Chapter 35
CHAPTER 35
GAbrIEL
A fter a lazy afternoon in bed and then by the small pool on deck, we take our time getting ready for dinner and a night at the casino. No one should visit Monaco without experiencing life at the Monte Carlo Casino, the home of several James Bond films.
Leah looks stunning, and I’m glad I had the foresight to get a few dresses delivered. I got her to try some others on, as I know she will need them going forward, especially once our relationship gets out. My mother’s upcoming birthday party being one such event. I have yet to ask Leah to accompany me, even though my mother invited her. She hadn’t been too keen on lying, but things have changed this weekend, so she may feel differently. Our relationship may not be conventional, but it is very satisfying sexually. This weekend could not have gone any better. I’m just cautious in case I do something to ruin it.
Dinner is spectacular, and Leah enjoys the blackjack table. We bump into a couple of clients who are determined to talk about work. I watch as Leah shifts their conversation effortlessly from business to their weekends, talking to our clients and partners. Her knowledge of each one is unbelievably detailed. So, this is what it’s like to work with someone and socialise with them. Usually, my partners are yawning or trying to capture my attention. Leah understands this is not something I can do when my business is built on offering my clients a personal service. That is what they expect, especially when they are paying the bills.
I’m enjoying my time with Leah, something that has never happened before. Usually, I find myself drawn back into work.
By the time we head back to the marina, it’s dark. Leah slips off her shoes and holds them in one hand, her other clasped in mine. Holding hands seems to have become a natural occurrence and I enjoy the physical contact.
When we reach the upper deck, I take Leah into my arms, dropping my lips to hers, our tongues dance, as she kisses me back at a leisurely pace.
“Wow,” a voice has us jumping apart. “You two are hot .”
“Caleb,” I say, rounding on my brother.
“Well, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. I was wondering if you two were playing us all.” Caleb’s eyes are twinkling with delight. I have positioned myself between him and Leah, knowing the interruption will embarrass her.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“I came back to get my stuff. I was downstairs when I saw you come up here and thought I’d say hi. Sorry to have interrupted.”
“Somehow, I doubt that.” I huff at my twin.
His expression is one of mischief and delight.
“Look, I’m happy for you both,” he says, shrugging. “Mum will be even happier when she finds out you’ve brought Leah here.”
I groan, and Leah rests a hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay,” she whispers, close to my ear. “The cat is out of the bag,” she says more loudly.
I lean behind me, wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her into my side, where she belongs.
Now, where were we?
Monaco seems like a distant memory. Our flight back to the UK was delayed, mainly due to my brother deciding to hitch a ride. My plans for our return flight and joining the mile-high club with Leah were scuppered.
I made the mistake of checking my inbox when we got home and spent the rest of the night answering emails. By the time I emerged from my home office, Leah had gone to bed. Her own. I didn’t think I’d miss her curled up next to me after only two nights, but I did.
Sitting at my desk, I can only think about how yesterday we were lounging in the sun on the open sea, swimming, enjoying each other’s bodies. Now we’re in the office, not touching, watching her walk around in her ultra-professional suits, hair scraped up in a chignon. All I want to do is pull out the clip, wrap her hair around my hand before pushing her down on my desk, and do exactly what was in her romance novel.
“Gabriel, darling.” I snap out of my daydream as my mother appears at my office door.
“Mum, what are you doing here?” I ask, jumping up and ushering her in, shutting the door firmly behind her.
“Can’t a mother come and visit her son?”
“You’ve managed not to for the past eight years,” I say, only to have her tut at me.
“That was because you told me not to and before you started dating Leah,” she says, taking an uninvited seat. “ Speaking of Leah, I heard you two had a lovely weekend in Monaco.”
I’m seriously going to kill Caleb when I see him.
I return to my desk, counting slowly to ten. “Mum, Leah and I have not gone public with our relationship. You can’t just swan in here. Leah is professional. I’m a professional.”
Mum just looks at me and gives me her gentle, understanding and totally condescending look. “So, like your father,” she sighs, making my heart clench. “He protected me in the office too. Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. I’m not going to say a word. I was popping by to see if Leah wanted to go for lunch.”
I sink back into my chair and stare at my mother. “Mum, don’t you think Leah leaving with you for a lunch date is going to raise a few questions?”
My mum wrinkles her nose. “You may be right. However, I wanted to see if Leah could assist with the Frazer Foundation. She is, after all, a first-class communications officer.”
I groan and run a hand down my face. “Leah works for me, mother.”
“I know, dear. But she might be interested. She is, after all, practically family.”
