Forever With You (Bayou Dreams Book 5) Read online

  Her teasing laugh only heightened his arousal. “I’m not going anywhere but home with you.”

  He looked over at her, swallowed down the ball of lust that had instantly formed in his throat and asked, “Are you sure about this, Leslie? I don’t want to pressure you into doing anything you’re not ready to do. Don’t think—”

  She put two fingers up to his lips. “I’m sure,” she said. “I’m ready to take this step, Gabriel. You make me want to take this step.”

  Gabe thought he would die of pleasure right then and there.

  He started the car again and jerked the gearshift into Drive.

  “This will be the longest damn ride of my life.”

  Leslie trailed a single finger along his jaw. “Just think about what will be waiting for you at the end of it.”

  He released another aching groan.

  The next hour would be agony. Sweet, pleasurable agony.

  * * *

  With every mile the tires ate up on the road, Leslie tried to convince herself that she was ready for this. She was, dammit! She wanted this.

  Of all the victories she’d celebrated on this journey of moving on with her life after losing Braylon, this one would be the most momentous. Giving her body to another man, sharing herself so intimately after all this time, was not something to take lightly. Leslie could not think of a single person she wanted to share this with more than the man sitting next to her.

  She glanced over at Gabriel and studied his strong jaw. He had been quiet on the ride across Lake Pontchartrain, save for the deep, ragged breaths he would take ever so often. His grip on the steering wheel was so tight his knuckles were white.

  “Are you okay?” Leslie asked.

  He nodded. “Just trying not to blast through the speed limit on this damn bridge,” he said.

  “We have all night, Gabriel. The girls won’t be home until morning.”

  “The night is more than halfway over,” he said. He looked over at her, his eyes fiery with need. “If I knew this was how you planned for our night to end, you wouldn’t have gotten salsa-dancing lessons.”

  She grinned. “I’m happy I didn’t say anything until my lesson was over. I enjoyed dancing the salsa with you.”

  “It’s so much better when you dance it naked. I’ll show you how to do that, too.”

  She laughed, but the closer they got to Gauthier, the more her nervousness grew. By the time Gabriel turned into her driveway, Leslie was wound so tight her skin itched with it. Her anxiety must have shown on her face.

  “Stop overthinking this,” Gabriel said. “Nothing you said tonight is written in stone, Leslie. If you’re not ready, then you’re not ready.”

  She let out a shaky laugh. “You don’t think I’ve made you wait long enough?”

  “Have I complained?”

  No, he hadn’t. He had been so incredibly patient with her. For that reason alone she wanted to give herself to him.

  He cupped her jaw and gently turned her to face him. “I’m not some horny teenager who’s going to move on to the next girl if you decide you don’t want to do this tonight. We don’t have to. You’re worth the wait, Leslie.”

  Instant heart melting.

  He was the one who had been worth the wait. Leslie was convinced that she’d turned down all those dates with nice, sweet men this past year because she somehow knew this man was in her future. He was everything she had been looking for.

  Yet her nerves still consumed her.

  “It’s been a long time since I did this, Gabriel,” she admitted.

  “I know,” he said.

  “And I’ve only done this with one man,” she said.

  He went still. The silence that entered the car was deafening.

  “Don’t let that freak you out,” Leslie said.

  “Your husband is the only man you’ve ever slept with? Ever?”

  She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and nodded. “I met Braylon when I was a freshman in college. He was the first boy I’d ever been with. And the last.”

  “Damn.” He shook his head, his hands once again gripping the steering wheel. “And I’d always heard the girls who went to James Madison put out.”

  Her jaw dropped open. He looked over at her and Leslie burst out laughing at the wicked grin creasing his face.

  How could she be nervous about being with this sweet, kind, funny, gentle soul? Suddenly, Leslie couldn’t think of anything she wanted to do more than release her body to him.

  She slid her palm over his firm jaw and brushed her thumb over his lips. “Would you mind following me inside? I think it’s time for you to reintroduced me to what I’ve been missing.”

  An irresistible grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “It would be my pleasure.”

  They made it into the house in record time, kissing their way from the kitchen through the living room to the bedroom. Gabriel lifted her into his arms and lowered her onto the bed, trailing his mouth down her throat to the valley between her breasts.

  “Lift up,” he breathed against her skin. Leslie complied, sitting up so that he could unzip the hot-pink dress. He peeled it from her back and over her shoulders, then past her waist and down her legs, leaving her in her black satin panties and black pumps.

  His desperate groan sent a hedonistic burst of pleasure ricocheting through her.

  “I just need to look at you,” he said.

  “You just need to take your clothes off,” Leslie returned.

  That devilish grin returned. “My, aren’t we eager?”

  She lifted her leg and tapped at the center of his chest with her shoe. “I told you it’s been a long time. I don’t want to wait any longer.”

  His eyes instantly smoldered with heated need as he grabbed her leg and lifted it to his shoulder. He pressed a kiss to the inside of her ankle, then continued his way down, trailing his tongue along her leg and to her inner thigh. He flattened his palms on her legs and pushed them open. Then he dived for her center, nuzzling his mouth and nose against her dampening panties. He licked on either side of the strip of silky material before moving it to the side and brushing his lips against her exposed flesh.

