Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Gabby could just kick Blake for dragging her into this. Chipmunks, that is. How on earth could a person come up with an idea so…so…downright annoying? She shared a look with Blake, whose expression matched her own.

Well, at least she wasn’t the only one suffering.

But Ash was enjoying himself. For some reason only children could ever know, he was sucking up every moment, cackling gleefully at the antics of three very loud and obnoxious animated animals.

Boy, that Alvin really needed a spanking.

Hopefully, children—and Ash in particular—didn’t pick up on some of the bad behaviors being acted out on-screen. She could imagine some very upset parents.

Thank heavens she didn’t have any kids herself. She wasn’t entirely certain she had the skillset necessary to counteract all the negative and potentially damaging influences the world heaped on their little shoulders.

“I’m going to grab another beer,” Blake said softly. “Do you want a refill?”

To numb the pain? “Absolutely,” she said, holding out her wine glass. He’d been such a sweetheart, insisting on making a special trip to pick up a bottle of her favorite red. Gabby was enjoying navigating Blake’s complex nature.

He passed her an understanding half-smile that she imagined held a solid dose of apology. If this was considered a first date, he had severely missed the mark.

Yet, oddly enough, she was somewhat enjoying herself. Even if the movie left much to be desired, just being able to sit back and watch little Ash having the time of his life was worth it. It certainly beat sitting at home grading papers. She garnered enough enjoyment just from watching him to make the experience somewhat manageable. Being able to kick back in the comfort of his home instead of a giant theater was just a bonus. She’d always preferred the intimate setting over a commercial theater.

The feel of Blake’s heavy arm wrapping around her shoulder broke Gabby from her ruminations. Barely holding back her startled yelp, her heart pounded fiercely as his stubbled cheek grazed hers. The feel of his warm breath tinged with bitter ale took her back to their shared moment of bliss when his lips were on hers, soft and decadent, and she wondered if it was too much to hope for a repeat. When he dangled her full glass in front of her, she took it with a trembling hand.

“Thank you for this,” he said roughly in her ear.

“For what?” she whispered, the words barely making it past her lips.

His chin jerked toward the television. “They’re torture to sit through, but he loves them.”

“It’s no problem, really. They’re not…that bad.”

His deep, gruff laugh vibrated against her shoulder, sending tingles of awareness racing across her skin in the form of goose bumps. “Yes, they are.”

She felt his weight lift away, and a spike of melancholy at the loss drifted through her, but before Gabby could feel its full effects, she felt the touch of his lips against the side of her neck. An electrical storm of need erupted inside of her, lighting up every cell.

“I promise to make it up to you.”

And she was damn sure going to make sure he followed through.

A half-hour later, the blue screen came on and Blake stood up. “All right, buddy, time for bed.”

Ash, who laid belly down on the carpet, rolled over. “Aw, do I have to? It’s not even bedtime yet.”

“And when did you learn to tell time again?”

Ash pursed his lips.

“Yeah, I thought not. Up and at ‘em. Tell Gabby goodnight then go brush your teeth. I’ll tuck you in in a minute.”

Rolling to his feet, Ash slumped his shoulders and trudged away mumbling, “Goodnight, Gabby.”

“’Night, Ash,” she called back with a soft smile. Needing to stretch her legs, she rose from the couch and began gathering the remnants of their pizza dinner. “You’re doing a really good job with him.”

“You sound surprised,” Blake observed as he led the way into the kitchen carrying a stack of pizza boxes in one hand. Setting them on the counter, he began transferring what was left into plastic bags.

Dumping their paper plates into the trash, Gabby leaned her hip into the counter and regarded him thoughtfully. “I guess you could say I am surprised. I had a bit of an idea in my head about you, but after seeing how you are with him, I can see that I was wrong. Mostly.”

Mirroring her stance, Blake leaned back and crossed his feet at the ankles, his arms folding across his broad chest as he stared her down with those hard, steel gray eyes that were as menacing as they were sexy.

“It seems you had a lot of preconceived notions. Not only about me, but about my men too.”

She looked away, embarrassed by her behavior and feeling stripped bare by his no-holds-barred approach.

“I’m glad to see that we’re proving you wrong,” Blake said with a smile in his voice. “Mostly.”

Gabby didn’t know what to say to that, so she focused on the floor instead. Being in Blake’s home was something she wasn’t entirely prepared for. While it was cozy, his presence alone kept the electricity dancing across her nerve endings, keeping her on alert at all times.

It was exhausting and thrilling all at once.

A problem that wasn’t helped when she felt the weight of his stare on her. Lifting her gaze, she was ensnared by his—a heavy, heated stare that left her feeling raw. Twisted. Needy.

