Guarding Gabriel

by J. A. Wynters

  He held my hand while he paid and guided us outside.

  We walked in silence for a while, making our way through the crowds, music and sizzle escaped restaurants as patrons walked in and out. The night air was heavy with the smell of garlic and petrol.

  I’m not sure how we got to the hotel. But there we stood. The tower loomed above us, pristine and inviting for all the right reasons, for all the wrong ones too.

  Leon brought my hand up to his mouth and lay a gentle warm kiss on it.

  “I don’t want tonight to end here,” he said. The sweetness drained from his voice allowing for vulnerability to filter in.

  I shifted away from his warm body and craned my head to look at his face. “What do you want Leon?”

  “More.”

  My pulse hammered through my veins as I searched his face. “What would more entail?”

  “More of this.” He leaned into me, his lips finding mine, pulling me in, indulgent and greedy. He pulled away leaving me breathless. “More of you Jane. Late-night texts and dinner dates. I want to laugh with you Jane. It’s been a long time since I’ve had such a good night.”

  I could feel the heat as it warmed me. “I think I would like that.”

  He weaved his strong hands around me and pulled me against him, his lips finding mine once more. Hungry, insistent, predatory. I could feel him hardening against me. Leon was going to give me more.

  So much more.

  He sank his head to my ears. “I want you to come upstairs with me,” his voice was deep and husky. “I want to see you naked. I want to touch you in all the ways I have denied myself. I want to keep you up all night calling my name.”

  I could feel the heat as it spread along my body, burying itself in my core. My heart fluttered in my chest like a butterfly about to be pinned.

  I nodded. I was paralysed, but not with fear, by desire and lust and need so great I thought I would melt right into the pavement like an ice cube on a hot day. I swallowed searching for my voice. “Take me upstairs Leon.”

  The grip on my hand tightened, and he pulled me into the bright lobby. White and gold tapestries and a high ceiling in an exquisite setting that I had no time nor inclination to admire. Leon ploughed through the reception area and led us straight to the elevator.

  I guess he was prepared.

  When the elevator arrived, I could feel the tension in his body, like he was resisting heaving me into the lift and fucking me against the golden walls. His perfect hair stood to the side, as if it too was on edge, his jaw set his eyes locked on the numbers that flashed painfully slow as we travelled higher.

  His iron grip pulled my wrist as soon as the elevator doors opened and we spilt into the hall. He produced a key card from his jacket pocket and led us to our room. He released his grip as soon as I walked inside as if certain now, I would no longer be able to get away from him.

  The hotel room was not like any other I had been in. It resembled an expensive penthouse apartment. Doorways led to rooms and bathrooms, but much like the lobby, I had little time to admire my surroundings where all my focus shifted to the one dangerous thing in the room. The beacon that summoned all my attention.

  Leon removed his jacket and threw it on the couch. His eyes locked onto mine, searing me with their intensity. I bit my lip and took a step back as he stepped towards me. Circling around me, he stalked me like a predator circling his prey, closing the distance between us.

  I stepped to the right, and he mimicked my move. I turned left, and he reached out an arm, clasping my wrist. I let out a little yelp as Leon spun me and slammed my body into his.

  Tightening his grip, he forced my back to sink against his hard body, like a wall that’s been standing in the sun all day. Hard and hot.

  I could feel him, all of him, every rippling muscle and heaving breath, every dip and bulge and bump. His strong arms caged me, his mouth at my ear.

  “I have been waiting so long for you Jane.” He breathed and lay a soft kiss on my shoulder sending my heart into a frenzy. He trailed kisses along my neck, his hand sliding across my abdomen.

  His hands travelled to the hem of my shirt, he tugged at the material, forcing my hands above my head. He threw it to the ground and unclipped my bra letting it fall to the floor. His hands found my exposed flesh cupping my breasts, swirling his thumbs against my nipples. He bit my shoulder. “Fuck Jane.” The words slurred against my skin.

  I wanted to melt, my bones turned to jelly beneath his touch, but his strong hands held me up, his body moulding to mine.

