Sweet Expressions

Sweet Confession

The rest of the class went by in a blur. I had so much on my mind, and the kids felt the relief of tension between Gabriel and I and subsequently voiced all their pent up nervous energy. In other words, it was loud for the remainder of the class, and I didn't get another chance to talk to Gabriel. I swallowed my worries about Addie for now and would discuss them with all the guys later when we were having a family meeting. Besides, I hadn't seen Addie be anything but nice to Gabriel. I was a little worried that maybe I had just caught her at a bad time and was overreacting.

* * * *

The droning sounds of the car filled my ears as we drove back to Nathan's. The passing scenery blurred past my eyes as I thought back on the guy's betting debacle during lunch. I sighed and wrapped my arms tightly around my stomach. I still wasn't comfortable with it, even though my anger had cooled some. Gabriel gently trailed his fingertips over the back of my neck as he drove us, moving my hair so my neck was exposed to his electrifying touch. So much was running through my mind that it was a few moments before I realized that he had abandoned tickling my neck and was slowly scooting me by the belt loops in my jeans to pull me closer to him. I sighed happily and let him pull me as I smirked, not helping him at all other than to exchange the passenger side seat belt I was wearing for the middle one that was right next to him. He chuckled, and then I was up against him and snuggling my head against his shoulder. I could feel his smile as he pulled me even closer by putting his arm around me. I was warm everywhere he touched me. I sighed and nestled into his chest, tracing the prominent ridges of the heart he had painted on my shirt. I was keeping this shirt forever. I felt his breath flutter my bangs slightly, and then he was hugging me tighter.

"I'm sorry I was such an ass, trouble. I should have listened to you back at lunch when everyone started. It's a big fucking mess now though. I'm not sure if I can stop it. Shit, damn, fuck."

I bit at my entire bottom lip to keep my mouth busy while he swore and put my arms around his middle to hug him. The car stopped and I lifted my head up, curious that we were home already. I spotted unfamiliar trees and frowned when I noticed Gabriel had pulled over on the side of the road. Gabriel was adjusting his seat all the way back and then I was suddenly released from my seatbelt and pulled up into his lap without warning. He situated us both and then pushed my hair back from my face. He looked puzzled.

"You didn't stop me that time. Why?"

I felt my cheeks and ears go hot and ducked my face down, but he just bent his head so that I was still looking at him, his hand still holding my hair back to show my expression. I guessed there was no getting out of it. I whispered my little confession.

"I like it that you swear Meanie. It's part of what makes you, you."

He looked genuinely flummoxed.

"But you've been doing that thing you do whenever I fuck up, not just in class. I thought you were trying to change me. It was pissing me off."

I gasped. The thought had never occurred to me that he had thought I was trying to change something about him. Especially something that I loved so much. That was terrible. I couldn't imagine Gabriel being any other way than who he was. I grabbed his face and squished his cheeks together.

"I was trying to help you get through the mission successfully. Nothing more."

"So it doesn't bother you?"

"I promise Gabriel, your swearing has never bothered me. Ever."

I released his face and ran my finger over his bottom lip, tracing up to the corner of his mouth and then back again to the other corner. He shivered, and then the look in his eyes became so intense that I dropped my hand into my lap, afraid I had gone too far. I became mesmerized by the way his pupils were widening, at the way his tension morphed into an expression that had me squeezing my thighs together to hold in the clenching I felt in my core. He moved his face closer to mine and I felt like I could hardly breath, yet my breath was still coming in quick, short gasps. His arms wove tighter around my waist and then he was hovering his lips right over mine. I heard him swallow and his breath quicken like my own. I waited for the kiss I was sure was coming. He finally groaned and then turned his face to brush his cheek against mine to whisper in my ear.

"Fuck, Trouble. You're just , I want to so bad. Goddamn it. It's not fair."

I was confused. And disappointed. He grabbed my arms and brought me so close I couldn't see straight for a moment. He stared at my lips for a moment, and then he was crushing his mouth to my neck and nibbling around my ears, swearing up a storm as he went.