Page 32 of The Heiress Bride
His long, lean body sways from the door, and he cups my cheeks, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. There’s no time to sink into it before he darts past me.
“Race ya.”
His feet thunder up the stairs, and laughter bounces off the walls. His and Katherine’s.
My people.
I never wantedpeople. But I guess that was a story I told myself. Because now that they’re here,upstairs, together, I’ll do anything to keep them. To protect them.
Instinctively, I check the front door lock and fire off a note to my team. There’s a lot left to say between all of us, and I don’t have patience for any disruptions.
Shedding my clothes as I go, I pile everything on the chair next to Katherine’s dress in the corner of the bedroom and follow her giggles into the oversized bathroom.
Katherine, the woman who thawed my heart and helped me feel again.
Gabe, the man who’s always been at my side, challenging, supporting, and embracing me.
And King. So unexpected, but I wouldn’t want to be without the color he brings to our lives.
A tendril of steam beckons. Through the foggy glass, I spy Katherine and King standing beneath the spray. Next to them, a long, lean body is settled on the marble bench.
My heart thunders in my chest. There’s no question I’m joining them. And maybe that was my first clue. From the moment I met Gabe, and as we’ve assembled our found family, each step has felt right. Sharing Katherine. Bringing King into the fold. Sharing Gabe with King.
Shucking my boxers, I step out of them and reachfor the chrome handle to open the door. Katherine’s moan carries above the spray from the shower.
Praise whoever designed this space. I don’t hit my head on a bloody doorframe because there isn’t one. I don’t even need to duck. The double showerheads are a bonus. And that bench gives me all sorts of decadent ideas. It’s long enough, wide enough that King could probably use it as a bed.
She’s wrapped tight in King’s arms, hands all over him. Soft warm light gives the space an enchanting glow, making the water sparkle like diamonds. Gabe’s biting his lower lip, watching them like they’re on stage.
“It’s giving Roman orgy,” he says, lightening the mood.
But then his gaze flicks to me, roving upward with appreciation, starting at my feet on the wet penny tile. For the first time, I don’t ignore the delicious tingle in my skin when he stares at me with longing. Just like that, the tension is back, thicker than the steam in the air.
There’s a pinch in my heart.
In protecting myself, I hurt him.
I close the distance between us. His eyes widen, and he has to tip his chin way up to look at me. I hook a hand behind his neck and pull him up.
“You ran off,” I say, instantly feeling dumb.
Gabe’s hands settle on my waist, holding us a careful distance apart, which I love and hate. I’ve held back for so long, he has no idea how natural it feels to sink my fingers into his hair. Trail my thumb over his stubbled jaw. Feel his searing heat against my palm.
But it does. I’m not pulling away. I’m not looking away. This is the start of us.
The new and improved us with no blinders, no hesitation, no self-preservation.
“I won,” Gabe says, a typical teasing note in his voice.
I grunt. “You had a head start.”
I love the way his smile lights up his face and my heart. So cheeky. What a mischief-maker.
“All’s fair…”
I silence his words with a kiss, which effectively cuts off the history of that particular saying. I love Gabe’s big brain, but right now, I need this connection. Soft at first, but not tentative. Exploratory.
His hands tighten on my waist, reminding me just how naked we both are. Naked with an audience. A wave of white-hot lust crashes over my head, and I tighten my grip on him. Deep in my chest, there’s a tiny whisper.Mine.
