“Is she all right?” he asked as he put his hands on Emma’s shoulders from behind. She leaned back against him.
“She has trouble being around Wyatt, and the way he ignores her.”
Gabe turned her around to face him. He kissed her, sweet and slow. “I’ve wanted to do that all night.”
Emma smiled. “I’ve wanted you to.”
Gabe chuckled. “We better get back inside.” He leaned down and nibbled on her ear. “Maybe we can make out when I take you home.”
Emma burst out laughing at his reference to something they might’ve thought about doing before going straight to the big prize. “Okay.”
Gabe slung his arm around her shoulders as they entered the house and went directly to the living room. They sat together on the couch and ignored the glances from the others. Suddenly, Gabe cleared his throat and winked at Emma.
“Emma, did Liv mention how her date with Ryder went?”
Emma slyly glanced at Wyatt. Gabe’s ploy was working. They certainly had Wyatt’s attention. “She said she had a great time.” What she said wasn’t exactly a lie she was just leaving the rest out. She noticed how Wyatt clenched his jaw in reaction.
“She didn’t tell me she was going out with him,” Becca said.
“They’ve only gone out once. The first of many, I think.” Emma bit back a grin as she watched Wyatt scowl as he stood to get another beer. He took a long pull on it and slammed the bottle down so hard Emma was surprised it didn’t break. He put his hat on, said a gruff goodnight, and left without another word. Jake, Gabe, and Emma sat grinning at the outcome but Becca frowned for a moment, and then Emma saw it dawn on her what had just happened, and she grinned along with them.
“It doesn’t matter how he acts, he’s interested in her. He just doesn’t want to be,” Gabe said with a satisfied chuckle. Emma took note of the narrowed look Jake threw in their general direction, but decided to let it go. She wasn’t sure she wanted the same kind of scrutiny placed on her and Gabe.
“The look on his face was priceless,” Becca added leaning into Jake’s chest.
Emma laughed. “I can’t wait to see what happens. I thought he was going to break that beer bottle.”
The four of them laughed together, and then spent the rest of the evening discussing the upcoming wedding.
* * * *
A few hours later, Gabe drove Emma home. He pulled his truck up to the back door and shut the engine off. He tugged on her hair. “Come here, you.” Emma slid across the seat. He pulled her onto his lap. As soon as his lips touched hers, they both sighed. He ran his tongue over her lips then slipped it inside her mouth, touching her tongue with his. “Do you have any idea how good you taste, Emma?” he whispered hoarsely. He saw her cheeks turn pink and laughed. “I was talking about your kisses, darlin’, but you taste good everywhere else too.”
Emma hid her face in the crook of his neck. He tipped her head up so she was looking at him. “None of that, eh? Kiss me.” She did as he told her, pressing her lips to his, and then slipping her tongue into his mouth to touch the tip of his tongue. When she broke the kiss, he didn’t argue for she ran her lips along his whiskered jaw to his ear. He shuddered when she took his earlobe between her teeth and sucked it into her mouth, making him groan. He pulled back from her and pressed his forehead against hers. “Are you going to let me come in?” he whispered. She was worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “Emma, I’ve been drinking. Do you really want me to drive home?”
Emma snorted. “You just drove me home.”
Gabe chuckled softly. “You’re too smart for me, woman.”
He watched as Emma slid across the seat, opened the passenger door, and got out. She walked around the truck and up the stairs to the back porch where she stopped and glanced back at him. He sat in the truck staring at her, not knowing what to expect. When she crooked her finger at him, Gabe got out of his truck so fast he went to his knees in the gravel. He heard Emma laughing as he got up and ran up the stairs to her. He tossed her over his shoulder.
She squealed with laughter. “Gabe, how romantic!”
She laughed harder when he swatted her behind. He carried her through the kitchen to her apartment and straight to her bedroom where he tossed her down on the bed and stood there looking down at her. He raised an eyebrow. “Damn woman, hurry up and get those clothes off,” he told her as he pulled his T-shirt over his head.
