Halfway through the night her phone dinged. Abigail grunted and shuffled her legs, getting more comfortable beneath the downy white comforter. With a soft sigh, she settled back into slumber. Outside the crickets chirped merrily and the sound of the ocean lapping beneath the boardwalks and docks lulled her again. Peace, quiet, tranquility. Abigail smiled and snuggled deeper into the goose down pillow.

Another ding had her opening one bleary eye to frown at the glowing phone on the nightstand by the bed.

Her sleepy mind wondered who would be sending her a message. What time was it anyway?

She picked up the phone and gaped. It was two in the morning!

Clicking on the little envelope image, she screwed up her face at the glare of white light and squinted at the screen.

Two messages from Gabriel.

Alarm shooting through her, she tapped on the first message, hoping nothing was wrong.

Gabe: R u sleeping?

Gabe: :(

Abigail frowned and debated as to whether or not she should answer him

Huffing out a sigh, she tapped into the tiny keyboard:

Me: I was.

Gabe: :) I’m bored, among other unmentionable things ♥ ;)

Me: You should be asleep.

Gabe: Keep thinking about u.

Another message popped up. She almost dropped the phone at an image of the sheet tented over his lap.

Me: I am going to sleep now, Mr. Raven.

It took less than a minute for the phone to begin ringing softly. Michael had graciously linked the picture of Gabriel licking up her face as Rafael leaned in to poke his own tongue in Gabe’s ear as Gabriel’s caller ID.

“Gabriel, it’s more than two in the morning,” she replied with a frown.

“I missed you.”

Clearly, she was unprepared for the masculine purr of his million-dollar voice streaming directly into her left ear; a hot shiver racing over every inch of her body, making her clench her thighs. Oh, the ache whenever he spoke, or sang, would she ever get used to it? Such wicked reactions on her part which she unfortunately had no control over. How was she ever going to cleanse her traitorous body of its carnal longing for him?

“Still there?” he asked.

She had to swallow before she spoke. “Yes.” She cringed at the breathy sound of her voice.

He growled. “You sound so damn sexy right now, baby. Were you dreaming of me?”

“Gabriel, please.”

“Nothing would make me happier than to please you, Abigail.” He’d pitched his voice low, adding that slight grittiness that earned Diavolo millions “I’d wear myself out pleasing you, baby. All night long.”

Gah! She needed to diffuse this sexually charged conversation.

She sat up and he began to chuckle. Frowning, she asked, “Gabriel, what’s so funny?”

***

His chuckling turned into a choked groan when she stood. He knew he shouldn’t be using the link to his security cameras to spy on her, but he’d just wanted to make sure she was okay. She’d seemed so fucking sweet curled up on her side in the guest bedroom of his beach house. She kept moving her legs around, wiggling her cute ass beneath the comforter. He couldn’t help sending her a message, and then calling.

He almost swallowed his tongue when she slid out from beneath the covers and saw that her bright green Big Bird T-shirt didn’t quite cover her ass. Her panties were white with tiny little things printed on them. He couldn’t decide if it was little hearts or flowers.

“Gabriel,” she said impatiently.

“God, baby,” he croaked, needing to grip his erection before he blew his load at the sight of her nipples poking against the thin jersey of her nightshirt. Her hair was finally loose and fell around her in glorious ribbons of gold right to her waist.

“Are you in pain? Oh, Gabriel.” He felt guilty at her panicked look.

“I’m fine,” he interrupted her plea that he notify the nurses. “I’m hurting for you, baby. I just want to crawl into bed with you.”

She covered her face with her palm and he didn’t miss the way she shivered.

And then she did something that had his blood going molten in his veins. Her small hand slipped between her thighs to cup her sex and squeeze.

Did she desire him? Was she wet and horny for him right now?

“Gabriel, I told you…”

He heard her breath rush from her, and saw how her hand pressed harder between her legs. She sat back down on the bed and pulled her hand back out to run trembling fingers through her hair.

He did his best to roll his tongue back into his mouth. He switched the phone to his right hand in the sling. “Lay back,” he whispered, left hand sliding beneath the sheet to wrap around his throbbing cock.

Her eyes went wide before looking around suspiciously. “How do you know I’m up?”

Panic had his escalating arousal cooling a bit. “I heard the bedding rustle. I figured you’d gotten up,” he blurted thinking fast. If she knew he was watching her over his security system, she’d be pissed, call him a perverted sleaze bag. He knew he shouldn’t be watching her like that, but he was so hot for her. It would just be this time only.

Slowly, she laid back, and, just like that, he was close to losing it when she parted her thighs a bit and slid her hand shyly back between her legs with another shudder.

“God, Abby,” he panted.

She stiffened a bit before relaxing and licking her lips. “Gabriel, what are you doing?”

Gabe gulped, “I don’t think I should tell you. You might get mad.”

He clenched his jaw as his fingers slid up his length before flexing his hips, wincing at the discomfort in his leg and hip, but not enough to keep him from dragging his hand back down with a barely stifled groan.

“Baby, touch yourself.”

She shook her head, but her legs spread farther, her fingers pressed harder. “Gabriel, please…don’t.”

“I bet you’re wet, baby. You’re wet for me as much as I am for you.”

The sheet clung to the tip of his cock, wet with precum. He bent his left leg, holding the phone against his chest with his right hand still strapped inside the sling. It felt strange stroking with his left, but he was about to cum all over himself at the sight of his sweet Abby squeezing her little pussy through her panties.

“You shouldn’t be talking to me like this,” she panted. “It’s so…so wicked.”

“Baby, I promised not to pressure you for sex, at least give me this,” he practically begged.

His balls were already pulling up tight. He needed to hear her more.

“Baby, I’m so bad. I’m sorry, but I’m jerking off right now. Can’t help it. Want you so much.”

He saw her shudder again, her back actually arch, her thighs fall completely apart. Good-god, she was going to come.

“Baby, touch yourself. Slide your little fingers under your panties.”

