The Photograph
: Chapter Twenty-Three

Aelin

Curling my hands on the smooth stone of the balcony, I tilt my heated face to the cool evening breeze. The gardens, lit with fairy lights, are straight from a novel and the magical set up is simply enchanting.

Emma touches her temple to my shoulder. “You’re all dreamy again.”

“Look at this. It’s—”

Cara stumbles into the bedroom and slams the door behind her. “That’s where you’ve been hiding!”

My tipsy sister teeters toward Em and me.

“Angel, you’ve done an awesome job with the house!”

I wrap my arm around her waist to steady her wobbly progression to the balcony. “Thank you, my Cara.”

“I never quite understood your obsession with this house, but I get it now, the happiness that lived here.”

Cara drops into a lounging chair. “Okay, let’s pretend we’re all single and don’t have eyes, so our men don’t get pissed off.”

Emma rolls her eyes. “I am single, so no need to pretend for me.”

I grin. “I’m single, too, Cara. You’re the only one happily paired up.”

“Those heels are killing me…” Cara groans and takes off one shoe then reaches for the straps of the other one and blows a noisy breath out before she drops back on her chair.

Crouching besides her, I remove her other sandal. “Cara, I love you, but if you get sick here, I’ll make you pay for the new chair I’ll have to buy.”

Cara’s eyes widen, and she grins. “Girls. One word. Caleb. What’s up with that? This man is freaking alpha candy on legs!”

As Em nods enthusiastically, I shake my head. “I have to go back downstairs. Stay here, and I’ll see you later, my loves.”

After closing the door, I step out of the main bedroom and run down the side stairs leading to the mud room as discreetly as possible. After asking one of the servers to take a tray of drinks and food upstairs, I text Emma to let her know. On my way to the kitchen, I stop Joan and Kirk and thank them again for the marvelous set up.

Peeking my head through the doorjamb of the main-ball room, I’m happy to see people dancing. I wheel back and crash into a human wall.

“Oh, sorry—” My wall catches my waist before I hit the floor, and I blink as I lift my gaze to Gabe’s heated dark eyes.

“Gabe, hi. I’m sorry for, uh … disappearing on you like that, I was upstairs with—”

He opens his mouth on mine, and I sigh in his kiss. I instinctively raise on my toes to wrap my arms around his neck.God, I’ve missed him.

The slow kiss is shiver-inducing. My nipples pebble while my belly clenches. Before getting lost in him and beg him again to make love to me, I pull back out of the kiss to scan our surroundings for a possible audience. Gabe curls his fingers under my chin, and I fall into the melted chocolate of his eyes.

His thumb caresses my bottom lip, and his husky voice skitters over my skin. “When is this over?”

“Wh…What?”

“The party. When is it over?”

I grin at his scowl. “Gabe, it’s your house. It’s over whenever you say it is.”

His eyes bore into mine and my heartbeat kicks up. “After the party, go home and pack a bag. You’re coming home with me.”

So we can make out before you put me back on a shelf?I shake my head. “Gabe—”

He pulls me flush against him and his lips brush mine. “Baby, pack a bag or don’t pack, but just come home with me tonight.”

Then he kisses me again. Longer, deeper. And I’m lost.

Pulling back, I look at him. “Gabe—”

“Aelin, every time you say my name like that, I want to rip off your clothes and take you.”

My eyes widen while my low belly spasms. “I’m sorry—”

He wraps his hand around my nape. “No, baby, never be sorry for that, and the only reason I didn’t want you to kiss me in the restaurant was because you got me so hard, I would have taken you right there and I needed a bed, time, and privacy.”

Something melts in my chest. “Oh, so I’m not sorry then.”

When he smiles happy, I grin back.

****

A few hours later, Emma’s fast asleep in the guest bedroom. After a shower and change of clothes, I pace the front room, chew on the side of my thumb, and pace some more. Gabe went from I-can’t -touch-you-again to I-have-to-have-you-now.

Perching on the sofa, I take a deep breath.Please, Universe, don’t let him change his mind.

I check my cell to stop my mind from spinning and read the congratulatory messages from guests. I’ve schmoozed enough to last me for a year. Most of the people I met were nice and I think I’ll be busy for a while.

