Gabriel cradled Ba in his arms and inhaled her scent that mixed with his.
He cherishes these moments of silence after lovemaking because skin-to-skin contact feels raw with just the two of them holding each other like there are no secrets and no obstacles and nothing that cane in-between them.
Sometimes he fears that he is dreaming and that he will wake up to a reality where he is still the head of the Long family with Victoria by his side.
How Gabriel sees it, a reality without Ba sounds horrible because as much as his parents and environment chained him, so did Victoria. With Victoria, he always had to watch his behavior and to be the proper heir (and then the head) of the Long family. At that time, Gabriel was always wearing a mask in public, and in private. It was a mask that weighed on him, and only when Steve showed up, Gabriel realized that he didn''t want any of that.
With Ba, things are different. He can do what he wants when he wants it without feeling the pressure to conform to the expectations of others. And he wants to be with Ba and make her happy. If it''s up to him, she would always smile, and they would never separate.
Gabriel is aware thatpared to him, Ba is young, and she has a lot of things ahead of her, but he is not willing to give her a chance to fall for someone else. In a month, she will start attending sses at UCLA, with many others who are close to her age… what if some of her ssmates catch her attention? What if she leaves him?
Gabriel is ready to propose marriage to Ba, but there are a few formalities that should be settled first.
"I want us to go to the Long family.", Gabriel said, making Ba look at him with a mix of curiosity and fear.
"Why?"
He smiled, hoping to dispel all her worries away. "I want you to see where I grew up, and I want to introduce you to my parents."
Ba''s eyes widened. "Are you sure about that?"
"Mhm…", Gabriel hummed. "I know your family, and I want you to meet mine." In his mind, he added: <em>''That is the right order of things before we get engaged…''</em>
Hemissioned the ring, and it will be ready for pick up next week. After that, Gabriel needs to talk to Ben, and then he can propose to Ba.
Ba thought how meeting his family because he knows hers makes sense. Maybe. However, she had her concerns. Longs are an old and rich family with luxury and glitz and m and power and everything thates with it, while she is… Ba. A nobody.
"What if they don''t like me?" She didn''t want to bring up her social status (or theck of it).
"Ba, you are amazing inside and out, and with you I am happy. That is enough for me and if my parents don''t see it, then… it will be their loss."
Ba smiled. She was not sure if he would really dismiss his parents'' opinion if they don''t approve of her, but his words made her happy. "When do you want us to go?"
"We can go today afternoon, or tomorrow.", Gabriel said casually, hoping that he will not make her freak out.
Ba gulped softly. "Today? Tomorrow? I won''t have enough time to get a present. I need you to tell me what they like, and I will check online where I could get it, and…"
"Don''t bother with those.", Gabriel interrupted her. He thought that she was adorable as she was plunging into a panic over a present for his parents, and he was confident that they will not appreciate her thoughtfulness.
"They already have everything they want and no matter what you get, it will be something to collect dust in the storage.", he said honestly. "I don''t know how they will react when they meet you, but their opinion of you will not change regardless of the present."
Ba pressed her lips into a line. She knows that Gabriel''s rtionship with his parents is not good. He does not mention his mother, and whenever his father is brought up, it''s never in a positive light. But even with that, Gabriel still wants to introduce Ba as his girlfriend, so that they are aware of her existence in his life. Ba''s heart swelled at that thought.
She does not need everyone to like her. Gabriel is enough.
"OK. We will do it how you say. Let''s go tomorrow so that I''m not nervous at the brunch today."
"Don''t be nervous. We will meet my parents, and there is no rule on how long we need to stay. I know that you would prefer if I announce our visit, but that will give them a chance to organize an event or at least a meal which will force us to stay for one hour or longer. When we pop-up suddenly, we can leave after five minutes if you are notfortable. On the way back, we will stop by the main vi so that I pick up some more clothes."
<em>''He is already assuming that I won''t befortable…''</em>, Ba thought, and she hoped that her expression didn''t show it.
She guessed that his parents will not approve of her, or at least that they will be skeptical. After all, it''s not long how Victoria got out of the picture and he will introduce Ba to them. Is it rushed? Probably.
Ba knows that Gabriel decided on this move so that he solidifies her status as his girlfriend and also to announce that he is officially breaking out of the Long family''s mold and that he will live his life on his own terms.
She can imagine that it will be difficult. For more than two decades his family told him how to behave, and this will be a form of rebellion.
Ba admires Gabriel for taking this step, and she will stand by his side.
Ba looked into Gabriel''s chocte eyes full of warmth and love that smiled at her and the fact that they are holding each other (naked) under the cover made her remember some naughty videos she watched while he was at work.
"I assume we have time.", Ba said.
Gabriel''s eyebrow arched. "It depends on what you have on your mind."
Ba smiled mischievously and moved lower under the cover.
Gabriel was stunned. Is she going down on him? She never did anything like that before. But her lipsnded on his abdomen and she trailed kisses lower and… "Ba, stop."
"Hmm?", she hummed back when she gripped his shaft which was fully erect while settling between his legs.
"I need to shower…", he said with difficulty. He really didn''t want her to stop.
"No, you don''t…", she responded softly and he felt her hot breath sshing against his erection. "There is nothing dirty between two people who are in love."
Gabriel realized that those are the same words he told her on the first morning when they woke up together, before he went down on her.
A silent <em>''Ahh…''</em> escaped his lips when she took him into her mouth and his head plopped back in the pillows. Ba is amazing!
---
If you are not reading this at ''W e b n o v e l .. c o m'', then the content you''re reading is stolen! Please support the author by reading this novel from the original source.