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

“I try.” I leaned in to kiss her. Pressing my lips against hers, I hoped to quell the fears swirling in her mind. When I pulled away, I stared intently at her. “I’m not only honored to have such a beautiful woman in my bed, but I’d be happy for every photographer in town to snap a picture of us.”



“Really?”



“Hell yeah.”



Putting her head in her hands, she groaned. “You must think I’m a real nutjob for feeling this way.”



“No, I don’t.”



She peeked at me through her fingers. “You’re just saying that because you think my pussy has magical powers.”



I laughed as I pulled her to me. “Yes, it’s true that your pussy is magical, but I get that it’s hard to date someone famous.”



Rae peeked at me through her hands. “You do?”



“Micah’s wife, Valerie, had a really hard time at first when she started dating him. And the band wasn’t even remotely as famous then. I can’t imagine how she would take it now. So, yeah, I do get it.”



“Thank you. I’ll try not to be such a crazy person next time.”



“Just keep being yourself.”



“Psycho and all?”



“Yep.”



Rae rolled her eyes but smiled in spite of herself. “The fact that you can be okay with me being crazy makes me think you’re still in the pussy haze.”



I snorted. “How long do you think it will take for me to get detoxed, exactly?”



“I’m not sure.” A sly look entered her eyes. “But I think it would be most beneficial to reduce temptation by getting you outside of this apartment.”



“I already said we’d go out.” Cocking my head at her, I added, “And how do you plan on reducing my temptation? Are you going to leave your pussy behind?”



Rae giggled. “It will be covered, thus out of sight and out of mind.”



“While it might be out of sight, your pussy will never be out of my mind.” She snorted at that.



“Why does that not surprise me?”



“Okay. Let’s go get a shower, and then we’ll hit the town.”



Rae’s face lit up. “Really?”



“Yep. Dinner, dancing—the works.”



“You would seriously take me dancing?” Confusion filled me at the sudden change in Rae. How could she even doubt I wouldn’t want to be seen with her? Back home, she was a fearless badass, yet here….Oh right. She’s out of her element. It was time for me to work double time to reassure her.



“Rae, while dancing is not my favorite thing, I do know how to dance, and would love to be out on the town dancing with you tonight.”



She smiled, and it was the sweet smile, which told me I’d said the right words. She seemed less . . . vulnerable. Rae then quirked a brow at me. “Is there a single part of me that screams dancer?”



And Miss Sassypants was back. “Not exactly. I just find it hard to believe that someone who manages to do such amazing things with her hips in bed doesn’t know how to dance.”



With a laugh, Rae replied, “Thanks for the hips compliment.”



“You’re welcome.”



“For the record, I can dance like in a club. It’s waltzing and all that kind of stuff that I don’t know how to do.”



“Then I’ll have to teach you.”



“Tonight?”



“If you want to.” Since Rae’s expression was skeptical, I replied, “Or we could just take in some of the sights the city has to offer.”



Rae nodded. “The last few times I’ve been here, it was either for a Falcons game, or to take Linc to the zoo and aquarium.” She grinned. “I’d like to see more adult sights.”



“I can certainly arrange that.” After I kissed her, I said, “Go get that fine ass of yours in the shower. We have a date to get ready for.”





After I slid a gold tube of lipstick across my lips, I surveyed my appearance in the bathroom mirror. Although I was never one to be an ego tripper, I had to admit I looked pretty damn good. Sexy and sultry even. Before I’d left the house, Ellie had insisted on sending me with one of her swanky dresses. Since the only dresses I owned were the ones I wore to church or parents’ night at school, I happily accepted it.

The deep purple material fit like a second skin against my body while the spaghetti straps left little to the imagination when it came to my cleavage. Kennedy had taken care of that department when she had sent me with a bustier to maximize my assets. While I was wearing my sisters’ dress and underwear, I was happy to say that the strappy black heels were actually mine, as well as the calf-length black dress coat I would be adding when we started to leave.

Since Gabe was a fan of my hair being down, I’d merely pulled it back on the sides after adding in some waves. I fluffed it one last time before adding in a little setting spray. I wanted to keep the waves, but I also wanted Gabe to be able to run his fingers through it easily.

I smiled as I thought of him. He had insisted I get ready in his bathroom while he collected his things and went to the guest bedroom. Although I could have preened a few more minutes in front of the mirror, a gentle knock came at the door. “Rae? We need to leave in five minutes to make it to our reservation.”

I exhaled a breath before replying, “Coming.” I allowed myself one last glance in the mirror before I threw open the bathroom door.

When I stepped out, Gabe had his back to me while digging in his dresser drawer. My heart did a flip-flop at the sight of him in dress pants and a dress shirt. I’d never seen him so dressed up, and I had to admit the partial suit porn was very swoony.

As Gabe pulled out a watch and started to put it on, I softly said, “I’m ready.”

Gabe whirled around. After taking in my appearance, his eyes bulged, and his jaw dropped open. “Holy shit, Rae. You look out-of-this-world stunning.”

Inwardly, I did a victory dance at his reaction. Outwardly, after doing a little twirl to give him a view of my backside, I asked, “Does that mean you like the dress?”

“Like it? I fucking love it.” Gabe shook his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in anything but pants or jeans.”

“Although I much prefer pants, I will occasionally put on a dress for special occasions.”

Bending over, Gabe ran his hand up my thigh. “Mm, I do like the extra skin showing.” He paused at my thigh-highs. “What do we have here?”

“Before you get your hopes up that they’re some sexy garters, they’re only Walmart thigh-highs.”

Gabe grinned. “I don’t give a shit where they came from. I love the way the lace feels.” He flicked the hem of my dress so he could get a look at them. “And I really love the way they look.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I’m sorry to say it, babe, but you’re really going to have to wear dresses more often.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes, but I have ulterior motives for liking them.”

“Oh, you do?”

His hand came between my legs, causing me to gasp and a wicked grin to curve on his lips. “I love the easy access.”