Downstairs, Paul is waiting for me at the curb, and he raises his eyebrows in surprise as he greets me. During the car ride to Gabriel’s apartment, the nerves grow a little bit stronger. I like the color red because it feels bold and powerful, but tonight I need it to serve a different purpose. The purpose of making me feel like the woman Gabriel sees when he looks at me. Easier said than done.
When I arrive at his door, I smooth out the fabric one last time before I knock. A moment later the door whirs open, and my chest squeezes at the sight before me. Gabriel is draped against the frame, wearing a crisp black tux and shiny black dress shoes. His eyes sweep over me in lazy appraisal as he ambles towards me in a predatory fashion. He pulls me inside for a slow, seductive kiss, effectively disposing me of all of my wits.
“You look exquisite.” He breathes against my ear.
I murmur incoherently as his cologne lingers between us, rich and warm and enticing in every way. He reaches for my hand and leads me down into the living area, and I follow like the puppet I am. I notice that the place has been cleaned up, all the broken furniture and glass replaced, and to my surprise the place feels much homier than before. The new furniture is gray but much softer with touches of blue sprinkled throughout.
Gabriel stops at an open space in front of the floor to ceiling glass windows, the city lights twinkling below us for the perfect backdrop. He retrieves a small remote from his pocket, hitting a couple of buttons to effectively dim the lights and bring the stereo to life around us. I look up at him questioningly, but he just gives me a sly smile as he wraps his hand around my waist like a proper gentleman. The soft beats of a familiar tune come over the speakers before I recognize the song. It’s Save the Last Dance for Me by Michael Buble.
“I’m not a good dancer,” I squeak as he begins to move.
“Just follow my lead,” he reassures me with a wink. “Like you always do.”
I close my eyes for a moment, allowing all of my tension to flee as I relax into the guidance of his arms. Our bodies move in easy synergy across the floor, the beat of my pulse quickening when I drink Gabriel in. He dances like he fucks, completely and utterly ruthless in his perfection.
“When I was at the charity event without you,” he says, “enduring Anya’s endless attempts at conversation, all I could think about was you in this dress. Dancing with me, watching your beautiful curves moving against my body. You were all I thought about that night. You’re the only woman I ever think about like that anymore. I wanted to have this moment with you and nobody else.”
Tears spring to my eyes as I nod in agreement. “I love you,” I whisper, squeezing him in my arms. “So much.”
He stoops down to ghost his lips across mine. “I love you too, Victoria. And it scares the hell out of me how much.”
I smile in complete understanding as the music comes to an end, plunging the room into silence once more. Gabriel takes my hand in his and grabs my bag from the entrance, pulling out my camera. He leads me down the hallway to his room, where he proceeds to spin me around in circles until I’m dizzy with laughter.
“What are you doing?” I try to hold back my grin as he sets me down on the bed and lifts the camera in front of me. He snaps a few shots in quick succession, like a complete pro. Figures.
“I love that smile,” he says.
I feel awkward and uncomfortable in front of the camera lens, but Gabriel doesn’t miss a beat. He leans down and kisses me hard until I’m breathless and needy with desire. Then he pulls back and snaps away shamelessly.
“I love that you aren’t afraid to show me how much you want me,” he says.
I groan and cross my arms like a petulant child. “Am I that transparent?”
He snaps a couple more shots before I try to swipe for the camera.
“And I love those beautiful red lips when you pout like that.”
“What are you doing?” I ask irritably.
“I want you to see yourself the way that I do.”
I look at him like he’s speaking another language I can’t comprehend. But wasn’t that exactly what I wanted during the ride over here tonight?
“Come,” he instructs me, holding out his hand.
I reach up and take it, and he leads me over to his dressing table, complete with a large mirror in front. He turns me to face the mirror and stands behind me, snapping another photo before I frown and try to turn away. He grips my chin, gently turning me back to face the mirror.
“Look at yourself, Victoria,” he commands. “Look how beautiful you are.”
“I don’t want to,” I croak. “It feels weird.”
He pulls my hair back away from my face and holds it in his hand in a makeshift pony tail, taking a moment to kiss my neck and just hold me.
“It shouldn’t,” he says gently. “I want you to learn how to be comfortable with yourself.”