Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel’s Inferno

When I got out of rehab, I called my father’s lawyer in New York and said I’d take my inheritance. I paid off the mortgage, but I never lost the shame.

Richard could have been killed because of me.”

Julia pressed her cheek to his chest. “You are his son. Of course he wanted to save you. He loves you.”

“The prodigal son,” Gabriel muttered.

He slid his hands to her hips and changed the subject. “I want you to feel comfortable here. I emptied one of my dresser drawers and made room in the closet for your clothes. I’d like you to leave some things with me so you can come and go as you please. And I’ll give you my spare key.”

“You want me to leave my clothes here?”

“Well, I’d rather you left yourself here, but I’ll settle for your clothes,”

he grumbled, half-smiling.

Julia reached up to plant a penitent kiss on his pouting lips. “I’ll leave some of your gifts here and the next time I’m over, they’ll be waiting for me.”

He smiled, and his smile morphed into a smirk. “Since we’re talking about leaving things here, perhaps you’ll leave some pictures.”

“You want to take my picture…like this?”

“Why not? You’re beautiful, Julianne.”

Her skin flamed.”I don’t think I’m ready to have you take erotic pictures of me.”

His eyebrows furrowed. “I was thinking more along the lines of some black-and-white photos of your profile, your neck, your face…” He began tracing curved patterns on her back, a gentle gesture designed to reassure her of his affection.

“Why?”

“Because I would like to be able to look at you when you aren’t here.

My apartment is very empty without you.”

She pursed her lips thoughtfully.

“Does that trouble you?” He caressed her jaw line slowly.

“No. You can take my picture. But I’d prefer to be fully dressed.”

“I don’t think my heart could take the sight of you undressed.”

She smiled at him, and he laughed.

“Can I ask you something, Gabriel?”

“Of course.”

“When you go home for Thanksgiving, will you stay at Richard’s or at a hotel?”

“I’ll stay at the house with everyone else. Why?”

“Rachel said that you used to stay in a hotel whenever you visited.”

“That’s right.”

“Why?”

He shrugged. “Because I was the black sheep of the family and Scott never let me forget it. It was a relief to have the option of leaving if things became uncomfortable.”

“Did you ever bring a girl home?”

“Never.”

“Did you ever want to bring someone home?”

“Not before you.” He leaned forward to kiss her again. “And if I had my way, you’d be the first girl to share my bed in my parents’ house. Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s going to happen unless I sneak you in after dark.”

Julia giggled slightly but was secretly very, very pleased.

“Richard reminded me that I need to book our airline tickets. Why don’t you let me make the arrangements and we can work out the money later?”

“I could book my own ticket.”

“Of course you could. But I want us to be seated together. We’ll have to leave for the airport after my seminar, which means we’ll have to take the last flight out of Toronto, around nine o’clock.”

“That’s late.”

“I was going to reserve a hotel room in Philadelphia for Wednesday night, since we’ll be arriving close to eleven. Unless you want to drive to Selinsgrove right away.”

Julia shook her head. “Why don’t we just fly to Harrisburg?”

“The last flight to Harrisburg leaves in the middle of my seminar. Of course, we could leave the day after, if you’d prefer. Then we wouldn’t have to stay at a hotel.” Gabriel’s eyes fixated on hers, measuring her.

“I don’t want to lose another day. And it would be nice to stay at a hotel with you.” She smiled.

“Good. I’ll make the reservations and rent a car.”

“What about Rachel and Aaron? Shouldn’t we drive with them?”

“They’re driving up Wednesday after work. Rachel instructed me that it was my responsibility to see that you arrived home safely. She expects me to be your chauffeur and your bell boy.” He winked at her and grinned.

“She knows, doesn’t she?”

“Rachel thinks she knows everything.” His grin tightened. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle her.”

“It isn’t Rachel I’m worried about.”

“You don’t need to worry about anything. We’re just two family friends who met in a city far from home. It will be harder on me than it will be on you.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I will be in the same room with you without being able to touch you.”

She looked down at her bare feet and smiled shyly.

Gabriel took her hand in his and began to stroke it. “When is your birthday?”

“I don’t celebrate it.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t.” Now her voice was defensive.

“Well, I’d like to celebrate it with you. Don’t deprive me, Julianne.”

Gabriel’s blue eyes communicated more frustration than annoyance.

Julia thought back to their argument about the clothes and decided that she didn’t want to have another fight with him so soon.

“It was September first. You missed it.”

“No, I haven’t.” He wrapped his arms around her and rubbed his cheek against hers.

“Are you free next Saturday? We can celebrate it then.”

“What will we be doing?”

“I’ll need to make some arrangements, but we’ll be going out.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to go out together — in public.”

He frowned. “Let me worry about that. Now, are you accepting my invitation or not?” He slid his hand down to one of the ticklish spots on her side.

“I am accepting with gratitude. Please don’t tickle me.” She began giggling in anticipation.

Gabriel ignored her plea and began tickling her lightly until she shrieked with laughter. He loved to hear her laugh. And she loved the rare moments when he was playful.

When she finally caught her breath, she began apologizing. “I’m sorry for hurting your feelings earlier. It’s no excuse, but yesterday was a rough day, and on top of that, I’m hormonal.”