Emma sat up. “That’s it? Get my clothes off. I may be new to this but where’s the romance? The foreplay? What’s up with that, Gabriel Stone?”
Gabe grinned. He loved it when she used his full name. It was sexy and she didn’t even know it. “Next time, darlin’. I’m so hot for you right now I might not make it out of my clothes.”
Emma fell back on the bed laughing, watching him shuck his clothes, and then she groaned when he stood fully aroused beside the bed gazing down at her. She pulled her blouse off and started on her jeans but Gabe was there, practically ripping them from her. She lay back on the bed in nothing but her pink panties. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before reaching for the condom in his jeans. He hesitated, wondering if he even needed it. Not willing to take any chances, he sheathed himself and lay down beside her. When he pulled her on top of him so she was straddling him, he felt her hesitation. “Trust me, darlin’. You’ll love being in charge,” he said, trying to breathe through his desire.
* * * *
Inch by inch, Emma impaled herself onto Gabe’s erection. She realized she very much liked being in charge. She lifted her hips, sliding to the tip of him before taking all of him into her again, each time a little deeper. When she had him buried to the hilt, he moaned loud and long. His hands went to her hips as she slid her own along his chest. Her hands moved through the light smattering of hair to his nipples. Leaning down, she ran her tongue around one, then the other. She felt Gabe’s hands move up her ribcage to her breasts and cup them in his hands. She kissed him and began moving her hips. She pushed herself up and rocked her hips against him, grinding with each movement. Her gaze locked with Gabe’s as she took charge.
“Take your hair down,” Gabe groaned. Emma gave him a wicked grin and put her hands up behind her head but didn’t release the ponytail, yet. She rocked against him, looking into those dark brown eyes. She laughed softly when Gabe narrowed his eyes at her. “You need to learn not to tease a man, darlin’.”
“Is that what I’m doing? Teasing you, Gabe?” She moved her hands down to her breasts and cupped them. Gabe growled.
“I can see I’ve created a monster.” Gabe moved his hands to cover hers. “Emma, baby, please…take your hair down.”
Satisfied she still had control, Emma pulled her hands from under his and took the clasp from her hair. Her long blonde waves fell over her shoulders to the tips of her breasts. Gabe sat up and kissed her, dipping his tongue into her mouth. She moaned but pulled back from him, and pushed on his shoulders. Gabe fell back and closed his eyes as she rolled her hips. She gasped at the sensation she was creating with her movements. That wonderful feeling she remembered from before was coming over her, and she so wanted it. Her hips moved faster and ground against him. She began to pant when Gabe sat up again, wrapped his arms around her, and flipped her onto her back. He slammed into her, and she wrapped her legs around his hips, squeezing as tightly as she could. She screamed his name as her orgasm raged through her. A moment later, she felt Gabe stiffen and groan her name near her ear. She felt him throbbing inside her as he came. He used his elbows to keep his weight off her, but buried his face in her neck. Both of them were gasping for much needed air. After a few minutes, Gabe rolled to his side and pulled her against him. Emma put her head on his shoulder, and her arm across his waist. She smiled when she felt his arms tighten around her. They soon fell asleep.
In the morning, Emma woke up alone. She looked over to the pillow Gabe had laid his head on. There was a note. She reached for it, and smiled.
Emma,
I hate leaving you but I have a lot of work to do on the ranch. You look so beautiful lying there asleep. I seriously want to crawl back in bed with you. I’ll call you later. I miss you already.
Gabe
She clutched the note to her chest and smiled. She loved Gabriel Stone and even though he didn’t love her back, she was happy. She got out of bed and stored the note in her dresser. After dressing, Emma went out to start breakfast for the guests.
Chapter Five
Two weeks later, Emma knew she was in trouble. She’d missed her period and she was always regular as clockwork. She was terrified. How could this have happened? Gabe wore a condom both times, she was sure of it. She knew she had to tell him but she had no idea what was she going to do. There was no way she’d have an abortion. She knew, without a doubt, her parents would be there for her but what about Gabe? Would he be there for her and the baby? Would he be a willing father to their baby?
