He covered her clit and sucked lightly, tongue flicking against the sensitive spot until her tension rose so high she was ready to tip over. Ready, but needing something more. Just a touch to send her flying.

Gabe caught hold of her nipple. It still tingled from his earlier attentions, and as he increased his assault on her clit, he tweaked the tight point. She took off in a wonderful explosion, pleasure shooting over the barrier and setting free.

As the waves rocked her body, he kissed her intimately, slowing as the pulses slowed. Then he rolled her, rising behind her as he pressed his lips to the butterfly on her lower back. The one on her shoulder blade.

The tiny one at the base of her neck.

He licked her neckline. “I like this going-slower business.”

She had to agree. “Can you get naked, though? That would make the slow business even better, at least in my books.”

Gabe chuckled softly, moving away for a moment. Allison lay in boneless relaxation, wanting more, but satisfied as well.

It was a neat sensation.

Thinking of his words, his confession of wanting more? It was everything she wanted and dreamed of and feared at the same time.

Gabe returned, the mattress dipping under his weight. His warm body settling over top of hers, hard muscles tight to her back, hard length of his erection against her butt.

“Naked as commanded,” he whispered.

She twisted her head to the side and gave him her lips. Slowly they tangled tongues and explored each other. Gabe ran his hands over her shoulders and up to her wrists, circling them with his fingers and tugging her arms over her head.

He was full out lying on top of her. Protective. Like he was shielding her.

Her heart ached and was happy all at the same time. Gabe, her guardian angel.

She tried to move her hands, but he had them locked in position. “You planning on tying me up, cowboy?”

“Not today, but now that you mention it, I think we can arrange that.”

She shimmied her hips, attempting to rub against him. His cock was a solid weight pressed into her flesh. “You still planning on doing something with that tonight?”

“Hell, yeah. I was having fun watching you squirm, first.”

He rose off her, the heat and pressure of his possession easing, and she sighed. Her exhalation turned to a gasp as he raised her hips and buried his cock in her pussy.

“God, Allison.”

He gripped her hips tightly and thrust forward again. She was still chest-down to the mattress, arms extended overhead, and the angle he held her hips made him go deep. Filling her, expanding her with his girth. She grabbed on to the headboard and held on for dear life.

Only the wild ride she expected didn’t come. He rocked steadily, filling her completely. Groin meeting ass, his fingers bruising her hips. When he forced his thighs farther under hers, she held her breath, it felt so good. Different angle, different slide against her sheath. Teasing and tangling her pleasure into anticipation, and anticipation into need. He thrust in all the way then paused, bending over her and covering her with his body. Heated chest against her back, his arm slipped under her and wrapped around her waist.

“Let go of the bed,” he ordered.

Her fingers slipped from the wooden struts, and he lifted her torso, settling her in his lap. Her butt rested against his abs, and she was so damn full she was ready to burst.

He caught hold of her neck and sucked, both hands covering her breasts. Sensory overload began, and she was going to die if she didn’t come soon, but she was determined this time she wasn’t going alone.

She squeezed around him, and Gabe responded, hands twitching for a second. “Hell, do that again.”

Allison laughed and reached to catch hold of his neck, arching her back and luxuriating in his caresses. He slipped one hand between her thighs and teased her clit, and she moaned happily.

Just a little more. Little more.

Gabe growled in her ear. “Touch yourself.”

She lowered her hand and her fingers met his. Moisture covered her fingers. He rubbed her clit, stroked along the seam where his cock disappeared into her body, and she shivered.

Gabe placed his hand over hers, joining her in the touch, making it something far more than when she played with herself, looking for release. Not only her, but him, directing, guiding, following her lead as she changed position slightly.

His other arm banded around her body, higher up, and when he leaned her forward against it, he braced her in position.

She would have asked what he was doing, but she didn’t care. She trusted him. Trusted he would hold on, keep her safe. Make her satisfied.

