Tapestry of the Past (34 page)

“Thought you might like to know the Feds are going after
Morne
first. It’s doubtful he’ll be extradited out of the States but because of the ballyhoo that’s been raised, it’s even more doubtful
Morne
will live to see freedom. Too damn embarrassing for the government.” Harley looked even more cynical than was his wont.

Wolf soundlessly joined them. “What I don’t understand is why
Morne
thought you didn’t know Gabriel’s background. He admitted following Gabe’s career.”

“Probably because I was on my way out by the time he had enough power to actually keep tabs on Gabe. He had no reason to look for me.” Harley turned toward Gabriel. “He was interested in your current movements as they concerned him, not your past. What he failed to take into consideration was that fate is a fickle bitch. She delights in using the most insignificant action or fact when least expected.
Morne
never even considered that I wouldn’t believe the scenario he planned to set up.”

“I’ll tell you what I wonder,” Gabriel said, pensive. “I wonder the identity of the person he planned Pompano’s accident as a run-through for?”

* * * * *

Gabriel was jarred out of his reverie by the sound of the bathroom door opening. Backlit,
Kalesia
stood there in a silky nightgown before, an uninhibited laugh echoing on the night air, she ran across the room and sailed into his embrace.

Gabriel grunted as he caught her and his arms closed about her. Laughing softly at her exuberance, he smoothed the diaphanous material of her gown, searching for the silken flesh under it. “Don’t you own any other color?” he demanded, nuzzling the still damp skin of her throat. The fragrance of exotic, oriental woods and magnolia tantalized his senses.

Kalesia
glanced down, a rueful arch to one elegant brow. “Too much, huh?”

“You did wear a yellow wedding gown and a yellow garter,” he reminded her.

“Umm, so I did. That reminds me, however. Talk about a mean and lowdown trick to play on Badger…tossing him my garter. The poor man turned absolutely crimson. I was afraid he was going to melt into a puddle and seep between the cracks of the floor.”

“He deserved it,” Gabriel defended righteously. “I thought his behavior was too good to be true. He minded his manners during the ceremony like a perfect gentleman. That should have been the tip-off. If I had used the sense God gave a sand flea, I would have hustled him out the door immediately after the service.”

“So, what was so strange about that? It was my wedding. Badger is my friend. He wouldn’t embarrass me for the world.”
Kalesia
played with the hair on his chest. She leaned down, tasting him delicately with the tip of her tongue.

His stomach muscles tightened violently in response. He had to pull his mind back to what he was saying. “No,” he agreed. “He wouldn’t embarrass you but he wouldn’t hesitate a split second to have a go at my expense. Badger was on his best behavior because he had discovered a fresh audience for his outlandish tales. He didn’t want me to catch him until it was too late to put an end to them.”

Kalesia
tilted her head. “Outlandish tales.”

“Your ‘maid of honor’ was busy as a bee after the ceremony regaling your entire family with several, highly colorful and totally improbable, exploits. I fully expected to find your father coming after me with a shotgun.”

“It was too late for that. Shotguns and weddings only go together if the groom is unwilling. As I recall, you threatened dire harm to my body if I wasn’t at the church on time. In fact,” she drawled, eyes brilliant, “one might get the impression you were nervous about being left at the altar.” She grinned. “Speaking of my family, my mother, in particular, did I misunderstand her when she said you called my cat Cannibal?”

Damn. He was going to have to speak to Della about telling tales out of school. “It’s more suitable,” he defended. “That cat has a decided penchant for blood. My blood.” He sipped at her lips, tracing them from one upturned corner to the other. His cock perked up and began to pay attention. He stripped the filmy nightgown from her impatiently.

“Finish telling me about Badger. I didn’t mean to disrupt your train of thought,”
Kalesia
panted when he let her lips free again.

“You disrupt my train of thought by simply being in the same room.” He buried his lips in the curve of her shoulder, tickling the soft, fragrant skin with the tip of his tongue. “Anyway, thanks to his meddling, your mother now regards me as a cross between Rambo and Dick Dastardly. Mostly, I get the impression, the latter.” Gabriel shuddered as she found his nipple with her fingers, teasing it to a hard point.

“
Mmm
,” she breathed as she moved to nibble his ear. “I’ve always found the bad guy sexier,” she said, and sank her teeth ever-so gently in his lobe. She tugged. “There’s something irresistible and sexy about a black hat.”

