“You didn’t touch your food,” he said.
“You didn’t touch yours either, and mine was a little undercooked for me. It’s nothing against the food. I’m just not a fan.”
Gabriel signed the check and left a tip. “Come on. Let’s go and get a burger.”
He grabbed her hand and led her out. His truck was parked outside. He gave the guy a tip before helping her inside the truck.
She put the belt on and watched him drive the car out of the parking lot.
“What are you in the mood for?” he asked.
“A juicy, cooked burger.” Gabriel burst out laughing. He drove further in the city until they found a burger bar. She stayed in the truck while he went in to order. Twenty minutes later he parked out by a reservoir near the joining rode to CapeFalls.
“This is beautiful,” she said. He laid his jacket in the back of his truck for her to sit down on. They sat and stared out of the water. The sun had gone down hours ago. Gabriel opened up his paper bag, and she scented the food.
“Cheeseburger with extra onion relish.” He handed her the wrapped burger. He watched as she tore the paper off and sank her teeth into the food. Gabriel did the same, and the greasy cheese and meat exploded on his tongue. The hunger he’d been feeling evaporated. “Wow. I never thought watching a woman eat a burger could be so damn sexy.”
Amy chuckled and took another bite. “This is heaven.”
“We could bring Mia and Billy in a few weeks’ time. They’d love to play out here,” he said.
He fed her a fry. She took it from him. “I could get used to this.”
“What? Eating burgers in the back of my truck? This wasn’t the romance I had planned.” He rested his hand on her thigh. Gabriel stared at his sun-tanned flesh against her own. The slit of her dress exposed the length of her pale leg.
“To me, this is perfect,” she said. She was turned to him. He stared into Amy’s eyes, and he noticed her gaze fell to his lips. She closed the distance between them and kissed him. He responded, pulling her closer to him.
The kiss deepened. She thrust her tongue into his mouth, and he did the same. They tasted of cheese and meat, but he didn’t care. Her fingers sank into his hair, teasing the strands out of their slick hold.
Gabriel pushed her away with his hands on her arms. “Not like this. I’m not going to lose control in the back of my truck.”
“I wouldn’t mind.”
“No. I want you, Amy. I shouldn’t because I’m a f**king old man, but I do, and I’ll have you. But not like this. I want you in my house where it is warm, and I can remove all your clothes and make love to you without concern.”
She nodded. They sat and finished their food before getting inside the truck. She phoned Laura and told her she’d pick up her children for the night. He knew he’d spoilt the moment.
“I didn’t want to push you a way. I want you, Amy. More than you can begin to imagine.”
“I’m not upset, Gabriel. I know that you wanted me, and I appreciate it. I think I’d have come to hate us if we’d gone any further. A couple’s first time shouldn’t be in the back of a truck.”
He wasn’t happy with her explanation or the distance between them. When he found an available spot, he pulled in, turned the engine off and pulled her into his arms. He slammed his lips down on hers and sank his fingers into her hair. In the one kiss he showed her all the passion he possessed for her. The way he felt poured in the action. She moaned and held onto him until he was ready to let go.
Gabriel pulled away. “I want to, Amy. Don’t be mistaken by my refusal.”
“I’m not.” When he was happy that he’d gotten his point across, he started the truck back up.
They drove to Laura and Dean’s house and then onto his house. Together they tucked in the children and spent the rest of the night making out on the couch. Gabriel touched her as much as possible without going past any limits. He wanted the date to end on a high. Gabriel wanted to do more but held himself back. It wasn’t going to be long until he couldn’t keep control over his rampant desire for her.
He hoped she would come to him when she was ready to take the next step.
Mine.
Whenever she was in his arms all he could think about was claiming her. It would take great strength on his part to not go any further.
Chapter Ten
A week went by, and Amy spent most of it in a state of erotic high. Gabriel always found an excuse to touch her when he passed. He would brush her hair aside and lay kisses against her neck. She found herself slowly losing her mind as she thought of nothing but sex. Every night he would leave her at her door. She would try to find a satisfaction in the release she brought by her hand, but nothing worked.
William phoned several times a week to see how she was, which she was touched by. No one left her heart pounding or made her want as Gabriel did. The gentleman in him was annoying her.
She knew he was preparing her for when he finally took her. The control he showed her by his restraint excited her. Gabriel was a man who knew what he wanted, and she was next on the menu. On Saturday night, she was reading another of Dean’s books. Mia and Billy were in bed, and Gabriel came home late. She knew he was finalising the purchase of the house for William. Most of CapeFalls were in uproar over the changes being made. The tattoo parlour was being decorated already. She’d seen the shop in town the other day. Plenty of town folk had been stood outside muttering. She’d spent the rest of the day smiling.
He walked into the sitting room. She had her feet on the couch.
“Where are Mia and Billy?” he asked.
“In bed. They were tired from school.” She got up and brushed past him. “Are you hungry?”
“Famished.”
She went to the kitchen and pulled out all the ingredients she’d need for an omelette. He stood behind her as she cracked the eggs into a bowl. She chopped up the spring onions, ham, and tomato while he stood moving her hair out of the way. He pushed her hair over one shoulder. She tried to concentrate while he kissed her neck. His hand rested on her stomach. She put the butter in the pan followed by the ingredients. He cupped her br**sts, and she stilled as his fingers teased her nipple.
“I missed you.”
Her pu**y was slick with arousal. She closed her eyes to gain her composure. When she got control of her body, she stirred the pan and then added the egg. She didn’t dream of telling him to back off. Her body was on fire for him.