Chapter 105

GABRIEL'S POV

For some bloody reason I felt lighter, like a load had been lifted off my chest. But I also felt a bit worried because I wasn't used to not carrying that load. And tis might sound a bit dark but the load balanced me somehow, I didn't want to let go of that anger because it has been a part of me for so long. However, as I kept saying, I had Layla and I j ew that if I ever did decide to let go of that load completely, she'd be there to fill the void. For now she had to be satisfied with the much I had told her. I had never even had such a conversation with Arden, and for over twenty years he had been the one person I trusted with everything. 

He'd texted me to say that he'd call the following day, that he had something urgent to talk to me about and he needed me to give him my honest views and opinions. That text got me worked up, I could always tell when he was being serious and that text was as serious as he'd ever been. Whatever it was must have been troubling him. I had my suspicions about what it could be but I decided to wait until he called so that I could be sure. 

I just hoped it wouldn't be serious enough to cut my little vacation off. I treasured any time I had with Layla but if Arden needed me urgently then I'd go, no questions asked. I walked into the bedroom and looked around, realizing that Layla wasn't in there, but there were some clothes set out on the bed. She must have been taking a shower, I had asked her to wait up for me for a few minutes but she clearly couldn't. And even though I knew that she wasn't gone, my heart still beat farted and I felt this dread, I worried that she had left without saying a word. 

I couldn't understand what that was all about, it was a fear that had just recently developed and I didn't exactly know how to deal with it. my clothes were still wet, I smiled when I thought about how they'd gotten that way. She was all I needed, taking off my t-shirt, I tossed it into the laundry basket, making a mental note to not leave it in there, then I headed for that bathroom door and opened it up, walking in and looking around. She was kneeling next to the tab, her hand moving playfully in the water. A towel wrapped around her and her slick wet hair sticking to her shoulders. 

She glanced back when she heard me walk in and that sweet natural smile had me weak in the knees. It was so true, so earnest! And she was also one of those people who could somehow showcase their emotions through their eyes. 

" What were you doing?" She asked, her attention going back to the water. I watched her for a while, soaking in her beauty, her innocent nature that would never cease to drive me insane. 

" I was just reminding myself what this place looks like, "

She turned off the tap and turned to face me, sitting on the floor and bringing her knees up before wrapping her hands around her legs.

" You rich people are so weird!" she said and I let it slide. My eyes fell to the tab, then to her. 

" I asked you to stay put. 

" You've heard of pneumonia, right?" 

That adorable challenge in her eyes when she looked at me. These days she didn't need me to reassure her that she was pretty. She'd never admit it but she knew she was, had come to accept the first and was now using it skillfully to her advantage. 

She also knew she was sexy, I knew she did. There was anew confidence surrounding her nowadays. And I loved it, I loved everything about her, and I also knew that the innocence would never fade. That's what attracted me the most. 

" How come you get to use your phone but I don't? "

" Because one of us needs to be in contact with the outside world in case something catastrophic happens. "

She rolled her eyes and leaned her head back against the tab's edge. 

" I know you want me to ask you what sort of catastrophic things but I won't. "

Laughing, I walked over to her and stood a tiny step away. 

" Why are you seated on the floor like a depressed teenager?" 

She casually shrugged, then I watched as she shifted to lie on the tiled floor, facing the ceiling with her hands outstretched above her. 

" I'm feeling lazy, " she admitted. The subtle smile on her ethereal features drawing me in. She closed her eyes and let out a shallow breath. 

" For someone who fears pneumonia you sure are having the time of your life lying on that cold floor. "

She opened up one eye to sneak a peek at me then immediately closed it. 

" I don't feel like moving from here, "

" And what do you suggest we do about that?"

" I'll tell you after I take a nap. "

Frowning, I watched as her breathing became even, she had no clue what she was suddenly doing to me. Lying there with nothing but a towel wrapped around her. Fuck! Just looking at her made me hard. And since she was right there, clearly willing, I decided to just get on with it. 

" Open your eyes sweetheart, " I instructed. She did look like she felt lazy, but I'd be more than willing to take control of the situation. She could gladly leave everything to me. After a couple of seconds, she opened up her eyes, she had been prepared to say something but the words immediately dried in her throat. She shot her eyes to mine, then they naturally went back to what had initially caught her attention. I kicked the pants I had just taken off away and smirked at her. Her eyes widened,but she didn't move an inch. 

" Oh my God! What did I sign myself up for?" 

The question was asked with her eyes glued to my cock, so I just automatically laughed. Something about the feigned despair on her features amused me. 

" To be fair, this is entirely your fault. "

" Don't blame me for your problems, go and solve them in there, " 

She pointed at the shower before she turned around and laid on her side. Had she just said that to me? She really was more confident. I could tell she was secretly smiling, and her face was completely flustered. I stood above her, my feet on either side of her, she risked a quick glance up before quickly looking away and holding back her own laughter. 

" Go away!" She begged me, amusement thick in her voice. 

" I feel like I just visited a strip club, " she added covering her eyes with her hands and lying on her back once more. 

" Look at you and your naughty thoughts, " I teased, she opened her eyes but close them immediately after realizing I was still standing above her. 

" You're the one standing here all naked! "

" Yes, and the least you can do is admire me, stop pretending, I know you want to. "

Shaking her head, she removed her hands from her face but kept her eyes closed. That smile again. Her way of letting me know that she was really having fun. And I was in a mood for a little more of the said fun. 

" Take it off," 

I instructed. She knew what I was talking about  made no move to do as asked.

" I'm lazy, remember? "

" Find a way to overcome that laziness, I'm needy. "

" You're always needy!" 

