Chapter 45
"Gabby?"
I stared at the scary PDF file on my phone screen. The grainy photo of the warehouse looked like something out of a horror movie, not my glittery, pink life.
Gabriel's hand reached out. He didn't snatch the phone, but his grip was firm as he took it from my hand. He was still wearing the snail mucin sheet mask I had slapped on his face, which made him look like a very handsome, very wet ghost.
He sat up, the mask crinkling. He looked at the screen.
I watched his eyes. Usually, they are unreadable, like obsidian stones. But right now, under the slimy mask, they narrowed just a tiny fraction.
"Who sent this?" I whispered, hugging a pillow. "Is it... is it real? Is it a dead body? Why would someone send me a dead body?!"
Gabriel swiped his thumb across the screen. Click. He turned the phone off.
He tossed it onto the nightstand like it was a piece of trash.
"It is nonsense, Aleesha," he said. His voice was calm. Smooth. Like warm milk. "It is spam. Likely a bot sending random files to random numbers. Or perhaps teenagers playing a prank."
"A prank?" I blinked. "That is a very mean prank! It's not funny! It's spooky!"
"People are bored," Gabriel sighed, peeling the sheet mask off his face. He crumpled it up. "They have nothing to do with their lives, so they try to disturb others. Do not entertain it."
He turned to look at me. His skin was glowing! Ooh! The snail snot worked! He looked radiant!
"Block the number," he instructed. "And delete the file. It is garbage."
I nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Garbage! I will block it so hard!"
I grabbed my phone, blocked the Unknown Number, and deleted the message. Poof! Gone!
"Good," Gabriel murmured.
I grabbed a cotton pad and wiped the excess serum on his face. "Now you are glowing, Gabby! You look like a K-Drama star!"
He didn't roll his eyes this time. Instead, he caught my hand. He kissed my palm.
"Time to sleep," he said softly.
We lay down. I snuggled close to him, resting my cheek against his chest, right over the J-Ali 3 :) tattoo. His arm wrapped around me, heavy and protective.
"Gabby?"
"Hm?"
"Those bad people... in the file... they won't come here, right?"
Gabriel's hand stroked my hair. The motion was rhythmic. Soothing.
"No one will come here," he promised. His voice vibrated against my ear. "You are in the safest place on earth, Aleesha. Sleep."
And I believed him. Because Gabriel fixes roofs. And he deletes bad files. And he smells like safety.
I traced small, invisible hearts on his chest with my finger until my eyes got heavy.
Safe.
★
Okay, something weird is happening.
Gabriel has been... possessed.
Possessed by a Cuddle Monster!
Since he woke up this morning, he has been acting extra sweet. Like, sugar-overdose sweet!
When I was brushing my teeth? He came up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and kissed my shoulder. When I was eating my toast? He kissed the top of my head. When I was putting on my socks? He kissed my knee!
WAAAAHHH!
It is overwhelming! But also...I love it!
I feel like a princess! Or a very cherished stuffed animal!
Right now, we were in the living room. The afternoon sun was streaming through the windows, making everything look golden.
I was sitting on my favorite pink faux-fur rug, surrounded by a mountain of Legos. I was building "The Fortress of Solitude" (but pink version).
Gabriel was sitting on the gray sofa behind me. He wasn't working. He wasn't on his phone. He was just... sitting there. Watching me.
I could feel his gaze on the back of my neck. It felt hot.
I turned around.
"Gabby!" I chirped.
He blinked. "Yes?"
"I am bored of building walls," I announced. I crawled on my knees over to the sofa. I rested my chin on his knee.
"Fight me," I challenged.
He raised an eyebrow. "Fight you?"
"Yes! Physical combat!" I puffed out my cheeks. "An arm wrestle! Right now! Mano a mano! Husband vs. Wife!"
Gabriel chuckled. The sound was low and rumbly. He slid off the sofa and sat on the floor opposite me. He placed his elbow on the coffee table, pushing aside a vase of flowers.
His arm was huge. His forearm was thick with muscle, veins popping slightly. My arm looked like a breadstick next to a tree trunk.
He engulfed my hand in his large, warm grip.
"Okay," I said, my heart fluttering at the touch. "But we need stakes! A bet!"
"Name it," he said.
I bit my lip, formulating my master plan. Mwehehehe. I wanted to tease him!
"If you win," I announced, pointing a finger at him, "you have to kiss me."
Gabriel tilted his head. "That is the prize?"
"Wait! Let me finish!" I wagged my finger. "If you win, you have to give me... a smack kiss! Just a peck! A tiny, boring, dry kiss on the lips! Like you are kissing a wall!"
Gabriel's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't seem to like the sound of a "boring kiss."
"And if you win?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave.
I grinned mischievously.
"If I win... I will let you kiss me. But not a peck! A long kiss! A passionate kiss! With... you know... fireworks! And tongue! And drama!"
I winked at him.