  Her body instantly melted with desire. Sensations swirled within her, tugging at her senses, teasing her brain with every delicate swipe of his tongue.

  “More,” Leslie whimpered, rolling her hips up and lifting herself to his face.

  She felt Gabriel’s breath flitter against her. “You asked for it,” he whispered against her as he dragged the satin down her legs. He returned to the spot between her legs, spread her apart with his fingers and thrust his tongue inside.

  Pleasure crashed through her.

  He was relentless in his pursuit, stroking his tongue in and out while his finger toyed with the pulsing spot at her cleft, massaging it with increasing pressure. He moved his fingers aside and sucked the throbbing nub into his mouth, wrenching a scream out of her with every delicious tug.

  She came with such force her entire body shook with it, yet Gabriel continued, his lips and teeth and tongue eliciting the most decadent sensations she had ever experienced. With one last, hard pull of his mouth, she shattered again, her body going limp with the ecstasy rioting through her.

  Leslie’s eyes fell closed as mind-bending pleasure washed over her.

  “Give me just a minute,” Gabriel said.

  She managed to open her eyes long enough to see him undressing. He unbuttoned the two top buttons of his shirt, then pulled it over his head, along with the undershirt beneath. He made quick work of unzipping his pants and pushing them and his briefs down in one quick motion.

  Despite her orgasm-induced daze, Leslie was still conscious enough to recognize the sheer magnificence of his strong, compact body. He was all taut golden-b
rown skin over firm muscle.

  He produced a condom from his wallet and rolled it over his stiff erection, then he climbed over her and went straight for the spot behind her ear. He teased the skin there, nipping and sucking, licking and biting. He slipped his hands underneath her and rolled her over, changing their position so that she was on top.

  “That’s better,” Gabriel said. “This is the view I’ve been dreaming about.” He glided his hands up her stomach and over her breasts, scraping his thumbnails across her nipples.

  Leslie’s stomach tightened in response.

  “I can’t wait any longer,” she said. She reached between them and wrapped her fist around his thick erection. She lifted herself up slightly and, with her eyes falling closed, guided him into her.

  Gabriel groaned. So did she.

  With painstaking slowness she lowered herself onto his impressive length, her body opening around him, welcoming him inside. Leslie didn’t move for several moments as she allowed her body to adjust to the sensation of being filled so completely.

  It was breathtaking. His size, his strength, his understanding patience. She was so grateful it nearly drew tears to her eyes, but then Gabriel undulated his hips and she forgot about everything but the hot, engorged erection penetrating her body.

  Leslie braced her hands on either side of his head and pumped up and down, rolling her hips with increasing fervor, squeezing around him with every plunge. Gabriel clamped his palms on her ass and pulled her down as he lifted up. The hard, deep thrust sent Leslie spiraling, another explosive orgasm tearing through her, leaving her spent and sated and gasping for breath.

  “Oh, goodness,” she said as she fell onto Gabriel’s solid chest. She looked up at him, her mouth relaxing into a tired smile. “You, Mr. Franklin, were definitely worth the wait.”

  Chapter 10

  Leslie burrowed herself deeper under the covers, her body seeking the unfamiliar warmth coming from the other side of the bed. It felt so good...yet...so...strange.

  Her eyes popped open.

  Her body stiffened. She wasn’t alone.

  For the first time in nearly two years, someone who wasn’t Kristi during a thunderstorm was sharing her bed.

  Leslie stared at the ornate chest of drawers that had been in this room since Braylon’s parents had bought this house thirty years ago. As her eyes traced over the intricate carvings along the mahogany dresser’s Queen Anne legs, she concentrated on controlling the numerous emotions rioting back and forth in her brain.

  This wasn’t a bad thing. It wasn’t something she should be ashamed of. She was a young, healthy, normal woman. She should be able to enjoy spending the night with a man and not feeling as if her entire world would cave in on her in the morning. But that was exactly how she felt, as if the walls surrounding her would crumble at any second.

  “Hey, are you awake?” Gabriel’s groggy voice came from just over her shoulder.

  Leslie went rigid, but after a few seconds forced herself to relax. She didn’t want him to sense her anxiety over what they’d done last night. She didn’t want to explain to him that none of what she was feeling right now was his fault.

  “I am,” she said.

  Leslie felt his unbelievably soft lips on the center of her back. Her body warred with the urge to both flinch and liquefy with need. He had done so much for her last night. He’d reminded her of all the wonderful sensations she was capable of experiencing. The way he’d taken his time and worshipped her body was enough to make her melt this very second.

  “I hate the thought of leaving you in bed like this,” he said, moving his lips to her bare shoulder. “But I promised Tristan I’d help him out this morning. The high school band is preparing for the state competition.”

  “That’s okay,” Leslie said. “Shayla will be bringing the girls over soon anyway.”

  “Ah, yeah. That would be awkward. I’m not sure we’re ready to explain this thing to Cassidy yet, are we?”

