Gabriel, page 14
Vanna was responsive and a quick study, and I couldn’t get enough of the little noises she made whenever I touched her. I lightly nipped her shoulder before stepping back. “Get on the bed.”
She obeyed on wobbly legs, lying down on the mattress. She watched me undress with hungry eyes, my movements jerky. I climbed on the mattress, resting in between her legs, fisting the sheet to regain the control I’d seemed to slowly lose my hold on. My mouth took hers in a deep kiss, and everything around us ceased to exist.
I’d made fun of Liam when he found Quinn. Couldn’t understand how he could give up the one thing he’d worked for his whole life for a woman. But things were vastly different now. Because I’d lived only half a life before I met Vanna. And now I’d do anything for her.
“Gabriel.” The way she said my name was enough to make the iron hold I had on my control waver. “I want all of you. Please, make me yours.”
Resting my forehead against hers, I was breathing hard, struggling to regain my composure. “I want you to be sure. I couldn’t bear it if you ever regretted anything we did.”
“I’d never regret us. I’m ready. I want this more than anything. Please.”
Her plea was what undid me, eroding any restraint I’d held on to, making words tumble out of me. Words I’d only ever said to my family. “I love you.”
Ignoring her slack jaw and madly blinking eyes, I crushed my mouth to hers. I was ravenous, my body shaking from the need to have all of her.
We’d spent as much time together as we could over the last week. Her laughter when I teased her had become my favorite sound. Finding out what made her happy was my new mission in life. And being with her and making her happy was my reason for breathing.
I’d never felt closer to another person. The time we spent together made me feel lighter than I ever had before. Vanna brought out the best in me. For the first time since taking over the business, I didn’t dread the future. Instead, I looked forward to it, welcomed it with open arms.
Forcing myself to separate our mouths and take a much-needed breath, I stared down at Vanna’s red and swollen lips before my eyes traveled over her pebbled nipples. Her chest moved up and down with every breath.
I brushed my thumb over one of her nipples, watching her eyes close. She moaned, the sound breaking our heavy panting. “Gabriel.”
I’d never get enough of hearing her say my name with such reverence. Dipping my head, I caught her nipple in my mouth, sucking lightly. I’d gotten to know her body well and now used it to my advantage.
She put her hands to my cheeks, and I looked up, meeting her lust-filled gaze. She brushed her thumb over my cheekbone, the simple gesture nearly making me come undone. But her whispered “I love you too” shattered my control, her words unleashing something primal inside me.
My hands roamed her perfect curves, brushing over every dip with reverence. Unable to look away from their path, I watched goose bumps break out on her skin as a small moan escaped her lips. I pushed one finger into her, finding her dripping and ready.
Vanna seemed as desperate as me, lifting her hips while her arms drew me closer. “Please,” she whimpered, drawing my mouth to hers for another kiss.
That was the invitation I’d been waiting for. I entered her slowly, my muscles bulging from holding back. As soon as her snug heat closed around me, I shuddered, the feeling of finally sliding inside her better than anything I’d experienced before.
Her hands roamed my back, landing on my ass, tugging me closer. I slipped in all the way with a groan, then stilled.
Nuzzling her neck, I took a deep breath to calm down. I only accomplished the opposite, since her heady scent made me harder. “Are you hurting?”
The words sounded garbled, and it surprised me that I got them out at all. But she hadn’t even flinched when I’d pushed in, and I needed to know she was okay.
“Only a little pinch. I’d go through a lot more pain if it means being with you.”
I kissed her jaw, then leaned up to look at her. She looked like a goddess with her hair spread out around her head in wild tangles, her cheeks tinged pink, and her rosebud mouth tipped up at one corner.
“Being with me means no pain, anghele mou. I’d do anything to keep you safe.”
Her eyes clouded over, and a tear trickled down the side of her face. I caught it with my mouth, then kissed the spot where it had been. “Why the tears?”
She put her arms around my neck, sinking one hand into my hair. “You make me so happy.”
“I’m about to make you even happier, I hope.”
Her face smoothed out again, and she leaned up to kiss the corner of my lips, then my cheek. “Impossible.”
I growled, taking her mouth in a deep kiss. “Sounds like a challenge to me.”
After that there were no more words, the only sounds our labored breathing and me sliding in and out of her with careful movements I’d never thought I’d be capable of. But Vanna was more important to me than simply getting off.
I could do that anytime and with anyone. But only with her did I feel complete. Only with her did I want to last for as long as possible.
She soon met my strokes, lifting her hips and winding her legs around me. The knowledge that she felt comfortable enough with me to show me what she wanted made me feel like I could fly.
My restraint was slipping with every kiss and touch, my body demanding release. When I felt Vanna clench around me, her head thrown back in ecstasy, I finally allowed myself to let go. My climax washed over me, and I buried myself deep.
Not ready to let go of her—something I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do—I rolled us over so she was on top. We were still connected, and it wouldn’t take much for me to get hard again.
She pushed against me, but I put my arms around her, running my hands over her back. She tensed when I brushed over thick scar tissue, and I stilled. There were a lot of scars. Most of them were large, some of them smaller. But all of them must have caused her a lot of pain.
