Chapter 30
Elena
“I am so not ready for tonight.” Nicole says and flops her body on the couch in the living room. Her groans are quiet over the noise of the blender but still loud enough for Charles, who is in the garden to shout at her to keep it shut. After the evening ended at eleven in the evening, we had to drag Nicole to the limo back because she had too much to drink.
One thing is certain, we have got to hide those flasks from her. Even if she promised to be at her best behaviour and she kept that promise while people were there, she was a mess after they all left and she cried and yapped about something we didn’t understand because it was so out of context.
About some guy, one night stand and blah blah blahhhh. It was a lot to remember and too late to remember it too.
“You’re going to be okay.” Gabriel tells her. He pours the green looking smoothie into a glass and hands her a green drink. “Drink up.”
“Why are you giving me vomit to drink?” Her face turns into disgust as she stabs the thick liquid with the straw.
“Just drink it.” He rolls his eyes at his sister. She mocks him behind his back when he turns back around to clean the blender.
“It does look like vomit though.” I comment. A look of disgust camouflages my expression when I see Nicole almost gag as she takes a sip of the drink.
“Doesn’t matter if it will cleanse her stomach and get the whiskey out she drank in bulk last night.”
“I only had my flask.” Nicole tells him.
Gabriel raises his eyebrow at her, not believing the words coming from her mouth. “And two champagne glasses.”
Gabriel raises his eyebrow higher and leans against the kitchen counter with his hands. His look perfectly describes the phrase ‘I beg to differ.’
Nicole groans. “Fine, bottles.”
I widened my eyebrows in shock. “Two bottles of champagne?” I shout out in surprise.
She scrunches her nose. “I think I may have over done it last night.”
“You think?” I ask her again, my voice pitching high.
She shrugs her shoulders.
Oh, dear lord.
“Your sister is crazy.” I turn around with the stool, facing Gabriel again, my back to Nicole.
“I know.” Gabriel says, leaning his upper body against the counter on his elbows.
“Thank you!” Nicole shouts from the couch.
I look over my shoulder to her, a smile in my face at her unhinged behind. “That was not a compliment.”
“I will still take it as one.”
I roll my eyes at her this time.
Gabriel scoffs. Even if he tries to stay serious, the small smile gives him away. “What do you want for breakfast?”
“Are you going to cook for me?”
He nods.
“Anything will do.”
“Do you like avocados?”
I nod.
“Uhh make her your famous avocado toast.” Nicole chimes in.
“Famous?” I tease.
“Apparently. Want to try?”
“Lay it out for me, chef.” I tease again with a huge grin on my lips.
She shakes his head. “You are impossible.”
“I don’t think so.” I shake my head at him. ??
***
“He was flirting!”
“Charles if you say that one more time, I will flip your little stool and you will fall into the pool.” I angrily tell him, who has been annoying me the whole day about how Gabriel was flirting with me. I don’t think he was but he says that Gabriel was.
“I would love to see you try.” He crosses his legs and his arms, leaning deeper in the garden seat.
“Don’t tempt me.”
“I’m not. But you are blushing at the fact that Gabriel was indeed flirting.”
Charles yelps when Nicole up to him from behind and flicks his head with her whole hand. “Auuuu, what the fuck.”
“Stop teasing.”
“I am just telling the truth.”
“A false truth.” I comment.
We spent the whole day by the pool, taking in the Italian summer sun. Can say that my skin is burning from sitting in the flaming hot sun for the last two hours with occasional pool breaks.
I have to leave now anyway soon. It is nearly five and I still need to shower and get the tanning oil off my body or else I will look like a glazed doughnut.
Gabriel has been away all day, doing whatever business he has to. Mio and Marjorie spend their day inside. Mio kept complaining how her skin is too sensitive to the sun. Why come in the first place if your skin is sensitive at the hottest time of the year?
I exhale as I push my sunglasses up the bridge of my nose. “I am done for today. I’ll go get ready.”
“Already?” Nicole looks at the imaginary clock in her wrist.
“Yeah.” I prove my point when her eyes widen when she gasps as Charles shows her the time on his phone.
