Page 63 of Gabriel's Album

There’s fire in her eyes as she glares back at me. Her jaw tenses and we stare at one another. I consider her question.Isthat why I brought them over? I knew it would hurt her, but I also didn’t have a good reason not to. It just kind of happened. Sarah suggested they help me carry the drinks, which made sense. Maybe, on some level, itwasa part of the reason, though. I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding with a sigh.

“I brought them over because they were fans, they were nice, they were polite, and I appreciate them liking our music, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that there are times that I am tired as fuck of hiding our relationship and yeah, maybe there was a part of me that did think this was the consequence of what you’ve asked me to do,” I confess.

“That was pretty fucking shitty, Gabe. They were flirting with you before you even brought them over; surely you knew how I’d feel?” Ariana says, and I feel like a piece of shit because it’s the truth.

“Ari, women always flirt with me, but I don’t think anything of it because I don’t want them.” I take a slow step toward her and spread my arms wide, palms up to gesture for a truce. “I only want you. I crossed a line by bringing them over, and I’m sorry that I hurt you by doing it.”

Ariana sighs heavily and takes several breaths as I stop in front of her. It’s like watching the wind go out of her sails, and her face crumples.

“I want you, too, if you don’t hate me for the way I sometimes act.” Tears begin rolling down her cheeks, and I swiftly move forward to wrap my arms around her.

“I could never hate you, Ariana. I thought you knew that by now,” I say into her hair.

“I know,” she whispers.

I place my lips to hers and pull her even closer against me. I revel in having her in my arms again, pushing away the drama of the evening. I wish I’d never given in to bringing the fans over to the group. I can’t change what I did, but I can enjoy this time with Ariana.

We collapse onto the bed together, kissing passionately before we discard our clothes. I bury my face between her legs and use my tongue to bring her to orgasm. Her moans and the way she says my name as she comes soothes something in my soul. When I finally bury myself deep inside her, all thoughts are wiped from my mind as I begin to make love to her.

Later, Ariana falls asleep in my arms. I watch her sleeping, looking beautiful and completely at peace. Concerns about our relationship begin creeping in, though, and it takes me a long time to fall asleep.

10

The Tenth Song

I finish singingthe last note of the final song of our soundcheck as Sebastian’s final guitar chord ends. I’m breathing heavily, and I can feel the sweat dripping off me. I don’t give as much in a soundcheck as I do in a concert, obviously, but it still takes a lot out of me.

“That was great, guys,” Cooper confirms for us, and I step away from my microphone.

By the time we leave the stage and walk back to our dressing rooms, the backstage area has already emptied as everyone goes their separate ways for lunch before the evening’s concert.

Since we’ll be going straight onto the tour buses and leaving this city tonight, we’re staying at the venue between the soundcheck and concert. It always gets completely dead at this time, and I smile to myself because I have a plan for today that relies on this being the case.

“Want to come to my room and play cards?” Sebastian asks us.

“Sure,” Hayden agrees.

“I’ll check with Heather, but I bet she’ll be up for it.” Harrison smiles at him.

“Of course she will. She’ll probably want to play euchre just so she can kick my ass,” Sebastian laughs.

Heather and her family have played the game their whole lives, and she’s better at it than we are. Nothing amuses her more than convincing Sebastian to play it rather than poker, which he’ll usually beat her at.

“What about you and Ariana?” Sebastian asks while looking at me.

“I’m pretty tired; I think I’ll just hang out with Ariana in my dressing room,” I lie as we reach the door to it.

“Sure, you will,” Hayden smirks. “Enjoyhanging out.”

I feel the heat rush to my cheeks, and my friends all laugh and continue down the hallway as I open the door to my room and slip inside. Ariana is sitting in an armchair with her laptop on her lap, and a smile comes over my face as the contentment I feel from being around her washes over me.

“Hey, gorgeous. Come with me; I want to show you something,” I tell her.

“What? Where?” She looks up in surprise, and I laugh.

I stride over to her and hold my hand out to her before asking with a grin on my face, “Do you trust me?”

“Sure, I do.” Ariana giggles. “Does this make me Jasmine?”

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