She didn’t reply, because he hadn’t asked. Gabe was finally going to claim her and nothing was going to stand in their way.
Ten
Sunlight slashed through the windows, waking Gabe. He stirred, but stilled when he realized he was alone...and not in his bed.
He sat up, rubbing his hands over his face. Coarse hairs bristled against his palms. He was in desperate need of a razor, though Chelsea hadn’t complained a bit last night when he’d raked his scruff along her bare skin. In fact, the way he recalled, she’d moaned and jerked her hips against him as if silently begging for more.
Gabe glanced toward the empty side of the bed, at the indention in the crisp, white pillowcase. The sweet jasmine scent still permeated the air as if she were still there. That was twice now she’d left him to wake up alone. He’d always thought himself to be a light sleeper, but apparently not with this woman.
And now that he sat there surrounded by everything that was Chelsea, he realized he didn’t like being alone. For now, he wanted to be with her—whatever the hell that meant. He’d gotten a taste of her and needed more, and that scared the hell out of him.
Part of him was glad he’d told her about his past. At least now she saw him in a different light; he wasn’t the monster she’d taken him for. On the other hand, he hated being exposed and vulnerable. He’d hated opening that wound from his past and letting her see into his soul.
He’d kept the details vague. Even if he had been at liberty to discuss a federal case, he wouldn’t have. The emotion over being betrayed by a woman he’d cared for, the pain of losing his partner and friend, was still too raw. So much had changed in his life in that instant when he’d realized he’d been played and he’d put the life of a man who trusted him on the line.
Gabe had been on the brink of a major breakdown when he’d come to the realization he needed to move on and leave Dallas for good. He’d forced himself to put the nightmare of that botched assignment behind him. The move hadn’t been easy, but for the sake of his sanity, he’d had to remove himself from the life that was sucking away his soul. Coming to Royal and taking over his family’s security company had only made sense.
Of course after coming here he’d had to face the entire Maverick scandal. Out of the frying pan and into the proverbial fire was not his idea of a good time, but he wasn’t leaving. He was seeing this through and standing his ground because he had not
hing to be ashamed of. He’d done nothing wrong.
Stifling a yawn, Gabe looked around for a clock but didn’t see one. From the way the sun was shining through the curtains, he guessed it wasn’t too early. He should be making calls, checking emails, making sure he wasn’t on the brink of losing any clients. Because not only did he want to hold on to the ones he had, he also wanted to expand and possibly go global. Nothing screamed confidence like expansion, so now was the time for him to go all-in, proving to his clients that he was the most reputable name in the business.
Besides, he truly didn’t want to have to start over again. Granted, he could retire and never work another day in his life, but he would go positively insane if he had nothing to do other than travel and live the high life. He’d made wise investments over the years, he’d cashed in at the right times and reinvested. He may have been a kickass agent, but he’d also been a brilliant businessman.
While Gabe did enjoy getting away to one of his homes either in Miami or in the mountains in Montana, he had to work. After what had happened in Dallas and the Maverick situation here in Royal, the pursuit of justice would remain his lifelong calling.
Tossing the covers aside, Gabe searched the floor for his boxer briefs and jeans and put them on. Shirtless, he padded down the hallway and heard the clanging of a pan in the kitchen. Well, at least she hadn’t completely left him.
Gabe stood in the doorway and watched as Chelsea mumbled to herself and scrolled through her phone. She muttered something about casserole and eggs then scrolled again. A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. She had quite the creative way to curse about breakfast foods.
Her hair was messy on one side and flat on the other, she still had a sheet mark on the side of her cheek, and her oversize T-shirt had slipped down to reveal one slender shoulder. Arousal pumped through him and it wasn’t breakfast he was hungry for anymore.
“I’ve never had a woman make me breakfast.”
Chelsea started, flattening her hands on the island in front of her and glancing up at him. “You scared me to death.”
“Were you expecting another man to greet you this morning?”
“I never remember which one I’ve left in my bed.”
Gabe growled as he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her waist. “There’s no other man in your bed but me for now.”
With a quirk of a perfectly arched brow, Chelsea patted his cheek. “Then I guess you’re the one I’m making breakfast for.”
“You don’t have to make me breakfast.” He nipped at her ear. “I’ll make breakfast while you sit here and keep me company.”
Without asking, he circled her waist with his hands and lifted her to sit on the counter. She squealed and laughed, smacking him on the shoulder.
She paused and then her fingertips started tracing the pattern of his tattoos from his biceps up over his shoulder and down onto his chest. Just that light touch had him ready to throw her over his shoulder and take her right back to those rumpled sheets he’d just left.
“I never thought tattoos were attractive before,” she murmured almost to herself. “Now, I’m not sure I’ll ever want a man without them.”
The egotistical side of Gabe was thrilled he was ruining her for other men, but the other side, the one he didn’t want to think too much about, couldn’t stand the idea of her with someone else. For now, she was his and he damn well planned to take advantage of the situation.
Gabe kissed her chin then worked his way down the column of her throat. “Sit here while I cook.”
Her body arched against his touch. “I’m not sitting here.”