Emma sat on her sofa, placed her hands over her face, and let the tears go. She needed to get a pregnancy test to make sure and then call her doctor if the test turned out positive, but she couldn’t help thinking what people were going to say. What would they think of her? She jumped inside her skin, her heart slamming in her chest, when she heard Olivia call her name. She wiped her face with the backs of her hands and sighed before calling out for her to come in. Olivia strode in and stopped dead in her tracks.
“Did he do something to hurt you? Because if he did, I will personally cut his balls off,” Olivia told her.
Emma shook her head. “No. Gabe didn’t hurt me. I think…I think I may be pregnant.” Her voice choked. When Olivia didn’t say anything, Emma glanced up at her not knowing what to expect.
“Didn’t he use a condom?” Olivia asked through clenched teeth.
“He did, yes, but I’m late and I’m never late.”
Olivia sighed, and then sat down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “First time for everything, I guess. You need to make sure.”
Emma nodded. “I know but the minute I go in the pharmacy to pick up a test, it will be all over town that I’m pregnant.”
“I’ll get it for you,” Olivia said. Emma looked at her in disbelief. Olivia snorted. “You think I care what the locals think? They don’t know me and it will drive them crazy trying to figure out which cowboy I did the nasty with.”
Emma laughed through her tears. “Liv, you are something else. I’ll love you forever if you pick it up for me.”
“Pffft…you’ll love me forever anyway.” Olivia stood up, and patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll go right now. I should be back within thirty minutes so try not to freak out while I’m gone.”
Emma sat there as patiently as she could while Olivia was gone. Stacy was at the front desk so it was covered. Emma had already prepared lunch and knew what dinner was going to be so no one would miss her for a while. She jumped nervously when she heard Olivia come in the back door. Hurrying, she met her in the kitchen. Olivia smiled at her.
“Well, the gossip tails are wagging.” Olivia laughed as she handed Emma the test. She took it from Olivia’s hand and stared at it. “It ain’t going to do it by itself, Emma girl.”
Emma took a deep breath, nodded and returned to her apartment with Olivia on her heels. Olivia took a seat on the sofa while Emma went into the bathroom. When she emerged a few minutes later, she was unable to hold back the tears.
“Are those happy tears because it’s negative or sad tears because it’s positive?” Olivia asked her, tilting her head in ardent curiosity.
“I’m pregnant.” Emma started crying in earnest this time. Olivia jumped up and put her arms around her and she was suddenly grateful for her friend’s comforting arms. They sat together on the sofa with Olivia muttering soothing words, but Emma was flabbergasted. Thinking she was pregnant was one thing, knowing it was another thing completely. How was she going to tell Gabe? Pulling away from Olivia, she stood up and took a deep breath. She knew what she had to do first.
“I have to tell Gabe,” she whispered, and then shook her head. “How is he going to take this?”
“I can go with you. You know, in case he’s a dick about it,” Olivia said with a smirk of a smile.
Emma grinned. She knew Olivia would go to bat for her friends. It didn’t matter how big or small the opponent was, she stood up to them. She took care of her own. “I’ll go alone. If he’s a...dick about it, I’ll let you know.”
Olivia burst out laughing. “You must be stressed. You’ve never used the word dick before.”
Emma laughed and it felt good. “Maybe I have been hanging around you too much.” She hugged Olivia, remembering Gabe commenting on the same thing. She grabbed her purse, and headed out for a confrontation at Gabe’s ranch.
