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8 - Aurora
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2025-03-25 02:45:138 - Aurora
“Yeah right, you were off with the Corleone’s. So it still counts as vacation. You were in the tropics. Everyone knows Lady C uses her business trips to vacation. And you got to hang out with Lady C and her walking I*******m filter.” He says, setting his laptop on the coffee table and opening his arms for me to join him back on the couch.
“Ok, you’re not totally wrong, she does have a system for her business trips, but we did actually contract a business deal, this time anyway. This was my first trip with her, I am usually remote handling the numbers and information she needs for negotiations. We happened to finish the details for the deal earlier than expected. I wasn’t needed after that so Lady C sent me home. That’s all.” I shrug. I don’t mention that I think Lady C needs to look over the fine print of the contract. I don’t think she is getting the deal she believes. But, she never wants my unasked for opinion so I keep it too myself. And I am still waiting for him to acknowledge that he ignored my call for a ride.
“So what did you get up to while you were there?” He asks with a sly smile.
The memory of that run—the voice on the phone, the way he made me fall apart without even touching me—burns in my brain like wildfire. I don’t respond. It’s all I can do to keepmy heartrate at a normal level.
My eyes narrow. “I had one day. I worked the rest. The deal closed faster than expected. I wasn’t needed afterward.”
“So… no tan, no hikes, no poolside cocktails? I think you’re doing the vacation thing wrong.” His brows lift like he’s teasing—but something’s off. His tone is just a little too careful. His embrace is starting to feel suffocating.
“I’m telling you, I worked.” I squirm.
“You don’t have to get defensive, Rory. I’m just surprised. Most people go to the tropics and at least dip their toes in the ocean.”
“I’m not most people, Gabriel,” I snap, voice sharper than intended. “And I wasn’t on some influencer retreat. I was on Lady C’s clock.”
He sighs, like I’ve overreacted. Like I’m being unreasonable. “So, you didn’t have any fun while you were there?”
My eyes open wide, I am totally caught. I didn’t cheat technically, I had s*x with myself, it just wasn’t Gabriel on the other line giving me instructions and it was one of the hottest things I have ever done in my life. Just the thought has my core on fire and as much as I love Gabriel, he has never gotten that kind of reaction out of my body, ever, in the years we have been together. Sex with him is very vanilla.
“W-What d-do you mean?” I try getting the question out as calm as possible, but the thoughts are already there. Copyright ©️ 2025 Miss L Writes and Ember Mantel Productions
“Well, you said you took a morning run, did you have time to sight see? All that boring walking around, hiking and history stuff is totally your thing right?’ He laughs at me a little. Is that really what he thinks of me?
“No, actually. I only had one full day. We did the negotiation almost right away when we got there and then the next morning we finalized all the details in person and I was on the next red eye home.” I answer, now suspicious of his question and the tone. “Why do you ask?”
“No reason, You were in the tropics and didn’t take advantage of any of the sights. Didn’t lay out and tan. I don’t know anyone who does that.”
“I was working, Gabriel! It was NOT a vacation for me! I was there on Lady C’s dime and she only kept me as long as she needed me in person so I wasn’t in the way.” I snap at him now getting irritated. I stand, needing the physical space. I don’t know how many other ways to tell him, I literally did nothing. This is my first trip with my company and he's criticizing my ability to relax.
So I walk away—I really was about to jump him with the thoughts and feelings of the call with Nathan in my head, and the need still coursing through my veins. I wanted to want Gabriel again. To feel desired. Tethered. But instead, I want to be alone. I can’t be near a man who treats my career like a cute hobby and my exhaustion like a mood swing. I huff out of the room, into the bedroom he’s left looking like a tornado hit it. Clothes everywhere. Bathroom a war zone. One day. He’s been home one day and this place was spotless when I left after he did. I don’t scream. I clean. Thank God its a one bedroom apartment.
It’s like a pack of teenage girls got ready for a club in here. I don’t think he has a single piece of clothing left in the closet. I love Gabriel, I do, but this is ridiculous! I’m too irritated and s*xually frustrated to deal with this right now, but I won’t be able to sleep if my room isn’t clean either, so I keep working. I don’t bother hanging up or putting away any of his clothes. I don’t know what is clean or dirty so I’ll just start from scratch another time.
Once the bedroom is back in order, I start on the bathroom taking out all of my frustrations. I’m lucky enough that most of the things in here only need to be put in their places, nothing more. When everything’s back in place except my mood, I grab the one thing I know will take the edge off—my vibrator. I usually save it for when Gabriel is away. He’s probably never noticed it. Or maybe he has and pretended not to. Either way, I don’t care. Tonight, he’s not the one I want. I lock the bathroom door, turn the shower to nearly scalding, and step in. And for a long, long time… I remember how Nathan’s voice sounded over the phone. Low. Sure. Sinful. I remember the way he never touched me… and still made me fall apart over and over again.
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The Last Minute Bride 7 - Aurora
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The Last Minute Bride 6 - Aurora
6 - AuroraI left for the airport a couple hours later, determined to not think about Nathan or that incredible night again. I am going home to my boyfriend who has been with me through so many things. Gabriel is in this for the long haul, where Nathan is just looking to fill his time to avoid boredom.Although I will never deny that it was time well spent, I will hold onto that night for a very long time. I may not be able to follow through with the not thinking about him part, but I definitely blocked him. I have no reason to actually keep his number. That would be disastrous. Especially if Gabriel found out and saw the things Nathan said to me. That betrayal would be unforgivable. I can’t bring myself to feel guilty about the pleasure I gave myself at his instruction though. The logic that it isn’t cheating if I didn’t let him see me and I touched myself is flimsily hanging on. I will also not say anything about the additional org*sms I gave myself while letting the whole experie
