Page 37 of Forever Mine

Gabriel: Why?

Me: Because I am completely humiliated!

Gabriel: You have no reason to be,querida. Hottest fucking moment of my life. I didn’t mean to leave the door open, but I’m not sorry I did. I’m not sorry that I watched you take your pleasure. You’re fucking iridescent when you come.

Holy shit. This man has a way with words. I’m quivering with need at a text.

Me: Gabriel, is this appropriate for us? We work together.

Gabriel: And?

Me: It’s complicated.

Gabriel: What relationship isn’tquerida? It’s up to you to decide if you want me. Because I’ve made it perfectly clear that I want you.

Me: One quick bang is just going to make things even more awkward.

Gabriel: First of all, I never said only once. And secondly, it wouldn’t be quick.

I turn my screen off before I can respond. I’m shaking as I rise and carefully walk into the McDonald’s. I’m suddenly famished, but not for food.

I manage to avoid Gabriel for the entire day. I may have memorized his itinerary and chosen different breakout sessions to ensure we weren’t in the same rooms. I took another Uber out to lunch to avoid him and then faked a headache before climbing into bed early. Honestly, the headache wasn’t too far from the truth. I’m overwhelmed and overstimulated. And typically, when I get to feeling like this, I make bad decisions.

It’s close to midnight when Gabriel returns to the room. I can tell he’s pretty drunk based on the ridiculous amount of noise he makes and that he shushed himself at one point and then giggle-snorted in response. I carefully peel one eyelid open slightly to see Gabriel standing at the foot of the bed and staring at me as he slowly unbuttons his shirt. I can feel the heat emanating from him.

“One day,querida, you will be mine. I can feel it,” he whispers seductively as he pulls his shirttails from his pants and begins to undo his belt. I struggle to maintain steady breathing as he palms himself over his pants and grunts quietly. “Gonna own you,Monica.”

Gabriel takes one last look at me before going into the bathroom and quietly closing the door. I hear him start the shower and wonder if he’s getting himself off again. My hand is in my panties before I can even think about the consequences. I bring myself to orgasm almost immediately. It only took the edge off, but it relaxed me enough to fall asleep.

My sleep is plagued with dreams of Gabriel, and when I wake up plastered to his side again, I almost want to take advantage of him. My head is on his chest, his right arm securely underneath my back, with his hand cupping my ass. The sheets have been pushed off the end of the bed, and Gabriel’s imposing morning wood is beckoning me beneath his boxer briefs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a massive cock before. It’s not necessarily incredibly long, but it is the thickest cock I’ve ever seen. If we were to ever have sex, I’m afraid he might break me.

Gabriel sighs in his sleep, and I slip out of his grasp before grabbing my clothes and heading into the bathroom. I’ve survived half of the conference without climbing him like a tree. Well, at least consciously I haven’t. My body has a mind of its own while I’m sleeping.

I take a quick shower and get dressed, then sneak out to find Gabriel still asleep. He’s on his stomach now, his arm thrown over my side of the bed as if he reached for me. I unabashedly stare at his ass. It’s not an enormous bubble butt, but it has an excellent shape. I know he’s got a thing for my ass. Both mornings I’ve woken up with his hand on my ass. I’ve never liked guys touching me there, but with Gabriel, it’s different. His hand feels perfect on me, like it was always meant to cup my ass. It fits perfectly in his hand.

I slip out the door and head downstairs to grab breakfast. Since he’s asleep, I know I can eat here. I don’t want to waste more money on Uber and fast food; thankfully, the conference fee includes breakfast. Almost fifteen years of penny-pinching has taught me to budget every last cent, regardless of how much money I’m pulling in with closings.

I love a breakfast buffet. I’m not sure why scrambled eggs taste better when someone else cooks them, but they do. I suspect they use a shit-ton of butter. I overflow my plate with all the breakfast options, then grab a table in the corner to eat quietly. Opening my phone, I find a handful of emails from current clients asking for listing information and a few other work-related emails. I spend the breakfast answering emails and texting back and forth with Harper. She and I have grown close over the past few months. She’s finally not pregnant and swears it Ashton was an accident. Harper and Owen are disgustingly cute together, and their sons are adorable. As an outsider looking in, I could see the connection between Harper and Owen from the first time I met them years ago. It took them quite a while to admit their feelings for one another, but they’re finally married and a family. It’s really lovely to see her so happy.

Harper: Fuck the hot boss yet?

Me: No.

Harper: Get on that, woman. Literally. GET. ON. THAT.

Me: I’m trying not to. It muddies the waters.

Harper: How so?

Me: We work together! It can only end badly.

Harper: That’s what I said about Owen.

Me: Please. Everyone could see you two were destined to be together except for you guys.

Harper: That’s sweet. Almost sounds like you have a heart, Mon.

Me: Don’t tell anyone.

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