Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Gabriel
I wake up in a great mood.
I held Monica all night. She fell asleep, cuddled against me, and it was the best night of my life. I’ve never felt so complete, so right. This girl is everything I’ve ever dreamed of, and I need to convince her to give me a chance.
Monica sighs in her sleep as she subconsciously presses her ass against my groin, making me let out a low groan. I’m spooning her with my arm around her, my hand pressed tightly against her stomach. I can’t help but lean forward and press my nose against her neck. She smells like roses. It must be her shampoo or body wash. It’s intoxicating. I press my lips lightly to her neck, and she whimpers in her sleep. Monica suddenly turns and cuddles into my chest, throwing one leg over my legs. She shimmies until she gets into just the right position where my cock is pushed against her heat. I’m so fucking hard. I’m surprised my dick isn’t breaking through the fabric of my boxer briefs. Monica sighs again and slides an arm around to squeeze me. She’s still asleep, and I’m about to come in my pants like a teenager.
As I’m trying to recite multiplication tables in English and Portuguese in an attempt to settle myself down, Monica moans.
“ Querida ,” I whisper, trying to see if she’s awake. She mumbles incoherently as her hips jut forward. I let out a guttural growl as my cock makes contact with her pussy through our clothes. Only two thin layers stand between us and exquisite pleasure. I’m having a difficult time keeping my composure.
“Gabriel, right there, don’t stop …” she moans. “Your tongue …”
Holy shit. She’s having a sex dream about me. Her hips begin to gyrate as she finds a rhythm.
“Fucking hell, baby,” I mutter. God, this woman unravels me.
Monica’s hips move faster as she races toward her orgasm. I’m captivated by her face. Even asleep, she’s spectacular. I make the mistake of cupping her cheek and feel the moment she wakes up. She immediately stops moving, and her entire body stiffens.
“Oh my God,” she whispers.
“Don’t stop, querida . Don’t stop, please,” I growl. I won’t come like this, but I know she was close. I want to watch her come. To know I brought her to orgasm.
Monica hesitates. I bring my hand that was cupping her cheek and slide it around to her hair, grabbing a handful and pulling. She moans. Fucking hell. Monica likes it a little rough. She’s damn near perfect for me.
“Keep going, baby. Get yourself there. Use me.”
Monica begins to move slowly at first. The friction is incredible, and I bury my head in her neck as I groan in delight. My lips touch her skin, and she shivers. I trace a path with my tongue to her ear before sucking on the lobe. Monica lets out a loud moan as her pace increases.
“Gabriel,” she breathes.
“I know, querida ,” I reply as I suck on that spot where her neck meets her shoulder. Monica’s hands clutch my back as she quickens her pace. “You’re so fucking beautiful. Let me see you come. Know you got there on me. With me. Because of me.”
Monica’s body bows as she climaxes, her muscles tightening as the orgasm overtakes her. She lets out a loud moan as shudders overtake her. Her movements begin to slow as she crests. She rests her head against my chest momentarily before lifting her head to look at me. Her eyes are glassy with pleasure.
“So fucking beautiful,” I whisper as I lean down and kiss her tenderly. I don’t move away, letting our lips stay pressed together.
“Gabriel,” she whispers against my lips. “That shouldn’t have …”
“No,” I cut her off. “Don’t say it.” I know what she’s going to say. It shouldn’t have happened. But I don’t want to hear it. “Let me have this moment, querida . I’m going to take a shower. Let’s not talk about it right now.”
I give her another quick kiss before untangling myself from her and heading into the bathroom. I’m hard as a fucking rock. Rather than trying to get my erection to calm down, I knock one out in the shower within a minute of the water turning on. I know I won’t be able to focus if I’m this jazzed all day. The orgasm I have is powerful, but it just barely takes the edge off. I know it won’t be anything like what I’ll have with Monica. I just need to convince her to give me a chance .
She’s gone when I’m done in the bathroom.
Our last full day at the conference is jam-packed with breakout sessions and activities. The organizers want everyone to attend a final party, but I plan to skip it. Instead, I want to find Monica and clear the air. Let her know nothing will change between us and our working relationship. That I’m a patient man and I’ll wait for her.
After not finding her anywhere, I head to our room, assuming she’ll be there. Unfortunately, I’m not prepared to find the room wiped off all of Monica’s belongings. A piece of paper on the bed beckons me.
Gabriel,
I’m sorry. It’s too much. I don’t know what I’m doing, and that scares me. Please give me time and space.
Monica
She fucking left? I didn’t think I overstepped that much to make her want an escape that badly. Fuck. Now I’m second-guessing every touch, every look. I whip out my phone to text her.
