Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHARLEY
A loud knocking on my door brings me fully awake from the lovely deep sleep I was enjoying. It starts again and I sigh, dragging myself out of bed and pulling on some sweatpants.
“Is there a fire? Have the horses escaped?” I wrench open the door and see Gabriel standing there, holding a paper bag.
“No, but I brought breakfast.” His eyes drop to my naked chest and a smile forms.
“What time is it?” I scrub my hand across my jaw. He looks suspiciously bright and awake. I know he’s a morning person, and I am too, but it’s Sunday morning, and to say it’s been a week would be the understatement of the year.
“About nine,” he replies. That is late for me, as I’m usually up before seven every day, but I still feel tired and drained.
“Okay, you’re excused.” I huff a laugh and stand back, letting him enter the cottage. He walks through to the kitchen and puts the bag on the counter. When he turns round I move into his space and put my hands on his waist as he wraps his arms round me.
“Good morning,” I whisper and lean in for a quick kiss. When I pull back his smile is lopsided and his body is taught.
“I wondered if last night was a dream and I’d imagined what you’d said.
” My heart breaks a little that he seems so unsure, but I understand.
Despite wanting Gabriel for so long, this is new and odd for me too.
We have a lot to talk about, but I don’t want it to get heavy right now, and certainly not before I’ve had coffee.
“Do you think I kiss every guy who brings me breakfast?” I raise an eyebrow and feel the tension leave his body.
“You might, how would I know?” he teases, and kisses me this time.
“Well, how about this? I’ll kiss you when you bring me breakfast . . .” I peck another on his lips. “And when you don’t . . .” Another kiss. “And every time in between.” One more quick kiss to make my point.
“I can live with that.” His lips touch mine this time, and he moves his hand to the back of my head, deepening the kiss.
I open up and his tongue slides against mine.
I dreamed of this moment, this kiss, for so long, never believing it would happen, that I let out a filthy little moan.
He tightens his hold on my head and my body.
I need it, as I don’t think my legs can hold me up any longer.
I grip his hips, pulling him towards me.
I can feel his trousers strained tight across his hardness, and my cock responds in kind.
My body moves of its own accord, grinding against him, and he shudders slightly.
I need to stop now while I still can. I’ve waited too long for this to allow our first time to be me rutting against him in the kitchen, especially as I still haven’t had coffee.
It takes all my willpower, but I pull back reluctantly.
His chest is heaving as he looks at me with his wet and glistening lips and dark lust-filled eyes.
He’s gorgeous, and I nearly give in and dive back in.
But instead I commit that look to memory, knowing I’ll see it again, and whisper, “Not yet. I want to wait.”
He nods and closes his eyes briefly. When he opens them they’ve returned to their usual bright blue.
I peel myself away from him and look down at my sweatpants, tented with my cock, which doesn’t agree with the decision my head just made. The small dark wet stain of precum tells its own tale. He takes it in and licks his lips, and my resolve nearly breaks.
“I’m . . . err . . . going to get dressed. Can you make some coffee?” His head snaps up to meet my eyes before he agrees, and I leave the room quickly, taking the stairs two at a time.
Once in my room I take a few deep breaths.
My head is right; I don’t want to rush this despite how my body reacts to him.
But then I knew it would. It did in private just thinking about him, even when I thought there was never a chance we’d be together, so having him right in front of me, kissing me . . . yeah, I need to slow down.
By the time I’m dressed and back downstairs, Gabriel has made the coffee and plated the pastries he brought with him.
“Thanks,” I say, sliding into the seat at the kitchen table and picking up a pain au chocolat and taking a bite.
“What are your plans for today?” Gabriel asks, and I glance at him in case he’s about to announce some grand plan, like when we were kids and he decided we were going to explore the forest all day or make a hideout in the copse at the edge of the heath.
But then he wouldn’t ask, he’d tell me and expect me to join him, which of course I did every time.
That he’s asking is very adult of him, and I can see only a genuine query on his face.
“Rest mostly. It’s been a busy week and I’m tired. Then mundane adult stuff like laundry and groceries. I’ll probably call in and see Pete.” I feel I ought to check in on him. I used to call him regularly when I was away and he’s the only family I have.
“Do you want to come to dinner tonight?” The way he asks isn’t casual like every other invitation he’s issued. I can see the way his face twists in an almost painful expression.
“You’ve told Immy and Mim about us, haven’t you?” I ask and his face scrunches up further.
“No, not as such. Immy guessed as she saw me not murdering Oscar when we left the room, and she must have told Mother as she cornered me this morning.”
“They’re alright with it I suppose?” I take a swig of my coffee. I don’t have a problem with them knowing, but Gabriel has had a lifetime of being told where his duty lies.
“They’re ecstatic, especially Mother, and I only just managed to escape this morning.
” I’m glad they approve, especially of me, but I know how over-the-top Immy and Mim can be when they’re not having to show their reserved British upperclass manners.
Now the impromptu breakfast is starting to make sense.
“I thought you brought me breakfast because you wanted to see me, not just because you can’t cope with your family.” I knock my knee against his under the table so he knows I’m kidding, and he grins.
“Please come to dinner, Charley. I’m planning on spending the day schooling the young horses, but I have to go back sometime and they won’t be so bad if you’re there too.”
“Gabby, this isn’t like the time you stole your dad’s Bentley and drove round all the fields until you got it stuck in the mud.
” I recount one of the many times I’ve been used as a buffer between him and his parents.
He grins and nudges my knee back; he remembers those times too.
The secret code we shared for so long, used now, makes my heart almost burst with joy.
I sigh. The truth is, I don’t feel like playing the role of buffer tonight, and as I’m involved there’s every chance it won’t work but will only be ten times worse.
I do want to see Gabriel later, though, so I have a better idea.
“Come to dinner here instead. I’ll cook us something. It’ll be just the two of us.”
His face lights up.
“I’d really like that. Thanks, Charley.”
He rises and comes round the table, leaning down to give me a quick kiss. “I’d better go. I promised Kirsty I’d be there by ten. I’ll see you later.”
“Be here at seven,” I call as he leaves.
I slowly finish my coffee and then wash the cups and plates we’ve used.
I can’t wipe the smile from my face, nor do I want to.
I have no idea what I’m going to cook for him.
I want it to be simple, because I don’t want to spend all day cooking—I was serious about needing rest—but I also want it to be special and romantic to show Gabriel how much he means to me.
My mind comes up blank, but luckily for me I live next door to a chef and I send Simon a quick text to ask for his help.