Breaking Free (Siren Publishing Classic) (6 page)

Later, she sat curled on his lap, contentedly cuddling while they watched the sun set.

He nuzzled her ear as he whispered. “You okay, baby? It wasn’t too much? I didn’t do anything to hurt or upset you, did I?”

Turning, she gazed up into his worried face. Lifting a hand, she traced the strong curve of his jaw, fighting a smile. “Silly man, I trust you completely, and I could never do that if I ever thought there was a chance that you might hurt me. And it’s such a relief to not feel like a freak or have to hide my true desires. You’re my dream man come to life, don’t you know that?”

The relief on his face made her smile, and his words made her shiver.

“I’m glad, pretty lady, because you’re all mine!” he said, pulling her tightly into his embrace. He kissed her long and deep.

Chapter Seven

Gabe’s big bike rumbled to a halt outside her loft as the moon hit its zenith. Snuggled against Gabe sleepily, Danny was still a bit in shock over the evening’s events, and more than a little afraid she was dreaming. She still couldn’t believe she’d truly found the yin to her yang, that Gabe had the same taste and desire. Hugging him tight, she never wanted to let go.

Whispering softly, he slid his hands behind him, stroking the soft curve of her hips. “We’re home, sweetheart.”

“Ummm, damn, that means I have to move, doesn’t it?”

Chuckling he slid off the bike, pulling her with him. “Only a little bit, and admit it, your big bed is awfully comfortable.”

Smiling, she slid her hand in his. It was so hard to believe that she’d only known him a short while. She felt like she’d known him forever, like she’d finally found the part of herself she’d always been missing.

Digging her keys out of her pocket, she glanced up at the loft and stopped cold. “Did you leave the lights on?” she whispered, pointing to the glowing window of her tiny kitchenette.

“Of course not.” He shook his head, following the line of her eyes. “Stay down here, I’m going to go check things out.”

“If you think I’m letting you go up there alone, you’re smoking something, mister!” she replied stubbornly, hands on hips.

“Danny!” he said sternly, glowering at her. “You’ll do what I say!”

“Like hell! I’m not letting you go up there alone, period.” She glowered right back.

Gabe’s glower turned into a full blown scowl, but she wasn’t the least bit intimidated by his blustering or even the threat that came next. “Little girl, you’re trying my patience.”

“Oh shut up, you big oaf, and get out of my way before they rob me blind.” She tried to walk past him, but he snaked an arm out and caught her.

“Okay, but damn it, you’re going to stay behind me. Got it?”

“Aye aye, Captain Bligh!” she retorted with a salute.

“Smart ass,” he grumbled as he climbed the stairs. “So much for submissive, you need a good ass whipping!” His last statement was said with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“Promise?” Danny giggled, despite the situation.

Shooting her a lusty look, Gabe winked before returning to his stealthy ascent. “You can count on it.”

Danny held her breath as he slid the key into the lock and gently pushed the door open a crack. Holding up a hand, Gabe motioned for Danny to stay back as he surveyed the room. He silently nodded Danny forward, pointing.

“Friend?” he mouthed.

As soon as Danny caught sight of the woman sipping coffee, she squealed. “Gloria! Girl, you about scared me to death!” Sweeping past him, she grabbed her friend in a big hug.

“Scared you?” the blonde cried. “Last time I heard from you, you were nursing a hangover and cursing that weasel you used to have the misfortune of associating with, and then nothing, nada! I called, but I swear, you need to move into the next century and get a cell phone or at least an answering machine. I mean come on? I was getting ready to call the police. And who is this, hum?”

Danny just laughed at her friend’s emotional tirade. “Gloria, this is Gabe, my uhm…” She wasn’t sure how to classify Gabe. They’d never really discussed their relationship.

Gabe stepped forward, taking Gloria outstretched hand. “I guess you could say I’m her boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” Gloria asked. Danny watched her friends gaze dart back and forth between them. “Okay, what the hell’s going on?”

