Knots

Yup, that's me, still sitting around playing in someone else's sandbox.

So sheesh, if you've read this far, why haven't you given me some feedback already? Clicky clicky, come on folks.

Chapter 4: Insecurity

"Does this mean you’re going to shower with me?" she asked slyly. "Your clothes are soaked. You must be freezing. And frankly, the intensity of what the Witchblade is doing right now scares me more than a little.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at her, “emotional appeal aside, I get the feeling I’m being played for a sucker.”

Oh what I wouldn’t give to let her- he cut the thought off abruptly before the blade could make a choice about whether or not to share that particularly juicy thought with Sara. His eyes settled on the thin silver band that still encircled his arm, do me a favor and give her a break for a few hours, okay? Pushing isn’t going to get you anywhere except maybe the bottom of the Hudson.

The band around Gabriel's arm kept its own council.

He set Sara down on the closed lid of the toilet.
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal; I’ll shower with you but NOTHING is going to happen. I refuse to be rushed by you or this weird-ass piece of metal. I’m not going anywhere. I’m committed body and soul to be yours if you’ll have me. The rest will come when we’ve both had time to think, talk, and make our own decisions.”

Whoa, where did that come from and what the hell happened to the me who was obsessing over those leather knots an hour ago? He tried to keep his face straight as he put the curtain rod and the shower curtain back in place.

When did he start laying down the law? Sara opened her mouth to speak, then thought better of it. He's got a good point about not rushing into anything. Hell, considering his lifestyle, he's probably had more exposure to the wilder side of life and the body erotic than I have.

Gabriel pulled his T-shirt over his head, dropped it in the corner, and turned his back to start the water and adjust its temperature. For Sara, a feral hunger to touch him returned with the intimacy of exposed skin.

Lost in the alieness of someone else’s mind, Gabriel's hand stilled. “Keep thinking that and I’m going to leave you to shower by yourself," the lowered pitch of his voice betrayed the casualness of his statement.

Sara’s smile alone could have devoured him.

“Don’t even try to tell me you wouldn’t do the same if our positions were reversed. Take it as a compliment; I always thought you were scrawny under those baggy clothes.” Knowing he was sharing her thoughts on some level, Sara’s eyes skimmed leisurely across the width of his shoulders and down to his slender waist.

“I’ll have you know I don’t spend every minute of my time cooped up in this basement in front of a computer. I’ve been doing aikido since I was in high school and there’s no better way to get around this fucking city's suicidal drivers than on a bicycle.”

Oh, I would beg to disagree with you there, but then I guess I’ve never taken you out on my Buell, have I? She considered the sensual anticipation of his body pressed against her back as she took him on his first cross-town trip on her motorcycle. Yup, I definitely should have considered dating Gabriel earlier. She shifted, flowing soundlessly to her feet so her body was mere inches from Gabriel’s as he straightened from adjusting the water. He jumped, startled as her fingers trailed firmly down the center of his body to the top button of his jeans. His hand grabbed hers before she could get the button undone.

“Did I somehow image the part where we agreed that nothing was going to happen right now?” His voice cracked hoarsely.

Sara’s breath tickled his shoulder and he felt the magnification of warmth where her naked body pressed against his as she leaned up to his ear.

“So nothing is going to happen. I’d be lying if I said that was going to be an easy promise to keep." He shivered. "I’ll be damned if I’m going to avoid touching you like some chaste virgin.” She took a step backward as he turned to face her. “Look, Gabriel, not rushing things isn’t the same as starting out slowly.”

His head still hanging, he released her hand.

“Why is this getting to you so bad?”

Gabriel's words were choppy and devoid of their customary well-spoken cadence when he answered.

“You have no idea how much I've wanted this. Wait. Maybe you do. I don't know. I can't tell how much the blade is sharing. I’m just terrified of screwing up here. Ultimately I think I might want you worse than Ian Nottingham does which is a bit scary considering the way he stalks you. I've always wanted you but I never wanted to become part of the legends. If I'm going to get drawn deeper into this cosmic chess match, I want to stand shoulder to shoulder every step of the way. No hiding, no protection. I want to be allowed to chose my own fate."

Sara shook her head. He's not going to settle for being anything less than my equal? How had things gotten so complicated so fast? I seem to have underestimated the not-so-young Mr. Gabriel Bowman. Suddenly, being older than him wasn't so worrying. "I don't know what the blade is planning. Yes, I want this. I want you; emotionally, physically, the whole nine yards. So maybe we can start with the undeniable fact that we are both hungering for each other so bad it hurts? I'll do everything in my power to make sure this damned piece of metal gives both of us a fair shake. The rest of this will have to come one moment at a time. But you can start by letting me in."