Between the Lines

by Jane Charles

  “I don’t want to disturb you.”

  “That’s not what disturbed me.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “I didn’t know you were here and couldn’t figure out why Gabe was watching a Disney movie at two in the morning.”

  “It was Tchaikovsky,” Gabe answers a bit defensively.

  Mateo just chuckles. “Yeah, I know that now. But dude, that is so not you, so you get my concern.”

  “Ellen’s insisting on bringing culture to my life.”

  “It’s about time somebody did.”

  Gabe – 34

  I owe Mateo big. He got that Ellen couldn’t return to her apartment right now, not that she’s actually explained to me why. But, if it helps with her anxiety, she’s more than welcome to stay. I also knew he wouldn’t care that she stayed, but when he asked if he could crash up there, I couldn’t believe it. He claimed it was so she could listen to her music and he could sleep, but I know it was more. He wanted to give me some privacy.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind. It’s such an inconvenience,” Ellen says.

  “It’s one flight up. If I need anything, I’ll be back down.”

  “Is it safe?” she mutters almost to herself.

  “What?” I ask.

  Ellen blows out a breath. “I’m being irrational, I know.”

  “You can tell yourself that a hundred times, but it isn’t going to change the way you feel,” Mateo says with understanding.

  “Why don’t you think it’s safe?” I ask her.

  “There’s no place to go if something happens.”

  “Like a fire?” Mateo asks.

  I know she isn’t thinking about a fire, but bad guys instead.

  “Something like that,” Ellen finally answers. Neither she nor I have told Mateo what is at the root of her anxiety.

  “It’s only a floor up. Nothing’s going to happen to me, but it’s not that far of a drop either,” he assures her as he grabs the door handle. “Just relax and get some sleep, Ellen. It’s all good.”

  “He’s right,” she says after Mateo is gone.

  “Mateo will be fine,” I assure her, for what good it does, but at least she isn’t panicking. Not like last night. “It’s getting late. You should get some sleep.”

  She nods and gets up off of the couch. “Crap. I didn’t grab anything to sleep in.”

  As far as I’m concerned, she doesn’t need to sleep in anything, but I’m sure the last think Ellen needs or wants at the moment is to have sex. “I’ll get you a t-shirt.”

  “Thanks.” She smiles weakly at me.

  I grab a clean one out of a drawer and toss it to her. Ellen ducks into the bathroom and I strip down to my boxers and crawl into bed.

  A moment later she returns, but leaves the bathroom light on and cracks the door. I usually need it pitch black to sleep, but if she wants every light in the apartment on, I’ll let her have it.

  She grabs my tablet as she gets in bed. “Do you mind?”

  “Of course not.” I anticipated her wanting to listen to the ballet anyway. Whatever Ellen needs, I’ll give to her.

  She starts the music but turns it down so we can barely hear it, sets it on the nightstand before snuggling against me.

  I like this and not sure I want to sleep without her again. We fit, perfectly. Whether we are making love or just cuddling. It’s as if she was designed just for me.

  When the hell did I get so sappy?

  But, I can’t help it. Ellen makes me feel all kinds of things I’ve never experienced before. “Do you think it’s possible to start falling in love within hours of meeting someone?” My hand is caressing her arm and I’m trying not to hold my breath, waiting for her answer. What if she isn’t feeling the same thing I am?”

  “At one time, no.”

  My heartbeat increases. “And now?”

  I can feel her grin against my chest. Can she hear and feel how hard my heart is pounding? “I think so.” She tilts her head back and looks up at me.

  “I know so.” I kiss her forehead, afraid that if I kiss her lips it will be all over for me and I’ll be making love to her. That’s not what Ellen needs tonight. She needs rest. “I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  “How can you be so certain?” There are worry lines between her eyes. Maybe it isn’t the same for her.

  “It’s between the lines. Not in what you say, but in your touch, in what you do, in your eyes and more specifically, how I feel in here.” I put a hand over my heart.

