Ten
Leonie
The jets of water from the shower felt sublime. I turned the heating up, loving that feeling as the liquid pelted my body like hundreds of tiny needles. I used Gabriel’s shower wash which was lime-scented and reminded me of him.
After climbing out, I ran my palm over the steam coating the mirror only to meet my reflection. My face was bright pink, and my eyes looked considerably bright under the circumstances. I eyed my reflection, wondering if Gabriel thought me beautiful, a random thought I know.
As I towel dried my hair, I spied a large grey fluffy robe on the back of the door, and I unhooked it and slid my arms into the sleeves. Dragging it around my frame, I took in Gabriel’s scent on the lapels as I tied the belt around my waist.
I then bent down and gathered my dance clothing and underwear which I had washed in the shower and hung it on the heated towel rail.
I then pulled the door of the bathroom open and walked back into the bedroom to join Gabriel.
He had just placed his phone on the bedside table before turning to face me with a smile already set on his dark features. As he saw me, our eyes locked and his smile dropped, as he saw what I was wearing.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I said. He had a strange look in his eye, and I wasn’t sure how he was going to respond. He’d been so sweet to me lately but that darkness that surrounded him was still there. If I got out of line, it would swoop over and get me, I was sure.
“You look better in it than I do.” His voice was thick, and his gaze became hooded as he moved closer toward me.
I dropped my arms from the death grip I had on the belt and tilted my chin.
“Do you want to go to bed now?” Gabriel said and a whoosh of heat ran through me.
“With you?” I asked, almost tripping over my tongue.
He grinned and arched an eyebrow. “That isn’t what I meant, Leonie.”
“Yes, it is. I can see it in your face.”
“That may be the case, but it isn’t happening. You aren’t ready for anything like that with me, especially not after today.” The playful expression had vanished, and his serious face had reappeared.
“Are you still not allowing me to think for myself Mr Control Freak?”
A zoo of butterflies kicked off in my tummy at how gutsy I was being. Provoking the beast.
“If I did, what would you do, what would you say?” he rasped.
A silence stretched between us and the tension in the room was heightened.
“I’d say that I want to sleep with you.” There, I had said it. I was being honest and taking control and actually, it felt good. I had survived some shit in my life and today had just added to my list. I needed to break out of my safe mould, somewhere I had buried myself after I buried my parents.
I took another step forward so we both stood close, Gabriel’s back was to the large bed which loomed there like an X-marks-the-spot.
“So, you want to sleep in my bed, is that what you’re saying? You need to think carefully about what it is you are asking Leonie because there will be no going back.”
“Yes, I want to sleep in that bed with you, and…” my voice bled off as Gabriel moved into my personal space, pushing his lower body against me. I felt he was hard against my stomach, and it made me catch my breath.
“And?” he questioned in a thick tone fuelled by desire.
Knowing we hadn’t even touched, and he was already hard as steel for me gave me extra courage and I lifted my hand and touched him through his jeans. He felt huge down there. His mouth opened and his breath caught as I slid my fingers gently against him. Gabriel’s eyes closed as he released a sigh of pleasure and my nipples tightened against his robe. I was fully naked and so accessible, and he would know that. One tug of that belt and I was his.
His fingers curled around my wrist, stopping me from tracing the length of him and he raised my hand to his mouth and kissed my palm.
“You still haven’t answered me Leonie and I’m not a patient man,” I felt the thread of authority in those words in my sex and moisture pooled between my thighs. It appeared the bossy side turned me on and the submissive in me screamed her surrender.
“And,” I repeated slowly, looking him in the eye so he would know this was what I wanted, had probably wanted all along.
“And I want you to fuck me,” I replied. I didn’t even flinch when I swore, the bad girl in me beat her chest.
And then he moved. Gabriel grabbed my arms and spun me around to switch our places, so the bed was behind me. One push and I would fall back onto the mattress and be totally at his mercy. But he didn’t push, he released my arms, watching me all the time as his hands went to the belt of his robe.
Undoing it slowly just added fuel to the fire of my anticipation and my entire body was screaming for release.
Slowly dropping the belt, Gabriel pulled the robe open, his eyes feasting on my naked flesh.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he whispered in a deep sombre.
I felt no embarrassment or shame. I wanted him to look at me, see the real me. The one who had been hiding.
My breasts were small yet pert and I was unshaven but tidy, the paleness of my hair was the same between my legs and as Gabriel ran his eyes over that area, I parted them slightly.