  “You are so beautiful Jane.” He nipped my neck, his hips grinding into me. I could feel how hard he was, how needy. “Look.” He spun us around, a body length mirror greeted me.

  Leon freed a hand and pulled at my skirt. It slipped to the floor pooling by my legs. He kicked it away and placed his feet on the inside of mine pulling me apart, forcing me against him. He anchored his attention on my face as his hand plunged into my underwear. I gasped at the soft touch of his fingers as they brushed my wetness.

  A low growl emanated from somewhere deep inside Leon. His eyes focused on my parted lips, flickering to my nipples which he so expertly teased, my flat belly peeking beyond the tangle of his arms, the hand beyond the fabric moving ever so slowly, deliberately, eliciting moans from my trembling body.

  My body trembled at his touch. Unrelenting, revering each curve and swell, each mound and rise. His hands did not leave my body, tender touches of delightful torment. My chest heaved against his, my breath emerging in short sharp gasps.

  “So fucking beautiful.” He kissed my shoulder. His hands fell from my body and he spun me around. Our lips slammed together, my need desperate as I devoured his mouth. He pulled my legs up, and I wrapped myself around him as he walked over to the bed. Letting me slip from his grip, he set me on the edge and stood back admiring me.

  I loved that about Leon, his unconditional attention, the look that said he appreciated everything he saw without a word ever spoken.

  “Spread your legs for me Jane.”

  I wanted to, I tried to, but every instinct told me that there was a predator in the room, an animal masquerading as a gentleman. I clamped my thighs closed. Leon let out an agonised growl.

  He began to unbutton his shirt. Dragging his piercing gaze across my body as he unbuttoned each button one at a time, slowly, methodically, self-assured. As his shirt fell open, he revealed at last what lay beneath.

  His chest rose and fell unevenly beneath sloping shoulders. The steely contours of his abs as they narrowed at the hips where his suit pants clung to arched bones. A trail of black hair rounded his belly button and disappeared beyond the line of his boxers. I could see his erection as it pushed against the soft cotton.

  He slipped out of his pants, but left the boxers on, teasing me with his secret.

  “Spread your legs for me Jane.”

  “Make me.”

  He growled at me and lunged at the bed. I squealed scrambling backwards until my hands found the headboard. His heavy weight pinned me to the bed. His hands hooked around my wrists holding them above my head, forcing me to arch my back. His exquisite mouth found my hardening nipples. He feasted on my breasts, moving from one to the other, then back again, relentless. The mounting pleasure throbbing between my legs, craving release.

  “Leon,” I moaned his name, it was a plea.

  For less.

  For more.

  For everything.

  His mouth released me. “Spread your legs for me Jane.” The hold on my wrists grew firmer as I complied at last. His hand slipped into my underwear and parted my lips, just hovering, not quite touching. I could feel the warmth of his fingers as his mouth returned to its earlier torment.

  My body burned in desperate agony, I needed to be sated, satisfied, released, and yet Leon tormented me with his mouth, with his fingers. I strained my hips against his fingers, hot pleasure shot into my core. I repeated the action, the swelling delight built inside me as the
edge came ever closer. My body quivered, the torment of my nipples, maddening, infuriating, delicious. I was close.

  Leon pulled away his fingers and tongue, but his hands were yet to release mine. “You are sensational Jane.” He kissed my shoulder, as I squirmed with need. “I am going to let go now, but I don’t want you to move. If you do, I’ll have to start all over again.”

  I nodded. Leon’s wet, hot lips landed on mine, he bit my lower lip as he let go of my wrists. I remained still as his eyes swept along my body. He clasped the elastic band of the underwear and slipped it off my legs. I could hear a low rumble in his chest as he looked at my throbbing pussy. So needy for him.

  He slipped off the bed and at last removed his boxers. His hard cock stood erect, the veins pulsed along it, straining. He slipped a condom on and stood at the edge of the bed.

  His mouth peppered gentle kisses on my legs and thighs, my belly, my breasts, my neck and my mouth as he blanketed my body with his.

