Her words are ice cold, and when I glance up at Gabriel, his barely restrained pain is obvious. And it pisses me off. I don’t know his family, and I should probably stay out of it, but I can’t help myself. Nobody else is defending him.
“Well, I think Gabriel’s going to do great,” I volunteer, squeezing his hand beneath the table. “He’s smart and driven, and he knows exactly what he wants.”
Everyone around the table stares at me like I’ve sprouted three heads as Mrs. Maddox narrows her eyes in my direction. I know I’ve crossed the wrong woman, but I don’t care.
“Oh please,” she jeers, dismissing my opinion with a wave of her perfectly manicured hand. “Where do you think the money comes from, sweetheart? He sure as hell won’t be getting a dime from us if he goes through with this plan, so you can forget whatever you have in mind. I can see right through your act, you little gold digger.”
I feel like I’ve been bitten by a viper as I recoil from the pure hatred in her tone. This is Caroline Maddox, no holds barred. I haven’t even taken my first bite of food, and I feel like I’m going to vomit. I stand abruptly, nearly knocking my chair over in the process.
“I’m not interested in your money, and I’m sorry that you feel that way. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be leaving.”
I burst out the door, Gabriel hot on my heels as I scurry down the hall.
Chapter Thirteen
Victoria
The whole car ride home, Gabriel stays on his own side, brooding. He’s looking out the window, his spine rigid and unyielding as he drums his fingers across his thigh. When I try to talk to him, he simply shakes his head and tells me to wait until we get to his apartment. I feel uneasy, but try to give him his space.
Once we arrive, I briefly entertain the idea of getting a cab and heading home. But before I can even decide, he grabs me by the hand and drags me inside. He releases me as soon as he shuts the door, ambling over to the leather couch and sitting down. He watches me take off my shoes, his expression unreadable.
I can’t tell if it’s me he’s angry with because I’ve never seen him like this before. I figure I probably overstepped my boundaries by talking to his mother that way, but it couldn’t be helped. I hated seeing how she treats him.
“Come here,” Gabriel commands.
I walk to him slowly, gazing down into his stormy blue eyes. And I realize as I step closer, that it isn’t anger behind those eyes, but something else entirely. A mixture of anguish and longing. He reaches up for my hand and tugs me onto his lap, spreading my legs so that I’m straddling him. He wraps his arms around me, fisting his hands in the fabric of my dress. And then he pulls away, looking lost.
“Kiss me,” he whispers. It isn’t his usual commanding tone. It sounds more pleading than anything.
He’s relinquishing control, letting down his guard for me to tell him how I feel about him. To prove to him that I want this as much as he does. And since I don’t have the courage to say the words that I really feel in the moment, I show him instead.
I stare back at him, pouring every ounce of emotion that I can into my expression. I want him to see, to understand how I feel about him.
“Do anything you wa….”
I put my finger to his mouth to silence him and then replace it with my own lips. I kiss him sweetly, taking my time and savoring the moment. All I’ve wanted to do since I met him was explore his body, and for the first time, Gabriel’s giving me free rein. I cup his face in my hands, deepening the kiss, to which Gabriel responds fervently. I can tell he’s struggling with control, but he follows my lead, watching me carefully to see what I’ll do next.
I graze my teeth down along his jaw before moving onto his neck. The scent of his cologne lingers there, and I inhale deeply, soaking it up greedily while I run my hands through his hair. I nip and lick the sensitive flesh, and Gabriel lets his head fall back against the cushion, giving me unrestrained access. His hands fall limply to his side, and his entire body relaxes beneath me. My fingers move to the buttons of his shirt, undoing them slowly.
He opens his eyes as the last button slides free, revealing his broad chest. His skin is flushed with heat, his heart beating strong beneath my fingertips. I trace the lines of his tattoos, and a pained sound escapes his throat, but he doesn’t stop me.