My plan was genius! I was going to try my hardest to lose! I would let him slam my hand down easily, and then I would give him just a tiny, unsatisfying peck to drive him crazy!
Gabriel stared at me. He seemed to process the weird logic of my bet.
"So," he murmured, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. "If I win, I get a crumb. If I lose, I get the feast."
"Exactly!" I nodded. "Deal?"
"Deal," he said.
"Ready... Set... GO!"
I immediately pushed! Hnnngh!
Okay, I pretended to push. I actually pushed my hand down toward the table on the losing side! I made a straining face.
I waited for him to slam my hand down.
But... his arm didn't move. He held my hand steady in the center.
"Why aren't you winning?" I whispered, frowning. "I am giving you an opening!"
Gabriel looked me in the eyes. His gaze dropped to my lips. They darkened.
Before I could react, Gabriel pulled his own hand down.
He started pushing my hand toward the table—but in the winning direction! He was forcing himself to lose!
"Hey!" I gasped, trying to pull my arm back. "No! Stop losing!"
"I don't want a peck," he growled playfully.
He exerted just a tiny bit of force—against himself! He was literally overpowering my attempt to lose!
"Gabby! Stop! I want to lose!" I whined, using both hands to try and push his arm up.
"Too late," he smirked.
THUD.
My tiny hand pinned his giant hand to the table.
Silence.
I blinked. I looked at our hands. My breadstick arm had defeated the tree trunk.
"I... I won?" I whispered, horrified.
Gabriel grinned. A wolfish, predatory grin that made my insides turn to jelly.
"You won," he confirmed. "Congratulations, Aleesha. You are the champion."
"But... but that was cheating!" I argued. "You threw the match!"
"I merely accepted the better terms," he said smoothly.
He released my hand.
He didn't stand up. Instead, he shifted. He crawled over the pink rug, scattering Lego bricks everywhere. Clatter clatter.
He stopped right in front of me. He was on his knees. I was still sitting on my heels.
He was looming over me.
"Now," he whispered, his voice vibrating in the quiet room. "Pay up."
I gulped. My heart started hammering a techno beat against my ribs. Boots-cats-boots-cats.
"A... a long kiss," I stammered. "That was the deal."
"Passionate," he reminded me. "With fireworks."
He reached out. His hands—large and calloused—cupped my face gently. His thumbs brushed my cheekbones.
He leaned in.
I closed my eyes, my breath hitching in my throat.
His lips met mine.
It started slow.
It wasn't a crash. It was a slide. Soft. Warm. Tasting. He moved his lips against mine with a leisurely, agonizing slowness, like he was savoring a very expensive dessert.
Mmm.
I melted. I literally melted into the rug. My hands found his shoulders, gripping the black t-shirt.
Then... the shift.
Gabriel groaned low in his throat. The sound went straight to my core.
The kiss deepened. He tilted his head, his tongue sweeping into my mouth, claiming it. It became urgent. Wet. Hot.
"Aleesha," he breathed against my mouth.
He moved his hands from my face to my waist. He gripped me tight.
Then, he lifted me.
Eep!
He pulled me up and forward, until I was kneeling too. Then he sat back on his heels and pulled me onto his lap. He wrapped my legs around his waist.
He didn't stop kissing me. Not for a second.
He shifted again, moving us until my back hit the edge of the gray sofa. He pinned me there. His chest pressed against mine, flattening my breasts (which felt... electric!).
I moaned softly into his mouth.
"Gabby..."
I wrapped my arms around his neck, burying my fingers in his dark hair. It was so soft!
And then... I felt it.
His hips.
He was pressed right against me. And he was... moving.
It was subtle at first. A slow, rhythmic grind. Forward. Back. Forward.
Oh my gosh.
Friction. Heat. Pressure.
My eyes flew wide open (but I couldn't see anything because his face was too close!).
My heart started beating very fast. Faster than when I see a limited edition Hello Kitty plushie!
It was a slow rhythm. His hips moving back and forth against mine. It felt... heavy. It felt like he was trying to get closer than close.
Is this it? Is this the horizontal tango?! But we are vertical!
He ground his hips against mine again. A little harder this time.
A whimper escaped my throat. It sounded embarrassing! Like a squeak! But Gabriel seemed to love it. He growled and bit my lower lip gently.
My body felt weird! Heavy! Hot! Like I was made of lava!
I tightened my legs around his waist. I wanted... something. I didn't know what, but I wanted to be closer!
I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his scent.
This is heaven! This is—
CLICK.
The sound of the heavy front door opening.
CREAAAAK.
"Don Gabriel? I have decrypted the—"
A voice. A male voice.
Gabriel froze. His lips were on my throat. His hips stopped moving.
I froze. My hands were in his hair. My legs were wrapped around him like a koala.
We both turned our heads.
Standing in the doorway was Sean.
