by Vivica James
I spent another few hours in and out of patient rooms, my mind a chaotic mess of confusion. I couldn’t wait for my shift to be over, to see Gabriel, to feel his touch again. I felt almost empty without it. Then in the next moment I hoped my shift would never end, on the off chance that Gabriel never came back and I would know heartbreak once more. How could I have been consumed so quickly by one chance meeting?
After years of bad dates and rejection I had given up on finding someone, Blaine had made sure of it. Yet here I was changing out an IV and wondering if true love was real and if it could really happen for me. Would I end up alone, forever?
There was a stir out at the station and when I finished with Mrs. Bartley, I went out to see what the commotion was all about.
Apparently, it was about me.
There was a massive bouquet of Camellia’s in pink, white and red. There was a small card tucked inside. The attention from the flowers was almost too much and I could feel the rush of blood to my cheeks.
“Open it!!!” My coworkers threw the card in my direction. “Come on! Open it up.”
This obviously wasn’t something they were going to allow me to do in private.
I opened the flap and pulled out the card. ‘My Destiny is in Your Hands.’
“Out loud! Read it out loud!” they shouted.
Before I could stop her Rachel grabbed the card and read it aloud. There was a round of sighs and swoons. My face was in flames. My heart was on fire.
I knew it was Gabriel. I hadn’t dared to dream it, but here he was in floral form, still making me feel like I was the only girl in the world. I couldn’t remember when I had felt so alive.
I looked at the clock, only a few hours to go. Why hadn’t I worn real clothes and changed into scrubs at work? I couldn’t even pop out early and get ready. I didn’t have Gabriel’s number and he didn’t have mine. He didn’t even know where I lived. Only where I worked.
I was stuck here counting down the minutes until I could see the most handsome man I had ever set eyes on. Wearing a set of shift-weary pale blue scrubs.
I was definitely going to screw this up.
3
CHAPTER THREE
MAISIE
He was early. I knew he was out there before I saw him. And it wasn’t from the covert glances and heavy sighs of the other nurses.
I could sense him.
I could feel his presence on the floor. When I took a peek around the corner, he was seated casually in a chair, and staring straight at me with those piercing grey eyes. It was though he knew exactly where to look. How could two souls who had just met be so in tune with one another? Is this what ‘they’ meant by soulmates? At any other time in my life if you had asked me if I believed in something like this, I would have scoffed or told you that if it did, it sure didn’t happen to a girl like me. Super models had those experiences, not overworked, overwhelmed and overweight girls like me.
Yet, for the first time I was starting to believe it was possible.
I tried to concentrate on the tasks at hand, but I was so excited and nervous I could barely keep my hands from shaking.
He was here. He had come back for me.
It was just a drive home, but maybe, just maybe it could turn into something more.
It was Anna who saved me from myself really. I had almost ceased to function. Anna took me into the bathroom and gave me a pep talk.
“You got this Maisie. He’s hot, and he’s romantic AND he’s here for you. Get it together and go out there for all of us here. I can only dream of someone that romantic. So, for heaven’s sake if not for you, then do it for me!”
I had to laugh. It was like she had just become my motivational love coach. “Thanks, Anna. I needed to hear that.” I grabbed both her hands and said, “That thick dark hair, those sexy smoky eyes. He is ridiculously hot, right?”
We both jumped and squealed like little girls. I had a chance with a true knight in shining armour. No, my very own angel. I needed to pull it together and get out there.
Trying to appear casual, I walked out and down the hall and over to where Gabriel was seated. He jumped up when he saw me. His smiler brighter than I remembered. He looked so happy to see me.
“Maisie.” It was my name he uttered but somehow it rolled off his tongue like it belonged to him. Maybe it did. Maybe I did. All I knew is that I wanted to be his.
“Gabriel. I…I wasn’t sure you would come.” I must have said the wrong thing for his immediately furrowed his brow.
“Not come? It was only a matter of how soon I could.” He offered his hand to me once more. “Shall we?”
I took it and immediately felt the warmth and protection that I had felt earlier with him. He made me feel so wanted, so safe. It was like nothing I had ever felt before. I knew I could never have enough of Gabriel St. Laurent.
GABRIEL
I knew she could feel it.
It was there in her beautiful jade eyes as she looked up at me. Still so shy, but I could see the interest that flickered there. It was in her scent. The intoxicating smell of a woman who is ready to be loved.
This was different though. This was my woman and I was ready to love her back.
I took her to my car, and as she entered, she leaned forward to give her address to my driver. I nearly exploded with the sight of her full rounded bottom as she hesitated. I breathed deeply exercising all my restraint. The urge to touch her was incredible. I was quite certain she was oblivious to the effect she had.
As I slid in beside her, I inhaled her scent once more. Visions of taking her here in the back of the car crossed my mind and I quickly slammed the door shut on them. Her needs far outweighed mine, and after a long day of work and the unpleasant morning she’d had, I had devised a perfect plan.
“Are you hungry?”
She looked over at me and paused before she answered, ‘Oh no, I’m fine.”
“How can you be fine? You’ve worked all day. Isn’t there something I can tempt that pretty mouth with?”
