Do You Take This Enemy? (14 page)

He twirled her around and pulled her close. “Let's go, okay?”

“Sure,” she answered, her blue eyes changing as she inhaled. It took all his willpower to keep from kissing her right then. He led her off the dance floor and waited while she picked up her purse, and then they walked silently out of the club. As soon as they drove away, he glanced at her.

“We can head right back to the ranch. What I'd rather do is get a hotel room—”

“A hotel room?” she asked with amusement. “We have a home.”

“I want some time with you all to myself,” he said in a husky voice. “Just a few hours. Lou is staying the night and I'd like to get out where we won't get interrupted for hours.”

Her pulse drummed. “Whatever you want is fine with me.”

He caught her hand to brush a kiss across her knuckles and turned the car to head into town. He wanted her with a need that made him feel he would explode into a million pieces if he didn't get her into his arms in the next few minutes.

He slowed, pulled over and parked on the side of the road. While she waited, Gabe retrieved his cell phone,
called information and soon found a hotel with a vacancy. Twenty minutes later they entered a suite on the top floor of an elegant hotel on the river. Gabe shed his coat and tie, tossing them on a chair, unbuttoning his snowy shirt. While he opened and poured wine, Ashley stood looking at the view. Only a light from the bathroom was on in their suite, and she looked out at sparkling lights reflected in the rippling, dark river.

Then Gabe was standing in front of her, offering her a glass of wine. She took it and raised it. “Here's to our marriage. May it be long and oh, so happy, Gabe.”

Without taking his gaze from her, he touched her glass with his and then sipped. He set down his glass and took hers to set it on a table beside his.

“I've waited forever,” he whispered, pulling her to him to kiss her hard and long, bending over her until she was moaning softly, the sound caught in her throat. She returned his kisses wildly, letting her feelings for him show in her response. He was strong, so handsome, and she was in love with him, wanting him to want her and love her, hoping that was what was happening.

His hand combed through her hair, sending the pins flying until her black locks fell freely over her shoulders. Ashley pushed away his shirt, running her hands over his muscled shoulders and across his smooth, bare back.

Still kissing her, he picked her up and carried her to a sofa where he sat down with her on his lap, leaning over her and cradling her head against his shoulder. His hand caressed her, sliding down across her breasts, down to slide beneath her skirt and peel away her stockings and pumps.

Winding her fingers in his hair, she kissed him passionately, their tongues tangled, escalating her desire.

She didn't know how much later he stood, still kissing her. He trailed kisses from her mouth to her throat, turning her to lift her hair and kiss her nape while his fingers tugged the zipper of her dress down and it fell away.

Love for her tall, handsome husband made her tremble.
He was sexy, romantic and irresistible. Ashley turned to face him and he placed his hands on her hips, leaning away to look at her while he stroked her breasts lightly. She inhaled, quivering, wanting to reach for him, yet unable to move as his dark eyes devoured her. She stood in wisps of lace.

“Saints alive, you're beautiful,” he said, his hands caressing her and then unfastening the clasp to her bra and slipping it off. His large, dark hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs stroking her nipples so lightly. She moaned with pleasure, closing her eyes and momentarily clinging to his arms. She ran her hands over his thick muscles, his hard chest, trailing her fingers to his waistband to unbuckle and remove his belt and then unfasten his slacks.

Yanking off his boots, he tossed them down and stepped out of his slacks.

She inhaled, trembling, reaching out to slide her hands over his narrow waist, slipping her fingers beneath the waistband of his briefs and sliding them down to free him.

Gabe shook as she knelt and stroked him, kissing him slowly. He groaned, pulling her to her feet while he kissed her hard. He knew that any control he had was fast vanishing. And he remembered the resolutions he had made during the week.

With another groan, he released her and stepped back, yanking up her dress from the floor and dropping it over her head. He scooped up his clothes and headed for the shower, thinking that he had to get distance between them.

“Gabe?”

“I made a promise to you,” he said with his back to her. “Ashley, I intend to keep it. Tomorrow I don't want you to think I fast-talked you into something you didn't want—”

She was against him, pressing her softness against his backside, her arms sliding around him, touching him intimately. “Gabe, I know what I want,” she said quietly. His
heart thudded violently, and he clenched his fists, turning to her.

“I want you with every ounce of my being,” he said, grinding out the words. “But a promise is a promise.”

“Gabe, are you hearing me? I know what I want.”

