33
LINDEN
“Where are we going?” she asked me again and again. I hadn’t answered her question as I stuffed her inside the SUV. I only told her to wear comfortable clothes.
Lynx went to the driver’s seat while Q was on the passenger’s.
“So, who’s the new hot guy?” I knew she was messing with me. I could see the glint in her eyes, but joke or not, I couldn’t ignore the twinge in my chest.
“Excuse me?” I leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I just had you this morning, and I’m sure my come is still there, and you’re already asking who’s the new hot guy?”
She just giggled. “He’s cute.”
I groaned as I pinched her on her thigh, causing her to yelp.
“What was that for, Gabriel Rembrandt?”
I smiled. “You might know my birthday, as well.”
She took her phone, and I just saw her dialing Sax.
“Why are you calling him?”
Instead of answering, she pressed her finger against my lips. I held her and kissed it before I pulled it down.
“Hey, Sax. I hope I’m not interrupting something.” She paused as Sax might be talking from another line. “What’s Gabriel’s birthday?” After that, she thanked Sax and ended the call.
“You could have just asked me.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“You can just google him,” Qamar replied from his seat. “This is Jacques Lynx, by the way. Boss’ new guy.”
“Hello, ma’am.”
“Wew.” Her eyes rounded. Her smile widened.
I breathed noisily. I knew some women had a thing with a man with an accent, and now I regretted taking Lynx with me.
“Which part of Australia are you from?”
“Melbourn, ma’am.”
“He reminds me of—”
“Don’t say, Thor, please? For the love—”
“Of thunder.” She cut off Qamar, laughing. Lynx and Qamar even joined her.
And here I was, gloating with my jealousy, enduring the discomfort in my chest.
“So, what do you do before you start working at Osmium?” Why was she so curious about him? I wanted to stop her, but I would only look like an asshole.
“RAN.”
“What’s that?”
Qamar was the one who translated what it meant.
“Wow. I heard the training was extensive for mental and physical stamina.”
“Estelle, what’s with your curiosity over my guy?”
She shook to laugh. Her eyes were teary. “We’re friends, right?”
“What do you mean?” My face began burning. She saw my reaction, but I didn’t give a shit. I was not a jealous person, or maybe I just didn’t know myself back then, or I had no reason to get jealous. “You friendzoned me, remember?”
She tried to hide her smile and her wickedness because she thought it would be funny to see my reaction. “You denied me, remember? At your house?”
“So this is tit for tat now?”
“He has a girlfriend.”
“Really?” Qamar reacted. Honestly, I didn’t know. As far as I knew, Lynx was not married. It was important to fill that part in the form in an emergency. “Do you have—”
“Q!”
“Sorry, boss.”
“Jeez.” Estelle cupped my face and kissed me so loud. “You’re actually jealous? Of your own men? No offense, Lynx, but I like this guy more.”
“No doubt, ma’am.” Lynx chuckled with Qamar.
“How far are we to wherever you are going to lock me up?”
“We’re not far.” I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her close to me. I kissed the top of her head and apologized. “Sorry.”
“For what?”
“You know what for.”
“You’re human. Hard outside but soft inside. Like creme brulee.”
“Creme brulee, huh? So am I sweet, too?”
“When you’re not in your bossy mood, yeah.”
After half an hour, we pulled up to the front of the lake house where Rome proposed to Princess Carlott.
I helped her out while the two inspected the area.
“A lake house.” Her eyes wandered.
“Yeah.”
“Yours?”
“No, my brother Rome.”
“Rome?”
“Lord, whatever his title now. Rome Langston.”
“A lord, huh?” She stopped and held my arm. “Like a real noble?”
“Yeah. He’s married to the Princess Royal of Capria.”
“Wow. What is she like?” She sounded so interested and amazed.
“Funny, beautiful, sweet, and she can be carefree. You remind me of her.”
“What was it like to meet a royal?”
“Fancy, but the prince and the princess are cool people.” I took her to the back of the house, on the dock.
“Is that safe?”
“Yeah. Don’t worry. There’s no venomous snake or alligator in the water.”
“I was about to ask.” She laughed softly.
“I don’t think you would enjoy fishing, but the guys are gonna cook for us.”
“This is lovely,” she said as we sat, our legs hanging.
“I’m glad you like the place. This house has been Langston’s for generations. He actually proposed to Princess Carlott here.”
“Really? That’s so romantic.” Her eyes lit up, but it was gone in an instant that I almost didn’t catch it. I knew why. Because of her situation, she thought she might not experience that kind of gesture when she deserved a grand proposal.
“Not really.”
“Why? What happened?”
“Princess Carlott said no.”
“What?” Her hands flew to her mouth. “Why? But they’re married now, right?”
“Yeah. Well, it was all misunderstanding because she’s quite rebellious, like you. She ran away when her ex broke her heart/She’s been here for three years before she’s hired to work as an executive assistant to Rome.”
“Aw. It sounds like a romantic royal movie.” She even giggled.
I couldn’t help but smile as Princess Carlott made a bold move to win Rome back. I thought it was cringy and sappy, but looking at myself, I realized it was an act of bravery and love.
Love. The word love made my heart beat so fast as I looked at her smiling. Damn it.
She leaned close and kissed me on my lips. It was quick and sweet.
“Would you like something to drink?”
She shook her head. “I just wanna be with you.”
“Me too, baby.” I wrapped my arm around her and kissed her head.
We sat at the table. Lynx and Qamar were across us. Estelle watched me as I made us sandwiches.
“How do you make it look so easy?”
“Just put everything all together, baby.” I put a few slices of grilled chicken the guys grilled earlier. It was still smoking, but it was delicious. I had that marinated in lemon and herbs and spices in my fridge. I gave her the first sandwich wrapped in a tortilla wrap. Then I made it for us.
“What else can you do, boss?” Lynx asked.
“Ask me what I can’t do. Win her heart.”
Estelle elbowed me. Her mouth was full. “BS.”
“Wait. You two are not together, together?” Even Lynx was surprised.
“It’s a long story,” Qamar replied. Lynx didn’t ask further as he quickly understood.
***
After our dinner, the guys went to stroll around the property. I wanted to spend time with Estelle before we left the lake house in the morning, and she might decide not to see me again. Or this time, she would break up with me with you’re an ass on the mirror with her red lipstick.
I kissed her and took her into the bedroom. In less than ten seconds, we were both naked. She let out a shaky breath as I entered her. While we kissed, our tongues brushed each other.
I really shouldn’t be doing this, but fuck that, fuck the marriage, fuck everything. I wanted to be with this woman. I could only have two choices anyway. Heartache or death. Both are painful without her.
Pulling out, I slammed into her again, and I was balls-deep, her legs locked around my waist. I slowly pumped in and out of her. Her fingers raked against my back, clawing into my skin. I wanted to fuck her hard against the mattress, but I wanted to make my time with her.
“Are you okay?” Her question made me still.
“Yeah. Why?” I kissed her lips.
“I feel you, Gabriel.”
“I just wanna make love to you,” I admitted it. There was no reason to lie.
“You are. We are.”
At this point, I couldn’t hide my emotions. My walls were crumbling, which had never happened before until Estelle. I smiled, even forced and kissed her with all I had within me. I needed her to know how much she meant to me.
Damn it.
I’m in love with her.
