by M. P. Hingos
My dad died almost six weeks after being reunited with Tessa and I found myself surrounded by the same love and support of the people who rallied behind Tessa. They accepted me, no questions asked. It was the day of the funeral when I first met him. I heard so many stories from my sister and his family about his infamous life and just like most of the world I’ve seen most of his movies but nothing prepared me for the overwhelming attraction I felt towards him when I first laid my eyes on him. Later that day I looked at him with his two brothers, Connor and Tyler, and saw the great similarities in all three of them but neither Connor nor Tyler made my body tingle the way Gabriel did. What was even more unnerving was the way he constantly stared at me as if he could see within the depths of my soul.
I avoided him at all cost, even when I moved to New York to be closer to Tessa, trying to deny the overwhelming attraction I felt towards him but the more I saw him the more he began consuming my thoughts. I looked forward to the day he left New York to go back to his home in California but when he left the anticipation of his return devoured me.
The night of Tessa and Connor’s engagement party at his parent’s house I was hiding out in a bedroom dealing with a call from work when he entered. I tried running, something I became very good at whenever he was within close proximity but he stopped me. He confronted me face on and there was no more denying my attraction to him. The surprising thing was he felt the same thing I did. Throwing all my reservations aside I finally said fuck it and gave in to my basic instincts. The feel of his lips on mine, his touch on my body, his warm breath caressing my face ignited the fire that burned inside me.
**********
Chapter 4
“Miss. Miss, we’re preparing for landing now, I need you to fasten your seatbelt please.”
My eyes fixated on the pleasant flight attendant whose hand was gently shaking my shoulder snapping me out of the reverie I immersed myself in throughout the flight.
“I’m sorry,” I smiled pleasantly at her, “I was just lost in my own little world.
She smiled and left. The nerves that were eating away at my stomach retuned with the thought that he was somewhere out there, close by, waiting for me, as the plane descended. Last chance to lecture myself before I was face to face with him. He was technically not my family but I intended to treat him as such. I was here to work not fuck around and go falling in lust or love so the sooner he realized that I was all business the easier it would be for me to try and come to the bottom of his little shitstorm and get the hell out of Los Angeles. My head was pretty much convinced of my reasoning but my panicked heart told a different story, a story I was intent on dismissing. I took a deep breath as my feet touched the ground. It was time to face the man himself.
Coming down the escalator I scanned the eager faces of the group of people gathered at the waiting area, all searching the new arrivals for their intended pickups. Amongst the faces I couldn’t find Gabriel. Getting off the escalator I slowly walked the area surveying the crowd, searching out his handsome face. I texted him my arrival time and gate before I left New York and he texted back with the reassurance that he was personally going to be there to pick me put, but now he was nowhere to be found. He was more recognizable than the Pope so what did I expect, for him to be here waiting for me with flowers without a mob around him? Flowers? Where did that little deviant thought escape from? My body tingled whenever he was around and since there was no mob and no tingling in my body it was safe to assume he was nowhere near the airport. I quickly dug into my bag searching for my phone. It was then my eyes fell on the handsome young man, no more than twenty-one holding up a paper sign with the name Ally Riley printed on it. How many Ally Riley’s could there be in the airport at the same time as I was. I made my way towards him, stopping short when he turned to me and greeted me with an infectious grin.
“Hi, I’m Ally Riley,” I said, hoping he was there to pick me up.
“Yeah? What’s your full first name?”
“Alexandria.”
“Okay Ms. Alexandria, looks like I’m here to give you a lift. I’m Jonah Jacobs. Mr. Steele asked me pick you up and to bring you straight to the house.”
He really had a friendly and infectious grin. Now exactly where did Mr. Hotshot Movie Star expected me to go if not directly to his house?
“Jonah Jacobs, would you mind calling me Ally instead of Ms. Alexandria?”
“Sure luv, as long as you call me Jonah.”
“Jonah is everything okay with Gabriel…sorry Mr. Steele?” I asked as we made our way to the car.
I had reason to be worried considering his situation.
“He’s fine; he had a little emergency at the offices of his Production Company a couple hours earlier. There was a little fire in the basement and he thought he would be through by the time you landed but it took longer than he expected. He called me right before we met, everything’s under control now and he’s at home awaiting your arrival.”
“Was anybody hurt in the fire?”
“Nah, it was just a bit of structural damage.”
