Bailey: Independence #1 (44 page)

“I thought I dreamt that!” She hissed, gulping in air when he abruptly kissed her, stealing her breath and sending her mind swirling and heat scorching her cheeks. Again.

“Those were the last words you said to me before you passed out,” he recalled, his voice holding only a trace of a quake in it. “I’ll never forget them. Chin up, pet and look happy. We have friends who need to see you, and that feeling, I do understand. Waiting for you to get out of surgery was the longest four hours of my life.”

“You’re going to make me cry.” She swallowed but didn’t stop the leaking eyes when Patsy and Emma rushed forward, Angel a close third. “Hi! You guys, this is so sweet of you!”

“Everyone was so worried.” Emma’s darkly appraising eyes went over the figure Gabriel carried to the house. “And we brought food. Patsy told me how you forget to eat and right now, you need food.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Bailey smiled at Jeremy when his eyes rolled.

“You’ve been giving her lessons.”

Jeremy laughed out loud and held the door open, letting people trail in behind the before closing out the mid-November winds.

“You can put me down, Gabriel,” but she knew he wouldn’t and carried her to one of the large recliners. Bailey stared at the food stretched out along the breakfast bar and sighed. “You guys…thank you all so much.” She waved palms and closed her eyes. “No more crying. I think we need to eat,” she pushed herself to her feet and went slowly across the room, glancing back with a raised palm. “Come on…you have to share the food.”

Gabriel went into the kitchen and played bartender with Colin’s help, handing out beers and water from the cooler lying on the floor packed with choices and ice. The men stood off to the side, waiting while the woman all loaded up plates and moved to the large table.

Bailey looked around at her friends. “You can ask questions. It’s okay. I can tell you what the police told us,” she prompted, relieved when they relaxed and the chatting began. That she knew how to handle.

Gabriel leaned both elbows on the breakfast bar, absently chatting with friends and keeping an eye on Bailey. His gaze drifted now and then to her side, especially when she came walking back from the bathroom. No signs of bleeding, the one thing Tre told him to watch for. A sign that she was over exerting herself.

They all listened to the explanations the police had offered, commenting and sharing their own experiences with Janelle at the club.

“Try and stay out of trouble.” Angelica Morehouse tapped her friend on the head and leaned in for a hug. Something she’d never have done before meeting the two women who had become her best friends. “I’m leaving. Early morning bakery stuff to prep,” she told Bailey softly.

“Thanks for coming over and for bringing the amazing cake.” Bailey started to rise and was pressed back by a strong set of fingers on her shoulder.

“I can find the door,” Angel told her firmly. “I’ll call now and then till you’re back eating my baking again. Bye, Patsy. It was nice meeting you all.”

“Bye, Angel…thanks again.” Bailey watched the long legged, tall woman stride from the house with a little nod at Patsy. “She’s doing good.”

“One of your friends has been watching her since he arrived while we were setting up the food,” Patsy glanced in the direction.

“That’s Colin,” Emma said instantly. “Curious. He’s been divorced a few years. I think Angel might be good for him.”

“No,” Bailey said instantly. “She’s not ready for that,” she quickly went off into the food they’d eaten, asking tons of questions and getting people’s attention from her friend.

Gabriel knew when it was time. The smile Bailey wore was looking cracked round the edges, but she was going to sit upright and entertain as long as her friends needed her.

Well, he had other ideas.

“I think it’s time to put Bailey to bed, guys.” Gabriel drained the last of his ale and tossed the bottle to the bucket for recycling. “We really appreciate your coming over and feeding us, though.”

“Oh, but I’m okay…” she said the words hastily and received a sharp snap to the back of her head.

“Girlfriend, why didn’t you say you were hurting?” Patsy looked down, shook her head and hugged Bailey’s shoulders. “I’ll help get this cleaned up and head out. Won’t take a few minutes,” she said with a firm nod, the other women following her lead.

Bailey decided protesting was just too tiring and even though she ate everything people gave her, she was still very tired and slumped against the thick cushions with a sigh.

“Thank you…so much…it really was a surprise.” She accepted the warm, careful hugs and watched people leaving. The last one finally went out the door and the door was latched before she pushed herself to her feet. It had been a custom but when she went to stretch, she almost doubled over but for the strong hands that caught her wrists and pushed the down.

“No stretching. Not yet.” Gabriel moved quickly, lifted her against him and was down the hall before she could do more than sputter. “I should spank you for not telling me sitting had started to hurt.”

“It’s just a little ache and they…they’re friends…”

“Who have high levels of understanding,” he tossed back, sitting her on the edge of the bed and slowly undressing her. “And they evidently want to take care of you as much as I do.” He stayed on one knee, peering up at her. His eyes wandered briefly to her side, relieved there was no color showing beneath the light colored, loose tunic.

“I know…Emma says it’s something we go through because we don’t like feeling puny.” Bailey indulged herself, placing both palms on his face and just feeling his heat beneath her fingers. “But I’m glad we’re alone.”

“Don’t get any of those wicked ideas,” he teased, a soft light in his eyes that crinkled the corners with his smile. “Besides, I had this all planned out for Friday night at the club before the shit hit the fan.”

“Had what…” Bailey felt every drop of spit leave her mouth and swallowed before dragging her tongue around her lips.

Gabriel reached to the nightstand and carried two velvet cases in one hand, setting them both on her thigh. One was long and slender; the other a more typical ring box. He allowed the silence to thicken, enjoying the puzzled confusion in her eyes.

“It was a very good plan, considering this isn’t something I ever considered myself doing before.” Gabriel watched her fingers caress the length of the narrow box and opened it for her. “I put the leather collar on the low bureau with the mirror. I think that’ll be yours since I emptied it for you to use. This is…an extra.”

“Gabriel…” this time she knew she wasn’t breathing, wide green eyes going from the quarter inch wide double strand of silver to his face. Her fingers traced the silver, stopping on one of the flat knots that adorned it in two inch intervals. In the center of each knot was an emerald. “It’s beautiful.”

Gabriel lifted the slender strand with both hands, fighting the shaking in his fingers as he fastened the collar around her throat. He centered it and nodded his approval.

“Now…it’s beautiful.” He lifted the smaller case and held it in the center of his palm. “Our society revolves around symbols. Some are for us, some for others. You’ve accepted my collar and for once, I don’t have the words to describe how amazing that makes me feel, Bailey O’Conner. I love you. I want you and I need you in my life. Will you marry me?”

Gabriel saw the first tear land on her thigh when he opened the velvet box and took the emerald and diamond ring from inside.

“I hope those are happy tears and not pain or regret.” He laid his palm out and exhaled when she placed her hand there for him.

“It’s…I…yes,” she stammered out, her free hand swiping at her face seconds before she launched herself at him, surrounding his neck with her arms and hugging tightly, ignoring the low groan from the movement. “Yes, yes, yes,” she whispered fervently. “You want me in your life.”

“My sweet little pet…I can’t think of anything I ever wanted more.” Gabriel slid the ring in place, his mouth cruising softly over hers and his mind thinking of the two symbols they just added to their lives.

“I love you…so very much,” Bailey buried her face in his shoulder.

“It’s going to be a long fucking week,” Gabriel growled when her teeth nipped along his throat, the light gurgle of laughter ringing in his ears when he set her back and held her at arms-length. “Sleep, pet. Before I decide punishing you is vital to my sanity.”

“There’s always tomorrow,” she taunted, laughing and ignoring the pain in her side as she stared at the man who’d taken over and awakened her senses.

And the next day and all the ones after that, she thought with a sigh.

Independence wasn’t so bad…when it was shared with the one you love.