A thrill zipped through me as I watched Gabriel swallow, his face was full of lustful intentions and my skin prickled as he raised his hands and pushed his robe off my shoulders. It fell at the bottom of the bed in a puddle.
Taking a step back, Gabriel tugged his jumper off over his head revealing his perfect chest, all honed with muscle. The biceps on his arms flexed. I loved the slight smattering of hair against his chest. It tickled my breasts as he moved closer, curling his hands over my jaw and lifting my neck slightly for his kiss.
My eyes fluttered closed as his mouth came down on mine. It wasn’t gentle, it was firm and demanding and I raised my arms and wrapped them around his neck.
My pulse took off as Gabriel plunged his tongue into my mouth, drinking from my lips, feeding. I opened for him, allowing him to go deep.
My breasts were crushed against his chest and the friction made my core hot and damp.
I released a moan of pleasure into his mouth and the kiss became more savage, almost feral.
As he pulled back, I sighed against the loss of his mouth but with a gentle push, I fell back onto the bed, my eyes now level with his crotch. The bulge there was huge.
Gabriel stared down at me with a hooded expression and started to undo his jeans.
“Are you protected, Leonie?” he questioned.
I had been on the pill to attempt to regulate my periods for the last two years. As an athlete, my monthly cycle used to be all over the place so I nodded.
“Good, because I need to fuck you raw,” he growled. His dirty words worked like a match to petrol and I wanted him to say more filthy things.
Pushing back up the bed on my elbows I lay there on the mattress like a naked sacrifice as I watched him push his jeans down his corded thighs. He wore black boxers which were tented from his huge erection and my breath hitched as he removed them slowly, like my own personal striptease.
As his cock sprung free, I took in Gabriel’s size. It was long and thick and jutted up towards his belly button, the strong V muscle of his abdomen pointing towards it like an arrow.
Would that even fit inside me? I felt a beat of nervousness but swallowed it down.
Gabriel fisted himself and stroked his cock back and forth a couple of times which created a bead of moisture on the tip. He then released himself and placed one knee at the bottom of the bed.
“Open your legs, Leonie, I want to see you.”
I shyly did as he asked and he watched the movement with his desire-crazed features. I was unsure at that point what he would do, was he just going to lean over me and do it or something else? I was a virgin but I knew some stuff.
“I need to taste you,” Gabriel said as he lowered his head.
My pulse twitched. “I assume you’ve done this before,” I said nervously.
He grinned up at me. “I’m twenty-four Leonie. I hope you weren’t under the impression that I was saving myself for marriage?”
His reply gave me some relief. Yes, I didn’t want to think about his past lovers, but a girl wanted a man who knew what he was doing.
And then my temperature peaked as he lowered his dark head between my thighs and drew his tongue across my core.
“Oh my.”
My legs parted further, giving him more access as I pushed my hips up towards his mouth. Gabriel knew exactly what to do and where he wanted to taste me.
Raising a hand to the back of his head, I stroked the strands, encouraging more as he gave me my first introduction to oral sex.
“Yes, please,” I panted, which made him more demanding with his mouth. He licked through my folds before raising his hands. Gabriel pushed one leg even further open so I was fully exposed and with the other he thumbed my clit, rubbing it in circles which made me moan more and my legs turned to jelly.
Gabriel then slid a finger inside me, lifting his head to say, “You’re so tight, so fucking tight. Do you like me eating your pussy?”
“Yes, fuck yes,” I sighed.
As he continued to play with me, moving his finger in and out, mirroring the main sexual act I gasped as he sunk another finger inside.
I gripped his hair, my body fizzing with a sexual high as that feeling pulsating through my pelvis started to build. It grew in strength, doubling the pleasure each time like a drum beat that started quietly only to become deafening. I needed to find that release and fast as the pressure between my thighs became almost painful and after another swell of pleasure, I saw stars as my orgasm jack-knifed through my body.
I was sure I’d screamed out as I’d heard it but hadn’t felt it leave my lips. I was panting heavily, my entire frame shaking as Gabriel lifted his head with a sated smile. “You cum so prettily.”
“That was amazing,” I ejected in a shaking voice.
“It isn’t over yet,” Gabriel assured me and he started to climb up my body. His knees were on either side of me and he grabbed me under my arms and moved me further up the bed so my head was on the pillows.
Gabriel then placed one hand by my head and the other lifted to one breast. He took it into his palm and squeezed, the motion generated another dart of pleasure to my already satisfied sex.
