Chapter GABRIEL #6
The excitement doesn’t fade. My heart keeps pounding as I zip up the suitcase.
I step out into the hallway and see that Blue is just coming out as well, carrying a suitcase larger than mine. I walk over immediately and take it from his hand, which he accepts without comment.
I notice he’s dressed differently. He’s not wearing his usual tailored suit. Instead, he’s in something more suited for a relaxed yacht stay.
A lightweight, short-sleeve linen shirt in a soft, pale sapphire shade, the fabric falling loosely over his forearms.
He pairs it with well-fitted but relaxed light pants made of breathable fabric, in a cool pale lavender tone that highlights his legs.
His hair is tied back in a loose ponytail at the nape of his neck.
"You look good…" I say quietly.
Silence. Blue doesn’t respond, and I can sense a kind of tension in him, though I can’t quite understand where it’s coming from.
We head toward the elevator. I’m not sure what to say or how to start a conversation. Whenever I’m alone with Blue, I feel this silly nervousness, but I know I have to push through it, so when the doors close, I speak.
"Is everything okay? You’re not regretting this decision?"
Blue lifts his head sharply, his eyes locking onto mine.
The tension is still there, that hesitation, and then suddenly he says,
"I’ve never… gone with another man on a… trip before. A weekend, a vacation, whatever you want to call it."
I blink in surprise. So that’s it? Blue is worried about something so… human. He’s just inexperienced.
I smile broadly. "Blue, I’ve been on a few dates that didn’t really go anywhere, but I also have never gone on a weekend trip with…
a…" I trail off, unsure how to phrase it, "someone I’d like in that way," I finish, not entirely certain how it sounds. "I mean, I’ve been on plenty of trips with my family, cousins, and I have a lot of them, but that’s not even comparable. So we’ll figure it out together, okay? "
His sapphire eyes stay on me as the floors pass by, and on impulse, I reach out, wanting to touch his cheek, craving him, but instead I just brush a tiny speck of dust off his shoulder.
"Lint," I clear my throat. "It’s gone now."
"Um… thanks."
Fuck. That was awkward. My touch starvation is out of control again.
But he still is at the stage of ‘give me some time to think’, so I’m not quite there yet with casual gestures, especially the ones I initiate.
We reach the underground parking garage and head to the limousine.
Blue tells Gerard he’ll need him again at 8:00 pm on Sunday.
The coast isn’t far.
The marina where Veyron’s yacht is docked is very upscale, access controlled by keycard gates, with surveillance and security. Fortunately, Veyron shows up as soon as we arrive and lets us through.
I’m quite happy to see him.
"Hey, man, how’s it going! I’m glad you decided to come, the weather’s supposed to be great!" Veyron says, then turns to Blue, who steps out of the limousine behind me, that faint unease still visible on his face.
Veyron dips into an ungraceful little bow.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Lowen, it’s a pleasure to see you," he greets politely. "I also wanted to thank you again for… arranging that contract with your company. Right now, almost half of my displays are running Malden ads." And he grins widely.
"I’m glad the cooperation is working out," Blue says politely, but beneath that surface calm, I can still sense that subtle tension.
"Come aboard, I’ll show you around. I put together a small snack for you, just in case you haven’t had lunch yet."
I grab our suitcases.
We step onto the deck. Veyron’s yacht isn’t huge, but it carries that touch of luxury. Sleek and modern, finished in glossy white with dark-tinted windows, it feels designed for comfort and… show. The aft deck is open and inviting, with cushioned seating and a low table.
Veyron moves ahead, gesturing for us to follow as he points out different features, clearly focusing on showing everything to Blue since I’ve already been here before.
The helm station sits slightly raised, very modern and minimal, with polished controls and a wide view of the water. Everything feels streamlined, expensive.
"Come on," he says, already heading toward the stairs.
We follow him below deck, and the atmosphere shifts immediately.
It’s cooler, more intimate, with soft lighting and warm wood finishes.
The main cabin opens into a compact but well-designed living space, with a small galley to one side and a comfortable seating area that feels more like a private lounge than part of a boat.
He leads us further in, showing the sleeping quarters.
The bedroom is surprisingly spacious, with a wide bed, soft linens, and subtle ambient lighting built into the walls.
Everything is arranged efficiently, from the built-in wardrobes to the glass surfaces, giving the space a calm, almost hotel-like feel.
