“Ride it out
, Kitten. I want you to come for me. Hard.”
“Will you come too?” She didn’t know where the question came from, but he growled huskily.
“I’m there, Kitten. I’m just waiting for you.” Reassured, she picked up the pace and came hard just seconds later, crying out his name. For a few minutes they didn’t say anything, just regaining their balance and their breath. Gabriel spoke first. “I miss you.”
“I miss you too.” She replied, a little dazed. “This is crazy
, Gabriel. How do you do this to me? I feel like I hardly know you, but your voice is enough to send me over the edge.”
“We were made for each other.”
He didn’t even have to think about it. “You do the same to me.”
“It’s only been a month. I can’t believe I’m even considering moving in.” She shuffled her shoulders up the bed so she was propped upright against the headboard. “How can you have changed me like this?”
“I haven’t changed you, Kitten. I just woke you up from a deep sleep. You were my sleeping beauty.”
“I can’t...I don’t...” She gave up. “I need to go clean up and finish my dinner.”
“Okay Kitten.” He sounded tired. “I can’t wait to see you.”
“Get something to eat. And don’t sit up all night writing music again.” She knew she sounded bossy
, but she was uncomfortable.
“Yes ma’am, no ma’am.” He chuckl
ed and she relaxed. “Goodnight Kitten.”
“Night Gabriel.”
She waited for him to end the call first and then laughed when the line stayed open. “Okay, I’m hanging up now.” She rolled across the bed and her finger hovered over the red button.
“Bye.” He sounded lost
, but she steeled herself. This was supposed to be her time away alone and instead she’d spent the night on the phone to him, getting hot and heavy.
“Bye.” She pressed the button and relaxed on the bed. She needed to eat, but first...first she was going to
lie and bask in the bliss a little longer.
Neither of them
were particularly surprised when he couldn’t bring himself to wait until six and arrived at her house at four instead. Laughingly, she parked him on the sofa with a cup of tea while she finished up putting stuff away for an extended absence. If she wasn’t coming back for a while, she needed work clothes and her satchel with her books and other teaching paraphernalia in it. She had to clear the cupboards and check all the windows. She was almost regretting saying she’d stay with him by the time she finally got into the shower just after 5 o’clock, but then he joined her and she was giggling too much to fret.
Needless to say
, they were late for dinner at a small French restaurant on the outskirts of the city, but Gabriel knew the owner so no-one batted an eyelid. They ate a leisurely meal and then headed back out of town around nine.
“This isn’t right.” Gabriel grinned ruefully as they made their way up into the h
ills. “I haven’t seen you for forty-eight hours. I should be in the backseat making you regret leaving me, not driving.”
“I can’t say I’m devastated.” She grinned across at him. “Besides, I like this car.” She smoothed a hand along the door. “It’s so beautiful.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her and she laughed. “I didn’t leave you, Gabriel. I just needed some space. We can’t be joined at the hip all the time. You’ll drive me crazy.”
“I’ll drive you crazy?” He didn’t seem offended, just amused.
“It’s an expression, Gabriel. I don’t really think you’d drive me crazy. It’s a distinct possibility that I’d end up as a depraved nympho, but whether that’s a mental illness or not is entirely open to debate.”
“A depraved
nympho?” He was so busy laughing, he almost forgot to watch the road. “It might be all kinds of wrong, Kitten, but I’d really like to see that...”
***
Over the next week they settled into an easy routine. Gabriel was less controlling outside the play room and, as a result, Noelle’s wicked sense of humour became more and more obvious. She didn’t think she’d laughed so much for years. When the time came for her to return to school, she was sorely tempted to give in when he begged her to stay in bed with him and resign. It was too early to get up and brave the cold drive down into the city.
She finally dragged herself out of bed and dressed while he put the coffee on and heated up pancakes. “Doesn’t this feel so horribly domestic?” She
mocked, hopping up onto the stool by the breakfast bar.
“I wouldn’t call it horrible.” He grinned back. “When I pick you up I’m going to ask you how your day was. It’s the way of things when two people live together.”
“We don’t live together.” She reminded him. “I’m having an extended stay. And why are you picking me up? I thought I was driving?”
“I have some things to do in the city this afternoon.” He set her plate in front of her. “I thought I’d have the driver take me down and I can drive you back from the school.”
“Fine by me.” She shook her head. “I’m going to get such a grilling in the staff room today.”
“What are you going to tell them?” He came round behind her and slid his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
“Absolutely nothing.” She pressed her cheek to his briefly. “It’s none of their business.”
“Are you going to lie
, Miss Winters?” He asked sternly and she giggled.
“No. I won’t say we’re not together
, but I’m not going to tell them anything about you.”
“Aren’t they going to wonder how you came to be driving to school in a really expensive car?”
She stilled. “Which car did you insure me on?”
“The Aston.”
He kissed her neck. “It’s your favourite.”
“Oh man...” She sighed. “What if I crash it?”
“I’ll just buy a new one. No big deal. I’d rather you didn’t though. I don’t think I’d cope if you got hurt.”
“I’ll drive carefully.” She promised, choosing not to point out that she hadn’t been behind the wheel of a car for almost a year. Scooping up the last mouthful of pancake, she swallowed it and checked her watch. “Damn, I’m going to be late. I’d better go.”
“Find your shoes. I’ll get your coat.” He released her and went to the rack, digging out her favourite jacket. “Are you sure you have to go?” He asked one last time, helping her into it, and she groaned.
“Don’t make this harder than it already is.” Rising up on tiptoes
, she kissed him and then danced out of reach of his hands. “Where’s the car?”
“At the front of the garage.
