by Wynn, Ann
“Joana? What are you doing here? Where's Jules?” He looked around him. She was nowhere to be found.
“She's at work. I've been here since last night. You were probably too drugged to wake up,” she said to him. She sounded hurt that he was looking for someone else when it was her in front of him.
“I see...Thanks for staying with me. You're a real friend, Jo,” he smiled at her.
His smile might look like he was still concealing his pain, but he looked so damn handsome. Joana smiled back and leaned closer to him. Their faces were so close to each other, her breasts pressing softly on his body. He swallowed hard as he looked into her deep blue eyes. Her disheveled blonde hair looked good on her, and he just couldn't look away. He felt compelled to keep on staring at her.
“We could be more than friends, Mike. If you want us to...” she breathed. Before he knew it, she had already pressed her lips onto his.
Juliana was relieved to have done everything before anyone arrived at work. It was only 5 A.M. She double-checked everything and after proofreading her work, she emailed it to Gabriel. His computer alerted him that he had received a new email. He had fallen asleep on his couch at 1 A.M. and was now finished showering and getting dressed. He pitied Juliana, but he figured he could not let her use his personal facility. After 15 minutes, he was already dressed and putting on his shoes when he heard someone knocking on the door. He already knew it was her. He hurried to open the door but there was no point in welcoming her inside. They were leaving this instant after all.
“Should we go?” he asked with a smile.
“Y-yes, please,” she responded as she turned her back to him to lead the way.
There was no traffic anywhere as Gabriel drove them to the hospital. It was a quiet drive and after parking his car, she immediately got out and let him follow her. She had no intention of telling him to leave. She had no right to. Besides, she knew he was stubborn and it would probably be a waste of her time if she told him to leave. She smiled at the nurse and asked where Michael's room was. She directed her to the private room but did not proceed inside. She excused herself as they were in the doorway. As they entered, they saw that the other two beds were empty, which only meant that he was occupying the last bed with the curtains acting as its division. She stopped short when she raised a part of the curtain only to reveal Joana kissing Michael. Gabriel was behind her and as she gasped and looked away, he was able to see why. He felt his hands clenching as he saw a bruised Michael lying on the bed with a petite blonde almost straddling him, her breasts pressed eagerly on his body and her lips pressed against his. The kiss did not look chaste; there was definitely malice involved. Joana felt someone watching and when she opened her closed eyes, she caught a glimpse of Juliana looking away.
She closed her eyes again and continued to press her lips and her breast against Michael's body. Although Michael wanted to push her away, he did not know how. He had always been courteous to women, and he knew that if he pushed her away that would be rude. But as soon as he felt her tongue darting out to lick his lips and then his teeth as if probing his mouth and willing him to open it to invite her in, he raised his hands and gripped both of her shoulders to give her a slight nudge which Joana wanted to ignore but couldn't. As soon as she re-opened her eyes, Juliana was gone. A smirk formed from her mouth as she pulled away, leaving Michael silent but her wanting more.
“I'm sorry, Michael. I don't know what came over me.” Her words were half meant but Michael was too blind to see that.
“Please, Jo. I have a girlfriend. You know that. I don't think Jules will appreciate it that we've been kissing. I don't want her to think that we've been cheating on her,” he said sincerely.
Juliana ran as fast as she could. The tears in her eyes were starting to form, and they were blinding. As soon as she found a silent corner, a place where she could stay still for a while inside the hospital, she found herself stopping and slumping on the floor, crying that she had to see that. Gabriel rushed to be with her. He looked for her, uncaring if he looked like a mad man in the hospital's hallway. He panted and felt like giving up when he suddenly saw her in one corner, sobbing. He slowly approached her and sat on the floor in front of her. He did not know what to say, but he knew he had to make her feel better somehow.
“Ms. Austin, Are you alright?” Although he knew she wasn't, he did not know how to start a conversation with her right now.
“I-I'll be fine, Sir. Thank you for bringing me here.” That was all she could say.
“Would you like me to bring you home?” he offered her.
She nodded as she let him assist her to stand. He held her steady as they walked with his arms around her. There were many curious stares around them when they went out of the hospital and to the car park. He no longer cared. What mattered now was seeing her alright. Gabriel was now prepared. He knew where she lived. As soon as she sat beside him, all she could do was stare into nothingness. Juliana was now holding her tears. Crying in front of her boss was just lame. Deja vu. She was experiencing it now. As she found herself preoccupied with her thoughts, he continued to concentrate on the road. It wasn't long before they reached her home.
He stopped the car and hurried to her side, opening the door for her to let her out. Juliana was surprised to see that they were already in front of her home and he was already holding the door for her. She held on to the door to help balance herself. With a weak smile, she thanked him, but she knew it would be rude to let him go just like that. She would have to invite him in even if it would just be for a couple of minutes.
“Would you like to come in?” she asked. The simple question lit him up and made him smile wider.
“I would love to,” he replied.