Joy in her tone. Then she slowly opened her eyes and tried to keep her eyes strictly on my face. Tried and failed terribly.

" I'm turning you into my slave for the night, " she then stated and I frowned and asked her what she meant. Her explanation was that she didn't feel like doing anything so I'd have to do it all on my own. Was that supposed to turn me on? If not then I was definitely not prone to normal behavior because it did turn me on immensely. 

The thought of her letting me do everything I wanted on my own, I suddenly wished I had some rope, maybe some duct tape and a blind fold. 

I was joking of course, I'm not a madman. 

" Oh, sweetheart... you have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, " I said as I lowered myself to the floor. 

🌼💮🌼💮🌼

Several hours later, I had her bathed and safely tucked into bed. I was lying next to her, and all the laziness she had previously mentioned seemed to have disappeared. My body was getting too used to her I think, I felt like I needed constant dozes of her to keep me sane. And though I loved the fact that our relationship was beyond just the physical plane, I would forever love that physical plane. 

" Hungry?" I asked and she shook her head. 

" Sure?" 

She nodded, I held he chin and angled her to face me, wanting to see whether she was being honest. 

" Maybe I'll want something later but I'm good for now. "

That sounded honest. She asked me whether I wanted anything but I assured her I was okay, and if I did get hungry she was all I wanted to have. She started playing with the outline of my chest, then she looked up at me with a bright smile. 

" Wanna watch Flavor Island?" 

I had almost forgotten about that show. Nodding, I reached for the remote and switched on the TV. She seemed so openly excited, especially when I found the show and  pressed play. She adjusted her sitting position to be able to get a better view, but she still made sure she was as close to me as she could be. I watched as they revealed the episode's new contestants.

" He's definitely going to win, " I said. Making my personal pick, she playfully slapped my arm and shushed me. And because I didn't like it whenever anything took her attention away from me, I resulted to talking as much as I could. 

" Or maybe her, with the large hands and whatnot... she's definitely built for the kitchen. "

I reigned in my laughter when Layla glanced at her own small hands, then she looked up at me and glared. I chose to ignore her, keeping my eyes glued to the screen. I did honestly like the show, it was quite interesting and the fact that I had Layla with me only made it a lot better. 

" Wait a minute! Wasn't she in the last season? The one we watched last time? She's quite a spirited one, isn't she?" 

The look Layla shot me implied she was seconds away from screaming in my ears and demanding that I shut up. It was like watching two shows at once. I was loving it!

" Changed my mind! She'll win, I mean just think about it, she already knows what the judges like, "

Layla groaned and buried her face in her hands, then she paused the show. I suppose she wanted me to finish everything I had to say. I decided to keep quiet. When she realized I was no longer talking she blew out a relieved breath and pressed play. 

" Speaking of judges, that one's gained quite a bit of weight. Look at all that fat in his chubby cheeks!" I shook my head, laughing because he did look hilarious. He looked nothing like he did last season. Layla finally gave up, placing the remote aside she punched her small fist into my chest. 

" Zip it! "

I put my hands up in a gesture of peace and assured her I wasn't going utter another word because she did look threatening. I wasn't scared or anything but I could tell she was very serious about it. 

It was difficult but I managed to go through the first episode in silence, but halfway through the second one I gave up and resumed talking. How did she manage to just stare at the screen and not comment on everything that was going on? It was more fun when you talked and tried to predict the ending. This time she let me do and say as I pleased. I was an expert at judging what would likely occur next. 

" I knew you were crazy from the second I met you, " she suddenly said after the second episode ended. 

" How could you have possibly known that? We didn't talk the first time we met. "

I watched to see her reaction. The words hadn't sank in yet, it took her a minute, then she frowned and slowly glanced up at me. I kept my eyes fixed on the screen, doing my best to act casual. 

" What?" She asked, and when I took too long to respond she paused the screen, not caring about my groan of protest. 

" It was just getting good!" 

" What do you mean? When you say we didn't talk?" 

" You know exactly what I mean, now play the bloody thing, will you? "

She didn't, I stead she got onto her knees and sat back on her heels, her eyes wide and an unreadable look on that face I wished I could stare at for hours. 

" Oh.My.God!" She exclaimed, Ieaned away from her because she looked a little unpredictable at the moment. Then I watched as she fisted her hand again and I reached out to block the impending attack. 

" You remembered! All this time you were just pretending you couldn't remember yet you did!" 

I honestly didn't get why she was so upset, she had been doing the exact same thing. And the fact that she thought I didn't remember her was plainly absurd. I had no such problem, ever since our second encounter I had known for certain that she recalled who I was. It had been written clearly on her face. She was the worst at hiding her reactions. 

" Why didn't you say anything?!" She demanded. I very carefully placed her hand aside, then I warned her not to dare hit me. 

" What was there to say?" 

" I don't know? You could have at least let me know that you remembered me. "

" There was no point. Isn't the important thing that were here now? Besides, you were already mine even before you knew it. "

" But I felt so bad, when I thought you'd forgotten, "

Sighing, I pulled her closer and gently kissed her lips, then I placed another kiss on her forehead and covered her up again with the blanket. She was taking it too seriously. But I knew just the thing to cheer her up, getting off the bed, I asked her to stay put. Then I headed into the walk in.

" What're you doing in there?" She shouted a while later. I walked back out and got back into bed, then I silently handed her the rolled up painting and played the show once more. A while later she gasped, and then I felt her arms around me and her face in the crook of my neck. 

" So clingy, " I teased, but I knew how much it must have meant to her. And I hoped she knew how much SHE meant to me.