Free Blaze (Blaze #1) by Erika Chase

time as his
does. I shudder and fall forwards on top of him, even as he keeps
pulsing his release inside me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
     
     
     
    He must have showered while I slept, because
I awaken to find him snoring softly against the back of my neck and
the spice of his shampoo tickles my nose. I am careful not to wake
him as I slip from underneath his arm and slide to the edge of the
bed. The clock on the bedside table tells me it’s nearly
midnight.
    As always, time with Gabriel moves too
quickly.
    I’ll end things in the morning .
    One lit lamp from across the room provides
enough light for me to make my way to the bathroom. I set the water
temperature as high as I can stand it, and then stand under the
spray, letting it massage my shoulders.
    Gabriel has set aside a bathing sponge with
a soft handle for me to use whenever I’m over. I lather it with a
vanilla-scented body wash that costs a week’s worth of groceries.
As I run the sponge along my body, touching every inch brings forth
a memory of being with Gabriel.
    The soreness between my thighs is a reminder
of how rough we could be when it felt like he couldn’t be inside of
me fast enough. Hard enough. When it felt like nothing mattered but
having him fill me completely. Rubbing my breasts reminds me of how
gentle he could be, almost bringing me to orgasm just by sucking my
nipples.
    Only when I’m sure no one else in the
building will have hot water for hours do I force myself to dry off
and return to the bedroom. I’m about to drop my towel and crawl
into the bed when I look at Gabriel. Really look at him. He’s on
his back. The sheets cover him from the waist down, and one leg is
slightly raised. I cock my head to the side to get a better look at
his face, only visible due to the light from across the room and
the faint glow of moonlight breaking through the curtains.
    He looks much younger when he’s sleeping.
Almost innocent. This is not the face of a man who would ever hurt
me. This is the face of the man who once told me the best sleep
he’s ever gotten in this city are the nights when I stay over. This
is the man who talks about looking at the stars above his Montana
farm with the same passion that he argues Chicago has the best
pizza.
    And for short periods of time this
complicated, sexy, demanding man looks at me like I’m the most
important thing in the world. Who could ever live up to this?
    I crawl into bed and press my body against
his. He’s warm with sleep and only slightly sighs when I place my
lips against the curve of his neck and kiss gently. Completely on
top of him now, I feel his cock harden against me. I slide my wet
pussy along his length. He whispers my name between moans.
    After a sharp slap, he grips my ass with
both hands and grinds me against him even harder. I could come at
any moment, but I want this to last. I stop and fall forward on the
bed next to him and then roll onto my back. I stretch my arms above
my head and practically purr. Gabriel positions himself over me,
holding both of my hands down with one of his. He uses a leg to
guide open mine.
    He presses with just the tip.
    “Look at me.”
    Our eyes meet as he slides into me, just a
few inches.
    “Tell me what you want.”
    “I want you,” I answer quickly, wanting him
to give it all to me.
    “You want me to what?” he asks, sliding in a
just a bit further.
    “Fuck me, Gabriel.”
    It sounds like such a desperate plea, but I
don’t care. His eyes hold mine as drives into me in one deliberate
thrust. I cry out in pleasure more than pain. I wait for the
familiar movement of his hips, but they don’t come. He keeps his
cock deep inside of me, but doesn’t move.
    “Gabriel, please.”
    “I love making you beg,” he says with a
self-satisfied grin.
    I slide one hand free and reach up to cup
the side of his face. I run my thumb across his cheekbone, the
corner of his mouth, and finally across his full lips.
    “And I love you making me beg.”
    He gets a look