She began to pant, her hand slowly dipping beneath the elastic of her panties. They both groaned at the same time.

“God-baby. Are you wet?”

She hesitated.

“Baby, please,” he was so close, but he needed to hear her, make her come even if it was with his voice and words.

“Yes,” she answered on a tremulous sigh.

What would her pussy look like? Was she clean-shaven, trimmed down, or completely wild. He never did like au natural, but on Abby, he’d take anything only because it was Abigail.

“Abby,” he moaned again. “If you’d let me touch you, I’d slide my fingers there, where you have your hand now. I’d feel how slick you’d be for me and hot. Baby, I’d lick my fingers clean and dip down for seconds.”

“Gabriel,” she moaned, her hips bucking once, twice, thighs trembling.

“I’d rub your sweet clit, baby. That little bump you have inside your sex lips would be hard and erect for me. I’d rub it in tight little circles.”

Her body jerked and then she began to rock her hips, blatantly riding her fingers. Gabriel wanted to cry out in frustration, his balls aching, cock throbbing with the need to be embedded in her.

“Instead of my hand, it would be your hand teasing the fuck out of me. Gripping me tight, stroking me till I’m cross-eyed.” He growled, his toes curling, stomach muscles clenching.

She whimpered, head thrown back.

“Baby, I’d crawl down on hands and knees and lick up all that sweet honey from you—“

Her cry of completion stunned him, the sight of the front of her panties becoming drenched with her obvious spurt of juice had him erupting with a harsh shout.

Gabriel spilled, hot cum making a mess of his hand, belly, and the sheet draped over him. He closed his eyes and bit his lip to stifle his loud groans of pleasure, seeing the image of her back bowing and her head snapping back as she drenched her little panties emblazoned forever in his mind. The pleasure was short lived though. To his horror, the door squeaked open and the tall, three-hundred-pound nurse named Helga stalked in with a frown, eyeing the mess he’d made of himself

Damn.

Gabriel’s face flamed about a thousand degrees at her disapproving glare.

Panting and shivering uncontrollably, he stared at the screen of his phone. Abigail had hung up on him.

***

The next day had been pure humiliation. Bright and early, Anna Maria called Abigail asking her if she could take her to see her grandson.

It wasn’t the sweet woman’s fault her randy grandson had had phone sex with Abigail in the wee hours of the morning.

Abigail had been so shame-faced. She heard him shouting out his own orgasm over the line, the sound of his deep voice almost making her explode a second time, but it was the gush of fluid that had wet her fingers that had startled her. Terrified, she tossed the phone away from her. It fell to the hardwood floor in pieces, ending the call abruptly.

Abigail ran into the bathroom and inspected herself, unsure of what she was looking for. Her sex was swollen and deep pink, glistening with the foreign sticky clear fluid that had wet her panties and hand in the most unusual way.

What was it? Why did that happen? Was she still a virgin? She hadn’t penetrated herself with her fingers, just rubbed at her clit as Gabriel had instructed her to do. Oh-god, it had felt so good.

But that was bad. She was such a bad girl, letting a sexy rock star talk her into playing with herself for his obvious twisted pleasure.

As punishment, she forced herself to take a cold shower. She hated cold water.

Afterwards, she collected the pieces of her phone, realizing that only the battery and its cover had come loose. After putting it back together, the phone worked just fine. Gabriel never called back. She wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed by that.

Her first orgasm.

She had so many questions, and though she felt shy broaching the subject, who better than the man who’d elicited such a strong passionate response from her body with only his voice to answer her queries?

Surprisingly, Gabriel’s grandmother’s house was just a few blocks from where she was. Just like Gabriel had said, the driveway was filled with cars.

Anna Maria had frowned at Abigail’s tiny Beetle and insisted they take the Mercedes.

After much debate, Abigail situated herself in Gabriel’s silver S Class driver’s seat. His scent was everywhere inside the vehicle.

Anna Maria chirped merrily next to her the entire ride, telling her stories about her grandson. Abigail could hear the pride and love in her voice. By the time they stepped into the elevator at the hospital, Abigail felt she’d literally grown up with him.

Approaching the room, however, her nerves began to get the best of her. Her face flamed as they neared the door.

How could she face him after what they’d done over the phone? Had he heard her cry out? Of course he had to have heard her. She’d screamed shamelessly, wetting her hand and panties in a shameful gush of lust.

Next to her, Anna Maria smiled and pushed open the door to Gabriel’s room.

The bodyguards were no longer there. Abigail felt the urge to turn around and flee before having to look Gabriel in the face, but how would she explain her behavior to Anna Maria.

They approached the bed. She made sure to stay way behind his grandmother.

Anna Maria hugged him and spoke to him affectionately in Spanish.

The sound of his voice had Abigail closing her eyes as another shudder ran rampant through her. To her utter shame, she felt when her panties grew damp again.

Before she could do anything, Anna Maria was pulling her toward Gabriel.

He reached for her, her eyes ensnared in the intense green of his.

Someone had shaved him and his hospital gown was a solid grayish blue. Dark hair brushed back from his face to trail back behind his shoulders, he wrapped his fingers at the nape of her neck and pulled her to his face.

Her heart thundered in her ears when he sealed his mouth over hers, his tongue sliding in to stoke hers slowly, deliciously.

Her eyes were still closed when he finally lifted his lips off hers. Blinking them open a crack, she stared helplessly into his, marveling at the almost bluish hue of his green eyes. Around the pupils were gold flecks and the entire iris was ringed in black making them truly spectacular. He smiled, looking relieved.

“Hey,” he whispered, stroking her cheek.

Her trembling hand came up to touch his smooth cheek. God-but he was so handsome.

“You shaved,” she managed to say.

He gripped her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers, eyes blazing. “Had to make sure I looked good for my girl. Michael helped me out this morning.”

Abigail could have just stayed there, inches from him, staring like a love-struck idiot into his beautiful face, but she remembered Anna Maria’s presence and moved away, feeling her face heat up at her amorous display with Gabriel in front of her.

