Page 95 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

Chapter 18

Ellis wakes extra earlythe next morning—a very good call on his part, because when he gets to the café it’s only him and Gabriel. Not that he has anything against Zeke, but…well. Yesterday traumatized him a wee bit.

“I don’t like that you’re waking up so early just to get here before everyone else,” Gabriel tells him after he’s kissed every single semi-coherent thought out of him. Which is why it takes Ellis a good few seconds to catch up.

“If I wasn’t coming here, I’d be hitting the gym, so it doesn’t matter.” He doesn’t mention that all the slacking and cinnamon roll eating has already gained him a kilo and a half. No regrets. “And this way I don’t go to work sore.”

Gabriel tugs on his tie, one corner of his mouth pulling up in a filthy grin. “I bet I could make you sore.”

Ellis gapes at him like a fish.

Laughing, Gabriel gently coaxes his mouth to close with a finger under his chin. “Have I told you how adorable you are?”

“You might have mentioned it in passing,” Ellis mumbles, at a loss as to why he likes it so much. Or why he’s suddenly flooded with vivid images of all the ways Gabriel could make him sore.

Something tells him it wouldn’t entail doing push-ups or squats. Hip thrusts, maybe.

“Hmm,” Gabriel hums, picking up imaginary lint from Ellis’ suit. “Well, you are.”

“Okay.”

“You’re blushing.”

“That’s sunburn.”

“It rained all day yesterday.”

“The sun is really fierce in Queensland.”

“As I said—” Gabriel leans in. “Adorable.”

He doesn’t resist when Gabriel walks him backwards and pushes him up against the glass door. In the back of his mind, he’s aware anyone could walk by, or god forbid, try to walk in, but he can’t summon the willpower to care. Not when Gabriel makes this growling, whimpering noise whenever Ellis nips at his lower lip, or when he pins Ellis in place using his own body. It still feels so wild to be with someone who matches his strength, who can give as much as he gets.

Ellis chases after him when Gabriel pulls away, letting out a long-suffering groan.

“I need to pull myself together before someone comes in,” Gabriel says ruefully.

“Yeah. Probably a good idea.”

And Ellis needs to do the same before showing up at work. If he hurries, he’ll get there before Amanda and won’t have to explain why he looks like he’s had marathon sex.

Gabriel quickly checks with him before starting on his usual order. When he puts everything in front of Ellis, there’s also a rectangular plastic container filled with something orange.

“It’s lentil curry,” Gabriel explains, unprompted. “Dairy-free.”

“You cooked me lunch?” He was already baffled when Gabriel cooked for their first date, but going out of his way to make Ellis lunch?

“I always cook too much, then end up eating the same thing for three days. You liked my cooking, so…” He shrugs.

“I did. I do,” Ellis presses out. He feels a little choked up, and not sure what the appropriate reaction would be. “Thank you,” he says at last.

Gabriel gives him a sunny smile. Why does doing things for Ellis always make him look so damn happy? It doesn’t make sense.

It’s not until Ellis is back in his car that he sees the message Gabriel has left him on the coffee cup.

You’re adorable xoxo

He shakes his head when he catches sight of himself in the rearview mirror, smiling like an idiot. He’d better wipe that look off his face before heading to work. He has no idea how he would explain that to Amanda.