Defending the Backfield (LA Wolves Book 5) by Cadence Keys

Author:Cadence Keys [Keys, Cadence]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-31T18:30:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

The clamor and clang of Gabe working out in his home gym alerts me to his location. I move swiftly in that direction, mentally preparing myself for the confrontation I know we need to have. He’s been careful with me since I told him about Mitch in a way that makes me fume with frustration.

I’m not some delicate flower that will break easily. If what Mitch has put me through didn’t break me, then I’m not sure anything can.

I see the way Gabe watches me, especially when he thinks I’m not looking. I know what it looks like when a man is attracted to me, and Gabe’s clearly fighting that attraction with everything in his soul. What I can’t figure out is why. I thought I made it obvious the other night with our romantic dinner, but then he left for Arizona the next day and when he got back he was treating me like one of the guys which was both awkward and confusing—for both of us.

I’m done letting Gabe hide from me. I need to confront my feelings for him as much as he needs to admit his feelings for me. Surprisingly, that idea doesn’t make me panic with fear.

It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted a man to touch me or kiss me, but I know Gabe’s touch would never be painful. He might be huge, but he’d never use his body to dominate me in a way that made me afraid. He’s far too considerate.

When I get closer to his gym, I slow my steps. Even mentally preparing myself for what I’ll likely see doesn’t come close to diminishing the effect of seeing Gabe exercising. He always works out in just a pair of loose basketball shorts that hang off his hips. When I stop right outside the door, he’s on his back lifting up a bar that’s got to be holding over two hundred pounds, but he pushes it up as if it weighs nothing. His muscles ripple under his smooth light-brown skin, the tattoos on his arms and shoulders on display. He grunts as he holds the bar up before slowly lowering it down, and the sound sends an instant zing through my body. He does a few more reps and then places the bar back on its rack. When he stands, a few sweat beads slide down his toned stomach and my mouth waters. The silver cross he always wears hangs between his pecs, and his V cut draws my eyes south. A thin strip of dark hair leads from his belly button down into his shorts, and I watch as a line of sweat rolls down his torso in the same direction my eyes went.

Sweat should not be sexy, but on Gabe it is.

His body is a giant, bulky work of art that should terrify me given my history, but instead, I’ve never felt safer than I do when he’s near.

I want those arms wrapped around my body. I want his lips on mine.

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