: Say It, Baby

Rosalind sighed and tried to roll her body. However, something halted her movement. She was exhausted, and a hammer felt like pounding on her head. So she still lay on the bed, trying to figure it out what happened last night.

The pounding didn’t stop until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh, stop!” she shrieked. The ache in her head was too much until she promised to herself not to be drunk again.

Somehow, there was a move behind her. She felt a kiss on her left shoulder and that’s when she realized an arm wrapped around her waist.

“You’re awake?” The man’s voice was hoarse.

“Oh!” Rosalind tried to move her body to see who was talking. But the ache in her head was too much. “I promise I won’t get drunk ever again.” She groaned and rubbed her temples.

“It’s good, baby. I’m glad to hear that.”

The man’s words sank into her brain slowly. Then Rosalind gasped, trying to turn her body. It was already hard because the pounding in her head still continued. However, she strived to open her eyes.

It was dark. After a few seconds, her eyes could adjust to the low light, and she realized she was in a bedroom with a stranger.

“W-who are you?” she said, stammering because she could guess the worst had happened.

“Who am I?” the man asked. He raised his eyebrow and then reached out his hand to touch Rosalind’s waist. “I’m your man, baby girl. Don’t you remember anything?” He bent forward and caught Rosalind’s lips in a kiss.

Rosalind didn’t expect the kiss and froze as the man’s voice was familiar. She frowned and tried to stare at the man. “Your voice is so familiar. We must have met somewhere.” She tried to jog her memory about last night, but she didn’t remember the man.

The man chuckled and reached his hand to a desk lamp on the headboard. After turning on the light, he grinned. “Now, do you know me?”

Rosalind blinked for a few seconds, trying to adjust her eyes to a sudden light. Then she gasped and shook her head. She was too shocked to see who the man was with her. “You! It can’t be!”

“Why not?”

She sat on the bed, and that’s when the blanket that wrapped around her body fell. The cold air from the air conditioning blew into her body. Rosalind bent her face a little downward and then she gaped.

“Oh, no! I’m ….” She didn’t finish her words because she just realized what had happened. With a pale face, she grabbed the blanket to cover her naked body and gasped loudly. “Did we …?”

“Did we … what?” the man asked.

“You know what I wanted to ask.” Rosalind covered her mouth with a hand and shook her head. Her face was pale. “Mr. Da Costa, I remember nothing.”

The man, Gabriel Da Costa, who was no other than Jeremy’s uncle, only grinned. He removed the blanket that covered his body, and soon, Rosalind could see that Gabriel was naked too. His six-pack abs with no excess fat, wide chest, and fine-shaped muscles in his shoulders were built to perfection.

Gabriel didn’t show any shame or shyness with his nakedness. He even approached Rosalind and wrapped his arms around her waist again. “Since you remember nothing, we must repeat what we did last night.”

Then he kissed Rosalind’s lips. Sucking her lower lip and then nipping it, Gabriel rubbed her waist. He pulled her body until they were skin to skin. Later, he kissed her neck and sucked it intentionally to create a hickey there. His hand then touched her breast, and Rosalind moaned.

“Mr. Da Costa, y-you need to stop.”

“Are you sure, baby? I don’t like it when my partner remembers nothing of our satisfying time.” He played with her hardened nipple and grinned like a cat fed with milk when she squirmed. “You like it.”

“Mr. Da Costa—”

“Gabe.”

“Sorry?”

“You need to call me Gabe, baby. We have already passed the formalities after last night.” Then Gabriel swooped Rosalind’s naked body and laid her back to the bed.

While Rosalind was on her back on the bed, Gabriel kissed her lips, and let their bodies touch again from top to bottom. “You can’t avoid fate, darling.”

She couldn’t think straight. However, the sensation Gabriel had awakened in her body somehow was bigger than the ache of a hangover. She moaned when Gabriel moved downward and sucked the top of her breast.

Rosalind grabbed his hair and caressed it. Unexpectedly, his hair was soft. “Gabe ….”

“Yes, darling?”

“What are you doing to me?” Her heartbeat beat faster. “I feel like ….” She groaned and shook her head. “Oh, I don’t know how to explain it.”

“You are enjoying it, right?”

She looked away, blushing from her head to toe. Since she could feel Gabriel waiting for her answer, she finally said, “Well, I do, but ….”

“No buts, darling. You only need to enjoy it. I only want to pleasure you.”

Gabriel massaged Rosalind’s breast, and his other hand roamed and teased her feminine member below. It was wet already.

“Gabe … not there!” she protested, and tried to shove his hand away.

He grinned and clasped her hand with another hand to the side of her body so he could stop her from moving his hand. “You will like it, baby. I promise you.”