“I told you to remind me when the time strikes half past four, you idiot.” She curses at him, hits him again at the side of his head. She runs to get her towel and sprints into the house and is gone up the stairs in a matter of seconds.
“What is up with her hitting me today?” He complains in a high-pitched voice.
I smile. “You deserve it.”
He gives me an angry last look, takes the sunglasses down from his head to his nose. “Have fun flirting with Gabriel.”
My smile falls and I keep my promise that I made. I walk up to him, grip his stool and with a hard but fast move, the water of the pool splashes everywhere.
I dust off the imaginary dust of my hand and take my towel.
“Was that necessary?” He chokes on the water.
I hum. “Yes.”
***
When I was a little girl, maybe eight or nine, I used to go to my mother’s closet while she was cooking and steal her expensive jewellery. I always told her I wanted to look as pretty as her. When I was wearing her jewels I did feel pretty.
I suppose from that age I knew that fashion is my thing.
But art happened before that. In art class I always was the first there and always was too scared to miss days of school where art was on the timetable.
I knew I wanted to take a career path towards art and the history of it.
Sacrifices had to be made.
I am not mad. I love being able to spoil my parents now and then and being able to buy them things they gave up to be able to buy me stuff that I wanted.
Since I started working a barista job when I started college I started saving money. Enough to be able to afford Scuderia Aravis garage passes for my parents. A whole weekend, not just Sunday.
While my dorm friends went partying, I was at the coffee shop making pennies and pennies to afford the apartment and have food to eat.
I never liked bothering my parents with money, another reason I started the job.
I hate being in debt. The reason I am never behind in rent or bills or never borrow money.
I am enjoying the fact that Gabriel loves to give me stuff but it still hits me like a gunshot in the stomach with guilt. If I ever had to repay Gabriel for all the stuff he bought me, I would be in dept forever.
Even if I try, Gabriel is making it impossible to say no. I do not even have a chance to say no before he comes with something to console me on why he got me what he got me.
“Need some help with the dress?”
I look up in the huge full body length mirror, Gabriel stands behind me at the door frame. His arms crossed over his chest while he leaned against the door frame.
“If you don’t mind.” I say in a low tone. I wasn’t trying to sound shy but my hormones are acting up again seeing him in his black tuxedo. How it moulds his muscular posture.
Gabriel has a slutty fucking waist.
Don’t get me started on his hands because those are magic. Wide palms with long fingers, long enough to reach the g- point and make you feel like he is reaching inside your stomach.
My imagination is going way out of its reach.
“I don’t.” He says in a clipped voice and walks up behind me. I stop breathing for a long moment, his proximity having the biggest effect on me. I was never nervous when it came to guys helping me try on dresses. I suppose I am used to it because Zanders always helps me.
I wrap one arm around the front of the dress to hold it. Shivers run along my back as his finger grazes along my skin. The touch of his cold ring cools down the hot spots that heat up due to hot fingers. His finger trails down my spine and stops at the end at my hips.
The dress did have a zipper at the side of it but also strands at the back.
Slowly one by one he pulls the strands at the back of it, working his way up as he tightens them, not too hard as they are supposed to be wide knotted to make the dress sort of backless.
My breath hits each pull of the strands and my back grazes over his front because I have no sense of balance within my power at the moment.
It is not the kind of corset that is like metal hard but the soft one that only has the metal pieces at the side, to keep the dress tight.
For some reason he wanted me to wear a white dress and he is paying for it so it was the least I could do. Other than the fact that this dress is also the only one that caught my eyes.
It’s a white sleeveless dress that reaches to my ankles in waves from the waist and hugs my torso. The straps on my shoulders baring half my back and a hint of my breasts. We cannot forget the YSL heels that will kill my feet.
They were already so uncomfortable when I tried them on but beauty is pain I suppose.
When he finishes the ties in my back, I can finally relax and breathe some air that I have been holding back.
With wandering eyes and a curious mind, I look up, Gabriel staring me dead in the eye. Yet his reflection on the mirror is not a neutral one that I am used to seeing on Gabriel. It is a calm one.
Soft even.