Her stomach was in knots the entire ride there. Emma pulled up to the barn, parked, and asked one of the ranch hands where Gabe was. He pointed to the hay barn. She entered the barn, stopping to let her eyes adjust. The barn smelled of newly cut hay. The floor, covered with pieces of hay made her steps silent. Gabe was at the end of the barn stacking the bales. Taking a deep breath, she walked up to him. He lifted his head and when he saw her, he smiled. She couldn’t dig up the effort to smile back, and watched as his smile died. He met her in the middle of the barn. She could smell the sweat coming off him and found it sexy as hell. Looking up at him, she gazed into those dark eyes and couldn’t bring herself to spit out the words. She heard him sigh.
“You’re pregnant,” Gabe muttered and his shoulders drooped.
Emma gasped. “How…how did you know?”
Gabe took his gloves off, reached for her hand, and in silence led her into the house to the living room. She’d always loved this home and felt comforted by it, but right now, her insides were anything but calm. She took a seat on the sofa and Gabe sat down beside her, holding both her hands. He cleared his throat. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what he had to say.
“Gabe?” she whispered as her stomach fell. Something was wrong. Something he didn’t want to tell her.
“The first time we were together,” Gabe stammered. “When I went into the bathroom to take care of the condom, it was…broken.”
“Broken?” She felt anger pour over her. She jumped up pulling her hands from his. “You didn’t think to tell me?” she shouted. Gabe reached for her but she pulled back. “Do not touch me,” she said through clenched teeth.
Gabe ran his hand down his face. “I didn’t want to tell you, in case you turned out not to be pregnant. I didn’t want to ruin what happened between us.”
“That was weeks ago, Gabe. You’ve had plenty of time to tell me.”
He shrugged. “I was hoping you weren’t pregnant. I decided to…wait it out and see.”
Emma was shaking with anger. “Well, you see now.” She wanted to hit him, her hands tightened into fists. “But you don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll take care of it.” She turned to leave when Gabe grabbed her arm and spun her around.
“You’ll take care of it. What the hell does that mean? You will not get rid of my baby.” He bared his teeth at her.
“I have no intention of getting rid of the baby. I’m telling you not to worry about it. I can raise it on my own.” She blinked back tears and wished she was anywhere else but where she was.
“The hell you will. We’ll raise it together. We’re going to get married, Emma. Our baby will have two parents at all times, you hear me? I won’t be a part-time father.” Gabe was shouting at her now.
“Married? Are you out of your mind? What century are you living in, Gabe? No one has to get married nowadays.”
He leaned in and put his face down close to hers. “We’re getting married and that’s that.” Gabe straightened to his full height and glared down at her. “Once we’re married, you’ll move in here. I plan to be a part of my child’s life before he even enters this world. Make the arrangements or I will, Emma. Believe me, darlin’, when I say I’ll get
you to the altar one way or another, I mean it.” He turned away from her and stalked out of the house, the back door slamming behind him.
* * * *
Everything happened so fast even when the day came three weeks later, Emma found it hard to believe she was standing in a church exchanging marriage vows with Gabe Stone. The only people in the church were Becca, as her maid of honor, Jake, as best man, her parents, and Olivia and Wyatt who sat separately in the pews. Counting the minister, there were nine of them in attendance. Definitely not the wedding Emma had imagined for herself someday.
Her eyes misted up as she repeated her vows, her voice trembling. Gabe spoke his with conviction. Her gaze shifted to Becca and she saw her smiling at her. Other than herself, Gabe, and Olivia, no one knew the wedding was because she was pregnant. She hated lying to them. They were her family now. She and Gabe decided to tell them all once they were back at the house. Gabe would tell his brothers and Emma would tell Becca and her parents. She glanced toward Olivia sitting in a pew alone. Olivia winked at her. Emma then looked to where Wyatt was sitting. He was leaning back in the pew with his arms folded across his chest. The expression on his face was unreadable. Emma had the feeling Wyatt knew nothing was as it appeared. She took a deep breath, and brought her attention back to Gabe when they were pronounced husband and wife. She turned to face Gabe. He cupped her face in his large hands, kissed her, and then whispered against her lips, “We’ll be fine, darlin’.”
Gabe (Men of Clifton Montana Book 2) Page 6