Gabriel was making her lose her mind and propriety.

***

In the days that followed, Abigail fell into a routine. She’d get up early, take a jog along the beach, shower, have a quick breakfast, and then head up to the hospital. She’d spend most of the day with Gabriel and then head back home to make dinner or eat at Michael’s house with him and Erica. Gabriel would call her and keep her on the phone until she was yawning and insisting she needed her rest.

Had she actually told him she’d be his girlfriend? She really couldn’t remember, but he seemed to believe they were a couple, as well as the others, so she just left it at that. Gabriel Brinks, his real last name, lead singer of the popular local rock band called Diavolo was her boyfriend. She repeated it to herself every morning just to make herself believe it, because it seemed like a fairytale.

The only person livid about the situation had been Diamond.

A month and a half later, Gabriel was released from the hospital.

He called her early that morning after the doctor signed his release paperwork.

“The media is swarming outside, baby,” he told her over the phone.

She shivered with apprehension. “I really wanted to be there, but…” she trailed off, twirling a lock of her hair around one finger nervously.

Anna Maria had tuned the television to a local news station covering Gabriel’s release from the hospital.

“That’s okay, baby. After this, all the fuss will die down and things will go back to normal. Believe it or not, I can actually go to Target and not get stopped…Not that I go to Target much.”

She could hear the grin in his voice and smiled too, her belly quivering like a silly schoolgirl with a crush.

Ever since that night more than a month ago, she’d anticipated him calling her in the middle of the night again for more phone sex, but he hadn’t.

It didn’t keep her from exploring herself more fully and finding she could never orgasm as spectacularly as that night when he’d told her to touch herself. Her face flamed at the memory.

“Baby,” he purred, making her wet her panties at the sound.

“Y-yes?”

“We can be together now, no interruptions.”

She almost stopped breathing. Her mouth worked, but no sound came out.

“Are you making that cute little fish face that makes me want to kiss the fuck out of you?”

Her jaw just dropped. “Gabriel,” she admonished breathlessly.

He laughed, setting her body afire. She clenched her thighs and wiped her fingers across her suddenly damp forehead.

Anna Maria appeared before her suddenly, offering a glass of ice-cold lemonade.

“Th-thank you,” Abigail stammered, face growing hotter before the sweetly smiling older woman.

Having illicit thoughts with a man in his grandmother’s house had to be a sin worth two cold showers at least.

“Are you staying with me on the phone while I get passed the circus of paps outside?”

“If you want me to,” she answered taking a sip of her lemonade.

Anna Maria had already sat on the couch and turned up the volume slightly to the television.

Abigail recognized the reporter that had harassed her that first day at the hospital.

“Of course I want you to. I’d rather have you here with me, show the world my beautiful girl, but I respect your wish to stay out of the limelight. At least for now,” he said in a less playful tone.

Abigail frowned. “What do you mean?”

The noise level on his side of the phone increased. People were talking to him. Abigail heard Diamond.

Abigail felt the unpleasant ache of jealousy when she heard the woman cooing to him and obviously kissing him. She could almost imagine Diamond’s red claws all over her man.

The image just ate away at Abigail’s insides, though she tried to remain indifferent. The woman was his manager, after all.

“Baby, you there?”

“Y-yes,” she answered, her hand gripping the phone tighter as the reporters stood waiting at the entrance to the hospital. They’d roped off an area, creating a path to Angelo’s SUV. There was someone she didn’t recognize standing ready at the SUV.

More noise coming from Gabriel’s end.

“Baby, I’m almost outside now. They’ve got me in a wheelchair.” She heard the displeasure in his voice.

“All patients are wheeled out in a chair, Gabe. It’s just a safety measure.”

The doors to the hospital opened and the fans began to shout.

“I love you, Abby,” he was saying, making her heart skip a beat.

Her eyes welled and her jaw dropped at what he’d said as he finally appeared on the television screen.

There was no time for a reply to his declaration

The two bodyguards opened the doors and filed out first. A buxom, red-haired nurse wheeled Gabriel out. Abigail had never seen her before, but the girl was beyond beautiful, her scarlet lips glistening with the flash of the cameras. Michael and Angelo flanked either side of the wheelchair with Diamond coming up behind the nurse.

The reporters descended upon him like vultures. Phones were shoved close to his face and questions flew.

He smiled and answered with more patience than Abigail thought she’d have if she’d ever find herself in a similar situation.

“Can you walk, Gabriel?”

“Sure can. Just thought I’d take advantage of the complimentary service,” he chuckled, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at the seductively smiling nurse.

Ribald laughter ensued.

“Where is your girlfriend, Gabriel? Are you two still together?”

Abigail froze. Gabriel seemed to do the same.

He looked to the sides and signaled to Michael. “Let’s get to the car.”

The reporters continued to throw questions at him.

“Abby, we gotta talk when I get home,” he said, his voice almost a growl.

Her belly did a nervous flip.

They made it to the SUV. The wheel chair was rolled onto a metal plate she hadn’t noticed before. It looked like a low ramp.

The nurse walked around to the front of the wheel chair and leaned down.

Abigail watched in shock as the woman slipped her fingers into Gabriel’s dark hair and kissed him. People howled and applauded, whistled and cheered.

Abigail had seen enough. Standing from the armchair by the big fireplace in Anna Maria’s living room, she walk calmly to the bathroom by the hall and closed herself inside.

She’d long disconnected the call. She couldn’t talk to Gabriel right now. She needed to collect her scattered thoughts. Seeing another woman putting her mouth on his had definitely done some damage to her on the inside.

What did she expect? He was a rock star. She’d been stupid to forget that about him. The last few days had been so idyllic. They’d talked, laughed, he’d flirted incessantly with her, making her feel special. He’d told her he loved her just moments before. Did those words mean anything to him? Maybe all he wanted was sex. Maybe she was the only female to ever hold out on him and she just posed a challenge.

