The Photograph
: Chapter Twenty-Four

Gabe

In the early evening, lying back against the thick cushions of the daybed of the library, I tighten my arm around Aelin who’s tucked between my raised knees with the back of her head resting on my bare chest. I stroke her hair while she reads the Elle Décorarticle and shut my eyes.

After the spectacular blowjob by the pool, I took her on a chaise lounge and again in the living room before she fell asleep in my arms.

When she closes the magazine and shifts to nuzzle my neck, I move her to drape her legs over my lap and peck her delectable mouth.

“What did you think of the article?”

She loops her hands around my neck. “Holloway looks beautiful. Was it like this when you were growing up?”

I pull her closer. “No, when my mother inherited Holloway, we were living in Islington. She used to take us here during the summers until the roof caved in. It was her dream to restore it, but she died before she had the chance.”

Aelin’s smile drops and she touches my cheek. “Oh, Gabe, I’m sorry.”

The softness of her eyes and the tenderness of her touch spreads warmth through my chest. “Thank you, baby. She would have loved what you’ve done with it.”

Tears brim in her eyes. “Baby…”

Cupping my cheek, she touches her lips to mine. “This is the best compliment I could ever dream of.” Another brush of her lips. “Thank you.”

Need claws through me, and I take her mouth. When she makes that sound at the back of her throat, I lower the straps of her dress and dip my open mouth on her breast.Damn, she tastes good.I suck on her nipple and lash my tongue on the erect bud.

Her back arches. “Yes.” She hisses low.

Drawing harder on the tight buds, I groan when she fists my cock through the soft material of my shorts and proceeds to make me crazy by torquing both hands up and down.

I reach for the drawer of the side table for a rubber—I put a couple of boxes in every room—I toss on the bed while Aelin pushes on her knees to swoop her dress off. Her hair tumbles over her shoulders, she smiles and curls her arms around my nape.

“Can I ask you something?”

Anything.“You’re naked sitting on my cock, so yes.” I band my arms around her to feel her soft skin on mine. “What do you want, baby?”

My gorgeous woman leans slightly back while her face flushes, and I can’t help but smile.

“Aelin?”

The flush of her face deepens as she clears her throat. “Can I put the condom on you?”

What?I stare at her beautiful face for a second. “What?”

Her eyes dip, and she bites on her bottom lip. “Is it weird? It’s just … it’s so sexy when you do it, and—”

I grab her hips to roll them on my cock and groan at the feel of her warm weight. “Baby, you can play with my cock anytime and anyway you want.”

“Really?”

In response, I snatch the square silver packet, and with my eyes in hers, tear off the foil with my teeth before handing her the rubber. Then, I lie back on the cushions with my hands folded at the back of my head to enjoy the sexy-as-fuck show.

Four disregarded rubbers later, I swipe my hand over my face and grit my teeth. She’s been playing with my cock for what feels like hours, wearing only those tiny panties.Fuck.There’s only so much I can take.

I brace on my elbows. “Let me do it, baby.”I’m about to come in your hands.

Her hands curled around my now throbbing cock, Aelin lifts her dimpled, stubborn chin. “Are you sure they’re the right size?”

A chuckle bursts out of my chest, but when Aelin emits the cutest growl and glowers at me, I clamp my mouth shut.

Settling her plump ass on my thighs, she pouts. “Fine.”

When was the last time I had so much fun?I wrap her in my arms and look at her grin.

After curling her arms around my neck, Aelin plants a too-short kiss on my mouth. “It’s your fault, you know.”

I chortle. “How do you figure?”

Aelin narrows her eyes on the rubbers on the side table. “You’re not a banana.”

So damn cute. And crazy.I clear my throat. “A banana?”

Nodding, she twists her mouth. “I’ve practiced on a banana. Many bananas, in fact, and it always worked. But you’re a lot thicker, so—”

I bury my face in the crook of her shoulder and howl in laughter. Still laughing, I wrap my hand around her nape and kiss the tip of her nose. “Baby, it’s not the insult you think it is, but I’ll take the blame.”

“So you should,” she whispers. She locks her golden gaze onto mine and my chest expands. “Gabe?”

“Yes, baby.”

She takes my wrist and lowers our joined hands between us to place my hand on her sex.

“Touch me here.”

