This Time You

by T. M. Cromer

  When they arrived at the first house, he listened as she gently explained to Scotty why she’d come. The boy resembled his mother a great deal. The chin went up, and although Scotty’s eyes were brimming with unshed tears, he put on a brave face. More than once, Gabriel had seen Margaret react with the same defiant tilt of her chin. Even hurting, this family would take on the world.

  Next, they retrieved Aaron. His reaction was similar to Scotty’s, but his voice wobbled as he struggled to make sense of what they tried to tell him. “Uncle Michael?”

  Margaret squatted in front of him and straightened the line of his little shirt. “Yes, baby. We believe Uncle Michael was in an accident.”

  Gabriel’s heart shifted in his chest at seeing her love for her son. For himself, he didn’t remember much about his mother. She’d died shortly after Grey was born. As for his father, there had been no affection there. Only rules and beatings. Opal had been the one bright spot in the lives of his brothers and him.

  From the corner of his eye, Gabriel saw Scotty had inched closer to his side, and the thought flitted through his mind that perhaps the boy needed contact. He placed his arm around Scotty’s thin shoulders and gave a light squeeze. Once again, the boy’s chin came up as he struggled to remain strong. Gabriel had been there himself once upon a time—the older sibling trying to be the man of the family.

  “Come on, son. Let’s head outside.”

  Scotty’s reaction was immediate and fierce. “I’m not your son! And you’re not my dad!”

  “Scotty!” Margaret’s sharp voice whipped out. “Apologize to Gabriel at once.”

  “No.” Gabriel held up his hand with a severe look at her. Scotty’s reaction was understandable, and he shouldn’t be reprimanded for being honest. “There’s no need. Emotions are high right now.”

  But she glared at her son, and the boy caved. “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “I appreciate the apology, Scott. No harm done. Let’s get you all home, okay?”

  The boys piled into the vehicle as Margaret made her apologies to the parents of Aaron’s friend. When she joined them, Gabriel asked, “Your house or your mother’s?”

  “I don’t want to take any more of your time tonight. I…”

  He patiently waited for her to continue, but she’d run out of steam. “Margaret, look at me.” She raised tear-filled eyes. “I’m not going anywhere. Not until you’re okay to be alone. And even then, it goes against my better nature.”

  One solitary teardrop fell, directly at odds with the smile she sent him. He’d never seen a more tragically beautiful sight. He cupped her face and brushed a thumb across her cheek.

  I love her.

  Feeling pole-axed by the thought, he gave a small shake of his head. Their mutual attraction had been there from the start, but at some point in the last weeks, his simple want had morphed into full-blown love. Without question, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this woman.

  “Will you take us home, Gabriel?”

  A nod was all he could muster as the waves of realization tried to paralyze him.

  When they arrived at the house, they answered questions from her sons as best they could, but there were no answers to be had at the moment. Emotionally wrung out and exhausted, Margaret shuffled her boys off to bed.

  Gabriel hovered in the doorway as she tucked each one in. With great care, she folded the coverlet over, approximately eight inches from the top. Next came the sheet, over the covers. He smiled at the quirky ways her compulsive disorder became apparent.

  As Margaret closed their bedroom door, she asked, “Would you like some coffee?”

  The dark circles under her eyes highlighted her fatigue. “No. Come on, Margaret. It’s time for you to be in bed, too.”

  “I won’t be able to sleep.”

  “Then I’ll hold you, and you can talk if you need to or simply take any comfort you can. Come.”

  He led her to her pristine bedroom and watched her strip down. She didn’t try to hide herself or turn her back to change, and he realized, for once, she wasn’t self-conscious about her body. Dressed in an over-large t-shirt and undies, she climbed beneath the covers.

  As Gabriel kicked off his shoes and prepared to join her, Margaret gestured to his body. “You don’t have to keep them on. I know it can’t be comfortable to try to sleep fully clothed.”

  His heart nearly stopped. “You’re okay with me staying the night?”

