by Ivy Clyde
Coming to a halt, I rummaged in my bag for my phone. Dialing Lucas’s number, I waited for him to pick up.
Relief washed over me as he picked up the call on the third ring.
“Where are you?” I demanded at once. “Why weren’t you in class?”
“I got caught up with something,” he said cautiously.
“Are you okay?” I asked as the anxiety came back.
“I’m fine. It’s actually Gabe who got hurt.”
“What?”
He hesitated before speaking. “He got into a fight with Lucien yesterday. It was about some homophobic comment Lucien said about me and him. They had a polo match this afternoon and were playing on different teams. No one knows what happened but I can bet my cousin spooked Gabe’s horse somehow.”
“And?” I asked, waiting for the bad news.
“He got hurt,” said Lucas in a quiet voice. “I was on my way to class when I saw them carrying him into an ambulance. He was still in his polo uniform.”
I didn’t know much about polo but a spooked horse could be very dangerous. Fear gripped me as I asked the next question. “Will he be okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where are you right now?”
“I am in the school garage. There’s only so much I can take in a day.” His voice broke as he said, “I am going home for the weekend.”
“Can you give me a ride to the city?” I asked.
“Sure,” he said confusedly. “Why?”
“I’ll see you at the main front gates.” I switched off the call and placed my phone inside the bag. Pulling the strap high over my shoulder, I rushed out of the science wing to meet Lucas.
He was already waiting for me by the time I reached the main gates. It was barely five P.M. but the sky had turned dark. Making sure it was Lucas in the driver’s seat, I climbed into the car.
“Why do you want to go into the city?” he asked as I strapped myself with the seatbelt.
“I’ll check his apartment to see if they’ve taken him there. If it’s something worse, his grandfather would know.”
“You know his family?”
“Just his grandfather,” I said.
The car sped through the dark highway, taking me away from the academy. I hadn’t spared much thought about assignments and studies when I spoke to Lucas earlier. Everything took a backseat in my mind as soon as I heard Gabrielle was hurt.
“Do you want me to come with you?” asked Lucas when we reached the city’s outskirts.
“It’s all right,” I said. “I’ll be fine by myself. In case, Gabrielle isn’t home, I can always go home too.”
“Will Liam pick you?”
“I don’t know where he is,” I said. “But if I call Ruben, he’ll send someone to pick me up. Or I can always call for a Uber.”
“Call me if you need any help, okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Lucas dropped me at one of the busy streets before heading home. It was a short walk from there to the neighborhood where Gabrielle lived. Blowing on my freezing hands, I crossed the street.
Reaching the apartment complex, I headed for the elevator at the far side of the atrium. People gazed at me but no one stopped the girl in the Knightswood Academy uniform. I was sure the security would have thrown me out if I came there in my faded, old ripped jeans and a t-shirt.
Heart pounding with worry, I rode the elevator to the top floor where Gabrielle’s penthouse was located. Reaching my destination, I pressed on the doorbell, hoping he would be fine enough to be at home.
The seconds ticked away before I heard movement on the other side of the door. Next moment, it opened up.
I looked at the center of a broad chest wrapped in a casual shirt. Looking up, I met with Gabrielle’s wide sea-green eyes. “Paris?”
My gaze raked him from head to foot. He had a white patch on the side of his forehead. Scratches marred the smooth skin of his face. There were bandages wrapped on his left arm. Tears gathered in my eyes as I gazed back at him.
“You’re hurt.”
“Aww, Paris. You heard.” He opened his arms, quietly inviting me for a hug. I stepped into his arms, letting him pull me against his chest. “I thought no one would know about it. I even paid those medics to stay quiet.”
“Lucas saw you when they were taking you away.”
“Ahhh, that nosy fucker.”
A chuckle escaped me. “He was very upset, you know,” I said, punching him lightly on the shoulder. “Lucas missed class this afternoon after he saw you being carried away. He suspects it was Lucien Bettencourt’s doing and feels guilty.”
