CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29

Olivia’s POV

His statement made me gasp. "Gabriel!"

"What? You asked for honesty." His thumb brushed across my lower lip. "And honestly, you’re driving me absolutely insane. The way you blush, the way you bite your lip when you’re nervous, the way you keep looking at me like you want to devour me..."

"I do not look at you like that," I protested weakly, even as my body betrayed me by pressing closer to him.

*What the fuck is wrong with me!*

"You do." Gabriel whispered. "And it’s taking every ounce of self-control I have not to pull over right now and show you exactly what that look does to me."

My heart was racing so fast I was sure he could hear it over the music. "You’re very forward."

"Only when I know what I want." His eyes locked on mine with an intensity that made me feel dizzy. "And I want you, Olivia. More than I’ve wanted anything in a very long time."

From the backseat came an exaggerated gagging sound, but Gabriel acted as if he hadn’t heard it at all. Instead, he moved his hand to the back of my neck, his fingers tangling in my hair.

"Tell me you feel this too," he demanded softly. "Tell me I’m not going crazy."

"You’re not going crazy," I whispered, my resolve crumbling completely. "I feel it too."

*At this point, I knew I was going insane. Was I so lonely that every single guy turns me on!*

Gabriel grinned wildly. "Good. Because I’m already planning our second date, and it’s going to be somewhere very, very private."

"Oh really? And what did you have in mind?"

"My apartment," he said without hesitation. "I’m going to cook for you. Something that takes hours to prepare so we have plenty of time to... talk."

The way he said ’talk’ made it clear that conversation would be the last thing on his mind.

"That sounds..." I struggled to find words that wouldn’t make me sound completely desperate. "Interesting."

"Interesting?" Gabriel laughed, and the sound was pure sin. "Baby, if our second date is just ’interesting,’ then I’m doing something very wrong."

The endearment made me blush. "Did you just call me baby?"

"Would you prefer sweetheart? Beautiful? Or maybe..." He leaned so close that his lips almost brushed my ear. "Maybe you’d prefer if I didn’t use words at all."

I actually whimpered. Out loud. Like a desperate, needy mess.

Gabriel pulled back to look at me, his eyes dark with satisfaction. "I love that sound. I want to hear it again."

"Do you know what I’ll really love!?" Maxwell’s voice thundered from the back, "For you to focus on driving, before you kill us all!"

As usual, Gabriel pretended like no one had spoken, instead he slid his hand down to rest on my thigh.

The innocent touch sent electricity through my entire body. I could feel the heat of his palm through the fabric of my dress, and I had to grip the car door to keep myself grounded.

"You know what I keep thinking about?" Gabriel asked, as if his hand wasn’t currently setting my skin on fire.

"What?"

"How that dress would look on my bedroom floor."

I choked on my own breath. "Gabriel please stop!"

"Too much?" He didn’t look even remotely sorry. "Because I can get more graphic if you’d like."

"We’re in a car!" I hissed, still aware of Maxwell’s smug presence behind us.

"So?" Gabriel’s hand squeezed my thigh gently. "He’s the one who insisted on coming along. If he doesn’t like what he hears, he can always ask me to pull over and walk home."

"I’m right here, bro!" Maxwell’s voice sounded through from behind.

Gabriel finally turned around, looking so innocent. "Sorry, did you say something? I can’t hear you over the music."

"You know damn well what I said!"

Gabriel cupped his ear dramatically. "What? The music’s too loud!"

I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. Gabriel turned back to me, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Now, where were we?" he asked, his hand returning to my thigh.

"You were being completely inappropriate," I said, but I made no move to push his hand away.

"And you were loving every second of it."

He wasn’t wrong. Despite the insanity of the situation, the fact that I have a stranger stalking me around town, the fact that his twin brother had been my center of attention for months, I still felt completely comfortable and free with him.

"Hey, look at me." He said, trying to keep his own eyes on the road. "I know this is crazy, I know we just met, and I know I’m coming on strong. But I meant what I said in the restaurant. There’s something about you that I can’t resist. Something that makes me want to throw all my usual rules out the window."

"What are your usual rules?" I asked curiously.

"Take things slow. Wait at least five dates before... well, before anything physical. Don’t scare women away with too much intensity too soon." Gabriel’s smile was rueful. "Clearly, I’ve already broken all of those with you."

"Maybe your rules were made to be broken."

Gabriel’s eyes flashed dangerously. "Careful, Olivia. Keep talking like that and I really will pull this car over."

"Maybe I want you to," I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Gabriel’s hand tightened on my thigh, and for a moment, I thought he actually might do it. He glanced at me for any sign that I was just playing games.

"Don’t tempt me," he warned, his voice rough with want. "Because I’m hanging on by a very thin thread here."

"What if I like you on the edge?"

Gabriel groaned, a sound that went straight to my core. "You’re going to kill me."

"THAT’S IT!" Maxwell’s voice boomed from the backseat. "PULL OVER RIGHT NOW!"

Gabriel didn’t even blink. "Sorry, still can’t hear you!" he called back cheerfully.

I was laughing now, "He’s going to have a heart attack."

"Let him," Gabriel said, his fingers tracing patterns on my thigh that were making it very hard to think straight. "I’m more interested in what you’re going to do to my heart rate."

"Gabriel..."

"Say my name again," he demanded, his voice low and urgent. "I love the way it sounds when you say it."

"Gabriel," I whispered, watching his eyes close briefly at the sound.

"Again."

"Gabriel."

"Fuck," he breathed, his control visibly slipping. "I need to get you home before I do something we’ll both regret in front of the world’s worst chaperone."

I laughed out loud, my hands holding on to my chest for control. From the corner of my eyes, I could see Maxwell staring daggers at us. He clearly didn’t see this coming - sitting at the back, watching his best friend flirt with the same woman who according to him ’wasn’t in the same class with Alex.’ Well look who got the brother now.

"Olivia, please promise me you’ll honor my invitation. Second date. My place. No interruptions." Gabriel practically pleaded.

"I Promise." I responded with a huge smile.

"Thank you so much. And i swear on Mitchell’s life, it’s going to be the most wonderful experience." He promise.

I couldn’t help but burst into another round of laughter.