The First Time is the Sweetest (10 page)

“Hello, Sabrina?” the phone squawked, making her jump.

“Hey, Dad,” she answered, wincing as she brought the phone up to her ear. “Dad, you don’t have to talk so loud, I can hear you just fine.” She could hear water rushing in the background. “Something happened and I need to talk to you.” She held the phone slightly away from her ear as she tried to listen yet still protect her hearing.

“Something happened? What do you mean? Hang on, I’m going to go inside. I can’t hear you.” Sabrina waited as the noise receded. “Okay, Sabrina, can you hear me better now?” he asked.

“Yeah, Dad. Are you somewhere private?” Sabrina didn’t want to talk about this until he couldn’t be overheard. Gabriel nodded at her approvingly.

“Yes, I’m in my cabin, actually.”

“Really?” she asked. “That was quick.”

“I was on the small public veranda just off the hallway to the cabin,” he explained. “Now, what’s going on, Sabrina? Are you okay? Jimmy’s still there, right?”

“Yes, Jimmy’s here and I’m fine, but something has happened and the FBI is here.”

“What? The FBI?” Sabrina heard her dad’s voice tighten with concern. Jimmy gestured to her, and she handed the phone over.

“Jonathan, I’m going to put us on speakerphone, hang on.” Jimmy pushed a few buttons and placed the phone on the table between them. “All set. This morning and then again this afternoon, someone shot at us.”

“What!” Sabrina heard her dad exclaim.

“Sabrina’s okay, don’t worry,” Jimmy soothed. “One of your charity cases involved helping a woman and her young daughter get away from this drug dealer a few months ago, right?”

“Yes, that’s probably Melissa. Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s fine,” Jimmy answered, seeing Gabriel’s nod of agreement at the name. “Anyway, her ex went postal and wants to punish you and thinks the best way to do it is to hurt Sabrina. He didn’t know I was here, and even now we’re not sure if he knows I’m here. Even so, he probably just thinks I’m Sabrina’s boyfriend.”

“Why would he think you’re her boyfriend?” her dad asked, and Sabrina winced, then chuckled as Jimmy squeezed her shoulders and smiled.

“Uh, probably because he saw us kissing at the bistro, Dad,” she replied nervously. There was silence on the phone for a second and then her dad laughed.

“You kissed Jimmy? I knew you had a crush on him when you were thirteen but I thought you were over that!” Sabrina heard the smile in his voice, despite the grim news.

“Oh, God,” she moaned under her breath, mortified, as Gabriel looked at her sympathetically.

“Anyway,” her dad continued, “I approve. You’re twenty-one and Jimmy’s a great guy.” Sabrina buried her head in her hands. She was never going to get over the embarrassment! Gabriel laughed as Jimmy sat there grinning. She wanted to die and the two of them thought it was funny!

“Dad!” she whined, hoping he would drop the subject.

“What?” He chuckled innocently. “Okay, so you’re dating. What about the FBI? And did they catch Miltos? Did I hear someone else there with you?” her dad asked after a moment, all teasing gone.

“No, they didn’t catch him yet,” Jimmy said. Gabriel motioned to them, and Jimmy nodded to him to take over.

“Mr. Birch?” Gabriel said into the phone. “I’m Special Agent Gabriel Oliver with the FBI. I’m staying with Jimmy and your daughter as twenty-four-hour protection while my partner tracks down the shooter with the local police. We’ve been following this guy for two years, and we’re hoping that this sudden public appearance will help flush him into our hands. I assure you, we will be taking every precaution to keep Sabrina safe.” Sabrina looked at him and smiled. He quirked one of his full lips up as her dad responded.

“Sabrina, if you want me to come home, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

She rushed to reassure him. “Dad, no, I’ll be okay. Jimmy took care of me today and if you come home, Gabriel says the shooter will just hide until you go away again. I want to get this over with, and they already have a plan to track him down.”

“Are you sure? That sounds like they want to use you as bait,” her dad said, sounding wary. “Jimmy, seriously, if this situation is too dangerous, I don’t care what the FBI thinks is the best thing to do, I’m going to haul Sabrina out of there… ”

Jimmy shook his head. “No, Jonathan, wait, do you trust me?”