They walked the two wooden steps to her outdoor patio. She reached inside her bag for her key as he looked at the other houses near hers. She was shaking but eventually was able to place the key into the hole turning it to open the door. She pushed it open to let him in. This was going to be the first time that she would be opening her house to another man. The only other men to have ever been inside her home were her father and Michael. The thought of Michael made her feel a sharp pang inside of her again. She had to distract herself with something else. She left her boss looking around in the living room as she rushed to the kitchen to see what she could offer him.
Gabriel continued to look around as he slowly appreciated every single detail inside her home. He looked at the neatly framed paintings on her walls, which looked very interesting. He saw framed pictures of people who were probably her friends, her parents and most of all, Michael. He did not want to think of the bastard. He did not need to meet her two-timing boyfriend after all. He lingered in front of the framed paintings and pictures that hung by the walls near the front door. When he turned around, he saw the living room. It was tidy. It had one long couch that could fit about 3 people and one single sofa.
There was a wooden table in the middle and a colorful rug underneath it. She had a flat screen television mounted on one of the walls and a fireplace on one corner of the living room. He noted the bookshelves in the living room, which were filled with so many books. Judging by the book covers, most if not all of them were fiction. Now, he finally knows a little bit more about Juliana. She was a bookworm, which was why she had been a smart employee. He continued to stand in the living room in front of the bookshelves as he read their titles. He pulled on one to leaf through the pages. He stopped himself when he saw the somewhat lewd book cover. It was a half naked man holding a sword. He wanted to laugh when he thought the book was a historical novel about Scottish highlanders. He turned around when he heard Juliana approaching with some things on a tray. He placed the book back where he got it and sat on the long couch as she placed the tray in front of him.
“Some coffee and a slice of chocolate cake.” He took them from the tray and smiled at her.
“Thank you. This is very nice of you.” She stood there and continued looking at him.
Upon realizing that she was staring, she sat on the single couch and let her boss drink some coffee and enjoy the cake she served him. She only hoped he liked it. It was a cake she baked a couple of days back when she had been craving for one. He took a forkful inside his mouth and groaned. She looked at him with his eyes closed and as they opened, he smiled wickedly at her.
“This cake is exquisite. Did you perhaps bake this?” he inquired, his comment making her blush.
“Yes, Sir. I did,” she said shyly.
“Please stop calling me Sir or Mr. Mitchell. We are outside work so just call me Gabriel or Gabby,” he suggested.
“Alright, G-Gabriel...” she forced herself to say.
“Good. Now, May I call you Juliana or would you prefer I call you Jules?” he asked. The way her name rolled into his tongue sounded so perfect, so beautiful.
“I don't mind both of them.”
“Juliana then...” he said as he continued devouring the chocolate cake in front of him, making her look away.
The way he was looking at her was scandalous. Gabriel could not help himself. The lewd book in her bookshelf, the chocolate cake, her beautiful face as she looked on at him, the way she called his name. The pent up desire was slowly starting to manifest itself. When she saw that he was done eating the cake, she stood up to get him another slice even if he did not ask for it. The silence between them unnerved her, but what made her nervous even more was the attraction that was slowly returning in between them. She remembered the kiss that happened between them when she was in his home. She remembered how sexy he looked in casual wear. The smell of his clean skin and aftershave still lingered in her mind, making her feel like she wanted him. As she stood up, Gabriel reached out for her, holding one of her wrists in the process. He tugged her, making her fall on him, her face just inches apart from his. His breath smelled like chocolate, coffee and mint.
His cologne smelled like pine and sandalwood. She felt herself swallowing hard as her heart started to race. What was happening to her? His stormy gray eyes looked at her; they were arresting. His arms held her close to his, both of them unmoving, yet she felt her heart beating wildly as if she could hear its deafening sound. One of his hands moved to her face, cupping one of her cheeks. His eyes darted to her lips as he remembered her sweet taste. Her scent had been fruity but never too sweet. He held her still as he pressed his lips to hers. He felt her body tense as he kissed her. He held her tighter, pressing her body closer to his. He moved his other hand from her cheek to her nape, caressing it gently as he wanted her to relax and just let him kiss her.
CHAPTER 5
Juliana might be hurting right now, and she felt vulnerable, but somehow she was feeling empowered right now. Gabriel's kiss was not demanding, nor was it rough. He merely pressed his lips on hers but he never probed her mouth. He merely took his time caressing her body as he molded it to his. She should feel violated, as he was not her boyfriend, yet she felt cherished. It wasn't long before she found herself straddling him. He groaned as he felt her rub against his crotch. Whether it was unintentional or not, if she continued to do this, he would have to pin her right there and then, uncaring for the consequences of his actions. She was having a moment of weakness, and as much as she hated to admit it, Michael had been neglecting her far too long. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like to be Gabriel's.
