Gabe: The Alvarez Security Series (23 page)

The next day
dawned clear and bright as Gabe loaded them into his Jeep. Vinny sat in the back with Ross, keeping him entertained for the forty-minute drive, while Jennifer sat nervously wondering what would be waiting for her.

After leaving the city, they meandered along a smaller highway along the riverside. The early spring day gave hint of the beauty that was to come. The grass was turning green, the trees were budding, and cows were wandering in their pastures.

Ross was excited about seeing the farmland and Jennifer realized that she did not get him out of the city enough.
Sure, I take him to parks and to the zoo, but this…he needs this too.
She jumped when Gabe took her hand in his.

She looked over at him as he squeezed her fingers and gave him a little smile. He gave her a questioning look and she nodded her answer, knowing he was silently asking if she was all right.

Driving into a small town on the edge of the river, she was amazed that she had never heard of Riverton. Quaint shops lined the streets and the edge of the town was on the river, with a boardwalk on the side. A harbor was at the end of the town and Ross’ excitement over the boats had him straining at his seat belt to be able to see.

“Hang on, buddy,” Gabe instructed. “You’ll get to see them, I promise.”

With those simple words, a warm feeling surrounded Jennifer’s heart.
This is serious. He does love Ross.
Smiling to herself, she continued to look at the town as they pulled up to a stone building next to the harbor.
It looks just like something from…
she saw the sign hanging over the door.
Malloy’s Pub
…
it is a real pub!

Vinny helped Ross out and Gabe grabbed him before he could run to the boats. Hoisting Ross on his back, they walk over to Jennifer. Heading into the pub, it took a second for her eyes to grow accustomed to the dim lighting.

A stone fireplace was in a gathering place to the left, with old, comfortable sofas surrounding it. Jennifer inhaled deeply the slight smokey smell of the fireplace that gave the pub a homey scent. Along the right wall was a long polished bar with mismatched stools lining it. In the corner was a dart board with a chalkboard to the side for keeping tallies. Toward the back were empty tables and booths, awaiting the lunch regulars.

“Boys,” came a deep call from the back.

Jennifer looked toward the voice and saw a large, muscular man heading toward them wearing jeans and a
Malloy’s Pub
t-shirt. A Celtic tattoo on his bicep peeked from the t-shirt, matching the one she knew so intimately on Gabe.
I knew Gabe and Vinny were huge but never thought about their parents.
The man bear-hugged first Vinny and then turned to Gabe and smiled.

“Maeve, get out here woman. Your son’s brought a little monkey with him,” he shouted with a smile.

Just as Ross popped his head up over Gabe’s shoulder and announced “I’m not a monkey,” a beautiful, petite, dark-haired woman came out of the kitchen as well, wiping her hands on her apron.

After gifting Vinny with a kiss, she turned to Gabe, seeing Ross’ face peering at her. “Oh Patrick. That’s no monkey. It’s a wee boy who looks just like he’d love a piece of my apple pie.”

Gabe swung Ross down to the floor, depositing him safely between Jennifer and himself. Placing his arm around her, he turned back to his parents. “Mom, dad. I’d like you to meet Jennifer Lambert and this little man is her brother, Ross. Jennifer, I’d like you to meet Patrick and Maeve Malloy.”

Maeve stepped in front of Jennifer and took both of her hands in hers. “Oh my darling girl. You look just like a fairy princess.”

Jennifer’s smile faltered as she noticed tears in Maeve’s eyes.

Maeve pulled her into a hug, whispering, “Thank you for loving my son. I’ve prayed so long that he would find someone.”

“Don’t mind my Maeve,” Patrick said, putting his hands on his wife’s shoulders. “She cries when she’s happy.”

Patrick stepped up to Jennifer and she had to lean way back to look into his cheerful face. “Good to have you here, darling. Maeve and I’ve heard a lot about you and are tickled to finally meet the woman that tamed one of my boys.”

Bending down to Ross’ level, Maeve said, “And Ross, I was serious about the pie. But how about we eat a little lunch first. We’ve got the best hamburgers and French fries, or if you just want a grilled cheese, we can do that too.”

Ross looked up at Jennifer for permission and she nodded to him. Vinny led Ross to a large booth at the back and said, “Eat first and then we can go see the boats.”