“Mum, we’ve only been dating a couple of months,” I say, my eyes wide. Mother is taking my relationship to a whole new level. I need to get rid of her before she does or says something else. “Why don’t you join us for dinner tonight,” I say.
“Wonderful,” she says, clapping her hands. “What time?”
I knock on Leah’s office door.
“Hey.” She looks up and smiles. “Was that your mother I just saw? ”
“It was,” I say, my tone making her laugh. “She wanted to invite you to lunch.”
Her eyes widen and flick to the door. “It’s okay. I invited her over for dinner tonight instead.”
“Oh, okay,” Leah looks surprised.
“I know I told you I hardly saw my family.”
I sigh, sinking down into the chair opposite her desk.
I look up to find Leah biting her lip, trying not to laugh.
“Come on,” she says. “Your mum is lovely.”
“Except when she’s sticking her nose in. She’s practically got us married off. She wants you to help her with the Frazer Foundation.”
When I look up again, Leah has gone sheet white.
“Hey.” I lean forward and take her hand. “It’s okay. We can say you’re too busy in the office.”
“It’s not that,” she says, pulling her hand back and shooting a look out the door, checking. “I hate lying. You know that.”
I sit back and run a hand down my face.
“I like your mum, Gabriel. I hate lying to her.”
“We’re not lying, not entirely. We are in a relationship. I don’t think after this weekend, we can really call our relationship fake. ”
“Maybe not, but it’s not heading where she wants it to go. You just said it yourself. She practically has us married off.”
“Maybe not the best turn of phrase for me to have used,” I say, wanting to kick myself. I was hoping Leah would see the funny side of my mother having us married off. “As for the Frazer Foundation. That’s up to you. I wanted to warn you.” I get up, not sure what else to say. “She’ll be with us at seven.”
I leave Leah sitting there. Our relationship isn’t conventional, but it isn’t fake . Her screaming my name as she came violently around my cock was not fake . Her curled up next to me in bed, and holding my hand as we walked through the streets of Monaco. None of that was fake , or at least it hadn’t appeared to be.
By the time I walk in the front door, my cock is rock solid, and I can’t wait to slide into Leah’s welcoming depths and show her how un-fake our relationship has become. Instead, I’m greeted by my mother and fake girlfriend chatting over wine in the kitchen.
“Darling.” My mother grabs me and pulls me in for a floral hug.
“Mother,” I say, hugging her back.
She pulls back and grips my forearms, looking up at me, her eyes twinkling with excitement.
“Leah has agreed to help with the Frazer Foundation. She’s going to help Kat and me with my birthday weekend event. Isn’t that marvellous?”
My eyes lock with Leah’s over my mother’s shoulder, and I’m surprised to see her smiling. Not what I was expecting. I know how hard my mother is to turn down when she wants something. Never one to take no for an answer.
“Before you say anything,” mum adds. “I know where your mind has gone. I haven’t browbeaten her into anything.”
“I never thought you would,” I say drily, as Leah laughs.
I find myself smiling in response, and before long, we eat and laugh together. The stress of earlier forgotten.
“Come with me,” I say, holding out my hand after my mother has left. A warmth settles in my stomach as Leah wraps her fingers around mine. I’ve missed touching her today.
She gazes at me, searching for answers.
“It’s a surprise,” I say, causing her to smile. I’m getting used to Leah’s smile, especially when it’s directed at me, and I find I want to see more of it.
I lead her to my man cave, and we stand outside the door.
“Close your eyes.”
“I’m trusting you. Don’t you dare let me walk into anything,” she chuckles.
“As if, Ms Walker. I’m incredibly trustworthy.” I like Leah’s teasing. She makes me want to join in—let go. “Now close your eyes.”
I place my hand over her eyes, just in case.
“On,” I say to the lights, withdrawing my hand.
After I finished my emails, I’d been too wired to sleep. Leah was tired after the weekend and fell straight into bed. So, I spent the rest of the night building. Pen had come through, delivering everything I needed.
Leah blinks in the light, her jaw dropping as she takes in the setup in front of her. “Oh, my,” she says, walking up and running a hand over the chair. “This is?—”
“You’re own gaming centre,” I say. “I’ve created an identical gaming platform to my own. No more saying I have an unfair advantage.”
“This is... I don’t know what to say.” She looks at me, her eyes glistening. “Does this mean I get to kick your butt while we’re in the same room?”
“You can try,” I reply, pulling her into my arms, and dropping a kiss on her nose. “I’ve never had someone to share this part of my life with, apart from those online,” I say, wanting Leah to understand the affect she is having on me.