Hormonal? thought Gabriel. Ohhh… He looked at her with concern.

“Are you ill?”

“I’m fine. I get this way a few days before. I’m sure you don’t want to hear about it.”

“If it makes you sick or upset, of course I want to hear about it. I care for you.”

“You might want to mark it on your calendar so you know when to avoid me. That is, if things…” she trailed off.

“I’ll do no such thing,” said Gabriel, stiffly. “I want you, all of you — not just the bits and pieces. And of course things are going to continue.” I hope.

Julia’s revelation presented Gabriel with an interesting situation. It wasn’t that he’d forgotten his human biology. It was more like given his lifestyle, it had never been an issue. Hormonal women, or women on their cycles, did not frequent The Vestibule looking for sex.

Rarely had he entertained the same woman in his bed more than once.

Even then they had not discussed such intimate subjects. He wouldn’t mind discussing such intimate subjects with Julianne. He wanted to be able to read her moods, even if they were weepy or short-tempered. The thought both perplexed and pleased him.

“I should let you get dressed. But there’s one more thing we have to talk about.” Gabriel gave her a serious look, and Julia immediately steeled herself.

“I spoke with my lawyer again.”

“And?”

“He advised me to stay away from you. He said that the university has a zero-tolerance policy with respect to fraternization that covers both students and faculty.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that both of us would be at risk if we were to be involved while you’re in my class. You could be expelled, under certain conditions.”

Julia closed her eyes as a groan escaped her lips. Why is the universe always conspiring against us?

“We knew that the policy was in force, and we knew that it was serious. We just need to maintain the status quo and continue being discreet for a couple more weeks. As soon as Katherine turns in your grade for my seminar, we will be free to see one another.”

“I’m afraid.”

Gabriel reached up to touch her cheek. “What are you afraid of?”

“If anyone sees us together or suspects something, they can file a complaint. Christa wants you, and she hates me. Paul doesn’t like how you’ve treated me, so I’m sure he’d be eager to claim that you’ve harassed me. And Professor Singer…” Julia shivered. She didn’t want to consider what Professor Singer thought.

“I’m not going to let them expel you. No matter what. It’s never going to come to that.”

Julia tried to protest, but he silenced her with his lips, murmuring reassurances into her mouth as he tried to demonstrate how deeply he cared for her without using words.

* * *

They enjoyed a beautiful day together. They laughed and kissed and spent hours talking. Gabriel took several pictures of Julia in various casual poses until her embarrassment got the best of her and he was forced to put the camera away. He resolved to take a picture or two while she was asleep that evening, for Julianne had the face of an angel when she was at peace.

And he knew that a sleeping Julianne would make a captivating subject.

After dinner, they found themselves dancing in front of the fireplace.

Gabriel had prepared a compilation of several sultry songs by Sting, but Julia couldn’t concentrate on the music. Her head was in a haze as it always was when he kissed her. She was so caught up in the physical feelings and emotions it almost made her dizzy.

His hands were in her hair, tangling and caressing at the nape of her neck. They moved to her shoulders, where they slowly traced the slope of her skin. Then they slid down to her waist, and gently, teasingly, moved slowly upward to the sides of her breasts. Two strong hands gently cupped her breasts, moving and massaging them softly.

Julia pulled back.

Gabriel kept his hands where they were and opened his eyes. He looked puzzled at first. She’d retreated, and he could feel her heart racing against his fingertips.

“Julianne?” he whispered.

She shook her head, her skin flushed and her mouth open. She didn’t break eye contact as she moved closer. Gabriel moved his hands a little, just to gauge her reaction. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them he saw something completely new in their brownish depths — heat.

The sight of Julia’s sudden and intense arousal hit him sharply, not just in his own heightened state of excitement, but emotionally as well. She’d never looked at him this way before, all anxious and animated, as if no one had ever touched her before.

Gabriel rumbled slightly in his chest at the thought. He motioned to her with his eyes to come in for a kiss, and he melded his lips to hers, caressing her breasts more forcefully and trailing a thumb against the nubs that began to poke through her shirt. Julia gasped in pleasure into his mouth, and that spurred him on further. Soon he was groaning against her lips and pressing their bodies more tightly together.

More! his body ordered him. Closer. Faster. Tighter. More. More. More.

“Ugghhhh,” he groaned, breaking free from her lips and moving his hands to the safe space of her shoulder blades.

Julia pressed her cheek to the planes of his pectorals, her emotions swirling. Eyes closed, she grew unsteady on her feet, but Gabriel reached down and caught her by the waist.

“How are you?”

“Happy.”

“Passion will do that to you.” He gave her a half-smile.

“So will your fingers,” she whispered.

He placed her in his red chair by the fire. “I need to take a shower.”

Julia tried to regain her composure. Gabriel’s seductive skills left her heady and wanting, wanting things for which she was not ready. Yet.

Professor Emerson is a breast man, she thought to herself with no little warmth.

After he’d been gone for quite some time, she wondered what had happened to him. She wondered why, all of a sudden, he felt the need to take a second shower. When the answer to her silent question dawned on her, she smiled to herself.

Julia’s weekend with Gabriel was perhaps one of the happiest of her life.