Keys are on the front seat. I’ll get the door for you.”
“Okay. See you later.” With one last smile, she blew him a kiss and rushed out the door.
Her morning went well. She’d missed the teacher training day and got thrown in the deep end with a new year of pupils. It seemed like every year they got bigger and had more
attitude. By lunchtime she was in sore need of some relaxation. Avoiding the staff room, she grabbed her bag and walked along the road to the cafe where she’d met Gabriel all those weeks ago.
“Noelle!” The barista beamed at her when she walked in. “Where have you been
, lady? We were starting to worry!”
“School holidays.”
She reminded him. “It’s good to see you, Sean. How have things been?”
“Busy.” Without asking
, he set about making her favourite coffee and rang up her usual salad on the till. “You usually come in during the holidays. Did you go somewhere?” She tried to hide her smile, but didn’t quite succeed. “Oh my god! You met someone!” Sean’s eyes widened and he gestured someone else over to deal with the rest of the queue. “Who is he?”
“You remember the guy that threw my coffee all over me last term?” She blushed. “It was the start of a beautiful friendship.”
“Maybe I should try that.” Sean mused teasingly. “Next time I see a girl I like, I’ll throw a cup of coffee at her since it so obviously worked for you.”
“You still haven’t met anyone?” She asked sympathetically and he winked.
“You know I’m holding out for you, Noelle.” He drew a smiling face on her cup. “One day you’ll come to your senses and realise you love me.”
“One day...” Giggling, she handed over her money and took her tray, waving away the change. “Keep it. You can use it to buy the coffee of love.” Still laughing, she moved to her usual table in the corner and settled in to eat. She’d been in such a rush that morning she’d forgotten to put a book in her bag
, so she pulled her phone out instead. There were three messages from Gabriel. The first was from moments after she’d stepped out of the door that morning, telling her he missed her. The second was about mid-morning, to say she had to give up work because he was pining away all alone in the house. The third was just before lunch, asking if she wanted to go to the play room later. They hadn’t been in there for a few days and she shook her head, amused. It hadn’t taken him long to give up on his ‘no sex on a school night’ rule. Replying to all three at once, she told him she’d missed him too, that she wasn’t giving up work and that she’d cook an early dinner so they could go to the play room later.
She was just putting it down when it rang and Gabriel’s name flashed up on the display. Smiling, she answered it.
“Hey you.”
“Hey you.”
He sounded like he was smiling back. “How was your morning?”
“Manic. Sorry I didn’t reply to your texts earlier – I just saw them.”
“It’s okay.” He said easily. “Are you on your lunch break?”
“Yeah, I’m in the cafe where we met.”
“I wish I was there.” He said softly and she toyed with her food.
“Maybe you could meet me here for lunch one day.” She suggested and he agreed immediately.
“I have to be in the studio tomorrow. The band are coming up to lay down some tracks. What about Wednesday?”
“Wednesday it is.” She sipped her coffee, giving up on the salad for the
time being. “How long are the band staying tomorrow? Do you want me to cook dinner for everyone?”
“I want you to myself.” He growled and she burst out laughing.
“Don’t be so antisocial. You’re not giving up on buddy time because of me. That’s not how it works. Ask them if they want to stay and I’ll do dinner.”
“Fine.”
She heard him strum a chord. He must have been in the studio when she returned his message. “Are you eating?”
“Yes.” She picked up her fork again and poked her salad.
“I’m not hearing you eating.”
“That’s because I’m talking.” She shook her head. “You don’t want to listen to me chewing.”
“In my defence, that sounded slightly less weird in my head.” He burst out laughing and she snorted with amusement.
“I should go. I don’t have long to eat and walk back.”
“Okay. Won’t be long before I come down. I’ll see you in a few hours. Oh, and Kitten?”
“Yes?”
“I’m looking forward to the play room later.” A shiver ran down her spine and she ruthlessly squashed it. She didn’t need to spend the afternoon wondering what he was going to do to her. It was hard enough to concentrate as it was.
“Sure thing.”
She said blithely. “You bring the music, I’ll bring the naked.” A woman on the next table choked on her coffee and Noelle went bright red, realising how loud she’d said it. That was embarrassing.
“What else will you bring?” Even through the phone his voice was seductive, curling tendrils of desire through every nerve in her body.
“Well I tell you what, you bring the toys and I’ll bring a healthy sense of self-preservation.” She tried to say it quietly, but all the tables around her were listening now and there was a chorus of sniggers. “I’ll see you in a few hours.” Ducking her head, she hung up. The phone rang again almost immediately, but she dismissed the call and set it to silent, slipping it into her pocket so she could eat in peace. It was bad enough everyone hearing her the first time without making it worse. Somehow, though, she knew she’d pay for it later.
When the end of school arrived, she found him leaned up against the car looking all feline and dangerous. It was snowing and the flakes were settling gently on his eye lashes. It was a ridiculously cute look, but he wasn’t happy.
“You hung up on me!” He protested when she approached.
“My day was great, thanks honey.” She replied sarcastically. “How was yours?”
“It was fine until my woman cut me off at the knees.” He pulled her to him and kissed her thoroughly. “I’ll take it out of your hide later.”
“I know.” She said resignedly. “You always do.”
“Come on. The sooner we go home, the sooner we can get warm.” He settled her in the passenger side and then walked round to the driver’s side.
“Excuse me!” A young mother was coming at them from across the car park. Gabriel glanced up and frowned.
“Yes?”
“It’s you isn’t it?” She gushed, her eyes wide. “Gabriel Hallow? You wrote The Hanging Tree?” She squealed. “My husband is a big fan. We attended a seminar you presented last year. What are you doing here?”