Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Alba had expected to feel out of place given the fact that she was in a new environment with Ellie and having dinner with new people, but as she sat across from Emma and Vanessa with a cocktail in hand, she realised she didn’t.
Yes, they were all work colleagues, but that was where it had ended for Alba until this evening.
Even if she had felt out of place, Ellie was beside her, and that was all she needed in life to know that she was truly happy.
“You’ve settled in quicker than most,” Vanessa said as she lifted her glass. “Park Haven can be a lot at first.”
Alba smiled, glancing in Ellie’s direction before turning her attention back to Vanessa. “That’s one way of putting it.”
Emma laughed under her breath and leaned back in her chair. “That’s a very polite way of putting it.”
Vanessa shot her a look. “Emma.”
“I’m just saying…it’s not exactly the easiest place to walk into.”
Alba sipped her drink and set it down. She didn’t know how long Emma had been at the school, but it was nice to know Alba wasn’t the only one who hadn’t felt overly welcome in the beginning.
Okay, unwelcome was a little bit of a stretch, but when you had Susan and Jeanette down your ear every day, it could quickly start to feel that way.
“At first it wasn’t, but it’s different now. ”
Vanessa’s brow lifted. “Different how?”
“Maybe not different, but…easier once I’d found my feet.”
Emma leaned forward and braced her elbows on the table, her interest clearly piqued. “You mean, once you figured out who to avoid?”
Alba exhaled a deep breath. She didn’t want anyone to think she was badmouthing any of the staff, it wasn’t like that, but some people did make it painfully hard to feel a part of the team. “Something like that.”
“Ah,” Emma nodded knowingly. “Let me guess. Susan?”
Alba cleared her throat. “And Jeanette.”
“Of course.” Vanessa threw up her hands. “Why am I not surprised?”
“They’ve always had a tendency to…” Emma paused and wrinkled her nose. “Insert themselves where they’re not needed. Which, to be fair, is most places.”
“Mm. So I’ve noticed.” Alba cast her gaze to her lap when Ellie’s hand brushed against her thigh beneath the table.
She knew what it was. It was a silent check-in.
Alba glanced at her, offering a small ‘I’m okay’ smile.
While Ellie seemed to accept that, she didn’t pull her hand away.
Alba settled her own over it and sighed.
“They’ve eased off…or at the very least they’re trying to. ”
Vanessa’s lips curved. “I imagine Ellie had something to do with that.”
“Oh, stop.” Ellie rolled her eyes as she reached for her drink. “I simply reminded them of their job descriptions.”
Emma snorted. “I’d have loved to have heard that conversation.”
“I’m sure you would.” Vanessa nudged Emma. “We all know you’re partial to a bit of drama when it doesn’t involve you.”
Alba watched the exchange between Vanessa, Emma, and Ellie as one or two inside jokes were thrown back and forth across the table.
She loved seeing this side of Ellie. Of course she loved the composed and controlled headmistress, but this version?
Relaxed, engaged, and a part of something… Yeah, she adored this. It suited her.
“We’re just happy they’ve decided to keep their opinions to themselves.” Ellie squeezed Alba’s hand that had somehow found its way to hers from her thigh. “Right, baby?”
“Absolutely. It makes life easier, that’s for sure.”
“Well, Emma and I are very happy you decided to join us at Park Haven.” Vanessa winked. “And I’m sure Ellie is equally as delighted.”
Alba nodded, sipping her drink as the conversation shifted and moved between topics. It was easy and comfortable, and Alba found herself relaxing into it more than she’d expected.
Ellie shifted beside her after a while, her hand brushing against Alba’s thigh again before she pushed her chair back. “Excuse me. I won’t be a moment.”
Alba watched her go, her gaze following Ellie across the restaurant. The way her dress moved as she walked and how she carried herself outside of work and amongst friends. God, her confidence was just so effortless.
Alba dragged her gaze back to the table, forcing herself to focus on the conversation still happening in front of her.
“…you’ve definitely had an impact,” Vanessa was saying, though there was something knowing in her expression now. “On more than just the staff dynamic.”
Emma smirked. “My wife is as subtle as ever.”
Alba raised a brow, but she didn’t rise to it. She took another sip of her drink instead, letting the moment pass. And then she realised she would much rather be where Ellie was and decided to excuse herself from the table, too.
“I’m just going to—” she gestured in the direction of the bathroom. “Back in a second.”
Emma grinned. “Of course you will.”
Vanessa shot Alba another look, though there was amusement there this time.