He thumbed my nipple, rolling it between his fingers before lowering his head and taking it into his mouth. His tongue played with me and it felt amazing. The pleasure I had felt before starting to build again.
Gabriel then kissed me, it was a drugging kiss and I could taste myself against his mouth, the sweet moisture of my climax.
My body felt like it was floating and I closed my eyes briefly as Gabriel’s hand fell between my legs again.
“You’re more than ready for me, kitten.”
Opening my eyes, I watched as Gabriel moved one leg so he could push my thigh past it and then did the same with the other side so he was now in between my open legs.
Gabriel paused and looked at me. “Leonie, you need to tell me truthfully. Have you done this before?”
His question and the way he said it made me feel a twinge of shame. Would he not want me if he knew I was a virgin?
“Er, yes,” I lied. My answer seemed to anger him.
“Don’t ever lie to me, Leonie.”
I swallowed, a wave of embarrassment stinging my cheeks, I now felt exposed and not in a good way. Moving to close my legs, Gabriel stopped me, his hands firm on my thighs.
“Just answer the question kitten, I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, his face softening as he spoke. He must have realised he’d spooked me with his question.
“No. I’m a virgin,” I confessed.
Gabriel closed his eyes and I silently prayed that he wouldn’t stop.
“Are we stopping?” I said in a sad little voice.
“Stopping? Fuck no. Wild horses couldn’t stop me now. I just needed to check. I’ll be as gentle as I can, but you’re so small.”
I took a deep breath. I could do this. It was the most natural thing in the world.
Pursing my lips, I shot Gabriel a reassuring look to say I was ready.
Smiling dreamily, I revelled in the soft kisses Gabriel started to place around my navel and then he slowly positioned himself over me.
I felt the soft tip of his cock probing my entrance and I was on fire for him. Gabriel was propping himself up on one strong veiny arm and using his hand to guide himself into me.
That sensation of being well and truly filled started to pound within my lower body as he pushed his strong hard rod into my pussy.
“You really are tight, but you feel so fucking good wrapped around my cock,” Gabriel breathed. The level of concentration on his face was strong and then he surged forward and I felt a twinge of pain.
Relief that it was only slight allowed me to relax my muscles more and he must have felt it. “That’s it, baby, relax for me, don’t tense up.”
“That—you feel amazing,” I sighed, cherishing the feeling. He was my first. I had given him my virginity and I was happy it was him.
“I’m only halfway, sweetheart, we’ve got a way to go yet.”
Shit. Only halfway and it already felt so full and heavy. What if I couldn’t take him?
“Leonie, please just relax, kitten. I’ll make it good, I promise,” he said in a coaxing voice, his eyes taking in my expression which was a cocktail of sexual bliss and fear.
“Are you ready?” he whispered, lowering his torso over mine and I nodded.
Gabriel then trapped my cry of pain inside his mouth, his lips on mine as he simultaneously thrust inside me, staking his claim.
My gasp was swallowed and he stopped, just holding himself there, waiting until my muscles stretched to his size.
He lifted his head slightly and kissed away one of my tears which had escaped.
“Are you OK? I’m sorry I hurt you. I won’t ever hurt you again.”
And then he started to move.
The feeling was euphoric, unlike anything I had ever experienced. As Gabriel withdrew and created the perfect rhythm, I rose to meet him, our two bodies crashing together, the scent of sex all around us.
I cried out a few times as he pushed me closer towards that edge like I was his instrument and he knew exactly how to play me.
As I rolled my hips, Gabriel fisted a chunk of my hair, “Fuck yes, God,” he choked out, his eyes closing as he kissed my nipples and my neck. One hand was on my hip at one point, holding me so tightly I knew I’d bruise and he rammed into me, his strokes becoming longer, deeper and so much harder. His hips jerked against me with a dominant resonance, causing the bed to bang against the wall but I didn’t care, it felt so good, and I never wanted him to stop.
“I want you to cum on my cock,” he boomed and it almost pushed me over the edge. The need to cum was like a kind of torture as he slammed into me, our bodies moving in unison.
“You’re mine now, all fucking mine,” he stated, stamping his possession, but I wanted to be owned. I was almost too delirious to hear those words and then I was coming apart all over him.
The sensations in my body mounted and magnified and I hit that peak, crashing over the edge of a second climax that exploded through my entire body. My stomach tensed and my fingers curled into the sheet. I couldn’t scream as that pleasure gripped me by the throat.
