Song for the chapter: You Should Probably Leave ~ Chris Stapleton

*Mature content warning*

GABRIEL

"What the hell are you doing, man?" Elliot raises his eyebrows high, they almost disappear under his hair falling over his face.

Running my hand over my jaw, I can't stop picturing Vanessa sitting cozy with Eli. The urge to go back inside the bar to pick her up over my shoulder and take her home with me is overwhelming.

The red, figure-hugging dress with the zipper front, she is wearing tonight is practically screaming for my hands to trail over her curves.

"I'm not feeling it tonight. I think I'm still having some lingering shit from the allergic reaction." I lie and glance at the two women talking with their heads close together.

"Bullshit. Toss that coin of yours and let fate decide." Elliot demands.

I laugh. "Nah, you know I only use that for special occasions."

"You're not going to get another shot with Sheyanne."

Sheyanne, the shorter one of the cute brunette twins we doubled with, would definitely be someone I wouldn't think twice about going home with, and maybe if Vanessa hadn't shown up that very well would have been tonight's outcome, but now it's the furthest thing from my mind.

"Alright, your loss man. I've always wanted to try out twins." He wiggles his thick eyebrows at me. Chuckling, I shove him and say my goodbyes to the women. They whine and call out to me to come back but I keep walking, heading for home.

When I walk through my door my head is a bit clearer. I don't know what the hell I was thinking when I suggested that proposition to Vanessa. A moment of weakness...insanity, really.

My mind is made up when I step out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my hips and begin brushing my teeth as I pep talk myself.

It's for the best. You don't do relationships. Even if it's short term.

I shut the water off, straining to listen when I think I hear a knock. Grabbing my phone from my dresser I check the time.

11:30 p.m.

It wouldn't be unlike Elliot to bring the girls here. The doorbell rings throughout the condo.

"I'm coming!"

Ready to go off on Elliot, my response gets stuck in my throat finding Vanessa standing at my door in that damn dress with those killer heels. She takes a deep breath in and lets her gaze travel over me, reminding me of my current indisposition.

"Are you going to invite me in? Or...are you not alone?"

I step back, opening the door wider. She brushes past me, my eyes snap shut, realizing I'm already fucked when the tiniest of contact between us feels so electric. Closing the door, I follow behind her, entranced by the hypnotic sway of her gorgeous ass.

Shaking my head, I focus on the fact that she's here.

"I'm surprised you remembered where to find me."

Her eyes roam around the room, setting her purse on the counter. "Your address was saved on my Uber app," she tells me.

"And you're here because...?"

"Do you have anything to drink?"

Exhaling, I grab a glass and a bottle of gin. I slide her the glass after pouring her a drink. She picks it up and starts chugging it, catching some of the liquid spilling down her chin and sets it down with a heavy thud.

My eyes narrow, observing her nervous fidgeting. "Did something happen with Eli?"

"No. He's great...wonderful. A really good guy. I kissed him." She shares, making me wish I hadn't asked in the first place. "But we want different things."

My brain hits the mental brakes with a screeching halt. There's no denying the hesitation, maybe even fear in her eyes, but there's something else.

"And what is it you want?"

Vanessa rolls her eyes. "You know what I want."

Holy shit. A cocky grin spreads on my face as I cross my arms. "Let's pretend I don't know."

"Don't be an ass."

"I'm not being an ass. If this is going to work, communication is key, dollface." I lean back against the counter.

She takes a deep breath in and exhales. A determined look comes over her face and she walks around the counter to stand in front of me. "Fine, I'll communicate." She reaches behind her hair and pulls the clip holding her hair up, it tumbles down over her shoulders.

"Undress me." She demands.

Fuck. Okay, this is happening. Her eyes stay on mine as I begin to tug the zipper down the front of her dress.

Red lace covers the swell of her full breasts and her smooth light olive skin glows under the kitchen lighting. I pull at the sleeves of the dress and then push the dress down over her curvy hips, hooking the bands of her red panties, gliding them down with the dress. She steps out the garments pooled at her feet, in her black heels.

It takes everything in me not to pull her toward me and kiss her. But I want to make sure she really wants to do this and I have no problem having her take charge. Struggling to keep my breathing under control, she approaches with a sultry smile on her face. Her fingers skim up my arms, over my shoulders and then back down, laying flat over my chest.

She leans against me, whispering into the shell of my ear. "Your heart's pounding." Her teeth graze my earlobe eliciting a low groan from the back of my throat. My hand finds its way to her neck, feeling her erratic pulse against my palm, my thumb brushes over her pouty lips.

"So is yours, sweetheart."

Slanting in to take her lips, she pulls back before we make contact. Her eyes flicker between mine. "No strings, but as long as we're in this...arrangement, no third parties. Agreed?"

