Freeing Her (14 page)

“
Ouch! No, not
his
bed! A guest room in
his penthouse on 5th Avenue.”

“
Oh. Well, that’s boring,”
Sky said, pouting.

“
A penthouse on 5th Avenue
is boring?”

“
Not that part. The guest
room part.”

“
What? Did you expect me
to hop in the sack with some dude that I nicknamed Skippy? He
could’ve been a serial killer or an animal hater or
something.”

“
Yeah, but he wasn’t. He
was Kolson Hart,” Cara said with a sly grin.

“
Okay, Cara, I know that
now, but I didn’t then. Heck, I didn’t even know I was in a
stranger’s house until he barged in and I found my skirt up to my
nose and my ass hanging out for the world to see. And you should’ve
seen him checking me out.”

“
Oh, yeah?” The two women
stared at Gabby, panting like pups waiting for a
biscuit.

“
Damn, you two are bad.”
Gabby dabbed Sky’s chin with a napkin.

“
What’re you
doing?”

“
Wiping up the
drool.”

“
So then what? Have you
seen him again?” Cara asked.

“
Yeah, we’ve gone out to
dinner a few times. And get this. He has one of his men watching me
and driving me around. Like a bodyguard or something.”

“
Get the fuck out of
town,” Cara said. “Is he a stalker?”

“
No, it’s more like he’s
protecting me.”

“
Um, from what? Himself?”
Sky asked.

“
Well, that’s the
complicated part. I don’t want to talk about it.”

“
Oh no, you don’t,” Cara
said. “What the hell is going on that you need protecting because I
can get J.D. to put someone …”

“
No, that’s not
necessary,” Gabby interrupted. “I don’t need your pimp’s help.
Kolson was just worried that when I ran in the early morning, it
wasn’t safe. You know, it’s still kinda dark, that kind of
thing.”

“
Well, dang, Gabs, he’s
right,” Sky said. “If Ryder knew you were doing that, he’d kill you
himself. What the heck are you thinking?”

“
I know, I know. I’ve got
it handled.”

Cara asked, “How? You’re not doing anything
crazy, are you?”

“
No,” Gabby grinned.
“Kolson runs with me now.”

“
Hot damn! So, what’s he
like?” Sky asked.

Gabby gave them a dreamy smile. “Um, in a
nutshell, he’s damn gorgeous. Tall, a body to die for, blondish
hair and eyes I can’t describe. They’re a blend of gray, green, and
brown.”

“
You mean hazel?” Cara
offered.

“
No. It’s like they’re
sort of striped or something. Hard to explain. You have to see
them.”

“
Is he an alien?” Sky
asked.

“
Very funny. And he’s
built. Muscles, but not busting-out-of-his-skin
muscles.”

Cara asked, “But what’s
he
like
like?”

“
He’s intense. Amazing.
Protective. He’s sweet. He even went to the hospital on one of the
nights I worked a shift and stayed there with me. All because he
wanted to spend time with me. I think he cares about
me.”

“
Whoa! All that.” Cara
said. “So, you’re dating then?”

“
I guess you could call it
that. We’ve been out a few times.”

“
Well, that’s a good
start. You don’t want to move in with the guy or anything. Nice and
slow is best. What’s he like in bed?”

“
Cara!” Gabby said. “I
can’t believe you’d ask that.”

“
Why not? That’s an
important part of a relationship.”

“
Humph.”

“
Well?” Cara
prodded.

“
We haven’t slept together
yet.”

“
Hmm. Interesting. He
really does like you.”

Gabby’s head popped up. “Why do you say
that?”

“
Jeez, you’re naive. If he
didn’t give a shit about you, he’d have slept with you right away.
And then he may have thought about seeing you again or maybe not.
If he keeps hanging around you and he hasn’t slept with you, he is
completely interested in you. Use your freaking brain, girl. You
are supposed to be a psychiatrist.”

“
Yeah, but I’m a total
loser when it comes to my own personal relationships.”

Sky nodded. “I agree with Cara. Keep doing
what you’re doing because it seems to be working. You’re charming
him. And slow is good.”