  She folded back the corner of the blanket. An open invitation.

  Gabriel lifted his sweatshirt over his head and shucked his jeans before climbing in beside her. When her bare leg settled between his thighs, he prayed for control. Tonight was not the night to put the moves on her. To keep his mind occupied and away from all things carnal in nature, he thought about old case files.

  She rested her head on his chest and began to explore his exposed skin.

  His muscles contracted under her swirling fingers.

  Christ!

  Was she even aware of the havoc she caused?

  He forced himself to stop her hand from dipping lower.

  “Margaret.” His voice held a warning.

  “I thought you wanted to.”

  “Believe me, I really do. That’s not a banana pressing against your hip, love. But making decisions like this in an emotional state isn’t wise.”

  She rose up on her knees and whipped her shirt over her head. With a mere flick of her wrist, she tossed it to the floor.

  He held his breath, afraid to move for fear he’d fallen asleep and was now in the best dream of his life.

  “I made the decision earlier when I first saw you at the screen door.” She ran a hand along his chest and smiled sadly. “Tonight’s taught me one thing—life is unpredictable and shorter than we know. I don’t want to waste a minute of it.” She worried her lip as she lifted her gaze to his. “If you want me, I’m yours.”

  Gabriel wasted no time in pulling her down atop him. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that,” he growled and claimed her lips. Drawing back, he gazed into her wide blue eyes and looked for any hesitancy. Finding none, he kissed her again. She tasted like heaven. Or maybe his love for her made everything sweeter.

  Her hand wandered the length of his back and slid under the waistband of his boxer-briefs. She explored the contour of his ass, and he silently congratulated himself for his dedication to squats when she sighed her pleasure. Continuing her journey, she caressed his hips, stroking the skin as if to memorize the texture. When she got to the front and gripped his dick, her eyes flew wide. She distanced herself slightly to look down between them.

  “It’s a good thing I’ve had children, or that thing would never fit.”

  Gabriel couldn’t prevent his laughter. He couldn’t recall a single time when he’d felt the desire to laugh as strongly as his urge to fuck. He simply stared down at her with all the tenderness he felt, laced with a heavy dose of amusement.

  “Why did you stop, Gabriel?”

  “I’m memorizing this moment in all its perfection.”

  A soft light entered her eyes, and she reached a hand to caress his jaw. “I’m all for taking time to smell the roses, but we’ve waited long enough. Also, we’ve a horrible tendency of getting interrupted.”

  Although he knew, he still asked, “What are you saying, Margaret?”

  “I’m saying let’s get this damned show on the road before all the entities who like to conspire against us catch on to what we’re doing.”

  “I’m on it.”

  “You most certainly are.”

  Again, he laughed.

  Sitting back on his heels, he looked his fill.

  “If you’re going to stare at me like that, I’m turning off the lights and lighting a candle.”

  “Now that would be a damned shame.”

  “No, I promise the soft light is more flattering.”

  If the words hadn’t alerted him to her self-consciousness, the trepidation in
her voice would’ve. Grasping her elbows, he helped her shift to a kneeling position so they faced each other. “I understand your reservations. I have from the beginning. But when a man is crazy about a woman, he doesn’t see all the things you’ve built up in your mind, Margaret. He simply sees the person he wants to make love to.” Wrapping one arm loosely around her waist, he trailed his fingertips along her jawline and down her neck until he reached her breast. Cupping its fullness, he smiled. “The person whose skin he wants to touch and whose nipples he’s dying to latch onto.” His hand trailed lower. “And whose pus—”

  She clamped a hand over his mouth. “I get it.”

  His grin came unbidden. She sounded so prim and proper, he couldn’t help himself. Teasing Margaret had become his favorite pastime.

  * * *

  Margie wasn’t as uptight as Gabriel liked to believe. She’d already envisioned this moment. Hell, she’d done more than fantasize in the privacy of her bedroom. It warmed her to know he cared enough to reassure her, but it was difficult not to feel unworthy in the presence of a man so freaking spectacular.