My mind couldn’t help but wonder if the fire was the work of the person stalking him escalating or if it was accidental.
The drive to his house was pleasant and relaxing with Jonah acting as a comical tour guide. I was still on New York time, which meant the usual weariness, and tiredness I felt after eight for the past couple of months was slowly creeping in and I had to stifle an unexpected yawn as Jonah pulled into the driveway of Gabriel’s home.
His house was beautiful, not as extravagant as some of the houses we passed before and fit in perfectly on the beachfront property. It was located in a secluded area at the end of the lane that led up to it.
Jonah led me into the house and from his familiarity with the house I knew he was here often. He showed me into a huge living room and ordered me to sit. He disappeared with my bags but moments later, when he returned he was wearing a frown on his handsome face.
“Gabe told me he was going to be here when we arrived but I can’t find him anywhere,” he informed me.
Just then a slight middle-aged woman entered the room with a smile on her face directed at Jonah. Jonah smiled at her before scooping her in his arms for a hug.
“Hi mama, do you know where Gabe went?”
“He’s out for a run down the beach sweetheart,” she replied with a soft accent to her voice. She then turned to me and smiled.
“Hi, I’m Marianna, Gabriel’s housekeeper and this big goofball’s mom. You must be Ally.”
I stood up and took the hand she extended and felt the warmth radiating from her.
“Nice to meet you Marianna,” I replied.
“Jonah and I live in the guesthouse and I’m always here so if there is anything you need let me know okay.”
“Thank you. Can I bother you for the bathroom.”
“Sure my dear, Jonah will show you where it is, and I’ll fix something for you to drink while you freshen up. Gabriel should be back soon.”
The view from the second floor balcony facing the ocean was breathtaking. The ocean breeze whipped my face as I stood there taking in the view as far as my eyes would allow, inhaling the refreshing scent of the ocean. My eyes fell on a lone, shirtless figure running up the beach and my body immediately began to tingle. Without even having a clear view of his face I knew it was him. I have seen that body too many times in my dreams and waking thoughts. My eyes followed him as he approached the house and stopped on him when he suddenly stopped his approach. Bent over, his hands resting on his knees as he tried to catch his breath he looked up at the house and his eyes zeroed in on me. I held his gaze for as long as I could before he caught a second wind and ran up the path to the house.
Moments later I heard him moving around inside the house as he rushed up to where I stood. I smelt his intoxicating, manly scent and heard his labored breathing behind me before I turned to face him. His bright blue eyes bore through me as I took in his beautifully sculptured f
ace, his naked, glistening chest and just his magnificent presence.
“Hi,” I whispered in a hoarse voice I didn’t recognize as my own.
“Hi,” he whispered back, finally catching his breath as he devoured me with his eyes.
“Give me a couple of minutes to catch a quick shower and I’ll be right back okay,” his said, his voice returning to the sexy, masculine tone I knew.
“Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’m not going anywhere Gabriel. I don’t have anywhere else to be.”
He looked at me intently for a moment before he replied.
“That’s good Ally, that’s very good.”
He left me standing there, wondering why I felt, with those few words, I committed myself to something more with Gabriel than helping him with his stalker problem.
**********
Seeing her standing there on the balcony knocked the wind out of me. I went for a run to try and clear my head and mentally prepare myself for her arrival but nothing prepared me for the sight of her standing on the balcony, her long beautiful hair, merrily dancing around her to the tune of the breeze. I felt her eyes on me and took off running, wanting to be near her as soon as I could.
The energy that swirled around us as we stood face to face was intense as I drank in the sight of her in front of me. I felt myself harden and instead of staying and having a conversation with her I ran as fast as I could with the excuse of needing a shower. It’s unfortunate that the cold water lashing down on me now was doing nothing for my hard, throbbing cock. The last thing I wanted to do was rub one out with her a few rooms away from me, especially on her first day here. I also didn’t want to become a pervert, running to the bathroom every time she was near me and I found myself getting hard. That would require me spending way too much time in the bathroom.
I found her exactly where I left her, looking out into the vast, blue ocean, lost in her thoughts. What I wouldn’t give to know what she was thinking. Instead of interrupting her I just stood there drinking in the sight of her.
“This is the most beautiful sight I’ve even seen. You must never grow tired of looking at it,” she stated, startling me.
“ It is a beautiful sight, one I never want to take my eyes off,” I replied, my eyes still fixated on her instead of the view she was entranced with.