“That’s it, baby, let go,” he rasped, his tone low with lust.
Gabriel then went over the edge and followed me, his orgasm ripping through his frame, the muscles of his arm flexing as he drove into me one last time with a growl. His cum pumped into my body, the proof of his release coating my insides before he lowered his torso onto mine. He too was shaking and I wrapped my arms around his face and pulled his mouth to mine.
We kissed for a while whilst he was still inside me and after one last peck on my nose, he rolled to the side and onto his back.
My body was tingling all over and I turned onto my side and placed my head against his chest.
Once we both had our breath back, Gabriel pushed off the bed in silence and padded naked into his bathroom. He then returned with a warm washcloth.
He carefully parted my thighs and cleaned me. He was so attentive and careful. After he was satisfied with his task, he placed the cloth back in the bathroom and told me to get under the sheets.
They felt cool against my hot skin and I moved to lay on my side feeling special, sated, and safe. The bed dipped as Gabriel climbed under the sheets to join me, wrapping his hand around my hip, and pulling me back against him in a spoon position.
“How do you feel?” he whispered against my ear. “Are you sore?”
“A little,” I replied with a slight yawn.
“As I said, it won’t hurt next time.”
“There’s going to be a next time?” I said with a smile, turning my head to look back at him.
His grin was wolfish. “Fuck yeah.”
Gabriel Knight then made love to me for a second time that night but he was much more careful. He knew I was tender down there and he was so loving and attentive, whispering things in my ear as he made me cum for a third time.
He then rocked me in his arms and even though it could only have been early evening, we slept all night.
Gabe
I opened my eyes to sunlight streaming in from my undrawn curtained window. Fuck me, I’d slept like a fucking baby, straight through. I’d only intended an hour or so and would have left Leonie to sleep whilst I caught up on some emails but, no. I blamed the woman beside me. She was snoring ever so quietly like a little kitten’s sore. Fucking adorable.
Last night I had the best sex of my life. Incredible. And to say Leonie was inexperienced, her response had been fucking thrilling. I hadn’t intended to go near her a second time so soon, she’d been so tight and I’d been rough at times, unhinged but she’d handled me. What can I say, the girl turned me on so much that I’d fucking lost my shit; lost control and that had never happened with any other woman.
I’d swallowed her gasp of pain as I’d entered her fully, but she’d taken every inch as my cock had throbbed inside her. I’m a big fucker, what can I say?
Her pussy had felt so fucking good wrapped around me, and the fact that I was the only man to have been there made me want to beat my chest like Tarzan. Mine. I knew I’d branded her. My finger and bite marks were now on her skin and the brute in me roared.
The way she bit her lip and looked up at me with those vulnerable eyes as we fucked almost made me lose it too soon and usually, I could go all night. My dick had had the best workout in for fucking ever but I knew it wasn’t enough, it would probably never be enough with her. I was now addicted and as I thought about all the ways I wanted to take her and my cock started to swell against the sheets. The urge to be inside her again was beyond desperate and the fucked-up things I wanted to do with her spurned me on. I wasn’t a vanilla dude by a long shot but I needed to take my time with her, ease her in gently so as not to scare her. No, that wouldn’t do at all, she was way too fragile for that.
Suddenly, my sleeping kitten woke with a jump as Asher started banging on my door. Fuck, that wasn’t good. The A-hole used to walk straight into my room, that is until the last time when he caught me in bed with Shelly Sterling and her twin sister Martha.
“What?” I shouted, motioning for Leonie to keep quiet with a finger to my lips.
“Power’s back on,” he began in a chirpy voice. “Can I come in?”
“Err, that would be a no. Fuck off,” I shouted with a roll of my eyes. My brother had the power to make me as mad as shit, especially when he interrupted my sex life.
Leonie stifled a giggle and I raised my eyebrows and tugged the sheet up over her head in a playful gesture. After a minute of keeping her there, she shuffled out and punched me lightly on the chest. Leonie had such little fists and an image of her hand wrapped around my cock almost made me groan.
I planted a kiss on her nose, “Good morning princess,” and she lifted her head, her face all dreamy and romantic-like. “You look thoroughly fucked, kitten,” I said on purpose, attempting to burst her loved-up expression. She rolled her eyes at my crudeness but she’d get used to it. As I said before, I’m not the type to dish out flowery shit.
Asher banged on the door again. “I need to talk to you.”