Mikayla was sure he would grow tired of her and move on.

Abigail looked at her reflection in the mirror. She’d left her hair loose because he’d said he loved it that way. She even put on some make up and wore a pair of jeans with a form fitting tank top in pink, dressing in a way she thought might please him. How stupid and naïve she’d been.

She was no competition for the type of females Gabriel attracted; tall, slim, silicon breasts and bee-sting lips.

She was too shy to dress racy, didn’t know the first thing about applying makeup expertly, and she certainly didn’t know how to act seductive.

Abigail looked at herself in the mirror, not surprised to find her mascara starting to run from the stupid tears leaking out the sides of her eyes. Removing her glasses, she dabbed at the corners with a tissue.

Her phone ringing startled her. Looking at the screen, she saw it was Gabriel.

Ignoring the softly chiming phone, she continued to dab at the stupid tears that insisted on running down her cheeks. Her nose was turning red and her eyes looked bright. The damage was done. There was no way anyone couldn’t guess she was trying not to bawl her eyes out and doing a poor job of it.

Again, the phone rang and dinged, signaling a text had been left.

It rang and dinged three more times.

With trembling hands she picked up the phone and opened the message.

Gabe: Baby pick up. That shit was staged. I had no idea.

Gabe: Baby please pick up the phone!

Gabe: NOW!!!!

Gabe: Don’t u dare leave the house Abigail! We r going to talk!!!!!

Abigail scoffed at the last message. Who did he think he was?

A soft knock at the door made her jump.

“Mijita, are you alright?” Anna Maria called through the door.

Abigail felt guilty at leaving the poor old woman alone. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and smiled.

“I’m fine,” she managed to say without breaking down.

Anna Maria frowned and shook her head. “These women. They throw themselves at my grandson, mijita. He has eyes only for you, believe me. I can see it.”

Abigail nodded. “It’s okay, Anna Maria.”

The woman frowned. “No. I see you are upset. You are a good girl, and Gabriel adores you. Do not doubt him.”

Abigail bit her lip. She couldn’t very well tell Gabe’s grandmother that she suspected Gabe just wanted to bed her.

“We’re just so different,” Abigail sighed.

“Nonsense,” the older woman tutted. “Gabriel is a good man and you’re a good girl. You’re perfect for each other.”

If only it were that simple.

Her phone rang again and Anna Maria looked at her expectantly.

Abigail gulped and answered it.

It wasn’t Gabriel.

Mikayla’s voice cackled with delight in her ear. “What did I tell you, stupid? There you go. Congratulations. You’re yesterday’s news. Did you finally give him some tail or did he just get tired of trying for it?”

Abigail smiled at Anna Maria and told her, “It’s my sister.”

The woman nodded and turned to go into the kitchen.

“Where are you?” Mikayla asked impatiently. “I haven’t seen your mug in over a month.”

“How’d you get my number?” Abigail asked closing her eyes.

“It’s on mom’s phone,” her sister answered laughing. “Don’t tell me you’ve been staying at the hospital all this time? Really, Abby. That’s beyond desperate.”

“I have my own place,” Abigail answered.

“What? Liar. Where’d you get the money? If you asked my boyfriend—“

“I have my own money, thank you,” Abigail spat.

Mikayla snickered. “Whatever. So where is this little place of yours?”

Abigail swallowed, reluctant to reveal her whereabouts. “Bayside.”

Mikayla snorted. “What? You get a job as a live-in maid?”

Abigail felt her face grow hot. “The owner is always away and needs someone to look after the place.”

She cringed when Mikayla burst out laughing. “You have got to be fucking kidding me. Are you serious? I-mean, I only said that to bust your chops, but Jesus! A maid?” More loud laughter.

Abigail felt her temper flare. “It’s a decent enough job. At least I’m not a stripper!”

Mikayla sputtered. “Fuck you. I’ll have you know it was one time in Vegas and it was for Gabriel. That’s right. Gabe shoved a hundred dollar bill down my panties and I gave him the lap-dance of his life. You got my leftovers, Abs. And he dumped your ass from what I can see. That chick that wheeled him out of the hospital practically had her tongue down his throat.”

“He said it was staged,” Abigail defended.

More laughing, contemptuous this time. “You gullible idiot, that’s what he told me about you at first, too.” She snorted with disdain. “How far did you let him get, Abby? Did he have you suck his cock, too, or maybe do a little phone sex with you?”

Abigail hung up, horrified. Oh-god, had Gabriel let Mikayla…? Did they have sex? The thought disgusted Abigail. The thought she’d been touching herself thinking of the man disgusted her more, especially knowing her sister had had her mouth and who knew what else all over him. It made her want to gag. The images of the redhead locking lips with him just made her queasier. He’d probably come to her expecting to kiss her with that same mouth full of someone else’s germs.

Abigail sat numbly on the armchair she’d vacated. The television was still showing images of Diavolo onstage. Laser lights lit up a stage, people screamed and pumped the air with their fists. Angelo pounded the drum set, his blond hair flying all over his face, Rafael and Ariel played close together, their hair obstructing their faces, and Gabriel ran up and down the edge of the stage, his bared upper body gleaming with sweat.

Michael joined him as Gabriel reached to catch something a fan threw at him.

Abigail’s eyes widened when she realized it was a pair of red panties. He held it high like a trophy, back bowing back as he sang his heart out.

When they began flashing pictures of Gabriel with different glamorous women, ending with the grainy ones of her with Gabriel, she elected to turn the flat screen off, sick to her stomach. She’d become one of Gabriel’s many women. At least she could hold her head up, knowing she’d never allowed him to bed her.

Anna Maria brought out more refreshments. The sound of the door opening had Abigail stiffening.

“That would be my housekeeper,” Anna Maria grinned.

In walked an elderly black woman dressed in dark purple leggings and a big grey t-shirt with a picture of the cat Tartar Sauce on it.

“Come meet Gabriel’s girlfriend,” Anna Maria was saying, all smiles.

