Love In Between
Chapter 24

**My legs trembled as I walked across his floor. I was afraid of myself, I was afraid of how weak I can be with him, but there are times when some things are inevitable, and I guess how he makes me feel is one of them. **

His flat is nothing like how I imagined it would be. It’s a simple flat, quite small, but nicely decorated. I look around and my gaze wanders to a light-coloured painting with some coloured lines.

-My sister picked it out, she’s the one who decorated this place,” he says as if he can hear my thoughts.

As I turn to look at him, I notice that he has two wine glasses in his hand. He hands me one of them and smiles, “Do you like sushi,” he asks me with interest.

-More or less, but if that’s what’s for lunch I’ll take it,” I say in my best way.

-I can buy something else if you want…” He proposes.

-No, it’s not necessary,” I speak cordially.

-Okay, here in the living room is fine with you? –

-What? Lunch here, you mean? – I ask and he laughs.

-He jokes and I can’t help but laugh at his words.

-Gael, I didn’t come to f**k you…. I want you to know that. – I warn him and he stares at me.

-And that’s not why I brought you here; I brought you here because we need to discuss some unfinished business between you and me. – He explains and sets the glass down on the small table in the middle of the room and then goes to the kitchen to get the food and plates.

-And what business is pending between you and me,” I ask, pretending not to notice as I watch carefully as he strolls into the living room and sets everything on the table.

He doesn’t say anything, just uncovers the sushi tray, arranges the plates, and sits down next to me on the sofa. Hearing his breathing so close makes me nervous – several, but the most important one is that this is no longer a simple physical attraction. – He says and then fixes his gaze on mine, taking my breath away.

-What are you talking about,” I manage to ask despite the great effort I’ve had to make to keep from losing my sanity at his words.

I take a piece of sushi, place it on the plate using my chopsticks, and try to act normal as his gaze doesn’t give me a break. “You know, I thought it was the amazing times we’ve had in bed that had me confused. However, I’ve realised that it’s all you that’s confusing me,” he explains, and boy, do I feel my body shaking at this point.

-Are you going to tell me you’ve fallen in love with me? Gael, it’s going to take you more than just entangling me with your words to get me back in your bed. – I warn.

-Do you think I’m telling you this because I’m just a horny guy,” he asks, pretending to be offended.

-Every time we see each other you make me see that the only thing you want to do with me is to get laid,” I reply and continue eating sushi to try to keep things normal in this situation.

-What if I told you that it’s not the only thing I’m interested in with you anymore,” he asks and now he’s the one eating a piece of sushi while I have to look him in the eye.

-Gael, don’t play with me, please. – I ask him and it’s a plea on my part.

-Why do you think I want to play with you,” he asks and I have to stand up for what I’m about to say.

I close my eyes trying to avoid him, “Because I don’t know how the hell it happened, but I’ve fallen in love with you and I don’t want to suffer,” I confess and I have to take the consequences.

I open my eyes slowly, afraid to see his reaction, and when my gaze meets his, he looks at me doubtfully -Does that mean you love me? he asks with a breath and then narrows his eyes -And Emanuel? what about him? – He asks in confusion.

-That means I fell for your charms Gael…. And with Emanuel… no, we have nothing. – I confess, and yes, I am the stupidest woman in the world for exposing myself this way with him.

-Why didn’t you tell me before,” he asks in a whisper as he stands up and slowly approaches me.

I don’t understand why, but I walk backwards trying to avoid him, “Because you were going to marry her…” I justify myself and my escape is frustrated when my back hits the wall.

I see him stop in front of me. He brings one of his hands to my right side and rests it on the wall. He does the same with his left hand and I am literally cornered between the wall and his body.

-Didn’t you notice that I had no peace when you were in front of me?” he asks and suddenly lifts one of his hands from the wall and strokes my hair.

-Gael, you’re confused? You don’t know what you feel and I really don’t want to go back to being with you as I was before, do you understand? – I ask him and now he caresses my face.

-Serena, it’s obvious that I’m not indifferent to you,” he replies immediately.

-That doesn’t mean you’re in love with me,” I defend myself, and he smiles for some reason I don’t understand.

-What do you say you and I start over? Let’s pretend we’ve just met,” he proposes and I laugh.

-It’s impossible, I know you completely,” I say and look at him from head to toe.

-And I know you… Believe it or not, that sunrise I kissed your back, I learned all your moles,” he says, leaving me breathless.

-That dawn ended it all because you couldn’t forget her. – I remember him and his fingers brush my lips.

-I was an imbecile, I was scorned, hurt… I couldn’t see what was happening to me with you. – He explains and his fingers move down from my lips to my neck. -I couldn’t see that I loved you,” he murmurs.

-Gael, please…” I beg him, and I stop his hand just as it starts to run down the centre of my body.

-I’m sorry,” he says, taking his hand away and raising it as if asking for forgiveness. -Can I propose to ask you out on a full first date,” he asks and smiles.

-I think you are very busy with the launch of your new product,” I remind him.

-I’m leaving in two days on a trip…. Please accept an appointment with me before I leave,” he asks me and there is no way I can say no….

-Tomorrow,” I reply and his smile lights up everything.

-Tomorrow,” he says and moves closer to me. -Can I even k**s you?” he asks me like a little boy and I don’t know how much I can control myself if he k****s me?

-Better tomorrow, okay,” I reply and he bites his lips.

-You’re wicked, but it’s okay…” He says with a chuckle.

-I’d better go, I have a meeting in less than an hour. – I explain and he sighs.

-I’ll take you, but eat some more first, I don’t want you to get sick,” he says and boy can he be charming when he wants to be.

-That’s all I can say.

**I don’t know how I managed not to lose myself in his mouth…. I guess it takes all my self-control to do it, and maybe it’s because I really want things to be different with him this time.