Gabe snuck down the long hallway, listening, on high alert. His training had prepared him for stealth, but he had never used his Delta talents to outwit family and friends in pursuit of a woman. At least, not one he planned to keep.
He felt like a traitor, replaying his declaration to Lauren that his sole purpose in attending the wedding was to spend quality time with his family. All he could do while in the bar with his brothers was count the minutes until he could finally escape to Lauren’s room.
His brothers gave him loads of shit about striking out with Lauren since she was hosting a pajama party for Georgie instead of him. None of his brothers were fooled by his laid-back shrugs and his refusal to be baited by all the trash talk they threw at him.
He considered crashing the pajama party, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to hide his less than PG-13 thoughts from Georgie and Olivia, who scrutinized every interaction. The girls could work for the CIA with their intel gathering skills. Something he knew about, since that secret offer he’d mentioned to Lauren was from the CIA.
Gabe listened at Lauren’s door for any sound. Nada. The girls had to be gone since Gabe would be able to hear his boisterous sister. He lightly knocked but heard no sound or movement. God, what if she had fallen asleep? She had been going nonstop since she arrived. Add the strain of coping with her wacky family, and he hadn’t been exactly low-key in his relentless pursuit.
He should let her rest, but every single cell in his body wanted Lauren now. Any and every way he could have her. Again, he knocked lightly. He resolved not to pressure Lauren if she was too tired for company all night long. Though he couldn’t understand how she could be too tired since he was wound tight. He gave himself a pep talk. He was a disciplined soldier and he cared about Lauren. This wasn’t a one-night stand. He simply wanted a relationship; a relationship with both of them naked.
Resolved to be the horny but all-giving hero, he turned to retreat as he heard the click of the door.
Lauren was wrapped in a towel with her hair piled on her head, her skin dewy and pink. “Giving up so easily?” Lauren’s eyes sparkled as her dimple creased with her wide grin. “I didn’t hear you. I was in the shower.” She leaned forward to search the hallway, giving him a stupendous view down her towel.
The blood rushed through his body, muscles tightening in anticipation. She was the early Christmas present he planned to unwrap immediately.
“I thought it best to shower tonight since tomorrow morning might be rushed.”
He couldn’t imagine how she could talk as he was lost in the flood of need and desperation.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room. Dark spots appeared in his eyes as all his blood flowed south.
“I thought the girls would never leave.” Her eyes were fixated on his lips. She threw her arms around his neck and crushed her mouth to his. Heat and fire sizzled along his skin.
She was as desperate as he was. How could he not need this woman?
He had the wherewithal to kick the door closed, trying not to fall on her like a crazy beast.
He let out a savage moan when she licked his lower lip before gently biting it. He opened his mouth wider and let her plunder. Her tongue teased and tormented, and he could taste the wild hunger in her.
Knowing only a towel separated them was playing havoc with his control. With the citrus scent of her damp hair and her soft breasts pressing against him, all he could do was breathe and feel.
Her demanding tongue dueled with his as her hands pulled out his shirt. “You have way too many clothes on.”
He could see the flare of excitement in her eyes.
With one hand, he snagged the corner of his T-shirt and pulled it over his head, then threw the shirt on the floor.
She dropped the towel.
“God, you shouldn’t have done that, Lauren. I don’t want to rush.”
Her nipples were dark pink and in need of his mouth. He lifted both breasts in his hands, then teased her nipples with his fingertips before he lifted the heavy flesh into his mouth.
“You’re better than any fantasy,” he growled as he tasted her.
She squirmed against him, her hands reaching for his zipper. “Too many clothes. You’re wearing too many clothes. I want to feel you against me.”
He kicked off his shoes, then chucked his jeans and boxers in one quick movement. Deltas were well-known for efficiency.
At last they were fully naked, flesh on flesh. His heart thumped so hard he was sure she could feel it. Her softness pressed against his hard heat was imprinted on his brain forever. He ran his hands along her silky skin down her back before he squeezed her ass, the supple flesh pliant in his calloused hands.
When she rubbed against him, he lost control. “This will be over before it gets started, honey.”
He was on fire. He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around him, pressing her wet sex against him. He pushed her against the wall and consumed her mouth, desperate to be one. She clutched his shoulders, her fingernails biting into his flesh.
When he trailed wet kisses to her throat, she threw her head back, giving him a stunning view of her pale throat, delicate collarbone, and her voluptuous breasts. Her nipples stood erect.
He bent and licked each nipple, his tongue circling the stiffened peaks. He pulled her breast into his mouth and sucked hard until she arched and cried out. Her voice, lost in pleasure, shot straight to his dick.
She writhed against him, her body tightening, already edging toward release.
He skimmed the flare of her hip, around to the slight curve of her stomach, and down to ease a finger into her. She was hot and wet. And ready. Ready for him. Only him.
“I need you now.” Her fingers tunneled into his hair. “Gabe. Now.”
He pushed his hips up against her swollen flesh. The scent of her arousal roared through him. She gripped him like a wild woman as she writhed against him.
“Lauren, are you sure?”
She bit his neck. “Don’t make me wait.”
He lunged into her tight wetness with one thrust; one glorious thrust and he was buried to the hilt. Her heat surrounded him, sending bursts of electricity through his entire body. He was almost delirious with craving. He inhaled, trying to rein in his need to lunge hard until they both went off in glory.
Lauren had other ideas. She squeezed and rotated her hips, then lifted herself up.
“You’re killing me. I’m trying to make this last.”
His blood boiled through his body. His brain focused only on Lauren’s gyrations. He held her tight, squeezing her ass, his legs braced apart as his woman rode them into ecstasy. Her breathing changed and her motion slowed as she edged close.
He rolled his hips forward for a better angle and plunged in and out in undisciplined hunger. His entire being was absorbed in Lauren with her eyes closed, her head thrashing, her hips pumping in tandem with the hard and fast rhythm he set.
He watched as she spasmed and screamed his name. Her total abandonment and the way she milked him sent him right into an electric storm with lightning sparks scorching through him.
He held her tight against him, not wanting the closeness and intimacy of this first moment to end. He could feel her breath against his chest, smell the citrus of her shampoo and the scent of sex.
He didn’t move, wanting to never be separated again.
“Gabe, that was…”
“I know, honey, I’m lost for words too.” He kissed the top of her head. “You’re the best Christmas present I’ve ever received. I’m planning on showing you all night how grateful I am.”
He carried her to the bedroom, taking in the joy of her laughter.