The new position allowed him to move his hips again, and he pulled back, his cock brushing the walls of her sheath, sensitivity rising as he slid forward, forcing his way into her core. Deeper. Intimately close, the heat of the evening and the heat of their bodies making them slick. All the while his fingers worked with hers.

Her climax came between one breath and the next, flashing through and shaking her, squeezing her around his cock as she cried out.

Gabe stilled, their bodies sealed, tight and intimate. His cock impossibly hard inside her.

He groaned, the low aching hum brushing past her ear and caressing her entire body. She did that to him. Made him sound like that. Made him needy and hard and hers. At least for now.

His cock jerked, and she felt him release. Felt his hands tremble as he lost control and spent.

They stayed there, locked together for a couple more seconds. Gabe lowered them to the mattress, still spooning her, his cock lodged in her core.

She clutched his hand where his palm pressed over her belly. “Don’t let go.”

He rocked lightly, the additional stroke of pleasure making her moan. “You got it.”

Allison closed her eyes and luxuriated in his possession. In his caring. “Can we do that again?”

“What, have sex?” His laugher rumbled against her body. “I’m pretty sure we can arrange that.”

She reached up and caressed his cheek. “That too, but I meant the talking. Telling each other what’s really happening. I need that, Gabe.”

Because in spite of living under his roof for the past couple of months, she felt she’d barely scratched the surface. This feeling between them? It was big and powerful, but it was just the beginning.

He turned her then, leaving for a moment before coming back to lay her flat out on the mattress, their legs twined together. He stroked the hair off her face and gazed down with those star-filled eyes, and she fell a little further without even trying.

“We can do that. We’ve got all the time in the world.” His deep voice so sure and confident.

Then he touched their lips together, and she pulled him over her, and they started all over again.

In spite of the hurtful words by the fire, and dealing with painful memories, it had turned out to be a magical night.

Chapter Twenty

Time was the one thing it turned out they didn’t have. The phone call came at four in the morning not even three days later. Elle’s weeping could be heard over the line, and seeing the colour drain from Allison’s face made his heart break.

They’d known this was coming, known it was probably soon. But you still hoped for longer than you got.

“Is Maisey…gone?” he asked softly.

Allison shook her head. “Elle called the ambulance. They’re taking her to the hospital in Red Deer.”

“I’ll drive you out. We can pick up Elle if she waits for us.”

“Paul’s driving her.”

Gabe caught Allison against him and squeezed her tight. “Shower quick. I’ll make the calls.”

He pushed her toward the bathroom, and she walked willingly but in a daze. Gabe realized this was only the start of the day’s pain.

The hour and a half drive to the hospital was quiet. Allison laid her head on his shoulder and he held her against him. It wasn’t about saving her anymore; it was about being there and being a part of every bit of her life.

He’d been so afraid to tell her how he’d felt. Typical male, but letting her know had been exactly what they needed. The little smiles, the intimate glances they’d shared over the past days. All of it felt different. They were together in a more solid way, which was exactly what she needed right now. Exactly what he’d hoped for, in spite of promising to go slow.

She stopped outside her mom’s room and took a big breath. Gabe squeezed her fingers. “Maisey loves you.”

Allison turned her face toward him. In spite of the dark lines under her eyes, she was even more beautiful than usual. “That makes it all worthwhile, right?”

“Everything. Every ache, every sorrow.”

They walked in together.

Maisey was in bed, the headboard raised so she could lean against the support. Her skin looked paper thin, her body so fragile.

“If you’d wanted to come to Red Deer to go shopping you should have just told me, Mom. I would have let you take a few days off from the restaurant.” Allison stepped to the side of the bed and caught her mom’s hand. She had to reach around an IV tube and another monitor, but she found a way.

Maisey smiled, and the expression transformed her face to something striking and ageless. Joy had that ability. “You know me. Slacking off any time I can.”

Gabe held on to Allison, his arm draped around her waist as the ladies talked. Paul and Elle hurried in about an hour later, and Gabe pretty much just listened. Supported Allison and watched as this family who had so much love and togetherness in them—watched as they prepared to say goodbye.