  Leslie pushed out a breath. “Not just yet,” she said. “Give me just a minute, then I’ll let you have the bathroom.”

  She rose from the bed, trying her hardest not to feel self-conscious as she walked her naked body into the bathroom and grabbed the robe from behind the door. Her hands fell still as she fingered Braylon’s threadbare robe. The flimsy blue cotton was practically useless. She’d started wearing it during his first tour of duty, and even though he’d bought her several robes over the years, Leslie had never been able to make herself give up this one.

  She could not bring herself to wear Braylon’s robe while entertaining another man.

  She pulled the one he’d bought her several Christmases ago from the bathroom closet. Leslie tried to quell the nausea building in her belly as she threaded her arms through the satin robe and tied the sash tight at her waist.

  When she exited the bathroom Gabriel was standing on the other side of the bed, his pants on but unzipped.

  “Oh, I’m sorry,” Leslie said.

  He looked up at her, his brow cocked in an amused expression. “It would be a little late for me to be modest, wouldn’t it?”

  Her cheeks heated as she shook her head. “I guess so.” Her voice cracked on the last word.

  Gabriel tilted his head to the side, his steady gaze roaming over her face. “Leslie, is something wrong?”

  She watched him as he slid his arms through the sleeves of his shirt and pulled it over his head.

  “No, nothing,” she lied. “Do you...uh...do you want some coffee?”

  He came to where she stood and wrapped his arms around her waist, lacing his fingers at the small of her back. “I wish I could stay for coffee, but I should have been at the high school ten minutes ago. I’m going to run over to my place to shower and change.”

  He dipped his head, captured her lips in a slow, deep kiss. Leslie tried to enjoy it, but just before her eyes would have fallen closed, she glanced at the nightstand and saw the picture of Braylon in his uniform. The sickening feeling that had been threatening to overtake her flooded her gut.

  She pulled her head back and pushed at Gabriel’s chest.

  “I need you to go,” she said, her voice hoarse, her throat suddenly aching.

  The disappointment that immediately clouded Gabriel’s face was too much for her to handle right now.

  He took a step forward. She stepped back.

  “Come on, Leslie, don’t do this,” he said, reaching for her.

  Leslie sidestepped him and walked swiftly out of the room, heading for the kitchen. She had the door opened by the time Gabriel made it to the room.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I just can’t deal with...with this right now. I need some time. Please just leave.”

  “Leslie.” Her name came out on a painful sigh. “Let me help you through this. We can talk it out, but you can’t push me away.”

  He reached for her again, but she twisted away from his touch.

  “Gabriel, please,” she said much louder than she’d intended.

  His hands fell to his sides. The look on his face was one of pure agony. But she couldn’t be concerned with his pain right now. Not when her own was threatening to suffocate her.

  Without another word he grabbed his keys from the table and walked out. He stopped on the second step and turned back to look at her. The heartbreak in his eyes stole the breath from her lungs. Time stood still as their gazes locked across the mere feet that separated them. It could have very well been miles.

  Gabriel shook his head, shoved his hands into his pockets and continued down the steps, never once looking back as he got into his car and backed out of the driveway.

  The minute Leslie closed the door, she dropped her head against it and tears started to stream down her face.

  “Damn you, Braylon,” she choked ou
t. Then, with enough force to shake the walls, she screamed, “Damn you!”

  She tore out of the kitchen, ran to the bedroom and grabbed the photograph from her nightstand.

  “Look what you did to me!” she yelled at her dead husband’s face. “Look what I’ve become! A damn coward who’s too afraid to let a good man love me.

  “Damn you!” she screamed again and hurled the picture at the wall.

  The crash of the glass resonated through the room as it broke into pieces. Leslie crumbled onto the hardwood floor and rolled into a ball, her body racked with sobs. She folded her arms over her stomach and cried until she had nothing left.

  * * *

  “Dude? What the hell?”

  Gabe looked over his shoulder and spotted Tristan standing on the other side of the chain-link fence. Ignoring him, Gabe dribbled the basketball a couple of times before taking a shot. He missed. Again.

  “Is this what you call helping me? Practicing your weak-ass jump shot?”

  “Not the time,” Gabe said as he set up for another shot. The ball rolled around the rim before falling...on the outside of the net.

  Dammit. But based on the rest of his morning, that was par for the course.

  He shot the ball up again, banging it hard off the backboard and right into Tristan’s hands.

  “You want to give that to me?” Gabe asked.

  “Nah,” Tristan said, tucking the ball under his arm. He nodded toward Gabe’s chest. “You run out of clean basketball gear?”

  Gabe looked down at his clothes. His once crisply ironed white shirt was now wrinkled and damp from the sweat he’d worked up running around on the basketball court for the past hour, and dancing the salsa at the Blue Nile last night. His pants weren’t in much better shape, and he didn’t want to think about the beating his shoes had taken on the unforgiving asphalt.

  “Look, I’m sorry I never showed up to help out with the band. I’ve got a lot on my mind. Can you just give me my ball and let me hang out here alone for a while?”

  “How long have you known me?” Tristan asked.

  Gabe didn’t answer. It wasn’t as if Tristan needed one.