“Maeve, get out here woman. Your son’s brought a little monkey with him,” he shouted with a smile.
Just as Ross popped his head up over Gabe’s shoulder and announced “I’m not a monkey,” a beautiful, petite, dark-haired woman came out of the kitchen as well, wiping her hands on her apron.
After gifting Vinny with a kiss, she turned to Gabe, seeing Ross’ face peering at her. “Oh Patrick. That’s no monkey. It’s a wee boy who looks just like he’d love a piece of my apple pie.”
Gabe swung Ross down to the floor, depositing him safely between Jennifer and himself. Placing his arm around her, he turned back to his parents. “Mom, dad. I’d like you to meet Jennifer Lambert and this little man is her brother, Ross. Jennifer, I’d like you to meet Patrick and Maeve Malloy.”
Maeve stepped in front of Jennifer and took both of her hands in hers. “Oh my darling girl. You look just like a fairy princess.”
Jennifer’s smile faltered as she noticed tears in Maeve’s eyes.
Maeve pulled her into a hug, whispering, “Thank you for loving my son. I’ve prayed so long that he would find someone.”
“Don’t mind my Maeve,” Patrick said, putting his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “She cries when she’s happy.”
Patrick stepped up to Jennifer and she had to lean way back to look into his cheerful face. “Good to have you here, darling. Maeve and I’ve heard a lot about you and are tickled to finally meet the woman that tamed one of my boys.”
Bending down to Ross’ level, Maeve said, “And Ross, I was serious about the pie. But how about we eat a little lunch first. We’ve got the best hamburgers and French fries, or if you just want a grilled cheese, we can do that too.”
Ross looked up at Jennifer for permission and she nodded to him. Vinny led Ross to a large booth at the back and said, “Eat first and then we can go see the boats.”
Gabe and Jennifer followed and they all settled down together. Ross, used to adults around, quickly acclimated and his enthusiasm for seeing the boats up close after lunch had him bouncing in his seat.
“Sis, did you see the big ones? Vinny says I can go see them up close. Are you going to come too? Can we all go? Can I ride on a boat sometime? Some of the boats are for riding and some are for fishing. Can I go on a fishing boat?”
“Shh, Ross. Not so fast, honey,” Jennifer gently admonished as Patrick and Maeve laughed.
“Oh, my. He sounds just like my boys at that age,” Maeve said.
As the staff brought out platters of fish and chips, Shepard’s pie, and hamburgers, the group began to eat. Maeve and Patrick asked Jennifer about her work with the elderly.
Jennifer cut her eyes over to Gabe and he just grinned.
“Yeah babe, I’ve been talking about you,” he admitted, leaning over to kiss her forehead.
Turning back to his parents, she gave a quick explanation of her job at the Elder Center. They listened attentively and then Maeve had to admit, “I was concerned at first when he told me that he had met a woman in an alley!”
Laughing, she said, “Well, I have to confess that seeing this giant,” as she elbowed him in the side, “certainly gave me a fright!”
“Well, however it happened, I’m so glad he met you, my dear,” Maeve said affectionately. “Now, do you have any friends for my Vinny?”
“Oh no, ma. Don’t go playing matchmaker with me. I love Jennifer here…for my brother, but I’m not looking to get tied down just yet,” Vinny exclaimed.
“I’ll keep my eye out anyway,” Jennifer said with a wink.
Patrick began asking Gabe and Vinny about their work. They discussed a few of their security cases and some of the work they were doing with the police department. Patrick nodded approvingly, proud of his sons’ military careers and their present jobs.
As his eyes settled on Ross, he noted, “Son, you ate a whole plate of fish and chips. You’re eating like my boys did at that age!”
At this, Ross’ head whipped around with a grin splitting his face. “Do you think I’ll be as big as them?”
“Our daddy was a pretty big man, sweetie, but I don’t know if you’ll be quite as big as them.”
Ross pondered this for a moment as the adults continued to talk. After a bit, he slid out of his chair and tapped Gabe on the arm. Gabe looked down affectionately and put his arm around Ross as he leaned down.