  His hips thrust against my opening, and then he was inside me, filling me up. He held himself there and looked into my eyes. I could see the strain to remain composed, his need matched mine.

  He pulled himself out and plunged into me again, shooting pleasure into my core, my hips rising to meet him. He repeated the action again, his rhythm was calculated and stirring, pushing me closer as I ground my body against his. His neck corded, his mouth a thin line, I could see the restraint falling away from him. His thrusts became less measured, but frantic and fast, slamming into me, I arched upward to take all of him as he pushed me over the edge. I exploded into a thousand pieces beneath him. Pleasure filled me, a hot fiery eruption as I called out his name. His hips pounded against me, and with a final shuddering release, his fingers dug into my flesh as he let out a husky primal growl.

  He rolled away, and I lay breathless in his arms. My body quaking with delicious aftershocks. His strong arms winged around me, he kissed the top of my head as I listened to the rhythm of his heart.

  There are pains that you don’t mind. Like the aching muscles you wake up with after a long night. You don’t mind the cramping sensations because every time you move, your mind rewinds to the moment of how you sustained this pain, and you smile and rub your thighs or arms or neck. I groaned in uncomfortable pleasure feeling the empty space beside me.

  “Good morning sleepy head.” He was in his boxers and nothing else. He was a vision. Tangled wild hair and a flashing smile that softened all his hard features. His steely contours fluid as he moved towards the bed. He planted a soft kiss on my lips. I moaned or groaned, half in pleasure and half in a sleepy stupor. How could he look so good this early in the morning?

  “Breakfast?”

  “Shower.” My voice still scratched with sleep.

  “Don’t mind if I do.” He followed me to the bathroom uninvited.

  Despite the evening we had shared, I still felt nervous around him. Being naked around Leon was something I wanted to get used to, and he made it easy by removing his boxers. I might have sighed or gasped or done something to expel all the air from my lungs and attempted to suck it all back in. Leon pretended not to notice as he stepped into the shower and held the door open for me expectantly.

  The oversized bathroom could have held half a football team. The hot water pelted my sore body, and then there were hands. Leon’s lathered hands massaged my body, neck, back, feet and everything in between. He was gentle and sensuous, his hands gliding over me, finding their way to my breasts and between my legs.

  “What are you doing to me?”

  “Washing you.” He grinned not hiding his satisfaction of his effects on me.

  He dipped his head toward me, his lips finding mine, his kiss, deep and hungry. I curled my fingers around his cock and he let out a surprised gasp. I stroked his swelling erection, and he rewarded me with a choked moan.

  “What are you doing?” he breathed through clenched teeth, his hips rocked, sliding in my grip.

  “Washing you.” I bit my lip as his rhythm sped up and his eyes rolled slightly upwards. Leon’s breathing became louder, heavier.

  “Stop.” A scratched whisper.

  “Make me,” his eyes flashed at my dare. His hand landed against my wrist but he didn’t yank it off, his hips still working against my hand. “You can make it up to me later.”

  His hand fell away. “Jane.” He groaned against me, his hand clutching mine, guiding it, speeding up, pressing harder against his hardening shaft, his body began to shake like a tree in a hurricane, his mouth pulled back and his body twitched as he moaned his release.

  Leon found my mouth. His tongue slipped inside and I could taste him. Even in the morning he tasted delicious, like a flavour that was made just for me. When he pulled away, he wrapped his arms around me holding me under the deluge of water. Letting the water wash away the rest of the soap.

  After we had towelled off, he called the reception desk again informing them we were ready for our breakfast.

  We sat across from one another, he nibbled on bacon and eggs, I sipped my coffee unable to tear myself away from his bare chest and intense chocolate eyes.

  “I meant what I said last night.”

  “You said a lot of things.” I toyed with him.

  The scowl crossed his face just as I had predicted. “About wanting more. From you, with you.”

  I sipped on my coffee pretending my stomach didn’t feel like a thousand fists were squeezing it. “What about Scott?”

  “What about him?” Leon looked up from his plate and into my eyes.

  “What would he think?”

  “It’s taken care of.”

