CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - GABRIEL
I woke to the sound of my alarm. Sunlight streamed in through the windows for the first time in a few days since the constant cloud cover of a snowstorm passing through. Despite only sleeping for a few hours at the most, I’d never felt more energized as I pushed back the warm sheets and blankets from my legs. Acceptance, even if it was hesitant, had lifted the weight off my shoulders.
Even if Alyssa and Nikki both hadn’t totally come to terms with the relationship, I still meant every word that I told them both. I loved Penny more than anything in the world, and this wasn’t an ego boost for me. Everything about Penny spoke to my soul in ways that I never felt before. I had no intention of letting that go. Ever.
I padded into the bathroom to take a quick shower and ready myself for another long day in the office. The last thing I wanted to do was to sit down at my desk for a few hours while I tried to concentrate on work instead of wanting to bury myself in Penny while I could. Now that there was no fear of anyone walking in on us or finding out, I felt liberated, which only fueled my desires even more.
Alyssa’s door was still shut when I walked by, but the guestroom door was wide open. The bed was already made, too, and the bedside lamp was still on. I continued down the hallway to the kitchen where Penny and Nikki were talking quietly to one another over their coffee. I stopped when they both turned to look over their shoulders at me. My heart swelled when a ghost of a smile tugged at Penny’s lips.
“Morning,” I said. “I didn’t mean to interrupt the conversation. Just coming in to get some coffee before I head into work.”
“You weren’t interrupting,” Nikki said. “We were just talking about what Penny plans to do after she graduates college.”
I kept my face carefully guarded. I didn’t want to discuss any future plans yet, until I talked to Penny alone. She still had to return to school at the end of her break, and then finish up her college career. I loathed the idea of being apart, but I didn’t want to be the reason why Penny didn’t finish college.
“I’m going to go lay down for a little bit,” Penny said. She slid off the barstool next to Nikki while grasping her cup of coffee. “I didn’t sleep all that well last night.”
Her eyes caught mine then. Desire spiraled through me, knowing she hadn’t slept well because we didn’t want to push anything further on anyone. I had resisted the urge to point out that she no longer needed to sleep in the guestroom, now that everyone knew about us, but neither one of us wanted to upset them any further. It was fresh and fragile.
Penny brushed by me in the direction of the guestroom. I watched her go from the corner of my eye while I poured myself a cup to go.
“Gabriel.”
“Yes?”
Nikki tapped a fingernail against the side of her coffee cup. “No matter how you two feel about one another, I won’t see her not finish college for you, or anyone.”
“I wouldn’t let her do that,” I said, turning to face Nikki fully. “I know how important it is.”
“Yes, I know, but I know my daughter is in love with you. I worry that she might not be able to navigate through a relationship easily while trying to focus on her studies.”
She had a good point there, even though I didn’t want to admit that age did factor into that portion of everything. I knew how to balance a life from years of doing it. Penny had little experience in maintaining a relationship, while also following her own goals.
I smoothed a hand over my jaw to make sure that I had gotten every bit of stubble, then, I met Nikki’s eyes. “I promise to talk with her about it. You don’t have to worry about any of that. I have no grand plans on keeping her against her will when you go back to New York.”
“Very funny,” Nikki muttered sarcastically. “Joke all you want. I’m still going to be concerned about my daughter’s well-being.”
“I would be concerned if you weren’t,” I said. “I have to get going. What are you planning to do this morning?”
“Maybe do a bit of shopping. I’m not sure yet.”
“Well, have a good day, either way.”
A ghost of a smile touched Nikki’s lips then. “You as well. And don’t think that I won’t be keeping tabs on you.”
“I’m aware of that,” I replied as I walked out of the kitchen.
The second that I entered my office, Neil barged in quickly with concern flickering in his eyes. He ran a quick and assessing gaze over me before letting out a small, relieved breath.
“No bullet holes in you,” he said. “How’d the conversations go with Penny’s mom?”
I slipped out of my coat and draped it casually across the back of my chair. Then I sat down and powered on my computer with the intention of playing catch up on work from the past few days since I had left.
