Constant Craving [Rapture Island 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) by Leah Brooke Read Free Book Online Page A

Kelsey. I won’t touch you until you’re ready.”
    Curling onto the sofa, Kelsey looked up at him through her lashes, her eyes greener than ever. “What if I can’t?”
    Shrugging, Gabriel refilled his own glass and took a seat again, attempting to appear relaxed, when he was anything but. “We’ll see. I think you and I could find a great deal of happiness together.”
    Staring into her glass, she finished chewing her cracker, the tip of her tongue appearing to lick away a crumb and making his cock throb. Taking another small sip of her wine, she tilted her head to the side, her eyes narrowing. “I would make a mess of things, and afterwards, we wouldn’t even be friends anymore. I’m afraid of that. You probably won’t believe this, but you’ve become a very important part of my life. I’d hate to lose that.”
    Gabriel shifted, grateful that he’d worn loose pants. He knew she’d never appreciate being thought of as adorable, but when she tilted her head that way, and she looked at him with those compelling green eyes, he wanted to gather her close and cuddle her.
    He wanted to protect her, to cherish her.
    To make her his.
    Gabriel twirled his glass, watching with amusement when she leaned forward and selected a grape from the array of snacks on the silver tray. “Let me ask you something, Kelsey. If you owned something that you valued above all else, something that you thought about day and night, something you cherished above all else, would you want to damage it?”
    Popping the grape into her mouth, she paused as she reached for another, frowning. “Of course not.” Blinking, she sat back. “Wait a minute. Are you trying to tell me that you want to own the women you’re with?”
    Gabriel met her eyes squarely, letting her see just how seriously he took this. “When I’m with a woman, my attention is focused on her. For that period of time, I possess her. I want a woman who’s mine .”
    He’d never meant anything more.
    Smiling at her look of shock, he reached for one of the plump grapes, his stomach muscles knotting with nerves and excitement. “You want to hear something really amusing? I didn’t even realize that I was ready for a woman of my own until I met you. I don’t even want to touch another woman. I want you , Kelsey, as much as I want my next breath.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Kelsey swallowed heavily, struck by the realization that she wanted him too much to avoid the inevitable. “What do you mean by that? I thought you had plenty of lovers.”
    Trembling inside at the knowledge that this would really be happening—that she and Gabriel would become lovers, Kelsey struggled to hide her excitement, and the very real fear that she would disappoint him.
    She couldn’t stop looking at his bare chest, wide and dark against the casual white, drawstring pants that settled low on his hips, her fingers itching to explore.
    She didn’t even know if it would be allowed. She didn’t know if he was waiting for her to say or do something, and it left her in the unfamiliar territory of following his lead.
    He smiled, his eyes filled with tenderness, but shimmering with a hint of something that looked surprisingly like sadness. “The women in my past are just that. Past. I haven’t been with another woman in months. I only want you.”
    Kelsey gaped at him, wondering if she’d heard him right. She’d never imagined that he’d wanted her that way, and for so long. “What? Gabriel, I don’t—”
    Gabriel held up a hand, cutting her off. “You’ve been honest with me tonight. I want to be honest with you. Trust is very important, remember?”
    Kelsey swallowed heavily and nodded, her stomach tightening. “Okay.”
    Gabriel stared into his glass. “I haven’t been serious about a woman in a long time. I’ve been with women, mostly at the club, but they’ve been casual. They knew the score, and it was all fun and games. I didn’t think I’d ever want a woman the way I want you. I