Bedding The Best Man (Bedding the Bachelors Book 7) (13 page)

“It’s like a perfect little house!” she cried, clapping her hands and laughing—more at herself and her previous apprehension. “And it didn’t take long at all to get it up.”

“Wait until we get in all the rugs and cushions, the bed and the fire pit,” Gabe said, grinning at her reaction. “The big question for you is, would you rather have pink lanterns or a full-on chandelier for your lighting?”

She laughed. “Can I be greedy and have both?”

“I don’t see why not. Now, pass me those floor mats and let’s get this place looking perfect enough for even a Whitcomb to bed down in.” She punched him on the arm, but headed back to the truck to help him to move the beautifully patterned mats.

A few hours later, Gabe and Brianne had set up everything. Even though it had been hard work, it had also been some of the most fun she’d ever had. From simply sitting beside him in the truck as they’d driven over, to spending an entire afternoon in his company, laughing and joking, to watching him bend down in front of her, the worn denim of his jeans straining with his every movement, it was all fun because she was with him. They were all memories she’d cherish. Even better, she truly believed now that a glamping adventure was the way to go for the fundraiser.

The yurt looked like as elegant and comfortable as her own apartment, though everything was in one room. Gabe had lit the fire pit, and the flames danced merrily, the mosaic tiles on the lip glinting in the flickering light. Her chandelier graced the very center of the roof, raining down light in teardrop shadows and shapes. The pink lanterns around the curved sides flickered. She couldn’t help but think it was the most romantic sight she had ever seen.

“You ready for some food?” Gabe’s strong voice called from outside. “I’ve brought some steaks. Think you could whip up a salad while I broil these babies?” he asked as she emerged.

“Sure, but jeez, I don’t think I’ll even get through a quarter of that thing!” The huge porterhouse steaks were the size of dinner plates.

“Don’t worry, I’ll hoover up anything you can’t get through,” he said, seeming unable to stop smiling. He was so clearly in his element, and his enjoyment was definitely catching. Or maybe it was just the enjoyment of being with him. Either way, she was smiling, too.

Then, she grimaced. “Um, well, first…I know we were talking earlier about the facilities…”

He laughed. “I didn’t bring anything as fancy as we talked about, but we have a composting toilet. Just pop a layer of the sawdust over the top when you’re done, and pop your paper in the bin. There’s something about the sawdust and its antibacterial properties because a friend of mine has one at his house, and I’ve never smelled anything vaguely unpleasant coming from it.”

A composting toilet? Well, it certainly fulfilled all her environmentally aware requirements. Gamely but cautiously, she walked toward the small square tent he must have set up while she was setting up her lanterns. She couldn’t help but notice just how many details he’d accounted for to make this experience a fun one for her. It touched her deeply.

She unzipped the little tent and was surprised to see a normal toilet sitting in front of her. It was on a raised plinth, a box underneath it. She peered curiously into the seat – no water, just a pile of sawdust at the bottom of the box. It wasn’t what she was used to, but it would do.

When she was done, she felt absurdly victorious, something Gabe obviously noticed when she returned.

“You look like you just wrangled a bull into submission.”

She laughed. “It feels good to know there’s at least some kind of camping I can enjoy. Who knows, maybe you can take me real camping one day and I’ll enjoy it.”

At her words, his smile dimmed and he looked away. Right. Because this was a one-time thing and he’d probably never be taking her any kind of camping ever again.

She recovered as best she could, pretending she didn’t notice. “Anyway, this is much nicer than I could ever have expected. Thank you for taking so many things into consideration to make it that way.”

“You’re welcome.” He handed her a glass of icy cold white wine.

She sipped it thoughtfully, watching as he chugged on a beer. He really had thought of everything to make her life easier not just tonight but in preparation for the contest. She wasn’t even sure why she was surprised.