The other woman’s eyes widened and a smile spread over her face. “Oh-my-lord, let me see,” she said coming closer after leaving her purse and two shopping bags on the table by the entry.

Abigail lifted her hand and shook the woman’s hand. “Hello. I’m Abigail,” she said.

“Ooh, nice to meet you. Oh-my-goodness, but you’re so beautiful. My name is Sharmane.”

Abigail’s smile froze for a moment. Was this the same Sharmane that cleaned the bedroom of the mysterious owner of the beach house she resided in now? It was possible. After all, Gabriel said he knew the owner. Perhaps he’d recommended Sharmane to him.

Satisfied with that, she allowed Sharmane to embrace her, obviously not satisfied with shaking her hand.

“Oh, Gabriel better be good to you otherwise I’ll take him across my knee,” the housekeeper was saying, surprising Abigail at her forwardness. Sharmane shook her head and rolled her eyes. “I’ve been taking care of him along with Anna Maria since he was seven years old.”

Abigail grinned. “Oh my.”

“Did you bring the ham?” Anna Maria was saying.

Sharmane hustled toward the kitchen. “Got a beauty. I’m going to start prepping it for tonight. Did you take the chicken out of the oven?”

“I’ve got it all on the platters. They should be here any moment. I do hope Angelo drives carefully. I want Gabriel home safe.”

Sharmane poked her head over the counter that divided the dining room from the kitchen. “Will he still be staying here or in the other house?”

Anna Maria’s gaze flicked to Abigail’s before she answered, “I’m not really sure.”

On cue, the front door opened and Angelo rushed in to give Anna Maria a bear hug.

Outside, Abigail heard many voices, Diamond, Michael, Erica, and Rafe’s. It seemed everyone had come with Gabriel.

His shoulder had healed and he used crutches. Still, she saw the tightness around his lips and knew he was in a bit of pain. Her heart skipped a bit.

He was dressed in a tight black t-shirt and loose jeans. A pair of Nikes were on his feet as he made his way slowly to the door, Michael and Ariel flanking him. The guys were watching his every step, making sure he didn’t fall.

He looked up, the breeze blowing swath of dark hair across his cheek and lips. Almost expecting to see his mouth smeared in red, his lips were slightly parted to show a hint of straight white teeth.

Her belly clenched and her heart sped up at the sight of him. She kept still though, her face serene, not wanting to let on how hurt she felt.

Anna Maria kept a tight arm around her waist, as if expecting her to bolt.

Gabriel’s eyes blazed as he got closer. His face was unsmiling, determined.

Diamond strolled over to Anna Maria to greet her with an enthusiastic hug and kiss. She then turned to Abigail, eyes wide and smile even wider. “Abigail, right? Nice to see you again, hon.”

Abigail tried not to cringe when the woman gave her a hug and kissed the air near her cheek. When Diamond looked back at her face, her serpent green eyes were glacial, her smile cruel.

Gabriel finally reached Abigail. Michael hugged and kissed her first and then stood by Gabriel as he reached for her with one arm.

“Easy,” Michael warned when Gabriel’s balance wobbled. Even Abigail’s arms jumped to reach for him, thinking for a moment he was about to fall.

Rafe and Michael grabbed him as well as Abigail when he continued to tip forward. He didn’t stop until he had himself against Abigail, his mouth seeking hers.

Abigail turned her face, giving him her cheek.

“Abby, god-damn-it, look at me,” he snarled.

Abigail felt herself blush and blinked up at him from beneath her lashes.

“It was staged,” he said, and then almost left her deaf when he shouted for Diamond to come over to them.

“Sweetie, what is it? You shouldn’t be riling yourself like this,” Diamond cooed.

“Tell her,” Gabriel snapped. “Tell her what you did.”

Diamond frowned making a disgruntled sound in her throat. With a roll of her eyes, she sighed in exasperation. “My friend wanted to meet you. She’s had a lady boner for you for ages, plus she’s a professional model. It made good PR to have her wheel you out and bid you farewell from the hospital. The fans and the media loved it.”

Gabriel’s gaze snapped back to Abigail. “See?”

She gulped and averted her gaze. It still hurt. She knew it wasn’t his fault, but seeing that woman kiss him had cut her deeply. How was she going to feel when he finally walked away?

“Abby, please. Say something,” he said softly.

She took a deep breath and looked up. Everyone was staring at her, making her blush harder.

“Baby,” he crooned, sliding his fingers over her cheek, his eyes pleading.

“I-I’m okay, really. It’s just…well I just need to get used to all this.”

He swooped in and kissed her then. All thoughts of other women and germs soon forgotten as his sweet familiar taste and scent made her belly quiver.

They finally went into the house and out the back doors to the terrace. There were two tables outside laden with food. The early morning sun glittered off the pool water as the boys served themselves brunch.

Abigail had long since lost her appetite, but came over to Anna Maria when the woman called her.

Anna Maria was piling food on a plate at a disturbing rate.

Abigail’s eyes gaped horrified when she said, “Here,” and held the plate out to her. The plate held what Abigail would usually consume in maybe a week. Maybe more. “This is for Gaby. You take to him, yes?”

Abigail let out her breath and nodded.

She approached Gabriel, but slowed down when she realized Diamond had taken her seat.

Gabriel and she were talking and, from the looks of it, were also arguing heatedly.

A big muscular arm went around her shoulders at the same time a ginormous hand took one of the pieces of chicken from her heavily piled plate.

“Looks like you need help with that load,” Michael chuckled.

“Diamond, dance with me,” Angelo shouted yanking the blond from her seat and twirling her around.

Michael started walking, dragging Abigail with him.

“Hey, Gabe. Look what I found. A woman with a plate of your grandmother and Sharmane’s cooking.”

“Sight for sore eyes,” Gabriel smirked. “And the woman, too. Come-ere, Baby.”

He yanked the seat closer to the lounge he reclined upon.