My breath rushes out, my heart races, and I stare into her eyes. Slowly, I shift our position so she’s on her back. Her body is relaxed, and her smile is sensual. I kneel between her legs to slide her panties down her legs. My eyes never leaving hers, I lay down by her side and set my palm on the soft skin of her belly. She presses into my hand as she brushes her fingertips on my mouth.

“Touch me,” she whispers.

Aelin.My entire being focused on hers, I explore the silky, hot recesses of her sex with gentle fingers, listening to her breath, looking for any sign of discomfort on her face. When the pad of my thumb grazes her clit, her breathing deepens while her mouth slackens, and I kiss her.

She’s wet, hot. So fucking sexy.

Pulling back slightly, I watch the flush of pleasure rise from her chest to her face and caress her in firmer strokes. She bites on her bottom lip while her neck arches back.

“Okay, baby?”

Aelin grips my arm and rocks against my hand. “Yes … this is so … oh…” She throws her head back and moans.

“Look at me, baby. I need your eyes on me.”

When she does, I push the heel of my hand on her clit, slide two fingers inside her and move slowly. I claim her mouth again, and she clenches on my fingers.

Her panted whimpers against my mouth, her flushed face make my cock desperate for the feel of her. She digs her nails in my side, locks my hand between her legs while her slick flesh sucks on my fingers.

“Gabe… Oh, God … Gabe.”

Fuck yes.Shaking with need, I reach for a rubber.

****

I step out of the bedroom and stop “What are you doing?”

Aelin’s hair flies over her shoulder as she glances up. Sitting back on her haunches, she curls her fingers on her knees and beams at me.

“I’m failing at packing up without waking you up.”

I don’t want you to go.I pull her on her feet and against me. Her luminous eyes soften, and I hold her tighter while she touches the side of my neck. “What’s wrong?”

You’re leaving and I haven’t had enough of you.I cup the nape of the infuriating, adorable woman who’s packing up in the middle of the fucking night and take her mouth.

When she slants back, I wrap her closer. “You’re leaving?”

She brushes her fingertips between my brows, and her touch is so tender, my anger melts. Some. “Yes, I need to pick up some deliveries from Uxbridge and Vania’s expecting me around lunchtime.”

My voice comes out rough. “Baby, it’s 10:00. Stay and I’ll take you home tomorrow.”

Her arms loop around my neck and she rolls on her toes. “I’ve had such an incredible time with you.”

I want more.I touch my forehead to hers. “You should have woken me up.”

Her smile turns cute. “You looked so peaceful. And If I had, we… I would have been distracted.”

I kiss her smile. “Give me a minute, I’ll take you home.”

“All right.” After a soft kiss, she returns to her bag on the floor.

In the car, tucked tight to my side, she fits as if she’s made for me. When she sighs and hooks her knee over mine, I peck her head.

A few minutes into the drive, she lifts her smiling eyes to mine. “Do you want to come to Rainbow with me tomorrow? It’s the annual thank you party and Cara’s going to be whumped.”

Whumped?I can’t help but grin. “She’s getting what?”

Aelin nods. “It’s a word we made up. Once a year, we nominate someone who’s been particularly helpful or has been thriving. We have a picnic party where we give the children cans of whipped cream and party strings to spray over the winner. Rainbow is opening another house soon, but Cara and I are going to take a less active role in the charity, so I put her name forward.”

And you want me there?When her face flushes, I realize I’ve been staring. She tilts her head down. “You … don’t have to come… I just thought—”

“I’d love to go with you.”

She raises her smile. “You would?”

I’ll give you anything for you to keep looking at me like that.“Yes.”

On her doorstep, Aelin loops her arms around my waist. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

When I kiss her, her moan gets me harder, so I force myself to pull out of the kiss. “Sleep well, baby.”

“You too, honey,” she whispers.

As she closes the door, I clench my fists with the need to throw her in the car and take her back to my house. And keep her there.

****

The next day, I push my sunglasses on my nose while I scan the grounds of the Other Rainbow. The picnic area is roughly fifty meters from the house itself.

Standing in a shaded area where four long wooden tables with benches set in a square, the one placed in the middle is caving under rainbow-colored cakes, a generous spread of sandwiches, and a neatly aligned dozen whipping cream cans, blood-red logos gleaming under the sun.

A few steps from the house, Aelin’s deep in conversation with Vania and Emma while balancing her goddaughter on her hip. I haven’t kissed nor held her yet. I dive my hands in my pockets.

