Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series (21 page)

Vinny queried, “So who’s behind these dealings?”

Lily frowned saying, “I haven’t figured that out yet. Whoever is doing it is burying themselves really well. It appears that there are layers and layers of real estate and sub-companies all hiding behind each other.”

“Good work, Lily,” Tony said. Turning back to Shane he asked, “So we keep working this end?”

The two detectives nodded and the discussions once again surrounded Jennifer as she sat quietly in Gabe’s embrace. She felt his arm tighten and she turned her face back toward his.

“You’re gonna be fine, babe. You and Ross are staying here with me.”

She nodded absentmindedly then said, “But only for a while. I’ve got responsibilities and a job to do.”

“Let’s take it one day at a time, okay baby?” he whispered, pulling her close.

She left the room to check on Ross, finding him still entranced in the movie on the huge TV.
I’ve got to be careful here. I can’t have Ross getting used to things that I can’t give him.
She kissed the top of his head and went back out into the room just in time to say goodbye to everyone.

The next several days passed in a blur as she slept a lot and entertained phone calls from Chip who wanted to know when she was getting back to work, Sybil who warned her that Chip was hinting at getting rid of the center, Cora who assured her the center was fine, and then a visit from Sherrie.

By the time Sherrie saw her, the swelling had gone down and the bruising was more yellowish than purple. Sitting at Gabe’s table, she poured coffee for them before they began to talk about the assault. Sherrie reached across the table giving her hand a squeeze and said, “Jennifer, no one deserved this less than you. I can’t believe it happened. You know, I was at the Senator’s office the other day delivering more files when he asked how you were. I think he was as shocked as anyone to hear about it.”

Jennifer laughed, saying, “Well, his wife certainly took care of things,” as she pointed to a huge bouquet of flowers from them.

“Oh, they’re gorgeous. When I told him I was visiting, he wanted me to let you know that his backing of your grant is still his top priority.” Giggling, she said, “I couldn’t help but notice that he said it right in front of Monty.”

“Oh, I’ll bet that went over well,” Jennifer laughed. “If anyone would be glad to see me fail, it would be that man.”

“Have you been back to work yet?” Sherrie asked.

“Not to the office, but I have been back to the center. Lordy, I was mauled by the residents with promises of cookies to make me feel better, advice on how to make the bruising go away, and several of the men volunteered to join with Gabe to ‘kick some butt’ as they said.”

Gabe walked in later, seeing Jennifer and Sherrie laughing and talking.
Good, she’s needed this.

After Sherrie left, Jennifer walked up to him as he was changing in the bedroom. Running her hands over the corded muscles of his back, she smoothed them up to his shoulders and then down his arms.

Looking into his face she saw want in his eyes. Want. Need.
Love?
Sucking in a deep breath, she simply said, “Make love to me, Gabe. I need you.”

His heart stumbled at her words. With one hand on her back pulling her toward his chest, the other moved to cup her face. Her delicate features called to him, proudly claiming her as his while the urge to protect surged through his blood. Leaning down to kiss her, he started with a touch of lips. A barely there kiss, but one filled with all the love he could pour into it.

She raised up on her toes to take the kiss deeper and he needed no more encouragement. With the hand around her waist, he lifted her easily and carried her to the bed. Stripping her gently, he found himself quickly trying to shed his boxers when the sight of her naked body called to him.

She took him by the hands and pulled him toward her as she backed up to the bed. With a gasp, she felt him lift her as they fell on the bed together. The slowness of earlier dissipated as their hands began a battle of who could discover each other the most.

He moved his large hands over her full breasts plucking the nipples, eliciting a moan from deep within her. She explored his muscular chest and abs, until sliding down lower to grasp his cock in her hands. Her fingers moved up and down feeling the firmness beneath the silky skin. A drop of pre-cum appeared and she gently spread it around with the light touch.

He inhaled sharply, desperate for her to continue while wanting to make sure she was taken care of. Rolling toward her, he kissed her gently, careful of her injuries. Trailing kisses down her throat, he sucked at the pulse pounding at her neck. Making his way to her breasts, he pulled one deeply into his mouth, alternating between nipping and soothing.

After giving each breast attention, he continued his trail of kisses down her stomach and over her pelvis toward the prize. Moving his head between her legs, he latched onto her clit sending her hips up off of the bed. Smiling, he held her in place with one large hand, before plunging his tongue into her depth, tasting the sweetness that was purely her.

Jennifer’s head fell back to the mattress as her hands grasped his hair. She’d been watching him lick her, feeling his tongue against her sensitive skin, hearing the rumble of pleasure from deep within his chest, but it was too much.
I’ve held back for so long. Felt as though I had to be strong for everyone. But this…I want to give myself over completely to this.

The warmth that started in her pussy radiated outwards until she felt every nerve tingle and then tighten. “Please,” she begged, wanting more but not knowing exactly what she wanted.

He smiled up at her, licking her juices off of his lips before plunging his fingers deep inside while sucking deeply on her clit once more. That was all it took for her to come flying apart, the inner spasms pulling at his fingers until she lay still on the bed unsure if she could move.

As he crawled up her body, her eyes latched onto his watching them light up as he kissed her breasts once again before kissing her lips gently. She tasted herself on him and suddenly wanted him inside more than she could imagine.

Sensing the desperation in her and feeling it himself, he settled his cock at her entrance and plunged inside. Torn between wanting to take it slow and pounding out his fear that had not dissipated since her attack, he tried to hold himself in check.

She sensed the reticence in him and wanted none of it. She grabbed him by his massive shoulders and pulled him forward. “I need you. All of you,” she pleaded.

