Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Monica
I shouldn’t be looking forward to the conference as much as I am. Especially considering how much Marcus complained once he realized I’d be gone all week and who I would be with. Marcus doesn’t know that Gabriel and I kissed, and I plan to keep it that way. I’m growing less and less interested in keeping any kind of relationship with Marcus. My initial hope to keep him as a fuck buddy has now morphed into just trying to stay away from him. Emily has let me stay a few nights at her house under the premise of babysitting her girls. Since Marcus has a key and comes and goes as he pleases, I never feel like I can relax at my apartment.
The sex has always been really good with Marcus. But lately, I can only get off by thinking of Gabriel. I feel incredible guilt about this and don’t know how to make peace with it. I hope this week in Boulder with Gabriel will help me see him in a new light, and I won’t be attracted to him anymore.
At twelve on the dot, a knock sounds on my door. I swing open the door to find Gabriel with a sour expression.
“Anyone can get in the building,” he states.
“Yes?”
“Why isn’t that front door locked?” he asks.
I shrug. “It’s been that way since I moved in.”
“It’s not safe, querida .”
I raise an eyebrow at him, and he chuckles.
“Sorry. I know I’m not supposed to call you that.”
I don’t respond. Secretly I love it. Marcus only calls me babe, and I have a feeling he calls any woman babe. For some reason, Gabriel’s term of endearment sounds much more special. Maybe someday I’ll have the guts to ask him how many women he has cute nicknames for.
I grab my suitcase and pull it into the hallway before turning to lock my door. Gabriel has already taken the suitcase and motions for me to walk in front of him down the stairs. As we arrive at the building door, he reaches around me and pushes the door open. I get a whiff of his cologne, and my breath catches. I feel a puff of his hot breath on my neck, and I shudder.
“You okay?” he says quietly, and I nod. I’m afraid to speak. Afraid I’ll blurt out my thoughts, and I won’t have time to filter them. He’s my boss . My boss. Monica, get it together.
As we approach his car, he again beats me to the car and opens the passenger door for me. “Are you always this chivalrous?”
He chuckles again. “My m?e raised me to respect women, querida .”
I don’t correct him when he says it.
After placing my suitcase in the trunk, he rounds the car and slides into the driver’s seat. As the car turns on, I’m surprised to hear the radio tuned to a country station. I don’t say anything as Gabriel begins to drive, but I realize a few moments in that he’s humming along to the song.
“Do you like country music?” I blurt out, my mouth hanging open.
Gabriel gives me a crooked grin and a wink. Jesus. I’m immediately soaking wet.
“I grew up in Texas. It’s basically all I experienced there,” he tells me.
“Oh, really? What part?”
“Near Fort Worth.”
“Oh, that helps to explain the music,” I muse.
“Meghan told me you’re also from Texas. What part?”
My good mood dims as I think about my childhood.
“North of Dallas,” I say quietly.
“Do you still have family there?” Gabriel asks.
“Not really, no.”
“Not really?”
“Gabriel, I don’t want to talk about it,” I tell him before pulling out my phone and effectively dismissing him. He doesn’t speak for a few minutes.
“I’m here when you’re ready, querida ,” he says softly. “I’m here when you need me.”
I squeeze my eyes closed. Gabriel’s voice suggests he means more than just talking about my childhood. It offers him in every aspect. His attention, respect, and maybe even his love. I feel tears clog my throat as I struggle to respond. “Gabriel …”
“No. You owe me nothing. Just know that I’m here.”
I feel his eyes on me, so I nod.
We’re silent for a few minutes. I rest my head against the window and close my eyes. I don’t realize I’ve fallen asleep until Gabriel gently places his hand on my thigh and shakes my leg. His hand is achingly close to my center, and I feel the heat from his hand coursing throughout my body. God. I’m so fucking turned on by him. It’s never been like this with any man.
“Monica, we’re here,” he says quietly.
“Oh, wow. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize I fell asleep,” I murmur. “I didn’t sleep well last night.” I don’t need to tell Gabriel that Marcus rolled into my apartment after midnight completely drunk and kept waking me up trying to have sex. But he was so drunk he couldn’t fully get it up and would pass out before trying again.
“It’s okay. I’m glad you were able to rest,” Gabriel tells me. I stretch my arms out above and behind my head, not realizing the dress I’m wearing has ridden up dangerously. I hear Gabriel’s sharp intake of breath as he stares at my thighs. “Fucking hell, querida .”
His eyes meet mine, and the intensity I see borders on frightening.
“Get out of the car before I do something I’ll regret,” he whispers.
“What … what would you do?” I ask.
“Monica.”
“I think I need to know, Gabriel.”
“No, you don’t.”