Me: Are you okay?
Monica: I’ll be fine.
Me: That’s not what I asked. Can we meet?
Monica: I’m already almost home.
Me: What?!?
Monica: It’s better this way, Gabriel.
Me: No, it’s not. You can’t avoid this. You can’t avoid us.
Monica: There is no ‘us.’
Me: Yes, there is,querida. There is an ‘us.’
Monica: I need time. My mind is all jumbled, and nothing makes sense.
Me: And I think this is the only thing that makes sense. You. Me. We’re inevitable.
Monica: I’m not ready for that.
Me: I wish you would have at least said goodbye.
Monica: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
Me: I’m not worried about my feelings. I’m worried about yours.
Monica: I’ll be fine.
Me: I didn’t believe you the first time you texted that, and I don’t believe you now.
Monica: You should believe me. I’m always fine. I’m a survivor. No matter what is thrown my way, I’ll figure it out.
Me: You think I was ‘thrown’ your way?
Monica: Not exactly. But our situation is complicated, and I need time to process everything.
Me: I’ll ask again: are you okay?
Monica: I don’t know. Maybe.
Me: Thank you for telling me how you feel. I want the real you,querida. The unfiltered version. You don’t have to tiptoe around me. Tell me how you really feel.
Monica: Fine. You scare the hell out of me.
Me: You scare me, too.
Monica: Why?
Me: Because I feel like you’re my future.
I wanted to be honest with her, but when she doesn’t respond within a few minutes, I know I’ve scared her even more. Oh well. Can’t take it back now. I’ve never felt like this about anyone. Even my ex-wife. Everything I learn about Monica makes me fall for her even more.
I begin packing my belongings. No sense in staying another night here. I know I won’t be able to sleep in this bed without her. Fuck. I was looking forward to holding her once more. I know once we’re back in Mountain Springs, she will pull away from me again.
I’ll only be home for a day before flying home to visit my family. At least I won’t be able to stop by Monica’s apartment unannounced.
The drive back to Colorado Springs seems to take forever, and I find myself taking a detour past Monica’s apartment. My drive-by is perfectly timed as she’s walking to her car, talking animatedly on her phone. She doesn’t look upset, so I imagine she’s talking to her best friend. Emily, I believe. I wonder how much she’s going to tell Emily. If she’ll be honest.
When I’m back at my condo, I look at the bare walls and the muted tones in every piece of furniture. I bet Monica’s apartment is full of color. I only saw a quick glimpse of it when I picked her up at the beginning of the week, but it screamed personality. I want Monica all over this condo. I want my space to reek of her. I want her scent infused in the couches, her clothes strewn everywhere. I want her here.
I think it will be a challenge to convince her, but I’m up for it.
“Gabriel, I thought you’d be bringing her,” my mother whines as we drive from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
“ M?e , I told you I was coming alone.”
“I thought you’d surprise me with her. For my birthday.”
“You thought I’d bring a woman home to meet you? A woman I’m not dating? A woman who is scared to death of dating me, so meeting you before we’re even officially dating would be a good idea?” I ask dryly.
“Of course. I can talk you up.”
My sister Ana snorts from the driver’s seat.
“Ana, be quiet,” my mother spouts.
“What? You’d scare the poor girl, m?e . No offense,” Ana explains.
Ana is five years younger than me. My parents thought they weren’t going to have any more children after me. They tried for years and finally stopped. My mother became pregnant almost immediately. Maria is four years younger than Anna, and Juliana is the youngest at thirty-three. She’s almost the same age as Monica. I always buy cupcakes for birthdays in the office. But, I’ll admit, I knew Monica’s birthday well before that. Not much I don’t know about her.
“I would not scare her if she’s the one for Gabriel,” my mother points out. “If she’s meant to be with him, she’d love me and wouldn’t treat me like that snake did.”
She’s referring to my ex-wife. Mama and Courtney never meshed well. She wasn’t surprised when Courtney divorced me, but she never held it over my head. Mama was upset when Courtney and I eloped, then upset because Courtney refused to visit Texas with me for my nephew’s Christening. When Mama and Courtney finally did meet, there was a remarkable amount of tension.
“Love that you still refer to her as ‘that snake’, mama,” Ana giggles.
“I’m not sad to have her out of your life, filho . She was no good for you,” my mother says. “Enough about that snake. This weekend is about me .”
Ana and I both laugh. My mother isn’t bashful about her desire to be the center of attention. While it may seem narcissistic, it’s because it means she is surrounded by family. That is what is important to her. So she couldn’t care less about the presents or the party. She just wants us.
