First a Dream (Dreams Come True #1) (12 page)

The entire ride back, Isabella was consumed with conflicting emotions. On the one hand, she was overwhelmed by the desire she felt for this man. She longed to be with him, see if the man was anything like the myth she had created. At the same time, she worried over risking her heart. She felt more for him every day.

When they returned to the house, it was after nine at night. “Want to go for a swim?” Gabriel gestured to the pool they’d barely used. “Or maybe you’d rather lounge in the hot tub?”

Before Isabella could respond, the housekeeper rushed out the door. “Mr. Gabriel?  You have a call.”

Glancing at the time on his cell phone, he sighed. “I was afraid of this. The trouble of doing business over seas. It’s nearly lunchtime in Australia.” He planted a kiss on her lips. “Where shall I find you?”

“Hm. Upstairs. I’ll be working on uploading these images onto your laptop.” She yawned.

He disappeared into the house while Isabella took a few photos of the outside at night before following him in. The last thing she remembered was curling up with the laptop as she added the images to her DropBox.

***

When she woke the last day, she discovered Gabriel had undressed her, leaving only her panties, much like the night before. Her face flushed as she became aware of his hand cupping her breast while he spooned her. Shifting slightly, she found his erection nestled between her butt cheeks.

“Good morning.” Gabriel held her more tightly and pressed against her. “Last day here.”

“I know.” Isabella hugged him and pulled him nearer.

“Darling, I’m pretty sure there’s only one way for me to get closer to you.” He murmured against her shoulder while planting long lingering kisses on her skin.

“How’s that?” She glanced over her shoulder innocently.

Grazing her skin with his teeth, he growled under his breath. “You’re killing me. We should get up. Right now.” Gabriel threw the covers back and strode to the bathroom. He shut the door, then opened it a few inches. “I’m not locking you out. You can come in if you want.”

Sitting up in bed, Isabella considered for a moment. She loved the cuddles. She wanted more. There had to be a middle ground where they could be satisfied without quite going all the way yet. Slipping out of the bed, she walked to the bathroom still wearing nothing but her panties. He was already in the shower, the room steaming up nicely. After pausing to pee, she took off her panties and opened the glass door to join him.

“What are you doing?” He looked surprised to see her.

“Turn around. I’m going to scrub your back.” She reached for his shower gel while she waited.

When he finally had his back to her, she started rubbing the soap on his shoulders, then down his back, and finally over his buttocks. Isabella had never seen him naked before. Now, she was glad she’d chosen this pretense so she could run her hands all over him. Coming around the front, she continued to soap him up, starting with his chest.

“What are you doing?” This time his voice sounded strangled as she ran her hand lower on his abdomen.

“I told you. I’m scrubbing your back.”

He grinned then gestured with his thumb. “My back…is back there.”

“Shhh.” Isabella ignored him and squatted in front of him to soap up his muscular thighs. These were the legs she’d felt behind her every night, the hair tickling her skin. She was completely mesmerized. Finally, it was time to wash his cock. She looked up and realized he stood there, gazing down at her. “Breathe. This won’t hurt a bit.”

Pouring shower get into her hand, she carefully washed his shaft, which was standing at attention from her touch. She gently cupped his balls and washed there too. Finally, when he was sufficiently rinsed, she took him in her mouth.

Gabriel’s head flew back and he held a fist to his mouth to stifle his moans. “Bella…”

Using her hands, she ran them up and down his shaft as she sucked and licked his head. His reaction made her feel so powerful. After only a few minutes, Gabriel pushed her back.

“What?  Did I hurt you?” She frowned, full of concern.

“Bella, I can’t hold it,” he explained.

She grinned. “So don’t.” Isabella opened her mouth to take him in once more.

Instead of relaxing into the moment, Gabriel shook his head. “I can’t,” he moaned.

“Of course you can. Just let go.” She continued all the more passionately.

His frustration merely increased. “I can’t come in your mouth, Bella. I love you.”

At his words, Isabella sat back on her heels in complete shock while her hands continued to stroke him. Before she had recovered, he erupted. Hot thick semen landed in her hair, on her cheek, and ran down her chest. She looked up at him smiling.

Gabriel had his face covered. “I’m so sorry.” He sighed. “Say something.”

Isabella moved under the showerhead to rinse off. “Want to pass me the shampoo?” She batted her eyelashes at him. By the time she had lathered up her hair, he’d left the bathroom. She finished up as quickly as possible, determined to find him. His words had given her a courage she never anticipated and had her walking out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a towel in her hair.

***

Gabriel

“Hey. What’s wrong?”

Gabriel was lying on the bed, an arm covering his face, still wearing the towel he’d left the bathroom in. “Nothing.”

“Liar.” She hopped on the bed and straddled him, the little minx.

“If you’re trying to get my attention, you’ve got it.” He moved his arm and his eyes widened. “You’re naked.” He tried not to stare, but it took everything in him to not drink in the beauty who had settled on his groin.

She giggled. “No, I’m not. I’m wearing a towel.”

“Yes, but it’s in your hair.” Gabriel smiled now and rolled her onto the bed, smoothly landing on top of her. “How do you do it?” He shook his head as he gazed upon her, this woman who had won his heart.

“Do what?  That thing in the shower?  Oh, so Jessie bought Jenna Jamison’s memoir and there were some tips in it. I finally had someone to practice on. How’d I do?” She winked at him.

“You could definitely use more practice. Any time you’d like, I’d be willing to offer myself as human guinea pig.” He removed the towel from around his waist. “You’re still a little wet.” He began to pat at the water droplets on her skin.

“How do I do what?” Isabella asked quietly. Her nipples had hardened and he was confident she was growing aroused.

