Toosore to turn back around to look at him, she replied honestly. "I have topee."
Slowlyhe released her. "One can never be too sure when it comes to you." Hereplied gruffly.
Sighing,she took that as a sign he was still angry.
Comingout of the bathroom Salene felt a little better, especially after washing herface. Salene noticed that all of her bathroom toiletries were lined up neatlyon the counter next to the second unused sink. For some reason, thepresumptuous act only made her smile. Standing in the doorway of his closetGabriel was just pulling on a T-shirt as she closed the bathroom door. It washard to believe that she actually slept next to him all night. Recalling hervivid dream last night, she still could practically feel his lips against hers.Was it even a dream? The beginning of the dull ache from her breasts made herwince as she sat down heavily on the bed.
"Here,"helping her adjust back against the pillows Gabriel stepped back giving her anunreadable look before turning towards the door. "Sit tight, I will bringyou some food so you can take your meds."
Thethrobbing ache in her breasts wouldn't allow her to go back to sleep despitehow tired she was. The bright orange-ish yellow light that peeked through theblinds told her it was very early in the morning. Looking over at her phone onthe nightstand Salene’s stomach knotted as she watched the blue notificationlight blink off and on letting her know she got a text. Dear Lord, it wasprobably from Kevin, she did not want to read that at all.
Comingback in with the same wooden tray from the night before Gabriel placed it overher lap. With wide eyes, Salene stared at the loaded assortment with a touch oftrepidation. There was oatmeal, yogurt, banana, and toast. There was no way shecould eat all this.
Theplush bed dipped lightly beside her as Gabriel climbed back in next to her,propping up his own pillow against the headboard similar to her own.Self-conscious over her tired appearance Salene tried to smooth her voluminouscurls with one hand as she took a bite of the warm oatmeal.
Thesilence was killing her, she could just feel Gabriel sitting there. Too nervousto look at him to see what he was thinking she cleared her throat.
"Thankyou for helping me," Salene was honestly grateful for everything he hasdone, she underestimated the amount of downtime or at least the severity of thedowntime. If he wasn't here, she would be miserable.
"Well,it would've been nice to be there from the beginning." The displeasure inhis voice was quite audible giving her, even more, reason to keep her head downfocusing on the food on her lap. "But thankfully I followed my gut and wasable to track you down."
Thecoolness to his words made her turn her head to face the fire in his gazedirectly. "Gabriel I'm…"
"NoSalene," he cut her off like a lash of a whip. "I want to know whatthe hell happened." Turning more towards her in the bed, Gabriel sat upwith one leg folded while the other leg was stretched out. The look on his facetold her he was very serious, he wanted answers. "Everything was so damngood when I left."
Therewas an underlining thread of desperate confusion to his tone. He was honestlyconfused and hurt by her actions, and for some reason that really made her wantto cry. Somehow the brief moment of vulnerability from Gabriel seemed wrongsomehow. Gabriel was too big, too strong and just too arrogant to have a momentlike this. Salene was partly honored he was showing it to her and equally sadshe was the cause.
"Iknow," she moaned with a sigh, pushing the tray further down so she couldturn slightly to look at him. "I wish I had a better reason to give you,but I don't." Not able to look at him fully she let her gaze wander theroom. "I was just so nervous that maybe you really left because you hadsecond thoughts or something, Salene could tell he was going to interject, soshe rushed to continue. "I'm very sorry, I really wasn't trying to leave Ijust… I just figured I would get my surgery and feel some semblance ofindependence again and maybe some added confidence."
Carefullythe hard lines of his face softened as he absorbed her honest words. Shiftinghis arm onto the headboard Gabriel lounged up against the pillows giving her anaccusing stare.
"MyGod, you have no idea just how angry I was to find out you had run off to dothis," shaking his head as if he still couldn't process the reaction."Hell, I'm still angry."
"I'mtruly sorry," biting her lip in anxiousness Salene wasn't sure what elseshe could say.
Narrowinghis eyes, he looked away for a moment before turning back. "Consider thisright here," he pointed down at the bed. "Me taking it slow. Becausethe moment the doctor gives you the all-clear sweetheart," he pausedraising one golden eyebrow with sinister intent. "This taking it slowthing is going out the fucking window."
Relief,happiness, arousal, and so many other emotions flooded her as she took in hisforgiveness. Salene wasn't sure what to focus on first, but she knew she wantedto be open and honest with Gabriel.
Smilingcoyishly, "I think that is fair, besides," Salene could feel her facegrow warm at her next words, she knew once she said the unspoken words shewould be releasing any invisible bonds of constraint he was holding in place."Since I'm recovering you're the boss."
Likea great panther, his pupils constricted at her words of obedience. With silentgrace, he changed positions until he was pressed directly next to her forcingher to lean back against the pillows to look up at him.
"MyGod Salene you have no idea just how badly I want you." Just inches aboveher lips the depths of his words shook her to her core.
Pullingat his shirt, she forced him to complete the distance. The kiss was absolutelyelectrifying. Hungrily his lips moved against hers as his tongue probed againsthers skillfully. Salene's moans intermingled perfectly with his growl likenoise of satisfaction.
Cursingunder his breath Gabriel pulled away from her leaving her with a breathlesspout. Running his hand through his hair, Gabriel got out of the bed and pacedin front of it.
"Fuckyou're going to make me break one of the rules the doctor gave me,"thinking about it he smiled devilishly with this shrug. "Well, the onlyrule she gave me actually."
Seeingthe confusion on her face, Gabriel continued. "You are to avoid any sexualarousal until the doctor gives you the all-clear, even if that means virtuallyfucking hell for me," he grumbled as he replaced her tray of food back toits original position. "So do me a favor Salene," fluffing herpillows in frustration. "Keep those beautiful lips to yourself. I'm on amission to get you recovered."
Hidinga smile Salene took a bite of her oatmeal in a sign of compliance.
***
Thenext few days of her recovery was beyond anything she could ever expect. Eachday Gabriel provided her his undivided attention, doting on her every needwithout fail. It was nearly too much to take in at first. On some days he wouldsimply work from home giving them plenty of time to relax together in bedwatching TV. Every aspect of her recovery was taken care of by Gabriel, frompills, meals, drinking the appropriate amount of water, and even buying her anextra surgical recovery bra to add to the two she already had. Salene waspretty sure he would have tried changing her bandages if she didn't take chargeof that herself.
