The Heartbreaker Series: Books 1-3 (21 page)

What the fuck! He seriously just did that. Well, at least I have my answer for whether he still loves me or not. I flop down on my couch. Defeat washes over me, but then anger. Screw him and his freaking date. I grab my purse and march out to my car. If he’s done with me, then he’s going to tell me to my face. Date or not, I at least deserve the right to speak my piece. I’ll apologize for running, thank him for everything, and walk away with my head held high, at least until I’m back home. Then I can break down, because I’m not going to let him see it happen.

The closer I get to Debauchery, the more and more I think I should just turn around and go home. I don’t think I’m prepared to humiliate myself. If his date is beautiful and thin, I think I will probably die. I pull into the parking lot and it’s packed already. I don’t see Gabe’s car. He probably did valet.

My nude heels click against the pavement as I make my way through the parking lot. There isn’t a line, so I head toward the bouncer with my ID in hand.

“Hey, beautiful.” The bouncer looks me up and down. I smile, shake my head, and hand him my ID. He looks at it and then me. “Have a good night, Jasmine.” His voice drops an octave as he opens the door for me.

I make my way down the hall and the closer I get to the doors, the more I can feel the bass. I rub my hands together as I reach the door and push it open. There are people everywhere, but it’s not as packed as the last time we were here. A wave of sadness washes over me. I guess it makes sense that we’ll end exactly where we began. I glance around the bar, but I don’t see him. I make my way through the crowd as I continue looking for him.

I reach the back of the club and that’s when I spot him. He’s leaning against the bar with a drink in his hand. He looks really good. His hair is pulled back and he’s wearing a black button- up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I start making my way toward him, but that’s when I see her. A tall, reed thin woman comes up to him and wraps her arms around his neck. I feel like I’m going to be sick. It feels like the room starts to spin.

Gabe’s eyes meet mine. He smiles for a second before his face pales. He moves the woman to the side and starts coming toward me. That seems to jar me out of my shocked state. I turn on my heel and start pushing my way through the crowd. Tears clog my eyes as I pick up speed, moving through the crowd. Why did it hurt so much seeing him with that other woman? Of course it’s because I still love the asshole.

I reach the door and run down the hall to the door leading outside. The bouncer is still standing there and there’s a line forming. “Where’s the fire, sugar?”

“There’s a man following me out here. Please don’t let him catch me.” I take off toward the parking lot and can hear my name being called as I reach my car. I climb in, start it, and pull out of the parking lot. I hope he doesn’t follow me. I just don’t think I can face him right now.

Chapter Twenty-One

Gabe

Why the fuck did I think it’d be a good idea to make her jealous? The look on Jasmine’s face when that chick wrapped her arms around me about killed me. What did I expect, though? I played a stupid game and it backfired.

When the valet finally brings me my car, I climb in and race to her place. Luckily, I still have a key. I find her car in her parking spot and make my way to her apartment.

I unlock the door and step inside. I can hear her crying and it breaks my heart. God, I’m such an asshole. She was finally ready to talk and I fucking ruined it. I make my way down the hall and find her curled up in the middle of her bed.

“Go away, Gabe.” Her pillow muffles her voice.

“Why did you come to the club, Jasmine?” I move farther into the room and sit on the bed. “Come on and tell me.”

She sits up in the bed and smacks me in the head with her pillow. “Get out! Go back to your skinny, perfect little skank and leave me the fuck alone.” I move fast and pin her to the mattress.

“Baby, I am not leaving. Why did you come see me? Why did you want to talk?”

There’s a fire in her eyes that turns me on. I continue to hold her until she sighs and relaxes her body. “All I wanted was to tell you I’m sorry for running and to thank you because after what happened the day I left, it finally shook something up inside of me and I realized that I can’t keep running when shit goes bad, that it’s okay to lean on other people.” I can tell by the way she looks at me, vulnerable and small, that it wasn’t easy for her to admit that.

“I’m sorry about what you saw at the club. I wasn’t there on a date. I was there just to have a drink with Nico because he told me I needed to get out of the house. That girl…I don’t even know her name. She was just some drunken chick who thought she was doing a good job flirting with me. I’m sorry I led you to believe I was on a date. I was trying to make you jealous.” I bend down and kiss her lips. God, I’ve missed the taste of her. “Forgive me for being stupid,” I whisper against her lips.

“Only if you forgive me for running.” Her hands slide up my sides until she reaches my hair, pulls the leather band, and releases my hair. My girl loves my hair and I’ve missed her hands in it. I see tears leaking from her eyes.

“Why the tears, baby?” I wipe them away with my thumb.

“I-I thought I lost you.”

