Chapter 32
CHAPTER 32
LEAH
T he view is breathtaking. I’ve walked past marinas before. Vince and I travelled to some beautiful places, but this is different. I know it shouldn’t be, Gabriel is my boss, not my boyfriend, but I can’t help it. Deep inside my stomach, anticipation bubbles.
Glancing over at Gabriel, his lips are tight, and have been since the captain announced Caleb is also onboard. I know the yacht belongs to Gabriel, but his family are free to use it. At least I know Caleb. Any of his other family members and it may have been an awkward introduction.
We follow Edward down a concrete sidewalk that runs alongside the waterway. Tim has taken our bags and gone ahead. I stop and take in the sights.
“This is something else,” I say, my voice breathless.
Gabriel squeezes my hand in response.
Boats of all shapes and sizes line up along the piers and wooden docks that stretch out onto the water. Tethered by ropes to the pier cleats, the slapping of the water against the hulls, a soothing sound in the maze of boats. Lights, music, and laughter fill the air, drowning out the underlying clinking and wind whistles through the aluminium masts.
We reach our destination. When Gabriel said yacht , he meant it. It’s at least fifty metres.
“Welcome to Francesca’s Escape,” Gabriel says. “My escape.”
I turn to face him, “Gabriel, this is...”
His lips twitch, and his eyes sparkle. “Do you think you can have a relaxing weekend here?” he asks.
I tilt my head and tap a finger on my lips as if contemplating his question. “I’ll try,” I say before letting Gabriel lead me up the gang plank onto the yacht.
Tim and our bags are nowhere in sight.
Gabriel leads us past a pool and seating, into the main body of the yacht, and then into the upstairs central stateroom. This is luxury at its finest. Sofas adorn the sides. Windows offer spectacular views, high above most of the smaller boats.
“Would you care for a drink, sir?” a man appears out of nowhere.
Gabriel looks to me and I smile.
“Champagne?” he asks, drawing me down onto one of the sofas.
I smile and nod. What woman is going to turn down Champagne on a yacht in the heart of Monaco. Not this one.
“Two glasses of champagne, Jim,” Gabriel says, as the man disappears. He returns two minutes later, with a cooler, two glasses and a bottle of champagne way outside my pay grade and price range.
“To us, and a relaxing weekend,” Gabriel says, clinking his glass against mine. “Even if my brother has decided to gate crash.”
“To a wonderful weekend. Thank you for thinking of it.” I say, taking a sip from my glass, as I find myself overcome with emotion.
We drink in silence, taking in the surroundings and the gentle swell of the water against the side.
When we have finished, Gabriel stands up, holding out his hand for me to take.
I follow him.
“This is the master cabin,” Gabriel says.
My head spins at the sight I’m being presented with. The room is breathtaking. I’m not sure what I expected when Gabriel said we would be spending the weekend on his yacht, but this... well. I look at the king-sized bed, and my stomach somersaults. The room is enormous. Bigger than my bedroom in Gabriel’s apartment. Although the blinds have been dropped for privacy, glass windows adorn either side. Stairs lead from the upper deck into an open hallway housing two chairs overlooking the water. The floor is wood, although the bed sits on an enormous velvety rug. I can imagine it’s like satin underfoot. The room also houses a large sofa in a separate seating area. This is a suite on a yacht.
“Gabriel, this room. It’s gorgeous,” I say, walking around.
Gabriel clumsily runs a hand through his hair.
“This room is for you,” he says. “I’ll sleep in one of the other rooms.”
I turn and stare at him. “Um, with Caleb here, don’t we need to share a room? He thinks we’re in a relationship. If I announce I’m pregnant and he knows we aren’t sleeping together—” I don’t finish my sentence. Instead, I watch Gabriel clenching and unclenching his jaw.
“I’ll take the day bed.”
