Gabe tilted up her face with a firm hand, placing a soft kiss on her lips before cuddling her close. That first real taste of her mate left her senses reeling, but the sight of Chloe across from them brought her sharply to her senses. She straightened, pulling away from him, much to his annoyance. She could feel it, sharp and tingly. She couldn’t give in, not yet. Not until the question of Chloe was answered to her satisfaction.

Rick’s song ended to thunderous applause. Bowing, he led Belle off the stage and right out the door of the club, the blonde’s happy laughter trailing behind them, the two five-dollar bills still sitting on the table, forgotten by them both.

“Now I wonder where he’s taking her.” Gabe’s shoulders shook as he laughed.

Sarah shook her head. You didn’t need to be Omega to figure that one out.

Chapter Six

Gabe held onto Sarah’s hand and his own hopes for the evening. He knew how he wanted the evening to end, but from the hot-and-cold way Sarah was blowing he had no clue whether or not he’d get his wish. He wanted to drag her into his room, tie her down and deliver each and every one of those spankings he’d promised her. He wanted to watch her beg for his cock while he tongued her luscious pussy. He wanted to come so deep inside her she’d be marked before he ever bit down on her sweet neck. He wanted to hear her purr as he rocked her to sleep.

If he had his way she’d never get a chance to say no.

When they reached the staircase, she paused. One way led to Gabe’s room; the other, to Sarah’s. From the hesitation on her face he had the feeling his dream of having her in his arms tonight wasn’t going to be a reality.

His dream… That was the key, wasn’t it? He might not have known it at the time but they’d been controlling their mate dreams ever since they first started. Gabe smiled, knowing full well how predatory it looked. He had every intention of controlling their dream tonight.

Tonight he would show her he loved her.

He turned left, ignoring her small sigh of relief. He walked her to her room, the perfect gentleman, ready and willing to leave her at her door for just one small favor in return. “Sarah.” She turned and looked up at him, a question on her face. “Let me in tonight.”

She grimaced. “Gabe—”

He put his finger to her lips, gratified at her immediate silence. “I’m leaving you at your door, unmarked, giving you a little time to learn to trust me again.” He leaned in, nipping at her ear, smiling as her breath stuttered. “But in return, I want you to let me in .” He cupped her cheek and turned her face up to his. “I want sweet dreams for both of us tonight. Whatever you’ve been doing to turn off the mate dreams, please don’t do it tonight. Understood?”

She licked her lips, the uncertainty back on her face. “I’m not sure I can.”

He growled, displeased.

She was shaking her head. “How am I supposed to…do that with you when I don’t know if I can trust you?”

He took a deep breath, trying to bury the rage that threatened to overwhelm him. If she sensed it at all she’d be afraid that he was enraged with her . The fact was he couldn’t believe his own stupidity. She was right. A true relationship required trust on the part of both partners, a trust he’d lost by listening to the wrong person for the right reasons. “What will it take to make you believe you’re the only woman I want?”

“More than one night of playing my boyfriend!”

“Playing?” He backed her up against her door, ignoring the alarm on her face. “You think I’m playing? ”

He took her by her shoulders, lifting her onto her toes. “Don’t lie to me! You know exactly how I feel.”

He dropped her abruptly as a sudden thought struck him. “But this isn’t really about trust, is it?” He took a step back. “It’s about punishing me because I left before I marked you.” Her mouth was hanging open in shock. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, all of his anger draining, suddenly weary beyond belief. “Dream with me tonight.” He swallowed, suddenly terrified that she wouldn’t be able to give him even that much. “Please.”

She studied him, slowly relaxing. He was grateful for whatever it was she saw when she whispered, “All right.”

He closed his eyes in thanks before nodding. He wanted desperately to kiss her good night but didn’t know if it would be welcome. What he wouldn’t give to have Sarah’s ability to read emotions. “Good night, love.”

She started, frowning up at him, obviously confused. “Um. Good night, Gabe.”

He turned reluctantly away, not trusting himself to keep his hands off her.

“Gabe?”

He looked back.

She looked so alone, almost as alone as he felt. “Spend the day with me tomorrow?”

He smiled. “There is nothing I want more.” When she cocked her brows in disbelief he chuckled. “All right, there are one or two things I’d like more, but I’ll take what I can get.”

She nodded, opening her door. She stopped, hesitating before entering. “See you in a little bit.”

She rushed into the room, the door clanging shut behind her, missing the step he’d taken in her direction before he could stop himself.

God, it was hard to walk away from her. He headed straight to his room, mulling over what he would do once they were together in their dreams. This had to work. She had to trust him again, because if she didn’t he was going to mark her and deal with the consequences after.

Sarah leaned against the closed door of her room, her breath leaving her lungs in a rush. She’d just agreed to meet Gabe in their dreams, with no promise from him that it wouldn’t turn into yet another night of debauchery.

She pushed off the door, running her hands over her face, trying to decide whether or not she’d done the right thing by sending him on his way. What is wrong with me? One minute I want to open up the door, yank him back in and forget all about our problems. The next I want one of those pills and about three thousand miles of distance! Maybe if she allowed him to mark her some of that fear would evaporate. But months of rejection weren’t about to be erased in one evening.

She brushed her teeth and hair, draped the red dress over a chair and crawled into bed naked. It felt oddly wicked, since she usually slept in a nightgown, but tonight she wanted the feel of cool sheets on her skin. She could pretend that he was actually in the next room, waiting to crawl into bed with her after a long day’s work. Sarah yawned, curling up on her side, and waited for sleep ( and Gabe, her inner kitty purred) to claim her.