  “Are you sure it isn’t how you feel here?” She lays a hand on my cock. It’s hard and aching and has been this way before we ever got into bed.”

  “That’s only secondary and a reaction to everything else.”

  Her brown eyes darken. “I do believe I’m falling in love too, if I’m not already there, Gabe.”

  My hands slide up her rib cage and my thumbs caress her hard nipples. “No words are needed when I’m with you.” I kiss her. This is a bad idea. I want to make love to her, more than anything, but Ellen needs rest, I remind myself and I remove my hand and smooth the t-shirt over her body.

  She takes my hand and slides it back under her shirt. “I want you.” Then she gives my cock a gentle squeeze. “And, it’s clear that you want me.” Ellen pulls herself up my body and leans in close. “Let’s see what you can read between my lines.”

  Ellen

  I can’t remember being so forward in my life, but I knew if I didn’t make a move, Gabe wouldn’t either. I get that he’s concerned and wants me to rest, but I need something more. I need him. He’s falling in love and so am I. I can’t just go to sleep now. Not when his body is right next to mine and he’s hard, wanting me. I’m aching, deep inside, needing him.

  “Are you sure?” He asks.

  “I’ve never been more sure.”

  He rolls to his side, facing me, before taking my lips. Like the kiss earlier, it’s gentle and loving and his passion is just under the surface, as if he’s trying to remain in control. I like this gentleness.

  His hands slowly explore my body, different from the one time we were together. My blood heats, and his fingers burn a trail along my skin. He shifts, sitting and pulls the t-shirt from my body and I don’t try to cover anything. Not anymore. Gabe accepts me for who I am and loves me. His blue eyes darken as he rakes his eyes over my body. I can feel his cock against my thigh and I tug at his boxers. I want him as naked as me. As soon as he has them off, he tosses them on the floor and pulls my panties down my legs. Soon, there is nothing between us. Even the sheet and the blankets have been pushed to the foot of the bed. He sits back on his heels, studying me.

  “Where to begin?” he asks in a hushed whisper.

  “Here?” I hold out my arms. My intention was to pull him to me. Instead, he takes a palm and presses a kiss to it, then my wrist, where he licks at my pulse

  Goodness, heat shoots through me and start getting damp. I wasn’t really aroused before, I just wanted him. But, he’s waking up every nerve in my body.

  Gabe kisses his way down my arm, stopping to lick my inner arm, right at the elbow, and making his way to my neck. I try not to squirm, but the anticipation of what he will be doing next is building. My boobs swell and nipples tighten and he isn’t even there yet.

  He bites my neck gently and I push my fingers through his hair, holding him close. I’ve had sex before and fucked, but this is the first time I’ve felt like someone is making love to me, worshipping me and I want to do the same to him. I need Gabe more than he could possibly need me. I just wished I knew how to show him.

  He bends, taking a nipple into his mouth and I arch, crying out and pleasure shoots to my groin, I reach for him. Wanting to touch whatever I can reach and grasp one of his nipples between my fingers, inching.

  He takes my hand away and looks down at me. “Let me love you.”

  “I want to love you too.”

  He chuckles. “If you touch me, I won’t last.”

  I have that much of an effe
ct on him?

  “Let me do this right, please.”

  I simply nod and he bends again this time taking the other nipple in his mouth. I thread my fingers back through his hair and hold him close my heart melting further as my body heats.

  His hands skim down the planes of my sensitive stomach and his fingers find the folds of my lower lips. He sinks in, finding my clit and draws my moisture forward, circling in. I can’t help it, and raise my hips off the bed, reaching for a release.

  Gabe doesn’t take the hint, or intentionally ignores my silent yearnings, and slowly circles, bringing me close to the peak and easing off, then back again. I arch, a silent scream lodged in my throat as he gives way and lets me explode, letting me ride the waves and keeping just enough pressure to drag out the longest orgasm in my life before backing off the moment I become too sensitive.

