Chapter 25
LAILA
Shit…
Gabriel had just asked if I wanted to kiss him.
My brain whirred, my heart pounded against my chest and my pulse raced.
I didn’t know what to say.
I knew what I should say: ‘No way!’ followed by spouting the same damn speech I’d been giving all week: that Gabriel was too young for me.
Then I should remind him for the billionth time that he was my best friend’s son, blah, blah, blah.
But here’s the thing: fighting my feelings for him was exhausting. Especially when it was clear that he was a good guy.
No. Not just a good guy. He was amazing.
And he wanted me.
Do you know how incredible that felt?
A man that wasn’t a walking red flag like every other guy I’d been involved with.
Someone who actually treated me with respect and was the hottest man I had ever laid eyes on wanted to kiss me.
Saying no because he happened to be born a decade and a bit later than me seemed crazy.
And anyway, it’d just be a teeny, tiny kiss. Something to make experiencing the Eiffel Tower for the first time extra magical. It wasn’t like we were going to end up shagging in front of all of the other tourists who were up here.
We’d kiss and that’d be it. No one else would know but us.
And as for Juliette, well, when I’d felt better this afternoon, I’d called her and she hadn’t responded, so at least I’d tried.
It was too late for me to go back to London tonight, so seeing as I was here, I might as well make the most of it.
‘A kiss, eh?’ I raised my eyebrow suggestively. ‘I guess it doesn’t get more romantic than that and I’m sure the Love Alchemists would lap it up. It’d definitely help us to win, so that alone is a solid reason to do it, right?’
‘Tout à fait,’ Gabriel agreed. ‘If you want to tell yourself that we are doing it just to help us win, then I will not try to change your mind,’ he smirked.
‘It wouldn’t even have to be a real kiss or anything romantic. It’d just have to look real. Even a one-second peck on the lips whilst we take the photo would be enough.’
A teeny-tiny kiss wouldn’t do any harm.
‘Whatever you feel comfortable with,’ Gabriel agreed. ‘But I have always believed that if you are going to do something, it should be done properly, non? If we are going to kiss, why not enjoy it?’
‘Hmmm.’ I tilted my head, like I was giving it careful consideration. ‘Let’s try the quick peck first then see,’ I suggested.
I’d never had a ‘pre-kiss discussion’ before. Usually men just pushed themselves on me and the kissing was lacklustre. So although Gabriel exuded sex god energy, it was better to be cautious. I mean, he wasn’t even thirty yet, so how experienced could he really be?
‘As you wish,’ Gabriel said. ‘But if I am doing it correctly, you will be begging me to continue, not asking me to stop.’
‘Really?’ I cocked a curious eyebrow. ‘We’ll see about that, shall we?’
I pulled out my phone. Normally Gabriel took the selfies, but if we were going to be locking lips, I’d prefer it was taken on my mobile, so I could choose which one we used for the Love Passport and be sure that no one else saw the rest.
‘Ready?’ I asked, holding the phone up.
‘Oui, but let me take the photos. Once I start kissing you, you will not be able to focus.’
‘If you say so,’ I laughed. ‘You’re really talking yourself up, but okay!’ Imagine how awkward it’d be if he turned out to be a terrible kisser.
After I’d given Gabriel my phone, he stepped closer, tilted my chin up then looked down, his gaze meeting mine.
He stroked my cheek gently and as his face inched closer, I swallowed hard.
Shit.
This was really happening.
Gabriel was about to kiss me.
It still wasn’t too late to back out…
Sod it.
I deserved this.
‘First,’ Gabriel said, ‘some innocent photos for the hotel.’
Out of the corner of my eye I saw him hold the phone up. Then he dipped his head and pressed his lips onto mine.
Lord have mercy.
My eyes popped just as he pulled away. My pulse was already racing faster than a Formula 1 car and he’d only kissed me for two seconds.
‘Next, a romantic kiss…’ Gabriel dropped his head and peppered soft kisses on my neck before moving down to trail his mouth across my collarbone.
A whimper flew from my lips.
Holy. Bloody. Shit.
No wonder he talked such a big game.
‘And now that we have enough photos for the hotel, I will kiss you properly,’ he growled.
I knew that I should ask Gabriel to stop.
But I didn’t want him to.
I wanted him to continue.
So I let him do exactly that.
He pushed my phone in his pocket, cupped my face with his hands and the intensity of his gaze was so deep, I swore he could see into my soul.
Something told me I should brace myself because this kiss was going to be…
I didn’t even get to finish my thoughts before Gabriel crushed his lips onto mine, with such force that I almost stumbled backwards.
Gabriel caught me and pulled me upright again as he continued to kiss me like his life depended on it.
The kiss was urgent and hungry and I was totally here for it.
I parted my lips and he instantly slid his tongue inside, flicking it against mine at the perfect rhythm.
My knees went weak, my heart hammered against my chest and as for my knickers, they were totally ruined.
Need and desire pulsed through me and I pushed my body into him.
God, this was so hot.
This was like multiple fantasies rolled into one.
Not only was I at the top of the Eiffel Tower, at sunset no less, I was also being kissed passionately by a hot younger man who was devouring me like I was the most exquisite dish he’d ever tasted.
I knew I’d said just minutes ago that we could just have a quick peck then move on, but that was before I felt his lips on mine.
Now I knew there was no going back from this. I needed more.
I needed all of him.
As his hardness pressed against me, I had an overwhelming desire to have him inside me.
A feral moan slipped out of me as I pictured him taking me right here, right now.
As our mouths continued to move together in perfect harmony, I began to understand why normally sensible people did reckless things in public.
After wrapping my arms around his waist, I let my hands roam across his muscular back then down towards his arse.
Oh God.
What a glorious backside he had.
I’d noticed it before, but touching it was so much better than just looking.
As I gave it a firm squeeze and pulled Gabriel inwards so I could feel more of his dick pressing against me, he moaned into my mouth.
‘Mon Dieu,’ Gabriel said, then pulled away slowly.
I wanted to scream, no, no, no! What the hell are you doing?
‘I did not want to stop but it is better that we do not get arrested,’ he whispered.
‘Probably,’ I said as I slowly opened my eyes and reluctantly started thinking more sensibly.
‘So, did you enjoy?’
‘Definitely,’ I said, my body still pulsing with need.
‘Bien. Now that we have completed our task for today, would you like to continue this somewhere more private?’
Thinking one kiss would be enough was delusional.
If I really wanted to get this attraction out of my system, I needed to go all the way.
I knew I’d regret this later, but like Gabriel said, if you’re going to do something, it’s best to do it properly, right?
‘Let’s go,’ I said taking his hand and pulling him towards the lift quickly before I changed my mind.