The weekend flies by for me. Not that Monica was ever far from my mind. I thought of her constantly. Didn’t help that my mama told everyone I had a girlfriend, and I had to keep correcting her.
I arrive back in Colorado late afternoon Monday, having taken a personal day. I rarely take off; fortunately, real estate allows some flexibility in the hours when needed. I’m anxious to see Monica. I again take the long route to my condo, which adds a about fifteen minutes to the drive, and slam on the brakes in front of Monica’s apartment complex.
Her apartment is gone. A couple walls still stand, but most of it is ash. I immediately pull out my phone and call her.
“Hello?” she answers. Her voice sounds timid and unsure. This Monica concerns me. I’m not used to her this way.
“What happened?” I demand.
“What do you mean?”
“ Querida , don’t play with me. I’m in front of your apartment. What used to be your apartment. What the fuck happened?”
“I don’t know, Gabriel. Ask the fire inspector. I certainly didn’t start it,” she retorts. Ahh. I let out a relieved exhale. She’s still my spitfire.
“Where are you?” I ask.
“I’m fine, Gabriel.”
“You need to stop saying that when we both know you’re not. I’ll ask again. Where are you?” I ask. She hesitates before finally answering.
“I’m in the hospital for smoke inhalation.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes,” I say before ending the call. I’m not allowing her to tell me not to come. I’m surprised when she doesn’t immediately text me to tell me not to show up.
Ten minutes later, I’m walking into the hospital when I see that pi?o Marcus loitering outside.
“Come to save the day, boss man? She’s coming home with me, so don’t waste your breath,” he taunts.
“We’ll see about that,” I murmur as I bypass him and go straight to the front desk. After finding out what room Monica is in, I hightail it upstairs and don’t bother knocking.
I’m unprepared for my visceral reaction to seeing her in a hospital bed. Monica is tiny, but now she’s so frail and small that the bed swallows her up.
“Oh, querida ,” I say quietly. Monica’s eyes meet mine and fill with tears as a sob breaks from her throat. I immediately sit on the bed and pull her into my arms. “It’s okay, baby. Let it all out.”
“I woke up and couldn’t see, couldn’t breathe. I was so scared, Gabriel. I thought I was going to die,” Monica cries.
I don’t answer her. I just let her cry while I slowly rub her spine.
She pulls her head away to look up at me, her tear-stained face pulling at my heartstrings. “Is it all gone? Was there anything saved?”
“I don’t know, querida . I didn’t get too close. I’m not sure if anything can be saved,” I confess. Monica begins to cry again as she climbs fully into my lap and wraps her arms around my neck.
We sit like that for a while before a knock on the door breaks us apart.
“Mon? Can I come in?” a voice asks.
“Is that Marcus?” I ask, and she nods.
“I told the hospital staff I didn’t want him here. But, Gabriel, I don’t feel safe with him. I don’t know what to do,” she whispers.
“I’ll handle it,” I tell her as I move her off my lap. I stand up, head to the door, and dramatically throw it open before pushing Marcus to the opposite hallway wall. I wrap my hand around his throat and hold him there.
“What the fuck, man?” he hollers.
“Let me make this perfectly clear. You are not to see Monica ever again. Don’t look at her, don’t call or text her, and certainly don’t speak to her. If I find out you even looked in her direction, I will end you and make it look like an accident. Do you understand me?” I snarl as my hand pushes against his windpipe.
“She’s mine, asshole,” he rasps .
“The fuck she is. She is her own person, and no one claims her, least of all you. Leave the hospital now, and don’t return,” I whisper menacingly.
“She’s gonna stay with me. She needs a place to stay,” Marcus says defiantly, and I tighten my hand on his throat.
“I will pay for a fucking hotel room before I let her go anywhere with you.”
Marcus looks at me as his face reddens due to lack of oxygen and anger. Finally, he gives me one quick nod, and I release his throat.
“Leave.”
“You’re gonna regret this, asshole,” he says, gingerly rubbing his throat.
“I highly doubt that.”
Once I see Marcus on the elevator, I return to Monica’s room. She’s asleep, but when I approach the bed, she stirs.
“Will you stay with me tonight, please?” she asks.
“Always, querida .”
She scoots over on the bed and pats the empty space. I resist the urge to chuckle. I’ll take any opportunity I can to cuddle with Monica. As soon as I stretch on the bed, she moves her head to my chest and lets out a relieved sigh. I rest my face on her hair.
“Will you stay with me? At my house. I want you safe, querida ,” I whisper.
“Okay.”
Well, that was easier than I thought it would be. One step closer to convincing Monica that I’m not like other men she’s dated. I’m the exception, not the rule.