You know, Sean! Gabriel's "Associate"! The hacker guy who helped delete Chad's phone! The one who has a crush on Stephie (based on my observation hihi). Usually, he wears a suit and looks like a robot.
But today... he wasn't wearing a suit. He was wearing a grey hoodie and jeans. He held a tablet in one hand.
His mouth was hanging open. His eyes were wide.
He looked dumbfounded. Like he had walked in on a unicorn fighting a dragon.
He stared at Gabriel. He stared at me. He stared at our... very compromised position on the pink rug, surrounded by scattered Lego bricks.
Silence.
Awkward, terrible, humiliating silence.
Gabriel let out a sound that was half-growl, half-sigh. He rested his forehead against my shoulder for a second, clearly annoyed.
But me?
"WAAAAAAAAHHH!" I screamed.
I pushed Gabriel away! Aggressively! I scrambled backward, untangling my legs. I fell off his lap and landed on my butt on the rug. Oof!
I stood up instantly, smoothing down my skirt (which was twisted) and fixing my hair (which was a bird's nest).
My face felt like it was on fire. I must be redder than a tomato! Redder than the red flower I crocheted!
I looked at Sean.
"I am so sorry!" I yelled, bowing repeatedly. Bow. Bow. Bow.
"We were just... um... wrestling! Yes! Arm wrestling gone wrong! It was an accident!"
Sean blinked. He looked at Gabriel, who was still kneeling on the floor, looking murderous.
"An accident," Sean repeated slowly.
"Yes!" I nodded frantically. "And... and Gabby is a bit naughty today! He hasn't drunk his vitamins! That's why he was... hugging me! Vitamin deficiency causes... excessive hugging!"
I pointed at Gabriel accusingly. "Bad husband! Take your vitamins!"
Gabriel looked at me. He looked like he wanted to laugh, or maybe strangle me. Probably both.
"Aleesha..." he started.
"NO!" I put my hands up to cover my burning cheeks. "I have to go! Urgent business!"
I started backing away toward the stairs.
"I will just... go upstairs! To our room! And... and read books! Educational books! And pee! Yes, I need to use the bathroom! Very urgently! And crochet flowers! And watch movies! And... and talk about... uhm... whatever!"
I babbled. I didn't even know what I was saying!
"Goodbye!" I shrieked.
I spun around and ran.
I sprinted up the grand staircase, taking two steps at a time. My heart was still pounding. My lips were still tingling.
I reached the bedroom door.
SLAM.
I leaned against the wood, sliding down until I hit the floor. I covered my burning face with my hands.
"Oh my gosh," I whispered to the empty room. Sean saw us! He saw the koala hug! He saw the vitamins lie!
But then... I touched my lips.
They felt swollen. They felt... loved.
A goofy smile spread across my face. My heart was doing little cartwheels in my chest.
BZZZT. BZZZT. BZZZT.
My phone started vibrating on the floor next to me.
It wasn't just one buzz. It was a swarm of buzzes! Like an angry beehive!
BZZZT. BZZZT. BZZZT. BZZZT.
"Ooh?" I blinked, wiping the happy drool off my face. "Is my fan club texting me? Did I win a lottery?"
I picked up the phone.
The screen was lighting up with notifications.
"Huh?" I frowned. "I am trending?"
I unlocked the phone.
The first thing that popped up was a video link sent to the university group chat. It had a caption: "EXPOSED! Student Council Sweetheart's dirty secret!"
And the numbers...
My stomach dropped. That is viral level! That is celebrity level!
"What is this?" I whispered.
My thumb hovered over the play button. I shouldn't watch it. It feels... icky. But everyone is sharing it!
I pressed play.
The video loaded. It was shaky. Dark.
But then... the faces became clear.
A girl. Crying. A boy. Laughing.
And... oh no.
I gasped, covering my mouth with both hands.
It was Stephie.
And Chad.
And they were... they were doing the thing. The private thing. The thing Stephie cried about in the spa!
"NO!" I shrieked. "No no no no!"
I frantically tapped the screen to stop it.
My hands were shaking so bad I almost dropped the phone.
How?! How is this here?!
"But..." I whispered, tears instantly filling my eyes. "But Gabby said..."
My mind raced back to the pizza parlor. Gabriel looked me in the eye. He looked so sure. So powerful.
"The files are deleted. My IT associate... Sean... was successful. Every copy. Scrubbed."
He promised! He said it was gone! He said Sean deleted it from the cloud and the phone and the laptop! He said Chad's phone was fried!
So how is it on Facebook?! How does it have 10,000 shares?!
"Did... did Sean miss one?" I whimpered. "Did Gabby lie?"
Huhu.
No! Gabby never lies! He is the King of Logistics! He knows where every box is! How could he lose a video file?!
I stared at the phone. The notifications kept coming. Ping. Ping. Ping.
Stephie's life is ruined. Just like she feared.
And I... I told her it was handled. I told her my husband fixed it.
I felt cold. The warmth from the kiss evaporated instantly.