Blaze (Blaze #1) Read Online Free Page B

the annoyed look on
Dave’s face.
    “Well, we were done—”
    “I’d love to, and call me Gabriel.”
    It was as if Dave hadn’t spoken. Within
moments, the manager – who’d been hovering nearby just in case
Gabriel requires anything – appears with two extra chairs. Tim
joins us from the bar. He is short and stocky, and smiles like a
salesman, but not in a smarmy way. He has a reputation of being a
fierce negotiator, but also fair.
    We shake hands and Tim narrows his eyes.
    “Oh, I remember you. You two left together
the other night.”
    I open my mouth before realizing I have no
response. Nat chuckles next to me and I reach under the table to
pluck her leg with my fingers. She only laughs harder.
    “I have to ask, how do you write for women
so well?” James leans forward, pushing the plate with our
half-eaten tiramisu aside.
    Gabriel places his arm along the back of my
chair. Anyone watching would think he’s my date. He casually
lifts his hand when he says, “Easy. I pay attention.” His fingers
come to rest on my bare shoulder and one fingertip traces small
circles against my skin. I shiver involuntarily and I swear I can
hear laughing in his head.
    “Sounds like I should have read them,” James
says with a laugh. I know Gabriel’s answer hits a nerve. James’ ex
had felt like he paid more attention to work than her.
    “Perhaps we should consider another market,
Gabriel. Relationship advice certainly sells.”
    Tim is clearly joking, but Gabriel responds
anyway.
    “I prefer to stick to the things I do
best.”
    Gabriel removes his arm. I keep my mouth
shut, but my body screams in protest. He places a hand on my thigh,
under the table where no one can see. He makes no attempt to move
it any higher. It’s not so much sexual as it is possessive. I feel
claimed.
    “Excuse me,” I say, pushing back my
chair.
    In the ladies room, I wet a paper towel with
cool water and press it to my face.
    “What are you doing?” I ask my reflection.
Gabriel asked me to leave the other night, and now he’s crashing my
date.
    I am going back out there, saying goodnight,
and then I’m going home. Alone.
    I’m one step out of the restroom when a hand
grabs my wrist. Gabriel pulls me into a narrow hallway near the
restaurant’s back entrance. My back is against the wall and he
presses his body against mine. I’m wearing heels, but I still have
to look up to meet his eyes.
    He touches a strand of my hair and slowly
winds it around his finger.
    “So, where is Matt?” he asks, releasing my
hair and letting his finger trail down the side of my neck. He
traces the slope of my breast before firmly cupping it.
    I swallow hard and answer.
    “He’s… home.”
    “Mmmm. Bad for Matt, but good for me.”
    “Don’t you mean good for James?”
    He rubs his thumb along my nipple, through
my shirt, and I gasp.
    “You’re not going home with James, Kate,” he
whispered. “You’re going home with me. Now.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
     
     
     
    I gasp as he pulls me against him. I can’t
help but jerk away at the feel of his hardness pressing against me;
the feelings are spinning through me too fast.
    We’re back in his apartment, and the whole
city sprawls out below us. But I don’t care about that. I just care
about him, and what’s he’s going to do to me tonight.
    “Don’t be scared,” he says, and his voice is
half growl.
    God, he’s beautiful. The hard lines of his
jaw clench as he runs his hands down the small of my back, cupping
my ass, squeezing me there.
    This time when he kisses me it’s softer.
More gentle. And I whimper at the fire building in the pit of my
stomach.
    Before I know what I’m doing I’m kissing him
harder, crushing myself against him. I claw at him, desperately,
and I can feel the triumphant grin pulling at his mouth. But I
don’t care. I don’t care about anything except him taking me. I
want him like I’ve never wanted anyone before.
    Please hurry, Gabriel. Don’t waste your