When Cara and Mike stroll hand in hand from the car park behind the house, I shift toward them.

After I hug-backslap Mike, I dip my chin at Cara and freeze who closes the small distance between us, rolls on her toes, and kisses my cheek.

“Hi, Gabe, thank you for coming.”

I clear my throat. “Thank you for inviting me.”

She smiles while my brother grins.Stupidly happy.

Aelin’s sister called me the week before, and I tensed thinking something had happened to Aelin. But she laughed and invited me to the picnic for which she nominated Aelin. As she wraps her arm around Mike’s waist, I chuckle silently.One of them is in for a surprise.

Aelin smiles as she approaches us. She hugs Cara and Mike, pecks my mouth before we settle at one of tables between me and Emma while my brother sits next to Cara across from us. Vania follows suit, at the head of our table while women and kids fill out the other tables.

When Vania stands up, the small assembly falls silent, and even the kids get quiet.

The older woman flicks her long grey hair over her shoulders and lifts her glasses hanging around her neck by a silver chain.

“So, the recipient this year is one of our most loved allies. She’s spirited, stubborn, with the heart of an angel. Ladies, please stand up.”

Three women along with Aelin and Cara get on their feet and hold hands. Aelin turns to Cara and winks at her.

“Aelin Thorne.”

Under the laughter of the small crowd, Aelin gawks at Vania and points at her sister. “But it’s supposed to be Cara.”

Vania chortles while Cara and Emma hug her.

“Lalin, it’s you!”

Sam’s shout jolts the kids on their feet. The kids snatch the whipped creams and party strings. Aelin’s eyes widen, and she runs toward a barn. While the other women laugh and sit back down. I step next to Cara and Mike.

“What’s happening now?”

Cara chuckles as her sister disappear in the barn. “She can run and hide for five minutes, after that some adults are allowed to help catch her.”

Her expression sobers up as she turns to face Mike and me.

“If one of you catches her, be careful of the way you do it. Those kids have already witnessed too much violence, and we don’t want to trigger them.”

We follow Cara further into the green space as Aelin vanishes behind a bale of hay.

Emma joins us and points toward the barn. “Here she comes.”

Cara narrows her eyes and shifts toward Emma. “Plan S.”

“What’s plan S?” Mike asks.

Cara’s expression turns devilish. “We send Sam to her, then one of us catches her.”

I shake my head at the women’s gleeful expressions “That easy, huh?”

“Yep.” Emma and Cara say at the same time.

Emma points at Aelin who’s using one of the windows of the barn as an exit. “Look.”

Cara whips her head to Emma. “Now. Em, send Sam now!”

At the mention of her name, Sam drops the picture she was drawing and claps her hands.

“My turn to catch Lalin?”

We all move to the barn and post near the exits. Emma whispers something to a giggling Sam who runs into the barn. “Lalin, where are you?”

There’s laughter in her voice. “Seriously? You sent Sammy?”

Waiting hidden behind the barn back entrance, I smile as she creeps out with her head turned toward her goddaughter who just reaches the opposite entrance.Straight in my arms.I wrap my arms around her from behind and lift her off the ground.

She shrieks and giggles. “Gabe. Put me d—”

I can’t resist, I plant a quick peck in her neck and shift us, so we’re facing the horde of children racing toward us. “No can do, baby. You’re getting whumped.”

Laughing harder, with her eyes on the fast-approaching kids, she twists and narrows her eyes. “You’re so going pay for this,” she whispers.

“Can’t wait,” I whisper back and set her on her feet before taking a step back.

“Lalin!”

Crouched on the grass, Aelin screeches as the kids smother her in whipped cream and silly strings. When every inch of her is covered, she stands up and bows to the applauding crowd before taking Sam’s hand to walk back to the main house with Cara by their side.

When the sisters return to the table, Aelin’s hair is wet, and she’s dressed in a change of clothes Cara must have brought for her.

“Fuck,” Mike says, and I tense.

Has she been crying?What happened in the house?Aelin wraps her arms around my waist while Cara burrows in Mike’s arms.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

She raises eyes full of tears. “Cara and I were saying goodbye to Vania.”

I hold her tight as she lays her cheek on my chest and curl my fingers under her chin.

“Come home with me.”

Her smile shoots straight through my chest. “Yes.”