After a long pause her dad responded. “Yes, of course I do, Jimmy. I know where you’ve been the past few years, the kind of dangerous situations you’ve found yourself in. I trust you.”

Sabrina watched as Jimmy rubbed his free hand over his eyes, touched. “I know it seems really dangerous, but the house is actually very safe, given the way the windows are placed,” he explained. “And I know Gabriel. He’s a friend of mine and I trust him. Between the two of us, we can keep Sabrina safe.”

“And it’s not like I’m a kid anymore, either, you know,” Sabrina inserted. “I’m moving out in the fall. I need to learn how to take care of myself.”

“Honey, there’s moving into an apartment and then there’s getting shot at!” her father exclaimed. “Those are two completely different things!”

“I know, I know, but I’ll be okay. And frankly, I don’t think it would be a good idea to give this guy two more targets. Agent Oliver said he’s most likely coming after me because I’m under your protection. That’s how these guys think. If you come back, he’ll have more people to shoot at and the FBI will have an even harder time protecting us.”

Gabriel nodded as she explained this, and she smiled at him gratefully.

“Okay, Sabrina,” her dad conceded. “Just, be careful, okay? I love you very much.”

“I will, Dad. I love you, too.”

Jimmy flipped the phone shut, ending the call. She sighed tiredly. She knew it was only eight o’clock but it felt like midnight, and she slumped in her seat as the two men continued to talk, making plans and detailing escape routes. Sabrina leaned against Gabriel, letting the rumble of their voices soothe her. She smelled the warmth of their bodies, Jimmy a little minty from the gum he liked to chew and the cinnamon spiciness of Gabriel’s aftershave. The two scents mingled,
like the most perfect dessert ever
, she thought sleepily as they continued to talk. The conversation with her father after the events of the day had taken its toll on her, and she drifted off to sleep in the kitchen
.

Chapter 5

Sabrina woke when she felt herself being lifted into someone’s arms. She heard the murmur of low male voices but couldn’t tell which of them was carrying her until the scent of cinnamon wafted past her nose. To her surprise she realized it was Gabriel. She yawned and opened her eyes. His blue eyes smiled down at her, the corners crinkled as she blinked at him. His heart beat reassuringly against her cheek.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” he said quietly. She saw Jimmy smiling down at her from over Gabriel’s shoulder.

“Hey.” Sabrina thought that he must be very strong in order to carry her so easily. Still, she didn’t want him to drop her so she didn’t struggle when he started up the stairs to her room.

Jimmy followed close behind so she tucked her head back into Gabriel’s chest and closed her eyes sleepily, but the climbing motion woke her by the time he reached the top of the stairs. When they got to her room, Jimmy pushed the door open and flicked her bedside light on low. Gabriel carried her inside. When he bent over to put her on her bed, she hung onto his neck, keeping him close. He looked at her quizzically until she leaned up and kissed him softly on the lips. Sabrina clung to him, enjoying his warmth.
I must be more exhausted than I thought
, she mused tiredly, relishing the kiss she stole as she sank into the soft comfort of her bed.

Gabriel froze then pulled gently away. Sabrina let go of his shoulders and he straightened, sitting on the bed. She watched him touch his lips with the fingers of his free hand. What was she doing, kissing him like that? She surprised herself, but he didn’t seem to mind. On the contrary, she watched as the heat in his eyes grew.

“Thanks for taking care of me, Gabriel,” Sabrina murmured, holding his hand while she stretched.
Might as well go for it
, she decided when he didn’t protest. Her skirt hiked up her thighs and from the corner of her eye, she saw Jimmy stare. She felt languorous and naughty as she watched the two men watching her. A familiar heat slid through her as she looked them over in the low light. Jimmy was aroused, not even trying to hide the bulge at his groin. Gabriel tried to be more circumspect, sitting angled away from her so she couldn’t see. He was too late. She’d already noticed how much he appreciated the view. She smiled and held her free arm out to Jimmy, thinking,
Huh, this seems to be working…

“Good night, Jimmy,” she whispered as he moved closer.

