Free Still Mr. And Mrs. by Patricia Olney Page A

whisper.
    “Reb,” Gabe said softly. “I can’t begin to tell you how bad I feel about what happened.”
    She leaned closer to him. “It’s in the past where it belongs.”
    He touched her cheek, stroking upward to cup her face. Then, through a hazy veil of passion, he instantly wrapped her in his arms.
    Slowly, he lowered his head to kiss her.
    Their lips brushed, touched, and tasted.
    Then the fire started.

SEVEN
    Rebecca gasped at the feel of Gabe’s chest as he lowered her to the blanket. His kisses intensified and grew harder and more demanding. His mouth devoured hers, leaving her burning with unchecked desire.
    Like a sculptor, his hands found the exposed skin of her back where her top had inched upward. His fingers molded her skin, then stroked her with a featherlike touch, sending a blazing streak of heat up and down her spine. His grip tightened.
    He muttered something against her lips, and she opened her mouth for him, allowing his tongue to probe and twist with hers.
    He tasted wonderfully sweet, the nectar of the rosé still lingering on his tongue.
    He rubbed his hand along the slim curve of her hip, pulling her closer to him. She nestled her thigh between his legs, drawing a deep moan from him.
    Pressed together, she couldn’t help but notice the state of his arousal, his desire for her. Her hand traveled down to the metal buttons of his jeans. Cupping him lightly at first, she began to massage him through the rough fabric.
    He groaned low in his throat, the sound luring her closer.
    She slipped one button on his jeans free. Then the next. And the next.
    She wanted to touch him, to feel the smooth hardness of him. She slid her hand under the stiff material of his jeans until her fingers grasped and held him gently.
    He mumbled her name against her ear, his lips burning a sizzling path down her neck.
    It was as if they’d never been apart. Their passion for each other was urgent and wild, out of control.
    Then something made him stop and pull away.
    “What …?” she breathed in shock at the sudden void. “What’s the matter?”
    The wall was up again. He’d lost the control he treasured so much. She saw it in his eyes.
    “I’m sorry.” His smoky voice was a mix of excitement and strain. He leaned back, quickly buttoning his jeans.
    She felt something tighten inside of her. “So am I.”
    Rebecca shot straight up in bed, her hand at her throat. She was sure she heard something.
    Despite the breeze from the ceiling fan, a bead of perspiration inched down her spine. Through the partially parted shutters, she could see it was still dark. She checked the clock on the nightstand.
    It was almost three in the morning.
    She crawled out of bed, slipping on the cool satin robe that Gabe had bought her. She walked toward the door, a stream of moonlight guiding her way. She peeked around the corner expecting to see Gabe in the living room in his usual spot.
    To her surprise the small couch was empty. The blankets were crumpled in a heap in one corner of the sofa, and the once fluffy pillow was now squashed and lying limp on the floor.
    The French door creaked open with a yawn.
    She whirled around, realizing the door hadn’t been closed all the way. She walked to the door intent on shutting it but then she stopped.
    The moon, now full and hanging high in the night sky, beamed a full light across the lawn and the pool.
    There, silhouetted in the shadows, stood Gabe.
    He was bare-chested, wearing only a pair of shorts, his hands shoved in the pockets. He stood motionless, staring into the water as though he was hypnotized.
    Her throat tightened. Hot tears filled her eyes. She furiously wiped them away with a swipe of her hand.
    Slowly, she turned, latching the door shut behind her.
    Damn him, she swore.
    She knew he was fighting. Fighting her, himself and their unbearable need to be near each other.
    She walked back into her bedroom and slipped into bed, pulling the sheet up to her chin. They both had lost