He closed the door before she could find out if he really meant to call her that.
She turned and strolled down the walkway, fingering her lips and wondering if, just if, he really did.
If only she could trust the dream.
Chapter Seven
He watched her bounce down the stairs of the Coronado Springs resort, her hair swinging, her full lips smiling, and her face filled with the joy of a new day. Dark sunglasses hid her eyes from him, but the brown shorts and dark blue tank top did little to hide her curves.
Hopefully she now knew how much he loved her.
He’d put everything he was into that last dream kiss, bending her, dominating her, leaving her breathless and panting and leaning against him weakly. And then he’d shut the door and let her walk away, fighting his instincts and his Puma the entire fucking time until he’d slipped out of their dream and into real, dreamless sleep. The blue balls that followed had not been his idea of fun, but he refused to take care of the problem without Sarah. The anticipation would make finally taking her all the sweeter, and today he had every intention of doing just that.
Today was going to be fun. The Pride was hitting the parks, enjoying being in Disney World before the wedding madness truly began. Tomorrow there were other activities planned, but today was all about being little kids again. Except the games Gabe wanted to play weren’t at all child-like.
He couldn’t wait to see Sarah’s reactions. He stood, smiling at her as she came to a stop at the shuttle stop in the parking lot of the hotel. “Ready?”
She frowned, looking around. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Magic Kingdom.” And hadn’t they laughed their asses off at him as he’d waved them on. They knew exactly what he was up to and approved of his plans. Hell, Emma had even added a suggestion of her own, something he knew Sarah would love to do with him. And she’d definitely approved of shopping the World Showcase, to no one’s surprise.
He took Sarah’s hand and led her to where the shuttle stop was. “I thought we might want to do Epcot.
Ride Mission Mars, see Soaring, maybe go shopping in World Showcase.”
She looked up at him with suspicion. “Shopping.”
He did his best to look innocent. “Yes. Shopping.”
“You seemed less than enthusiastic last night.”
“Hey, I can shop. You hunt down your purchase, club it to death with a credit card and drag it out of the store, right?”
She sputtered.
“See? Men can shop just fine.” He puffed up his chest, hoping to get her to laugh. “And I have special training as a Hunter, so I should be extra good at it.”
She was trying her damndest to hide her grin, but it wasn’t working. “Did Emma put you up to this?”
“I plead the fifth.”
“Aren’t we supposed to meet the others for dinner?”
“That might have been the plan at some point.”
“Gabe.”
He watched, smug satisfaction on his face as one of the shuttles pulled up, her hand curled firmly in his.
“Sarah. Will you go out with me today?”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing as he helped her onto the shuttle marked Epcot. “Gee, I don’t know. Maybe I should think about it.”
He sat next to her, his arm going around the back of the bench. “You do that.”
She giggled. “Didn’t we already agree to spend the day together?”
“Mm-hmm.”
She eyed him sideways, a spark of mischief in her eyes. “So, where’s your date?”
He growled. “How sore do you want your ass to be?” He put on his most dominant face, the one that never failed to make her lashes lower and her breathing speed up. “Don’t make me tell you again, Sarah.
Nothing. Happened. ”
After a brief hesitation her lashes lowered, her head tilting down in submission. Good. Maybe he’d overreacted, but he was damn sick and tired of hearing her call Chloe his girlfriend. “Yes, sir.”
Her quiet whisper was music to his ears. “C’mere.” He pulled her close to him, as close as the molded plastic seats would let him, and watched the streets roll by, content just to breathe her in.
Sarah stifled a laugh as Gabe settled warily into the “cockpit” of Mission Space. “C’mon, Gabe, it’s not that bad.”
He shot her a lethal look as he pulled down the harness. “You had to pick the Orange team, didn’t you?” The Orange version of the ride was a lot more energetic than the Green version.
She coughed into her hand. “Wuss.” He opened his mouth to reply when the whine of the ride started.
“Navigator. Cool. Don’t forget to stop and ask for directions.”
He grumbled as the woman seated next to her laughed. “Yours too? My husband never stops for directions.”
Sarah turned to answer just as the shuttle “lifted”, the G-force pushing her back in her seat. After that, she was too busy punching buttons and laughing like a loon to answer anything. Even better were Gabe’s muttered curses as the ride shook and shimmied, dived and soared.
“We are heading to Hollywood Studios and riding Tower of Terror.” Gabe helped her out of the shuttle when the ride ended, a fierce grin on his face.
“Is that the dropping elevator ride?”
“Yup.” He pulled her through the store and out the door, looking like an eager kid.
Sarah, however, was not so eager. “Nuh-uh. No way.”
“Yes, way.”
“Try no way in hell, then.”
He laughed. “I got on Mission Space for you. You can get on Tower of Terror for me.”
She thought quickly. She was not doing a falling-anything ride. “I thought we were going to go shopping in World Showcase and have an early dinner. Maybe we could watch the fireworks?” She gave him her best hopeful grin.
He didn’t buy it. “I tell you what. I’ll make you a deal. We head over to World Showcase now, have an early dinner, do a little shopping and then head to Hollywood Studios. If the Tower of Terror has more than a twenty minute wait, you’re off the hook. But, twenty minutes or less, and we ride. Deal?”
