Page 11 of Dare to Surrender (NY Dares 1)
My eyes opened wide. I’d had no idea Lance managed Gabe’s financial accounts. Then again, Lance was with the best-known firm in Manhattan, and Gabe clearly did business with only the best. Their relationship had just ended … because of me.
The blood drained from my head, and I sank deeper into the bed, lowering myself against the mattress that had given me such a good night’s sleep. Now it supported me when I started to shake.
Gabe walked over and placed a firm hand on my shoulder. His touch burned my skin, reassuring me as well as confusing me.
“Not that I owe you an answer,” Gabe said into the phone, still speaking to Lance. “But if you want an explanation, I’m happy to provide one. Because you’re a fucking prick who doesn’t know how to treat a lady, that’s why.”
Gabe was defending me. Surprise, gratitude, and a host of unfamiliar emotions washed over me. My own parents hadn’t defended me throughout my teenage years. Lance sure as hell had never truly supported me in any way. Yet Gabe was pulling what had to be million-dollar accounts from Lance’s firm. Because of me.
I didn’t know what to do with this. I didn’t want to owe him, and yet gratitude flowed through my veins like freshly tapped maple syrup. Yeah, I remembered that day in elementary school. Useless information, I reminded myself and focused instead on the strength of Gabe’s hand on my shoulder.
I started breathing again, picking up on Gabe’s words mid-conversation. “I’m not answering any more of your damned questions about Izzy, and I don’t expect she’ll want to hear from you again.”
I had never been called that before. I liked it.
Whatever Lance said, Gabe smirked and said, “I want her things delivered to my office immediately. Any money she came into your relationship with, I expect a check for that amount on my desk by the end of the week. And tack on interest.”
Now I could still hear Lance shouting into the phone as Gabe disconnected the call and tossed the phone onto the bed.
“You okay?” he asked me.
I nodded. Then I did the dumbest thing I could do considering all the changes I’d promised myself I’d make in my life. I jumped up, flung my arms around his neck, and kissed him. Full on the lips. His masculine scent overwhelmed me, causing a fluttering deep in my belly and a quickening between my thighs. But his firm lips didn’t move.
He didn’t respond.
Didn’t melt like I was melting.
Disappointment filled me, followed quickly by humiliation I was only too familiar with. How many times had I tried to seduce Lance, only to have him pull my arms off him so he could roll over, claiming exhaustion?
I’d overreacted, mistaking help for something more, and since I didn’t need or want that something at this point in my life, I shored up my defenses and pulled away.
“Well. Now that I’ve properly thanked you, we can move on.” I fought the blush I knew had formed on my cheeks.
“You’re welcome,” he said but didn’t release me. He merely held on more tightly, his fingers digging into my wrists, pulling at my shoulders, all of which had the unfortunate effect of turning me on even more.
We stared into each other’s eyes, and my breathing grew shallow. Oh hell, I was nearly panting with need, my breasts stra
ining against the already-tight tank. I didn’t understand this side effect of rejection.
But if he was rejecting me, why hadn’t he let me go? “I don’t understand.” I could have been talking about his actions or mine.
“You will, Iz. In time.”
I shivered at his shortening of my name. “How much time?”
A seductive smile tipped his lips, making it seem like he was far from disinterested. “I want to fuck you, kitten, but when I do, it won’t be about gratitude. And it will be on my terms.”
“Oh.”
Lance never used the word fuck in bed, and if he had, it wouldn’t have had me nearly coming from the sound alone.
My lips parted, and he swooped in, sliding his mouth over mine, all too briefly but enough for a taste.
A tease.
He yanked back harder on my wrists, and at the same time, he nipped at my lips. It stung there, while between my legs, a fullness the likes of which I’d never experienced before began to throb. Slick moisture dampened my underwear. Swaying forward, I moaned into his mouth.
At which point he released me. Only his strong arm around my waist prevented me from falling. My head spun from his seductive scent, his arousing kiss, the firm tone of his voice. Confusion and more warred inside me.
