Steele Hearts Redemption (14 page)

I knew, having heard from everyone in my
family, ever since Ally moved to New York she and Tyler spend a lot
of time together whenever he saw it fit to visit. I appreciated her
friendship with him, knowing it was another person who loved her
and looked out for her but at this moment I was definitely not
appreciating how long their hug lasted.

“So what, no love for your most handsome
brother?”

I asked stepping towards them and gently
removing Ally from his arms.

“Handsome my ass,” he replied, grabbing me in
a hug, just as big as Ally’s. “I’m the baby and have always been
the cutest, thereby making me the most handsome as an adult.”

Marianna laughed behind us.

“Whatever,” I replied, knowing I was actually
the good-looking brother, “so what brings you to L.A. little
brother?”

“Heading back to Colorado in about a week so
I thought I’d stop by, catch some waves and check up on the new
couple,” he said with a grim. I groaned. “Gotta start my new book,
not all of us makes a living like you do with your ugly mug,” he
laughed.

Going back to Colorado meant he was going to
hole up in his cabin for months and write without a thought for the
outside world. Although it was not his intent, but it was times
like this the family worried most about him because when he got
caught up in his writing the world around him ceased to exist. We
all took turns visiting him to make sure he was eating and
otherwise healthy but other than a few grunts of thank yous we were
left on our own. The only person whom he tolerated was mom and
would stop working for a day to just sit and relax with her. Tyler
was a closed book. He was brilliant but he had demons none of us
knew off but when he needed us we rallied around him as he poured
his soul into his books.

“It’s good to have you here Ty. I’ll make
sure my schedule is cleared so I’m all yours while you’re here,” I
said pulling him in a little tighter into me.

He grunted before pulling out of my embrace
and resumed devouring what was left on his plate. Ally and I sat
down and looked on with humor in our eyes as he cleaned every last
crumb off his plate. When he ate, Tyler ate enough for five people
in one sitting. How he burned it off was a mystery to us all
because he was built like a brick house. He finally looked up and
took his time perusing both Ally and I. I saw the mischief in his
eyes and knew what was coming. His gaze fixated on Ally as he
stroked his chin, looking as though he was pondering the mysteries
of the universe. He cleared his throat.

“So Ally, seeing that I’m the first to have a
sitdown with you after you’ve been having your wicked ways with my
brother, it’s only fitting I have this conversation with you.”

I groaned as Ally turned a bright shade of
red. She covered her face with her hands and I glared at Tyler
hoping he’d shut up.

“So Ally, now that you’ve had your wicked
ways with my brother, what are your intentions? Do you have
feeeeeelings for him?” he asked stressing on the word feelings,
“Are you going to ask for his hand in marriage or do you intend to
continue having your wicked way with him?”

I heard Marianna gasp and saw the gentle
heaving of Ally’s shoulders. I swear if Tyler made her cry, as much
as I loved him, I was going to kick his ass so hard he’d go home
battered and bruised, crying to mom.

Ally slowly removed her hands from her face
and I looked her over for any telltale signs of tears. Instead I
was met with a huge grim across her gorgeous mouth.

“Tyler Daniel Steele, do you honestly think
you could pull that crap on me. I know both of you did the same
thing to Tess,” she said pointing at both Ty and I, “ As for your
question, yes I’m going to continue having my wicked way with your
brother because he loves it.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and I thought
I was in a parallel universe where everyone behaved like kids but
for just a second I held my breath wondering if she’d answer his
question about her feelings. Tyler howled with laughter before
reaching over and kissing her on the cheek.

“Love you kid,” he said before jumping up and
attacking the fridge.

Marianna, the ever present motherhen nudged
him out of the way before extracting the triple layer chocolate
lovers chocolate cake she made specially for me and cut him a
generous helping.

“Hey that’s mine you little runt,” I yelled
at him.

Ignoring me he returned to the table and in
between mouthfuls of my delicious chocolate cake he asked,

“So what’s the plan for tomorrow kids?”