Not giving her a chance to stop me, I slid out from under her and held her on her belly. She’d never told me she had scars on her back. Was that what Mom meant when she said Vanna hasn’t had it easy?
She tried rolling over, but I was holding her hands over her head and had her hips pinned between my legs.
“Gabriel, stop.” Her voice was hoarse, her movements desperate as she wriggled underneath me. My hold wasn’t tight enough to hurt, but it was enough to keep her in place.
I took in the crisscross patterns all over her back with disbelief. This wasn’t from an accident. They were whipping marks.
Rage unlike any I’d ever felt before overtook me, and I struggled to talk through the red haze that had descended over me. “Who did this to you?”
I was certain I already knew the answer. But I needed to hear her say it.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past. They don’t hurt anymore.”
“Do you really think that makes a difference? Whoever did this to you will pay. No matter if they hurt you ten years ago or today.”
Some scars were quite old, and I realized this must have happened over many years. She was still struggling underneath me, and I released her but didn’t let her get far. We ended up on our sides, facing each other, my legs tangled with hers, one arm around her, the other beneath her head.
“Vanna, look at me.” She lifted her head, the dull gleam of her eyes and resignation on her face sending a sharp pain through my body. “Tell me it wasn’t Aleksándr.”
“I can’t.” Her voice wavered and broke, her body deflating like a popped balloon. She rested her forehead against my chest, winding her arms around me. The wetness I felt against my skin broke my heart.
“He’ll never be able to hurt you again. I swear it on my life. You’re safe now.” It was a vow I would uphold until my last breath. I’d make him pay. Even if it meant starting the war we’d all been so desperately trying to avoid.
But for now, all I could do was hold my wife’s trembling body as she cried herself to sleep, cradled in my arms.
I realized with a start that we hadn’t used a condom. For the first time in my life, I hadn’t worn one, hadn’t even thought of putting it on.
Thinking of Vanna pregnant filled me with pride instead of the dread I would have felt before she came into my life.
Holding her small body close to mine, I listened to her soft breaths and promised that Aleksándr would never touch her again.
The motor shutting off told me we’d arrived, and a glance out the window showed palm trees and blue skies. We’d remained in bed for the rest of the boat ride.
If we wanted, we could stay on the boat. But I was eager to show Vanna the island. It had always been special to our family. And since she was now a part of it, I wanted her to see it. I also wanted to dispel the heaviness that had settled around us at my discovery of her scars.
Liam and Jude had never felt the same way about this place as I did. To me, it had always seemed magical. A connection to our ancestors who were buried here.
As I trailed my hand along Vanna’s arm and over her velvety skin, a smile spread over my face. I never thought I’d enjoy being married, but now I couldn’t imagine my life without her.
And I didn’t resent the feeling. Instead of weakening me like I’d thought, she gave me strength.
I’d assumed my life was over when Liam not only handed the business to me but also saddled me with a wife. But I believed everything happened for a reason. And my reason for being was currently giving me a smile that lit up her entire face, making me want to take her again.
The arm she’d draped across my belly tightened. “Hello, husband.”
She kissed my ribs, then rolled to the side. Before she could get up, I pinned her underneath me. Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks flushed pink. Her smiles no longer looked forced. She gave them freely and often. And I couldn’t get enough of seeing them.
Unable to help myself, I kissed her. What started as a light brush of my lips against hers soon turned into more. When I dragged myself away, her lips were swollen, her eyes half lidded. Placing one last kiss on the corner of her mouth, I rolled off her, taking her with me. “Hello, wife. You ready to see where we’ll spend the next week?”
I sat up, and she ended up on my lap, her arms around my shoulders. “I can’t wait.”
Chuckling, I stood up, then set her on her feet in front of me. I loved taking care of her. And as long as she didn’t tell me off, I’d continue doing it. “Let’s take a quick shower, and then we can explore the island.”
The quick shower turned into much more, and we both emerged clean and satisfied over an hour later. Vanna skipped down the dock, her long legs looking irresistible in the tight shorts she was wearing, her feet bare.
All I wanted to do was throw her over my shoulder and carry her to the family villa. But I knew how much she was looking forward to exploring. And once we were in our rooms it would be a while before we left again.
“What do you want to see first?”
She raised her hands, then turned in a circle. We’d made it to the beach, and instead of answering, Vanna raced toward the water. As soon as her feet hit the waves, she stopped, letting out a tinkling laugh. Her childlike enthusiasm for everything was contagious, her boundless energy infectious.
She looked like a goddess with her head thrown back. Joining her in the water, I captured her around her waist and lifted her, making her laugh even louder. “The water doesn’t even feel cold.”
Chuckling, I put her back on her feet. “Water will feel warm anywhere if you’re from Chicago.”
She took my hand, leading me farther down the beach. The island wasn’t large, and we could round it on foot in about two hours. There were no cars, but we could take one of the many golf carts to get around.
Putting my arm around her, I drew her to my side. “What do you want to do first?”
“Is it too far to walk to our villa?”