“Hey, Gabe, Ariel here says that if we toss you in the pool you’ll sink because of the metal girder in your leg, man,” Rafe called out.

Gabriel grinned and flipped him the finger. Grabbing one of his crutches, he held it over his shoulder like a bat and dared, “Come over and try to toss me.”

Ariel laughed, the first time Abigail had ever seen him do so. “Nah, man,” he said. “Your girl’s here. We wouldn’t want to mess your hair.” The others snickered along with the bass player.

They continued to horse around, cracking jokes at each other’s expense and laughing. Usually more crude, today they seemed to be keeping it PG probably for Anna Maria’s sake.

Later on toward late afternoon, Michael brought out acoustic guitars, giving Gabriel one.

Abigail watched him wince when he positioned it on his lap. Leaning back a bit, obviously seeking a more comfortable position, he began to play. Rafe and Michael accompanied him, but after three songs, he gave the guitar to Ariel.

Michael sang a few songs and Gabriel harmonized with him. Abigail was surprised at how well Michael could sing. They talked about when they started and Abigail listened intently, gasping when she learned their first drummer had died in a car crash when he was only seventeen. They’d also had another bass player who went to jail for fraud and petty burglary. The guy had been bad news all around.

“Luckily, we found Eeyore here,” Ang said patting Ariel on his back. The bass player nodded, his eyes already slightly glassy from too much beer.

Abigail wondered how he’d gotten the terrible scar that ran from his left eyebrow down to his chin. It made his left eye sag a little, but if you looked at him from the right, he was very handsome…if you could ignore his usual broodiness. He also swayed from side to side, as if listening to his own interior music.

Later that evening, Sharmane brought out a glazed ham adorned with pineapples and cherries.

Again, Anna Maria served Gabriel a heaping plate.

He was beginning to look tired. She took away his plate after he’d cleared it completely of the scary amount of food it had contained. When she came back to him, he gripped her wrist and pulled her closer.

“Gabriel, your leg,” she gasped when he seemed to be pulling her to sit with him. He lowered his left leg and dragged her between his thighs.

She sat gingerly, acutely aware of his right leg behind her. Also, afraid to lean against him because of his ribs. He cupped her cheek and brought her close, kissing her gently.

“Stay with me tonight,” he whispered.

She tried to lean away, but just the pressure of his fingers against her face kept her in place.

“Gabriel, you promised.”

“I just want to sleep with you. That’s all, Abby. What’s sinful about that?”

“It’s not right.”

“Why not?”

She finally managed to get him to release his hold on her face and looked at him with what she hoped was a stern expression. “It just isn’t. It’s not proper.”

He tipped his head to the side and stared at her, eyes blazing, “That’s ridiculous, Abby.”

She stood abruptly, but he gripped her wrist. She resisted his tugging.

“Gabriel, I said no.”

“Alright, I’m sorry. Sit down.” When she remained standing, he said in a softer tone, “Please?”

She sat, but with her back ramrod stiff, inwardly chastising herself for letting his pretty face weaken her resolve, darn-it.

His nose traced the curve of her ear, giving her goose bumps. “I just don’t want you to go. Would you at least consider staying in the spare bedroom here?”

Abigail felt herself weakening. “I shouldn’t. I’m supposed to be caring for that house—“

He scoffed, almost angry now, “Come-on, Abigail. Surely the house won’t fall apart because you’re gone a night or two. The owner doesn’t expect you to lock yourself in there and not have a life.”

Panic had her heart thudding in her chest. If she succumbed to sleeping with him, eventually she would also give in to having sex with him. She barely restrained herself from touching and stroking him everywhere as it was, may God have mercy on her sinful soul.

His phone began to ring. She took the opportunity to jolt up out of his reach and say she wanted to help Sharmane clear up the food from the tables.

She was dashing away from Gabriel before he could grab her again.

Inside, she headed toward the bathroom where she locked herself in and leaned against the door with a heartfelt sigh.

Oh-lord. How was she supposed to resist the temptation that was Gabriel?

Stepping up to the sink, she splashed some cold water on her face until she remembered her mascara.

Looking up, she stared horrified at the black panda smudges around her eyes now.

With a dejected sigh, she grabbed the soap and began to wash everything off. As she was rinsing her face with warm water, she heard arguing just outside the door.

“Don’t start, Erica. What did I do this time?”

Silence.

“Again? Again the silent treatment?” Michael punched the door, making Abigail jump.

“God-damn-it, Erica. What did I do?”

“You know what you did,” the girl finally spat. “I saw you looking at that nasty whore that kissed Gabriel. Maybe Abigail doesn’t mind that type of behavior, but I’m not going to put up with that shit. Your being a rock star does not impress me, Mike.”

There was struggling outside and again the door was banged.

“How ‘bout this? Does this impress you?”

“Get the fuck off me, you pig,” Erica hissed.

Abigail covered her mouth in shock when she heard the distinct sound of a slap. She cupped her throat, hoping they were not about to start beating each other as the sound of a tussle made it clear through the door.

Unsure as to whether or not she should walk out of the bathroom, she heard Mike’s muffled voice exclaim, “Stop-it-stop-it, Erica. Have a little respect for Gabe’s grandmother’s house.”

“I don’t give a rat’s ass whose house I’m in, you jerk.”

“Erica, I was not purposely looking at that chick. She grabbed Gabe and started kissing him. Rafe and I were trying to get her off him, is all,” he said in a pleading tone.

Abigail heard Erica’s heels stomping off and Michael’s hurrying after her.

Poor Michael. She knew he wouldn’t ever cheat on Erica. This past month she’d seen how he cared for Erica, making sure she took her medication, and that she ate and rested well.

She thought about what Erica had said to Michael and then thought about Gabriel.

Guilt assailed her at her own reaction to him when he finally came home. Instead of welcoming him with affection, she’d turned her face from his seeking kiss, heart full of doubts. He didn’t deserve that, and admitted to herself she’d let Mikayla poison her mind.

