by Sky Corgan
“Oh great, you better hope she doesn’t tell the tabloids,” Kia grumbled before adding, “Thank Abagail for the fruit basket.”
“A fruit basket? That was you?” Amusement danced in his eyes. "So since you're my girlfriend now, we should probably go out on a date."
“I said that to cover for you, not that you owed me one.” I gave him a quick smile before heading towards the exit.
“I know, but it will be fun.” He moved fast, linking arms with me. “Come on. I owe you for saving me.” Gabriel forced me to stop.
I could see the mischief in his big blue eyes. I sighed, conceding defeat. It wasn’t like I would mind spending more time with him, as long as he didn’t make it weird.
Once outside, he hailed a cab. “Do you mind going back to my place? I need to clean up first.”
“Can we just postpone it? It's kind of late.” No doubt, the invitation to go back to his place meant only one thing.
“Not a chance. You’re your own boss. You can make the time.”
Despite my protests, to his place we went. I almost hoped he just wanted to have sex so I could return home at a decent hour.
CHAPTER SIX
When we reached Gabriel's apartment, I relaxed on his couch, flipping through channels while he cleaned up. By the time he finally emerged from his bedroom, I was dozing off, using my hoodie as a pillow.
I yawned, sitting up. “Can we just pass and say we went on a date?”
The makeup he'd been wearing at the concert was gone. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and he had traded his theatrical costume for a pair of jeans and a button up, though it looked like he was too lazy to make it to the top of the shirt.
“Come on. It'll be fun.” He grinned, and I groaned, getting to my feet and tugging my hoodie over my head. “First, we need to wake you up. Think Starbucks is still open?”
“At…” I glanced at the clock on my phone, “10:30 at night? No way.”
“I know an all-night diner!” And just like that, we were off again, almost running down the street. Where did he get all this energy from? Especially after dancing and singing at the concert?
The night air did perk me up, though. By the time we reached the diner, two blocks down, I was more alert.
Holding open the door for me, I stepped past Gabriel, awash in the smells of the diner.
“Gabriel! Come on over, boy.” The man running the register grinned at us and beckoned.
“How are you, Pops?”
They made casual chitchat while I looked around. This was one of those small mom and pop diners you rarely see anymore. The single waitress manning the place seemed sleepy but friendly, and there were only two people sitting at the bar.
Gabriel tugged me towards a booth.
Opening the menu, I glanced at him over the top, watching him greet the waitress and trade jokes.
“Let me guess, you can’t cook?” I asked when she walked away.
“How did you know?”
“That familiar with a diner near you. It's the most rational explanation.”
“Maybe I just really like their omelets.” He grinned cheekily.
I picked out what I wanted and ordered when the waitress came back around. All Gabriel ordered was a milkshake.
“Didn’t you say you get nervous before concerts and don’t eat? Shouldn’t you be hungrier?” I asked curiously.
“Abby, were you actually listening to me?” He laughed, and I rolled my eyes. “I love their milkshakes. More importantly, how's work going? I hear Kia lined up a few more bands for you? Busy?”
“Very, thank you. I can see your popularity growing. Congrats. It seems like you guys are heading towards the big times.”
“Probably. I need to write more songs to keep the momentum going, though.”
“Do you write all of your own songs?” To be honest, I wouldn’t have pegged him as the songwriter of the group.
“Yes. Though as of late, I haven’t seen much inspiration.”
“I know how that is. Though, with all your fans chomping at the bit, I hope you find your songs soon.”
“I’m sure I will. Perhaps I just need to meet the right muse.” He winked.
“Let me know when you find one.” I took a sip of my tea, looking away.
“Okay, we can play stubborn. But as easy as you responded to me last time, you can’t fool me.” He chuckled. “So, what do you want to do on our date? Club? Bar?”
“Do I look like a club type of girl to you?” Surrounded by people, constantly bumping into them. No thank you.
“True…but what else would we do on a date this late at night?”
