Page 36 of Forever Yours
“You would,” Gabe said. “I’ll grab stuff for sandwiches. Don’t let us bother you, keep your planning session going.” He leaned over Devlin’s shoulder, obviously pretending to look at her notes.
“Hey! Eyes off, mister,” Devlin admonished, surprised but pleased at his playfulness.
Gabe winked and went to the fridge to gather supplies for lunch.
Chapter Twelve
A late lunch turned into a later evening of more planning. Gabe was tapped out. He’d given his all to finalizing the proposal all while trying to keep Devlin off his preoccupied mind. It was exhausting. Dinner had been an easy frozen lasagna that Leo had prepared, and they’d adjourned to the cozy living room with its built-up fire to unwind and have some drinks.
“I’m serious,” Annabelle insisted. “I know I sound like a broken record, but this wind has been picking up all day and now the snow is starting to fall hard.”
“Sorry, Grey,” Prudence added. “I know you think you have a sixth sense for when storms are coming in, but I think you’re wrong on this one.”
Sebastian scoffed and shifted in his seat, ice cubes clinking in his tumbler. “It’s just some fluff, you guys.”
Gabe noticed that Devlin had wandered into the kitchen and was busy pouring a glass of wine. The invisible force that guided him to her that very first night in Boston pulled at him again and he was helpless but to follow it. She shot him a weary glance as he grabbed what he needed to make another drink and he kept his distance, leaving her plenty of room to navigate around him to look out of the window.
“Snow globe snow.” Devlin’s voice was low, blending in with the crackling of the fire.
“What does that mean?” Gabe asked, leaning closer to hear her.
“So light and fluffy that you can imagine we were all turned upside down, shaken up a bit, then righted.” She continued to look out at the winter scene. “I could fall forever like this.”
Gabe’s heart squeezed and all he wanted to do was to reach out to her and wrap himself in the serenity she was so clearly feeling. He turned as well and they stood, quiet, the conversation behind them providing a comforting hum. The peace was shattered when she spoke again.
“When I moved to Amber Falls, this was the kind of snow that fell early in the season. Boston snow always seemed so heavy and wet, but this—this was so light that it had a silence to it like it could absorb sound and you could just be…whoever you wanted to or didn’t want to be. Everything stilled and the world stopped.”
A gust of wind took the snow and whipped it in a ferocious circle and Devlin turned to look at Gabe, her tongue mesmerizing him as it darted out to wet her lips.
“I think this is the part of the snow globe’s journey where we’re upside down.” She sighed and turned back to the kitchen island, leaning over and propping her chin on her hand.
Gabe’s last ounce of sanity shattered at this innocent image of Devlin’s backside. Everything he’d been enduring since this morning simmered to the surface and broke free. “I heard you this morning.” He came up behind her and trailed his fingers over her backside, the same one that had been tantalizing him all day. “I heard you in your room.”
Devlin gasped then quieted, not wanting to alert the others to what was going on. Gabe moved his hand to the front of her pants and ran a finger over her covered slit. She felt a rush of wetness at the touch and moved her backside until it pushed against him. He cupped her mound and flicked his tongue against her earlobe, his words sending shivers through her. All anyone had to do was turn around and they’d know what was going on. Another rush went through her, excitement this time.
“I wanted to open the door and take you slow and hard, until you begged me for release. UntilIhad to beg you for my release.”
At his words, she moved back against him, needing more friction.
“I never realized I was an ass man until you. I can’t stop thinking about it. What I’d do, where I’d start.” He had unbuttoned her pants while he was speaking and one of his hands delved inside, under her panties, finding her slit again. He ran his middle finger up and down before sliding it inside her. Her legs buckled at the contact, and he reached his arm around to brace her. “I’d take you right here if I could—”
Do itshe implored silently.
“—but I want to take my time.” He withdrew his hand.
She felt a loss so intense that if she could have mustered up any emotion other than blinding lust she would have wept.
He stood there a moment before stepping away. “If you want this as much as I do, leave your bathroom door unlocked tonight. I’ll come to you. One night and that’s all. We’re back to normal once we’re back in Amber Falls.”
She stared at him, his gaze intense, then nodded her assent. “One night.”
Gabe looked out into the room, the occupants unaware of the agreement that had just transpired. “I’m going to go grab some more firewood, guys,” he called to the group. “I’ll be right back.” Then he was gone.
Her face felt as hot as the fire burning across the room. She filled a cup with cold water from the sink, holding it to her forehead before gulping it down. After taking a few calming breaths, she returned to the living room against all her instincts to follow Gabe. She couldn’t leave now but the need she felt to follow him was alarming.
“Where’s your drink?” Prudence asked.
“Oh, I just needed some water. The altitude must have me dehydrated.”