Gabrielle’s expression turned grim. “I am sure it was him. He hurt Lucy and will pay for it.”
“Who is Lucy?”
He grinned at my expression. “She’s my horse,” he said, stealing a kiss from me.
“What happened to your horse?”
“She hurt her leg.” Stepping away, he closed the door to his apartment. “Come in.”
His penthouse was as deserted as the first time I’d been there. “Don’t you have a nurse or someone to help you?”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. I escaped with some scratches. It’s nothing to worry Gramps over.”
“You’re badly injured, Gabrielle!” He was even walking with a limp.
“They will dry up and heal. Nothing’s broken.”
He went to sit on the couch and beckoned me forward. He looked paler than usual as well. Moving closer, I pressed the back of my hand on his forehead. “You’re slightly warm.” Straightening up, I looked around the apartment. “Did you eat dinner yet?”
“No. I don’t feel too hungry.”
“That’s not good,” I said, shaking my head. Leaving him on the couch, I went into the kitchen and opened the double-door fridge. Thankfully, it was well-stocked with fruits, vegetables, cold cuts, and fresh chicken legs.
I took out apples and pears from the fridge and took them to the counter. Having worked there before, it was easy to find the utensils and knives. Quickly slicing them up, I arranged them on a plate and took them to Gabrielle.
“Have some fruit for now. I’ll make you some chicken noodle soup for dinner.”
“Wow.” His eyes lit up at the sight of the fruit platter. “Thanks, Paris.” I watched him spear the slices of fruit with a fork and eat them one after the other. He was hungry, after all. Sadness welled inside me. Even though he was popular at school, he was still very lonely. I suspected he didn’t even tell Liam about his accident at the polo field.
Turning away, I swiped away the stray tear that rolled down my cheek. Plastering a wide smile on my face, I said, “Tell me if you need anything. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
Over the next hour, I chopped vegetables and made a broth out of the fresh chicken drumsticks. The chicken noodle soup recipe belonged to Mom and it was my favorite pick-me-up anytime I was sick or feeling down. The soup was amazingly flavorful and adding pasta gave it body, making it a complete meal.
When the dish was ready, I peeked into the living room. The platter of fruit was empty and Gabrielle was napping on the couch. I smiled at that. He needed to relax and recuperate after the accident. It must’ve been shocking to be thrown off the horse you loved and trusted so much.
The mere thought of Lucien Bettencourt had me feeling cold and clammy. He was a psychopath. The utter inability to feel other people’s pain made him dangerous. Hurting people both physically and emotionally was nothing but a game to him.
Gabrielle woke up as soon as I entered the living room. Blinking against the soft lights, he looked at me and smiled, making me forget all about Lucien.
“Something smells good,” he said, sitting up on the couch.
“Dinner’s ready,” I said. “Do you want to eat out here or in the kitchen?”
“Let’s eat here. The couch feels really good today.”
I sniggered, walking back to the kitchen. I found some trendy mug-shaped soup bowls in t
he cabinet that came with handles on both sides. They were really cute and in a shade of bright yellow. Taking two of them, I filled the bowls with the thick chicken noodle soup and sprinkled over some chopped parsley.
I carried the bowls on a tray and took it into the living room.
“This looks great,” said Gabrielle as I set the tray down on the coffee table.
“Hope it tastes good too.”
Coming closer to the edge of the couch, he bent down to eat a spoonful. He made a humming sound with his eyes closed. “So good.”
“You like it?”
He nodded. “You’re a really good cook, Paris.” He took a few more mouthfuls of the soup.
“Mom taught me everything. She used to be an incredible baker too.”
“I heard she ran a bakery too.”
I nodded, starting on my soup. It felt easier to talk about Mom with Gabrielle. Among all my friends, he was the only one who could really understand my pain and loss.
“I hope there’s more,” he said after a while. “Because I am hungrier than before.”
“There’s a whole pot of it.”
Gabrielle had three more servings before plopping back among the cushions. “I’m so full.”
“Did the doctors give you any pills to take?”
