“Ryan, it’s time to wake up” Gabriel whispers into my ear and kisses my neck. I stretch loving the way my body feels. I cant remember the last time I felt so well fucked. I open my eyes and look at him for a moment. “It’s dinner time and you want to try my mom’s food. Trust me.” I look outside through the glass windows. “What time is it?” I ask surprised at how dark it is out. “7” he says looking at his watch. “Shit I need to call my mom.” I just realized I didn’t exactly tell my parents where I was going or that I was leaving. I’m in the habit of doing things by myself I forgot I’m not in my own house but my parent’s house. I hope they’re not mad. “Okay, I’ll be waiting for you” he says and leaves in his room. I get up and look for my phone in my bag. No missed calls or texts. I dial my mother’s number and listen to it ring. “Hi honey” she says when she answers. “Hi mom, I just realized I didn’t tell you guys I’d be out. Sorry about that” I say closing my eyes. I’m the last born
Later that night Gabriel and I walk to his house. He holds my hand and doesn’t let go when we get into the house. “Spend the night,” he says when I finally let go of his hand. I look at him like I don’t know about that. “I promise to keep you warm, entertained, and safe” he adds smiling. He steps closer to me and kisses me softly, I feel my body warm to his embrace. “I spent the whole day with you, I should get home” I say leaning into his kiss. He smiles while kissing me. “Stay,” he says and lifts me up and walks to his bedroom. Before I know it I’m naked and he’s deep inside of me. We make love in the dark of the night I wake up some time later to the sound of Gabriel moving around the bedroom. I open my eyes and the whole room is lit up with candles. It makes me think of the night we spent together. “I don’t have scented candles but I thought it would be nice,” he says and gets back into bed. He lays on his stomach and looks at me. I turn to my back turn my head to my side and
“Morning honey” my mother says as I sneak into the house at 7 in the morning. I stop at the door and look back at her in the hallway. She’s dressed and has her purse in hand ready to head out of the door. “Morning mom” I reply embarrassed, this is my first walk of shame. She smiles and gives me a look. “I’m heading out for the day. I have a few errands to run your father will be asleep most of the morning. I’ll see you later.” She says and heads out the door. I head to my room and get into bed. I need an hour of sleep and then I will call Max. I need to know how things are going at the office. I lay on my bed and feel sleep come quickly. Gabriel and I didn’t sleep at all last night. We fucked and talk and repeated. My body is still humming from the orgasm I had last night. I drift to sleep flashes of him coming in my mouth playing in my mind. Late afternoon I’m on FaceTime with Max. We’re discussing the gala. “I got in touch with the party planner earlier this morning. I let her
“Do you know where he’s taking you?” Rose asks me a look of glee on her face. She lays on my bed watching me do my make up. She came over to keep me company because my parents have an event they’re attending. So she volunteered to sleep over but she didn’t know I have a date. “No he didn’t say” I answer looking at her in the mirror. “Oh so exciting” she says laying on her back staring at the ceiling. “I want to be excited but it feels like I’m doing something forbidden. I feel like Zan is going to find out and burst my little happy bubble.” I say exhaling. Rose makes a face and shakes her head at me. “You just enjoy tonight, don’t worry about all of that.” She says getting up and she kisses me on the cheek. “Okay,” I say finished with my makeup. I stand up and look at my reflection in the mirror. The burnt orange dress makes my skin glow. My curves are on display in the silk material of the dress. I opted for sneakers instead of heels. If I’m on vacation, I’m also on vacation from
I hug my parents goodbye. It’s been a long and fun week but I need to get back to work. I need to get back to Joburg. Gabriel says goodbye to my parents too. They make both of us promise we’ll visit soon. My mother gave me a stern talking toast night. “You need to back home more often Ryan,” she said seriously. I knew she was serious because she only uses my name when she’s displeased with something I did. The rest of the time she calls me darling. Gabriel and I have a 3-hour drive, hopefully, this time it will be less awkward. I smile at him when we walk to his car. “What?” he asks “Can I drive?” I say wiggling my eyebrows at him. He hands me the car keys and says nothing. I jump up and down excitedly. I look at my dad and show him the keys. He gives me a thumbs up smiling hard. Gabriel opens the driver’s door and slips in beaming with excitement. Gabriel gets in and I put my seat belt on and press the start button. The engine comes to life and I let out a little scream of excite
“Welcome back” Max says when we enter his office. I take my seat opposite him on the desk. “It feels good to be back”. I say going through contracts that need his signature I browse through each and hand them to him so he can add his signature. “I had a very long week. I had a glimpse of what this office could be if you ever left and I didn’t like it.” He adds looking at me seriously. “It’s nice to know I’m valued,” I say handing him the last of the contracts. I gather the one he has already signed and stands up. “I’ll get these to legal so they can be sent out as soon as possible”. I say taking the other document. “Thank you,” he says and sits comfortably turning on his computer. “I’m going to set up your travel arrangements for the Australia trip. Ring if you need anything. ” I say leaving his office. The rest of the day goes by in a blur of meetings, setting up appointments and making sure Max’s coffee arrives in time. I finally got around to getting a venue for the gala. The
I blink thinking about Zan, he's the rock in my shoes preventing me from enjoying this moment and any other moment I have with Gabriel. "What's going on in that head of yours?" Gabriel asks not looking at me. "I'm thinking about a lot," I say and he sighs. Your brother” he says looking up at the ceiling and turning to look at me. “Yes. I feel like I’m lying to him about us. This feels forbidden.” I say sighing. “I don’t see how we’re lying to him. He doesn’t even know we’re together and… “ “Exactly. He doesn’t know. So I feel like I’m hiding it from him” I interrupt him before he finishes his sentence. “And I don’t care if he knows or not. I’m not hiding you or this. I haven’t told him because I know that you have reservations about us and I know that you need time to process it all.” He says finishing his thoughts. “I’m scared to tell him” I confess not able to hold it in anymore. “Why?” he asks looking genuinely confused. “Isn’t it obvious?” I ask even more surprised he has
“What are you wearing tonight” Rose says to me through my phone screen, we’re on FaceTime. “I am wearing this beautiful number here ” I say lifting up a floor-length deep v, plunge sequin yellow dress. “Can you see it?” I ask already laughing when I realize that all she can see is a yellow patch of the dress. “Move back so I can see the whole dress,” She says laughing too. “I wish you were here Rosie” I say moving back and missing my sister badly. It’s been a month since I left Gabriel. I have been numb since. I haven’t allowed myself to feel anything but tonight I feel the weight of it all come over me. “Me too. Ryan. But I’ll be with you in spirit. Just try to have fun tonight, everything else will matter in the morning.” Rose says, I move closer to the phone screen to look at her. “I hear you,” I say after a moment. We say our goodbyes and I get to get ready for the gala. Work is the only thing that’s kept my mind off of everything. And tonight we get to meet with South Afric