Gabe and Jennifer followed and they all settled down together. Ross, used to adults around, quickly acclimated and his enthusiasm for seeing the boats up close after lunch had him bouncing in his seat.

“Sis, did you see the big ones? Vinny says I can go see them up close. Are you going to come too? Can we all go? Can I ride on a boat sometime? Some of the boats are for riding and some are for fishing. Can I go on a fishing boat?”

“Shh, Ross. Not so fast, honey,” Jennifer gently admonished as Patrick and Maeve laughed.

“Oh, my. He sounds just like my boys at that age,” Maeve said.

As the staff brought out platters of fish and chips, Shepard’s pie, and hamburgers, the group began to eat. Maeve and Patrick asked Jennifer about her work with the elderly.

Jennifer cut her eyes over to Gabe and he just grinned.

“Yeah babe, I’ve been talking about you,” he admitted, leaning over to kiss her forehead.

Turning back to his parents, she gave a quick explanation of her job at the Elder Center. They listened attentively and then Maeve had to admit, “I was concerned at first when he told me that he had met a woman in an alley!”

Laughing, she said, “Well, I have to confess that seeing this giant,” as she elbowed him in the side, “certainly gave me a fright!”

“Well, however it happened, I’m so glad he met you, my dear,” Maeve said affectionately. “Now, do you have any friends for my Vinny?”

“Oh no, ma. Don’t go playing matchmaker with me. I love Jennifer here…for my brother, but I’m not looking to get tied down just yet,” Vinny exclaimed.

“I’ll keep my eye out anyway,” Jennifer said with a wink.

Patrick began asking Gabe and Vinny about their work. They discussed a few of their security cases and some of the work they were doing with the police department. Patrick nodded approvingly, proud of his sons’ military careers and their present jobs.

As his eyes settled on Ross, he noted, “Son, you ate a whole plate of fish and chips. You’re eating like my boys did at that age!”

At this, Ross’ head whipped around with a grin splitting his face. “Do you think I’ll be as big as them?”

“Our daddy was a pretty big man, sweetie, but I don’t know if you’ll be quite as big as them.”

Ross pondered this for a moment as the adults continued to talk. After a bit, he slid out of his chair and tapped Gabe on the arm. Gabe looked down affectionately and put his arm around Ross as he leaned down.

“You need something, buddy?”

“Even if I can’t be a big as you, can I still be like you?” Ross asked.

“You wanna be like me?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah. Sis says that you help people and I know you helped us. I’d like to be like that too. She says my dad helped people too so I thought that might be a good thing.”

At this, Jennifer turned around and looked at the serious face of her little brother. The table had grown quiet as the adults listened to the voice of the child.

“Buddy, you can be anything you want to be and I’m honored that you want to be like me. And I promise to help you grow up to be the kind of man that your dad would be proud of. Is that a deal?”

Ross’ grin was his answer as he scrambled back into his seat and looked at Vinny. “Can we go look at the boats now?”

Laughing, Vinny agreed. Jennifer squatted down to be at Ross’ level and said, “Stay right with Vinny. You don’t know how to swim and I don’t want you going too close to the edge. Don’t run away from him. Don’t—”

“Baby,” Gabe said, watching Ross squirm. “I’ll go too and we’ll be careful. Promise.”

Kissing Ross’ head as he bounced over to Vinny, she stood and leaned back to look into Gabe’s face. Placing her hands on his strong chest, she said, “Honey, he doesn’t know how to swim.”

“Noted. But babe, we’re not going to let him near the edge.” Gabe pulled her close and kissed her chastely. Not the kiss he wanted to give, but in front of his parents, it would have to suffice.

As they were walking toward the door, Gabe turned back and said, “And the first thing on our agenda with spring break? Swimming lessons!”

Before Jennifer could respond they were out of the door, Patrick following along. Jennifer turned to Maeve, suddenly unsure what to say. Maeve quickly put her at ease, directing her to the comfortable sofas in front of the stone fireplace.

The two women sat for the next hour, talking about their families. Jennifer learned more about Gabe as a boy and recognized many of the behaviors that she saw in Ross.

“Sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not everything that I need to be for him,” Jennifer confessed.