“Why can’t people just do Netflix and chill anymore?” I grumbled into my tea.
See, I told him we should postpone this. There's no way I'm good company this late at night.
“Netflix and chill? Isn’t that just kid code for sex these days?” he asked innocently.
I almost retorted, but our food arrived. “That was fast.”
“Thanks, Kelly,” Gabriel told the waitress.
The girl nodded and sauntered off to refill coffee at the counter.
“So, where did you grow up?” he asked after I took a few bites.
“Are we really going to do this date thing?” I rolled my eyes.
“Why not? I enjoy our time together. I find it quite inspiring, actually. You have a lot of passion hidden under that shy little web designer façade.
"I could also say I thoroughly enjoyed the sex and wouldn’t mind a repeat, but that seems a bit crasser.” A flush crawled up my cheeks, and his smile widened. “See, that is what is so fun about you.”
“Okay…I’ll bite. I grew up in Nebraska, moved out here to Cincinnati five or so years ago to join a firm. How about you?”
“Nebraska? You?”
“What?” Was it really that shocking?
“I guess I just never thought you looked like a Nebraskan girl. Southern maybe, but not Nebraskan.”
“Where did you grow up then?”
“New York City.”
“Seriously? Which of the boroughs?”
“Brooklyn.”
“Was it fun?” I asked, nibbling on my hash browns.
“Excruciatingly so.”
***
Our dinner passed with an exchange of information, learning about where we had come from and talking about our crazy experiences and what molded us into who we were today.
Gabriel was much more down to earth than I had imagined. He had met his fellow band members in college when he was working on getting an Accounting degree—something I never would have pictured him studying. He said he had watched the music industry corrupt and destroy good artists, which was the reason why he wanted to stay indie.
I told him about my college days being one of the few female web designers. It was challenging pursuing a career in a male-dominated industry, but it was also fun.
It had been a while since I had such a carefree date. By the end of it, I didn’t even think twice about inviting Gabriel to my place.
“A chance to see the reclusive cave of a web developer? I would love to.” He laughed and paid the check, waving to Pops as we left.
I ordered an Uber, and we made our way back.
“If you laugh, I will punch you,” I warned as we walked up the stairs to my apartment.
“I promise, I won’t,” he replied.
It wasn’t a fancy place like his, but it was home. I opened the door and let him in.
He stopped and looked around at my living room, taking his shoes off and placing them on the rack.
“Well…this is interesting. Definitely not what I had expected,” Gabriel noted.
The living room was decorated in an ocean theme.
He plopped down on the love seat, and I sat beside him, grabbing the remote to turn on the television. “What do you want to try?” I asked, gesturing to the row of video games sitting on the shelf below the television on my entertainment center.
/> “Show me your favorite.”
I put in Dragon Age, starting it up.
Suddenly, I felt very self-conscious. I should have just put on a movie. What if he hated video games?
“Who’s that guy?” he asked as I worked on a mission. I explained the relationship dynamics, who I was wooing and what was going on in the plot.
“That explains it!” Gabriel said excitedly.
“Explains what?”
“Why you aren’t excited to go on a date with me! You're already dating these guys!”
“And girls,” I added.
“You're too caught up in these fantasy relationships to be enraptured with me.” He sounded both dramatic and offended at the same time. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. “But there is one thing they cannot do.”
“Oh yeah? What would that be?”
“This.” Gabriel tugged the ties on my hoodie, and I tumbled forward, meeting his lips in surprise. I gasped as he delved into my mouth. I had forgotten the heat of his tongue, the pressure of his lips. I wrapped my arms around him, kissing him until he was as breathless as I was.
When he pulled back, I wasn’t the only one flushed.
Gabriel grinned, turning back towards the game. “I want to try that one.” He pointed to Call of Duty.
