“Pathetic. And six.”
I growled. From downstairs, I heard Grey tell Carlos to settle down. If Isabelle didn’t knock me flat, Carlos would try to. Didn’t they understand I was trying to protect Gabby?
Son, I don’t want to see her hurt any more than you. That’s why you need to wake her.
“Five. Better hurry.”
I closed my eyes, knowing Sam was right. There were so many threats here. I needed her awake so she could help us get away from all of it.
“Four.”
Forgive me, I thought before I slapped her.
Her eyes flew open, but I could tell right away she wasn’t herself.
“Gabby,” Isabelle said loudly. “Check your sonar.”
Gabby turned her head and tried to focus on Isabelle.
“Check your sonar,” Isabelle repeated.
“Is Clay safe?” Gabby asked softly.
I sent a wave of love over our connection as I gently stroked the red mark on her cheek.
“You’re sitting on him. He’ll be safer if you can tell us if there are any bad guys around.”
Gabby blinked again and looked at me. She reached up and ran her fingers through my beard.
“So handsome,” she murmured, a tiny thread of desire drifting over our link.
“Focus, Gabby,” Isabelle shouted. “Check your sonar.”
Gabby sighed, and her hand dropped tiredly to her lap.
“They’re netting again. None are close.” Her eyelids fluttered.
“Keep her awake, Clay,” Isabelle said, heading toward the stairs.
As soon as they reached the lower hallway, I tapped Gabby’s cheek again. Her eyes opened, and she smiled at me.
“I was worried,” I said.
She reached up and brushed my hair back from my face.
“You are so handsome.”
The small, secret smile that curved her lips sent a ball of need right to my gut.
“I can feel that, Clay,” she said, lifting her head and offering her lips.
Normally there’d be nothing I’d want more than to kiss her; it was only my worry for her safety and the sounds of conversation downstairs that stopped me from happily giving her what she wanted.
“Gabby, you’re not safe here.”
“I’m safe with you. Always with you,” she whispered, nestling closer to me.
Her hand brushed over the width of my chest, distracting me enough that I almost went for her lips.
“No. I mean, yes. You’re safe me. But you’re not safe with this group,” I said softly, knowing full well anyone paying attention in the kitchen might hear me.
“Clay, I want your lips on mine. Now. I need to feel you.”
Hell. Her hand roamed over my chest once more, and I knew I was lost. When her head cleared, we’d talk more.
I claimed her lips, meaning to kiss her sweetly. Her tongue didn’t agree with sweet intentions. She kissed dirty, and I lost all thought. The slide of her tongue against mine did that to me every time. With my last shred of will power, I fisted the sheets with my claw tipped fingers. She had no idea what she did to me; how much I adored her.
Her small hands threaded through my hair and held tight as she directed the kiss, pressing her mouth firmly against mine a moment before she pulled away.
“Not good enough, Clay,” she whispered against my lips. “Don’t you want to touch me?”
Want to touch her? No, I needed to touch her. I burned for it. But I hadn’t thought she would welcome it. Not yet anyway. I’d been wrong, though. That or I’d died and gone to heaven.
When she moved, shifting position so she no longer lay cradled in my lap but straddled it, I gripped her waist. She was my lifeline. I claimed her mouth once more, possessing her lips and tongue. She stayed on her knees for a moment, making a soft sound before slowly settling on my lap.
I groaned. She moved her hands from my hair to my shoulders. Holding me, she tilted her hips against mine. The explosive pleasure that should have robbed me of thought instead set off warning alarms. She moved against me again, and I tore my mouth from hers to look at her.
Her lips were wet and puffy, begging for more kisses. Man, I wanted to kiss her again. Lifting my gaze from her mouth, I saw her glazed vacant stare.
Sheeet.
“Gabby, baby. I can’t.”
“No,” she said softly, rocking her hips against mine again. “You can. I can feel it.”
Ten seconds ago, I’d been in heaven, now I was certain I was in the seventh ring of hell. Yes, the way she was arching into my lap guaranteed she’d feel just how much I wanted to touch her...and more. But she wasn’t herself.
I dropped my head back against the metal bedframe, shaking and barely in control. She pressed her advantage and kissed her way along my neck, tracing her tongue over the place where she had Claimed me.
“I love you, Clay. Don’t you love me too?”