“You need something, buddy?”
“Even if I can’t be a big as you, can I still be like you?” Ross asked.
“You wanna be like me?” Gabe asked.
“Yeah. Sis says that you help people and I know you helped us. I’d like to be like that too. She says my dad helped people too so I thought that might be a good thing.”
At this, Jennifer turned around and looked at the serious face of her little brother. The table had grown quiet as the adults listened to the voice of the child.
“Buddy, you can be anything you want to be and I’m honored that you want to be like me. And I promise to help you grow up to be the kind of man that your dad would be proud of. Is that a deal?”
Ross’ grin was his answer as he scrambled back into his seat and looked at Vinny. “Can we go look at the boats now?”
Laughing, Vinny agreed. Jennifer squatted down to be at Ross’ level and said, “Stay right with Vinny. You don’t know how to swim and I don’t want you going too close to the edge. Don’t run away from him. Don’t—”
“Baby,” Gabe said, watching Ross squirm. “I’ll go too and we’ll be careful. Promise.”
Kissing Ross’ head as he bounced over to Vinny, she stood and leaned back to look into Gabe’s face. Placing her hands on his strong chest, she said, “Honey, he doesn’t know how to swim.”
“Noted. But babe, we’re not going to let him near the edge.” Gabe pulled her close and kissed her chastely. Not the kiss he wanted to give, but in front of his parents, it would have to suffice.
As they were walking toward the door, Gabe turned back and said, “And the first thing on our agenda with spring break? Swimming lessons!”
Before Jennifer could respond they were out of the door, Patrick following along. Jennifer turned to Maeve, suddenly unsure what to say. Maeve quickly put her at ease, directing her to the comfortable sofas in front of the stone fireplace.
The two women sat for the next hour, talking about their families. Jennifer learned more about Gabe as a boy and recognized many of the behaviors that she saw in Ross.
“Sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not everything that I need to be for him,” Jennifer confessed.
Maeve leaned over and grasped her hand. “Oh my dear. I see a normal little boy, eager to learn, happy to be around others, inquisitive and intelligent. In spite of the loss that he…well both of you have suffered, he’s a wonderful boy. And you…well, let’s just say that I couldn’t have picked out a more perfect woman for my Gabe.”
Smiling, Jennifer squeezed her hand in return. After a few more minutes of chatting, the men came in from the docks and she listened to Ross as he chattered continuously. His face was red from the wind and she wrapped him in a blanket, sitting him near the fire, as Maeve brought out mugs of hot chocolate. He started to protest until he saw Gabe sit near the fireplace too as he pulled Jennifer down in his lap.
All too soon it was time to head back to the city. They piled back in the Jeep after goodbye hugs and promises to visit soon. Ross fell asleep almost immediately and soon they were pulling into the garage of Gabe’s building. After a simple supper and bath time, Ross was once again sound asleep in his bed.
Walking into the bedroom, Jennifer noticed that Gabe was in the bathroom with the shower water running as he pulled his shirt off. She had barely made it into the room before he was stalking toward her. Smiling as she backed up to the counter, she leaned back as he pressed closer. Her gaze took in his chest, the expanse of muscles that tapered down to his defined abs.
His hands slid over her shoulders, down her back, and to the bottom of her
shirt lifting it over her head. His eyes dropped to her full breasts, spilling over the top of her demi-bra. Not her usual lingerie.
She grinned, saying, “I bought something new. Do you like it?”
Growling his answer, he unzipped her jeans and began to slide them slowly down her legs, taking her panties with them. With a flick of his fingers, the bra landed on the pile of clothes on the floor. He perused her naked body, petite with curves that begged to his hands. Silky skin that his fingers ached to caress.
Her fingers went to his belt buckle and she made quick work of his jeans as well. His erection tented out his boxers and she knelt as she pulled them off. Staying on her knees, she took him in her mouth. Sucking deeply, she could only take part of him so her hands circled the lower part of his dick and moved gently up and down in rhythm with her hands.