"I don't like sharing anyway." My hands pull her face toward mine and I crash my lips to hers. The kiss is needy, aggressive and messy. And I can't get enough. Our bodies shift together in sync, every angle and line matching up. There's no mistaking she feels the solid twitch response against her, causing her to murmur against my lips.

Her arms wrap around my shoulders then my head as she deepens the kiss. My hands drag lazily down the curves of her warm, soft body. I work the clasp of her red lace bra, discarding it quickly, not wasting time to feel her bare skin against mine.

"Take it off." My gruff demand against her neck earns a sensual moan from Vanessa as her fingers trail down my stomach and she releases the towel around my hips. I lift her into my arms not bothering to make it to the bedroom, instead laying her over the large island in the kitchen, kissing and nibbling her sweet skin; hot and warm like honey.

Taking one of her dusty brown hardened peaks into my mouth, her back arches away from the counter with a gasp. Her fingers rake into my hair pulling as my tongue circles and laps her nipples. I take my time feeding into the hunger I've felt for her since the first time I had her.

I make it my personal mission to find all the magical spots on her beautiful body that drive her mad, that make her cry out in pleasure and each one is better than the last. Her soft moans are my music to my ears. My fingers find her warm, slick and ready, but I'm not giving in just yet; her body's already trembling.

Vanessa bites her lip to hold in her cries when I stroke her and then slide two fingers inside of her while my thumb circles her bud of nerves. "Let me hear you, baby." My name passes through her lips in a shuddering whisper.

"Again."

Hearing my name coming from her mouth is dangerously addictive. Curling my fingers inside, her eyes snap open before she cries out my name, followed by deep gasps as she comes apart, soaking my hand. Her sounds like a siren call pull me toward her and I dive in between her legs. She clamps her strong thighs on my head, but that only encourages me as I feast on her. I groan against her when she pulls my hair and my hands glide up her body and I grab a hold of her full breasts, kneading, pulling and pinching.

Like a starving man, I consume everything she gives me. "Gabriel, please."

My mouth makes its way back up her satin smooth body and I crawl over her. Reaching for her purse, she digs through it with one hand and then holds out an aluminum packet for me. She spreads her legs, watching me and I hover over her again. I cup her face with my hand and capture her lips, swallowing her moans as I tease her entrance.

My head falls on her shoulder as I sink into her. Holding her against me as her body bows into mine, but it's not close enough. I can barely manage to breathe as her warmth envelops around me. She lifts my head, her mouth finding mine and we begin moving in sync.

Her nails dig into my back, leaving thrills of pain mixing with the pleasure. She kisses, nibbles my neck, shoulders and chest. Vanessa gives as much as she takes. She lifts her hips meeting me with each thrust. "Yes!" She chants as we rock to the edge of ecstasy and then fall into oblivion.

"That was..."

"Amazing, mind-blowing, the best sex of your life?" I offer, laying next to Vanessa on the counter, both still breathing heavily.

She turns her head, face gorgeously flushed. "I was going to say, just what I needed. Self-servicing doesn't quite always do it, you know?" I laugh at her wide eyes. "I said that out loud, didn't I?" She lifts her arm to cover her face. "I swear I'm not some sex-deprived person or nymphomaniac for that matter."

"Well, fuck. Way to crush a man's dreams." I tease and she laughs. Leaning up on my elbow, I hold her face pressing my lips to hers. Sensing the hesitation I pull back.

"I've gotta go." She begins sitting up, forcing me to move further away from her.

"What? It's late." I scramble to dispose of the condom, and rush to my room to get some clothes on, surprised at the impressive rate she's getting dressed. A part of me wonders if this is how quickly she moved while I was passed out.

When I step out of the hall, struggling to shove my arm through the sleeve of my t-shirt, she's already at the door, hopping on one leg, slipping her other heel on.

"It's not a big deal if you stay. I'll take the couch. I'd feel better knowing you're safe here."

"I'm a big girl, and can take care of myself. Plus, you know that's not how this works, pretty boy," she sighs, pulling her phone out of her purse.

"Are you hungry? I can make something to eat." Internally groaning at how pathetic I sound, damn near begging.

"No, thanks. I'll see ya." Her hand reaches for the door knob.

"How is this going to work exactly? Are we just on each other's favorite's list when we want a quick fuck?" My jaw clenches at the sudden anger that comes over me.

Vanessa lets out a breathy chuckle. "Aw, come on, Gabriel." She saunters back toward me, and brushes her lips lightly over mine. "Don't sell yourself short like that. I meant what I said, no third parties. And yes, I suppose, if it's within reason, we can reach out whenever we need...a fix."

"So, you're saying you're addicted to me already?"

Her laugh is light and seems to relax her.

"Goodnight, Gabriel." And with that she leaves almost as quickly as she came.