Gabriel reacted as if he’d touched a live wire. He twisted, pinning her beneath him. “Is that so?” he asked, feeling happy and carefree as he gave her a wicked grin. “Then come closer, my dear, so I can show you just how bad I can be!”

He swept his hands down from her shoulders to her knees, lingering at the full swell of her breast, the indent of her waist and the lush curve of her hip. Then followed with his mouth, intent on igniting a need that would slowly drive
Kalesia
out of her mind.

“Gabriel!” she moaned, her breath catching in the back of her throat as his tongue dipped into her navel. The sound was a siren’s sigh.

“Do you like this, sweet witch?” he asked, brushing his cheek on her stomach, knowing the masculine rasp of his skin would drive her crazy. In response, she raked her nails down his spine, causing him to arch heavily against her thigh, the damp head of his cock marking her as his as he braced his fists on either side of her.

“Oh, yes, I like that.” She teased his nipples, nipping and raking her teeth across the hard nubs.

Fire shuddered down his spine, tightening his balls. He closed his eyes. God, she truly was the witch he named her. It should scare him, how vulnerable he was to her. Maybe it would have if she hadn’t been just as vulnerable to him.

Warm, slender fingers found his aching cock, tracing the veins up the length of him, to just under the cap. She molded him in her palm. White-hot need exploded behind his closed lids.

“Gabriel, is this part of your promise to explain your stand on fire and brimstone?”
Kalesia
whispered, nipping a little viciously at the padding of muscle covering his shoulder.

“Definitely. It may take all night to get my viewpoint properly across.” All thoughts of teasing flew out of Gabriel’s mind as the reality of the day settled over him.

“Damn, sugar.” Feeling all-powerful, he settled between her thighs and entered her, tormenting them both with a long, slow, exquisitely thorough joining. The smell of aroused woman, the feel of hot, silken wetness as she enclosed him in her welcoming grip, tested his will. He wanted to pound into her, a mindless thrusting that would bring them both to orgasm. He grabbed the last of his will and waited, letting her adjust to his size, the depth of his need. Tonight was her wedding night. He would make it special.

Even if it killed him.

Her nipples were flushed dark rose and swollen with need. He took one hard bud between his teeth and bit down with exquisite care until her breath caught.
Mmm
. She tasted so damn good. He sucked, swirling his tongue in the tiny indent in the middle of her nipple. She moved restlessly, small, erotic moans coming from the back of her throat. He let her flesh go with a soft sounding pop.

He moved his hips, withdrawing until the head of his cock was just inside her entrance. Slipping his hand between them, he found her clit and gave it a flick before using her own wetness to moisten his finger. He rubbed circles around the engorged flesh. Her nails scored his hips as she pulled him hard against her.

“Damn you, don’t play with me.”

“But I like playing with you. It’s not every man who has his own personal witch to tease.”

Her hand slipped between his legs, cupping his balls.

His breath caught. Son of a bitch! She was hot. So hot she was burning him alive. He loved every minute of the sweet torture. He wrenched his mouth free, breathing heavily.

Sweat
sheened
his shoulders, his arms trembled. He fastened his mouth on hers, tasting, teasing, seeking her sweetness the same way he sought his next breath. He slid back inside her, feeling the walls of her pussy close about him, gripping and milking his aching flesh as she sought fulfillment. A pulse of pre-cum slipped past his control. His lower spine tingled in warning. He was so close to coming.

She caught a bead of sweat on the tip of her tongue as it ran down between his
pecs
. The small sensual gesture loosed the reins on his control. He pulled back and thrust hard, his fingers moving faster on her clit. Almost immediately, he remembered his vow to make this night special for her. He slowed the rhythmic thrust of his hips.

She moaned a protest.

“Gabriel, I need more. Move,” she ordered.

A
gaspy
laugh burst past his lips. “You were the one who wanted to know all about my version of brimstone and retribution,” he reminded her. “I owe you for that scare you gave me.”

“Now? You intend to chastise me for that now?” Her words ended in a note of raised disbelief.

He dropped his head beside hers on the pillow and huffed a chuckle into her ear. “You did ask.”

She put both hands on his cheeks and made him look at her. What she saw there must have reassured her. “Arrogant tomcat.”

“You like cats.”

“Yes,” she agreed, her arms going about his neck. She played with the damp strands of hair there. “But I love you.”

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