“
I don’t know. I don’t
think he does anything slow. And I’m sure everything is on his
terms. Hey, you all ready for another?”

“
Yep, and tonight is on
me!” Sky announced. She signaled to the bartender to bring another
round.

An hour later, the girls were laughing
louder and Cara decided it would be good to order some food. As
they ate, Gabby decided she needed another drink.

“
Let me order for you,”
Sky said.

Gabby gave her a suspicious look. “Uh-huh.
No way. I’m not a fan of those sweet drinks you always get. Like
tequila sunrises. Who drinks those, anyway?”

Sky’s hand shot up in the air as she
hollered, “I do!”

“
How ’bout a mai tai?”
Cara shouted.

“
Ew, no. I hate rum. I
want a vodka drink.”

“
I know, order a Sugar
Tit. They make those special here.”

Gabby looked at Sky like she was nuts.
“You’re either severely crazy or trying to make a fool out of
me.”

“
No! I’m totally serious.
Here, I’ll ask the bartender.” And she did. Gabby was surprised to
find Sky had been right. They had a drink called a Sugar Tit, made
with vodka, pineapple and orange juices, and club soda, the glass
rimmed in sugar and a red cherry dropped on top—hence the name.
They also put in chunks of fresh pineapple and orange.

“
Okay, what the heck. If I
don’t like it, I’ll switch to Martians.”

As more drinks were downed, Gabby shared a
bit more about Kolson. But then she slipped up and mentioned Danny
and the note on her mirror, which opened the gates to trouble. Sky
already knew the basics, but Cara wanted to tell J.D. so he could
put one of his bouncers on her. Then they insisted that Gabby move
in with one of them. It was a mess.

“
Whoa! Stop! Calm down
everyone. Now listen up. The only way I’ll move in with one of you
is if you give up your profession. Sky, you know Ryder will be
happier if you do. And Cara, I know there is someone out there for
you, too. But you won’t know because you’re always with a customer.
And besides, that’s why Sam is following me.”

“
Who the hell is Sam?”
Cara asked.

“
He’s Kolson’s
guy.”

Sky held up her hands. “Okay, this is
creepy. You have this hot rich dude that you don’t know a whole lot
about fretting over you and putting a bodyguard on you. And then
you have a creepy cousin stalking you, writing notes in lipstick on
your bathroom mirror. What the hell, Gabby? Two months ago you led
the most boring life around. So, what are you gonna do?”

Gabby laughed. And laughed harder. Then she
raised her glass and said, “I’m gonna propose a toast. To all the
women who have crazy cousins stalking them and hot rich dudes
trying to protect them. Here’s to more Sugar Tips!”

“
They’re Sugar Tits!” Cara
and Sky said in unison.

“
They sure are!” Gabby
said as they broke out in giggles. “And I need another
one.”

The music had picked up so the girls decided
to dance. Gabby shouted, “Do you think we’ll get in trouble for
dancing?”

“
Yeah, they’re gonna call
the dance police!”

They laughed but then
Gabby started thinking. “You know, they probably will and
put
me
in dance
jail, because here I am dancing next to you two—dance pros. It’s
not fair.” She made a pouty face.

“
You dance great. Look at
the way you move your hips,” Sky said.

Cara watched Gabby and nodded. “Yeah, girl,
you know how to work it.”

“
Maybe, but only a little.
But I have one thing going for me. I bet my Sugar Tits are really
popping out!” She didn’t realize that Cara and Sky had not only
ignored her little joke but they had also stopped dancing. Instead,
they stared at the tall specimen of manhood that stood directly
behind Gabby as she howled over her little joke. She finally
noticed their silence.

“
What? Don’t you like my
Sugar Tits? Oh, I get it. You’re jealous! Ha! All this time, I’ve
been jealous of you and all your man-tales and the way you shake
your booties. And you Sky, with your Ryder accounts, making me
drool with envy and now you guys are totally over the top jelly of
my Sugar Titties.” Then she lowered her arms and squished her boobs
together, making her cleavage look immense.

Laughing, she leaned into the bar to grab
her drink when a warm hand clamped around her wrist and a deep
voice hummed in her ear. “I think you’ve had quite enough.” She
turned her head slightly and found herself staring at those
magnificent eyes, though now they were darkened with unspecified
emotion.