Maisie licked her lips in response to my words and I almost ravaged her mouth then and there. If she wasn’t hungry, I certainly was. Food was not on the menu of things I wanted in my mouth right now, every inch of Maisie was.
“I need to get home, I’m a mess, I’m really—”
“You’re really gorgeous. But I understand. Perhaps I can convince you to dine with me?”
I had no intention of letting Maisie go home. I had the perfect evening planned, she needed to realize that it wasn’t clothes that made the woman. It was the beauty that radiated from within. And how Maisie did shine.
“Dinner would be wonderful, but seriously, Gabriel. I need to shower and change.”
I reached forward and my driver placed a box in my hand which I passed to Maisie. The ribbon was as close a match to her eyes that I could find. To have replicated such a green would have been impossible.
“What? What is this for?” her sweet brow wrinkled as she looked from me to the box.
“For you, of course. If I’m whisking you away for dinner it’s only right that I provide you with the necessities.”
“The necessities?” Maisie still didn’t understand that there was nothing I would not do for her and I would always make sure she was taken care of. In every respect.
“Open it”
I felt a little like a schoolboy giving his first gift. I wanted to see her smile again. I wanted to know that it was I who put that smile there.
She carefully pulled at the ribbon, her fingers running across the satin fabric. Once more she glanced shyly in my direction then lift the top of the box.
Watching her eyes widen let me know I had made the right choice. Her smile was everything. I knew I would spend the rest of my life making sure it stayed there.
“This dress…it’s gorgeous,”
“It needed to match the woman who is to wear it.”
Maisie gave a slight shake of her head, “But it’s too much. I can’t accept this.
”
“Nothing is too much for you, Maisie” God, I loved the sound of her name on my lips. “And you will accept it. We are about to go for dinner, and as you’ve stated, you’ll need to change.”
A shadow crossed her face, and a little sigh escaped her lips. “I’m not sure this will fit me.”
It killed me to see her wavering confidence. How does a woman so beautiful lose faith in herself? If I ever got my hands on the cad that had hurt her, I’m not sure I would be able to control my anger.
“I am.” I grabbed Maisie’s hand once more and tucked it securely in mine. “I see you, Maisie. All of you. You are perfection. The dress will fit.”
She didn’t argue and my heart soared. I wanted her to know she could trust me. Believe in me. Know that I would never do anything to make her feel any less than the magnificent woman she was.
With her hand in mine she seemed to relax. In a comfortable silence, while my fingers caressed hers, Maisie allowed me to surprise her with our destination.
There was a place in the city that I wanted to share with her. I had never taken a woman there before, but this wasn’t just another date. This was our first date, and the last first date, either of us would ever have. It needed to be as special as the woman seated beside me.
When we arrived at the hotel, and I led Maisie through the doors, she hesitated.
“This is all so sudden, I’m not sure…”
I realized what she must be thinking. “No, Darling, I have a room waiting for you. You will have the only key. I will knock on your door in one hour. Then I will take you for dinner.”
Her cheeks flamed, “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“Apologize for nothing. I understand. Please know I would never dare to presume such a thing.”
I wasn’t offended. Her concern was appropriate of a lady, and all the more endearing. I wanted her, desperately. I wanted to feel every inch of that soft, curvy body. If Maisie could have read my mind, perhaps she would have run in the other direction with the depths of my need to touch her. But she needn’t have worried. I would take my cues from her. No matter how slowly she wanted to take this, I would follow her lead. My only hope was that it wouldn’t be long, as even the thought of her beneath me, open to my every touch, was making me hard.
Maisie received her key to the room and glanced back only once with that sweet shy smile before she left for the elevator. Watching her hips sway beneath her scrubs was a sight to behold. I hated the idea of her walking away from me, but I certainly enjoyed the view.
I sat down in the lounge and I checked my watch. It had barely been a minute. I wasn’t sure how I could wait the full hour. Imagining Maisie up in the room, removing her clothes, the hot water of a shower hitting every curve of her body. The droplets running a path down those luscious breasts. I was picturing myself behind her, slowly soaping her back, my hands finding their way to the soft mound between her thighs.
Jesus, if I kept this up, I wouldn’t be able to stand up. My cock was about to burst through my pants. If his was any indication of the rest of my life with Maisie, I knew I was going to die a happy man.
I looked at my watch again. There was no way I was waiting a full hour to see my Maisie again.
MAISIE
The room was magnificent. I had never been in something this extravagant. I guess this is what a penthouse suite looks and feels like. My toes sank into the luxurious carpet. A girl could get used to this.
Gabriel, or his employees had thought of everything. There was nothing that was missed. I had more options to choose from than a high-end salon would provide. I had been worried when he didn’t take me home, but I should have realized that a man like Gabriel leaves nothing to chance. He was incredibly thoughtful.
I don’t think I had ever showered and changed so quickly. I was still nervous to try on the gorgeous dress Gabriel had given me. I had never had someone buy me clothing, certainly not a man. He had even bought the prettiest undergarments I had ever seen. I wonder if he had picked them out himself. The idea of him doing so, sent a little shiver through me.