Maeve leaned over and grasped her hand. “Oh my dear. I see a normal little boy, eager to learn, happy to be around others, inquisitive and intelligent. In spite of the loss that he…well both of you have suffered, he’s a wonderful boy. And you…well, let’s just say that I couldn’t have picked out a more perfect woman for my Gabe.”

Smiling, Jennifer squeezed her hand in return. After a few more minutes of chatting, the men came in from the docks and she listened to Ross as he chattered continuously. His face was red from the wind and she wrapped him in a blanket, sitting him near the fire, as Maeve brought out mugs of hot chocolate. He started to protest until he saw Gabe sit near the fireplace too as he pulled Jennifer down in his lap.

All too soon it was time to head back to the city. They piled back in the Jeep after goodbye hugs and promises to visit soon. Ross fell asleep almost immediately and soon they were pulling into the garage of Gabe’s building. After a simple supper and bath time, Ross was once again sound asleep in his bed.

Walking into the bedroom, Jennifer noticed that Gabe was in the bathroom with the shower water running as he pulled his shirt off. She had barely made it into the room before he was stalking toward her. Smiling as she backed up to the counter, she leaned back as he pressed closer. Her gaze took in his chest, the expanse of muscles that tapered down to his defined abs.

His hands slid over her shoulders, down her back, and to the bottom of her shirt lifting it over her head. His eyes dropped to her full breasts, spilling over the top of her demi-bra.
Not her usual lingerie.

She grinned, saying, “I bought something new. Do you like it?”

Growling his answer, he unzipped her jeans and began to slide them slowly down her legs, taking her panties with them. With a flick of his fingers, the bra landed on the pile of clothes on the floor. He perused her naked body, petite with curves that begged to his hands. Silky skin that his fingers ached to caress.

Her fingers went to his belt buckle and she made quick work of his jeans as well. His erection tented out his boxers and she knelt as she pulled them off. Staying on her knees, she took him in her mouth. Sucking deeply, she could only take part of him so her hands circled the lower part of his dick and moved gently up and down in rhythm with her hands.

He moaned and threw his head back as the sensations shot through him as he wrapped his hands in her silken curls. Looking back down, he was awed that this gorgeous creature was pleasuring him when what he wanted to do was worship her body.

He could tell he was close to coming but gently pulled her up and into his arms. Kissing her soundly, he said, “Baby, I could have come right then and loved every second, but when I come tonight, I want to be buried deep in your sweet pussy.”

She stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over her body and in turn, watching the droplets fall off of his towering frame. He lifted her up in his arms and pressed her back against the wall, allowing the water to hit his back, keeping it from spraying her face.

She held on, first to his shoulder and then cupping his face, before pulling him in for a kiss—one that she started, but he quickly took over. What started as a soft as a whisper kiss evolved into demanding, possessive, unyielding. She felt the rough stubble of whiskers against her fingers as she held him close.

He plunged in, exploring every crevice while committing her taste to memory. He wanted more, needed more. She met him stroke for stroke, her tongue vying for dominance.

Slowly letting go of her mouth, he kissed his way across her neck as she arched her back and down to the swell of her breasts. Sucking one nipple in deeply, he tugged hard, first nipping and then soothing.

Her hand grabbed his head, pulling him closer. The feelings of euphoria washed over her as much as the warm water that slid down her body. With every pull on her nipples, she felt the zing straight to her core.

Lifting her up again, settling her on the tip of his cock, he guided her onto him gently this time. Unlike earlier, this was about slow. Gentle. Easy. Care. Comfort. Keeping her back against the shower wall so that the water was not on her face, he moved her up and down, letting the sensations flow over both of them.

Taking a wet nipple in his mouth, he sucked gently, circling his tongue around the beaded tip. Knowing shower sex was a new experience for her, he realized it was new to him as well.
It’s all new with her. Everything. The sex. The feelings. Everything.

It didn’t take long for her to feel the familiar pull of her impending orgasm. Climbing higher and higher until she knew she was ready to jump off the edge, she felt him press against her clit and that was all it took for her to fly apart. Throwing her head back, she felt her orgasm roar through her as her inner walls grabbed at his pulsating cock.

With just a few more pumps Gabe joined her, as she milked every bit of seed out of his straining dick. As he emptied himself into her waiting body, he knew this was it for him. She was his forever. Lowering her carefully onto the shower floor, he leaned back to turn off the cooling water.