When the doorbell rings, I leap up, my heart racing, to open the door on Gabe whose still wet hair is slicked back and curls on his nape. In faded blue jeans and a black t-shirt, he looks … and I just want to…

“Gabe, hi.”

His gaze pans over me and I get a full body shiver. “You’re ready?”

I hurry back inside for my bag which Gabe takes from me while he grabs my hand to lead me to the car where Jason opens the door for us.

Once seated next to him, I turn to his profile while his eyes are fixed on the partition separating us from the driver. The sharp bump on his cheekbone, physical evidence of the tension he holds in his jaw makes him so… I shiver.

“Gabe…”

More tension, this time in his shoulders. “No, baby, don’t. I haven’t had you in fucking months. If I look at you, I’ll take you in the car.”

I slide my hand in his, and he holds mine tight before lifting it to his lips. I close my eyes and breathe deeply.God, why does he live so far?

I unbuckle my seatbelt and reach for him.

“Gabe.”

In one move, he sits me across his lap, facing him, and I gasp at how hard and hot he feels against me. When he wraps his hand around my nape to kiss me, I latch my open mouth onto his while my hands curl tight in his hair. Gabe clamps his hand on my buttocks to rock me against his erection. So hard. I roll my hips slowly, desperate for more friction while shivers litter my entire body.

He leans back. “Baby.”

I open my eyes and get a full body tremor at his expression.

“What do you want, baby?”

“You, Gabe, I want you.”

His slow, devouring kiss and my rocking bring me fast to the brink of orgasm, but I hold on, I want to do this with him.

I rest my forehead on his. “Gabe, I want… I want all of you. I don’t want to wait. I

don’t—”

Somehow, he gets harder as he nips my bottom lip. “No more waiting.”

After dismounting his lap, I nestle against him. By the time the car stops I’m shaking with anticipation.

He closes the front door behind us and I’m finally in his arms. I loop mine around his neck and my legs around his waist as he strides toward the bedroom.

“Am I staying the whole night?”

He stops and scowls at me.Wrong question, I guess.

“Yes.”

My heart pounding against my ribs, I whisper, “Will you stay with me for … until morning?”

Gabe’s eyes get soft. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

Once in his bedroom, he sets me on my feet by the bed where I pull his head down and kiss him, long and hungry, telling him without words how much I’ve missed him. He unzips my jumpsuit while I pull off my hairclip.

Then I step out of the soft pile at my ankles, unhook the lacy bra I donned just for him, and slip the matching panties down my legs.

“Come here, baby.”

My fingertips graze his, and he crushes me against him.

When his tongue makes love to mine, I open my mouth wider.I want more. I need more.I lean back to slide my hands under his t-shirt and yank it up. “Off.”

As the garment joins my clothes on the floor, I press myself against his warm skin. I lick, taste, and nip until it’s not enough. With shaking fingers, I grab the waistband of his jeans, but he catches my hands to kiss my palms.

My chest tightens. “Gabe, I’m okay, I’ve—”

His lips silence me, and I whimper into his brain melting kiss. When I turn my head to the side to catch my breath, Gabe hauls me up and lays me down on my back on the cool sheets. Braced on his forearms on either sides of my head, his gaze dives into mine, and my breath hitches at the need in his eyes.

I frame his face while my heartbeat stutters. “I’m perfectly fine.”

He rubs his nose on mine and his lips quirk up. “I hope you are because I’m keeping you in my bed until you beg me to stop.” Another touch of his lips. “But, baby, if you touch me now, it’ll be all over way too soon.”

Oh.A bubble bursts in my chest, and I peck his lips before I wrap my fingers around the slim bars of his bedhead and grin. “No hands.”

“Beautiful.” Gabe croons.

His lips trail down my throat. He licks and tastes my breasts, twirling his tongue around my nipples before sucking on them. My eyes closed, I arch into his touch.

I’m hot, itchy, fevered as his open mouth traces a path of fire on my belly. I gasp when he parts my legs wide and bite on a whimper. I want… I need… “Gabe.”

He opens his mouth on my sex and at the first glide of his tongue over my clit, I latch onto his hair. At the third, I bow my back in a scream.

