept me from inviting him into my bedroom when I arrived back to the house before he did.
Now, I’m standing outside his bedroom door in bare feet, pajama shorts, and a tank top. My hair is pulled up in a messy knot, makeup half-rubbed-off from dancing all night long.
But I don’t care. Not anymore.
He’s leaving tomorrow and although I don’t want to ruin the absolute perfect night we had together, I’m going to risk it. Even though it’s best I leave it alone.
I listen for any movement behind his door, but it’s completely silent. Inhaling a deep breath, I knock on his door. I anticipate him turning me down, but I can’t sleep not knowing. I won’t live with regrets any more.
I hear the soft steps of his feet coming toward the door and my body feels every cliché of butterflies, tingles, and heart-throbbing.
He has to know it’s me on the other side of the door, but when he opens it and looks at me, I notice a slight look of relief. He’s wearing his black slacks still, but his white shirt is unbuttoned and hanging off his shoulders.
“What are you doing?” he finally asks as we both stare at each other.
I swallow. I’m doing this. Just do it.
“Will you do something for me?”
“Anything.” His response is immediate.
“Help me with another number on my list.”
He looks down at me, one side of his mouth tilts up in an easy grin. His eyes soften as she shifts his feet. “Okay,” he agrees.
“You don’t even know what it is yet.”
“I don’t need to. I’d help you do a hundred items from your list if you asked me.”
Talk about a sucker-punch right to the heart.
Why does he have to be so perfect at times?
“Okay,” I say softly, hesitation evident in my voice.
“So…what is it?”
I blink up at him. “Have a one-night stand.”
His eyes fixate on mine, his lips in a firm line as his hard stare burns into me. Finally, he takes a step back and brushes a hand through his hair, looking down at the ground and then back up to me.
“Do you know how hard I’ve been trying to not have sex with you this week? Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to do more than shut your smart mouth up with my lips and kiss them until they bruised? I’ve imagined it every day since I’ve met you.” He inhales a sharp breath. “Jesus, Kate.”
Fuck, he’s angry.
I look down, unable to handle the way he’s looking at me right now and completely humiliated that I just asked him to have sex with me.
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. Honestly, I’m probably still drunk.” I quickly turn to retreat, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back to him, his mouth so close to mine, we’re nearly touching.
“I want you, Kate. I do. Trust me. But one night would never be enough for me. You deserve much more than a one-night stand.” His words, so powerful, hit me like an emotional backhanded slap to the face.
“One night is all I can give…” I say softly, lowering my eyes. “I could find any drunk guy at a bar to sleep with, but it wouldn’t be you. I feel safe with you.”
He tilts my chin up, making my eyes meet his again. They’re intense and captivating, and everything I shouldn’t want. “I could die happy hearing that.” He smiles with that devious look in his eyes and my body melts into a puddle all over again.
“I could die happy knowing that I met someone like you, Gabe Cooper. Even if all I know about you is you climb trees like a champ, can dance like your feet are on fire and are an expert at using all the hot water. It’s enough.”
He slips his hand from my jaw to my cheek and pulls my lips to his.
Soft lips collide with mine. But it feels like so much more than that. He kisses like it’s the last day of his life and the only way to breathe again is from feeling his lips against mine, knowing he’s pouring every ounce of passion to me.
“If I can only have you for one night, then I’ll take it. I’ll make sure it’s the best one-night stand you ever have.” His words vibrate against my lips, forcing giggles out of me at his devoted response.
“It’ll be the only one I have,” I promise. “Anything after would just be a disappointment.” I inhale as he nips my lower lip. “And life is too short for disappointments.”
His mouth covers mine again, but this time he reaches around me and pulls me up against him, wrapping my legs around his waist. He walks us into his room and presses my back against the door as he closes it.
Gently, he lowers me to my feet, but doesn’t let me go. He kisses down my jaw, neck, and chest. His hands explore on his way down, palming my breasts, as he pulls my tank top down and wraps his lips around my nipple. I moan at the way he’s paying extra attention to my sensitive buds, figuring out what makes my body hum.
He kneels down in front of me, feathering kisses down my torso as he pushes my top up. I look down and watch him, his fingers pressing aggressively into my skin as his mouth lowers to my panties.
The moon shines through the window, reflecting off his skin and giving me just enough of a view to know he’s not planning to stop anytime soon.
“I’ve been dying to know what you taste like, Kate. It’s all I’ve been able to think about every morning while you were in that shower, the same shower I was using, thinking of all the ways I could make you scream in there if I had my way.”
My palms are pressed against the door, holding my body up as best as I can. With every word he says and every indent his lips make into my flesh, I want to sink lower and lower to the floor, knowing that this is the only moment we’ll ever have together. The last moment I’ll ever spend with him or any other guy while I’m on this earth. The last moment I’ll know I can now die happy.
He slowly pulls my panties down, softly kissing the skin underneath as he lowers one side at a time. I shiver at the way his fingers press into the flesh, marking me as his, even if just for tonight. His lips are warm, leaving a trail down my body as my arousal continues to grow with every breath I feel him exhale.
His tongue slides up my slit over and over, building up the arousal as I try to steady myself against the wall. I can barely take it anymore. I fist my hands in his hair, letting him know exactly what I need.
And with a heavy moan, he delivers. My arousal releases as I scream his name and beg for more.
I watch, dazed, as he stands up and shrugs his shirt down his shoulders until it pools to the floor. He brings my gaze back up to him when he grabs my wrist and covers his arousal with the palm of my hand. “I’ve been hard all week, just thinking about you. The more I resisted the urge to throw you in my bed, the harder I got.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I say with a knowing grin. “Guess I should take care of that for you.”
I start to kneel down in front of him, but he grabs me before I can and pulls me back up. “This may only be for one night, but it’s going to be nothing like a one-night stand. I’m making love to you, Kate. I’m not fucking you like a nameless girl at the bar. You understand?”
I swallow and blink up at him.
“Kate?”
“Yes,” I say. “That doesn’t mean I don’t want it rough, though.” The moment the words spill out of my mouth, he captures my mouth again and begins taking the rest of our clothes off. Soon, they’re a trail on the floor as we make our way to his bed, where he keeps his promise of making it the best I’ve ever had.