Right next to it, he shows us the bathroom, compact but just as refined, with a glass-enclosed shower and polished fixtures that make it feel more spacious than it really is.
Veyron shows us everything, clearly enjoying himself.
Then we head back to the living area, where the snacks he mentioned are already set out. It’s a light, elegant spread: thinly sliced prosciutto with melon, soft cheeses with fresh figs, delicate finger sandwiches with smoked salmon and cream cheese, and chilled shrimp with lemon wedges.
"Wow," I mutter, noticing neatly arranged berries and a bottle of crisp white wine resting in an ice bucket, everything laid out with careful attention to detail. "You really went all out. Thanks, man."
"I’ve got exceptional guests!" Veyron says with satisfaction, giving another bow, this time playful and courteous.
"Thank you, everything looks great," Blue says politely.
"I suggest you head out right after you eat, no point wasting this weather. Tomorrow there might be some clouds, but still no storm, so you’re good."
"Thanks, Veyron. It’s really great to get away and relax, especially after everything that’s happened."
"Yeah, yeah," Veyron grins, clapping me on the back. "And me? I’ll be spending the weekend in the office fixing components on a few displays… very romantic weekend."
"But productive," Blue says in his usual tone.
"That’s a good point!" Veyron chuckles.
"Are you staying for the meal?" I ask.
"No, no. Have fun. I’ll be back tomorrow around eight for the keys."
"Alright, and don’t overwork yourself."
"You know me."
Veyron waves and disappears up toward the deck, his footsteps fading across it and down the gangway.
Blue and I remain by the table.
"Shall we eat?" I ask.
Blue nods, and we sit down.
The snacks disappear quickly, at least from my plate, because they’re excellent. Blue eats more sparingly, glancing around the space as he does.
"Nice yacht, right? Although you probably have a bigger one."
"I do, but I lent it to my brother. I rarely use it. This one is more… cozy. Less conspicuous, which is a plus."
"That’s true. It’s not huge, but it’s spacious enough to feel comfortable. Veyron once invited me and Marlow, plus two of my half-brothers, Denver and Dallas. We all fit."
Blue keeps eating, slowly picking at a piece of melon.
Then suddenly he says,
"What do you expect from me here, Gabriel?"
I freeze, completely caught off guard by how direct the question is.
"Uh… what do you mean? I don’t have any specific expectations. Just a relaxing trip on the yacht. We’ll watch the sunset, eat something good… maybe swim?"
Blue briefly closes his eyes, then slowly pushes his plate away.
"What is this between us, Gabriel?"
I swallow and push my own plate aside, unconsciously mirroring him.
"You want me to define it?" I ask quietly, tension slowly building in my chest.
"I want to know exactly how you see it." He gestures between us. "Tell me truthfully."
I take a deeper breath, fully aware of his focused gaze resting on me.
"I thought I already made my intentions clear, and now we’re waiting for your decision."
"I want you to say it again. This time, fill in every blank."
This is it. I guess that fits Blue and the way his mind works. He needs all the data for the experiment to move forward.
I need to lay everything out in front of him with complete honesty. Maybe then the awkwardness between us will finally ease.
"I like you," I say, the words coming out rushed, then I clear my throat. "That’s an understatement, actually. I like you a lot. I’m into you. I want you. And what do I want from this? Of course I want more than just being your bodyguard. I’d want you to…
" I trail off, hesitating over whether to say it.
"I’d want you to be mine. Exclusively. To claim you." I let out a breath and open my eyes, half-expecting to see anger there, but there’s nothing like that.
Blue is listening closely, attentively.
"But I know it’s a lot. And you didn’t plan for something like this.
I don’t know if you feel the same way about me, although I suspect you also…
um… feel the chemistry. Still, I don’t know if enough has changed between us from your perspective, if you see any kind of path for us, even a small one.
But I won’t push. I’ll wait for your decision. "
Blue slowly glances to the side, toward the porthole with its tinted glass.
"I hope I filled in the blanks this time?"
There is a deep and fairly long silence.
I have no idea what it means, and I'm strangely scared to try to check it out via this subtle energetic Bond of ours…
Blue redirects his gaze to me, his eyes slightly squinted.
"Should we head out now?" he asks suddenly, and I straighten, shocked by the abrupt change of subject.
Wow, he just ignored it?
Unbelievable!
Or is he… deliberating over it, processing new data, and still needing some time and space?
I cough quietly.
"Sure, let’s go."