Gabriel made to shift away, but she held onto his hand, making sure Jimmy’s arm and hip settled against Gabriel as Jimmy sat down. Sabrina yawned, hoping that Gabriel would go along with her plans. Jimmy, however, knew her too well. He smirked at her as he leaned close, face hidden from Gabriel. For a moment she thought he’d torment her for teasing them, but then he capitulated and kissed her. She gasped and licked his lower lip as he slanted his mouth across her, but he just nipped at her before drawing back slightly.

“What are you playing at, Sabrina?” he whispered in her ear.

She winked and he moved away slowly, looking flushed and gorgeous. Sabrina knew he was surprised she was so comfortable with Gabriel, but any reservations she had were dispelled with the easy way the man carried her up the stairs. He seemed so protective and kind yet sexy at the same time. She knew it was selfish but she wanted them both. And she wanted them to have each other, too. In her near-unconscious state this seemed perfectly reasonable.

She released Gabriel’s hand and watched as he tried to hide his thickening arousal by shifting and shoving a hand in his pocket when he stood up. Again, Jimmy didn’t even try to hide. He just stood there looking at her, then at Gabriel with frustrated desire and a hint of amusement. Then Gabriel laughed and pulled his hand out of his pocket, catching on to their antics. He smiled at Sabrina and turned to Jimmy.

“Don’t I get a good night kiss, too?” Gabriel asked. Sabrina inhaled softly, not expecting him to give in so soon.
Of course
, she reasoned,
if he was going to pretend to be Jimmy’s friend, sort of undercover, he would have to know that Jimmy is bisexual
. It wasn’t a secret, after all. Everyone who knew them in town knew his orientation. Certainly Gabriel could play the part of straight friend, but it would be much more convincing if he were bi, too. Most of Jimmy’s friends were very liberal and joked around about their sexuality. She’d actually become very comfortable with the idea over the years just from peeking in on him next door when she was younger and watching them trading good-natured insults.

Jimmy angled his body toward Gabriel, his face tightening. She watched his lovely cock press against his jeans and wondered how long he could go like this without getting any relief.
All those interruptions must be driving him mad
, she thought, when suddenly Jimmy leaned closer to Gabriel, sliding a hand over the other man’s cheek. He paused for a second, seeming to savor the sensation of Gabriel’s skin under his palm; then he tilted his head slightly to the left.

“All right,” he whispered and fitted his mouth to Gabriel’s.

Sabrina sucked in a breath at the heat that rose between the two men as they kissed. She could see everything from where she lay on the bed, so she relaxed and enjoyed watching the soft pull of Jimmy’s lips against Gabriel’s, his gasp as Gabriel opened his mouth wider, letting Jimmy inside. Both men groaned as Jimmy’s tongue slipped in. When Gabriel brought his hands up and around Jimmy’s body, she squirmed on the bed and touched her lips, feeling bereft. Sure, she’d just kissed them both, but her kisses were pecks in comparison to this blistering show. She wondered what Gabriel tasted like. She hadn’t the nerve to slip him tongue when she kissed him, and watched as he devoured Jimmy’s mouth. When the two men finally broke apart, breathing heavily, she sighed, feeling her arousal flare deeper. She crossed her legs, staring at the two men above her as they stepped apart. Jimmy looked down, almost guiltily, but it was Gabriel who looked the most shell-shocked as he struggled for air.

“I’m sorry,” Jimmy said, looking back at Gabriel.

“No, it’s…okay,” the other man replied, looking completely mussed and totally delicious. Sabrina lay quietly on the bed, replaying that scorching kiss in her mind over and over. She wanted to see them touch each other again, but instead they moved apart as Jimmy shook his head and ran his hands through his hair.

“I don’t know what came over me,” he offered finally, sighing and glancing at the bed.

“No, don’t apologize. I wanted to kiss you,” Gabriel said decisively, looking at Jimmy. Both men looked wrecked. They were aroused, disheveled, and incredibly desirable. Sabrina watched Gabriel stand there, hands twitching. He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, she could tell he’d decided something and inhaled in surprise as he suddenly turned back toward the bed.

Jimmy stood there, saying nothing as Gabriel sat down, rolling Sabrina’s body into his as the mattress sagged slightly from his weight. To her surprise, he began stroking her hair absently as he spoke.