C7 24 HOURS

©S A F I E

CHAPTER 6

ELLE

*Flashback *

"Gabriel," I whispered, a bit nervous about what his reaction might be. He opened his eyes and I can't help but smile as he wrinkles his nose, scratching his head. He blinks his eyes up at me, a question apparent on them.

"Happy birthday." I smiled and push the birthday cake in front of him.

"Elle-" his eyebrows scrunched up as his eyes searched my face. "Why are you--?"

"I want to surprise you. You are my husband and I am ought to care for you. I want to make you happy. Rise from your bed and have a bite of this, I promise you won't regret it." I push a spoon on his hand and gave him a sheepish smile. He sat there, frozen on top of the bed, a spoon on his hand. I am almost tempted to take a picture of him for he looks a lot like a model but halted as I see his brows slowly meeting in the middle and he glared down at the cake, saying. "Is this the scene where the wife finally decided to kill her husband?"

His words made me smile and say a little 'no' because inside, I am burning so bright of irritation for this man. I mean, can't he just say ‘thank you’ to me? He's pushing my patience and making me wish that I did put some poison on the cake. I should try and do that next time.

I am so distracted with my own thoughts that I am surprised to hear him moan, "God. I haven't tasted a chocolate cake this good in my entire life" His eyes captured mine before he pulled me in and stuff some cake on my mouth, catching me off guard. The sweet malty taste made my tastebuds explode and I have little to no control of the moan I let out.

"Now we die together," Gabriel smiled at me with his teeth covered with the triple chocolate cake I baked. He looks so adorable and young, I wish he is always as playful as this. Bowing my head, I enjoyed the taste of chocolate inside my mouth, watching Gabriel as he finishes the whole cake, his cheeks tinted with the chocolate ganache.

Oh well, Mr West, you might not mean it but I am dying to make you love me back.

*flashback ends*

I am dazed as the memory faded in the back of my head. Staring at his glorious face, I snap myself back to the present and to the book I am reading. We sat by the parlour, him staring out to the forest while I am sat by the window, staring aimlessly at the pages laid on my lap. The morning sun is now high up in the sky, announcing mid-afternoon; the breeze has ceased, replaced by the ever prickly warm haze. I huff, shifting my feet so that I am leaning by the window pane.

"Elle, what would you like to do for the rest of the day rather than spending it with your book?" I stared at him for a while as he leaned across the open doors, his head tilted to the view of the forest, as though he isn't really talking to me. I raised an eyebrow at him and he turns, making me flustered once again "What? I thought you wanted to spend a day with me? I am giving you the chance." The smile that he gave me tug at my heartstrings that I almost choke on my next words.

Glancing down at the book on my lap, I said in a shaky voice, "How does the beach sound for you?"

"The beach?" He turned his full attention at me, his eyebrows raised. He moves closer to the window where I am sitting at, his stance inquisitive as he crosses his arms over his chest, flexing those biceps that made me want to drool. I cleared my throat and held his gaze instead, avoiding the temptation, bracing myself for the question that will surely come out of his smart mouth. "Why would you like to go to the beach?"

"For the same reason as other people have! It's in the middle of the summer now and I haven't even heard the crash of water on the shore. I want to bury myself in the sand, bathe in the sun and smell the humid air...I want to--"

"Okay. Okay." He rolled his eyes and snorted, " You sound like a dying patient." He struts out of the door, leaving me speechless. I am tempted to throw the book at him but I wouldn't. This book is too precious for me; I wouldn't ruin it for a man such as him, he's not worth my first edition book. I should've snatched a pillow from the sofa.

Standing up from the window, I headed up the stairs and to my bedroom. I entered the closet, rummaging for something I can wear for the beach. I pulled a sundress and a piece of swimsuit, and marched inside the en-suite bathroom, removing my clothes. I am halfway through pulling the dress down on my chest area when Gabriel entered the bathroom. He stands there, like a deer caught in headlights, drowning in his own drool.

"Like what you see?" I am surprised when the words escaped my mouth. I barely had the time to cover my face in embarrassment when I heard his chuckle, giving me the sudden urge to hurl my slippers at his head as I hear his remark.

"Pssh, you barely had a C, love, which is why I am not that impress. 2You have the body of a teenage girl, so skinny!" He laughs again, strutting out of the bathroom and locking the door behind him.

That git! He doesn't know what he's talking about because he isn't a woman. Puffing my chest, I am surprised when I heard his voice from the other side of the room, "Hey, what's taking you so long? Have you been already swimming in the toilet?!"

"Git!" I hissed, pushing open the door and ending up face to face with the devil himself. "All that is coming out of your mouth is crap, Gabriel! If I could only--"

I momentarily stopped my blubber as I watch him change into a pair of board shorts. "Like what you see?" He quoted back to me and I can't help but blush at that as I tried to go back inside the bathroom "Love, you already see all of this and yet you still act so shy." His gaze was so intense that I was caught in a trance.

My mind flashes back to his strong torso and his biceps as he grabs me, pulling me closer. I can almost feel his hands brushing the sides of my face, sliding down so that they settle on the nape of my neck. Still, his hands slide further down until he is holding my breast. His whispers tickle my ears as I succumb to the feeling of haven he has provided while I writhe in his arms, a prey to his love.

It was all too much and his intense gaze at me is making my breath hitch. I felt my cheeks growing hotter by the second. I cleared my throat, "Nope. You are wrong. I can't see clearly in the dark. Plus, there's nothing wrong with what I'm doing. I am your wife." I stated as a matter of fact. The blush is still adorning my cheeks and spreading to my neck, making me scratch my ear and hold his amused gaze.

"Everything is right with what you are doing, love." He pulled my hand and I cannot help but smirk at him.