5. Chapter 5
There were four messages from Gabriel when I got back to my room around midnight from what had been a fantastic party in the ballroom of the hotel that I”d helped design. I”d not looked at my phone on purpose. When I was busy, and he was not, Gabriel tended to demand my attention.
I never initiated contact, whether by message or call, unless it was for something practical, like informing him I was running late. Initially, his delayed responses left me feeling rejected, so I stopped trying. Our vastly different lives didn”t require daily communication.
Did it make the relationship one-sided? Yes. Did it make me a simpering moron? Yes, to that as well.
The messages from Gabriel spanned four hours. The first one came around seven thirty in the evening: How”s the hotel? Are you having fun?
The next message was forty-five minutes later: I was wondering if you”re free next weekend? Maybe you and I can do something after I come back from Paris.
The third message came an hour ago: Aurora? Baby? You there?
And the fourth message that came fifteen minutes ago: Call me whenever you get in.
I contemplated that last message as I stood on the balcony of my suite and looked out at the beautiful city of New Orleans. I went back inside the room and opened the bottle of champagne the hotel had left for me. I poured myself a glass and then texted Gabriel: Are you still awake?
The phone rang within seconds. I”d barely had time to put my earbuds on.
”Where the fuck have you been?” he demanded.
”Well, hello to you too.” I took a sip of champagne. I knew he was irritated. He got this way if he didn”t hear from me right away. I hadn”t avoided my phone to rile him up; I”d done it so I could enjoy an evening without thinking about him, without him being with me emotionally.
”It”s late.”
I laughed softly. ”It”s midnight. The party was still roaring when I left.”
”Put me on video,” he demanded.
I accepted the video call, and he was in bed, naked even though he was covered waist down by his duvet. We”d had phone sex—sometimes, it was all we could manage because of our various commitments and because Gabriel canceled more dates than he kept. If possible, he”d show up late at my place for what Luna called a booty call even after he canceled—after his daughter was asleep and would leave before she woke up like he was sneaking out to see me. I didn”t like it, but he”d tell me a variation of, ”She”s having a meltdown, blah blah blah.”
”Drinking champagne?” he murmured as I raised my glass to him.
I set the phone down to lean against the vase on the table on the balcony and sat down.
”Holy shit. You wore that?”
I looked down. I wore a navy blue sheath dress with a long slit. But it covered me from neck to ankles, leaving my arms and back bare. I”d paired the dress with blue sandals and put on my only expensive jewelry, a pair of dropped gold earrings that I”d bought from Cartier when I”d gotten my first bonus. Since then, I spent all my money on my condo on River Street, which had a priceless view of the Savannah River. It was a historic property with exposed brick, hardwood floors, and iron detailing. It had an open design with a spacious kitchen, dining, and living space. I loved how it was within walking distance of everything. It stretched my budget, but as someone who”d never owned anything, I”d desperately wanted my place. Of course, compared to Gabriel”s mansion, it was tiny, with just two bedrooms and two baths. But it was perfect for me.
”You look beautiful,” Gabriel continued. ”Fuck, but you do.”
I smiled. ”How was your day with your family?”
His eyes flickered with irritation. ”It was a charity luncheon that my mother hosts, so it was more than family.”
His tone said he didn”t want to discuss it any further. I could feel the chasm between us growing, and I was certain he could as well.
”Did a lot of men hit on you tonight?” he asked.
He was a possessive man, and I”d told him more than once that he didn”t need to be where I was concerned.
”Luna is with me,” I laughed and drank some more champagne. ”No one looks at me when she”s around.”
”Luna is okay, but you”re stunning, Aurora. You know that.”
”I”m glad you think so.”
But did he? Or was he with me because I was such a doormat, letting him get away with treating me like…well, a doormat?
Compared to his ex-wife, I was the epitome of plainness. My schedule didn”t allow for luxuries like manicures or hair appointments. Engulfed in sixty-hour work weeks, my scarce free time was dedicated to Gabriel, whenever he was free.
As junior architect, which I”d been for four years now, I contributed to projects without leading them. Climbing the career ladder in my field meant embracing long hours and accepting the grind. Long exhausting hours were part of the package.
”Show me what you”re wearing under that dress,” Gabriel whispered, his eyes bright with arousal.
I smiled and took the phone inside the suite. I placed the phone on the dresser and moved further away.
”God, you”re beautiful.”
I unzipped my dress and slowly peeled it off of me. He shifted I knew to touch himself, take himself in his hand. I loved to watch him come. We masturbated to each other sometimes, even when we were together.
Underneath the dress, I wore a pair of lace panties. I hadn”t worn a bra because the dress came with built-in support.
”Turn around,” he whispered in my ear.
I did as he asked.
”Oh, baby, I wish I could put my hands on your ass. Did you like how I spanked you last night?”
”Yes.”
Heat pooled between my legs, and I felt the urgency for release. I turned to face him.
”Your ass turned such a beautiful shade of red. Christ, I wish you were here with me.” His frustration came through to me loud and clear.
”Me too.” I bent and removed my panties and heard him gasp.
”Are you wet, Aurora? Show me.”
I put my hand to my pussy when he cursed, ”Fuck, baby spread your legs.”
I knew what he wanted. I moved my legs apart, and he groaned when I touched myself. ”Put a finger inside you.”
I did as he asked.
”Show me.”
I did.
”Taste yourself.”
I did.
”Fuck, yeah. Did you bring your vibrator, baby?”
”Yes.”
”Get into bed and show me how you can come hard with me.”
No one had ever made me feel this abandoned when it came to sex. I couldn”t believe the things he made me do.
I set the phone propped up so he could see me with the small clitoral vibrator I had stored in my bedside table.
”Yes. Just like that.” He was pulling hard, jacking himself off.
Watching him was erotic because no one looked as beautiful as Gabriel when he came. I turned on the vibrator, and my eyes closed.
”No,” he snarled. ”Look at me, damn it. I can”t touch you, so give me that. Come with me, baby. I love you so much. I miss you so much.”
I opened my eyes and felt tears run down my cheeks. I was so turned on and overwhelmed with emotion. It happened sometimes when we made love, and he licked my tears away.
”Oh, baby.” I watched as he came in his hands, his eyes still on mine. ”Come on, sweetheart, come for—”
”Daddy?” I heard Sophia and a thumping on his bedroom door.
”Fuck,” Gabriel growled. ”Sweetpea, give me a minute. I”m so sorry, I—”
I hung up before he could say anything else. I felt humiliated. Had his daughter been listening to us? The experience that was, so us and made me feel so sexually empowered now seemed tawdry.
I wiped my vibrator clean with a tissue and went into the bathroom to take a shower. There would be no orgasm for me tonight.
I leaned my head against the wall of the shower as the water cascaded down on me. This relationship was consuming me, driving me crazy. My insecurities were being stoked, not being assuaged.
I remembered what Nina Davenport always said about relationships, ”Personal or business, it”s a pooling of resources. A relationship should make you more than you are, not less.”
This relationship with Gabriel was making me less. It was making me feel insecure. It brought back all my feelings of abandonment. I couldn”t do this anymore.
I put my phone on silent and cried half the night before falling into fitful sleep.