Gabriel Fallen (Empire Nightclub, #2)

by Nina West

“No shows for anyone else,”

“I’m not going to be a star in your home movies either.”

“I’ll make sure to shut that one off when I’m fucki...

I’m not surprised about that last one—I’d expect as much from a woman like Mercy—and yet it bothers me far more than I want it to. It makes me want to admit all my sins, beg her forgiveness, and promise her that I’m seeking some sort of redemption. Or at least tell her that I’m trying to change.

My heart

“You said you had terms too?” “One or two.”

“Okay. Go ahead.” “You’ll agree to whatever I want to do, without complaint.”

“You’ve got to be kidding—” “When we’re fucking,”

“I kind of dig it when you put up a fight otherwise. But whatever I want from that hot, tight body ...

“I’m not into fetishes and pain and all that shit....

“But I’m guessing I like it dirtier than y...

“What exactly does that mean?” she finally asks. “You’ll have to wait and see. Trust me though, none of it will hurt you.”

“And you’ll be asking for it again by the time I’m done.”

The things I’m going to do to this woman … “What I want, whenever I want it,” I clarify.

“As soon as you see that I’m clean, I’m coming inside you.”

“Fine. As long as you don’t go near another woman.”

“I already promised I wouldn’t. Also, outside of your obligations to your job and schooling, if I ask you to come with me somewhere, you’ll be there. I’ll be at Empire this weekend and I want you there.” “The whole weekend?” “Evenings only.”

“Why do you want me there?” I shrug. “Maybe I like seeing you in a short dress. You can bring your blond friend with you.”

“Are you sure you don’t feel compelled to help me out here before analyzing the human psyche, or whatever it is you’re doing for school?” She hesitates, her brown eyes skittering south to my obvious dilemma. “Is this a ‘whenever I want it’ test?”

“The lap pool was a selling feature when we bought this—What the fuck happened to you?”

I am a slut for a who did this moment

“Are you kidding me? These bruises? They’re from you. Remember, this morning?” “From me?” Tension still radiates from him. “Did I hurt you? Are you hurt?”

He leans in to lay a soft kiss against the darkest of the bruises, his lips cool from the water and yet searing hot against my skin. “I didn’t mean to be so rough with you.” I smirk. “Yes, you did.”

“Did you enjoy it?” “Yes,”

“I already shut the camera off.” “No, you didn’t.” I steal a glance at the one angled this way, but I can’t tell. “I did. From my phone, while you were inside. I knew you’d be back.”

“I don’t believe you.” “Why are you arguing with me about this?” “I thought you liked me arguing with you,” I retort, earning his laugh. “And you didn’t know I’d come back, you hoped.”

“Remember what I said about getting what I want, whenever I want it?” His eyes glow with promise, his fists bunching around the sides of my bottoms. He wants me now.

“You have the sexiest body I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Gabriel takes a long, lingering look at the smooth skin he’s uncovered, as if deciding where he wants to attack first. “I want to put my mouth on every square inch of it.”

“Do you know what I’ve been thinking about doing to you all day?”

“I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“I think I’d rather show you.” He coaxes me forward toward the stairs. “Kneel on the top step.” His voice is soft but commanding.

“Have you been thinking about me all day?” “Maybe for a minute or two,” I lie. He chuckles. “You just can’t admit that you want me, can you?”

“I guess you’ll have to find out.” I close my eyes and happily wait for the intrusion.

“You are so sexy,” he murmurs, his fingers still working while his free hand smooths over my ass, kneading my flesh.

“Come on, Mercy. I told you I wanted every square inch of you,”

“Look how wet you’re getting. I knew you’d like that,” he growls, sucking and teasing and that spot on my body that I’ve never let anyone go near. He hooks his arms around my thighs and angles my hips to give him better access.

“Told you you’d like it,” he whispers, his hard pants blowing across my sensitive flesh. He releases my hips and guides my body down into the water, only to maneuver me around and lift me again. I end up back on the steps but straddling Gabriel’s lap. I’m about to tell him that I need a few minutes to recuperate but he simply pulls me in close, his skin radiating heat as he curls his muscular arms around me in an affectionate way. I nestle against him, wrapped up in postcoital bliss.

“See something you want?” he whispers, flashing a mischievous look my way before dipping down to seize a nipple within his teeth.

“That mouth of yours is something else.”

“Wait. Was that … Did you just actually compliment me?”

“This is a first.” “Don’t get used to it.”

“What’s going on inside that pretty little head of yours?” “I’m just thinking that I should kiss you to shut you up.” I lean in to capture his plump lips with mine, in a slow, searing kiss, much like the one he gave me this morning, as we were parting for the day.

“Who knew a jerk like you’d like kissing so much,” I whisper. “I don’t. But I like kissing you,”

“Please, baby,” he begs, his head falling back, his Adam’s apple jutting out. “It hurts.” “I guess you have been patient.”

“How did you get so good at that?” “You really want me to answer that?”

“No. Don’t. It’ll just make me really angry and want to kill someone.” “Careful, or you’re going to start sounding like a jealous boyfriend.”

“Would that be so bad?” “That’s not w...

Gabriel brushes away damp strands of hair plastered across my forehead with a stroke of his thumb before settling his index finger beneath my chin and urging my gaze to meet his. “Swallow me,” he demands softly, following it with a “please.”

He lets out a soft sigh of contentment, his massive body shifting down to the second step, then the third, to sit next to me. His gaze is sleepy as he burrows his face into the crook of my neck. “You need to eat dinner,” he murmurs, pressing a sexy, tongue-laced kiss against my collarbone, his one arm curled around my shoulders, his other hand splayed across my belly affectionately.

“I can see why you and your brother bought this house.” “Yeah …”

“I barely ever make it to my condo downtown anymore. I think it’s been about a month now.” “You have a condo downtown too?” “I have a few places.”

I guess someone like him would be naturally suspicious. “Because I’m sleeping with you,” I say matter-of-factly. “I just figured … I don’t know anything about you and maybe I should.” After what I just let the man do to me, I think at least a few questions are fair.