We spent the rest of the evening with Jonah
and Marianna and eventually having Dell and Cane join us, eating
and talking about any and everything. Hours later Jonah left for a
hot date with his girlfriend and Marianna, Dell and Cane retired
for the evening. Ally, Ty and I headed out on the deck where we
continued the evening. Sometime later I looked down at the watch at
my wrist and saw it was after one in the morning. Ally was curled
up at my side sound asleep. I gently picked her up and motioned to
Ty I was going to put her to bed but promised to return soon. I
quietly returned, catching my brother in an unguarded moment. He
had a distant, longing look in his eyes as he stared into the vast
darkness in front of him. Sensing me next to him he quickly veiled
his unguarded eyes and smiled at me. I sat down next to him and
quietly said,

“You know I’m always here for you little
brother, anytime you want to talk.”

This was one of those times I missed Jake.
Jake was our oldest brother who died in a car crash together with
his wife and unborn child. It was a tragedy my family never got
over. When Jake was alive he kept us four brothers close,
instilling in us the value of being brothers. Anyone of us could go
to him for brotherly advise and come out feeling better than we did
before. Connor, Ty and I have grown closer since Jake’s death but
we still missed his wisdom. In the pale light I saw Ty’s nod before
he said yes.

“You love her don’t you Gabe,” he stated.

“Yeah I do. Never though I ever could love
any woman that way but Ally….she’s under my skin. I want to spend
my lifetime with her, protecting, loving her, letting her know
she’s the most important thing in my life.” I broke off into
silence before continuing,

“She was fired from her job you know.”

Tyler looked at me, a stunned expression on
his face.

“Yeah, her bosses found out she was using
government resources to track down Tess and the evidence of all of
Alexis’s wrongdoings, she obtained illegally. I’m ashamed to admit
this Ty, but I’m relieved she’s no longer with the FBI. I saw the
way she handled herself with the my stalker situation and she was
very professional and handled herself in such a way she impressed
both Dell and Cane but every time I think of her being in a
dangerous situation my heart races. I know it’s selfish of me but I
want to be the one protecting her, I want to be the one keeping her
safe at nights. I know her job or lack thereof is her greatest
cause of stress right now but I’m glad they let her go.” I stopped
and took a deep breath.

“It’s all she knows Gabe, taking care of
everyone around her, protecting them, it’s imbedded in her” Ty said
quietly.

“I know, but I’m hoping in time she can let
got of all of that and let me take care of her.”

It’s what I wished for everyday since I’ve
been with her.

Chapter 17

“I officially hate surfing,” Ally declared as
she sat back with a huff, a pout on her gorgeous mouth, her arms
folded in front of her.

I chuckled softly, earning me a jab in the
gut as the four other men in the car tried their best to look
sympathetic to her plight and not smile. To say that the morning
was a little entertaining would be an understatement. Tyler wanted
to have a morning of surfing so with Jonah, who never missed an
opportunity to hit the waves and Cane and Dell, who thought it was
a good opportunity as any to try surfing for the first time, we all
headed down to the cove with the best waves.

Jonah, the more experienced surfer amongst
us, stayed with Ally and I as she tried getting the hang of
standing on the board. After an hour or so she had swallowed more
water than all of us combined. It was hilarious watching her try to
keep her balance. For someone who had advance training from the FBI
I honestly thought it would have been easy for her to pick up the
basics of surfing, but all the training in the world could not help
her keep her balance on the board for more than fifteen seconds.
Even Jonah who was extremely patient, eventually gave up and swam
out to join Tyler, Cane and Dell, who took to the waves like duck
to water.

“Baby, why don’t you give it a rest for now.
We’ll come back again for you to try,” I pleaded indulgently,
hoping she’d say yes so I could go out with the boys.

Wiping the water from her face as she tried
fighting the waves from pushing her over she glared at me.

“I’m not giving up until I stay on for at
least sixty seconds so quit complaining and help me up again.”

With a smile plastered to my face I did,
again and again.

“Okay you know what, why don’t you go and
join the boys. I think I’m getting the hang of it now so I’ll be
fine,” she finally said.

Hoping it wasn’t some sort of female test I
did the obligated,

“Are you sure babe?”

“I don’t mind staying with you babe”,

before pressing a quick kiss to her lips and
swimming away towards the boys as fast as I could. Their lips
twitched with laughter.

“Not one word,” I warned as I settled on my
board waiting for the next big wave.