Oh. My. God.when I lose him, I snap my eyes open as he kneels between my legs to slide a condom on. Supporting most of his weight on his forearms, he blankets me, and I moan in his mouth when his heavy shaft grazes my sex.

“Baby.” His eyes never leaving mine, he pushes slowly inside me and hilts himself deep.

I feel full, tears press behind my eyes, and I lock my ankles around his hips. Moaning at the burning stretch, I tremble as he rocks slowly inside me. A wave of heat engulfs me, and I cling to him.

“Gabe…”

When pleasure crashes through me, he plunges his tongue in my mouth and his thrusts become blunt, heavy.

“Aelin.”

My eyes lock on his while he arches his back and his face twists in pleasure. And I come again.

****

I wake up alone and stretch my deliciously sore body. So much pleasure. I burrow my smile into his pillow.

“Morning, sleepyhead.”

I half lift, half twist my body toward the door and smile at the gorgeous, gorgeous Mr. Matthews. “Hi…”

Then all at once, I register the daylight filtering through the blinds, the smell of coffee, and the fact that Gabe is fully dressed.

Oh crap.I’ve overstayed my welcome. Again.My heart sinks as I cover my breasts with the rumpled sheet and force a smile. “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was that late.” I swing my legs to the side of the bed, clear my throat and say without looking at Gabe, “I’ll just grab a quick shower, and be on my way.”

As I get on my feet, I yelp when Gabe is suddenly towering over me. I lift my gaze to his and hold my breath. The next second I’m on my back with a very pissed off Gabe lying on top me.

“Gab—”

Even though anger churns in his eyes, his fingers sweeping my hair off my temples are gentle.

“Don’t you ever run away from me again.”

When I just stare at him, his eyes soften a smidgen, and I touch his cheek.

“I didn’t know… Before, you—”

“Before I was a stupid asshole who didn’t know shit.”

Wow. Okay.

He kisses me. “Stay, baby.”

Shivering at his expression, I curl my arms around his neck. “All right.”

I open my mouth under his.

****

Later, I eventually get showered and dressed while Gabe is seeing about breakfast. Or brunch. Definitely food. After a quick text to Cara and Emma, I follow the smell of coffee. Barefoot, I pad toward the kitchen and stop dead in my tracks in the living room.

The painting I gave Gabe hangs over the fireplace framed in a burnished silver that enhances it perfectly.

The warmth of Gabe’s body envelops me as he hugs me from behind, and I lean into him.

“So, you like it.”

“I love it.” He peppers moan inducing kisses along my neck. “Hungry, baby?”

“Yes.” I loop my arms around his waist.

Gabe pecks the tip of my nose.God, I love when he does that.“Michelle’s ready for us.”

“Who’s Michelle?”

Soft kiss on my mouth. “My chef.”

We settle at the smaller table by the pool, and I sigh as I curl my legs under me on the plump cushion of the armchair across from his. I swallow the last of Michelle’s cheese omelet—which is almost as good as Cara’s—while Gabe eats scrambled eggs, waffles, muesli, and berries.

My mug of tea in hand, rocked by the soft lapping of the swimming pool, I nestle back in my armchair and peruse Gabe’s naked chest. The early sun caresses his wide shoulders and casts enticing shadows on his arms and well-defined abs. His grey sweatpants shorts sit low on his hips uncovering the thin trail of hairs leading to… A shivery all-over warmth courses my skin and pools low in my belly. As he pops something in his mouth, I squeeze my thighs together.

He sets his frowning gaze on me. “Am I chewing too loud?”

When I shake my head and bite my lip, Gabe’s lips stretch slowly. “What is it, baby?”

My heart races and I sigh.

He extends his open palm. “Come here.”

My mug hits the table before I get on my feet. I swing my leg to sit across his lap facing him and graze my fingers over his mouth.

“I want you.”

He pulls me flush against his erection and plants a sizzling kiss on my lips while his hands slide under my short dress.

When he kisses my neck, I fist my hands in his hair to get his eyes. “I want you in my mouth.”

Gabe wraps his hand around my nape and his voice gets all growly. “Baby.”