Only In My Dreams by Dana Marie Bell

his legs, the bench allowing him to cradle her between his thighs. She allowed it, the feel of his arms wrapping around her waist and the praise of her friends drugging her senses with sweet warmth. Almost as wonderful was the feeling of contentment she could feel pouring off Gabe, like everything he’d ever needed was right there in front of him. Hell, he was even purring. She looked over at Chloe to find the other woman watching them with a wistful expression and a sad smile. Sarah turned away, unwilling to analyze why she felt guilty about Gabe cuddling her in front of the other woman.
    She almost missed Belle limping onto the stage, smiling sweetly as the opening strains of Jewel’s
    “Hands” started up, startling them. Belle looked like an angel sitting in the light of the stage, her hair a golden halo around her head. She lifted the mic and Sarah sat back, prepared to watch the others get impressed.
    Gasps sounded around the table as Belle’s strong, gentle voice floated over them. “Holy shit. She’s good.” Gabe shook his head. “Why didn’t we know that?”
    Sarah tilted her head back, the top of her head brushing Gabe’s cheek. “Bimbo persona, remember?
    Besides, Livia would have had a fit if she’d known Belle was good at something she wasn’t, so Belle hid it.” Stupid, but there it was. Belle had given Livia a loyalty the rogue hadn’t been worthy of and had wound up paying a price she hadn’t deserved.
    “Well she’s certainly not hiding it now.” She would have bristled over the admiration in Gabe’s voice if it wasn’t for the fact that she could feel it. It had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with friendship.
    The pride he’d felt when Sarah had sung had been mixed with a healthy dose of lust and…love? Sarah shook her head, not certain she’d felt what she thought she had. How could it be love? She just couldn’t trust her senses where Gabe was concerned. It was entirely possible she was reading something into his emotions that just weren’t there. Wishful thinking could wind up with her heart breaking all over again, and it had barely begun to mend.
    Belle’s face tilted up, her eyes closing as she sang. Rick stood at the edge of the stage, a strange look on his face, utter disbelief mingled with astonished pride, his love singing across her senses. “Apparently Rick didn’t know either.”
    “I guess.” Gabe picked up a drink and handed it to her. “Strawberry margarita.”
    “When did you get this?”
    “Just before your song started up. I thought you might be thirsty afterwards.”

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    “Thank you.” She took a sip just as Belle’s song ended to thunderous applause. When Belle went to get off the stage Rick stopped her, settling her back down on the stool. “Oh, this should be good.”
    “Have you heard him sing?” Gabe began peppering kisses around the hickey he’d given her.
    “Hmm?” The feel of Gabe’s mouth on her skin nearly turned off her brain. Rick, right. “Nope, but I bet he’s better than we expect.”
    “Why?”
    “He seems like the type of guy who wouldn’t put himself out there like that unless he was pretty sure he could rock it.”
    “True.”
    They turned to watch the big redhead take the mike. He nodded to the DJ, holding Belle’s hand in his.
    Eric Clapton’s “Change the World” started to play. Belle smiled up at her mate as he crooned to her.
    Sarah could feel the mood of the room as Rick sang, the women swaying into their dates as the big bad Wolf showed the world exactly how he felt about his Belle. The feelings swept over her, mellow and sweet, and Sarah swayed with them, lapping them up like a chocoholic in a Hershey’s factory.
    Gabe’s hand began stroking her stomach in tender circles. He began to croon into her ear along with the song, distracting her from the emotions floating around her. Sarah licked her lips. Gabe’s voice