Pushing away from the counter, Blake started toward her, his intent clear. She was reminded of their talk, about how he wanted a woman—wanted her—in his bed. At the very idea, her body responded with a surge of arousal that made her pulse pound in her ears, her heart clamoring in her chest. In an instant, she could scarcely draw breath.

And it was the most exquisite torture she’d ever endured.

Then Ash’s little voice carried down the hall, freezing Blake in his steps. “I’m ready!”

For one long, seemingly unending moment, they stared at each other, their unspoken desire filling the air, before Blake broke the spell with a sharp clearing of his throat.

“I’ll be back. Make yourself at home. This could take a while.”

Knowing she shouldn’t, knowing she needed to escape while she still had some of her wits about her, Gabby took the lifeline that was presented to her. “Actually, I should probably head out. I have to get up early.” Thank God she’d driven herself there, she thought with a margin of relief.

A small, private smile split across his face. “Good Christian girl, are you?”

Gabby grinned, shaking her head. “Now who’s the one making assumptions? My parents have never missed a service. I, on the other hand, haven’t entered a church since the day I turned eighteen.”

Something passed in his eyes that Gabby couldn’t put her finger on, but, deep down in her core, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d passed some sort of test.

“Well, then, you should get going.”

“Okay.” Gabby paused, considering her next step. She knew she should go, but her feet were rooted in place. Walking out the door felt so anti-climactic. As if she needed something more to round out the night. Give it a proper ending.

“Tell Ash goodnight for me?”

“Consider it done.”

She took another step, then paused. Looking up at him, she couldn’t get over how handsome a man Blake truly was. His hair was a sexy, endearing mess. His dark eyes were a fortress of secrets. His body was a wall of raw, unfettered power.

She wanted it all.

But mostly, she wanted to feel his lips on hers again.

With a knowing grin, Blake stretched out his hand. “Get over here, teach.”

Instantly, her nerves rattled at the sound of his voice. “Wh-why?”

“Because one way or another, I’m getting inside you tonight.”

She let out a startled cry as he shot forward, grabbed hold of her arm, and towed her to him. Then his mouth covered hers, and her thoughts scattered like a flock of birds taking flight. Curling around him, Gabby gave herself over, allowing his mouth to take command over her body and mind in another moment of perfect bliss.

But, once again, it was over too soon.

With more willpower than she could ever hope to possess, he set her away from him. Gabby mourned the loss of his heat, the feel of his hard body against hers. He never gave her enough!

When she opened her eyes, he was watching her, a haze of male satisfaction surrounding him like a thick, impenetrable cloud.

“Someday soon, teach,” he murmured, his words a dark promise that reached down deep into her core. “Come on, I’ll walk you out.”

Gabby followed on shaky legs, questioning her decision to leave with every step that brought her closer to the door. But she knew that she was making the right choice. A man like Blake? She had to tread carefully. She might want him with a fierce and growing need that could scare even the most hardened heart, but she needed to be smart about how she handled the situation. It might only ever be sex between them, but if she handed it over on a silver platter, he’d never respect her. And respect was a priority. She’d lost it once before. She’d be damned if she let it slip through her fingers again.

At the door, Blake reached for her again, circling her waist and drawing her in. She went easily, her body bowing to fit against him everywhere it could. Her hand slipped around his neck, fingertips teasing the nape and calling up illicit fantasies of what it would be like to run her fingers through the longer pieces as his powerful body loomed over top of her.

“What are you thinking about?” Blake asked, studying her with knowing eyes.

How he could see through her so easily was a mystery.

Rubbing her nose against his, Gabby refused to give up her innermost thoughts, even if he could read them as if she were an open book. “That I need to go before I forget why I should.”

A blunt fingertip traced the side of her face. “Don’t tempt me, teach. I may be strong, but every man has a limit, and mine is about thirty seconds from tethering you to my bed and spending the night buried inside you. So if you really need to go, do it now.”

The severity in his tone made it clear that he wasn’t kidding. Heeding the warning, Gabby dove in for one last kiss. Growling, Blake’s arm tightened around her and his tongue spiked into her mouth, licking her deep. But despite his warning, he released her when she pulled away.

Unable to keep the smile from her face, Gabby skipped down the stairs and ran for her car. As she backed down the drive, she couldn’t resist looking back, and what she saw made her heart skip a beat.

Strong. Dark. Deadly. And impossibly sexy. Blake Mahone filled the doorway like a dark angel hell bent on uncovering all her deepest, darkest sins.

And she couldn’t wait to let him.