Feeling repentant, she walked out of the bathroom and went back outside, mind made up about what she needed to do

Gabriel sat alone, face stony, looking at the glittering pool water as the light reflected from within.

Feeling shy, she walked toward him. The others laughed and talked. There was music from a sound system playing. Gabriel never looked up when she approached him and sat again. Now he seemed cold and distant, even though she touched his face.

“I’m sorry I bolted,” she began.

He reached to his left and to her shock lifted a bottle of beer with a shrug. “You’re entitled to do whatevs.”

“Gabriel, you shouldn’t be drinking,” she exclaimed reaching to take the bottle from him.

He yanked it from her reach, his eyes glaring at her, “God-dam-it, Abs. I’m not a fucking monk. Let me at least get shit-faced, yeah?”

Abigail stared at him, mouth open.

He put the bottle to his mouth and tipped his head back. Before he could take the first swig, Michael appeared and snatched the bottle away. “You’re on meds, asshole.”

“Fuck,” Gabriel hissed, closing his eyes.

Michael patted his head and chugged down the beer for him.

***

Gabriel was doing his best not to flip out from rage.

Paulina’s words played over inside his head on an endless loop, driving him insane. She’d had the audacity to call him, pretending to be happy he’d recovered. The bitch.

He was almost sure she was the one who’d tried to drive him off the road. He vaguely remembered a black vehicle ramming him from the side.

She’d asked about Abigail. That’s where he’d practically lost it.

“I’ve cut off my financial aid for her. Seems her putting out for you has secured her enough income to not need mine anymore.”

“Don’t talk about her as if she were some cheap whore.”

“Well, that’s what you’ve turned her into, it seems. You’re garbage. Anything you touch or fuck turns into garbage as well.”

“Funny. I recall you giving me the fuck me eyes at dinner that night before you tried to kill me later, Auntie,” he spat with as much hatred as he could draw from the blackest depths of his soul.

“If I’d wanted to kill you, trust me, you’d be as dead as your whore of a mother,” she replied smugly.

White-hot fury had seared through him, but the communication had been cut off. Apparently, she’d said all she needed and hung up on him. Second woman that day that had done that. The first one sat between his spread thighs now, looking like a kicked puppy.

Abigail stared intently at the fingers she twisted and pulled on her lap.

Her hair fell in a tumble of gold over the shoulder facing away from him. She’d worn a tight little tank top that accentuated the full swells of her breasts. Short as she was, he could see clearly the mouth-watering cleavage her pink top exposed. Her heart-shaped ass and long legs were encased in faded jeans. He’d already caught the guys ogling her, sending his possessive, dominant male nature skyrocketing. Gabriel just wanted to drag her beneath him and claim her right there in front of everyone, to show them who she belonged to.

But, she’d never let him do that. Christ! The very thing that attracted him to her had him tied in knots. The fact that he’d be her first had him salivating. He sure as hell would be her last because he wasn’t giving her up. Ever.

Living together would solve much, but he knew she’d never agree. He almost felt like he was being forced to marry her, but if that’s what she wanted, he give her that. Marriage. The old chain and ball.

He took a lock of her hair and fingered its silkiness.

“You got yourself all pretty. For me, I hope,” he growled.

Her hands fluttered as she took a deep breath, still not meeting his eyes. “Oh, I-I just threw on any old thing, really.”

“So you weren’t trying to dress for me?”

The tops of her breasts turned pink, the flush rising to her face. God, how he just wanted to plant his face against those two swells.

She bit her lower lip, her head ducking further as one shoulder lifted in a careless shrug. “I could never compete with the majority of the women that throw themselves at you,” she laughed softly, humorlessly, “I mean, just look at me.”

He gripped her face with his left hand and turned her to look at him.

“What the hell are you saying? Are you kidding me? You’ve got me jerking off every night thinking about you like a pathetic idiot and you come out with this lame shit?” She winced at his crude wording, but he was too pissed to care. “You have a lot of things going for you, Abs, but what you don’t have is how you see yourself. Your low self esteem annoys the hell out of me.”

Her lip trembled and it was a kick to his gut.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, eyes wide and bright.

Christ. Now his shitty mood was going to make her cry.

“No. I’m sorry, baby. I’m not in the best of moods right now. Don’t ever apologize to me when I’m being an ass. Matter of fact, I give you permission to chew me out when I act like an ass, and if that doesn’t work, just smack some sense into me.”

Her eyes widened even more, tears already glittering at the edges. “Oh, no. I don’t believe in corporal punishment.”

Gabriel had to laugh at her serious tone. “Oh, baby, what am I going to do with you?”

Hauling her in for a kiss, he was done when she sighed and clutched his shoulders, opening her mouth docilely beneath his.

He nipped at her lips before sliding his tongue deep and stroking everywhere. A shudder echoed from her into him when she tangled her tongue with his, completely blowing his mind.

Her hands slid down, fingers feeling his pectorals, exploring, inflaming him until his cock protested being trapped behind the harsh steel of the zipper to his jeans.

“Baby, you’re killing me,” he groaned against her lips.

“Hey, you two,” a masculine voice shouted, “Take that shit to the bedroom.”

Abigail gasped and pulled away to his disappointment. She looked around, eyes wide. The guys were laughing, annoying him because he could see it was distressing her.

“Fuck them, Abby. They’re just jealous.”

Her shoulders hunched a bit. “Your grandmother must think I’m a floozy.”

He had to bite back his bark of laughter at her wording. Floozy? Who the hell talked like that anymore, but that’s what he loved about his Abby. Fuck-yes, he loved her.

“Baby, mamá loves you. She’d kick my ass if I ever let you go.”

Abigail turned her wide blue eyes to him. “Gabriel, you’re not with me just to please your grandmother, are you?”

Gabriel scowled at her, “Seriously, Abigail?”

She went back to fiddling with her fingers.

Gabriel gripped her hands with one fist, making her look back up at him. “I do what I want, see who I want. No one dictates to me who I should or should not see. That my grandmother likes you is a plus, but either way it’s always my choice, Abigail.”