“You've told me you wanted to go slowly. I can do that.” Why was he arguing with her? Yet the words
fast-talking hustler
kept resounding in his memory and that wasn't what he wanted her to think about him in the light of day. “If you still want to make love, we can tomorrow night or next Saturday night, but you didn't walk into this hotel room wanting that. It's called seduction, lady. I want you to like me in the morning.”

He turned and hurried to the bathroom and closed the door, swearing and wondering if he had just been the biggest fool. “You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't,” he told himself. Had he hurt her or made her feel rejected? Or would she be glad in the morning? If they had made love would she hate him when the sun came over the horizon and reality set in? To himself, he had sworn that he would take time to court her. Tormented by questions that held no answers, he stepped into the shower and turned on the cold water full-force. The cold gave him a jolt, but it didn't cool his desire or his seething thoughts. Was she back there in the other room crying because he had said no?

Ashley stood in the dark, staring through the bedroom at the closed bathroom door while his questions and statements ran through her thoughts. Would she feel the same in the light of day?

She loved him and wanted him, and he obviously cared more about her every day. And tonight, whether he recognized it or not, he had acted like a man in love. He was trying to do what he had promised, and she admired him for that, but she knew her own feelings and she was ready to consummate this marriage that with every passing hour was becoming more real.

“Gabriel Brant, this is one decision that's going to be taken out of your hands,” she whispered and stepped out of her dress as she hurried through the darkened bedroom. She heard the gushing shower before she opened the bathroom door.

T
hrough the almost opaque shower door she could see the blurred image of his naked body as he showered. She smiled and walked with determination to the shower, yanking open the door.

He looked around, his brows arching.

“I remember being invited to shower with you,” she said, not caring that water was spilling out. Icy water splashed over her. “Turn on some warm water, Gabe!”

He stared at her, his eyes round with so much surprise, she almost laughed. Her gaze went over him and flew back to his. “Doesn't look as if that cold water is cooling you down one bit. Are you going to let me in with you or not?”

His surprise was gone. He inhaled and turned on warm water along with the cold as he stepped back and slipped his arm around her waist. “You had your chance. Don't ever say I didn't try to keep my promise.”

“I won't,” she said, running her hands across his chest,
leaning forward to kiss him, feeling his flesh, still cool from the freezing shower he had been taking.

“Damn, woman, my intentions were honorable,” he said, hauling her tightly against him while he kissed her hungrily. As her heart thudded, she wrapped her arms around him, both of them getting drenched, yet all she could feel was his body, warming fast.

“Mine aren't,” she said. “I want you, Gabe. I love you.”

He kissed her long and hard, holding her close with one hand while the other slid over her wet, naked skin. Then he stepped back, cupping her breasts in each hand. He leaned forward to take a nipple in his mouth. His tongue was hot, teasing her and she closed her eyes, clinging to his strong shoulders.

Gabe couldn't believe she was here, in his arms. Never in his life had he been as surprised as when she had opened the shower door. Yet she always had seemed to know exactly what she wanted.

He had done what he should have. He had given her the chance to stop and go home. If this is what she wanted, then he could let go.
“I love you.”
He heard her words and knew he should say them in return, yet he didn't.

Rational thought stopped as she closed her warm hand around his thick shaft, stroking him and causing him almost to lose control. He wanted to take her here in the shower, but he also wanted this first time to be slow and special. He turned off the water, stepped out of the shower and yanked a towel from the rack to hand it to her. Retrieving one for himself, he dried her, moving it lightly, slowly, teasing her with it until she tossed hers aside and hugged him.

He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. Light spilled into the room from the bathroom, yet the room was still shadowy. He set her on her feet and grabbed the covers off the bed, yanking them down, and then he turned to her to cup her breasts again, leaning down to kiss her. “I want
to love you all night long, to make this last until you're falling apart in my arms. I want to kiss every inch of you, know every inch of you.”

Ashley closed her eyes, trembling, caressing him as he kissed her breasts, and then he lifted her to the bed and moved to her foot to do what he had said, taking her foot in his hand and kissing her ankle, moving higher, slowly trailing hot, wet kisses that made her writhe with longing. Reaching for him, she sat up, but he pushed her gently down. “Just let me love you.”

She inhaled, watching him as he watched her, his kisses going higher, his hands a magic torment. He moved to the inside of her thighs, caressing her and then trailing slow kisses, gradually moving up to her breasts. She did come up off the bed then, winding her arms around him with a soft cry.