“
Well, look who’s here.”
Standing up straight, she announced to her friends, “Hey, everyone,
this is Holson Kart.” She smacked her mouth with three fingers and
said again, “Kolson Hart. And this is Ky and Scara.” She didn’t
bother to correct her second error. He looked at the girls and
dipped his head once in acknowledgement, for it would have been
rude for him to do otherwise, but that was it.

Then his eyes went straight back to Gabby.
“Say goodbye to your friends. We’re leaving.”

“
What? But I want more
Sugar Titties.”

“
You have plenty, kea.
Trust me, you don’t need any more.” He glanced down at her chest as
he spoke.

“
But I’m not ready to
leave yet.” Gabby pouted.

“
Don’t worry, I’ll make it
worth your while.”

“
Oh? And how’re you gonna
do that?”

His hand was still locked around her wrist,
not painfully, but she knew he meant business. Then he bent toward
her ear and whispered, her face flushing as her free hand flew to
her cheek. The corners of his mouth curved up slightly while Cara
and Sky eyed the two of them curiously.

His body was a sentinel, looming over hers,
yet Gabby didn’t mind one bit. In fact, she rather enjoyed her
physical reaction to him, like he let off a static charge and the
fine hairs on her body paid homage to him. Her eyes targeted his
lips and all she wanted to do was taste them again, so that’s
precisely what she did. Kolson wasn’t a man who was often caught
off guard, but Gabby had the element of surprise when she threw her
arm around his neck and lunged.

It wasn’t a tentative test-the-waters kind
of kiss. It was an explosive, take-control type. Body armor: gone.
Weapons: tossed aside. Gloves: ripped away. She didn’t give a damn
about caution or preliminaries. Cara and Sky were dumbfounded for
they had never seen Gabby in action. As for Kolson, he didn’t demur
one bit. His hand released her wrist and both his arms yanked her
against him, lifting her off her feet and imprisoning her against
his larger frame. It was so erotic that even Cara and Sky
panted.

Cara eventually stuck her face up to the
couple and said, “Get a room.”

Gabby’s hands were tangled in Kolson’s hair
when the kiss ended. She said, voice sexed up, “Maybe we
should.”

Kolson turned to Gabby’s friends and said,
“Good night, ladies. It was a pleasure meeting you.” And then he
walked out toting Gabby in his arms.

Once outside, Kolson asked, “Why did you go
out without letting me know where you’d be? Especially after what
happened today?”

The question stumped her. Was she supposed
to tell him her every move?

“
I didn’t know I was
supposed to.”

He stopped walking. “Conversation is
impossible with that damn mouth staring me in the face. Either I
put you down or we kiss again. Which will it be, Gabriella?”

“
Kiss me,
Kolson.”

“
I’m going against my
better judgment here. You’re intoxicated.”

She pulled his face toward hers and was
satisfied when she heard him groan. “Wrap your legs around me. I
want you to feel what you do to me.” And then his lips met hers
again. But this time they teased her, tasted, nibbled, and grazed
until she squirmed against him, moaning.

He murmured against her mouth, “Hush,
Gabriella. I let you have your way with me the last kiss. This
one’s all mine.”

He moved until her back was against the
rough concrete of a building and skimmed her with his lips. He
brushed them across the apple of her cheek, sending ripples of heat
over her body. Though his touch was delicate, she shivered
violently as her body reacted to him.

His lips left a heated trail down to the
corner of her mouth and then moved to her neck. She could feel the
stubble of his cheek, the roughness as it scratched her soft skin,
but she didn’t mind. In fact, the masculine feel made it more
appealing. Gabby thought she must’ve been drugged because her
senses were in hyperdrive. She inhaled his fresh, clean, slightly
spicy fragrance. His touch and the way he held her body against his
was possessive yet protective and sexy at the same time, and it
sent her heart straight into her throat. That he was pleasing to
look at was a given. The way he felt beneath her hands, hard but
smooth, made her fingers tingle. Had she been a braver soul, she
would’ve ripped his shirt, slid her hands under the fabric, and had
her way with him.