I groaned. “Once you start playing, you won’t be able to stop.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
So I put the game in, handing him a controller. I introduced him to the controls and made him play through the tutorial before we dove into multiplayer. After a few rounds, my exhaustion got the best of me, and I had to call it quits. As expected, he wanted to keep going, so I let him play on his own while I rested my head on his shoulder and dozed off to the sounds of gunshots and war cries.
“Hey, Abby.” A whispered voice interrupted my sleep. I blinked blearily at Gabriel. “Can I spend the night?”
I shrugged, yawning and sitting up. “Sure.”
“Good. Because, like I mentioned earlier…” he scooped me up into his arms, pecking my lips, “there is something I would love to do, much more so than video games… Something that specifically involves you.” Just like that, I was very much awake and aware of him as he held me against him. “Can I come to your room?”
“You are… impossible.” I sighed, nodding.
“Impossible to resist? Impossibly attractive?”
“All of the above, along with impossible to handle. Impossible to say no to. Shall I go on?”
His grin never wavered as he dropped me on the couch. I pulled myself to my feet, grabbing his hand. “Come on then.”
He followed close behind.
As soon as we entered my bedroom, Gabriel turned to kiss me. “I just want to touch you,” he purred against my lips.
I moaned as he pulled me flush against him, deepening the kiss.
Slowly, I reached for his pants, unbuttoning them as our tongues danced. I ran my hands over the smooth skin beneath his shirt, finally breaking the kiss to focus on taking it off of him.
He tugged at my hoodie, disrupting me. I gave him some space to unzip it and then helped him pull my t-shirt over my head.
“Mmm. Were you hoping for a second evening of fun, or do you always wear such sexy bras?” Gabriel muttered, reaching forward and flicking the clasp in the middle. I shivered as he brushed the bra straps over my shoulders, letting it fall to the ground.
“I’m going to take my time and enjoy you tonight.” His eyes gleamed with desire. “Hands on my shoulders,” Gabriel ordered, and I complied, holding onto him as he unbuttoned my jeans. As soon as I shimmied out of them, he was lifting me off of the ground. I gasped, wrapping my legs around him. “I wanted to feel you wrapped around me again," he whispered, rubbing against me. I moaned from the friction of his jeans against my underwear.
Gabriel walked to the bed, and I reached down for his cock only to have him swat at my hand.
He fell on the bed, pinning me beneath him. “I’m going to taste every inch of you until you burn for me.” Kissing my jaw, he worked his way to my neck, nibbling the sensitive place where he'd left a hickey last time. I quivered as he licked it. “You looked beautiful with my mark,” Gabriel murmured, kissing lower.
He cupped my breasts, and I gripped his shoulders tighter, whimpering when he flicked the nipple on each with the pad of his thumbs. Massaging one, he leaned down, capturing the other in his mouth. Gabriel swirled his tongue expertly around it, and I pressed against his body, moaning at the shock waves it sent through me. He moved to nibble on the other, and I pouted as his free hand pushed me away from his body and back on the bed.
“Please, Gabriel…” I writhed up toward him, needing that friction again. I wanted to touch his dick. Wanted it inside of me, quenching this heat.
All I heard was a rumble from within his chest as he descended even lower, nuzzling my stomach. His hand went to the place where the heat was pooling, running his finger along the fabric of my underwear.
“Are you already wet for me? I wonder. Picturing our last time together?” he chuckled, moving back up.
“Gabriel, please!” I pleaded, and he laughed.
“As you wish, my muse.” He reached down, easily tearing off my underwear.
Gabriel stuck his hand into his pants, pulling out his large, veiny member. I wanted to smirk at the fact that he had gone commando, but I was too focused on everything else that was happening. I moved to touch him, but he grabbed my wrists, pinning them above my head.
“Can’t lose my control by allowing you to touch me,” he muttered, nuzzling my neck as he rubbed his glans across my slit.
His finger deftly flicked over my clit, causing me to gasp and shudder. “Please!”
He entwined our fingers, keeping me from touching him.
“I want to touch you,” I whined, and he laughed.
Nudging my knees wider, he leaned down, eyes locked with mine. “I want to see your pleasure.”