“So, talk, you don’t need to be in my room to do that.”
“Leonie isn’t in and I don’t think she slept in her bed last night and I’m worried.”
Releasing a sigh, I brush a hand through my hair. “She’s a big girl. I’m sure she can look after herself,” I pointed out. Leonie was still looking at me like we were sharing a secret and of course, we were.
“I can’t talk to you through the door, I’m coming in.” The handle rattled.
“I’m not alone,” I belted. The little prick just couldn’t take a hint.
“Well, what are we going to do about, Leonie? What if that bastard took her?” Asher huffed. He was like a dog with a bone.
“Believe me, he didn’t. I know exactly where she is,” I said, take a fucking hint you little twit.
“Oh? Where?”
My brother could be dumb as shit at times. “Put it this way, I know where she is and I’m not alone.”
Silence.
Then came the nervous fucking cough. You asked for it.
“Oh. I see. Fucking hell Gabe. Right, err. I’ll see you guys later.”
And with that, the little shit pissed off and I wished Leonie an even better good morning with my dick.
As I introduced her to a slightly different position, I realised I was lost. In the short time I had known her, even though she probably didn’t realise it, Leonie Smith was forcing me to fall for her.
Leonie
The week had raced by, I hadn’t seen much of Gabriel as he had started work at a new law firm and I had loads of rehearsals.
It was the evening of the Charity Ball. I had been looking forward to the night all week as I had the chance to go out with Gabriel in public. Not that I minded being in the bedroom with him.
As I walked across the polished marble lobby, my heels clicked against the floor, the sound in line with the beat of my heart. Adrenalin pumped through my body, but it felt good. My fingers were curled around Gabriel’s strong arm and I felt like a Queen being escorted to her coronation.
My mouth had watered as I’d left my bedroom and saw him in the black tuxedo. He had a body that was built to take away your ability to speak. Flashbacks to the night he had taken my virginity constantly swirled around my head.
I was so happy and tonight I felt beautiful. There was only one word to describe how Gabriel had watched me as I’d glided towards him at the apartment; hungry. His eyes had devoured me, drank in every part of my body where the dress he bought me hugged my skin. I had never felt so confident and he was a big part of the reason for that feeling.
We’d spent most of the day in bed, Gabriel had shown me how to take him into my mouth and I had loved how much pleasure I had given him.
As well as sexual enjoyment, we had connected in other ways. We spoke about my parents and I had shared more details about their deaths than I had with anyone else. Gabriel was so understanding, dragging me into his arms at one point and saying how sorry he was.
Sometime after lunch, I was allowed to leave his bed and I slipped out of his room and had a bath, thoroughly looking forward to the Charity Ball.
I’d bumped into Asher on my way out of the bathroom who explained that Gabriel had said I was his plus one to the party and that he didn’t have to go. He also used the words, “So you and Gabriel are fucking now?” I’d cringed at that one but he’d been cool about it. “Can’t say I’m surprised,” he’d said. “It was definitely on the cards. I remember him warning all his friends off you.”
I’d thought of those words as I’d started to pretty myself before my mirror. My eyes were drawn to the red dress he had bought me. Was that all we were? Fucking? The thought made me a little sad but I would rather have that than nothing. It was like Gabriel had suddenly filled a void.
As we’d left the apartment, both dressed to the nines, Gabriel had behaved like such a gentleman, showering me with compliments before making a cheeky aside about how we didn’t have to go and that we could do other things. I needed no explanation as to the ‘other things’ as the way his eyes ate me up told me exactly what he’d had in mind.
I felt slightly nervous knowing that I would be meeting his parents. Gabriel had explained that his dad wasn’t well but hadn’t gone into huge detail. When he’d spoken of Garrett Knight he clammed up and so I knew he wasn’t ready to share more than he already had about that relationship. That was fine. I could wait.
“Are you ready?” Gabriel whispered against the shell of my ear as we came to the top of the grand sweeping staircase. The bannisters were covered in flowers and fairy lights and the music trickled through the glass double doors in front of us. They were both open and with a uniformed member of staff who held a clipboard.
“Leonie?” he repeated gently, stopping just outside the door, and turning me towards him. I looked up into his eyes, noting how his face softened as I took in his handsome features. His face was freshly shaven and smooth and I longed to run my fingers across his strong jaw.
“Yes. I’m ready,” I replied with a smile which he returned.
