I Have to Have Her

He didn’t agree with her.

Silence fell between them. “Are you angry at me for not lying to Rhianna?”

“No. She was going to find out eventually. Especially when you hate me when all of this is over.”

She chuckled. “Then why are you angry?” She looked over her shoulder. “You have no reason to be.”

“You put your life in danger.”

“To save your sister.”

“But what about saving yourself?”

“I’m fine.”

“No, I don’t accept that. Next time, you hide, you got it?”

“You think there is going to be a next time?”

“Always be on your guard, Claire. You know that.” He kissed her lips. “Now, let me handle this.”

****

Gabriel’s touch was gentle as he removed the glass. The water got cold and he heated it right up for her. Claire expected him to leave but he stayed true to his word, washing her body then her hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying his ministrations and not looking too deeply as to why she enjoyed his touch.

Rhianna called out to them to say pizza had arrived.

He climbed out from behind her and she admired the length of his body. The curve of his ass. He grabbed a towel and she got up so he could wrap it around her.

Once out of the bath, he placed a towel in her hair. There were no signs of any more glass in her hair, nor did she detect any rubbing against her scalp. As they left the bathroom, he held a robe open for her, and she stepped inside while he quickly pulled on a pair of sweat pants.

She didn’t linger too long and joined Rhianna, who sat on the sofa, sipping coffee and eating pizza.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling fine. I don’t know about your brother though. He’s … different.”

“He’s got his killer face on.”

“Killer face?”

“You do realize the café that was hit is in his city, right? This is his turf. The moment the bikers shot at us, they started a war.”

“Oh.”

Rhianna raised her brows. “Oh?”

“I don’t know what to say.”

Her friend laughed. “Has anyone told you how adorable you are?”

“Not recently.” She looked up as Gabriel joined them. He didn’t stay, using the excuse that he had business to take care of in his office. He took pizza and coffee with him, disappearing from sight.

“He’s so pissed. I would hate to be part of that MC, or have anything to do with them. He’s going to tear them apart.”

“Does it bother you at times, that he is what he is?”

“It used to but I don’t know, I guess I got used to the fact that there are always monsters around. It depends on what kind of monster is in charge. My brother is … he’s … he keeps this place safe. Yes, I have to have a guard to take me places, and it’s not always easy, but I’ve gotten used to it.” She sighed. “His heart is in the right place. Most of the time.”

“And when it’s not?” she asked.

“Then it’s not. I can’t do anything about that. I can only fix what affects me, and I’ve got no problem with Gabriel going after those men. They deserve it. There were kids and families at that café.”

Claire frowned. “Do you think it was a direct hit? Someone knew you were there?”

“Could have been. Someone could have tipped off one of his enemies. I honestly don’t know, babe. You eat some food.”

Claire ate four slices of pizza and drank two large cups of coffee. Gabriel didn’t appear once.

The coffee always had the opposite effect on Rhianna and her best friend fell asleep on the sofa and started to snore. She covered her friend with a blanket. Unraveling her hair, she ran a brush through it. The length had now dried.

Going to bed wasn’t an option. Where she’d been tired earlier, she suddenly felt wired.

She went to Gabriel’s office and raised her hand to knock, but she stopped herself. Grabbing the doorknob, she twisted it and let herself into his office.

The light was on and he stood at his window, looking out over the city. “Where’s Rhianna?”

“She’s asleep. Snoring, actually.”

He turned toward her.

The look on his face made a shiver work down her spine. “She’s fine,” she said.

“I don’t care.”

She stepped into the room. “Then I’m fine.”

His gaze moved down her body and the heat shining back at her was hard to ignore. Licking her dry lips, she approached him.

“I’m not in a good place right now,” he said.

She opened the robe, dropping it to the floor, followed by the towel so she was completely naked for his gaze.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t have a clue.

The anger in his eyes, she had to dampen it out. To help him find some kind of peace.

She walked up to him, put her hand on the low part of his stomach, tilted her head back, and stared into his eyes. “I’m right here.” She offered him a smile.