“Yeah, I forgot about those. I was supposed to have them after a meal.”
I got to my feet. “Where are they? I’ll get them for you.”
“In my bedroom. You’ll find them on the bedside table.”
I went into his bedroom to find the tablets he mentioned. It wasn’t as big as I’d imagined it to be. The bed in the center took most of the space. For a moment, I stood there and stared at it. Brianna’s snide voice forced its way inside my mind. I couldn’t help but think of all the older women he’d slept with on the bed before me.
Jealousy pinched at my heart. I had no right to feel that way, considering I couldn’t choose between the three guys currently interested in me but still, I felt a stab go through me.
“What’s wrong?”
I turned around to find Gabrielle at the doorway.
“Nothing,” I said, looking away and snatching up the packet of pills from the bedside table. “Do you need water to swallow these?”
“I’ll be fine,” he said, walking closer to me. Reaching me, he hooked a finger under my chin and made me look up at him. His sea-green eyes were piercing as he studied my face. “Why do you look disappointed?” he murmured like he was talking to himself. “Is the décor not to your liking?”
“It’s not the room.”
“Then what?”
“Brianna said you preferred older women,” I whispered, looking away. “Do you even like me that way?”
“Look at me, Paris,” he said in a soft but commanding voice.
I felt my heart skip a beat at the intensity in his expression. “Don’t believe a word that girl says. She is a master manipulator. Don’t you remember what she did to Liam at his party?”
I’d never forgotten the look of rage and disbelief in Liam’s azure eyes when I’d been wearing the dress Brianna made me wear. Brianna’s trick made him go senseless with the memory of a girl who’d walked out of his life a long time ago.
“She is dangerous,” I whispered.
“Yes. The sooner you realize that the better for you. She is gearing up to destroy you.” When I continued to look glum, he closed his arms around me and brought me into a warm, gentle hug. “We won’t let her hurt you.” Leaning down, he captured my lips in a kiss.
Within seconds, heat coursed through me, making me melt against him. His hands roamed my sides as his lips trailed kisses down my chin. Soft moans escaped me as I felt his warm breath against the sensitive skin of my neck.
Gabrielle’s hand pulled the hem of my shirt from the waistband of my skirt, letting it slide in and graze over the soft flesh of my stomach.
“I’ve never been this turned on by this schoolgirl uniform before,” he whispered in my ear. Moving his mouth to my neck, he pulled the soft skin between his teeth and grazed it lightly. My body jerked at the sensation and I pressed myself against him, eager to feel the heat radiating off him.
“Gabrielle,” I breathed as his fingers deftly opened the buttons of my shirt. “We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” He pulled away the shirt away from my shoulders, exposing me in my bras.
“I still don’t know who to choose.” The words came out in gasps as he left feathery kisses over the tops of my breasts.
He raised his head and looked at me with those piercing sea-green eyes. “I won’t make you choose. Just tell me you want this too.”
My cheeks burned hot. I did want him. And I wouldn’t mind him being my first…
Gazing up at him, I gave a nod.
A brilliant smile flashed through his face before he closed the gap between us and pulled me in for a deep kiss. While my mind was occupied with the sweet warmth of his tongue entangled with mine, I felt the straps of my bra loosen. Gabrielle had unhooked it easily.
His hand rose to palm my bare breast, squeezing until I was moaning into his mouth.
With a sudden move, he separated from me to bend down and pick me up in his arms. “Let’s get more comfortable,” he said, moving towards the bed.
Laying me down among the pillows, he moved over me, capturing my lips once more. My sensitive nipples were crushed against his hard chest. His touch on my bare skin ignited the fire in my core.
“Gabrielle,” I breathed, my fingers pulling at his t-shirt.
Understanding what I meant, he straightened up and pulled the t-shirt off, baring his amazingly sculpted torso. Rising up, I kissed the hard ridges of his muscles. His moans drove me on as I left kisses all over him, taking my time to lick around the points of his nipples. Gabrielle’s body was delicious.