“I want you, and I want to kiss you like you're kissing me,” she whispered, pushing him down. She caressed him, discovering the scar on his calf, another on his thigh, her hands sliding over him while she kissed him until he groaned and shifted, suddenly turning her onto her back and moving above her, his hand caressing her thighs and then moving between her legs.

His dark eyes blazed with passion as he leaned down to kiss her while he stroked her. She gasped before his mouth covered hers and then she clung to him, arching against his hand. She tore her mouth from his, trying to move. “Gabe, I want you!”

“Shh, let me love you. I want you to want me more than this.”

“I couldn't,” she ground out the words, knowing in a minute all arguments would be impossible. Then she was lost, rocking against him, kissing him wildly while her hands flew over him.

“Gabe!” she cried. She wanted them to be one. “Come here,” she whispered. “Now—”

He moved between her legs. He was fully aroused, ready
for her, masculine, so handsome. She ached for him, wrapping her legs around him and pulling him to her.

Gabe eased down, and the velvet tip of his shaft touched her, moving lightly against her, an exquisite torment. She pulled him closer, her hands cupping his hard buttocks. “Gabe, please,” she whispered.

Sweat poured off his body as he moved slowly, entering her and then withdrawing slightly while she gasped and arched beneath him again.

“I want you to want this more than anything,” he whispered and then leaned over her to kiss her as he slowly entered her again. Driven to a mindless urgency, she moved beneath him.

He slowly filled her and they moved together and still Gabe tried to hold back, to last as long as possible for her—and then his control was gone.

“Gabe, love!”

“Ah, Ashley,” he whispered.

Ashley was swept away in passion until release burst within her, and she felt his hard thrust and then he slowed. Their pounding hearts beat in unison and she held him tightly, feeling his weight on her and wishing she could hold him this way forever. She knew that tonight her life had changed totally. And she knew she was deeply in love with her husband.

His smooth back was damp with a sheen of sweat, and she stroked him as he showered light kisses on her face and then raised slightly to look down at her. Their gazes met and the warmth in his dark eyes made her breath catch. She tightened her arms around him as he leaned down to kiss her long and hard, a kiss that affirmed that what had happened between them was special.

“Ahh, darlin',” he said, and rolled over on his side, taking her with him as he lay facing her. He stroked damp locks of hair from her face. “You're beautiful and wonderful and I'm a very lucky man,” he whispered.

Ashley thrilled to his words, her heart beating fast as her
hands trailed over him. She couldn't get enough of touching him. She ran her finger lightly over his lips. He caught her finger in his teeth gently, then took her hand to kiss her palm, his tongue stroking her sensitive skin.

“We're good together, aren't we?” he asked quietly.

“I think so, Gabe.”

He lay on his back and pulled her close. “I never expected this, but then I never expected a lot of things that have happened in my life.”

“To say the least, I didn't expect to marry when I came home. I'm still surprised constantly,” she said, leaning over him, her dark hair spilling over his chest.

He played with locks of her hair. “It's so damned good,” he said in a husky voice. “Come here and we'll get another shower.”

She laughed as he stood and picked her up and in minutes they were soaping each other and then in a short time they were back in bed as Gabe made love to her again.

It was far into the early hours of the morning when she rolled on her side to study him as he lay sleeping. She shook him lightly, and he was instantly awake, wrapping his arm around her to pull her down to kiss her.

After a few minutes she pushed against his bare chest, moving her fingers lightly across him. “I hated to wake you, but we should go home.”

Gazing back at her solemnly, he sat up. “I don't want to, but I will.”

She slipped out of bed and began gathering her clothes. She glanced over her shoulder at him to find him still sitting in bed watching her.

“I could look at you forever, Ashley.”

She could feel the heat flush her cheeks as she blushed. She turned to hold her dress in front of her. “I'm glad.”

He slid off the bed and crossed to her, shoving away the dress. His hands were on her hips as he looked at her slowly and thoroughly. Her mouth went dry and she inhaled, trying to get her breath.

“Gabe—”

He pulled her into his arms to kiss her. She wound her arms around his neck and returned his kisses, wanting him as badly as she had in the night, but she knew they needed to get back to the ranch, so she pushed against his chest again. “Gabe, we have to go.”

“Let's shower.”

“No way. I'll shower by myself and you shower alone. We need to get back to the ranch.”

