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 Nothing s wrong. I m finished in here, at least for tonight. Let s
go to bed, she said, brushing fingertips down the center of his chest.
 Mmm, okay, Riley agreed, standing up.  Do you have a scrap of
paper?
Gabi found a cube of sticky notes and handed it to him.  What are
you doing?
 Marking my place. He matched actions to words.  Now, come
on, you ve got to be exhausted. Wrapping one arm around her, he
held her close as they left the studio and headed down the hall to his
room.
 Uh huh, she said, acknowledging the bone weariness for the
first time.
She allowed him to undress her and help her to bed. Though she
tried to wait for him to join her, her eyes closed, and she fell asleep
before the covers fully settled over her body.
She thought she heard him kiss her cheek and whisper,  Never
doubt that I love all your precious eccentricities, sweet Gabi.
* * * *
Gabi woke slowly with a sense of peace she d never felt before.
Was it because the painting was going so well? Or that Riley had not
thrown a hissy fit when she d walked away from him to go to her
studio and work? Or because he d said  I love you ?
Or was it that the sex had been so satisfying she d had a hard time
holding the paintbrush and concentrating on anything but repeating
the experience?
Knowing she didn t really care to uncover the answer, she opened
her eyes and found herself alone in Riley s bed. She touched his
pillow and found it cold. So, he d been up for awhile.
When she rolled over to look at the clock, she found a sheet of
paper draped over it, so she couldn t see the glowing green numbers.
80 Cooper McKenzie
Picking it up, it took a moment to focus and concentrate enough to
read the words written in purple ink with a bold, decisive script.
Gabi  Hope you slept well. Something came up at the office I
have to deal with. DO NOT leave the house. I love you, Riley.
Laying the note down, Gabi climbed from the bed. She had no
plans to go anywhere except the bathroom, the kitchen, and her
studio. She had a painting to finish so she could cross this commission
off her list and move on to something else.
No doubt there were book covers to be created, and she still had to
finish the sets for the Civic Theatre. Plus there was the matter of
capturing Riley in as many mediums as she could think up. But all
that would wait until after she finished this painting.
After a quick shower and a trip to the kitchen for a can of soda
and a package of graham crackers, she headed to her studio. The muse
was awake and screaming for her to get to work.
* * * *
Riley walked in the front door with his emotions fighting one
another. His team had uncovered the source of the threat against
Elliott, and the woman was now in police custody. While that was
good, it also meant his job as Gabi s security guard was over. Without
the threat he had no reason to stay, though he d like nothing better
than to spend the rest of his days taking care of his woman.
Climbing the stairs, he headed to the studio, where he expected
Gabi would be up to her armpits in paint. She wasn t there, though he
saw that she had been. The canvas she d covered with two shades of
blue paint yesterday now appeared near completion with gold and red
and peach colors swirled across it, somehow giving the impression of
fluffiness.
Turning from the studio, he headed to her bedroom next. But that
The Color of Sex 81
was just as empty. With a growl of frustration, he stalked toward the
stairs. If she wasn t in her bed and she wasn t in her studio, where the
hell was she?
He searched the main floor, his heart clenching in fear, while his
gut churned with growing anger. The combination made him wonder
what he would do first when he finally found her fuck her senseless
or spank her until she couldn t sit down.
In the kitchen, a sweeping glance proved someone had been here.
A half-empty bottle of soda sat on the counter next to a box of graham
crackers. Then he saw the back door standing half open. Storming
across the kitchen, he took several deep breaths to contain the anger
that threatened to erupt like a fiery volcano.
It would do no good for their future together if he lost control
now. The next few minutes called for the cool, controlled dominant to
be in charge, not a panicked man in love.
* * * *
Gabi reclined on the chaise and stared across the backyard, her
thoughts drifting like the breeze that danced among the tree branches.
She d been outside less than a half hour when she heard footsteps.
Turning her head, she saw Riley s large form pause in the kitchen
doorway.
 Over here, she said in a voice just above a whisper.
She thought she heard a growl before Riley crossed the patio
toward her. Though his face was expressionless, she could feel the
anger and worry that radiated from him.
Riley stopped beside her chair. Out of the corner of her eye, she
saw his hands were fisted as if he were trying to keep from strangling
her.  I know you said to stay in the house while you were gone, but I
needed a break and fresh air. I figured it would be okay to come out
here for a few minutes.
When he didn t respond, she lifted her chin and looked up his tall,
82 Cooper McKenzie
muscular body. He met her gaze squarely, staring down at her without
expression. It was as if the nerves that controlled his facial
movements had been severed, leaving his face completely unreadable.
 Riley?
Instead of answering, the big man leaned over and wrapped his
hands around her waist. Without any apparent effort, he lifted her and
positioned her so she stood on the chaise. Bending slightly, he put his
shoulder in her middle and straightened with her dangling from his
shoulder. She wore only the chambray shirt again and felt the tails flip
up her back, baring her lower half to the world.
 Riley, what are you doing? Put me down. She screeched as he
turned and stalked back toward the kitchen door.  Oww, she cried
when he popped her ass three times with the hand not holding her
thighs securely against his chest.
With her hair hanging down past his knees, she had a hard time
seeing where they were going. The tears that filled her eyes from the
pain of his slaps didn t help matters. She wanted to fight but knew she
was in the wrong. Instead, she tried to figure out how to calm the man
down.
 I m sorry. I ll never do it again, she said softly.
Riley remained silent as he marched through the house with her
on his shoulder. The longer he carried her, the more impressed she
became that he was in such good shape. Not many men would be able [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]