Gabe was defending me. Surprise, gratitude, and a host of unfamiliar emotions washed over me. My own parents hadn’t defended me throughout my teenage years. Lance sure as hell had never truly supported me in any way. Yet Gabe was pulling what had to be million-dollar accounts from Lance’s firm. Because of me.
I didn’t know what to do with this. I didn’t want to owe him, and yet gratitude flowed through my veins like freshly tapped maple syrup. Yeah, I remembered that day in elementary school. Useless information, I reminded myself and focused instead on the strength of Gabe’s hand on my shoulder.
I started breathing again, picking up on Gabe’s words mid-conversation. “I’m not answering any more of your damned questions about Izzy, and I don’t expect she’ll want to hear from you again.”
I had never been called that before. I liked it.
Whatever Lance said, Gabe smirked and said, “I want her things delivered to my office immediately. Any money she came into your relationship with, I expect a check for that amount on my desk by the end of the week. And tack on interest.”
Now I could still hear Lance shouting into the phone as Gabe disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto the bed.
“You okay?” he asked me.
I nodded. Then I did the dumbest thing I could do considering all the changes I’d promised myself I’d make in my life. I jumped up, flung my arms around his neck, and kissed him. Full on the lips. His masculine scent overwhelmed me, causing a fluttering deep in my belly and a quickening between my thighs. But his firm lips didn’t move.
He didn’t respond.
Didn’t melt like I was melting.
Disappointment filled me, followed quickly by humiliation I was only too familiar with. How many times had I tried to seduce Lance, only to have him pull my arms off him so he could roll over, claiming exhaustion?
I’d overreacted, mistaking help for something more, and since I didn’t need or want that something at this point in my life, I shored up my defenses and pulled away.
“Well. Now that I’ve properly thanked you, we can move on.” I fought the blush I knew had formed on my cheeks.
“You’re welcome,” he said but didn’t release me. He merely held on more tightly, his fingers digging into my wrists, pulling at my shoulders, all of which had the unfortunate effect of turning me on even more.
We stared into each other’s eyes, and my breathing grew shallow. Oh hell, I was nearly panting with need, my br**sts straining against the already-tight tank. I didn’t understand this side effect of rejection.
But if he was rejecting me, why hadn’t he let me go? “I don’t understand.” I could have been talking about his actions or mine.
“You will, Iz. In time.”
I shivered at his shortening of my name. “How much time?”
A seductive smile tipped his lips, making it seem like he was far from disinterested. “I want to f**k you, kitten, but when I do, it won’t be about gratitude. And it will be on my terms.”
“Oh.”
Lance never used the word f**k in bed, and if he had, it wouldn’t have had me nearly coming from the sound alone.
My lips parted, and he swooped in, sliding his mouth over mine, all too briefly but enough for a taste.
A tease.
He yanked back harder on my wrists, and at the same time, he nipped at my lips. It stung there, while between my legs, a fullness the likes of which I’d never experienced before began to throb. Slick moisture dampened my underwear. Swaying forward, I moaned into his mouth.
At which point he released me. Only his strong arm around my waist prevented me from falling. My head spun from his seductive scent, his arousing kiss, the firm tone of his voice. Confusion and more warred inside me.
Gabe stepped back, apparently having none of the same problems. “I need to take care of some things at work. When I get back, we’ll talk about your plans.”
Plans. I blinked. That’s right. I had plans. It was a good thing he was going to the office. Distance would do me some good and remind me I didn’t need a man to make my life complete.
Nor did I need him to make me come. Something I planned to do as soon as Gabe left for the office.
* * *
Isabelle: The Secret Room
After I’d showered and taken care of … things, I headed into the kitchen to find Gabe had left me a note. “Iz”—there was that shortened name again, and I couldn’t suppress a smile—“went to the office. Make yourself at home. And be good while I’m gone.”
I didn’t know how to be anything else.
I poured coffee from a pot Gabe had left for me, from a coffee maker built into the backsplash in the kitchen, and turned on the TV. The morning news droned around me as I toasted a bagel, slathered it with cream cheese, and settled in to eat. And to think.
At the moment, I was … for lack of a better word, stuck. At least with my money and clothes arriving, thanks to Gabe’s demand, I’d feel more like myself, more in control of myself and my life. Then I could set about pondering what I wanted to do with my life.
The last time I’d been on my own and at a crossroads, I’d set out for New York City, to Parsons School of Design on a scholarship. It had led to an internship and, ultimately, a job after graduation at Lisa Stern Designs, a one-woman design firm that catered to various types of clientele, from home renovations to the occasional country club overhaul. I’d been hungry to learn, to work, but I’d also yearned for love and a relationship where I contributed and was a valued, equal partner.
That had been my one weakness, one Lance had homed in on. Before I knew it, I’d swapped a smart set of dreams for less practical ones he’d destroyed. And though I should be over that need, the yearning for family and the need to belong still lived inside me. However, I needed to be intelligent, and this time, I would be.
I sipped my coffee and sighed in pleasure at the perfect-tasting brew just as Gabe’s home phone rang. One ring, and an answering machine picked up. Next thing I heard was an older woman’s voice over the phone line.
“Good morning, Mr. Dare, this is Amelia. I won’t be able to make it in to clean today, after all. I have a family emergency, but in all likelihood, I can get there tomorrow. I hope this doesn’t cause you too much of an inconvenience. I’ll have the spare room taken care of first thing in the morning. Only call me back if the timing doesn’t work for you.”
Cleaning. I wrinkled my nose. The apartment itself was pristine, as if it had been professionally sanitized just yesterday, so I couldn’t imagine Gabe being upset his cleaning woman had cancelled. Then again, if he needed that spare room taken care of today, that was something I could do. Making myself useful around here would feel good, since I was already worried about taking advantage.