He broke away from their kiss, his eyes boring deep into hers, as if seeking answers or perhaps permission to go on. Her eyes dipped to his reddened supple lips as she remembered the feeling of kissing him twice. Should she let him go on, or should she stop before it was too late? As if sensing the hidden tug of war that was going on her head, he inhaled for patience. Her scent mixed in the air was not helping him clear his head. He had wanted her for so long, yet he could not force her to accept him and let her surrender to him. He noted the way she was responding to his gentle caresses and sweet kisses. The way she undulated her body to his only meant that he was affecting her the same way she was affecting him. Her shallow breaths as well as her dreamy looking eyes were also a sign that she was lusting over him and was probably in need of him in a sexual way. Could it be that Michael has been neglecting her for so long romantically and sexually? He wondered. Still stuck in the position they were in while they were kissing earlier, he cleared his throat to speak but never let her go. Her closeness was important to him. He relished it.
“Juliana...I've been attracted to you ever since the first time I saw you,” he confessed as one of his hands continued to caress her cheeks and then her lips, which made her shiver at the contact. This was a lot to take in. He was confessing something to her as he continued to hold her tight. This is what she would have wanted with Michael. Intimacy in every way possible. Intimacy that he was not able to provide her a lot of lately.
“We've been working together for two years now and no matter how hard I try to forget this attraction to you, I can't. You always make me want you more. Like a forbidden fruit, you've had me looking at you from afar. How much I've wanted to covet which was not mine,” he breathed, which made her blush. His confession was too direct, yet too sensual. Michael had been honest to her for many years, but somehow along those years, she felt like he was no longer being truthful to her. Blurred lines had become common as her imagination had continued to take its toll on her. As much as she wanted and trusted Michael, there were times when she regretted it or had questioned it. Her love never wavered but now, she did not know anymore.
“Give me a chance to have you, Juliana, and I'll show you what it is like to be treated right. I promise to be gentle with you if you let me. Let me help you forget him. I know you can't commit right now, but I want you to think about it. If you don't want another boyfriend, I can be a close friend,” he suggested to her, making her swallow hard. Was she seriously considering his proposal? He did not need to hear her say anything. The fact that she was not swatting him away, moving away from him or worse, kicking him out of her house was testament enough that she was considering his offer to her.
“Thank you for your offer, Gabe, but I cannot and will not promise you anything. I am just too confused, too fragile, too weak, too – I don't know. I just feel so different. It's like I've been a living a lie for so long and I'm just realizing things which I should have in the past. Please give me time to think about it,” she pleaded to him, before rolling to the other side of the couch and sitting there. Gabriel straightened himself as he looked at her and continued to listen. Although it was strange to hear her call him his name as they talked, he kind of liked it. Choosing Gabe instead of Gabby sounded good. Did he just hear a slight fondness in her tone when she mentioned his name? He was not sure.
“This is just happening so fast. Too fast for me. Besides, I still have to deal with Michael and Joana at some point. This...whatever it is that is going on between us, will just have to wait,” she said as she looked at him. Gabriel understood. She was right. He might be going too fast with her on this. As if sensing that he was feeling slightly ashamed of what he had done, Juliana held his hands and gently squeezed them as she smiled at him, as if to encourage him that there was nothing to be ashamed of.
“I'm sorry, Gabe. Thank you for showing me how desirable I can still be to other men despite me being in a relationship and looking so plain.”
He wanted to tell her that she did not look plain in his eyes, but he stopped himself. Clearly, her self-esteem had been affected by Michael so much. Her confidence level was low and she did not think of herself as beautiful. Although he hated people who lacked confidence in themselves, he understood Juliana's case. If only he could do something about it. He stood and smiled at her, his head still swirling with ideas. He too was now confused, aroused and slightly pissed off.
“Thank you for the time, Ms. Austin. See you at work tomorrow.”
He leaned down to give her a quick peck on her cheek. As if she was not flustered enough, the kiss made her continue to have red cheeks. She st
ood up and followed him to the door to see him out. He was so much different from Michael. If only she had known him sooner. As soon as his car had left her driveway, she suddenly felt like something was missing. She then recalled him calling her Ms. Austin once again. She wanted to protest but perhaps old habits died hard. She went back to the living room only to fall asleep on the couch where she and Gabriel had been kissing earlier. If only she had been free to go on and have more of what he offered her. The drive home was fast. He needed to take a quick shower and to get some sleep. When he reached home, he took out his phone and called his assistant only to inform her that he wouldn't be able to go to work today, and neither would Juliana. He no longer cared if tongues would be wagging. At this point, he had decided that he would win her, no matter what.
Michael was finally discharged from the hospital and he sulked in the passenger seat as Joana drove his car to his apartment. He sulked even more knowing that Juliana did not even come to see him. As she parked his car, she helped her out of the passenger seat and helped him inside the elevator. He asked her to press 5 on the elevator keys and waited as the lift brought them there. Joana stood silently beside him. He still looked like a mess and he groaned when he realized that he would have to go to work looking like that tomorrow. Seeing that Joana was with him again today only meant she did not go to work to take care of him. Somehow this made him appreciate her more and he felt slightly pissed that Juliana did not care. He wondered if she had called or even sent him any messages. He figured he would just check when he got home.