His eyes sear into mine once more before he opens his door and steps out. I see him discreetly adjust himself before walking to the back of the car. The scent of his cologne still permeates the air inside the car, and I take a deep breath, relishing in the fragrance. I need to somehow find out what he uses so I can buy some. It’s quite possibly the most intoxicating cologne I’ve ever smelled. I want to bathe in it.
As I reach my hand to the door handle, I can see my fingers tremble. Gabriel opens the door before I can, and I clench my hands together. He’s completely thrown me off my game. He has both our suitcases and motions for me to walk ahead of him into the hotel. I’m acutely aware of my posture and assume he’s staring at my ass. I look over my shoulder and confirm he is definitely checking me out. His eyes meet mine, and I whip around. I’m embarrassed, and I don’t even know why.
We approach the front desk together.
“Good afternoon. Checking in?” The hotel concierge asks. She’s a perky brunette who gives Gabriel a broad smile, and I find myself weirdly territorial.
“Yes, checking in. Gabriel Campos. Two rooms,” Gabriel tells her. She looks at me with interest, realizing we aren’t staying together.
“Yes, sir,” she replies, her voice suddenly husky. I snort and roll my eyes. This chick isn’t being remotely coy about her interest in Gabriel.
“Not happening,” he whispers in my ear. I look up at him to find him studying me. “Not happening, querida .”
“What?”
“Whatever is going on inside that head of yours. I’m not like that,” Gabriel tells me.
“Sir?” the concierge asks. “We only seem to have one reservation for you.”
Gabriel’s head whips toward hers.
“Excuse me?” he says slightly aggressively. The concierge pales and cowers.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know what happened. Do you have your confirmation email?”
Gabriel pulls his phone out of his pocket and accesses his email, searching for his confirmation. I see the moment he finds it, and he winces slightly.
“I promise I thought I reserved two rooms,” he says quietly.
“It’s okay. Besides, Chase was supposed to come, not me. You wouldn’t want to share a room with him,” I tease. Gabriel gives me a hesitant smile. “Can we just grab whatever room is available for me?”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we’re fully booked because of the conference,” the concierge announces. “And most of the hotels within a mile are fully booked as well.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “Well, looks like I’m headed home.”
“Why?” Gabriel asks. I feel my cheeks redden as I stare at him.
“We can’t share a room,” I stutter.
“Of course we can. It’ll be fine. We’ll be at the conference most of the time anyway. I assure you I can be a complete gentleman the rest of the time,” he tells me.
It’s me I’m worried about. I feel like a ticking time bomb. Even standing in his vicinity I can feel how wet I’m getting. I don’t trust myself. I’m so turned on I’m going to have to take care of myself more than once this afternoon to try and calm down.
Gabriel completes the check-in process, and we are given our keys to the room. The concierge gives Gabriel a look of longing as he dismisses her, placing his hand on my lower back as we walk toward the elevators.
“I can feel your tension, querida ,” Gabriel whispers as we enter the elevator. As others enter the elevator, I’m pushed back until I’m against Gabriel’s chest. He’s a full foot taller than me, and his nose rests against the top of my head. I feel his hand against my hip before it curls around my waist, pulling me tighter against him. I whimper, thankful so many people are talking and no one can hear it. At least, I thought it was quiet. “Your little noises will be the death of me.”
I’m suddenly aware of his hardening length pushing against the top of my ass. I reflexively push back against him and feel him groan against my head. Fortunately, the elevator arrives at our floor, and I step away from him. Gabriel is like a drug. I can’t seem to control myself around him, and I can’t wait for my next hit.
“We’re in room four-oh-seven,” Gabriel tells me.
Dear God, please let there be two beds.
We enter the room, and both immediately stop.
My quick prayer wasn’t answered.
It’s only one bed. Fucking hell. I thought this shit only happened in books.
“It’s okay, querida . I’ll sleep on the floor,” Gabriel tells me hastily as he steps around me to move his suitcase across the room.
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“I’ve slept worse places than this,” he tells me with a small smile. “I’m going to take a shower before our welcome session. Is that okay?”
I nod, suddenly grateful for the few minutes I’ll have to regroup and get my emotions and hormones in check. Gabriel shuts the bathroom door, and I sit on the bed and pull out my phone. One minute later, the door opens.
“Uh, sorry. I forgot my toiletries bag,” Gabriel says sheepishly as he briskly walks across the room with only a towel around his waist. My mouth drops open as I stare at him. He’s absolutely beautiful. An intricate tribal tattoo covers one shoulder down onto his chest, and a light smattering of hair dusts over his pecs. For a man of his age, he’s in excellent shape, even rocking a couple of abs. He chuckles as he walks back into the bathroom. “Enjoy the show?”
