Falling into Exposure (Falling 2)

He didn’t let me come, and it stings because I need it. I need my lover right now, not this angry, feral man. I sink into the seat below, feeling like I’m on the brink of an emotional overload.

He pulls off his pants, sitting down beside me.

“Prove it,” he says, gesturing to his cock.

“Prove what?”

“That you only want me,” he says simply.

I can see the challenge in his expression, but I still don’t get why he’s doing this. I sink down onto the floor before him, pushing my head between his legs. The storm is raging within his cloudy gray eyes as he watches me.

I take his semi-hard cock into my mouth, sucking softly and slowly.

“That’s not good enough,” he grunts. “I want you to show me.”

He grabs a handful of my hair and pumps into my mouth. I lick and suck him furiously as he growls above me. It only seems to piss him off more, and it makes all the emotion well up inside of me. A sob heaves from my chest and hot tears stream down my cheeks as I try my best to give him what he needs.

Gabriel stiffens inside of me, staring down at me in confusion.

“Victoria!”

He pulls out and brings me up into his lap. I curl into him, sobbing uncontrollably like a baby. This day has just been too much. The thought of losing him, the thought of leaving New York, seeing him in the bar, and now this.

“I’ve hurt you,” he rasps, panic rising on his face. “God, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me…”

I shake my head softly, trying to control my sobs. “No, you didn’t hurt me. But you were so angry with me… really angry. I don’t like that. That’s different than you being rough with me.”

He wraps his arms around me, kissing my tear stained cheeks.

“I’m so sorry, beautiful. I’m so, so sorry. For everything. I just can’t stand the thought of you wanting someone else.”

I look up at him wearily, exhausted by this conversation. I don’t understand how he could possibly think that.

“Gabriel, I don’t want anyone else,” I say. “I can’t tell you any other way. I’m in love with you, only you.”

His features soften as his squeezes me in his arms.

“Do you really mean that?”

“Of course I do,” I snap. “I would never say that to someone if I don’t mean it.”

“I just thought after everything that happened…”

“Gabriel.” I roll my eyes. “You don’t stop loving someone just because you’re upset with them.”

He bows his head to mine, pressing his forehead against my wet cheek.

“I love you too, Victoria,” he whispers. “So much. I wanted to tell you this weekend, but I was afraid.”

His words make my heart swell with emotion, and I’m crying for a different reason now.

“I already knew you did,” I whisper. “But it feels good to hear you say it.”

He smiles down at me, stroking my cheek gently.

“I don’t want to run from you,” I say in an anguished voice. “But I feel like I have no choice.”

“I know.” He nods.

“You do?”

“I know you’re running from something,” he says. “And I want you to tell me what it is. I want you to trust me enough to do that, no matter how bad you think it is. You need to know that I would do anything in my power to help you. But you can’t run from me, Victoria. You just can’t.”

I nod stiffly, mulling over his words. He’s asking something impossible from me, but in this moment, I’m too tired to fight.

We arrive back at the apartment, and Gabriel drapes his coat around me, carrying me to the elevator in his arms.

“I can walk,” I protest weakly.

I don’t want to admit I like being in his arms. My sweet, fucked up, insecure, ridiculously possessive Gabriel. He’s mine, and I love him.

“Shhh,” he soothes. “I want to carry you.”

When he opens the door to his apartment, I gasp.

“Has someone broken into your place?”

His jaw tightens, and he keeps walking down the hall in silence. And then I understand. He really went berserk. Because of me. Crap. I feel awful for making it worse at the bar.