Design for Love ((Women of Landry's Landing and The Fabrizio men) (4 page)

“
I’ve never treated you like you were stupid, but as for playing games, I think you’ve become a master at that London.” He said as he narrowed his gaze at her.

“
I’m I supposed to know what you’re talking about? What games have I been playing that you seem to think that I’ve mastered?” She asked in confusion.

“
Let’s put it this way I know you’ve been hiding something and sooner or later it will come out whether you want it to or not. You should know that secrets have a way of revealing themselves.” Gabe said softly as he stared at her, watching as a look of worry and unease cross her face. However, as quickly as the look had appeared, it disappeared as she masked her emotions behind a curtain of sarcasm.

“
Whatever, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m done with this conversation. I need a shower and some sleep so I’m going home.” She said as she turned and hurried away before he could stop her this time.

“
You can run for now dolcezza, but eventually you will get caught.” He yelled at her as she dashed through the door.

Chapter Three

London stood in the shower under the steamy hot spray of water as she replayed his kiss in her head repeatedly. She’d waited for that moment for so long and how dare, he kiss her like that after sending Barbie home. She could still feel his warm, soft lips against hers, and his taste was embedded on her tongue. When he’d slipped his muscular arms around her waist, a sweet sensation had coursed through her wanton body. It was a sensation that she’d felt all the way to her toes.

London shook her head gently to clear thought of his kiss from her mind, but as soon as she did she could hear Gabe’s words echoing in her head. How had he figured out that she was hiding something? Did he know the life she’d left behind in New York? No there was no way he could know about that.

She’d worked extra hard to keep that part of her life away from the people she loved. Gabe had to be just fishing when he pretended to know that she was hiding something. Nevertheless, she’d have to be careful, the last thing she needed was a lecture from her nosy sisters or her brother-in-laws either for that matter.

Gabe paced back and forth in his room trying to figure out why London was playing games with him. He was sure that she had feelings for him that’s why she’d gotten so jealous when she thought the Barbara was his date. However, if that’s the case. Why did he hear her telling that Toni guy that she loves him? And why did she seem so worried when he mentioned that he knew she was hiding something.

The look that crossed her face was more than worry. She was downright nervous almost fearful. Now he was more determined than ever to find out what it was that she was trying to hide. Maybe she was in trouble, and if she was he’d do everything in his power to help her.

Gabe wasn’t sure why he’d kissed her the way he had earlier, gazing at London standing in front him, looking angry and sexy as hell. He just had to taste her lips and now that he has. One small sample was not enough. He wanted more, no he needed more and the next time he wasn’t so sure he could stop with just her lips.

He was so ready to have all of her delectably, curvaceous body beneath his or above his hell, she could even wrap hers around his. Frankly, he didn’t care how she wanted to do it at this point he was down for whatever as long as she ended up in his bed, he was more than ready.

Gabe didn’t care what he had to do in order to get her into his bed, but he certainly intended to find out. If that meant he’d have to find out what it was that she was hiding than he would. He just needed to figure out where to start.

In the meantime, he needed to get something straight with her about that comment she made about neither of them being men. Gabe stopped pacing across the floor of his room and slowly moved over to the door of the bathroom he shared with London. She’d been in the shower for almost an hour it usually only took her about twenty minutes to shower, she must really be mad at him.

Well, if she was already mad at him how much madder could she get if he walked into the bathroom while she in there? Uh, there’s a good way to find out, he thought to himself as he placed his hand on the door knob and tested to see if it was locked. Luckily, for him, she’d forgotten to lock the door that connected his room to the bathroom.

Gabe slipped inside and quietly eased the door shut behind. Thankful for the fact that the glass surrounding the shower was frosted, she couldn’t see that he’d entered. Besides London was too busy singing ‘
Lonely without You’ by Keri Hilson
to notice if someone had entered the bathroom or not.

Gabe smiled when she began singing the hook on key never missing a beat. He had no idea she could sing so well, he closed his eyes and allowed the sound of her sultry, smooth voice wash over his heated skin. He shivered slightly as the sound of her voice did wild things to his body.

It took him a moment to realize that the water had stopped running in the shower even as she continued to sing. When she cracked open the shower door to reach out for a towel from the rack, Gabe grabbed the towel first holding it out of her reach as he took a couple of steps back.

London suddenly realized that her towel wasn’t where she’d left it and abruptly stopped singing as she pushed the shower door open further. She was stunned to see Gabe standing in front of her holding her towel. He was wearing a strange expression on his face and all she was wearing was the water that was dripping from her very wet body, since he was holding her towel.

“
Are you looking for this?” Gabe asked as he held her towel open for her, inviting her with his jester to step close so that he could wrap the material around her.

“
Actually I’m looking for an explanation on why in the hell you’re in this bathroom while I’m taking a shower?” London replied.

“
I don’t see the problem, aren’t you the one that said I’m not a man?” Gabe said as he let his gaze roam over her glistening, wet, mocha flesh. Her full voluptuous breasts made his mouth water as he imagined one of them between his lips. His eyes traveled down over her slim waist before taking in the slight flare of her curvaceous hips. He loved the fact that she had a nice round ass he just wanted to squeeze every time he saw it.

Gabe had fantasized about seeing her like this since the day he’d met her. He’d tried to play it cool by not letting his feelings for her get the better of him. Yeah that had worked out really well for him. Each of his brothers had captured the heart of their Landry woman, and he hadn’t even come close yet.

He intended to change all that starting tonight he’d make certain that he was the only man she’d be thinking about henceforth until eternity.

