Page 45 of Embracing Love

They came to a walled off part of the grounds, with two metal staircases on either side.

She stood at the foot of one of the stairs and turned to him. “Let me show you something,” she said. He smiled at her eagerly and she led the way up.

She turned to him, wanting to see his reaction when she presented him with the small, almost secret garden on the upper level.

Sure enough, his mouth dropped open as he looked out, looked around, and took in the walls adorned with paintings, saw the fountain all lit up in purple and blue with the angel statue looking over it. He gasped. As she knew he would.

The scent of jasmine swirled around her as she walked towards the fountain. “I’d forgotten how beautiful this was,” she murmured, all thoughts about the past slipped away and she enjoyed the moment right now. Gabriel stood by her side, so close now that his arm brushed hers again.

She shivered, she was already cold, but his touch sent a live wire from her heart straight to the soles of her feet.

“It is exactly as the pictures showed.”

He took off his jacket. “Here,” he said, putting his arms around her. She looked at him in mild surprise as he draped the jacket around her shoulders. “Thanks, but you don’t—”, she began to take a step back but he had her trapped in his jacket as he held onto the lapels.

“You’re cold,” he said softly and they were caught, in a silent, mesmerising moment.

It was a moment when everything could change, or not.

“Are you warmer now?”

She nodded.

“Do you want me to let go?” His voice was almost a murmur.

She shook her head, as new and better memories took form.

“Shall we stay like this?” His eyes were shiny and his breath sweet.

She nodded. “Yes.” Their mouths were so close that if she wanted to, she could lean in and they would touch.

She longed for their lips to touch.

As if the thought became an action, she leaned in, grazing his lips with hers. His hands dropped from where he held the fabric, and slipped to her waist. She shuddered in anticipation, and her heart lurched inside her chest at the suggestion of intimacy and adventure with this beautiful man. She didn’t remember closing her eyes but tasted his lips when they sank into hers.

Until a faint noise behind them made them jump. They turned to see Ethan and Nadine trying to tiptoe back down the staircase.

“We were just leaving,” whispered Nadine. But Gabriel quickly moved away, and Tanya clutched the jacket firmly around her shoulders. Disappointment touched every tip of her body which now ached for his lost touch.

With a pulsating heartbeat and an odd, tingly sensation in her breasts, Tanya sought comfort in the warmth of Gabriel’s jacket.

“Sorry,” said Ethan, as they both stood looking guilty and trying to get away.

“Don’t be. Come and look at this,” Gabriel said, “It’s beautiful and deserves to be shared.”

Ethan joined them and Nadine slowly followed.

“I’m sorry.” Nadine hissed at her, out of earshot of the men.

Tanya shook her head. “For what?” Would it be immature to act as though nothing had happened?

“You know perfectly well what.”

“Nothing happened.” Tanya replied, wrapping Gabriel’s jacket even tighter around her shoulders.

“It didn’t look like nothing to me.” Nadine leaned into her, almost nudging her.

“Will you stop that?” Tanya didn’t know if she was annoyed by Nadine’s bad timing or because her body still hungered for Gabriel’s mouth and his touch.

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