“Not at all. The ride in the golf cart is only five minutes.”
The island only had a handful of villas, and they were all far enough apart to afford complete privacy.
A few white clouds peppered the deep blue sky, the late-afternoon sun warming us as we strolled along the beach.
I didn’t think I’d ever strolled anywhere, let alone at the beach. I never had the urge to do so. But it seemed none of my previous rules applied with Vanna.
I’d always hated the beach. Turned out I just hadn’t been doing it right. Or I should say I hadn’t been doing it with the right person.
We stopped at a bar that was little more than a small shed on the sand, Vanna ordering nearly every item on the menu and a cocktail that came in a pineapple.
We sat at a tiny table facing the ocean, our chairs pushed close together as we sipped our drinks. The beer I’d ordered wasn’t one I’d ever heard of before, but it was cold and the only thing that didn’t have an umbrella in it.
Vanna held up her drink, having to use both hands to lift it. “I love it here. Thank you so much for bringing me.”
I tugged her onto my lap as soon as she set her drink back on the table. “You don’t have to thank me. I should never have taken this long to take you on a honeymoon. I hope you forgive me for how I treated you.”
Her head dropped, breaking our connection, and the arm she’d thrown around my neck tightened. “I love you more than anything. Don’t ever forget how much, no matter what happens.”
She crushed our mouths together, her kiss tinged with a desperation that unsettled me. But when her tongue touched my lower lip, my brain emptied of all thoughts.
We made out like horny teenagers in between sipping our drinks. Vanna made no move to get off my lap, and I continued holding her in my arms, enjoying the feel of having her this close.
I traced a hand down my wife’s back, unable to lie next to her and not touch her. I lightly followed each line of her scars, my chest tight at the thought of anyone hurting her like this. The need to protect her, to make sure nobody could ever touch her again was overwhelming.
Vanna was asleep, her small body taking up more room than I thought possible. She was on her belly, her upper back and one leg exposed.
We’d been on the island for three days. Three perfect days we spent mostly in the villa, occasionally venturing out onto the private beach in front of the house. My need for Vanna only seemed to grow the more we were together.
My phone lit up with a call, the display reading “Liam”. He wouldn’t call unless it was important, so I picked up my phone and went outside. Taking a seat on the steps leading down to the beach, I answered.
“We have a problem.” Liam’s voice was tight, and I knew there’d be a deep frown line on his face. “The shipment that was supposed to get in today has been taken. And I don’t have to tell you that only a handful of people knew about the change in days.”
Standing up, I clenched the hand not holding the phone. “Impossible.”
Liam’s frustration was evident in his barely controlled voice. “Someone is leaking information. There’s no other way. We have to find every single person who knew about the change to the shipment and figure out who sold us out.”
I stared out at the beach, for once not seeing the white sand or sparkling water. “Put a list together. And when you find them, I want to be the one to deal with them.”
“If whoever took the shipment got to one of our guys, we have to make sure the betrayal hasn’t spread through the ranks. This could get ugly, fast.”
Grinding my teeth, I fought for control. “Don’t you think I know this?”
“I’m sorry, brother.”
“Fuck.” I paced the sand, then kicked it. “I’ll get a chopper and be back by tomorrow night.”
It’d take about thirteen hours to fly back to Chicago once we were in Athens. The problem was getting to Athens.
“Don’t come back yet. You only have a few days left. Spend them with your wife. There’s nothing you can do right now anyway.”
Betrayal like this was like rot—it was hard to contain and would spread if we didn’t find the root of it. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Well, I do. And if you remember, I used to be the one in charge. I know what I’m doing. I’ll get a list of everyone who knew about the change of plans. And then I’ll find the traitor.”
“Let me know as soon as you find anything. No matter how small.”
“Of course. Now get back to your wife and enjoy what’s left of your honeymoon.”
We hung up, and I threw my head back, cursing at the sky.
Movement near the stairs drew my gaze. Vanna was standing at the top, her face white, her hands trembling.
Forgetting about Liam’s call, I rushed up to her. “Anghele mou, what happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
She threw herself into my arms with such force that I barely caught her, stumbling back a few steps. She pressed her face into my chest. “Just missed you.”
Her words engulfed me in warmth, any thoughts of my conversation with Liam disappearing. Gathering her close, I buried my head in her hair. “Let’s go back to bed.”
She held on tighter, almost as if she feared I’d disappear. “I need you.”
Without another word, I led her back inside.
Chapter 16
Vanna
“Have you seen my gray tie? The one you gave me?” Gabriel asked, walking out of the bathroom, his attention on the buttons of his shirt.
We arrived back in Chicago last night. The days we spent in Greece were already a beautiful dream.
I savored every moment we spent together, especially after I overheard part of Gabriel’s phone call with his brother. He knew there was a traitor who gave out information. Now it would only be a matter of time before he found out I was the one who’d betrayed him. Guilt was consuming me, pressing down on me, making me sway with the weight of it.
I wanted to tell Gabriel but was too scared of what he’d do to me. And our relationship was still so new, I couldn’t tell how he’d react. Nothing was more important than business. Not even a wife.