  Speaking of gorgeous…

  Her eyes devoured his beautifully sculpted chest, and she let her hands wander over his golden skin.

  “Focus, Margaret.” Laughter was evident just beneath the surface.

  She exhaled a sigh of regret. “Sorry. Other than your brother’s, this is the first playgirl-worthy chest I’ve seen in a long while.”

  A black scowl hijacked his features, and he halted her exploration. “My brother’s?”

  Surprised and more than a little thrilled by his jealous reaction, she giggled. “Not in the way you think. Gordie was mowing your lawn one day. Sammy and I—were sneaking a peek. In my defense, I thought it was you at first. The two of you look a lot alike from a distance.”

  Mollified, he replaced her palms flat against his pecs. “You’re forgiven. Carry on.”

  Margie smiled and patted his chest. “You’re so magnanimous.”

  “Indeed.”

  That one word, spoken with the arrogance of a man who knew just how damned sexy he was, reminded her of his previous incarnations. Once, a few centuries ago, he’d been a poor farmer with only a small plot of rented land. Yet, even then, he’d been proud and displayed all the arrogance of the local land barons.

  Leaning in, she licked the tight bud of his nipple. His hands came up, and he threaded his fingers through her hair, holding her in place. Another lick elicited his soft sigh. Latching on, as he’d claimed he wanted to do to her breast, she suckled his nipple.

  “Mmm.”

  She grinned and rained light, clinging kisses along the plane of his abdomen, enjoying her effect on him. Although his fingers tightened in her hair, he didn’t direct her lower. No, she went there all on her own. His hiss of pleasure was empowering, and she wrapped both hands around his engorged staff as she worked him with her mouth.

  His breathing altered, telling her he was getting close. She didn’t mind finishing him this way, but he had other ideas and eased her away.

  “No, love. Not for our first time.”

  Their eyes met and held.

  She wondered what hers said, because the fierce longing in his was her undoing. Cradling his face in her palms, she brought his head down to hers, kissing him like there was no tomorrow. As if this moment was all they’d ever have. Making love with Gabriel was the perfect affirmation of life when she needed it the most. And picking up on her need, he returned her passion with an urgency of his own.

  His lips and hands seemed to be everywhere at once, but nothing felt rushed. He caressed her as if he’d done it a thousand times, finding all her erogenous zones without fail. Stimulating her and driving her into a frenzy over and over again.

  “Now, Gabriel,” she demanded. “I want you inside me, right now.”

  She felt his smile against her inner thigh. “I don’t feel two orgasms are enough for you, love,” he murmured right before he ran his tongue along her opening. He lifted his head to look at her, and the wickedness of his expression turned her insides to molten lava.

  “Okay. But only one more then I’m going to—ah!” His mouth latched onto her again, and she came without delay. He crawled up her body, kissing and tasting as he went.

  “You were saying?”

  “I was?”

  His sinful chuckle triggered a delicious full-body tremble.

  “Oh, right. I was.” She wrapped her hand around his hard length and glided the tip of his penis along her swollen, wet flesh. “I need you. Right now.”

  He stole her breath with his first thrust, and she expelled an unladylike grunt.

  “Is that ‘right now’ enough for you?”

  “Yep.”

  She had to give him credit for trying to hide his laughter at her chirped response, but he could’ve saved himself the effort. Gripping his hair, she turned her head slightly to whisper into the shell of his ear. “Fuck me like you mean it, Gabriel James.”

  All amusement vanished, and his body went tense at her command. He inched his head up, and the burning desire in his smoldering gaze made her wonder what she’d unleashed. Never breaking eye contact, he eased out only to thrust back, time and time again, with renewed vigor. His name danced upon her lips between cries and pants. And when she came for the final time, she buried her mouth against the hollow of his throat to deaden her scream. His muffled cry of release followed on the heels of hers.

  Rolling to the side, he pulled her against him.

