AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m the boss.” Something my mother pointed out to me, shortly after Leah’s accident. I can still hear her words.
“Gabriel Frazer, you have a baby on the way. You need to learn to prioritise!” She proceeded to lecture me on parental duties and that of being a partner. You’d never have thought I ran a billion-pound company and people trusted me with their money. I left her like a little boy with his tail between his legs.
“You are. But there’s a company and its clients who rely on you. I don’t want to take you away from what’s important. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it, but I can’t be selfish.”
I run a hand through my hair as I stare down into the face I’ve come to know so well.
“What is it?” she asks, sitting up and taking my hand in hers. “Talk to me.”
A furrow forms between her brows, and I brush it with my thumb. “Gabriel, what’s going on?” I can tell from her tone I’m scaring her, but I’m scaring myself more. What I’m about to say has far-reaching connotations.
“The past three weeks.” I look at her, my eyes swimming with the emotion I can no longer contain. “When you didn’t come back... I thought... Then Amanda came in, and I spoke to Stella... My world stopped.” I run a hand over my mouth. “I’ve never been so scared, not since my father’s accident. The thought of losing you.” The tightness in my chest grows at the sheer thought.
Leah turns to face me. Her hand comes up and cups my cheek. I turn into it, placing a kiss on her palm. I close my eyes briefly and relax into the feel of her.
“You haven’t lost me,” She whispers. “I’m not going anywhere as long as you want me here,” she admits. My eyes fly open. I know how vulnerable she’s made herself.
I cover her hand in mine.
“I want to change our contract.”
Leah sinks back into the sofa, her expression one of confusion. “Our contract?”
I interlock our fingers in a way I’ve become accustomed to.
“I want you here with me. I don’t want you and our child living downstairs, where I only see you for a snapshot of time.” I grip my hair, not sure if I’m making sense. I pause, inhaling, before slowly releasing my breath. “I know I told you I don’t do relationships. It’s true. I haven’t, at least not successfully. I’m not saying I’m not going to fuck up. I can almost guarantee I will. But Leah, these past months with you. I’ve never felt like this. I know I said we would fake it. But this doesn’t feel fake. At least not to me, anyway.”
I stare into Leah’s eyes, watching as they fill with tears.
Oh hell, I’ve made her cry.
I grab both her hands and drop to my knees by her feet. “Marry me. Be my fiancée for real. Be my wife until we’re old and grey,” I say before I can stop myself.
Leah’s eyes widen, the moisture escaping from the corner of her eyes, making tracks down her cheeks. I let go of her hand and capture the droplets on my thumbs.
“I know this is not what we agreed. Or the proposal you deserve or I wanted to give you, but —”
She lifts her hand to mine and squeezes, before placing a finger against my lips. I fall silent and wait. I watch in amazement as her face alights with the brightest of smiles.
I take her hand in mine and grip it, bending my head and holding it against my forehead. “I want us to be a proper family, not co-parents. I want us to share in the mundane and the special moments. Watch our child, hopefully, children take their first steps, say their first words. When this little one is born, I want to make another one.”
I grip her hand, and when I raise my head, Leah is openly crying, but her smile lets me know they’re happy tears.
“Yes,” she says. Her eyes twinkling. “A billion yesses. I don’t need a fancy proposal. Actions speak louder than words. Although your words... who knew?” She chuckles and I smile. “I love you Gabriel Frazer, so much.”
“I love you. Maybe I should have started with that. But since you came into my life. I can’t think straight. You’ve changed my life, my world. Made me look at myself, question everything,” I say, dropping my head to hers.
Leah’s laughter fills the air.
“I love you so much,” she says, leaning forward, her hands coming up and wrapping themselves around the back of my head. She pulls my mouth down to hers, my little communications officer, demanding my lips. For eight years this woman was under my nose, and I didn’t see what I had. It wasn’t our time, but I’ll be damned if I’m letting her get away now I’ve realised she is the other half of me.
Without breaking contact, I lift her up and carry her back into the living area. Placing her gently on the sofa. I slow the pace of our kiss, savouring the feel of her against me.
“Make love to me, Gabriel,” Leah whispers against my lips.
“It will be my pleasure,” I say. “I’m going to worship you for the rest of our lives. I love you, Leah. I was blind for so long. You’ve made me open my eyes.”
I spread her thighs, moving between them, dragging my mouth from hers trailing my lips down her jaw to her neck, my hands weaving their way up and under her jumper, pushing it over her head. My fingers make quick work of her bra, freeing her breasts to my gaze and mouth. “Beautiful,” I say, moving my mouth to one of her nipples, sucking and teasing until Leah bucks beneath me, her fingers, gripping my hair.