I want to laugh at his words when my eyes dart back to the sofa. I can just imagine him trying to fold his six-foot-two frame onto the sofa. It looks comfortable, but not that comfortable .
“No, you won’t,” I say. “I’m happy to share the bed if you are. It’s enormous. I doubt you would even realise another person is in bed with you.” Although my womb clenches in denial. Ignoring his presence is not something I can do.
“I don’t want you to feel pressured,” Gabriel says.
“Gabriel, it’s fine. I promise.”
Gabriel continues to surprise me. His tall, dark Mediterranean looks. His bank balance. He could have any woman he chose. Yet here he is, spending time with me. Helping me fulfil my dreams, worried about how I feel about sharing a bed with him for the weekend. No one has ever put my feelings above their own, apart from my parents. But they’re pretty special people.
Instead of saying anything else, he moves to a door in the wall. “The bathroom.” He opens the door and steps back, allowing me to pass.
The room is marble. A large walk-in shower adorns the far wall. Opposite that is a standalone bath. A large mirror hangs from the ceiling in the middle of a twin sink unit positioned in front of another window.
“The toilet is through there,” Gabriel points to another doorway. “And you’ll find the wardrobe through that door.”
I step forward, peering around the first door before walking into the wardrobe. The walls are lined with hanging and shelving space. A vanity unit sits in the middle, my makeup bag placed in front of the mirror, ready.
I turn around and stare at the rest of the space. It’s then I notice mine and Gabriel’s clothes hanging up together. The sight warms my chest.
Gabriel follows my gaze.
“Don’t worry about it. We’re both adults. It’s not like we won’t be—” I’m not sure how to describe the sex we’ll be having this weekend. Baby making? Sperm depositing? “You know.” I finish the sentence, and watch his lips twitch .
He turns to face me and rests his hands on my waist. “True. But you were supposed to have the choice of where you sleep. Our relationship is complicated enough. I don’t want you to think that with Caleb here.”
I touch his cheek. “He’ll see through us. Put us on to your mum?” I finish for him. “Stop worrying. We’re in a relationship. That isn’t technically a lie. It’s just not a conventional one.”
I watch his muscles relax as I smile at him.
Gabriel nods and rests his forehead against mine.
“What we do or don’t do is no one else’s business. We’re sharing our bodies. Why not share a bed?” I add.
Gabriel laughs, and I realise I’m getting used to the sound. “That’s one way of looking at it.” He steps back and I miss the closeness. “Do you want to go for a walk, or do you want to have a drink? I’m not sure what time the miscreant and his friends will be back.”
“Let’s have a drink. I like the idea of sipping champagne on a yacht. Something to tell the grandkids.”
It’s only then I realise what I’ve said.
“Hopefully, it will be something they’re accustomed to,” Gabriel says. However, I’m not sure I like the idea that they’re so accustomed to luxuries they expect them on a plate. Then again, I look at Gabriel and all his siblings. Every single one is successful. Apart from his younger sister, but then Harper is still only that, young. I was only just figuring out life at her age.
Gabriel leads me back through the main deck and onto the upper deck, which holds a seating area and bar. One of the crew is waiting to serve us drinks.
“Follow me,” Gabriel says, taking his drink and walking out of the side door.
I follow as we walk to the front of the boat. A hot tub bubbles away on the deck, and a large seating area stretches out behind it.
“They’ve thought of everything,” I say, following Gabriel.
The area is dark. We are above the other boats around us, so the area is private. The light from the pool and the moon the only thing lighting our way. The gentle beat of music and laughter from a nearby yacht is the only other sound.
We take a seat. I drop my head back and close my eyes, allowing the warmth and scent of the salty sea air to invade my senses, disperse the stress of the past few months.
When I finally open my eyes, Gabriel’s eyes are fixed on me. His expression is contemplative.
I smile. “This is amazing. Thank you.”
“You need to stop thanking me,” he says.
“Easier said than done when you keep doing lovely things for me. My mum and dad raised me to be grateful.”