Just like that, he thrust inside of me. I gasped as he filled me. Before I could get comfortable, he pulled out only to thrust back in even deeper. I moaned, feeling his rhythm and rising to meet him. He seemed to get bigger, swelling inside of me. I tugged against his hands, wanting to touch him, wrap my arms around him and urge him on, but he kept control. Each time he pushed into me felt deeper than the last.
I panted, my body clenching around him. “Please, Gabriel!”
He kept his pace, plunging into me deeper and deeper until I could feel the hilt. I'd never been more completely dominated in all my life. All I could do was lie there as he used me for his pleasure, causing my own to crest and ebb.
Finally, he released my hands, and I took the opportunity to cling to him, gasping as he reached down and flicked my clit, sending me over the edge. I screamed his name as I climaxed, and he shot inside of me simultaneously.
Gabriel collapsed on top of me, panting from his orgasm. I trembled against him. That was…incredible. Totally worth staying up for.
He rolled off of me. Lying on his back, Gabriel tugged me against him, and I rested my head on his chest, yawning.
“Good night, Abby,” he muttered sleepily.
I didn’t respond, drifting off to the sound of his heartbeat.
CHAPTER SEVEN
I woke to an empty bed. Not surprising, really. I would have done the same, left before the person woke up. It's what I usually do for my one-night stands. Yawning, I stretched, still feeling sated.
Sliding out of bed, I grabbed my robe, belly rumbling. Breakfast was calling, and despite it being a Saturday, I had work to do.
I walked to the kitchen, surprised when I smelled coffee. Turning the corner, I blinked. Standing in nothing but his jeans and an apron was Gabriel. I silently stared as he hummed, flipping something in a pan. I cleared my throat, and he almost dropped whatever it was he was trying to cook.
“Abby!”
“I wouldn’t have taken you for a Mr. Homebaker?”
“Goo
d morning. Once you look at my creations, you will never call me that again.” He gestured at a plate.
I glanced past him and laughed. Burnt pancakes. Not slightly burnt, but no one is cutting through them burnt.
“Damn. Go sit down." I tugged at the apron, untying it. “This is too small for you.”
“Then get me a bigger one,” he said with a smirk, stepping out of my way.
I looked at what might have been the remains of eggs.
Digging through my fridge, I grabbed the remnants of my eggs and pancake mix, making what I guessed was his attempt at breakfast. He settled at the table, scribbling on something.
“Did you steal one of my notebooks?” I asked, pulling out some bacon to fry.
“I saw it on your counter and was feeling inspired to write. Do you mind?”
“No. Just don’t mess up any of my designs in there.”
“Not a problem.”
We remained silent as I cooked and he wrote. It was nice. Strange, but nice.
Once I had finished making breakfast, I set Gabriel's plate in front of him and stood at the counter to eat my food. “I’m surprised you didn’t leave,” I said when he finally tore his attention away from the paper he was scribbling on.
“I’m surprised you didn’t kick me out after we finished last night,” he quipped back.
“I’m not that cold.” I snorted.
“You were at the hotel. Wouldn’t even look at my bed.” He had the gall to act upset.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sure you have so much trouble getting women into your bed.”
“Not usually.” He winked.
“If I weren’t exhausted, I probably would have kicked you out,” I replied out of spite.
“I’m sure you would have, but you didn’t, so now I’m here and feeling rather inspired. Thank you for the food.”
“You're welcome.” I finished eating and put my plate in the sink.
Gabriel didn’t seem like he was going to leave, so I stepped back into my room, locking the door as I showered and got presentable for the day. By the time I came back out in jeans and a t-shirt with my laptop, he was still in his spot, crumpled papers starting to pile up. It looked like he was in the zone, so I sat in the living room to check all my websites to ensure they were working before opening my email to see if any new clients had accepted my proposals. Hours flew by, the only sounds being the clicking of my mouse and the sound of a pen scribbling on paper.