The intensity of his stare builds up the knot in my stomach. My hands fall down my side, and I am not quite sure what to do with them. I might have some ideas but those inappropriate thoughts have to leave or I will go insane.
All this time I have been trying to ignore the flaming tension between us since the night at the club. Maybe I just need a night of awesome sex to get rid of frustrating feelings.
Never mind. Would be too risky.
Maybe not, all this time I have been waiting for Gabriel to make the first move, but what if he is not because he does not want to overstep my boundaries?
My eyes fall from his and the tie hangs in his neck that he can’t tie for no apparent reason. I turn around, my stomach clenches in anticipation. “Still haven’t learned how to tie your tie?”
He shakes his head lightly; his intense stare makes my body go rigid. My bare nipples underneath the tight dress tighten as if my body is already in-flight mode to jump on his bone.
Lust, you coward traitor.
“You have to learn it one of these days. How else will you survive your wedding day?” I nervously laugh. I reach behind his neck and straighten up the collar of the shirt and run my hands down along the black tie. My hands shake as I fold one side of the tie over the other and through the loop I left. “Your bride can’t do it because of bad luck if you see her before the ceremony.”
“Fuck luck. You will do it.” He says in a soft but yet hard tone that sends shock waves to my core.
My smile falls at his words. What?
My hands fall but still hold on to the tie. With my mouth gaped open, I bat my eyelashes at him.
“What?” I stutter.
“You heard me.”
“I think I might have misheard you.”
He shakes his head.
The tie comes undone as I let go, my effort of tying it going to nothing. “I will not marry you.” I scoff in disbelief, making my point. Again.
He can’t say stuff like that, give me hope and just go out with me in a fake relationship.
His eyes grow dark and the mischievous smile on his face grows. He tilts his head slightly.
He takes a step closer.
I do not move as if my feet are glued to the floor.
My heart aches from how fast it is racing and skipping beats at the same time as if I am having a panic attack. I bite the inside of my cheek, afraid.
Afraid that I actually believe him.
A shaky breath skates past my lips as he runs his thumb along my glossed bottom lip.
I feel utterly exposed under his intense , dark stare. He smears my gloss down the corner of my lip and I should be mad that he is destroying my makeup, but all I am is turned on by his touch.
He runs his thumb down my chin and his finger curls around my throat like a tight necklace.
I wrap my mind around his wrists and my head spins when he squeezes my throat with his thick long fingers.
Wetness pools between my thighs, the need for him raging through my body like wildfire. Bad decisions to wear my hair down. Sweat beads gather at my neck, wetting my hair. The efforts of styling my hair to my roots are going to waste.
“You mean to tell me if I didn’t pin you against the mirror and reached between your legs, I wouldn’t find you dripping for me.” He grunts out, stepping closer and closing the gap between us.
Oh shit, he is finally making the move.
I gasp when I feel his hand on my thigh on the open slit of the dress. I place my hand in his chest, taking in the strong and spicy cologne smell he has. “Gabriel.” His name slips from my lips in an unwanted whisper and I keep my gaze down to refrain myself from answering his question.
“Fuck.”
I meet Gabriel’s eyes, and my breath catches. I sputter when his hand in my thigh moves higher up and I shift to move away from his hot touch but his nails dig into my flesh to hold me still.
His eyes glisten with nothing but hunger, lust, and impatience. I suck in a breath, swallowing the dryness in my throat.
“What are you doing?” I choke out to my fake fiancé.
“You didn’t answer my question.” He growls.
My eyes flutter and I try to remember what his question was. I shake my head.
“I thought you didn’t like liars but are one yourself, Elena.” He calls me by my name in a grave tone. My eyes focus on his lips and the way his tongue traces his bottom lip.
I shake my head again.
“Words, baby. I need words.”
“I-”
“You can mess with me. You can ignore me. You can do whatever the fuck it is you want to do but just get me out of my misery while you do it, sweetheart.” He pleads, I think.
My brain can’t comprehend anything that has happened. What it does catch is how his hand is now on my inner thigh and my legs have parted on their own accord. I shudder when his finger grazes over my wet underwear.
“What misery?” I ask.