Her gaze was intense. She swallowed hard before opening her mouth. He could see she really wanted to say something, but her own shyness was holding her from fully expressing herself.

What would Abby be like completely uninhibited?

“What is it, baby?”

“I’m sorry I acted so stupid when you got here.”

He didn’t want her apologizing anymore, but didn’t want her to curb her need to express herself.

“What is it, baby? Tell me,” he prompted when she tried to turn away again.

“I…” Her eyes welled again, making him want to kick himself and quite possibly hit someone. “I felt…It hurt me when I saw that woman…but I don’t blame you, Gabe. Honest.” Tears were trailing down her cheeks now and he cupped them, wiping at the wetness with his thumbs. “I know that it’s all part of this life you lead—“

Gabriel shook his head. “No, Abby. That shouldn’t be part of my life, at least not anymore. We need to come out as a couple. Not that that’s a guarantee that shit’ll stop happening, but at least people will know I’m taken.”

Her tears stopped and now her face flushed with pleasure. He smiled, feeling triumphant, and dipped his head to kiss her.

He wanted to pound the guys when they began whistling and making inappropriate comments. He felt Abigail flinch and move away, but at least this time she was smiling even though her face was scarlet.

Diamond approached with another beer for him, but surprisingly Abigail snatched it from her and began drinking it.

Gabriel watched completely stunned as she made a face. “Ugh! This tastes horrible.”

“Then why are you drinking it?”

She tipped her head back and took another mouthful. “I’ve never had beer before. Just want to try it.”

Shit. She was doing more than just trying it. Gabriel’s eyes widened when she shut her eyes tight and began downing the whole bottle.

“Easy,” he said gripping the bottle to move it away from her lips.

Some of the liquid dribbled down her chin and throat. Unable to resist, Gabriel dipped his head and licked the trembling drop from the top of her right breast.

She let out a little sound that was half groan, half sigh. His cock twitched in his pants. Sitting back in the lounge chair to lick the taste of her flesh from his lips, he was startled when she came at him and devoured his mouth with a hunger that left him breathless.

Holy. Fucking. Shit!

“Gabriel,” she moaned, saying his name with a hefty measure of adulation.

He stared at her in surprise when she leaned back, pressing the cold bottle of beer to her heated cheeks. Her glasses were even steamed up.

“Have some more, baby,” he murmured tipping the bottle back to her kiss-swollen lips.

He knew he shouldn’t have encouraged her to keep drinking, but the Abby that emerged when she was finally tipsy was glorious. She laughed, danced, and even sang a few songs that she knew when Michael rolled out the karaoke machine.

Her cuss words were hilarious, her repertoire including gems like oh-Jiminy, dang-gone-it, and of course his favorite, frickity-frackety-poo.

Halfway through the night, she’d lost her glasses and was rubbing at Ariel’s confused face saying, “Arry, sweetie, why is your face so darn blurry? What did you do? Oh my.”

Gabriel was about to bust a lung from laughing so hard.

He finally frowned and signaled Michael when Diamond came at her with another beer.

Enough was enough. He didn’t want her to get sick.

It was late, his grandmother long having gone to bed. Ariel and Angelo had crashed on the couches in the living room, and Rafe had left to go pick up some entertainment for the night, which meant he was most likely going to score some coke. Michael helped Sharmane tidy up. The man had an obsession with cleaning. Gabriel had no idea where Erica had taken off to, but he wasn’t liking the way Diamond glared at Abby as his tipsy girl danced on her tiptoes around the pool.

“Baby,” Gabriel called to her.

Abigail grinned wide and skipped somewhat unsteadily toward him.

He winced when she plastered herself to his entire front and began to kiss and nip his throat with a little growl.

“Baby, you’re drunk.”

She giggled. “Just a widdle.”

Gabriel bit his lip, grinning like a loon at her antics. “I’ll tell Mike to give you a ride home.”

Her fingers gripped his t-shirt, clinging. “Nooo. I’ve decided I'm going to stay.” She kissed her way up his throat to his jaw and then his lips. “I want to sleep with you.”

Gabriel froze. Good-god! “Abby, you don’t know what you’re saying. You’ve had too much to drink.”

“I can take her home,” Diamond volunteered, her grin stretching from molar to molar.

“Mike will do it,” Gabriel insisted.

Diamond glared at him.

“But I want to stay with you,” Abigail whined, looking up at him with wounded eyes.

Gabriel shook his head. “Baby, you’re in no condition to make these kinds of choices right now. I won’t have you waking up tomorrow with regrets and accusations.”

“Listen here, buster,” she said poking him in his chest. All he could do was gape at her. What the hell? “I said I was sleeping with you and that’s that. You, sir, are acting like an ass so don’t make me slap you up-side your head now.” She ended her argument by biting his lower lip and then sucking it hard.

Michael laughed standing at the foot of the chaise lounge. “I hope you got a pair of iron underwear. She looks like she’s ready to eat you up whole.”

Not good. He wanted Abby with all his might, but not like this. Not drunk.

Alarms went off in his head. If anything happened between them, he would never forgive himself, feeling he’d taken advantage of her in a weakened state, but then again she might feel rejected if he flat out refused her too.

God-how did he get himself into this mess?

“Fine, but you’re sleeping in the spare guest room.”

“I’m sleeping with you.”

“Abby—“

“I know what I’m doing. I decided before I started drinking, so there.”

Gabriel frowned, pissed now. She had to get herself drunk to sleep with him? What fucked up kind of shit was that?

“Gee, thank you,” he spat sarcastically.

She grinned and tapped his nose with one finger, “You’re welcome.”

“Tell you what. I’ll just go home with you. More privacy,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Oh, Gabe.” She leaned against him again, kissing him senseless before pressing her lips to his ear. “I want you to make love to me tonight.”

Gabriel closed his eyes in agony. He’d officially entered the seventh circle of Hell.