We all looked at her, struggling to get on
her board and attempting to stand up for more than fifteen seconds
before getting slammed by a very small wave.

“I honestly didn’t think there wasn’t
anything she couldn’t do, but now I know better,” Tyler said as she
faceplanted into the water.

“Hey at least she’s trying,” Jonah said,
“more than my girlfriend ever did. She lives near the beach but
hates it.”

“When am I going to meet this mystery girl
Jonah?” I asked.

“Soon, I hope. She’s shy and the thought of
meeting you is quite intimidating for her, but she’s coming around.
Hopefully she’ll accept my invitation to the house soon and you
guys could meet her.”

Tyler patted him on the back and said, “As
long as she’s good to you, Marianna and all of us are going to like
her.”

“Shit, she’s doing it!” Dell exclaimed.

We all turned to look at what he was watching
and there was Ally standing on her board.

“How long?” I asked quietly.

“Thirty-three seconds and counting,” he
replied, keeping time on his waterproof watch.

She really was doing it. She kept her balance
and rode the small wave that carried her. As if sensing our eyes on
her she turned her head and with a huge grin on her face she lifted
her hand to wave, her whole body rocking in excitement. Just as
Jonah groaned “Don’t….” she fell, splat, in the water. Forgetting
the wave I was waiting for I swam back to her, smiling as her head
bobbed in the water. Her smile was contagious as she threw her arms
around.

“Did you see me? Did you see me?” she asked,
giddy with excitement.

“I sure did,” I replied, “You stayed on for
one minute and seven seconds. Dell timed you.”

“I can’t believe it. I did it. I’m going
again.”

Unfortunately the second victory eluded her
hence the pout as we headed on home.

**********

By the time we got back to the house after
stopping off for a lazy lunch everyone pleaded exhaustion and
retreated to their own corners of the house. I headed off to the
study to call Tess and after a gigglefest like teenagers as I
updated her on my relationship with Gabe and Tyler’s visit I made
my way to the bedroom. The sight of Gabe, sprawled out naked on the
bed and the look of hunger in his eyes told me his plea of
exhaustion was his excuse to get me into bed. Didn’t the man know
by now he didn’t need excuses to get me naked and in bed with him?
One touch from him had me as hungry for him as he was for me.

“Took you long enough,” he said, his
smoldering eyes, fixated one me.

It took me mere seconds to rip off my clothes
before gliding onto the bed and top of him. My hand reached between
us and grasped his already hard and erect cock. His deep moan told
me he waited long enough as he reached up and grabbed my head,
pulling it down to him. His lips captured mine as I stroked his
cock and from the pulsing I felt in my hand I knew it was taking
all the control he had not to explode in my hand. Taking pity on
him I broke the kiss and sat up, positioning his cock at the core
of me. Rising slightly I came down on him, feeling immense pleasure
as he filled me. I rode him, long and hard before I felt him giving
in to the control he held on to. Tightening my muscles around him I
finally allowed myself to fall, freely into the abyss of pleasure
as the world around us exploded.

I opened my eyes and stretched. The soreness
of my muscles made me groan and I turned, looking for Gabe. He
wasn’t in bed so I slowly eased my tired body out of bed and headed
into the bathroom, hoping a long, hot shower would ease my
soreness. As the hot water poured down my body reality began
creeping in. I loved the time I was spending with Gabe and would
always cherish it but I needed to do something more with my life. A
lot of women would kill to be Gabe’s girlfriend and be content with
that but I wasn’t one of them. I loved him , without a doubt, but
I, in all honesty couldn’t just sit by and only be the movie star’s
girlfriend. I needed to work. It was part of who I am and being in
L.A. wasn’t exactly conducive to me working, even though Gabe paid
me handsomely for the work I did with his stalker. Chicago was out
of the question, I couldn’t see myself going back now that Tess was
in my life, which meant I had to leave for New York soon if I
wanted my life back on track. All the contacts I made were in New
York and even though I may never be a part of the FBI again maybe
someone I knew could recommend me to the NYPD or a high-end
security company. Either way “To protect and serve” was all I knew
so those were my limited choices. As soon as I got my answers
concerning Alexis I would sit Gabe down and tell him of my
decisions, until then I would continue to enjoy every moment I had
with him.