“A misery is a lot of things when it comes to you but the worst is resisting you for another second because I cannot go around acting as if I don’t want you.” His voice is above a whisper as he confesses what has been on his mind. Every syllable sends a cold air on my skin and goosebumps spread all over me. I have never felt more betrayed by my body except when I am under his touch.
I am melting like a puddle under his touch. He hooks his finger on my underwear and runs it along the thin band of the thong, brushing over my pussy.
“Gabriel, stop.” I let go of his wrist and catch the other from torturing me even more. “We can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I- You are my boss. I am your assistant. We said this arrangement was business. This isn’t business.”
“Fuck the agreement. I don’t want to live another second as your fake fiancé. I want to be able to kiss you when I want, I want to be able to call you mine without it being an empty promise.”
My heart flutters at his affection. I stare intensely into his eyes, words stuck on my throat and I cannot get them out for the life of me. “Gabriel.” I get to say before a powerful knock stops me from saying more.
“Come one, Elena. We are leaving!” A feminine voice calls out, most likely being Nicole who was forced to come and get us.
Gabriel ignored his sister's voice and continued his sensual touching on my inner thigh before I stopped him. I gasp as he stops his teasing and his hand is in my underwear. His finger runs along my wet folds and my eyes roll at the back of my head. I place my hands on his shoulder to stable myself from falling.
“Tell her we will be down in a moment.” He whispers near my ear. I glare at him and his stupid order but I am a traitor to my own body and obey to his command, my nails dig into his perfectly steamed tuxedo as I shout.
“In a moment!”
“Don’t take too long or Gabriel will complain that we are late!” Nicole shouts back. She isn't here. With me. His finger closer to my wet pussy while he has me pinned against the mirror.
I wouldn’t be so sure about how Gabriel will be mad. He seems… calm.
The clicking of her heels get quieter as she walks away and I can breathe a little better without her hanging by my head.
“Good girl.” He praises and I am pretty sure I got even wetter by it. He smirks and runs his slick finger along my folds, wetting his fingers with my arousal.
“You are cruel.” I say through gritted teeth as he keeps teasing me, inserting the tip of his fingers inside me before he pulls back.
“And yet you are dripping all over my hand.” He places his thumb on my clit while he slips a finger into me. I shudder and moan at the feeling of his thick finger inside me.
“Doesn’t mean anything. You are still cruel.”
He ignores my comment and slides in with a second finger, filling me. Stretching me. He strikes my clit as he pumps his fingers inside me and curls them inside me until he hits my most sensitive spot, making me tremble.
“I’m sorry, you were saying, sweetheart?” He raises an eyebrow at me. This is the worst time for this man for sass me.
He withdraws his finger from me before he slams them back in.
I buck against his hand; his digits dig dipper and an unintentionally loud moan escape my lips. Sweat beads gather on my forehead, my feet are trembling and the knot in my stomach tightens.
“Right there.” I pant.
He pushes his fingers deeper. “Right here?”
I nod. “Fuck yes.” I curse. His rhythm stays slow but hard and his fingers hit my G-spot repeatedly, turning me into a moaning mess. I feel my arousal leak and travel down my inner thigh.
Gabriel groans. “You take my fingers so well, sweetheart.”
I am standing my tiptoes as he wrenches his finger in and out of my slick pussy, the sound of my arousal as he pumps inside of me and moans coat the air. “I’m going to come.” My eyes roll at the back of my head as he comes to an abrupt halt, his hand deep inside.
He tilts his head slightly. “Are you?”
“Yes, yes. Pleaseeee, make me come.”
“Oh sweetheart.” He begins with a throat deep chuckle and pulls out of me, leaving me empty and unsatisfied. I gasp when he starts to walk away.
He shrugs his shoulders and shows me the time on his watch. “Look at the time. Put your heels on and meet me downstairs.”
I gasp in disbelief at his words and he actually walks away with a smirk, licking his fingers.
What. A. Coward. Action.
He stops by the door and turns back around. “And Elena.” He calls out my name in a calm tone as if he didn’t just practically leave me unsatisfied.
“What?” Angrily I ask him, holding myself by the door handles of the closet.
“Clean up the mess. I would hate for another guy to see you like that .”