“I get it. None of the girls play. Stella and Nat—they don’t understand the draw.”
“Do you want to give it a go?” I ask, knowing I shouldn’t push. “It’s okay, it’s late, and we have work tomorrow.”
“Are you kidding me? You’ve just shown me a gamer’s dream setup, and you expect me to sleep?” Her excitement astounds me. It’s as if I bought her her own yacht. I don’t think I’ve ever come across someone like Leah before. Someone who gets so much pleasure from the little things in life. “Then again, maybe we can find something else to help us sleep... later.”
She gives me a cheeky wink, and blood rushes south.
“Unfair,” I say as she smirks at me.
“I’ve whooped your butt before. I’ll do it again. Only this time you can blame your dick on your poor performance.” Leah grins.
“I didn’t hear you complaining about my poor performance over the weekend,” I say, getting drawn into the teasing.
“That’s because you were on your game. Let’s see how good you are with a controller in your hand.”
“What does the winner get?” I ask, my competitive streak coming out.
“How about the winner can decide, providing the other person is onboard?”
Blood flow increases further. At this rate, I’m going to be at a disadvantage for sure.
“You’re on.”
We play for the next couple of hours. As I feared, Leah’s strategic play is almost as good as mine. We’ve both reached the same level and are competing to get to the end. This game is Pen’s pride and joy. It’s also the market leader and she refuses to let me know how to win, telling me I must figure it out myself. Everyone in the chat rooms is going nuts. No one has cracked the ultimate levels.
“Wow, that was amazing. Gabriel, I can’t believe you have that done for me,” she says, coming up to stand next to my chair.
“We may need to rename the man cave,” I say, smiling. “I can see you being in there as much as me. ”
Leah links her arm through mine and rests her head on my arm.
“Thank you. I don’t think anyone has given me such a thoughtful gift.”
“You’re welcome. But I think, Ms Walker, you need to go to bed. It’s been a busy weekend, and it’s now two in the morning.”
“Really? But I feel so?—”
A large yawn escapes, and I raise an eyebrow.
“You were saying?”
“Okay, maybe I am a little tired. I’ll say goodnight. Thank you, Gabriel. For everything.”
We stop at the top of the stairs. Leah goes up on her tiptoes and presses a kiss to my lips.
“Night,” she says, her voice husky.
“Good night, Leah.” I stand and watch her enter her bedroom and my stomach drops.
I get washed up and climb into my bed.
It feels wrong after having Leah curled into my side for the weekend.
A knock sounds on the door.
“Come in,” I say, leaning back against the headboard.
“Hi,” Leah stands in the doorway, biting her lip.
I throw back the edge of the duvet and pat the bed next to me. She doesn’t need a second invitation. Moving across the floor, wearing simple sleep shorts and a cami, she climbs in next to me.
I pull her towards me. “Miss me?”
She smiles and straddles my lap, her hands resting on my shoulders, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.
My hand curls up into her hair, and I draw her mouth down to mine. We kiss, but it’s not the desperation of the weekend. This is soft and slow, an exploration.
Leah rocks on my cock, her movements slow yet needy .
I lift us both, kicking off my bottoms before removing hers. I let my hand slide between us, but Leah bats it away, instead gripping me in her hand. She positions the head of my cock at her dripping entrance, coating me with her desire, before pressing down, her body stretching and enveloping me in its warm, tight sheath as I sink into her depths.
We moan into each other’s mouths as I deepen our kiss. Our tongues tangle as Leah rides me, soft and slow.
My hands move to her hips, my fingers sinking into her flesh, holding her as she rocks me deep into her body. Her head drops back as my cock presses against her most sensitive spot.
I move forward, drawing her nipple into my mouth, nipping and sucking. She grabs at my hair, her hands clasping the back of my head, pulling me closer. She grinds her clit onto my pubic bone, and I feel the telltale buildup of pressure at the base of my shaft. Leah groans, her body clasping around mine. I flip us both, settling myself between her thighs, wrapping her legs around my hips as she continues to milk me. I thrust deeper, adding pressure to her clit, to draw out her orgasm before finally letting go and emptying myself into her body. My muscles lock and shake as I explode deep into her core. I shudder as my cock jerks, coating her insides with my cum. I press my head into her neck, breathing in her scent.
Leah lets out a satisfied moan, and I smile before dropping a kiss to where her shoulder and neck meet.
I withdraw smoothly before rolling onto my back and pulling her into my chest. Dropping another kiss onto her temple.
“Sleep,” I murmur as I’m drawn into a blissful slumber.