She looked around. This time of year there weren’t as many guests in the park. They hadn’t gone for a ride other than Mission Space that had a longer than twenty-minute wait.
Then again, the Test Track and Spaceship Earth had had a very long wait and they hadn’t even bothered. Maybe Tower of Terror would be swamped, too. It was supposed to be pretty popular.
“Deal.”
They started walking, the warm, humid air coating them both in a fine sheen of sweat before they’d gone very far. Gabe took hold of her hand, the absent gesture saying more than words could. “So, where would you like to eat?”
They walked over the bridge to World Showcase, landing in Mexico, and Sarah had a sudden yen for Mexican. “Oh. Can we?”
He picked up her hand and kissed it. “Sure.”
They headed into the San Angel Inn, loving the Mexican market set up outside the restaurant. Sarah browsed the serapes and maracas while Gabe got their pager.
“About a half-an-hour wait until they can seat us. I thought we might shop.”
“And you said it without shuddering, too!” She patted his head, laughing when he rolled his eyes.
He picked up her hand and took her into one of the shops, smiling indulgently as she oohed and aahed over the turquoise and opal jewelry. Then he took her on the indoor boat ride, holding her hand as they chased a video Donald through Mexico.
It was all so normal Sarah had a hard time believing it wasn’t another dream.
When the pager went off Sarah was starving. They settled in, sharing a delicious meal of sangria and grilled fish. Yum. Pleasantly buzzed from dinner they made their way back into the World Showcase.
“Where would you like to shop first?”
She grinned up at Gabe, wondering if this too was a dream. “Italy. I want some Murano glass.”
“Italy
it is.”
“And I want to stop in Japan and look at the Mikimoto pearls.”
His smile was beginning to look strained. It was quite a hike from Mexico to Japan. “Okay.”
“Oh! And I want to hit Morocco.”
“With what?”
She laughed, swinging their hands as she practically skipped along the sidewalk, too happy to care about the differences between dreams and harsh realities.
Sarah grimaced as she stared at the sign next to the entrance of the Tower of Terror. “Fifteen-minute wait.”
He gave her a ferocious grin, knowing he was as good as on the ride. “We had a deal.”
“I know.”
She sounded so disgusted he nearly laughed out loud. He practically dragged her into line, ignoring her muttering and dire threats of bodily injury. He was going to ride the Tower of Terror, and his mate was going to ride it with him. She’d given her word and she was going to stick to it.
They got into line. There were so few people waiting it took only a moment for them to walk through the doors. Following the cattle run, Gabe tried to calm Sarah’s anxiety. “It’s not that bad.”
“Have you ever been on it before?”
“Once.”
He wondered what his face looked like, because she paled and gulped. He’d loved the ride. If he hadn’t had to leave to meet some friends he would have gone on it more than once. “You’re gong to like this.”
“Or else?”
He snorted. “Worrywart.”
They stepped onto the elevator and took their seats. “Gabe?”
He heard a tremor in her voice and suddenly wondered if he’d done the right thing. Her hand was trembling in his. He hadn’t meant for her to be this scared. “Want to get off?” He’d ride by himself. No, he’d get off with her. He wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
She sat. She was biting her lip, but she strapped herself in, staring forward like she’d just strapped herself down in an electric chair.
That’s my girl. “Hold my hand. Trust me, it’s really not that bad.”
Five minutes later, as they hung suspended before they dropped yet again, she turned to him and calmly stated, “I hate you.”
Her screams pierced his ears as he laughed and laughed.
When they stumbled off the ride and back into the sunshine he was still laughing. “Aw, c’mon, it wasn’t that bad.” He tugged on her hand, stopping her as she tried to stomp away from him.
“Neither was being a freshman in high school but I wouldn’t want to repeat it.”
He pulled, hard, ignoring her squawk of protest when she landed in his arms. He kissed the tip of her nose as she pouted. “Okay, so I need to do penance, right?”
She glared at him. “Possibly.”
He took her mouth in a hard, fast kiss. “I know just the thing.” He wasn’t giving her the option of saying no. Not this time. He was taking her back to her room and marking her before the end of the night.
“Let’s go, Sarah.”
“No. Gabe.” She tugged on his hand. “Not yet.”
He gritted his teeth, but the panic on her face held him back. “What more do you need, Sarah?” He gripped her shoulders before running his fingers through her hair. “Tell me, baby.”
Her mouth opened but before she could reply his phone rang. He pulled it free from its holster and answered without looking. “Hello?”
“Gabe?”
He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the hurt in Sarah’s eyes. If he’d looked at the fucking caller ID he would have let it go to voice mail but it was too late now. “Yeah, Chloe?”
“Look, I know you’re probably busy with Sarah but do you think she’d mind if I borrowed you for a little while?”
He knew that tone in Chloe’s voice. Something had happened, and his friendly little vixen was feeling down. “I’m not sure. What’s the problem?” He kept his stare on Sarah, knowing she could hear everything Chloe said.
Not that it appeared to matter. The moment he asked what the problem was Sarah made a face and backed up a step. “See you later, Gabe.”
