Chapter 4 - A Shift in the Storm
That night, the snow hit Chicago with full force, burying the city in sixteen inches of white frost and howling winds.
Inside Moretti Manor, the generator hummed quietly, keeping the grand house warm and lit. After putting Leo to sleep in his crib, Norah wandered down to the kitchen to fetch a glass of warm milk.
She found Gabriel standing near the island, wearing a dark gray sweater and trousers, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows into the swirling blizzard outside. A crystal decanter of whiskey sat untouched beside him.
"You should be resting," Norah said softly, stepping onto the heated tile floor.
Gabriel turned around. The harshness from earlier in the day had faded, leaving behind an intense, magnetic presence that made Norah's heart beat faster.
"Thomas signed the papers," Gabriel said, leaning back against the counter. "He relinquished all rights to Leo. The divorce filing is being handled by my attorneys overnight. You are officially free of him, Norah."
A heavy weight that Norah had carried for years suddenly evaporated from her chest. She let out a soft, shaky breath, crossing her arms over her chest as tears pricked her eyes.
"Thank you," she choked out. "Thank you, Gabriel."
Gabriel walked toward her with slow, deliberate steps until he stood directly in front of her. The heat radiating from his body was overwhelming. He reached out, his long fingers gently lifting her chin so she was forced to look at him.
"You don't need to thank me for giving you what you were always owed," he murmured, his thumb tracing the soft curve of her lower lip. "You are a remarkable woman, Norah Bennett. Stronger than any man I’ve ever worked with."
Norah’s breath hitched. "Gabriel... I'm just a woman who was trying to survive."
"No," Gabriel whispered, stepping even closer, his broad frame blocking out the rest of the world. "You are the woman who stood up to me in a filthy living room to protect her child. You are the woman who brought life back into this empty house."
His gaze dropped to her mouth, his intent so clear and intense that Norah felt a shiver run straight down her spine.
"Is this allowed?" she whispered, her hands instinctively coming up to rest against his broad chest, feeling the steady, powerful thud of his heart beneath the wool sweater.
"I make the rules in this city, Norah," Gabriel murmured, leaning down until his lips were brushing against hers. "And right now, the only rule that matters is keeping you close."
He kissed her.
It wasn't gentle, nor was it rushed. It was a deep, possessive, intoxicating kiss that claimed her completely. Norah gasped softly, her fingers gripping the fabric of his sweater as she leaned into him, surrendering to the fierce warmth of his mouth. Gabriel wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her full, soft body flush against his hard frame, deepening the kiss until both of them were breathless.
May you like
When he finally pulled back, his dark eyes were dark with passion, his thumb resting against her flushed cheek.
"I’m not letting you go, Norah," he rasped softly against her skin. "Not ever."
