She smiles, running her hands slowly up and down my chest. “I just bet you did.”
I pull her in so close our hips collide. Just like that I’m hard. “I’m glad you gave me a second chance, Luce.”
“I’ve given you a couple of second chances, Walker.” The smirk she gives me makes me want to kiss it off her lips.
So I do.
Gabe wastes no time dragging me to his bedroom upstairs. I had so much fun hanging out with Jade and Shep, but after a while I started to get anxious.
I wanted to be alone with my man.
That I think of Gabe as my man may be stupid but Jade made some reaffirming comments that helped me realize he’s not acting like his usual self.
“Did he tell you about their one and done rule?” she asked me with an eye roll after we devoured our pizza dinner and settled in on the couch together.
“One and done?” I asked.
She nodded. “Gabe, Tristan and Shep all have one rule. Well, they have a bunch of stupid man rules that I don’t know and I don’t want to know. But Shep confessed to me the biggest one—one time with a girl and then they’re done. That’s how they’ve always treated girls.”
I made a face. “That’s sort of gross.”
“I know, but think about it. How often have you seen Gabe? Been with Gabe?” Heavy emphasis on the word been.
My cheeks were warm. I’m in constant blush mode lately and I hate it. You’d think with my dark skin you wouldn’t notice but everyone so does and it was embarrassing. “A lot,” I finally admitted.
The smile she sent me was triumphant. “So you just blew the one and done theory out of the water with Gabe.” She started to laugh. “Two down, one more to go.”
I’d smiled like a loon when she said that, though I figured she was rushing things. I couldn’t help it though. Jade’s words and constant encouragement got my hopes up.
Watching Gabe prowl around his room now, shutting the blinds, scooping dirty clothes off the floor and tossing them into a laundry basket sitting in the corner, I can’t help but admire the way he moves. So assuredly, even in his minor state of panic at having me in his slightly messy room.
“You didn’t clean your room knowing I’d be in here?” I ask, more than a little surprised. I wander over to his desk and check it out, picking up a framed photo of a much younger Gabe, Shep and who must be Tristan. They’re grinning at the camera, wearing sunglasses and so ridiculously good looking it was almost painful to look at.
I set the photo back onto his desk, my palms all sweaty and I rub them on the back of my denim shorts.
“I wanted to.” He sends me a sheepish grin over his shoulder. “I spent too much time cleaning the kitchen before you got here. Never got a chance to come upstairs, though I knew it wasn’t too bad. I don’t have a housekeeper like Shep and Tristan do, though we do have a cleaning service come through and take care of the casino area twice a week.”
My jaw drops open. “Shep and Tristan have a housekeeper?”
“Oh yeah, and she spoils them rotten too, as does Jade. It’s fucking annoying.” He starts to laugh. “Sorry, I sound bitter. I could afford a housekeeper if I wanted one I guess, but I don’t really need it. I’m not that much of a slob.”
I glance around his room, seeing that most of the mess was just piles of clothes lying here and there. He’s right. It’s not that bad. “I could spoil you if you want,” I suggest nonchalantly, trailing my fingers along the edge of the desk before I turn to face him fully.
“Oh, yeah?” The interest in his voice is obvious. “And how would you spoil me?”
Smiling, I point at the bed. “Sit down and I’ll show you.”
Without hesitation he sits on the edge of the bed, legs spread wide in that wholly masculine way men sit, his gaze full of curiosity and—is that adoration?—as I approach. My heart pangs at that look in his eyes and I slowly kneel in front of him, resting my hands on his rock hard thighs.
“Lucy…” he starts but I shake my head once.
“Sshh.” I smooth my hands up and down his legs slowly, sneaking my fingers beneath the hem of his shorts. His thighs are hot, a little hairy and full of muscle. “I could cook you meals.”
“Oh yeah?” He blows out a shaky breath when I drift my nails along the inside of his thighs. “Like what?”
“Anything you want.” Mama had me with her in the kitchen since I was a little girl. Half the time she worked so much that when I was in high school, I was the one who cooked all the meals. “What do you like?”
“I, uh, would like anything you want to make me.” He flinches when I pull my hands out of the legs of his shorts and reach for his waistband. “What are you doing, Luce?”
I smile and undo the top button of his shorts. “Spoiling you. Now take your shirt off, Gabriel.”
“Only if you take your shirt off.” He pauses and I lean back as he whips his shirt off quickly, tossing it on the ground. “Hey, I should’ve asked before but is Lucy short for anything?”
I’m momentarily speechless at first sight of his chest. God, he’s hot. I mean, I’ve seen him like this before, plenty of times. But the sight of a half naked Gabe never gets old. “Um, promise you won’t make fun.”
His expression softens. “I’d never make fun of you, Luce. I hope you realize that.”
I hold back the dreamy sigh that wants to escape. Not only is he hot, he’s so sweet. Like, ridiculously sweet. “My full name is Luciana,” I admit quietly.