She’s breaking my heart. “Never. I love you and that’s not something that’s going to ever change. Trust me, I didn’t want to be apart, but I thought that you needed to figure out things on your own. Do you know how many times I’ve picked up my phone to call you? Promise me you’re never going to run from me again when things get hard because baby, they will and I can’t spend the rest of my life with you worried that you’re going to take off. No matter how much I love you, I just can’t.”

She grabs my face and pulls it down to hers. “I promise not to run and I promise that if I need to, I’ll lean on you for support.” I let her control the kiss and my dick immediately gets hard. She pushes on my shoulders and I let her push me to my back. She climbs on top of me and tucks her head under my chin. “I’ve missed snuggling with you. I slept terribly without you next to me.”

I wrap my arms around her and inhale her scent. I slide my hands up and down her back and it doesn’t take long before her soft snores fill the room. I adjust us, since she’s still on top of me and resting on my hard dick. I hadn’t slept well since she left, but now that she’s back in my arms, it doesn’t take long before I feel my eyes getting heavy.

***

Jasmine

I wake up slowly and last night starts replaying in my mind. I realize that I’m lying on top of Gabe. I snuggle in a little closer. I missed this so much. I kiss under his chin and he begins to move underneath me. He moans as he grinds his hardened cock against me. I slowly inch the skirt of my dress up and settle more on top of him. He slides his hand up the backs of my thighs until he reaches my ass. I look up at him. He’s smiling at me.

“Morning, babe.” His voice is rough and scratchy.

“Good morning.”

He reaches up and pulls my face down to his. He kisses me slowly at first, just a tickle of his lips against mine, until he opens my mouth with his and plunges his tongue into my mouth. Our tongues duel as he slides his hand underneath my panties until he’s cupping my ass cheeks and pulling me snug against his dick. I’ve missed this—the scratchiness of his beard against my skin, his big hands on my body and his beautiful cock.

We kiss for a long time. I think it’s partly due to us wanting to get reacquainted with each other, but I do love kissing this man. He grips my panties and tears them from my body. He reaches down and fingers my wet pussy. He plays my body like the finest instrument as his fingers move in and out of me. He kisses down my neck and nips the sensitive skin. I start slowly riding his finger and feel my orgasm building deep in my belly. He doesn’t stop until I explode, crying out his name.

Seconds later, I sink down onto his cock. I push up on his chest until I’m sitting straight up. We both groan at the feeling of him sinking deeper inside of me. He lifts his hands and pulls my dress down until my breasts pop free. He pushes himself up and wraps his lips around a nipple. With his hands on my hips, he lifts me up and down on his dick. I grab onto his shoulders and start adding a little swivel to my hips.

He reaches my sweet spot and my whole body shudders.

“Oh, my girl loves when I hit her sweet spot. You’re so fucking wet. Are you going to come hard for me?” His voice deepens and he looks hungry.

“Yes.”

I moan as he hits that spot again and again. The only sound that fills my room is the slapping of skin and the wet sound of my pussy. He reaches between us and rubs my clit. I go off like a rocket. My head falls back as I ride him harder and harder. He grips my hips again and hammers into me until his groan vibrates against my skin.

Gabe takes me with him as he collapses back on my bed. I snuggle next to him until I feel something leak out of me.

“Uh, Gabe? You forgot something.”

“Oh shit, I forgot a condom. Damn, baby, I’m sorry. I promise I’m clean and haven’t ever had sex without one.”

“S’okay. I get the shot, so I’m covered. So, if you don’t want to use them anymore, you don’t have to.”

He gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom to grab a washcloth. He cleans me up and then climbs back into bed with me. I snuggle into his side. “Thank you,” I say.

“For what, baby?”

“For not giving up on me. For loving me.” I kiss his cheek. “I love you, Gabe.”

He squeezes me tight. “I love you too. You have my heart, babe.”

I smile. “You have mine too.”

Things are finally starting to look up. With Gabe by my side, I know things are going to be okay.

***

Two Months Later

The past two months have been amazing. Shortly after Gabe and I patched things up, he asked me to move in with him. It seemed so natural to live together. Most of my furniture was donated and the rest we found spots for in his house, or as he told me to call it, our house.

Things with Jordan and I have been slowly getting better. I’ve been trying very hard to not mother him. They never caught the guys who jumped him. At least he seems to be doing better. I think he may be dating again, but he doesn’t talk about it and I have learned just not to ask. One of these days, things will go back to normal between us, or at least I hope they will.

My relationship with my dad is still a work in progress. We try to get together at least once a week to talk. I’ve spent time with my half-brother and he’s a super sweet kid. He’s very smart and quick-witted. He reminds me so much of Jordan, it’s uncanny. They’ve had Gabe, Jordan, and me over for cookouts a lot.