Realizing that her need was as strong as his was all it took. He began to move harder and faster, building up the friction that sent shock waves through her and had his balls tightening.
I’ve never felt more alive than I do at this moment with this woman.
He’d had sex, but this was more. All consuming. All powerful. Driving into her, he could feel himself coming home. Before he could let her know that he was coming, she cried out his name and he felt her pussy grab his dick as he poured himself into her.

She felt the warmth spilling deep inside and she clung to him tightly, afraid of letting go.
I’m living. Finally living,
she thought with a smile on her face.

They lay tangled together, hearts beating erratically until finally as their breathing slowed, their hearts began beating in unison. She turned her head to face his and his breath washed over her.

“I love you, Jennifer Lambert,” he whispered, staring into her crystalline blue eyes. Her blonde curls lay against his pillows and he knew that was where she belonged forever.

A sweet smile crossed her face as she held his eyes. “I love you too, Gabriel Malloy.”

That evening after getting Ross put to bed, she climbed once again under the covers with Gabe snuggling close. Making love once more, he pulled her back to his front and held her as she fell asleep.
This. This I could do forever.

*

Several weeks later,
walking into the kitchen of the center, she called out to Cora, “I’m running up to my apartment. I need to water the plants and get a few things.” Once there, she looked around, stunned at the smallness of the rooms. Smiling to herself, she had to admit that she loved this tiny apartment and the memories it held. Grabbing some of her and Ross’ things, she headed back downstairs.

Standing in the kitchen, she stood next to the counter lost in thought.

“What’s on your mind, honey?” Cora asked.

“I’m kind of…well…lost.”

“How so? You’ve got a good man who’s good to you and your brother. You’ve moved out of this tiny place filled with us oldsters and into somewhere nice. What’s there to be lost about?”

“That’s just it. We only moved there temporarily while I was recuperating, but that was two weeks ago. I’m fine now and it feels weird to still be there. Like I need to come back here.”

“Whatever for?” Henry asked, coming into the kitchen. “I can’t see Gabe wanting you to move back here.”

“I know, but this…” she said waving her arms around, “and you are a big part of my job. And my life. And Ross’.”

“Lordy girl. You’re not moving to the moon. You’re still over here almost every day,” exclaimed Bertha, following Henry into the kitchen.

Cora turned to the women standing in the doorway. “You old busy-bodies. Can’t you let someone have a private conversation?”

“No,” piped up Lucille. “At our age, there’s nothing private anymore. Life’s too short to not get our two cents in!” Looking at Jennifer, she said, “Darling girl. You lived here because it was cheap and easy. Nothing wrong with that. But you’ve got Ross to think about and you’ve got a chance to build a future with a good man. So move your stuff out of here and get back to him!”

Laughing, she kissed them all before jogging back out, feeling lighter than she had in a long time.

T
he next couple
of weeks passed without incident as Gabe, Jennifer, and Ross settled into a routine. Rising early, they all had breakfast together before she dropped Ross off at school and went to work. Some days she went into the office, some days she headed to meetings at the State Capitol or City Hall to continue to push for the elder housing causes, and usually ended her afternoons at the center where she continued to take care of any issues that Henry and Cora could not handle.

Her evenings were spent with Gabe and Ross watching TV, going to get ice-cream, or hanging out with Vinny. And night time, after Ross had fallen asleep, she and Gabe worshiped each other’s bodies in the shadows of the city lights coming through his windows.

One morning, sitting in her cubicle at work, she realized that she had left one of her reports in Chip’s office where they had been meeting earlier. Walking down the hall, she saw him and his secretary stepping into the elevator before she had a chance to call out. With a puff of exhalation that blew a few escaped curls out of her face, she glanced at his office noticing that his door was still open.
Perfect, I’ll just grab the file and get out.

Walking in, she rolled her eyes at his messy desk. Files and papers filled the desktop, the filing credenza behind his desk and the small table to the side.
How does he stay organized?
Walking over to where she thought the file would be, she began shuffling papers around. Finding the file on the side of his desk near his phone, she could not help but notice his phone-notepad next to it, with the words
Elder Care Center
scribbled at the top along with doodles made as though he were writing while on the phone. Curious, she leaned over the desk to see the pad more clearly.
Buyout break lease threats
He had just written words, not full sentences, so she had no idea what he was talking about or who he had been talking to.

She read the words again, trying desperately to make sense of them. A cold feeling began to slide over her as the realization that this must be tied into her assault somehow. Or if not, it was damn suspicious.

“Can I help you?” came a voice from behind, startling her.

Whirling around, she saw Chip standing in his doorway with a sandwich in his hand. His questioning eyes looked at the file in her hand. “I’m sorry, but I left this in here earlier,” she said as she held the file out for him to see. “I need it for my data report.”

Nodding, he moved into his office and around his desk, sitting in his squeaky chair, laying the sandwich down…next to the phone-notepad. She saw his eyes glance down to the pad and then back up to hers. Smiling her most charming smile, she turned to leave saying, “I’ll just get back to work now. Enjoy your lunch.”

On shaky legs, she made her way back to her cubicle where she found Sybil. Leaning in closely, she told her friend what she had seen.

“What do you think it means?” Sybil asked.

“I have no idea, but it’s suspicious, don’t you think?”

“Honey, what I think it means is that you’d better stick close to that Mr. Hunky of yours,” Sybil replied. “And for God’s sake, be careful.”

The one thing both ladies forgot was that cubicles were not conducive to private conversations.