She left him, and within the hour they were on the highway, headed home. Gabe pressed her hand on his thigh and she felt a closeness with him that she hadn't known before. At the same time, a shyness about him gripped her because she still didn't know what was in his heart.

They talked about the ranch, about Julian, about Ella, but Ashley kept wondering about them. How much would their lives change now?

When they moved down the hall, Gabe went into her bedroom with her and closed the door behind him. They stood in moonlight as he leaned against the door and pulled her to him.

“Gabe—”

“I'll just be here a minute. I wanted to ask you to come stay with me. Move into my bedroom, Ashley,” he said.

She drew a deep breath. “I will,” she answered, “but I think I'd like to break the news first that we'll be husband and wife and the business arrangement has changed. I'd like to tell Dad instead of just coming out of your room in a few hours.”

“Whatever you want,” Gabe said. “Only do it soon.”

“After all the flowers you've sent and our dates, I don't think Dad will be surprised.”

“Nope, he won't. 'Night, darlin'.” Gabe kissed her long and hard, pulling her tightly against him, tugging up her dress to slide his hand over her bottom and against her bare back.

“Ashley, you can't imagine how much I want you,” he
whispered. He left quietly, closing the door behind him and she leaned against it, wanting to go with him tonight, to spend the next hours in his arms, to love again.

She moved to the window to look at the ranch that had brought her this marriage. She loved Julian and she loved Gabe. And she thought Gabe was beginning to love her. She knew Julian did.

“I love you, Gabriel Brant,” she whispered. “I want you to love me in return.”

When she climbed into bed later, she lay in the dark, thinking about the night, about Gabe's lovemaking. She longed to be in his bed, in his arms. She hoped he was as awake as she was, wanting her there as much as she wanted to be with him.

Later, when Gabe stayed with the napping children, Ashley strolled toward the corral where she could see her father working with a horse.

She perched on the fence to watch him and when he was finished, she walked around with him to water and groom the horse.

“Dad, I wanted to tell you that I'm moving in with Gabe.”

Her father looked around, his eyes narrowing as he studied her, and a blush heated her cheeks.

“Are you in love with him?”

She nodded. “Yes, I am.”

Quinn nodded. “Then that's good.” He put down the brush and turned to hug her lightly. He stepped back with his hands on her shoulders. “I hope both of you are very happy. A good marriage is a wonderful thing. I'm not surprised, honey.”

“I didn't think you would be. The flowers are a giveaway.”

“Yeah, that and Gabe is getting a little absentminded. His thoughts are elsewhere.”

“Oh, my,” she said, surprised.

Quinn smiled and turned back to grooming the sorrel.

She stood talking to her father for the next few minutes and then returned to the house, her thoughts on Gabe. She went to his room, stepping inside and looking around, moving idly around the room. Since he had moved in, bringing his own bedroom furniture, she had been in his room a couple of times, but not often. She had been in there enough to notice now that pictures of his former wife were no longer on display, and she wondered how long ago he had moved them.

“Like what you see?” he asked and she whirled around to see Gabe standing in the doorway.

“I thought you were working on the books.”

“Nope. And your dad has Julian and Ella now.”

Gabe wore a T-shirt, jeans and boots and he looked sexy, too appealing. Unable to resist, she flew across the room into his arms and he caught her up, kissing her hungrily.

“Darlin', I want you more than you can ever know,” he said gruffly, holding her tightly, his gaze sweeping over her face before he kissed her again. His arms were strong and tight around her, and her pulse roared. She wanted him, wanted his kisses, wanted to kiss him in return.

“Gabe, I've told Dad I'm moving in here.”

He looked up at her. “Good. You'll move in tonight, won't you?”

“Yes.” She could feel the sparks jump between them and she longed to stay in his arms, but she knew she should go see about supper and the children. “I'd better go.”

As soon as she left, he gathered up belongings that needed to be moved to make room for her and he mulled over how deep his feelings ran for her. Ranch or no ranch, he wanted her. He was in love with his wife.

His gaze shifted to the bed. She was moving in here tonight. His pulse jumped at the thought, but he wanted more, so much more. And she deserved more.

 

The following weeks were bliss for Ashley who felt incredibly fortunate.

Julian and her father left with her aunt and uncle for Wyoming, so at night she was there with only Ella and Gabe.

It was early December and Ashley was in a dreamworld, cherishing moments together with Gabe and enjoying having the house just to the three of them for a little while. They had given Lou and Mrs. Farrin the week off and Ashley found it easy to manage for just Gabe, Ella and herself.