She turned towards me and smiled, that rare smile that took my breath away.
“Ready to talk about why I’m here?” she asked.
“I know you’re still on New York time so how about we take today to relax and get down to business tomorrow,” I replied, hoping we could have this one evening for us without surrounding ourselves with the drama that’s building in my life.
“Okay,” she hastily agreed, surprising me with how easy that was, “but if we’re relaxing there is one thing I’ve been dying to do since we got here.”
“Anything.”
She took my hand and led me downstairs, out the door and down the path to the beach. I followed her lead when she suddenly released my hand, kicked off her shoes, and gingerly tiptoed into the water. Like a child at the beach for the first time she squealed as the tiny waves hit her naked feet. She turned back to me and grinned.
“It’s so warm.”
“You’ve never been to the beach before?” I asked.
“Never had the time to. Thank you for having me out here.”
“You’re welcome, you should go in further,” I encouraged but she shook her head like a child and squished her toes into the sand.
“I’m a little overdressed for that,” she replied, indicating her little flared skirt that’s swirled around her thighs and buttoned up silk blouse she was wearing.
The devil in me wanted to come out and play and with a gleam in my eyes I slowly approached her.
“I don’t think there’s such a thing as being too overdressed for a dip in the ocean Ally,” I stated, knowing fully well she it wouldn’t take her long to get where I was going with that statement.
Understanding registered on her face and she started backing away from me going further into the water as I stalked.
“Gabriel Steele, don’t you dare,” she shouted at me darting to the left.
I was faster and caught her around the waist. She struggled but I had a good hold on her and before she knew it I had her hoist over my shoulders.
“Time for you real first dip in the ocean Ally,” I informed her with a smack to her ass.
“Gabriel, you’re going to be sorry if you don’t put me down now,” she threatened as my journey took us deeper into the water.
“Whatever you want Ally,” I replied when the water was finally hitting my upper chest.
Hoisting her off my shoulder I threw her up in the air and watched as she landed with splat in the water before disappearing. She came up, spitting water, her hair dangling around her face, looking as mad as hell before I saw the devilish gleam in her eyes.
“So you want to play now, do you?” she asked.
Her shirt floated up around her and I knew if I ducked my head underwater would see a sight I longed to see.
I held my ground, grinned at her as she sized me up when she suddenly launched her body at me. Caught of guard I managed to catch her before I toppled back and took us both down, sinking into the water. With as much grace as I could muster I brought us back to the surface and still holding on to her I managed to wipe the water from my face. With her arms on my shoulders steadying her I took the opportunity to pull her drenched hair back with my free hand before brushing the water off her face. My hand got a life of it’s own, my finger chased a droplet down her cheek. I traced her beautiful, lush pink lips and before I could stop myself my lips were attached to hers. With one touch the atmosphere around us became electric. She did not fight it and I deepened the kiss, holding her prisoner against me. Her arms tightened around me, pulling me closer to her and the soft moans that escaped from within her made me hard. Breaking for air I looked into her eyes and the desire I saw burning there gave me hope.
“Gabriel…I….”
“Ally I’m giving you the time you need, but I promise you, I’m going to make you mine.”
**********
He’s giving me time.
Time for what exactly? I didn’t think it was time to run away which meant he was giving me time to get use to the idea that we were eventually going to be bumping uglies with each other. I looked at my face in the mirror as I sat there drying my hair. My lips were still slightly swollen and I cursed myself. Less than two hours since I’ve arrived and I was already mauling him, no wonder he was so sure I was eventually going to have sex with him. I couldn’t help but think, what changed since the last time we found ourselves in a compromising position.
It was the night of Connor and Tessa’s engagement party and I was holed up in a bedroom in his parent’s house where the party was being held, on the phone with my work, when he entered. Caught off guard by his presence, I quickly hung up and tried doing what I did best when he was around, running, but this time he had me trapped. He pointed out the irony of me hiding in his bedroom when all I did was run, every time he came close to me. I wanted to leave, everything inside me screamed for me to leave but when I tried to he caught me. With his slightest touch the desire inside me ignited and all my common sense flew out the window. I never wanted anyone as much as I wanted him and I never gave myself to anyone but I was willing to give it all to him.
His hands and his lips were like dynamite, scorching with every touch. He wanted me as much as I wanted him. Being naked with him felt so right.