  As Margie’s breathing regulated, she listened to his heartbeat slowing. The calming sound made her happy in a way she never had been, and she had to admit her decision to make love with Gabriel had been a fantastic one. “I’m an idiot.”

  The hand stroking her hair stopped. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because I held out so long.”

  His chuckle was deep and delicious. “The wait was worth it, love.”

  She sighed her contentment and snuggled closer.

  Chapter 14

  APRIL 1912 -

  Lucy had her hand on the doorknob when a familiar girly giggle resounded from the other side of the door. Her heart plummeted to somewhere below her kneecaps. Shoving the door open, she was greeted by her sister lounging across Andrew’s lap.

  Shocked senseless, Lucy forgot her standard decorum. “What the hell is going on here?”

  Rosie jumped up and yanked her gown up to cover her breasts. Andrew followed suit with his own clothing, with the added bonus of whipping a frilly pillow in front of his man parts.

  Too late. Lucy had already caught a glimpse of the epic erection he was sporting. It wasn’t a sight she cared to see. “Rosie, how coul—”

  The ship pitched, sending her sailing across the room.

  Her hip impacted with a dressing table and knocked her to the ground.

  Rosalie and Andrew fared no better.

  The flickering lights gave Lucy another fearful jolt.

  When they were all back on their feet, they shared a concerned look.

  The very real fear Sebastian might be lost in the bowels of the ship when the darkness descended, sent Lucy’s panic spiraling out of control.

  “The ship is sinking, and you two have been in here? Doing this?” she asked, clear censure in her tone.

  Their half-hearted protests died on their lips as, once again, the ship rocked, bringing with it a loud groan.

  The building terror tried its best to paralyze her, but Lucy wrestled it down to take charge of the situation. “Rosie, you must put on a vest and find a lifeboat. Grab your warmest coat and go. Now! Andrew, come with me.”

  She spun on her heel, ready to head back the way she had come—her urgency to find Sebastian and stop his needless search, utmost in her mind.

  Andrew lunged forward and caught her arm in a tight hold. “Where do you think you are going?”

  “I have to find Sebastian. He is still looking for Rosie. We thought… we…” The horror of the n
ight sunk in, and the strength was sapped right out of her. “He went down to third class to look for her when we couldn’t find her anywhere else. Andrew, you have to help me find him.”

  Andrew, gazing into her distraught face, looked pained but nodded. “I’ll find him. In the meantime, you will accompany Rosalie to safety.”

  “But—”

  “No argument, Lucy.” Andrew’s hard tone left no room for debate. “I will find him. But you must promise me you’ll look after your own welfare and that of Rosie. I cannot be distracted by my worry for you both, and time is of the essence. Do you understand?”

  “You’ll find him?”

  “You have my word,” he assured her, expression solemn.

  The firm resolve she saw in his face convinced her, and Lucy latched onto Rosalie’s wrist to drag her from the room.

  When the ship pitched for the third time, Andrew caught both women close to steady them. He bussed a kiss on Lucy’s forehead and turned to gaze down into Rosie’s frightened blue eyes. The brief thought struck Lucy that this was the only time she’d seen her sister without her usual laughing glow.

  Andrew, obviously not caring his wife of less than a week bore witness to their passion, kissed Rosie for all he was worth. As if, knowing this might be the last time he saw her, he wanted to imprint on her memory.

  Heat rose in Lucy’s face, and she was certain a permanent blush would stain her cheeks.

  He pulled back and trailed his thumb across Rosie’s pouting lips. “I love you, my darling Rosie. Promise you’ll do as your sister says.”

  Rosalie pulled him close for one last fierce hug. “I love you, Andrew.”

  He offered her a rakish grin as he took the life vest Lucy offered and buckled Rosie up. “I’ll see you on the other side, darling.”

  The cellphone beside Margie’s bed buzzed, chasing away her dream of the past. A glance at the clock showed five a.m., and she suppressed a groan. It seemed as if she’d just gotten to sleep.