He clenched his teeth and nodded. As punishments went this one wasn’t all that bad.
“And no sleeping together, either. You’d probably mark me right in the middle and I’m not ready for that yet.”
Okay, it was rapidly getting worse. “What am I allowed to do on these dates?”
“It’s simple.” She pulled out of his arms, her eyes weary and defeated, like she couldn’t believe that he meant what he said. “Show me you love me.”
He stared, stunned, as she turned and walked away from him. Finally he just shook his head. “Fuck.”
Show her he loved her? She was the goddamn Omega! Couldn’t she feel it? His entire being ached for her!
He headed for Chloe, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from Jim Woods. “What the hell were you thinking?”
She blinked up at him, startled. “What?”
“When did we start dating, Chloe?”
Her mouth flew open. “Aw crap. Sarah too?”
Gabe looked over her shoulder to see Jim staring at them with a disgusted look. “Shit.” He turned his gaze back down to Chloe. “I wonder where they got that idea.”
“Don’t you turn this back on me, Gabriel Anderson.” She shook her finger in his face, looking for all the world like his grandmother. “You’re the one who stopped calling your mate.”
Fuck. She was right. “You’re the one who did talk to her. What did you do, tell her I was calling you but forget to mention all we talked about was her and Jim?”
She grimaced. “She didn’t give me many chances. I tried telling her how you were doing, what you were doing, but she started shutting me down.”
Because it had looked like he was opening his life to Chloe but not to Sarah. “Damn it.” He scrubbed his face. “And you were jealous of the time she spent with Jim.”
Her face filled with guilt. “Maybe.”
So whether they’d meant to or not they’d both screwed up their relationships with their mates. “We’re so screwed.”
“I’m sorry, Gabe.” She put her hand on Gabe’s arm in apology.
“I can make things up with Sarah, don’t worry.” He watched Jim stalk away, anger in every line of the other man’s body. “But I’m not sure what we can do to fix you and Jim.”
“Double crap.” Chloe’s shoulders slumped. “What do we do?”
He knew he looked like the predator he was when she shivered. “We claim our mates.”
When the Pride leaders headed out the door of the club he followed, intent on one thing and one thing only.
Winning back Sarah’s trust. Because whether she wanted to acknowledge it or not, he already knew he held her heart, just as she held his.
Chapter Five
She hadn’t been able to stay in there one moment longer. She didn’t know if anyone even noticed she’d gone. Gabe had gone straight to Chloe. Surprise, surprise . The other woman had immediately stopped dancing with Jim and gone off with Gabe, much to Jim’s obvious disgust.
She stepped out of the club, breathing in the night air. She smiled at the milling people peppering Universal’s City Walk, wondering where she could go to release some of the lingering tension from her confrontation with Gabe.
Ah, Rising Star. Just what I need. She pulled out her cell phone and texted Sheri and Belle, not wanting any of her Pridemates to worry about her.
The response surprised her. Oh! Wait up!
Within a few moments everyone was outside, including Chloe, damn it. She was talking to Gabe, her expression an odd mixture of chagrin and determination. Gabe’s gaze latched on to Sarah, but she ignored it. So much for showing her who he wanted to be with. Sarah held back her frustrated scream through sheer willpower. She put a smile on her face and looked around for Jim, hoping he was willing to continue the game if Gabe stuck by Chloe.
“Ready?” Emma was grinning from ear to ear. Sarah wasn’t so sure she was ready for the rest of the Pride to hear her sing.
“C’mon, Sare-bear, if you sing I’ll sing.” Belle put her arm around Sarah’s shoulders, Jim taking up position on Sarah’s other side. She ignored the quick surge of annoyance she felt from Gabe. He was beginning to earn his own strike-outs, damn it.
“Careful. Lean on Belle too much and you’re all going down.” Rick put his hand at his mate’s back, wrapping it around her waist. Jim mimicked him at Sarah’s waist. They stumbled awkwardly off the steps of the club, the two women sharing a giggle as the men tried gallantly to keep them on their feet. “Now, where are we going?”
Gabe reached around and literally plucked Sarah from Jim’s side, making sure Belle was supported by her mate first. “Did someone mention Rising Star?” He set her down gently on her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist possessively, smiling smugly at Jim. Jim frowned but allowed himself to be distracted by Chloe, who grabbed his arm with a grin and began tugging him farther out onto the Walk.
Sarah decided not to struggle. The determination washing through her from him was fierce. She had the feeling that if she tried to get away he’d literally run her to ground. She was still a little pissed that he’d walked out with Chloe, though, so it was with great relish that she told him their plans. “Yup. I’m in the mood for karaoke.”
Gabe stopped dead. So did every other male of the Pride, and the two male non-Pride members.
“Karaoke? Rising Star is a karaoke bar?”
She blinked up at him innocently. “Yes.”
He groaned. “I didn’t know you were that mad at me.”
Emma sailed past them with a wave. “Don’t be a wuss, Gabe. After all, if Max can sing so can you.”
Max lunged after Emma. “No way, Emma. I am not sticking my ass up on stage and making a fool of myself.”
The Curana pouted up at her mate. “Not even for me?”
“Emma.”
Sarah kept walking, leaving her Alpha and his mate behind to argue it out, forcing Gabe to keep pace as she made her way to the bar. “I’m looking forward to this.”
“I’m sure you are.” Gabe was practically pouting.
She patted Gabe’s arm. “Look on the bright side. I’m not trying to force you to sing.”
“No?” Gabe held open the door for her and let her inside, following swiftly on her heels. His eyes scanned the area even as his body moved between her and the crowd, protecting her from any would-be threats. His Hunter training was peeking out of his civilized veneer. It shouldn’t turn her on, but it did. She had the stupidest urge to pet his muscles.