The light from the pool lights up his smile. “My parents were the same. We were never allowed to take anything for granted. Things had to be worked for. I won’t want it any other way for any child we have.”
“I’m glad,” I tell him honestly.
“It will happen,” Gabriel says, as if reading my mind. “And if it doesn’t happen naturally, we can look at other methods.”
My gaze clashes with his. “Why?”
He gives me his lip-twitching smile. That tells me he thinks I’m being na?ve.
“Because I can’t imagine having a child with anyone else.”
His honesty shocks me.
“But?”
“There are no buts. You get me. You ask no more of me than I can give. You’re honest. All this,” Gabriel’s hand waves at our surroundings. “You’re eager and impressed, but you’ll still cook me dinner when we get home, even though you know I can hire a chef to do it for you. ”
“But where’s the fun in that?” I ask. “I grew up cooking in the kitchen with my mum. It’s how I learned.”
“Exactly, and that’s what I want for any child I bring into this world. Normality. Love, despite my wealth.”
I’m finally beginning to understand Gabriel. For all his wealth, he strives for a normal life. He still wears the same watch his mother and father gave him for his twenty-first birthday.
“I want that too,” I tell Gabriel, my heartbeat picks up as I stare at him. If we have a son, will he pass it to our child when he reaches twenty-one?
When did I start to see him as a man and father? Not just my boss and sperm donor?
We spend the rest of the evening chatting on the deck. Caleb and his friends are still out partying, but I’m struggling to keep my eyes open.
“Are you ready to call it a night?” Gabriel asks.
“Most definitely,” I reply, taking the hand he holds out.
He leads me back to the gorgeous room that is ours for the weekend.
“You can use the bathroom first,” he says, moving over to the sofa and picking up his phone. “Take your time.”
“Thanks,” I say.
I make my way through the doors and close them. The opulence of the bathroom once again steals my breath. This really is a total luxury.
I grab my lounge pants and t-shirt from the wardrobe and remove my makeup. I turn on the shower jets and strip off my clothes before stepping into the spray. The water is powerful, massaging my skin. I groan into the spray as the grime of the day washes away.
I grab the scented shower gel and pour some into my hand. I recognise the scent Gabriel uses. I hold my hand under my nose, absorbing the smell. My body tingles as I think of the purpose of the weekend. Tomorrow is my ovulation date. My core clenches at the thought of what’s to come.
I wash my now sensitive body, my nipples pebble. I’m not surprised to find my clit swollen and needy when my hand finally drops lower. I rinse off. No time for that. Gabriel is waiting to use the bathroom.
I switch off the jets and climb out. After, drying myself off, I pull on my night clothes. My toothbrush is next to one sink, so I brush my teeth and apply moisturiser before heading into the bedroom.
“All yours,” I say, making my way towards the bed. “Which side?”
“How was the shower?” Gabriel asks, looking up from his phone.
“Amazing. Just what I needed.”
“Great,” he says, disappearing into the bathroom.
“Okay then,” I say, staring at the bed. In my bedroom, he’d gone to the left of the bed. Therefore, I’ll take the right.
I pull back the covers and sink into the mattress.
What is it about this man and comfortable beds? Does he get them custom-designed for him?
It feels like my body is being hugged.
I hear the shower start and try hard not to think of Gabriel in the shower, his hand travelling over those hard muscles I’ve seen when we’ve gone swimming together, or his hand snaking down and touching his—I bite my lip. Hormones! Ovulation and Gabriel are turning me into a raging horn dog. I’ve never in my life felt so turned on, so desperate for sex.
I roll onto my side, feeling the dampness between my legs, and squeeze my thighs together, only releasing them when I hear Gabriel re-enter the room .
He clicks on the bedside light before switching off the main lights.
The bed dips as he gets in next to me. “Goodnight,” he says.
“Goodnight,” I whisper.
It’s going to be a long night.