“I’m a fool for you, Bella Parker.” He leaned down and planted a kiss on her sternum. “I puked on you…”

“And you just came on my face because you respect me too much to come in my mouth.” She interrupted with a grin. “I’m still trying to figure out the soundness of your reasoning, but hey…at least we were in the shower. And you didn’t blind me, so there’s that.” Her eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“I didn’t say respect.” She opened her mouth, but he silenced her with a finger over her lips. “I said ‘love.’” He took a breath. “It surprised me, too, but I mean it.” Gabriel leaned his head against her chest. “Your heart is absolutely racing.” He gazed at her sweet face. “I honestly didn’t think myself capable of it. My mother broke my heart long ago. I never really healed…until you.” Slowly, he moved his finger from her lips.

This time, Isabella rolled him over with a thrust of her hips. Then she landed on top of him, slowly rearranging herself so she was sitting on his pelvis and his erection was behind her. Gabriel smiled up at her, his face pink from embarrassment. “You’ve changed me, too, you know.” She spoke almost begrudgingly. “I’m falling hard for you, Gabriel.” Her eyes turned glassy. “I didn’t want to. I’m still getting out of my last hopeless relationship.”

He shook his head. “Wait. You think this is hopeless?”

Isabella chewed on the side of her lip. “Sometimes I do. When we’re apart, you seem so far away. When we’re together, I don’t feel good enough for you.”

“My love,” Gabriel moaned. “How can you think these thoughts?  I call and text all the time when we’re apart. And when we’re together, I lavish you with attention.”

Her face softened. “This is true.”

“How can you think you’re not good enough for me?” He struggled to sit up and take her in his arms. “You’re the best woman I know. You’re an amazing mom, incredibly talented photographer, and for some reason, you like me.”

“I didn’t say ‘like.’  In fact, I distinctly recall saying I was falling in love with you.” Isabella stared down at him. “You’re going to break my heart, aren’t you?”

“Never,” he vowed, and sealed his promise with a kiss.

“I’m holding you to it.” She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Can we eat now?” Her stomach rumbled to emphasize her need.

“How can you think about food at a time like this?” He knotted his fingers in her hair.

Smiling, Isabella explained. “Oh, I can think about food any time.”

“Okay, well I have a surprise for you in a few hours. I wanted to make today special, and memorable since we’re leaving in the morning.” He stood, still holding her, and gently set her on her feet.

“Oh, it has been memorable,” she joked.

Turning her toward the closet, he gave her a gentle slap on her buttocks. “Go get dressed.”

Fifteen minutes later, they were eating brunch out on the verandah. “I thought brunch was only a weekend thing,” Isabella mused while enjoying her Bananas Foster.

“Nah. You can have brunch anytime.” He checked his phone for the time.

“Even a Tuesday.” She shook her head. Now finished with her dessert, she leaned back and sighed as she gazed out over the water.

“Why the sigh, darling?” Gabriel queried as he kissed her cheek.

“Just thinking about going home,” Isabella responded as lightly as possible.

“Don’t you want to go home?” Gabriel looked confused.

“Of course, I want to go home. The kids are there.” She frowned. “I guess it’s just that…I’m going to miss you.” The words came out a whisper.

He smiled slightly then sat up to take her hand. “You won’t be able to miss me,” he replied. “We will speak every day that we are apart and spend every weekend together, unless I have to go out of town with my father on business.” He sounded so confident of their future.

“No, I mean, miss this,” Isabella struggled to explain.

“What? Brunch?  I told you. You can have brunch anytime!” Gabriel cocked his head to one side, but he thought he knew where this was going. With Bella, it was better to have her spell things out, of course.

Inhaling deeply, the words she’d been struggling with finally burst forth. “Laying with you, having you close, touching you, being touched by you, all those things that can’t happen long distance. This closeness between us is what I’ll miss.” Now finished expressing herself, she slumped in her chair, several shades of pink.

Gabriel beamed. “Me too.” He pulled her hand to his lips. “Don’t worry, Bella. We’ll spend so much time together, you’ll get sick of me.”

“The way you play with my emotions, I’m sick of you now,” she muttered under her breath.

In response, he simply laughed. “Well, it’s a good thing it’s time to go for your surprise. Maybe you will start to miss me again.” He winked at her as he stood.

The housekeeper stepped out onto the verandah then. “Mr. Gabriel, phone.”

Frowning, he walked Isabella to the front of the house. “The driver will take you. And I’ll pick you up. I promise.”

“Wait. I have a surprise without you?” She wanted to protest, but the driver came around the corner and opened the door for her.

“See you soon!” He waved as they drove away. Then he turned on his heels and rushed to the office.

“Hello?”

“Hello, this is Fritz, your realtor. I’m returning your phone call.”

Settling into the tall leather swivel chair, Gabriel stared out the window as he spoke. “Yes. You found me the studio penthouse apartment, but I need a three bedroom now. Oh, and it doesn’t have to be that building. The sooner we can close, the better.” He smiled as he imagined Bella’s reaction.

“Hm. Do you want me to sell the penthouse?  Is the sale of the one contingent on the purchase of the other?” He could hear the realtor tapping his pen.

“No, but again, I can’t emphasize enough the importance of finding me a three bedroom as soon as possible.”

“Of course, Mr. Charmant. When shall I set up showings?”

“Email me the properties as you find them. Then we’ll set them up from there. Sound good?”

“Absolutely.”

The call ended and Gabriel smiled to himself. If this was what beshert felt like, there was no reason to fight it. It was time to embrace his future. He could almost imagine what his mother would say. Then, almost as quickly, he shuddered. He knew intrinsically what his father would say.

***

Isabella

The driver initiated the conversation as they drove along. He glanced at her before speaking. “You must be pretty special.”