She ignored them both, pushing her chair back and standing as she smoothed down her dress and made her way across the restaurant.
The bathroom door swung closed behind her seconds later, muting the noise from outside instantly.
Ellie was at the sink fixing her makeup, so Alba paused and took her in.
“Couldn’t stay away?” Ellie asked as she caught her eye in the mirror.
Alba stepped closer and smiled, placing her hand on the small of Ellie’s back. “Not really.”
Ellie turned and faced her fully, her eyes darkening as the air between them became taut with everything they craved. Which, lately, was an endless supply of one another’s time and attention.
Alba pressed Ellie back against the sink and stepped between her legs. “You look ridiculously good tonight.”
Ellie gripped Alba’s hip and drew her in a little more, her eyes now fixed on Alba’s cleavage. “Is that so?”
“Mm.” Alba took her bottom lip between her teeth when Ellie’s gaze swept up and down her. She always found herself unable to look away in situations like this. Ellie’s confidence, inside and outside the bedroom, made her feel a certain type of way.
“You remember at the spa when I caught you staring?”
“I would never.” Alba placed a hand to her chest and gasped.
“You’re doing it again. You know…the not staring thing?”
Alba drew a fingertip up Ellie’s throat, smiling when she visibly swallowed, and her eyes closed.
“Can you blame me? You’re so fucking gorgeous, Ellie.
” Alba lowered her gaze and took in the line of Ellie’s dress.
“And I can’t wait to take this off you later.
” She brought her other hand to Ellie’s thigh, inconspicuously dipping it beneath the hem of Ellie’s dress and grazing her fingers a little higher.
“Knowing how good you look out of it…I’m not sure I can wait until we get home. ”
Ellie inhaled a deep breath when Alba brushed the back of her hand over her underwear. “A-Alba.”
“Yes?” Alba cocked her head. “Problem?”
“Don’t you dare start something we cannot possibly finish.” Ellie’s lips parted, and a moan slipped out when Alba repeated the movement. “O-oh, fuck.”
Alba slowly pushed Ellie’s underwear to one side and eased two fingers through her wetness.
She watched on with delight as Ellie closed her eyes and arched her back, aching to sink inside her right here, right now.
But she was just warming up for the rest of the night, so she withdrew her hand and stepped away, slipping her fingers into her mouth. “We should head back to the table.”
“Y-yes.” Ellie cleared her throat, her legs unsteady as she pushed off the sink. “Good idea.”
After they’d washed their hands and checked they were presentable in the mirror, Alba strode towards the door, stopping and glancing back at Ellie. “Just make sure you keep yourself nice and wet for me until we get back later.”
Ellie pinched the bridge of her nose and braced one hand against the sink. “Get out. Now.”
By the time they’d reached Alba’s place, Ellie was barely holding it together.
It wasn’t visible to anyone else, she didn’t think Vanessa and Emma had noticed, but inside…
the heat was becoming so unbearable that she felt as though she was shaking.
As she stepped through Alba’s door, she somehow remained in control of herself while Alba shrugged off her coat and Colin bounded towards them.
To be honest, the entire journey home had been torture.
Alba’s hand had rested high up on her thigh in the taxi, those slow, absent strokes of her thumb working her up with each street they passed.
It had all started in the bathroom, and it hadn’t slowed at all since they’d stepped back out into the restaurant to find Emma and Vanessa watching them intently.
Now, Ellie needed Alba. She didn’t want her, she didn’t crave a little more…she needed her. All of her, everywhere.
Aware that she needed to focus for a few minutes, Ellie bent to greet Colin, smiling as he pressed himself to her legs. “Hello, gorgeous boy.”
“Oh! You’re back!”
Ellie froze. She’d completely forgotten that Tess would still be here.
She quickly cleared her throat, forced her face into something neutral, and turned to face Tess. “Hi. Thanks for sitting with Colin.”
“Oh, it’s no problem at all.” Tess beamed a smile. “I was just saying to him that he’s been a little angel tonight, haven’t you, Colly?”
Alba slid her heels off and placed them to the side of the stairs. “Of course he has. He knows he doesn’t get a special treat if he misbehaves.”
Ellie hovered behind her, her awareness of Alba now entirely unmanageable. She could still feel her from the bathroom earlier, the image of Alba licking Ellie from her fingers still firmly at the front of her mind…
And Tess was still talking.
“I made sure he had his dinner on time, and I let him out just before you got back,” she continued, completely oblivious to the fire now raging throughout Ellie. “Oh! And I moved that plant by the door because he kept knocking it over.”