With a sudden push, he threw me back on the bed. “My turn.” Bending over me, he pulled down the zipper on the side of my skirt. “This little skirt drives me insane,” he breathed, taking it off me.
Only the black cotton panties remained on me now.
Gabrielle moved over me again, his sea-green eyes looking deep into mine. Before I could ask what he was thinking, he suddenly claimed my lips possessively and pushed me into the mattress, his hand moving to palm my breast. He squeezed hard as he continued to kiss me.
Lust stirred inside me, making my insides throb with need. Lost in a sea of sensations, I felt his warm hand palm over my bare pussy. A gasp escaped my lips but Gabrielle continued to kiss me while his finger gently caressed the inside of my slit. His thumb brushed over my clit.
I moaned out, my eyes rolling back as my chest heaved with erratic breaths.
Gabrielle trailed kisses down my chin, moving further south to reach my breasts. He popped a nipple in his mouth and sucked hard while his finger continued to work me into a frenzy. My body arched away from the bed, the intense sensations almost unbearable.
“Gabrielle,” I moaned.
“Feel good, my princess?”
“Yes.”
The tension in my body heightened, driving my need higher. Heat rose in my cheeks as I looked into his eyes. My inner walls were clamping hard. I needed something inside me but I was too embarrassed to say it openly.
The corner of Gabrielle’s mouth lifted in a cheeky grin. He knew exactly what I wanted.
“Please, Gabrielle.”
“Please, what?” he asked, feigning innocence.
Another moan escaped me as his fingers stroked my clit harder, threatening to unravel me. My fingers clutched the sheets underneath me as I tried to hold onto myself.
“Let go,” he whispered in my ear and with a cry, I obeyed, feeling my whole body tremble with the force of my orgasm. Intense pleasure coursed through my veins, warming me to the very tips of my fingers.
When the pleasure faded away, I became aware of my missing panties. I lay completely naked with Gabrielle beside me. The hard, heated flesh between his legs probed
my thigh. My gaze went down and found him completely bare too.
“Gabrielle,” I breathed, knowing what was coming.
“Are you afraid?” he whispered, cupping my face with his hands. He looked anxious too.
I was nervous but not scared.
Shaking my head, I raised my lips to kiss his luscious bottom lip.
“I promise to be gentle,” he said, moving away to reach in a drawer in the bedside table. He tore the top of a condom packet and rolled one out. I watched him sheath his thick manhood with it before moving over me.
Wetness gathered between my legs, anticipating the moment when his thick shaft would penetrate me. Heat coursed through my veins as I watched him lower his body onto me.
“Relax,” he whispered, rubbing the tip of his cock against my damp folds. I could feel his heat seeping into my sensitive flesh through the thin barrier of the condom.
“Gabrielle,” I moaned as my pussy throbbed with need. “Please…”
Positioning his head at my entrance, he captured my lips between his. The kiss was distractingly slow and sweet as he inched his head through my tight opening.
My fingers gripped onto his shoulders as he pushed in harder, slipping a few more inches into my slick channel. Pulling out all the way out, he thrust in hard, this time burying himself to the hilt in me. I gasped out at the sudden breach of my tight channel, digging my nails into his back.
“Relax,” he said, staying completely motionless.
I felt impossibly full with his thickness inside me. Relaxing my breaths, I tried to relax my body.
I felt vulnerable, both physically and emotionally. However, when I met Gabrielle’s soft gaze, my doubts disappeared. I really liked him. He was always good to me. Even when his best friend decided to be mean to me, he was there to shield me. Among the three boys who tugged my heartstrings, I didn’t trust anyone as completely as Gabrielle. I was happy to be losing my v-card to him.
My insides clamped onto him hard as my core throbbed with desire. The sudden pain ebbed away and pleasure took up its place.
A moan hissed out of him as he slowly started moving inside me. My walls stretched to accommodate him. It was still such an unfamiliar feeling that it took a while for me to get used to. Gabrielle kissed my lips softly, patiently hitting me with slow, languid strokes.