Danny grinned. “Why don’t we go sit down, and I’ll catch you up?” She led them into the sitting area, giving a soft squeak as Gabe pulled her down onto his lap.

* * * *

Gabe knew he was acting a bit like a caveman, but he wanted to make certain any of her friends knew where things stood between them. There would be no encouraging her to break up with him just because he was a bit rough around the edges.

Swatting him playfully, she turned to her slack-jawed friend. “Well let me back up a little and start at the beginning.”

“Yes, please, ’cause I’m lost. Last time we talked, you were cursing the entire male population, and he’s definitely male.”

“
Yes, he certainly is,” Danny purred.

“Hey, PDA,” Gloria huffed, rolling her eyes.

Danny laughed. “
Well, you know I’ve always loved motorcycles, so I figured what the heck. It was time for a change, so I went out and bought one. You probably noticed it tucked under the stairs with a cover over it.”

“That’s yours?” Gloria gave her a look of disbelief. “I know you have always been fascinated with motorcycles, but I never dreamed you’d actually buy one.”

“Yep, she’s mine, and she’s a beauty! All shiny electric blue and chrome, and man that sweet little engine flies! It may only be 250cc, but its water cooled and…”

“Stay on topic. Do you even know how to ride a bike?” Gloria interrupted. “Your mother was always so overprotective, she barely let you ride a bicycle. I can’t imagine she ever let you anywhere near a motorcycle.”

“Well, you see, that’s where Gabe comes in. His father owns the bike shop down the street. You know the one with the bikes I’m always drooling over? Anyway, I conned Gabe into teaching me to ride, and well, we just hit it off, and one thing led to another.” She blushed, making Gabe remember what being with him always led to. “Anyway, I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to call you.”

“You mean to tell me that while I’ve been worried sick about you, you’ve been out having sex?” she questioned boldly, apparently too mad to be tactful.

“No,” Danny replied straight-faced. “I’ve been out having incredible sex.”

And it was Gabe’s turn to blush. His little librarian never ceased to amaze him.

“Seriously, I can’t picture you riding a motorcycle. No offense, but you aren’t the most coordinated person in the world,” Gloria commented, the disbelief still plain on her face. “You remember when we went skiing? We were just standing there on a flat section of the resort taking lessons, and boom, over you go, full face-plant. ”

“Hey!” Danny protested. “As I recall, you went down with me.”

Gabe chuckled good-naturedly, enjoying the interplay between the two friends. This was a new side of Danny. “I haven’t noticed anything wrong with Danny’s coordination. In fact I’ve found her quite coordinated.” He added the last, giving Danny a heated look.

“I just bet.” Gloria made a face at them. “So tell me, Danny, is he as good as he thinks he is, or is it just that his ego is as big as he is?”

“Oh you have no idea!”

Heat rose in Gabe’s cheeks, but he loved seeing this side of his plucky librarian.

In the end, Gabe and Gloria
wound
up hitting it off. The two each had an odd, dry sense of humor that Gabe loved.

* * * *

“Let’s take Gloria to that little bar you took me to that first night,” Danny suggested as she and Gabe ate supper a few nights later.

“I don’t know about that. I just took you in there to scare you off. It’s actually a pretty rough place.” Gabe fully remembered how the men there had just about eaten her up with their eyes.

“Yeah, that worked well.” She smirked. “Didn’t scare me off at all, it just made you more exciting than ever. But I’m serious. It was a lot of fun. I love a live band, and she’ll think it’s a blast. Besides, as long as you’re with us, it’s okay if it’s a little rough. Nobody would be stupid enough to mess with my big bad man.”

Gabe chuckled. “I don’t know. If I saw you, I’d take the chance.”

“Please?” She pouted, batting her eyes playfully at him.

“Well, maybe, but it’ll cost you,” he teased.

Raising an eyebrow, she gave him a sultry smile. “Anything your heart desires, baby.” It seemed with him there was nothing she wouldn’t try.