The dress was laying upon the bed. Its copper shimmer calling me. I knew without a doubt that it would highlight the green of my eyes. Gabriel had picked perfectly. It was then that I let out the breath I had been holding and realized that I was no longer nervous.
I trusted him.
Despite a lifetime of experience that would say otherwise, I knew that I could trust Gabriel. All doubt and hesitation pushed aside, I picked up the dress and slid it on.
It fit.
Perfectly.
Looking in the mirror, I almost didn’t recognize myself. I couldn’t be sure if it was the way the dress accentuated every curve or the fact that this was definitely the most expensive item that I had ever worn.
I spun around and looked again at the woman smiling back at me. Maybe that was it. Gabriel’s absolute conviction of my attractiveness was rubbing off. I was starting to see myself as beautiful. What kind of magic did Gabriel, the angel, weave?
The clock in the room let me know that I had another twenty minutes to wait until Gabriel would knock at the hotel door. I didn’t want to wait that long. I wanted him to know he was right, the dress fit perfectly, and that he did see me.
In fact, I wanted him to see all of me. The more I thought about Gabriel the more my heart started to race.
I envisioned him knocking at the door, and when I opened it to him, he would be so amazed by my transformation that he would not be able to hold back his desire.
I wanted him to push his way in and slam the door behind him. I wanted him to pull me into his strong arms and crush my lips to his. I wanted him to rip off this dress he had so carefully picked out, and I wanted him to ravish me.
I wanted.
I wanted Gabriel and I wasn’t waiting any longer.
I threw open the hotel door preparing to march down to Gabriel and drag him back up to the room. Instead I ran into a solid wall of muscle.
It was Gabriel.
He wrapped his arms around me. “I’m sorry I’m early, but I couldn’t wait.”
He smoky eyes looked deep into mine. The desire I hoped would be there, was. He wanted me as badly as I wanted him.
The thick length of his cock pressed against me. I gasped, and Gabriel released me.
“I’m sorry, you just look so gorgeous and you smell like heaven.”
I don’t think he realized that I wasn’t offended, I was only shocked by the sheer size of what I had felt.
“No, it’s me. Actually, I couldn’t wait either.”
One perfect eyebrow raised; Gabriel lips curled into a smile. “Really”
I grabbed his hand and pulled him into the room. “Really. I don’t believe this is a discussion for outside.”
The door closed, I took a breath and tried to calm my mind. He didn’t need to think I was some crazy lady who threw herself at the first man who looked her way. Our meeting had been dramatic enough.
When I turned to him again, his eyes were looking at mine in question.
“Shall we go?” he asked.
Gabriel seemed to have composed himself far quicker than I had.
“Of course, you must be starving. Thank you for waiting.”
A flicker of something crossed his face and then was gone. “Oh Maisie, you have no idea how hungry I am.”
My skin tingled at his words, and I could feel I was already wet. “Oh…” Good Lord, he was hot. Could he tell how badly I wanted him? “How hungry are you?”
His voice was a low rumble as he took a step closer to me. “Would you like me to show you.”
“Please” I could only breathe the word.
His arm snaked out and he pulled me towards him. One arm around my waist he drew me impossible closer. I could feel him against me, growing, as he stared into my eyes. With his other hand he ran it along the side of my neck and then his fingers into the back of my hair.
He stared at me with such i
ntensity, and then he leaned in to whisper softly against my ear. His warm breath sending a shiver through me.
“Know this is the last first kiss either of us will ever have.”
He didn’t give me a chance to speak. He softly took my lips with his, ever so gently that I couldn’t help but sigh. In that moment it was though he had finally been given permission and he took control.
His fingers clasped my hair and he tilted back my neck and took my mouth captive. His warm full lips were crushed against mine in a desperate need that matched my own. We were two pieces of a whole. He was making me a part of him and I never wanted it to stop. He gave guttural moan as he traced my lips with the sweet bourbon tinged tip of his tongue. His desire for me, his want, was making me weak. If his thickly muscled arm wasn’t so firmly wrapped around me, I most certainly would have fallen to my knees.
Every inch of me wanted Gabriel to take me back to the bedroom and throw me on the bed. Removing this dress that kept our flesh apart and making me his. I could feel how hard he was, I knew he wanted it too.
If just his lips could have this kind of effect of me, then if we were to come together, I might surely die of bliss.
But at the moment I thought we would move from the door to the bed, Gabriel suddenly released me. Holding me from him, still staring in my eyes. The air between us was ragged with our breath.
“Damn” his voice hoarse. “I cannot seem to think straight around you.”
He, couldn’t think straight? I could barely stand. My body was still pulsing from his touch. I wanted more of Gabriel St. Laurent. Could he not see that? I didn’t think I was being subtle.
“It’s fine—”
“No, it’s not. I’m behaving like an animal. You are a lady and deserve to be treated as such.”
He wouldn’t think I was such a lady if he could read my thoughts right now. I was about to tell him exactly that, when he tucked my hand into the crook of his arm.
“Please, Maisie, let me take you to dinner. I have something I would love to share with you.”