He grabbed her wrist, holding tight when she tried to pull away. “Oh no, you’re not going anywhere.”
“Gabe? Crap, she’s upset, isn’t she? Have you marked her yet?”
Sarah stopped tugging. She glared up at Gabe. “What did she just say?”
He winced. “She’s…” He took the phone away from his ear. “Look, baby, it’s complicated.”
“I’ll say. Your girlfriend just called to ask you if you’d marked your mate yet.”
He got right in her face, absurdly proud of the fact that she didn’t back away from him. And how fucked up was that? “She’s not my girlfriend, Sarah.” There went that fucking eyebrow again. “Stop that.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop doubting me, damn it.”
“Stop giving me reasons to!” She yanked her wrist free and began walking off.
He didn’t even hesitate. “Chloe? Sorry, you’re on your own.” He closed his phone and put it away, striding after Sarah as quickly as he could. “Sarah!”
She flipped him off and kept walking. From the way she was stomping he was pretty sure she was either picturing his or Chloe’s face.
“Sarah!” He finally caught up to her and grabbed her arm.
An elbow jammed him hard in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Her foot stomped on his, earning her a surprised yowl. But what really got him was when she pulled away, spun and tried to kick him in the balls. He barely got his thigh in the way in time to stop some serious pain. “Jesus Christ, Sarah!”
She got into his face and put her finger dangerously close to his mouth. “You stay away from me, Gabriel Anderson. You hear me? I never want to see you again!”
That’s it. There was only one way he was going to be able to get through to her, and Gabe knew it.
He pulled her tight, refusing to let her go, and finally, finally marked her as his. Her knees buckled, but he didn’t mind. There was no way he was letting her go. The scent of her orgasm rolled over him, soothing both him and his Puma, the knowledge that she belonged to him nearly triggering his own orgasm. He thrust a thigh between her legs, giving her something to ride as her pleasure continued to wash over her. His Puma longed to scream its triumph as his incredible mate finally relaxed in his arms.
He purred against Sarah’s neck, the urge to mount her right then and there so strong he barely resisted it.
“Get a room!”
Gabe lifted his head to see two kids, barely high school age, grinning at them. The little shits.
“Oh God.”
He turned his head to see Sarah, wide-eyed, staring at the kids. They weren’t Puma, and from their scent they weren’t from Halle, but he could understand why she was freaked out. She buried her face against his chest. “I’m going to kill you.”
He pulled his leg out from between hers, his cheeks flushing as some other kids laughed and clapped.
One smart-ass actually held up a Hollywood Studios map with the number “7.5” written on it. “I might let you.”
Chapter Eight
The door shut behind them with a final-sounding click. Sarah refused to turn around and face her mate.
“So.”
Silence.
She licked her lips nervously, knowing what was about to happen. It was sort of like worrying about the drippy faucet right after the dam had broken. “Want to watch a movie?”
“Sarah.”
She shivered at the tone of voice. Oh, boy. Her lashes lowered before she’d even had time to think. Her dominant lover was in the room, and he would brook no refusal tonight. The emotion pouring off Gabe only sent her own arousal soaring.
“Come here.”
She turned, studying him from underneath her lashes, one brow raised in challenge. As much as she wanted to belong to him, this was not the way she’d wanted things to go down. She needed something from him she still wasn’t certain he
could give her. Her own emotions were conflicting with his, the harmony she’d sensed in the other pairs of mates lacking in them.
He stood there, just watching her, those dark blue eyes of his slowly bleeding to gold. The sight was highly erotic, evidence of his desire for her.
Through an act of will she kept her own eyes brown, knowing it would spur him on. His nostrils flared and she knew he could smell her arousal. He held out his hand, palm up, and waited. Patient as a cat.
Her mouth curled as she watched him stand there. Damn . Knowing him he would stand there all day, too. Stubborn son of a bitch.
And wasn’t that the main source of their problems? He’d been too stubborn to just ask her, about anything. And here he was, holding out his hand…
Wait. He’s just standing there, holding out his hand.
He was asking her. He was asking for her compliance, for her to bend her will to his, if only here in the bedroom. For the most part he’d treated her as an equal out of bed.
Like a man treated his mate.
Was it enough that he asked, even if it wasn’t verbal? She studied him, reliving every moment of the last two days. Every hour of their lovemaking sifted through her mind. The times she’d had to listen to Chloe talk about her time with Gabe was still a shaft of pain she couldn’t deny. Yet here he stood, in her room, having marked her in public (and God would she ever get over that? ) holding out his hand and waiting.
For her.
She took a deep breath and let go of the shield she’d held in front of her senses. It was harder than she’d thought it would be, but she pulled it down bit by bit until she could feel everything he felt.
And it damn near dropped her to her knees. For the first time she fully understood the need, yes the love in him without her own doubts and insecurities clouding her senses, and it was glorious .
All of her earlier posturing was gone as she allowed herself to bend to his will. The arousal moved through her, slow as honey and just as sweet. She moved to take his hand, the thought of his fangs sinking into her, of him marking her again and claiming her for his own almost enough to bring her to her knees.
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