Chapter 5 Gabriel

• Gabriel (POV)
• As she left to go to the break room to get some water for herself. I called ahead to a hotel and booked a suite for Alana. What she doesn’t know is I made sure it was the Grand Hotel across the street from my penthouse apartment. I made sure it faced the east street that faced my apartment so I could secretly keep watch in case she was to need me. I made her a promise and I intend to keep it. I will keep her safe.
• Later that afternoon I drove her to the hotel and checked her in. I went with her up to her room claiming to help secure it for safety reasons, and not tell her I wanted to see the layout of the suite, to make sure my windows can be seen from across the road. Everything is as I planned, and now, I feel better knowing that I can protect her. No one will hurt my mate. No one.
• “I don’t feel like being alone right now, “I heard her begin and turned away from the window to look at her standing near the couch. “Would you join me for dinner and maybe watch a movie this evening?”
• I smiled at her, “Let me call for room service and order something.”
• She smiled back, “I will look for a good movie to watch.”
• After we ate our dinner, we settled down on the couch and began the movie. It was an action-adventure film. As we sat there Alana curled up her beautiful legs beneath her. I crossed my foot over the other knee loosened my tie and unbuttoned the top few buttons of my shirt to get more comfortable. My jacket was already removed before we ate. Alana was leaning a little towards my direction and surprised me when she lay her hand upon my hand as it sat on my thigh. I looked over at her, but she was focused on the movie. She leaned further laid her head upon my shoulder and snuggled closer next to me.
• “I hope you don’t mind?” She whispered. “With all that has happened. I feel safe around you.”
• “As long as you are feeling safe. That is why I placed you in this hotel. It is a safe one with great security.” I squeezed her hand.
• She looked up at me and our eyes made contact. There was that electrical sensation again shooting through my body. I couldn’t look away and it seemed she couldn’t either. I bent my head lower and softly brushed my lips against hers. I lifted my head and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, and her mouth was parted and inviting me to return mine and so I did. As I deepened the kiss, she invited my tongue to explore her mouth. She tasted so good, and my hunger only grew the more as I kissed her. The moment she moaned against my mouth became my undoing. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer as I began to kiss and nibble her lips, her cheek, and on down to her throat. She panted with breathlessness as my mouth moved even lower. I began to undo the buttons on her blouse as my mouth followed when she suddenly froze and pulled away.
• “I… I’m sorry. I can’t.” Flashes of the rape went through my mind as I saw it was from her point of view. I felt her fear, the terror, the pain, Then the relief as I rode up on my motorcycle than a new pain upon her head as he hit her. I knew what this meant. She is my fated mate and I can see into her mind. As she relived that fateful night.
• I gently pulled her away and placed my hand upon her cheek. “It’s alright. We can take things as slowly as you want.”
• She looked up at me, tears brimming her eyes threatening to fall. “Thank you.” She whispered.
• “I should leave,” I said, hoarsely clearing my throat.
• “No. I mean. Please, stay?”
• I looked into her eyes seeing the sincerity in them and nodded. She lay her head back upon my shoulder and we both turned back to finish the movie. Near the end of the movie, I felt Alana begin to relax and her breathing began to even out as she fell asleep. I waited another ten minutes before I slowly got up and laid her down gently on the couch. I knelt in front of her and brushed her hair away from her lovely face. I gently kissed her lips and whispered, “I will wait for you, my mate. Always.” I covered her with a blanket from the bedroom, “Just sleep for now. I will keep watch over you, even when I am not here.”
• She softly moaned and turned over in sleep. I smiled and turned walking out the door making sure it was locked behind me.
• Across the street back in my penthouse, I went onto my balcony and watched the rooms where my mate slept across the road, keeping watch. As a dragon, I am not needing as much sleep as humans, so I can keep an all-night vigil to make sure she stays safe. As dawn began to break, I was still sitting and watching. I can feel her awake now and see her cross in front of the window into the bedroom. She must be getting ready to take a shower and get ready for work. Knowing she is safe I took out my phone and arranged for her a ride to the office then stood to head in to take a shower myself.
• Before taking Alana to the hotel, we stopped by her place so she was able to pack a suitcase of a few belongings she will need. At first, I debated offering her a ride myself this morning, but I thought better of it. I don’t want her to get suspicious of me or my reasons for needing to protect her.
• I got to the office before she did and walked in and sat at my desk to begin work. An hour later as I was checking through documents on my computer, I caught a whiff of a familiar smell and five minutes later, she knocked on my door and opened it. “Good morning, Gabe. Here is your coffee and Danish.”
• “Thank you, Alana,” I said looking up at her. She didn’t move to leave. I got the feeling she wanted to say something to me, “Is there something you want to say?”
• She nodded, “About last night.” She began while fiddling with her fingers, “I just want to say thank you. Thank you, for everything you have done.”
• I stood and walked around the desk and stood in front of her. “No need to thank me for doing something I wanted to do.” I smiled at her and saw her relax.
• She cleared her throat, “There is something else.” She said looking down, “What… I mean this thing between us…”
• I took her hands in mine. “This thing between us is real.” I began but she interrupted me.
• “No. It can’t happen.” She shook her head and pulled her hands away from mine. “I have too much baggage and am pregnant. I need to focus on my baby and not get involved with anyone.” She looked me in the eyes, “I am sorry if you got the wrong impression about us.”
• I know her reasoning is to not drag me in while she is in danger. What she doesn’t know is that I have been involved ever since that night three months ago. She is my fated mate and I promised myself I will keep her safe. For now, I will appear to step back only I won’t back down from protecting her. She is mine and I will not let anyone harm her. Or her child.
• “Okay. I understand.”
• She sighed in relief. “Thank you. I will pack my bags and go back to my apartment this afternoon. And I will begin to look for another job.”
• “No,” I said a little too sharply. Seeing the startled look on her face. I smiled and softened my voice, “I mean, please stay. I paid for that room for a month's rent. It is yours while you need it and as for employment. I still need a receptionist. Please stay.”
• She looked at me as if studying me. “Why are you doing this for me?” She spoke softly.
• I took a deep breath before saying, “A good receptionist is hard to come by.” I chuckled.
• She smiled back, “Okay, I will stay. And at the hotel too. Thank you.”