He moaned and threw his head back as the sensations shot through him as he wrapped his hands in her silken curls. Looking back down, he was awed that this gorgeous creature was pleasuring him when what he wanted to do was worship her body.
He could tell he was close to coming but gently pulled her up and into his arms. Kissing her soundly, he said, “Baby, I could have come right then and loved every second, but when I come tonight, I want to be buried deep in your sweet pussy.”
She stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her body and in turn, watching the droplets fall off of his towering frame. He lifted her up in his arms and pressed her back against the wall, allowing the water to hit his back, keeping it from spraying her face.
She held on, first to his shoulder and then cupping his face, before pulling him in for a kiss—one that she started, but he quickly took over. What started as a soft as a whisper kiss evolved into demanding, possessive, unyielding. She felt the rough stubble of whiskers against her fingers as she held him close.
He plunged in, exploring every crevice while committing her taste to memory. He wanted more, needed more. She met him stroke for stroke, her tongue vying for dominance.
Slowly letting go of her mouth, he kissed his way across her neck as she arched her back and down to the swell of her breasts. Sucking one nipple in deeply, he tugged hard, first nipping and then soothing.
Her hand grabbed his head, pulling him closer. The feelings of euphoria washed over her as much as the warm water that slid down her body. With every pull on her nipples, she felt the zing straight to her core.
Lifting her up again, settling her on the tip of his cock, he guided her onto him gently this time. Unlike earlier, this was about slow. Gentle. Easy. Care. Comfort. Keeping her back against the shower wall so that the water was not on her face, he moved her up and down, letting the sensations flow over both of them.
Taking a wet nipple in his mouth, he sucked gently, circling his tongue around the beaded tip. Knowing shower sex was a new experience for her, he realized it was new to him as well. It’s all new with her. Everything. The sex. The feelings. Everything.
It didn’t take long for her to feel the familiar pull of her impending orgasm. Climbing higher and higher until she knew she was ready to jump off the edge, she felt him press against her clit and that was all it took for her to fly apart. Throwing her head back, she felt her orgasm roar through her as her inner walls grabbed at his pulsating cock.
With just a few more pumps Gabe joined her, as she milked every bit of seed out of his straining dick. As he emptied himself into her waiting body, he knew this was it for him. She was his forever. Lowering her carefully onto the shower floor, he leaned back to turn off the cooling water.
Snagging a couple of thick towels, he dried her off first, rubbing every part of her body. She was warm and flushed, and his attention to detail had her growing wet once again. What is it about him? He could keep me in a constant state of need!
He moved the towel up her toned legs to the apex, making sure to torment her as he made sure to rub the towel against her clit. Slowly standing, he continued to dry her smooth skin up toward her breasts, where the material dragged across her nipples. Taut with need, they puckered as he captured first one and then the other in his mouth before drying them again.
“Gabe…,” she cried, her need overtaking her every thought.
Chuckling, he slowly pulled the towel through her hair watching the curls spring to life. She clung to his shoulders as though he were the only thing holding her up. Tossing the towel to the side, he pulled her into his muscular chest, pressing her face against his heart and holding her tightly. For a moment they stood, each lost in the thoughts of how perfectly they fit. He bent and scooped her up in his arms.
“Gabe?” she said again, this time more subdued.
“Yeah, babe,” he replied.
“If I don’t run a comb through my hair now, I’ll never get the tangles out later.”
“Okay, baby,” he said as he snagged her large comb from the counter on his way into the bedroom. Sitting her down on the bed, he crawled in behind her.
Twisting around to see what he was doing, she saw the comb still in his hand while he gently ordered, “Turn back around.”
She acquiesced but told him to start at the bottom or he’d never get the tangles out. She felt the comb move through her hair. Gently at the bottom, separating tangles and then slowly moving up. The feeling of having her hair combed was like a massage. Jennifer relaxed, giving over to the feelings. When the last curl was combed, she whimpered at the loss and heard him chuckle again.
