Closing my eyes, I let out a breathy moan. “Not what… more like who,” I let out in a whisper.
Groaning against my ear, Gabe said, “Mmmm… fuck, Sarah,” as he gripped my ass in his hands and gave it a firm squeeze.
Wrapping my fingers in his hair, I pulled on it. “Take me upstairs, Gabe.” I waited a few seconds for Gabe to start walking towards the stairs but he didn’t. “Gabe?” I asked with worry in my voice.
Pulling me off of him, Gabe let out a deep groan. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. Opening his eyes he said, “As much as I would love to fuck you, Sarah, I want to hold you even more.”
“Oh,” I whispered. “Okay.” Grabbing his hand, I pulled him into the living room behind me. As he laid down on the couch and got situated, I asked, “Do you want a drink?”
“No. Sarah, I just want you in my arms,” Gabe said so easily.
I stood there for a few seconds with a stupid grin on my face. I couldn’t understand how it was so easy for Gabe to say sweet things like that to me and why it was so hard for others to say things like that to girls.
“What are you smiling about?”
Closing my eyes, I shook my head. Walking over to where he was laying, I sat down on the couch.
Twisting and turning, Gabe turned so he was lying flat on his back. “What?” he whispered as he stared up at me.
Releasing a breath, I said, “It’s like you’re from another time or something.”
“What do you mean?” Gabe asked curiously.
“Just that. The things you say and do for me. Other guys don’t do that,” I said easily. “I just wonder what exactly I did to deserve you and why you aren’t with a girl who is nice and sweet. Caring and generous.”
Sitting up, Gabe cupped my face. “I have no idea what I did to deserve you, Sarah. Do you want to know what I see when I look at you?” Gabe asked.
“Yes,” I whispered.
He sighed. “I see this beautiful woman who has no idea just how beautiful she is. On the inside as well as the out. You are caring and sweet. Funny and generous. Smart and sexy as hell.” He shook his head. “I’ve only ever acted like this with you, Sarah,” Gabe said as he opened his eyes.
“What do you mean?” I asked as I tilted my head to the side.
Looking into my eyes, he said, “I mean holding the door open for you. Saying good morning and good night. Wanting you in my arms, because when you’re there? I feel safe and at home. I love you, Sarah. Scratch that, because I’m in love with you. I don’t know how we’ll get through these next four years, but with every ounce of my being we will, because I’m not letting you go. I want you. The forever kind. With the ring and the kids. I want the messes and the arguments and the tons of make-up sex and no sex at all.” Taking a few deep breaths, he closed his eyes. Opening them back up, I saw tears in his eyes and watched as they fell onto each cheek. His lips quivered. “I want that with you.”
I lifted my hands to my face and wiped away the tears spilling from my eyes.
“Sarah?” Gabe asked as he let go of my face.
Breathing in through my nose, I asked, “Yeah?” as I grabbed a tissue from the Kleenex box sitting on the coffee table in front of us.
“What are you thinking?” he whispered.
After blowing my nose I said, “How much I want to marry you someday.” Pausing I asked, “You?”
“Same,” Gabe said.
I saw he had a huge smile. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he pulled me down onto the couch so I was lying down, facing him. With only the dim light above the kitchen sink illuminating the room, I stared at Gabe while he stared at me.
As Gabe ducked his head, he closed his eyes. Leaning in to kiss me on the forehead, he said, “I love you, Sarah.”
Smiling, I whispered, “I love you, Gabe.” As I closed my eyes and breathed in the smell of his musky cologne, all that ran through my mind was how I knew in that moment I had made a choice. Because I knew that I would do whatever it took for the two of us to be together.
***
"Sarah, wake up," Gabe whispered against my cheek.
Groggily, I opened my eyes and looked up at Gabe. He was smiling down at me and he looked… beautiful. His hair was disheveled. His eyes were half closed and he had an impression of the pillow on the side of his face. "Sorry, I must have fallen asleep,” I said as I started to sit up.
Moving back from me to give me some space, Gabe sat down on the couch. “That’s okay. I actually just woke up. I was going to carry you upstairs but you started moving around in your sleep."
I could feel my face getting red. “Uh, yeah, sorry about that," I whispered.
Ducking down, Gabe said, "Sarah, look at me."
Listening to him, I looked up into his eyes.
Smiling at me, he said, "I thought it was cute."
“Oh, okay,” I whispered. Standing up from the couch, I said, “Well, come on. I'm exhausted.”