Gabe's Second Chance (Appledale 3)

Ethan nodded. “They probably figured with us having the state park so close we always get a lot of unknown visitors coming into town and we’ll never suspect anything. If it hadn’t been for Toby stumbling on them by accident we might never have until it was too late.”

Harrison agreed, he had seen the ill effects and violence drugs caused people and he was willing to do his part in putting a stop to it. “Well, we can’t spook them off yet if we want to catch them red-handed or they’ll just move on to the next small town. It’s better to put a stop to these things permanently.”

“Okay, next time they take off, Harrison, call me. One of us can follow them and see how far they go and where. It can’t be far if they were back at the campsite fairly quickly,” Ryan said with a heavy sigh, standing up and ending the meeting.

“Let’s go have lunch at the diner. My treat, boys.” Ryan had a bad feeling about these guys and he didn’t like it. He worried about his mom and Lacy at the diner having to deal with these assholes if they came into town to eat. Besides the bar, his mom’s diner was the only restaurant in town. Lacy was just gaining her confidence back after being beaten and nearly raped a few months back. The last thing she needed was to feel unsafe and scared again. He’d do whatever he had to to prevent that.

* * * *

Karissa had been dating Gabe again for over a week now. They had been out on dates three times in one week and so far it had gone well each time. She hesitated to call it a relationship. She was still feeling cautious about putting her heart on the line again but they had spent some time talking about the mistakes of the past and decided it was wiser to concentrate on the present.

Her sister hadn’t been very surprised at all when Karissa told her she was dating Gabe again.

“He followed me around asking questions about how he could find you, but I didn’t tell him. I hope it works out this time, sis. Gabe is a good guy, way better than Jordan. He was a jerk,” Casey said, making a face. “He was too self-centered and conceited.”

“I know, I should have listened to you when you told me that,” Karissa put on some light makeup and looked in the mirror. Gabe was taking her to St. Clair to see a movie that she wanted to see.

“Remember, big sister is always right,” Casey told Karissa with superiority, flipping her blonde hair back playfully. “Make sure you tell my son that his mama is smart.”

Karissa rolled her eyes but laughed and hugged her sister. “Oh boy, don’t get big headed, sis. Gabe should be here any second, so I’ll see you all later.”

“Have fun and be safe.” Casey hugged her sister tightly. “I’m so glad to have you around like this again. I understood your need to get away from the painful memories but I missed you.”

“Me too, sis,” Karissa said emotionally. “Give the baby a kiss goodnight for me.”

Roy was giving his son a bath before bedtime.

Gabe took her to see a new action movie she had been anxious to see. They had jumped back into their old camaraderie pretty quickly, feeling at ease around each other. Gabe put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him feeling comfortable yet sexually aware of him.

“Hungry?” Gabe asked when they got out of the movie theater. He was holding her hand as they walked back to his car. She could feel the air between them sizzling with their sexual attraction so she might as well go for it because she knew Gabe would be a gentleman and not make a pass at her yet. That’s the way it had been before too, only then she had been a virgin and had not known how to get his attention. Now she knew how and she would put that knowledge to good use.

Karissa leaned into his body until he was hugging her to his muscled body. He had kissed her passionately several times over the last few days but had not gone too far and she wondered if he was waiting for a sign she wanted to go further. Well, she did. “Yes, but not for food.” She winked up at him.

He almost missed a step and tripped and she giggled and looked at him waiting for him to say something.

Gabe gave her a big grin. “Finally, woman. There’s only so many cold showers a man can take.”

“Aww, poor baby, I’ll make it up to you,” she said softly rubbing her hands across his trim waist and hugging him. He stopped and leaned against the car with her in his arms, framing her beautiful face in his hands. “Stay with me tonight?”

She nodded and he kissed her with pent-up hunger, opening her mouth and exploring it with his tongue. She moaned as she began to feel the familiar heat burning in her stomach and the butterflies dancing around. She got lost in his kiss and she was sure she was melting into a puddle the kiss was so hot. She knew her panties were soaked, and just from a kiss.

When they were both breathing hard and excited Gabe let her go suddenly, breathing hard. “Let’s hurry home, honey, because I am about to explode.”

She couldn’t speak yet so she just nodded and smiled getting in the car. She could not wait to make love to Gabe Wilson again.

* * * *

Gabe lived in a small cottage outside the edge of town. He liked his privacy, he explained, unlike his brother Logan who lived in an apartment in the middle of town. It was a small one bedroom cottage but he felt comfortable in it. After his dad’s death many years ago his mom had moved to Florida with her sister and sold the family home. She still visited once a year and had never let him forget that leaving Karissa had been a dumb move.

He turned a lamp on in the living room and Karissa saw a fireplace and comfortable looking couch in front of it and a big picture window. She turned to Gabe and gave him a sassy smile. “Going to show me the bedroom, handsome?”

“That’s all you’ll see tonight, vixen.” Gabe lifted her easily in his arms as if she weighed nothing at all and she reveled in his strength. He carried her toward the back of the house where his bedroom was located. He set her on her feet and turned on a small light by the headboard that he used for reading at night. He turned back to her and removed her purple blouse. He looked down at the tiger print bra that encased her generous breasts. “Pretty,” he mumbled before removing it quickly. He was eager to see her naked breasts. It had been much too long but he had an excellent memory of how beautiful they had been. He rubbed her hardened nipples back and forth softly with his thumb and smiled when Karissa closed her eyes and whimpered softly at the sensation she felt at having his fingers on her again after so many years of aching for him.

“You are so beautiful, my love,” he whispered, kissing her shoulder until he reached down to cup her breasts with his hands. He eagerly took a tip into his mouth sucking on it hard and increasing the pressure until he had Karissa whimpering with pleasure. She moaned out his name and grabbed his long hair, releasing it from his hairband, clenching his long dark hair in her fist. He went over to the other nipple and gave it his attention too, working his magic on her. He let her go and removed his clothes quickly and impatiently while she removed her panties and short skirt.

When Gabe saw Karissa staring down at his long cock that was standing at attention it hardened even more. She gave him a flirty, sassy grin and licked her lips. She got on her knees and took his hard cock into her mouth, moving her tongue around and up and down his tip before taking his length in and humming around his cock, making him cry out in passion at the vibrations he felt. She used her hand to squeeze his balls, driving him wild. Gabe groaned and put his hands in her long hair, helping her set a rhythm. “Oh, baby, that is so good. You’re burning me alive with that wicked mouth of yours. You might unleash a dangerous animal tonight if you’re not careful.”

She stopped to look up at him and gave him a sexy wink. “I hope so, babe. I remember that beast and he made my blood flow like lava running through my body, burning up my every inhibition. I haven’t felt anything like it since.”