  While I’m lying there panting, he rolls to the side opens a drawer in this nightstand and takes out a condom.

  “I’m on the pill and safe.” I haven’t been tested in six months, not since my last pap smear, but I haven’t been with anyone other than Gabe either. And since I don’t do drugs, if I got anything, then it’d have to be something airborne.

  He tosses the condom aside. “I am too.”

  Gabe rolls over and settles between my thighs, bracing himself with his hands. I tilt my hips and he thrusts forward.

  I can’t help but sigh. I need to feel him in me more than I needed that amazing orgasm.

  I pull his head down so that our lips can touch. Any passion he might have been holding back is unleashed and his tongue thrusts just as his cock fills me again. Our mouths are melded, tongue tangling as I lift and meet his thrust over and over.

  I didn’t think it was possible to come again and urge him to the brink. He shifts, reaches between us and rubs my clit. I’m practically already there again and in just a matter of moments my body explodes and tiny spark flash behind my eyelids as he groans and buries himself deeper than I thought possible for anyone to be. He pumps into me, filling me before collapsing beside me, breathing heavy.

  I’m not sure my heart will ever return to normal. Even if the beat slows, I know it no longer belongs to me, but the amazing guy right beside me.

  Gabe – 35

  Without opening my eyes, I reach out and try to find my phone, grasping it from the nightstand. I crack an eyelid and recognize Mag’s number. Ellen is still asleep so I whisper when I answer. “Hello.”

  “Good morning,” she chirps.

  I glance at the clock. It’s already nine.

  “Sleeping a little late these days, I see.”

  I scrub a hand over my face. “Late night.”

  “When can you be here?”

  My eyes blink open and I’m suddenly awake.

  “I can come back to work?” I was so afraid that in the end I’d lose my job. I know Mag told me I’d probably be back, but there are no guarantees.

  “On Monday you can return to classes,” she assures me.

  “Then why do you need me today?”

  “So, you can give Ellen a tour.”

  “Are you sure?” I honestly thought she’d change her mind and not let Ellen back when she couldn’t learn anything about her.

  “You don’t see the harm and Mateo seems to think she’d understand better than most.”

  Surely he didn’t go to Mag about Ellen’s panic attack. I didn’t ask him to keep it to himself, but I just assumed he would. “What did he say?”

  “I just asked him about her, and he said he knew enough to think she wouldn’t bring any harm to Baxter or the kids. That if she was going to write an article, he didn’t think there’d be anything to worry about.”

  I shouldn’t have doubted Mateo for a second.

  “After lunch?” I suggest.

  “Sounds good. Just check in with me when you get here. I want to talk to her first.”

  That, I should have anticipated. Mag might still grill Ellen before she lets her go further. But, it’s up to Ellen what she tells my supervisor, not me.

  Ellen

  “So, you’re my babysitter?” I ask Gabe as we step into the plantation house. Mag might have agreed to let me return, but she wants to talk to me again. I’m not exactly looking forward to that conversation since the woman clearly does not like me.

  “Escort,” he corrects with a laugh.

  “Same thing,” I grumble. She probably still won’t let me talk to the kids, so I doubt I’ll find out anything anyway. I’m also not prepared. Even though I planned on doing more research and listing out my questions after the last visit. That didn’t happen because so many other things did.

  A secretary or some kind of office assistant meets us just inside the door.

  “Miss Mag wants you to show Miss West what she may have missed during her last visit,” she says to Gabe. “She’ll meet the two of you, with your journalist students, by the willow trees when it’s time for that class.”

  He frowns and then nods his head before turning to me. “So, Ellen. What didn’t you see?”

  A lot, I assume. “The gallery, theater and dance area, I think.” I don’t know what else there is, but I know Baxter has those and I didn’t see them yet.