I choke on my own spit as I realize he caught me objectifying him so obviously. My humiliation knows no bounds. Embarrassment heats my face as I struggle to come up with a response.
“It’s okay, querida . I like you looking at me like that,” Gabriel says from around the corner as he pushes the door closed. I hear the shower start and the glass shower door sliding open. It sounds too loud, as if the door to the bathroom isn’t fully closed. My breath catches as I think of Gabriel, water cascading across his chest, only feet from me.
A moment later, I hear a grunt from the bathroom. My curiosity gets the best of me, and I sneak to the edge of the wall. Gabriel breathes heavily, and my imagination takes flight. Is he touching himself? Is he thinking of me while he does it? Before I can think twice, I peek around the corner and into the bathroom. I gasp as I see Gabriel with one hand against the wall and the other hand wrapped around his massive cock. His eyes are closed as he strokes himself steadily.
My own hand slides between my thighs as I watch him. I’m utterly captivated by the sight of Gabriel taking his own pleasure. I imagine what it would be like to feel him and bring him to the brink with my hands. And my tongue. My fingers slide seamlessly beneath my thong, and I find my clit, stroking furiously as I watch Gabriel increase his strokes. I can’t take my eyes off him. He turns so he can lean his back against the wall, and his strokes become more erratic as he gets closer to his release. I can feel my orgasm as it spreads up my legs, and I hold my breath as the pleasure crests. Gabriel finds his release simultaneously, and he groans loudly.
“ Querida ,” he breathes as cum ropes against the shower door.
Aftershocks shudder through me as I rest my head against the wall. I quietly slide my hand out and tiptoe back to the bed. I only have a few moments before Gabriel comes out here, and I’m sure I look guilty. I spot a sink in the bar of the room, and I quickly wash my hands before sliding my shoes back on.
“Hey, Gabriel? I’m going to go walk outside. I need to make a few calls,” I call out as I grab my purse and throw open the door. I hear Gabriel call for me as I take off running down the hallway.
I don’t have calls to make. But I need to get out of here. I’m not myself, and I need to get a reality check. I decide I need to call Em and have her talk me off the ledge. Once outside, I find a bench beside a cute pond with a beautiful mountain view. I take a deep breath and call Em.
“Hey, girl! I thought you were in Boulder with the hot boss,” she answers.
“I am. I need advice and help,” I tell her.
“Yes, you should sleep with him,” Em teases. I throw my head back in laughter.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say!” I counter.
“Mon. You’re my best friend. I know you. You’ve been circling around this issue for months. Have some fun. You deserve a good rutting,” she says.
“Jesus, Emily. Typically I’m the one with no filter,” I say dryly.
“What can I say? This pregnancy is doing me in. I don’t have time for bullshit and games. Just telling you like it is, my friend,” Em says.
“Nice.”
“Is what it is. So tell me what your issue is.”
“He’s my boss , Em. One quick dicking doesn’t change that. I’ll have to interact with him constantly.”
“So? And how do you know it’ll be quick ?”
“Shit. I don’t know. I’m just saying it could get really messy. Plus, I’ve got issues with Marcus, and I don’t want to involve Gabriel in that any more than he is.”
“What do you mean by that? What’s going on with Marcus? I thought he was just a fuck buddy,” Em says.
“Fuck buddy, funk bucky, funny buddy,” I hear from the background.
“Rose, no, no. You don’t say those things,” Emily says.
“Nathan still making you do the swear jar? ”
“Yeah, but he’s not here, so I’m not putting money in there,” Em tells me.
“Rose is gonna tattle on you,” I tease her.
“Yeah, I know. Little narc,” she mutters. “Don’t change the subject. What’s going on with Marcus?”
I take a deep breath and decide to tell her about my concerns. How Marcus has been invading my apartment and made himself a key. How he’s been getting angrier and seems much more volatile.
“You need to end it, Mon.”
“I don’t know how to,” I admit. “I thought we were just having some fun. Suddenly it feels like I’m in a relationship with him that I don’t want, and I don’t know how to end it. He fucking made a copy of my apartment key, Em. He goes in there whenever he wants. I’m apprehensive about really upsetting him.”
“Okay,” she says slowly. “Can we maybe ask Liam for some advice? He can ask around, see if there are things you can do to protect yourself.”
“Yeah, I guess. Maybe,” I say. I sigh. I really didn’t want to involve anyone else.
“Shit! Poppy just threw a toy at Rose. I gotta go. Enjoy the hot boss, girlie! Carpe diem, seize the day! Wait, no. Phallus. Carpe phallus! Jeez, that sounds awful. Seize the dick !” she shouts as she ends the call. I chuckle. Em may not have eased my mind about my attraction to Gabriel, but she at least made me laugh.