The only part of my life that still feels unsettled is my career. I never went back to my job as a social worker. Learning it wasn’t what I truly wanted to do with my life was a hard pill to swallow. I’ve done a little modeling just for the income, which Gabe keeps telling me not to worry about, but I don’t want to feel like a moocher. I’ve done a lot of baking and cooking up new cake recipes. Between Facebook and word-of-mouth, I’ve started taking small orders for cupcakes and cakes. Gabe’s got the perfect kitchen for baking.

I straighten my shirt and jean skirt as we wait for everyone to arrive. We’re having everyone over for a cookout tonight and I’m a little nervous. Jordan and I have talked to Mom and she’s coming to meet everyone. Gabe’s parents are in town. Our dad and his family are coming as well. I’m really nervous about how she’s going to react to Dad, but it needs to happen and I’d rather it be here than somewhere public.

I find Gabe in his office, on his computer. He smiles at me as I come to him. He pushes his chair out and I climb onto his lap. I kiss his lips and snuggle up to him.

“Are you nervous?” he asks me.

“Of course I am. I know Mom doesn’t remember him, but what if when she sees him it all comes back?” I know the chances of that happening are slim to none, but stranger things have happened.

I wish Jill was able to come, but she’s on bed rest. At least she sounded better than the last time I talked to her. Her mom and dad are over at Jill’s house now, visiting, but should be here soon.

“It’s going to be just fine, babe. Don’t worry.”

“I know. I can’t help it. I’m just freaking out a little.”

He moves to sit me on his desk and then begins the arduous task of getting me to forget.

***

I help carry drinks out to Gabe’s mom, dad, and stepdad. Gabe looks so much like his father. The man is intimidating, but very sweet. I’m surprised how well he gets along with Rich, but really, Rich is the type of guy you can’t help but like. My dad seems to be hitting it off with everyone as well.

I sit at the table with Nicole and Gloria and sip my white wine as I nervously watch the door. Jordan texted me ten minutes ago that he was getting our mom in the car and they’d be here shortly. Nicole touches my arm. She smiles warmly at me when I look at her.

“It’s going to be okay.”

“I know. It’s just been a long time coming, I guess. Are you sure you’re okay with this? I know it’s got to be a little awkward for you.”

Nicole’s been great about this whole thing. I keep waiting for her to drop the sugary sweet act, but it’s not happening because she really is a sweet person.

“Honey, I am totally fine with this. I know how much Mike loved her and I know a part of him always will. Don’t worry about me, okay? Oh, here comes your brother now.”

I get up from the table to hug my mom. She looks a little nervous as she takes in all of the people standing around. I loop my arm through hers and lead her to Gabe and my dad. “Mom, there’s some people I think you should meet.”

“Okay, but I’m scared. What if they don’t like me?” She starts chewing on her fingernails.

“They’re going to like you just fine. Just be yourself.”

Gabe turns to us and Mike follows suit.

“Marie,” my dad whispers. The look on his face makes my chest ache. He walks up to her and she blushes as she looks up at him.

“Hi. Who are you?”

“Mom, this is Mike,” I say. “You guys used to be married. He’s our dad.”

She looks up at him in awe. “I used to dream about you. Jordy looks just like you,” she tells him.

“We made some beautiful kids. Is it okay if I hug you?” My dad’s eyes are looking glassy. I’m sure this has got to be an emotional situation for him.

My mom nods her head. Tears fill my eyes as my dad wraps his arms around her. She is so tiny next to him. My dad whispers something to my mom and she nods her head. Gabe comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

“I told you not to worry,” he whispers in my ear. He kisses my cheek and goes back to the grill.

I watch my dad lead Mom to Nicole and Jacob to introduce them. It doesn’t take long to realize I have nothing to worry about. Everyone treats Mom well and she seems to be soaking up the attention she’s getting. She sits down next to Nicole and I watch her fidget in her seat, but that’s not unusual since she’s always got to be moving.

When dinner’s done, Gloria, Nicole, and my mom help me carry dishes in and help get the kitchen cleaned up. We head back outside to sit for a bit before it’s dessert time. The men are all sitting around the table, talking, when we sit down to join them.

Gabe stands up and grabs his beer. “Real quick, I just wanted to say something. I’m so happy that we were all able to get together today and that the parents were all able to meet each other.” He sets his beer down and gets on his knee right in front of me. I hear delighted squeals and claps, but all I can focus on is the man right in front of me. “Baby, I love you very much. I know we’ve only been together for a short time, but I know you’re the one for me. You’re my best friend, my other half, and the mother of our future children. You own my heart. Please do me the honor of becoming my wife.”