Rush

eyes.
    “Eyes,” she said huskily, echoing the command he so often gave her. “I want to see
     your eyes when you come.”
    His eyes flew open, pupils dilated and his nostrils flared, his jaw tightening. But
     his gaze didn’t leave her.
    “Anything for you, baby.”
    That made her happy. Really damn happy. A contented sigh whispered past her lips and
     she went liquidy soft around him.
    She increased the speed and force of her movements, takinghim higher and higher and closer to the edge until his jaw bulged, his eyes glittered
     and something unintelligible escaped raggedly from his lips.
    She saw the moment he came. Even before she felt his release, she could see it in
     his eyes. The immense burst of fire, the way they momentarily blanked. Then his hands
     settled firmly at her waist and he gripped her so hard he’d leave marks.
    But then one of his hands slipped even lower and his finger glided through her folds
     to her clit, stroking as she continued to rock over him.
    When she began to close her eyes, his command was swift, for the first time asserting
     himself.
    “Eyes. On me, Mia. When you come, I have your eyes.”
    She focused on him, her orgasm rising, billowing with excruciating intensity. She
     was a restless wild thing atop him and now it was his turn to anchor her. To be that
     steady calm. He stroked his hand down her body while he gently pressed his fingers
     to her clit.
    It was overwhelming. She didn’t even have the strength to remain upright as she began
     to come apart. She tensed and slumped forward and he gathered her in his arms, pulling
     her down, cradling her into his chest as her orgasm quaked over her, a sudden, fierce
     storm.
    Gabe collected her against him, his mind reeling with what he’d just experienced.
     He was in awe. He was humbled. Most of all he was so damn
grateful
.
    He had no words to describe what she’d just done for him. She’d made love to him.
     After what he’d done to her, that he still had her trust, much less her giving the
     gift of herself so selflessly.
    He was overcome by what he held in his arms. Gripped by a possessiveness so fierce
     that he couldn’t comprehend it. He hated himself for what he’d done. And yet she
didn’t
. And that was almost more than he could bear.
    She touched a part of him he’d thought was inaccessible. A part that had been jealously
     guarded for years. And she’d gotten there with no effort whatsoever. She’d walked
     into his life and heart like she
belonged
.
    And the hell of it was that he was convinced she
did
.

chapter thirty-three
    As traumatic an experience as Paris had been for her, in many ways, that night played
     a crucial turning point in their relationship. Gabe was even more fiercely protective
     of her and he displayed a tenderness—an
emotional
tenderness—that had been absent before.
    It heartened Mia. Made her dare to dream that they could eventually be more than just
     a contract. She loved Gabe and she only fell more under his spell with every passing
     day. Love made her patient. It made her hopeful.
    The only thing she regretted was that their relationship was secret. From the world.
     From Jace. Especially from Jace.
    Jace had picked up on Mia’s upset when she and Gabe had returned from Paris. She hated
     having to lie to him when he asked her what was wrong. She’d played it off as a stomach
     bug and jet lag. Thank God for Caroline’s expertise with makeup. She’d been able to
     hide the evidence of her bruise until it faded.
    Thanksgiving was approaching, and Gabe had been invited to his parents’ house for
     the occasion. As much as Gabe had mourned their breakup, he seemed to be struggling
     with their getting back together as well. There was betrayal in his eyes when he looked
     at his dad, and he was still fiercely protective of his mother. He blamed his father
     for hurting his mother.
    Mia wasn’t sure of her own Thanksgiving plans. Gabe had seemed torn between spending
     the holiday with his parents and remaining with Mia. She’d insisted that he accept
     their invitation. It was only for a day. It was likely Mia would spend it with Jace
     provided he planned to be in town. If not, she’d hang out with Caro and her family.
    Gabe didn’t like the idea of her spending the holiday away from him, but what was
     there for him to do about it? Unless he wanted to go public with their relationship—and
     so far he’d been solidly against that.
    “Have you finished