“You look beautiful. Just relax and be yourself,” he advised in a soft voice. I nodded my head in agreement. I was about to meet the mighty Garrett Knight and knew part of those nervous knots twisting in my belly was because of that.
Strong fingers slid around my waist and he turned us both in the direction of the main
ballroom. He was so in control; a proper alpha male and I loved it.
“Gabriel Knight and Leonie Smith,” Gabriel informed the lady who was holding the guest list.
It didn’t take her long to find us. “Good evening, Sir and Miss. Welcome to The Royal Horseguards. Drinks are being served in the Champagne Bar which is just on your
left. Have a good evening.”
People spoke to him with such respect and why wouldn’t they, he was a Knight. Gabriel was so charming as he thanked her and we walked into the room.
The main ballroom was huge with stunning chandeliers, mirrored walls, and oak panelling. There was a large dance floor in the middle where people stood with their drinks in hand, chatting and laughing. The music was coming from a harpist who was set up on the stage at one end of the room.
Surrounding the shiny dance floor, there were tables with white cloths, dressed for dinner and arranged with stunning floral designs. No expense spared I would have said.
“Do you want a drink?” Gabriel asked as we walked into the Champagne Bar. A server was standing by a circular table in the middle of the room which held bottles of fancy-looking fizz.
There was a bar to the right, with several members of bar staff waiting on customers.
The chatter and music entwined and I thanked Gabriel as he took two champagne flutes from the waitress and handed me one.
“What do you think?” he said with a sweep of his arm.
“It’s stunning. I’ve never been to anything this lavish before,” I said with a glance
around, taking in all the stunning dresses worn by the women and how crisp the men looked. I imagined there were some powerful people there. I took a sip of my drink, my eyes watching Gabriel over the rim of the glass. As a couple of people came behind us, we moved to the side to stand near a poser table.
I smiled up into Gabriel’s face. “If it makes you smile like that, you may have to accompany me to more of these things. I don’t usually enjoy them but…” his voice trailed off.
“But?” I prompted, placing my glass down.
“I’m enjoying being here with you.” His comment sent a shiver of pleasure to tiptoe up my spine, my lips widening further. “You are the most beautiful woman in the room. I may have to keep you by my side all night. I’ve already spotted several dogs panting in your direction and I don’t like it.” His possessive side made me hum.
It was at that moment that I wondered about asking him what we were doing. Was it just a sexual thing or did he see us as being in a relationship?
I changed my mind, if he hadn’t said the latter, I would have felt bad and I didn’t want anything to ruin my buzz.
“I see. So, you’re feeling territorial?” I said playfully with an arched brow.
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” Gabriel growled as he placed a firm hand on my jaw and bent down to kiss me. His lips were soft as they met mine, just a peck but even that surprised me as I didn’t see Gabriel as the type to show affection in public. My eyelids fluttered closed as I savoured the feel as he tasted me fleetingly with his tongue, gliding it across my bottom lip.
“For goodness sake, Gabriel put her down. There’s plenty of time for that later,” a female voice suddenly said from behind him. He pulled back and looked down into my face with an expression somewhere between mildly amused and annoyed that we’d been interrupted.
Before he turned, he said, “Mother.”
We both moved around to take in the owner of the voice—Gabriel’s mum.
“You look stunning, as always,” he crooned, taking a step forward and planting a kiss on her cheek.
“Leonie Smith, meet Athena Knight, my mother.”
She was exotically beautiful. Gabriel had definitely gotten his dark looks from her. I knew she was part Greek and you could see that stamped on every part of her.
Shaking my hand, she looked me up and down, but it wasn’t overly rude as the smile on her face was pleasant and reached her eyes. I was used to fake women who eyed me as the competition. Athena wasn’t one of those.
“Pleased to meet you little dove. I love your dress, it’s stunning,” she said.
“Likewise,” I replied feeling thoroughly unsophisticated.
Athena took a sip from her chute and ran her tongue over her lips, savouring the liquid as she looked down at me, she was so much taller than me in her heels.
“How is my son treating you?”
I glanced at Gabriel, heat flushed my cheeks and I pushed my tongue into gear. “Really, well thank you. He’s been an absolute gentleman,” I replied with a smile. This caused Gabriel to roll his shoulders and clear his throat.
“That doesn’t sound like my Gabriel, but I can see from the colour in your cheeks, that he isn’t a gentleman all the time. And what woman would want it any other way? There is nothing worse than manners in the bedroom.”