  He stops first at the gallery. There are paintings, photographs and sculptures and none of it has an amateurish quality like you’d normally find in a high school. Not that I haven’t seen some amazing works of art in high school, but a lot if it is also lacks depth and detail, because so many are still learning. Not with these pieces though. Many of them could rival what I’ve viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Maybe I can talk the curators into a Baxter exhibit. That would certainly raise funds for the school, if it turns out it is a good school.

  More and more I’m beginning to doubt the truth of what that girl said. At first, I just assumed that Gabe just didn’t know anything, but Mateo is a counselor, with a psychology degree and I got a real good vibe from him. Maybe the problem was with her and not the school, yet, I can’t just ignore what I heard because of two guys who seem to have genuine hearts. It’s not fair to her and certainly not fair to the rest of the students stuck here if her accusations turn out to be true.

  “These are amazing,” I finally say, gesturing to the artwork as a whole.

  “It is an art school,” Gabe chuckles. “On to the theatre,” he suggests as we leave the gallery.

  “The production opens tomorrow,” Gabe says as we step through the doors at the back. It’s not an overly large theatre, and probably seats two hundred to two hundred fifty people, but I’m a bit perplexed. If they open tomorrow, where is the set? I just assumed there would be one. Maybe they don’t have the funds.

  “What’s the show?”

  “Can’t remember.” He shrugs and I roll my eyes as we walk down the center aisle. One of the students I recognize from his English class is stepping onto the stage. Gabe steps into a row and I follow, both of us taking seats. Another girl steps onto the opposite side of the stage and I immediately know the show as soon as their dialogue starts. It’s Our Town, and right now the mothers are rehearsing their lines while pantomiming making breakfast.

  They’re good. Real good.

  When they’ve finished, the director calls her cast together and I strain to listen.

  “We’ll continue to work on these individual parts, but we’ll run the entire show from beginning to end, costumes, makeup, and all, for our final dress.”

  The students are nodding.

  “Your dinner will be at five tonight. Finish quick and get here so you can get into makeup and costumes for the run.”

  Again they nod.

  “Now, who has something they want to work on before next class?”

  A kid in the front row raises his hand. I can’t hear what he says, and Gabe leans in. “Do you want to come see it tomorrow night?”

  I grin up at him. “I’d love to.”

  He winks and then stands, leading me out of the theatre. “On t
o the dance studios.”

  My heartbeat picks up. After the art work, and watching those two actresses, I can’t wait to see the dancers. “What kind of dancing?” Please let it be ballet.

  He shrugs. Does Gabe know anything about the school he teaches at?

  “I know they study all kinds.” He smiles down at me. “But the main teacher is a ballerina.”

  He was holding out on me. I give him a gentle punch in the arm.

  “I thought you said you didn’t hit people.” He rubs his arm.

  I know damn well I didn’t hurt him. “Well, I didn’t until I met you.”

  He laughs and opens the door for me. I pause and listen. From further down the hall I hear the music. I close my eyes and let it wash over me. “Coppelia,” I whisper.

  “Coppelia?”

  “The ballet,” I answer and follow the music until I find the room and step inside. It’s a large studio and five girls are dancing, learning the part of Swanilda, the lead, who is in love with Franz. It’s a difficult piece and the teacher starts the music over and over demonstrating the movements. I learned this once, not that I was ever good enough to play the part, but I know the dance and if I weren’t wearing heels, I’d be tempted to join them just to see what I remember.”

  “Are there only five students?”

  “No, there are more.”

  “Any guys?” It’s hard to have a full ballet without males.

  “Yep,” Gabe answers, as if he’s not sure. “There’s another studio across the hall.”

  I step out and cross to the other door. There are twelve other students in here, all rehearsing the same steps. Six guys and six girls, learning the way to properly lift. My heart swells again, wishing I could once again be part of the ballet.

  A bell rings and the music across the hall shuts off and the students in this room start grabbing their stuff.

  “Well, I guess it’s time to meet with Mag.”

  My stomach tightens and once again I’m thrust back into reality, away from my happy place of the ballet.

  Gabe – 35