“Don’t worry baby. Now that you’re relaxed, I’ve got ways to wind you up again,” he said tossing the comb to the nightstand. Laying on his back, he pulled her on top, her legs straddling his torso. His gaze dropped from her beautiful face down to her perfect, full, rosy-tipped breasts. His hand trailed from her hips to her breasts where he held the weight of them before rubbing his thumbs over her taut nipples.
The desire shot right through her again, straight from her nipples to her pussy. Deciding to take the lead, she lifted herself over his cock and without waiting seated herself to the hilt. She could have sworn that he touched her womb as his thickness filled her completely. Lifting herself up and down on him, she controlled the pace until her legs grew tired. Feeling his hands squeeze her hips he began to match her rhythm.
Opening her eyes, she looked down at him seeing his smile.
“You ready to give it over to me, baby?”
With a blush and a nod, she laughed as he rolled her onto her back. “I wanted to keep going, but my legs gave out too quickly,” she complained.
“Baby, I’ll give you control when you feel like you need it but never worry about handing it back over.” He kissed her hard and wet, before continuing. “Cause girl, I like control in all ways, but especially in the bedroom.” Leaning back in, he captured her lips once again, plunging his tongue in at the same time he slid his aching cock deep into her warm pussy. Perfect. A perfect fit. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt so connected to a woman. Never. The answer is never.
It took very little time for his hard strokes to bring her back to oblivion once again. She cried out as her world exploded in a shower of sensations, sparks flying out from her core in all directions.
He looked at the beauty under him, her lashes on her cheeks as her eyes were tightly closed. Her long, blonde curls were drying spread out across his pillow. With continuous strokes, he pumped furiously, needing to reach a secret place inside of her that he wanted to touch. Head thrown back, his thick neck muscles strained as his biceps bulged with the strength of his body emptying inside of her. As the last of his strength left him, he fell to the side taking her with him. Tucking her tightly with her head resting on his chest, he struggled to slow his racing heartbeat.
With legs tangled and hearts beating as one, he leaned down to snag the covers making sure to pull them over their sweaty bodies.
As sleep began to overtake them, she whispered, “Gabe?”
“Ummm?” he answered.
“I really like your family.
”
He smiled in the dark, pulling her head closer to him. “I’m glad, baby. They liked you too.”
A few minutes later, she whispered, “Gabe?”
“What now, baby?”
So softly he almost could not hear, she whispered, “I wish you could have met my parents. They would have loved you too.”
His breath caught in his throat as he leaned down seeing a single tear escape. Wiping it with his thumb, he said, “I wish I could have too. But if you’ll have me, I’ll be your family now too.” He saw her smile and he captured it in a kiss. A soft touch of lips. Full of promise.
CHAPTER 14
Jennifer made her way into the kitchen of the Center the next Monday, arms loaded with bread. Henry and Cora walked in and helped her put it away before serving breakfast.
“You didn’t go by yourself to get this, did you?” asked Henry.
Laughing, she replied, “Oh no. Gabe was working so he sent Jobe with me last night.” Sobering, she hugged the two friends and said, “I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Do the police have any idea who it was or what they were doing in the alley?”
“I don’t know. At least not that they’ve told me. I gave them a good description though. Although how, I don’t know! My knees were shaking so bad that I’m surprised I remembered anything.”
Giving the two a hug goodbye, she headed out to catch the bus to work. Gabe had wanted to make sure someone was giving her a ride, but she refused. She’d told him that her job had her running all over the place—hardly conducive for a driver. Then he suggested that he buy her a car. That resulted in an argument that was only resolved when he kissed her senseless and she agreed to only use the city transportation in the daylight. Since the days were getting longer, she figured that could be a promise she could keep.
Arriving at DSS, she had just set her purse down when Roy ran over. “I’ve been trying to call your cell. Chip told us that the budget hearing for grant continuations are getting ready to happen this morning.”
Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series Page 17