Jacob's Ladder: Gabe (Jacob's Ladder #1)

“But I want your mouth on mine,” I said quietly.

“And I want your mouth on my cock,” Gabe growled.

Tsking at him, I replied, “Patience.”

“Fuck that!” he exclaimed before pouncing on me. The next thing I knew my feet were flying off the floor as Gabe drew me up into his arms to carry me into the penthouse.

“I’m very capable of walking you know,” I protested.

“It would take too much time,” he replied as he power-walked me through the foyer.

Tilting my head, I gazed up at the glittering chandelier. “That’s so beautiful.”

Gabe’s response to my compliment was to sprint through the living and burst into the bedroom.

“You know, you’re acting like a released convict desperate for sex. Did you even stop to think I might have enjoyed a tour of your place?”

“I’ll give you a tour after we have sex.” After easing me back onto my feet, Gabe grinned down at me. “And as for the convict part, I can promise I’ll last longer than a released convict.”

“I certainly hope so.”

“Trust me, Rae. You never have to doubt my stamina, especially not where you’re concerned.”

“Hmm, I think I’m going to need you to prove that to me before I can believe it.”

“My pleasure.” Once again, Gabe leapt at me like a wolf with its prey. We became a tangle of arms as our tongues battled each other, and there was a frantic desperation in Gabe’s kisses. While wetness pooled in my underwear from the excitement of his need, I didn’t want it to be so fast. I wanted to savor the feel of his hands on me. I wanted a small ember to grow into a crackling flame.

As Gabe’s hands fumbled with the button on my jeans, I tore my lips away from his. “Slow down,” I panted.

He gazed at me, eyes hooded with desire. “But I just want to be inside you. After having my fingers and tongue in you, I’ve been fantasizing for days about what your tight walls will feel like around my dick.”

I shoved Gabe away. “No,” I said firmly.

His hazy eyes stared questioningly at me. “No?”

“Sit.” I then pointed to his bed across from us.

Gabe’s brows shot up at my command. Instead of arguing with me, he obediently began backing away. I followed close behind him, keeping my eyes on his. When the backs of his knees hit the edge of the mattress, he flopped down on the bed.

Jabbing a finger into his bare chest, I said, “Now you listen to me: we’re not going to rush into this like two horny teenagers pawing at each other in the back seat of a car.”

“We’re not?”

“No. We’re going to fuck like adults who know about the merits foreplay and delayed gratification.”

“Can’t we at least have a horny teenager quickie and then move on to fucking like adults?” Gabe suggested.

I shook my head at him. “I’m not one of the groupies you stick your dick in for a quick release. I’m special, remember? I’m your muse, and I demand more.” Holy shit. Had I actually just said that to him? Even though it was exactly what I was feeling, I couldn’t believe I’d had the balls to say it. I sucked in a breath as I waited for Gabe’s reaction.

“You’re right. You don’t just demand more—you deserve more.”

My heartbeat accelerated at his words. “Thank you for acknowledging that.”

Gabe slid his hands around my waist. “You drive a hard bargain, Rae Hart.”

I reached out to cup the bulge in his jeans, causing Gabe to suck in a deep breath. “Mm, yes, very hard.”

“You. Are. Killing. Me,” he bit out.

With a wink, I replied, “Oh, but I’ve only just begun.”





Now that I had Gabe on the bed, I started initiating my slow-down plan. Even though he couldn’t have cared less, I wanted to make our first time memorable. Although it was too soon to be mentioning anything about love, I wanted our first time to be about more than sex. I wanted it to be more like making love.

With my gaze locked on Gabe’s, I brought my hands to my breasts, cupping them over my shirt. When I squeezed them, Gabe sucked in a breath. Turning my fingertips downward, I ran them down over my hardening nipples toward my waist. When my fingers reached the hem of my shirt, I gripped the fabric. Slowly, I inched the shirt up over my abdomen. The closer I got to the underside of my breasts, the farther Gabe leaned over on the mattress toward me.

Taking him by surprise, I did a quick whip of the shirt up over my head then tossed it at him. After it smacked him in the face, it dropped into his lap. He picked it up and brought it to his face. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply. “God, you smell good.”

“Thank you.” Now that my shirt was off, I brought my attention to my jeans. After unbuttoning and unzipping them, I turned my back to Gabe. “Hey, what—”

His words cut off when I bent over, sticking my ass in the air. I then worked the material down slowly over my hips to the floor. Glancing over my shoulder, I wiggled my thong-clad ass in Gabe’s face.

I yelped with surprise when he brought his palm down across one of my cheeks, but I also enjoyed the sensation. “Did you like that?” he asked, his voice gravelly with lust.

“Yes. Do it again.”

Gabe sent a stinging slap against my other ass cheek, causing me to moan. Just when he leaned forward to grab ahold of me, I sidestepped away and out of his grasp. Now it was his turn to moan, but this time it was from disappointment.

I turned around to face Gabe again. Bringing one of my hands up, I eased the left strap of my bra down my arm. When it almost revealed my breast, I stopped and went to the right one. Once again, I turned my back on Gabe. My hands came around to the clasp of the bra. After I undid it, I kept the material flat against my breasts. Slowly, I slid around to where I was facing Gabe again.

Leaning into him, I said, “You can take my bra if you want to.”

“Hell yes,” he replied.

When he started to reach for it, I shook my head. “You can’t use your hands.”

Confusion momentarily filled his face at my request. Then it appeared he had a light-bulb moment because he dipped his head, his warm breath fanning against my chest. When he opened his mouth, his lips brushed against the top of my breast before he took the material between his teeth. With a growl, he tugged it away from me, leaving my breasts exposed. He jerked the bra out of his mouth before tossing it to the floor.

Pure hunger burned in his eyes as I took a step back. I slid my thumbs into the lace at the tops of my hips. Teasingly slow, I started easing the fabric down. Gabe licked his lips as he stared expectantly below my waist. I knew he was wondering if I had taken care of business down there since we had last been together.

When I danced the thong down past the top of my pussy, his eyes flared. While I had done a little trimming, I had left enough to please him. His gaze bounced from my nether regions to my eyes. He grinned. “Thank you.”

Although it felt slightly odd to have a man be grateful for pubic hair, I replied, “You’re welcome.” I then brought my panties back up my hips.

Gabe furrowed his brows. “What are you doing?”