Gabe stood there gazing at her dripping wet body fighting hard against the temptation of dropping to his knees in front of her. He wanted to spread her legs and feast on her sweet nectar until she begged for mercy.

London reached out to snatch the towel from his hand, but he quickly moved it away then smiled deviously.

“
You know damn well that I was mad when I said that. Now stop playing around and give me my damn towel, Gabe.” London yelled.

“
If you want it, come get it.” Gabe teased as he draped it around his neck.

“
You did notice that I’m standing here butt naked and dripping wet didn't you?” She said.

“
Oh yeah, I noticed and the view from, here is spectacular.” He said licking his lips as he let his gaze roam over her once again.

“
Look Gabriele you need to stop playing.” She said as she tried unsuccessfully to grab the towel as he gently batted her hand away.

“
Actually I think I’m just getting started and be warned I plan to play for keeps, dolcezza He said

“
What in the hell has gotten into you? And that’s the second time you’ve called me that. Are you insulting me in Italian?” She asked as she narrowed her gaze at him.

“
No, I most certainly am not, and nothing has gotten into me. It's more like what I’m trying to get into?” He said teasingly.

London cleared her throat loudly. “Have you been drinking? If so that would explain you talking like this maybe you should hand me my towel, then go to bed and sleep it off.”

“
I haven’t been drinking tonight. I just finally realized that the only way to get what I want, is to do what I’ve always done and fight for it.” He said seriously.

“
What is it that you want, to see me butt naked and soaking wet?” She asked curiously.

“
Among other things but I’d say this is a good start wouldn’t you.” He replied with a smirk.

London let her mouth gape open as she gazed at him in surprise before shaking her head slightly. “Look here you little freak, give me my towel and go take your crazy ass to bed.”

“
I told you all you have to do is come get it. What’s the matter are you scared of what might happen if you come to me?” He asked as one of his eye brows arched towards his hairline.

She sighed loudly. “Please, I am not scared of you. I just don’t feel like playing this game with you tonight. So will you just leave me alone?”

“
There’s only one way to get me to leave. Would you like to know what that is?” He asked softly.

“
Fine tell me what it is.” She said sounding annoyed.

“
Kiss me and I’ll go away for now.” He told her.

“
Are you kidding me, didn’t I kiss you earlier tonight?” She asked in frustration.

“
No, I kissed you earlier. I want you to kiss me this time.”

“
If I kiss you, then you’ll go away?” She asked.

“
Yes, for now and don’t even think about giving me a peck on the cheek or a quick smooch on the lips. I want you to kiss me like you mean it.” He said to make sure she knew he wouldn’t allow her to get away with either of those things.

London narrowed her gaze at him when he smiled at her because he’d figured out what she was planning to do before she did it. She closed the distance between them stopping inches in front of him. She reached up and fisted her hands on each end of the towel he’d draped around his neck and pulled him towards her.

Tilting her head to the side she slanted her mouth over his as she dragged her tongue across the seam of his lips. Gabe instantly parted for her entry as she deepened the kiss. He didn’t think he’d ever be able to get enough of her kisses, and he could hardly wait to have a taste of the rest of her.

She leaned into him soaking his front as her body pressed against his. Gabe palmed her ass drawing her closer as they continued to kiss. A moan escaped from her throat and rumbled through his body seconds later she could feel his erection pressing into her stomach.

London really didn’t want to stop kissing him, but if she didn’t end it right now they’d be doing a lot more than kissing. She slowly brought the kiss to an end, but before she stepped back, she smiled.

“
I think I should warn you that if we keep kissing like that one of us could get addicted.” She whispered.

“
I think it’s too late for that, because I already am.” He said as pulled the towel from around his neck and handed it to her. “Here’s your towel, as I promised.”

“
Thanks, and you might want to get out of those wet clothes and into bed it’s getting late.” She said as she wrapped the towel around herself.

Gabe smiled as he watched her cover herself with the towel. “That sounds like a great idea. I think I will. Good night, dolcezza.” He said before leaving her alone in the bathroom.

“
Aren’t you going to tell me what that means?” She yelled after him.

“
I will, but not tonight.” He said over his shoulder as he closed the door.

Once Gabe was in his room once again he took off his wet clothes and slipped on a pair of pajama bottoms since he’d taken a shower earlier. Now he planned to do just what London had told him to do. He was going to get into bed, and since she didn’t say whose bed he should be in, he was going to hers.

He grabbed his cell phone from the bedside table and a box of condoms, just in case she didn’t throw him out of her bed. Since he could hear that London was still in the bathroom, he used the balcony door to get into her room. Placing the box of condoms and his cell phone on the night stand next to hers, he turned off the light and slid between the cover to get comfortable.

London came out of the bathroom and into her room, she blinked at the darkness. “I could have sworn that I left a light on in here. I guess it doesn’t matter, I’m going to bed anyway.” She mumbled as she crossed the room to her closet and pulled on a short night gown.

She’d brushed her short China girl cut back away from her face and scrubbed her face clean removing all her makeup. She’d applied moisturizer to her skin and sprayed herself with a light fragrance. Now she just wanted to climb between the sheets and dream about Gabe like she did every time she closed her eyes.

London had thought she’d fall through the floor when he asked her to kiss him. He’d really caught her off guard with some of the things he’d been saying to her. At times, it had been hard to tell if he was being serious, or if he was playing games with her.

All she’d wanted since meeting, him was to have him as her own, to go to bed with him beside her and to wake up in his arms as he kissed her good morning. She knew that he wasn’t really interested in her, but it didn’t hurt to dream, so that’s what she did every day and night.