Before they’d even met, she’d heard about him. According to Jamie, Gabe had a tough streak, was a maniac on the soccer field and in a boxing ring, and constantly had girls throwing themselves at him. When they’d walked on the beach, however, she’d seen a totally different man—one who was tough and strong and handsome, yes, but one who was also sweet and considerate. He was a bundle of contradictions, and maybe that’s why she’d always been drawn to him. Not even
he
seemed to be aware of all his complexities.

They sat in the comfy camp chairs he had set up around the barbecue, and watched the sun as it began its descent across the horizon. Gabe occasionally stirred the coals, waiting for them to get hot enough for the steaks. He liked his bloody, and she liked hers only a little less so. They wouldn’t take long, despite their immense size. She got up and moved to the sturdy wooden table, and pulled out the fixings for a simple salad from the cooler. It wasn’t just any cooler, but a solar powered, full-on refrigerator.

She mixed a dressing, then poured it liberally over the leaves, tossing it until every bit was covered in the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. She picked a small cherry tomato out and crunched into it. The juice spurted down her chin, but it was fresh and delicious. She was beginning to understand why people always said food tasted so much better in the great outdoors. Her limbs ached from the work putting up the yurt, but she felt amazing.

Gabe moved toward the steaks, but then glanced at her and changed direction to step closer to her. Reaching out, he swiped at her chin with his thumb. “You have some…”

Brianne shuddered at his touch, causing his eyes to narrow and his nostrils to flare.

Still cupping her chin, he smoothed his thumb over her skin again.

His touch was so gentle but his gaze was smoldering in the dusk light. She remained perfectly still, perfectly silent. She didn’t want to spook him or ruin the moment by asking for more. But how she wanted to. How she wanted to pull him closer and kiss him.

She didn’t have the nerve to do that, but apparently she had the nerve to lower her head just slightly and lightly kiss the pad of his thumb.

He hissed in a breath and rubbed his thumb against her lips, softly and then with firmer pressure. She closed her eyes, and waited, praying he wouldn’t move away.

He didn’t. Instead he slid his hand around to cup her neck and lowered his head so their foreheads touched. “God, Brianne, I want you. I know I shouldn’t. I know we shouldn’t…”

“Eric called off the wedding because of you,” she said in a rush. “Because of how I felt about you. How I’ve always felt about you.”

He stiffened and raised his head, looking at her with an expression of disbelief. She couldn’t believe it either, that she’d admitted it. Now that she’d said it, she felt lighter. And now that she’d started, she couldn’t stop.

“It’s true, Gabe. I tried to deny it. I felt horrible and disloyal to Eric. During the day, I could pretend my feelings for you didn’t exist, but at night I couldn’t. I dreamed about you, and Eric knew that.”

“How did he know?”

She tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her, grasping her chin and keeping her face looking at his. “How?”

“I called out your name. More than once.”

He closed his eyes, as if her words pained him.

“So you’ve dreamed of me. You’ve wanted me. All this time?”

“All this time, Gabe. Only there was Eric. And he’s your best friend. And you didn’t feel the same way—”

“Bullshit. I wanted you, Brianne, but the situation we were in...”

“I understand. But Gabe, we’re not in that situation now. Eric left because of the way he knew I felt about you—even if I was denying it to myself. I can’t do that anymore. I want you, Gabe.” She stood on tip toe to kiss him tenderly, but it didn’t stay that way for long. He pushed her hair back from her face, cradling her head as he kissed her eyes, her cheeks, her nose. Finally, he claimed her lips, crushing them gently. She ran her tongue along his lips, then suckled gently at his lower lip.

Chapter Twelve

Gabe was still reeling from what Brianne had told him. From the realization that she’d harbored feelings for him for a long time, and that
he
was actually the reason that Eric had broken things off with her.

Then why the hell were you with Eric?
He held back the question, but he couldn’t help thinking it. Why did she stay with Gabe’s friend for so long, if she wanted him? What a waste of time. They could have been together, instead of spending all those years wanting each other.

But they were together now, he reminded himself. Kissing passionately. Potentially about to do much more.

