Chapter 17
GAbrIELLA
Alright, so maybe things didn’t go according to plan.
The first day, we roamed the conference, popped into various presentations and networked with like-minded people.
Of course, Leonardo was widely recognised as he was well respected in the field of vascular neurology.
So, when he finished his lecture, he was immediately asked to do a second one the following day.
With minimal convincing from my husband, we booked a hotel room right next to the venue and stayed in the city overnight, much to Daisy’s encouragement.
Day two had slowed as we lounged in bed, making the most of our remaining time together. Leonardo had well and truly kept his promise, my body aching with satisfaction after a blissful night of debauchery.
He was now in the shower, preparing to leave for his second appearance—on no sleep, I might add.
As he walked into the room with a towel wrapped around his waist, droplets of water running down his chest, I knew I couldn’t send him off without a proper goodbye.
Licking my lips, I crawled to the end of the bed, gaze trained on my prize that lived between his thighs.
“Ella… what are you doing? You’re going to make me late.”
I pouted, pulling on the towel until it fell to the ground. “I’ll be fast. I promise.”
Leo groaned, his cock promptly hardening at my focus. “Is my wife still hungry?”
My fingers wrapped around the base of his shaft as I leant forward and lavished the tip with my tongue. “Feed me your cum, husband. Then I’ll send you off to work with a kiss.”
“Whatever my wife wants, she gets. Open up, darling.”
Leonardo went on ahead as I tried to tame my crazy hair. After I sucked him down, he couldn’t resist dicking me down. Which meant he was, indeed, running late.
As I got myself situated, I noticed his lecture notes sitting on the desk, left behind.
I rushed out the door, documents in hand, and made it to the conference room just in time.
My Leonardo was dazzling, standing up front, all proud and sophisticated, as if he hadn’t just been balls-deep in me thirty minutes before. The cheeky bastard.
With a satisfied smile on my face, I tried to throw him off by joining him on stage, handing over the thick wad of papers. But the joke was on me, because that only lit Leo up with excitement as he clocked my approach.
“Ah, what would I do without you?” he whispered, ignoring the audience and giving me his sex eyes. Someone help me. All I could think of at that moment, in front of all those people, was how much I desperately wanted him to myself again.
I should have known he wouldn’t let me escape, especially when he was sporting an impressive erection, hidden behind the podium. Oop, time to leave! As I turned to go, Leo grasped onto my hand, anchoring me in place, then turned to address the room.
“You may have seen this lovely lady lurking around the conference these past couple days, but let me formally introduce her. Everyone, say a quick hello to the amazingly talented paediatrician… My wife, Gabriella Rossi.”
I escaped the packed room, choosing to get some breathing space while Leonardo was bombarded with questions and introductions.
My husband was in his element and impressive to watch. I beamed with utter pride, sitting in that front row, watching him speak about his passions and educate others on the same. I was glad he had agreed to the presentation and knew he enjoyed the experience immensely.
I shifted to a secluded corner in the corridor, planning to wait out the crowd, when someone called for me.
“Hi, Gabriella?”
I turned to catch the shining green eyes of a stunning stranger. Just from the looks, she was a decade younger than my fifty-one years, but carried herself as if she was much older.
“Yes,” I said. “Hi. Have we met?”
“No. I just… I enjoyed your husband’s lecture, and was wondering if you were presenting at the conference too? Paediatrics, right?”
I smiled at her interest. “I’m not currently practicing. I’m on maternity leave.”
Her lips pursed for a second before curving into a smile. “Oh, congratulations. I have a two-year-old girl myself. She’s a hurricane.”
“I can relate. My one-year-old already knows how to manipulate her daddy with a cheeky grin made up of… four teeth total.” I chuckled. “I’d hate to see the damage with a full set.”
“My husband’s the same.” She laughed. “A complete sucker for all three of our kids. Do you have any more?”
My head tilted. The conversation wasn’t necessarily weird, as mothers often spoke of their children. This stranger also seemed genuine, but I couldn’t deny feeling something more underlying the question. That it wasn’t as innocent as she perceived.
I answered anyway, unable to pinpoint my hesitance. “I do. Our first is seven. Not that her father would agree. He still sees her as his little baby.”
Her features morphed then, almost in sadness. “I’m sure he’s a great father. You chose well.”
I sighed from nostalgia. “It was less of a choice and more of a given. He was my best friend for many years until we found each other again. We had our daughter and married soon after. Now, the rest is history.”
I didn’t know why I was disclosing so much to a stranger, yet I couldn’t help but open up to her calming aura.
In turn for my answer, a certain spark seemed to radiate from her. Like my statement lit her up with happiness and relief. “Ah, I’m so glad to hear that—”
“Baby?” someone called from the side. We both turned to watch a good-looking man approach. His gaze bounced between us, his features neutrally smoothing before he placed a palm on her lower back. “There you are. You ready for the next presentation?”
The woman before me patted his hand, giving a reassuring smile. His features melted beneath her attention, a look of pure love shining between them. After a few beats, he nodded, a subtle acknowledgement to the nonverbal communication of a married couple in sync.
“Don’t let me keep you,” I said. “I’d better be off myself.”
That’s when she reached out and grasped my hand between both of hers. Her green eyes bored into mine, raw sincerity swimming beneath. “It was lovely to meet you, Gabriella Rossi. Truly. I’m so glad you and your husband found one another again.”
Before I could respond, she was off. I tracked her departure, her shining brunette hair getting further and further away. That’s when I realised. She knew my name, but I didn’t manage to catch hers.