“It took a little convincing, but she’s willing to concede that her daughter is an adult that can make her own decisions.”
“I’m glad to hear that man,” Neil said genuinely. “If she makes you happy, then I want you to be happy.”
“I’m happy,” I said. “For the first time in a long time.”
“Alright, enough of this girly feelings shit,” Neil said, standing up to leave. “Get back to work Bradley.”
I laughed and bid him goodbye before immersing myself in the hundreds of emails glaring at me from my computer screen. I spent the next few hours rifling through what I needed to get through before picking up my phone to call Penny. My dick ached in my pants while I tried to remember the last time we had even been close. It had been a few days since the roof top. That was when everything had gone awry for a short period of time.
Penny answered on the second ring.
“Hello?”
“It’s me,” I said. “Is everyone gone for the morning?”
There was a moment of shuffling around on the other end of the line.
“Yes,” Penny said. “Alyssa went out to meet up with Scott. My mom just left a few minutes ago to have lunch with a friend here in Chicago. I’m about to jump in the shower.”
I hardened instantly at the thought of Penny wet and naked in the shower. I powered my computer back down while I grabbed my coat.
“I’m coming back,” I said. “I’ll be back there in fifteen minutes max.”
“Are you sure?” Penny asked, baffled. “I mean, we have all the time in the world. It’s not like we have to sneak around anymore.”
“That may be true, but I need you. I need you right now. I’ll be there soon. Don’t even bother getting dressed.”
The fifteen-minute drive back to the condo was pure agony. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat while I stared out the window moodily at the traffic that only worsened because of the lunch hour. I opened the passenger door before William could even put the SUV into park.
“Thanks, William,” I said shortly. “If I need anything, I’ll give you a call. Not sure if I’ll be heading back out.”
William nodded at me. “Sounds good, boss.”
The smell of fresh soap filled my nostrils the second I walked in through the front door. Tossing my keys, wallet, and phone carelessly on the little table next to the door, I hurried down the hallway while I loosened my tie.
Penny sat on the edge of my bed with a bottle of lotion in hand. All rational thought left my brain when I took in those long, toned legs that peeked out beneath the towel that was wrapped around her securely. Her long blonde hair was still tangled from the shower.
“Wow,” she breathed, shaking her head at me. “That was fast.”
I tossed my tie to the floor, and I closed the bedroom door shut to lock it. Penny swallowed thickly as she slowly stood from the edge of the bed. Desire sparked in her eyes as I loosened the cuff links at my wrists before working on the buttons of my shirt. She waited motionlessly next to the bed while I undressed with confidence.
The second my erection was free from the tight confines of my boxers, I let out a relieved groan. I kicked away my pants and boxers while Penny slowly unwrapped her towel from around herself with a mischievous smile tugging at her lips. My lips were on hers the second that the towel dropped to the floor around her bare feet.
Our naked bodies pressed up against one another’s—all hard lines and soft curves. Desperation filled me while I ran my hands along every inch of her, absorbing the softness of her smooth skin. We tumbled sideways into the bed in a tangle of legs and arms. I pulled her body up against mine to center ourselves on the bed.
I kissed every inch of her skin that I could, while Penny squirmed beneath me in pleasure. Our moans were growing increasingly loud and frantic, and her hands tugged at my shoulders in wordless need. I sucked a taut pink nipple between my lips, teasing it. Then I eased my hard cock into the slick and hot core of her.
We both let out a satisfied groan. My hips jerked in response to the need to move against her amazing body. I strained to keep the pace slow, to savor the feeling of her underneath me, now that we had all the time in the world to explore each other. I gritted my teeth in effort as I tried to pull myself back, but Penny’s thighs squeezed my hips tightly. She arched up to push herself against me with a trembling gasp.
I couldn’t think past the heat and tightness that bore down on my erection. I braced myself against the mattress to pound into her, until I felt those tight muscles spasm with the beginning phase of an orgasm. The rest of the world faded away. The only things I could concentrate on were the sensation of Penny arching up against me with a sharp cry of pleasure and how those muscles milked me into my own soul-shattering release.