And he wanted to do more. Although he knew there was a reason they shouldn’t, that reason kept eluding him until his whole existence focused on the feel and smell and taste of her. Suddenly, he swung her up in his arms. “This isn’t a fantasy, Brianne. It is real damn life. You and me. And this is about more than just sex for me. I’m going to fuck you hard, and I’m going to fulfill every fantasy you’ve ever had no matter how long it takes. I’m kind of hoping it will take a long, long time.”

She pulled his head down and kissed him again. As they kissed, he maneuvered her into the yurt and lowered her carefully onto the futon bed. She looked small and delicate, nestled amongst the cascade of cushions. He moved to the fire pit, and quickly fed it another couple of logs. He had a feeling it was going to be a long night, and he didn’t want her to get cold.

When he turned back to her she was sitting upright, but completely naked, her clothing scattered on the ground and a very naughty look on her face. He stared at her, his gaze running over every nook and cranny of her body, and his fists clenched with the need to touch her. When he took a step forward, however, she shook her head.

Confused, he halted.

“I want you to strip for me.” She lay back leaning on her elbows, her legs parting slightly so he could see her glistening pink lips. He wanted to push her back, shove his face between her slender legs, and bury his tongue inside until she screamed his name again, like she had done when they were together in her bed. But he did as he was told. He ripped of his t-shirt impatiently.

“No, Gabe, slowly. I want you to tease me,” she said in a sultry voice.

Holy hell, did she have any clue how horny she was making him? She had to, his cock was already trying to fight its way out of his pants. He slowly moved a hand to his fly, trying to give her what she wanted. He slipped the tips of his fingers inside the waistband, and threw the t-shirt at her. She put it straight to her nose, and inhaled deeply. Her hips began to writhe a little, her thighs pressing together. He had been wearing it all day. He didn’t doubt it stank of sweat, and he knew it was filthy, but it was a turn-on seeing her enjoy his scent so much.

He began to undo the buttons at his fly slowly, one by one, watching her face as he revealed his fully erect manhood. She gasped as its full length was revealed, but she stayed where she was, licking her lips hungrily. “You hungry, baby?” he asked as he pulled his jeans off and threw them to one side. She nodded eagerly and sat up. He sat beside her, and she pushed him down onto his back forcefully. She straddled him, eagerly rubbing herself up against him, but when he tried to caress her she pushed his hands away. “Bri, I want to touch you, I want to kiss you everywhere,” he moaned, aroused beyond belief as he felt the scratch of the tiny scrap of lace that was the only thing separating them.

“Do I have to tie you up? Because I have a fantasy I want to fulfill. If we have enough energy later then maybe we can let you have your way,” she said wickedly.

Gabe would never have thought Bri would be so dominant in bed, so utterly sure of what she wanted. But he liked it.

She scratched her immaculate nails down his chest, just hard enough to make him wince, then flicked at his nipples. The shock of it sent a pulse through him, and he felt his cock lift away from him, questing to find her. She eased herself up and down the length of him, but then returned her attention to his nipples. She bent her glorious head down and licked them both, then nipped gently. He cried out quietly, she smiled her coquettish smile and began to lick and nibble all the way down his torso.

As she moved her way down, he felt the coolness of the air on his cock, and it made him shiver, but it became an all-out, full-body shudder when she wrapped her tiny little hands around the base of his turgid member, then began to run her tongue around the tip. He watched as she licked at the tiny droplets of pre-come, her eyes not moving from his. She held his gaze constantly, and it was intoxicating. He wanted to roll her over, pin her down and enter her, show her who was in charge, but he forced himself to remain still. However, he couldn’t help but raise his hips toward her as her hands began to pump up and down. She kept the rhythm steady then took him into her mouth, slowly and deliberately.

The wetness and pressure had his breathing coming hot and heavy, panting as she began to increase the tempo. Fuck, he was going to come any second. “Bri, honey, I know you want to do it your way, but I’m not going to make it if you keep on doing that.” She looked at his contorted features, and parted her lips. The look alone was almost enough to push him over the edge, but she simply tugged his balls gently downwards and it helped to calm the pressure building up within him.