I wished the ground would swallow me whole as I glanced at Gabriel, it was a total duck out-of-water scenario. I’d never even had the birds and the bees talk with either set of parents.
Gabriel was unfazed, “Enough Mother. Ignore her Leonie. Athena has a strange obsession with my sex life for some reason.”
I almost choked on the mouthful of fizz I’d inhaled.
“Not at all. I just understand men too much but Gabriel is right, ignore my teasing, Leonie. You are quite lovely. I am surprised he lets you out in public. He’s very territorial about his things.”
Remaining quiet, I just smiled my understanding. So, I was one of his things in his mother’s eyes. Great.
“Where’s Garrett?” Gabriel said, taking a sip of champagne and changing the subject.
“Your father is up in our suite, resting. I heard he explained the circumstances of his condition to you. We are facing bleak times Gabriel.”
I didn’t know what to say, their relationship seemed odd to me. What mother would bring up their child’s bedroom antics, and in public? They appeared close but in a strange way that didn’t compute with me.
As they spoke about Gabriel’s father, I excused myself and went to find the ladies.
The bathroom was the size of the apartment: all shiny surfaces and glittering lights. There were sofas and a dressing room area with full-length mirrors and the towels were actual cotton, not paper.
I washed my hands and then dried them before reapplying my lipstick. We had only been there for a quarter of an hour and I already wanted to be back at the apartment and alone with Gabriel. I felt a bit of a wuss not staying to talk longer with his mother, but that was something I had a full evening to rectify.
As I was fluffing my hair, a small redhead came into the bathroom and met my gaze in the mirror. She shot me a half smile through the reflection of the glass as she came to stand beside me.
The girl was extremely pretty with subtle make-up that did not hide the smattering of freckles across her nose and her long ginger hair fell down her back in waves. She was poured into the black lace dress she was wearing and had on killer heels which made her legs look amazing. I so wished I could walk in heels that tall; I had a high instep as a dancer but had never been able to master high heels.
She wore something between a concentrated face and a scowl as she looked at herself in the mirror and her cheeks were blotchy, almost like she’d been crying.
As she started to apply concealer under her eyes her sniff gave her away. She was upset.
“Are you OK?” I asked. My girls ‘need to stick together mantra’ thumping inside me.
She dashed a hand across her nose and narrowed her eyes at me. Oh dear, I didn’t like that look.
“Do I know you?” she shot out sharply, looking at me like I’d murdered her entire family and eaten their remains.
I smiled, ignoring her tartness.
“No. I don’t think so. You just look upset and I wanted to check you’re OK.”
“I’m fine,” she sniffed again.
“Clearly not. If you want to slag some guy off, I’m all ears,” I offered, with a grin.
“And you’re clearly not from the city,” she snorted, opening her clutch, and replacing the concealer with lipstick.
“Am I that transparent?”
“No, you’re nice. No one from London is nice. It’s full of tossers and airheads.”
“OK, I see. And does your beef concern a tosser or an airhead?” I asked, turning towards her so she could vent if she wanted.
“Both,” she shot out moodily.
The girl then reapplied her lipstick and walked into one of the toilet stalls without a backward glance. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, rolled my eyes and took her comment as a compliment. I was nice, what was so wrong with that?
As I left the bathroom I bumped into what felt like a brick wall. Strong hands came out to steady me and I glanced up feeling flustered.
“Max?” I panted.
“Leonie? This is a surprise. Did Gabe bring you?” He looked mouth-watering in his black tuxedo, although one side of his face was bright red.
“Yes, what are you doing here? And why is your cheek red?”
My words made him touch his face and then wiggle his jaw from side to side. “I think she dislocated my fucking jaw.” He then glanced a look up and down the empty corridor, not giving me the chance to question who ‘she’ was. “I’m actually looking for my date. If you can call it that,” he muttered, his tone suggesting he was frustrated.
“Ah, OK. What does she look like?”
He held his hand up to show his date would be around my size and said, “Small, annoying, ginger hair, massive fucking chip on her shoulder.” I immediately knew who he was referring to.
I threw a look over my shoulder. “She’s in the bathroom.”
He released a puff of frustration and glanced up at the ceiling. “I expected as much. She thinks it’s the only place she can hide where I can’t find her. She’s wrong of course.”
My eyebrows rose as I made an internal assessment before recalling Max’s comments about a girl who was the thorn in his side.
“Ah, I see. Lady something or other.” That would explain the snootiness.