Devious was the only way to describe the look that came over his face as he went to fetch the “gifts” he’d brought her from his saddlebags.

“What is it?” She leaned forward eagerly. The diminutive box seemed innocent enough.

“Finish your supper first, brat.” He smiled blandly as if the box contained nothing in the least bit naughty.

Pouting, Danny gulped down the last few bites of her lo mein and shoved the plate away. “There, I’m done.”

Gabe let out a deep laugh. “You are priceless you know that? Who would have thought that my sweet innocent librarian would turn out to be as big a pervert as I am.”

Smiling, he pushed it toward her.

Danny felt a bit like Pandora opening the box of secrets. At first all she saw was foam packing peanuts, but as she dug, she began to unearth a verity of naughty treats, but the blindfold, flogger, and a mysterious flat black velvet box seemed to jump out at her.

Oh shit!
She silently screamed, not sure she was ready for this. Turning wide eyes back to his, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Standing, Gabe scooped up her and the box before she had too much time to contemplate its contents. He strolled purposefully across the loft. “You are an addiction.”

Laying her on the bed, he began to slowly undress her. “God, you’re beautiful,” he groaned. His clothes went flying as he eagerly leapt onto the bed with her.

Danny laughed at his enthusiasm. “I haven’t agreed to whatever sick plans you have, mister.” But she would. She could deny him nothing. Besides she was thoroughly enjoying her debauchment. The added factor of his new dominant attitude was intoxicating.

“I don’t recall giving you a choice, sweetheart.” He growled as he pinned her to the bed. Before she could protest further, he continued. “I want you to put your hands over your head and keep them there.” He gave her a pleased look when she obeyed. “Good girl. Maybe I won’t have to use the flogger on you after all.” He dipped his head to playfully nip at her hardened nipple. “Then again…” He let his voice trail off as he reached for the blindfold.

Danny chewed her lip as Gabe leaned forward to tie the blindfold over her eyes. Deprived of her sight, Danny’s other senses seemed to explode. She could feel him hovering over her, the scorching heat of his large body, the smell of his sexy cologne. His warm breath traced over her sensitive flesh, raising goose bumps as he slid up her body. She felt the tickle of his thick goatee against her check and shivered as he ran his tongue lightly over the delicate shell of her ear. “Do you remember your safe word?” he questioned softly.

“Y–yes,” she stammered, frightened and eager all at the same time.

“Good, then I don’t want to hear another word out of you.”

“Y...” she started to answer but then caught herself and nodded.

“You are a lush paradise. I could spend forever exploring you.” Gabe lifted the flogger and lightly traced the curvaceous line of her body.

In her sight-deprived state, Danny was acutely aware of his every touch.
The caress of the buttery-soft tines of the flogger in the valley between her shivering breasts caused her pebbled nipples to become impossibly harder.
Letting out a little gasp, she arched toward the teasing touch. His mouth closed over the aroused nub. Gabe grazed her flesh, lightly, loving the soft little noises she made.

She heard the scuff of his boots as he stepped back, and then the swish of the flogger through the air as he raised the leather again. The flogger’s tips brought a restrained giggle from her as he traced the soft curve of her belly. “What was that, brat?” he whispered playfully in her ear. “I know how hard you are fighting to restrain yourself.” She shook her head to say,
nothing.
Gabe chuckled. “Sweetheart, you’re so bad, time for a little punishment, I think.”

* * * *

Danny held her breath, awaiting the flogger’s sting, but when it finally fell on the fleshy outside of her breast, it was really more
like
a hot kiss, just hard enough to touch without actually stinging. Her breath hitched from the shock, but before she could contemplate this, a second blow fell on the opposite breast. The blows began to rain like hot lovers’ kisses across her breasts, down her belly, over the ivory expanse of her thighs. Then she felt his big hands pushing her shaking legs wide and up so her nearly knees rested on her chest and she was splayed wide and open to his ravenous
pursuits
.