  “What does that mean?” I straightened in my chair and put my cup down.

  Leon sucked in a deep breath and let his fork drop. “When Scott sent you over to me, he knew I would never touch you, not as long as you worked for me. When you walked out of my office after that first day, I called him. We talked. Over the years he mentioned you more than once, how funny you were, how intelligent and fun. I already had a picture of you in my head well before I saw you. And then I did.” His hands clenched for a second, as he leaned in across the table.

  “You blew me away in an instant. You were not at all what I was expecting, and in many ways, I already knew you. I wanted you the second I laid eyes on you.” I tried to remember how to breathe.

  “I called Scott as soon as you were in the elevator, we had a conversation. He told me I wasn’t allowed to have you, ever.” Leon scoffed at the idea.

  “He never told me that.”

  “Did he really have to?”

  I let the question sink to the floor unanswered. We both knew the answer.

  “I know you guys have become distant, him and his stupid games and you with your new career.” He brushed a hand through his wet hair sweeping it to the side. “I called him yesterday, told him what my intentions were. He wasn’t happy.”

  “You what?” there was so much more I wanted to say about assumptions and presumptions and assholes, but Leon held up his hand.

  “I told him that he’s had two years. Two years to make a move, to try and pry you away from me, to try and claim you as his own, and yet all he did was sit at home and dream. He may have had some childhood crush, but I have suffered you. I have been agonised by desire, the need for you. I have earned my claim to you. I tried to keep my distance, I tried to keep my hands off and face turned the other way, but fuck Jane, you have completely destroyed me.”

  My heart bounded around my ribcage like a feral animal. My anger dissolved. “I’m still going to have to call him.”

  “I’d be surprised if you didn’t.”

  “How pissed is he?”

  “Let’s just say I don’t think he’s going to be talking to me much.”

  I nodded and reached across the table putting my hand on his. “Are you OK?”

  He gave me a wounded look. “About choosing you over my brother?”

  I pursed my lips unsure of how to say
yes.

  Leon stood up and pulled me to him, his lips collided with mine like an asteroid hurtling on a path of destruction. His arms bound around me and he plunged his fingers into my hair. “It was never a choice for me Jane.” He pecked my lips. “He’ll come around.” His lips found mine once more. I knew he only said it to appease me, but I didn’t care. The way his body moved against mine, the way he was already leading us back to bed, ripping my robe open, searing heat through me. Falling to earth, hurtling towards the ground and slamming down with such devastating impact I knew I never had a choice either.

  Having Leon was like having the best part of a natural disaster. Everything about him was over the top, big strong and utterly devastating.

  My writing suddenly became happier, steamier than before. All of our shared nights and secrets became fodder for Gabriel and Mia.

  Leon would leave work early and come over, completely disrupting my nights. He took me out dancing and to little dingy restaurants that were dark and small, where the food was delicious and where his hand was always on me, in me.

  We laughed. It was a happy time, and for whatever reason, Gabriel barked and growled and brooded. Despite giving him Mia, he would never be satisfied. The more time I spent with Leon, the less time I needed to be with Gabriel.

  I served him Mia on a silver platter. Naked and hot and wanting, ready for everything he had to give her and more, and yet all he wanted was me.

  We were dating for almost three months the night that Sammy called him in and he had to rush back into work. Leon dropped me off, a guilty look on his fac. I gave him a quick peck and told him to go.

  When I walked inside Gabriel was waiting for me. He pushed me up against the wall, pinning me with his hips.

  “I’ve been waiting for you Jane,” he growled in a menacing tone. His hands rested on either side of my face, his mouth an inch away from mine.

  “Not tonight Gabriel.” I pushed his chest away. He did not budge, instead, grinding his hips against mine.

  “Gabriel.”

  He didn’t stop, his face dropped to my neck and he peppered it with soft, warm kisses. “Jane,” he whispered my name as his lips rounded my chin and fell on my mouth. His kiss was feathery and gentle, while his hips, worked against mine. His tongue slipped into my mouth, the kiss suddenly hungry, savage, overpowering.