He lowered his eyes to mine. “Yep, Lady fucking Swift, that’s right. I told you about her. The girl who thinks her dick is bigger than mine?”
I put out a hand, “I’d keep your voice down, she could come out any minute. You don’t want to upset her any more than you already have,” I pointed out, smoothing my hair back. “There’s a reason storms are named after women you know.”
Max snorted, “Upset. Give me strength. The woman is unshakable.”
He was wrong of course, I had seen the telltale evidence of tears.
“I take it you had a fight and she hit you?”
“Gave me a right crack, when I was only being fucking honest.” He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms.
“Maybe honesty is not always the way to go where women are concerned. Let me guess, she asked you if her bum looked big and you said yes?” I grinned.
Max released a huff of air and closed his eyes, looking pained. “Don’t get me thinking about her bum, please. And anyway, Amber doesn’t ever get upset; mad and even yes, upset no.”
“Really? Well, maybe you don’t know her as much as you think. She was upset when I met her just now. What did you do?” I said lowering my voice in case she came out and heard us talking about her.
“I told her what she didn’t want to hear and she went off half-cocked. Upset my arse, as if,” he looked uncertain now and slightly worried.
“You’re wrong Max, she was clearly upset, although she tried to hide it.”
This caused his brow to thread, giving him a mean expression. “So, she was pissed off you mean?” he questioned, his voice leaving his mouth like gunfire.
“No, she’d been crying.” I wasn’t sure if I was breaking some type of girl code but I went with it anyway.
He shoved off the wall and lowered his arms, shooting a wary look behind me towards the bathroom with narrowed eyes.
“You saw actual tears?”
I pursed my lips and glanced behind me. Max was now looking truly concerned.
“Not exactly but I know when a girl’s been crying.”
The colour drained from his face and he moved around me, his entire body now tense. “Fuck this shit.”
I watched as the large, hulking thug of the man that was Max, shoved the lady”s toilet door open with a bang.
“You know that’s the ladies, right?” I yelled after him but he ignored me.
I released a puff of air. Drat. Had I put out a fire or started a much bigger one? I had no time to decide as an arm went around my shoulders and Gabriel drew me against his side.
“There you are. Everything OK?” he said, squinting to see where I was looking. “What’s up?”
I shook my head, deciding to leave the couple who were no doubt going for round two in the bathroom to it.
“Nothing. Max is here you know?”
“Yeah, I saw him earlier with Lady Swift but we didn’t get to talk. They were in the middle of something and I’m not one to get tangled in their bullshit. It’s been going on too long now.”
“Maybe there’s more to it, you know; love and hate and all that?”
“Who cares? Fuck em. Come on, let’s dance or at least sway,” Gabriel said with a grin. “I don’t usually dance. But for you…”
He placed his arm around my waist and led me away. I shot a glance at the bathroom but no one came out. I sure hoped she was OK in there. Max was a huge hulk of a guy and could be quite intimidating in the wrong situation.
As we entered the ballroom, I raised the niggling question, “I think Max and Lady Swift are in the bathroom. He went in there with all guns blazing. You don’t think he’ll do anything unacceptable?”
Gabriel chuckled. “Unacceptable is Max’s middle name. He won’t physically hurt her if that’s what you’re thinking unless she wants him to.”
“What do you mean?”
“Max has a kink but only when the victim is willing. She’ll be fine. Amber can look after herself.”
I filed away what I felt was too much information about Max and his sexual appetites and nodded, it was none of my business anyway.
Gabriel then swept me onto the dancefloor, we fit like a jigsaw puzzle and he nuzzled my neck, totally unaware that there were other bodies around us. His scent was extremely woodsy and my skin burned through the back of the dress where he touched me.
“Gabriel?” I whispered up at him whilst a slow song circled us. There were now several bodies on the dance floor.
“Hmm?” he said, drawing back and looking into my eyes.
“What are we doing?”
He smiled, “Dancing?” he replied like he was also questioning himself.
Our bodies swayed to the music, it felt so romantic.
“No, I mean. What are we doing? What’s going on with us?”
He drew back slightly. “I’m fucked if I know Leonie, but it feels good, doesn’t it?”
I nodded my head, “Yes, it does but…”
He placed a finger on my lips “No buts. Let’s not put a label on it. Just go with the flow. See where it goes.”
“OK, but I can call you my friend at least?”
Gabriel kissed my nose. “You can totally call me your friend Leonie.” And that was all I needed from him. Some type of validation.
And for now, having another friend would do.