Then he inserted his finger inside her folds. She moaned, and he moved his finger faster. Her waist went up and down, following the movement of his finger. Next, he added another finger and made both fingers move faster inside her sensitive part.

However, that’s when his phone rang. Gabriel ignored it and continued to make love with Rosalind using his fingers. After a while, the phone didn’t ring anymore.

She reached her peak a minute later and lay limply on the bed. Her body was sated though it was exhausted. Then Gabriel removed his fingers from her body. Despite she didn’t have energy left, her body hummed with pleasure after the orgasm. The ache in her head was gone too. They lay side by side, and his arms wrapped around her body.

However, she was confused because Gabriel didn’t finish it. “Uh …. Why don’t you …?”

He lifted his eyebrow. “Why don’t I … what?”

“You know.” Her face blushed because she was too embarrassed to ask, but she was curious too.

Gabriel chuckled. Bending his body and capturing her lips with his, he didn’t rush and enjoyed them entirely until she let out a satisfied sigh. Then he grinned and asked, “Mine?”

“What?”

“Tell me you are mine, and I’ll finish it.”

Rosalind shook her head. “Gabe …. I can’t ….”

“Why not?”

She tried to rise, but Gabriel blocked her body so she couldn’t move. She pushed his chest a little, but as if she touched a solid wall. “Gabe, I need to move.”

“Not yet. I like our position right now.”

Then, he bit her lower lip and when Rosalind opened her mouth to protest, his tongue probed inside and danced within her mouth. After exploring her mouth and sucked her tongue, he kissed her earlobe. “Say it, baby.”

“Say what?”

“Say you are mine, and I’ll give you everything.”

: Do You Agree?

Rosalind took a deep breath and gazed into Gabriel’s eyes. “Everything? What do you mean by everything?”

He shrugged and rubbed her lower lip with a thumb. “Well, I can give you everything you want to buy. You won’t need to work anymore.”

“In exchange for what?” She raised her eyebrow. It was a tempting offer. After working so hard for years, could she rest now?

“Being mine.” He rubbed her cheek, jaw, and then back to her lower lip again. “You only need to be here, darling. I’ll pamper, protect, and satisfy you.”

“Being here?”

Gabriel nodded. “Yes, unless you want to stay elsewhere. I can buy another apartment or house if you prefer it.” Since Rosalind didn’t reply, Gabriel kissed her lips and then whispered in her ear, “I’ll even give a lesson to Jeremy. He doesn’t appreciate you.”

Gulping, Rosalind clasped her hand together. She took a deep breath because hearing Jeremy’s name opened a new, unhealed wound in her heart. Then she closed her eyes because she didn’t want Gabriel to see her hurt and pain. Her tears trickled from both eyes.

“Baby, don’t cry.” He kissed the tears away.

However, it made Rosalind even couldn’t contain her sadness. Her tears poured heavily. Her dream was shattered the moment she saw Jeremy’s betrayal. No more a nice little family in the future with two kids in a small house and a tiny garden. The future was bleak now.

“Rose, my darling,” Gabriel whispered in Rosalind’s ear, “forget him. I’ll make you happy. I promise. You only need to be by my side.”

Rosalind pondered about it for a moment. It would be nice if she could be with Gabriel. How he treated her just now was as sweet and nice as the thing she dreamed Jeremy did to her. But then, was it an answer for her?

She didn’t know Gabriel well other than he was Jeremy’s uncle. Yes, he was a zillionaire, a quite successful and powerful man in their country. She knew Gabriel was single, but if he wanted, he could choose any woman. She gulped because the last woman she read in the news attached to Gabriel’s name was an actress. So what was he doing to offer her to be his woman?

Since Rosalind said nothing, Gabriel kissed her shoulder. “A penny for your thoughts?”

She took a heavy sigh. “Gabe … I … we don’t know each other.”

“No, it’s not true. We know the basic things about each other. For now, it’s enough. I know you are a good and loyal girl who works hard every day.” He caressed her cheek. “You have my respect for that.”

Rosalind lifted her eyes and stared at Gabriel, smiling a little. “Thank you.”

“So, do you agree?”

“I—”

“Rose, I can give you everything.” Then Gabriel repeated it, “EVERYTHING.” He emphasized it while looking deep into her eyes.

It flared Rosalind’s emotion. She disliked him when he treated her that way. “And be what? Your plaything? Your mistress?” Her voice pitched higher.

Shaking his head, Gabriel clicked his tongue. “No, baby. You will be my lover.”

“Your lover? But if you give me everything, won’t I be your mistress?”

“No, it’s too harsh.”

“Really?” Rosalind raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms over chest. “Then, what should I do if I accept to be your lover?”

“Be by my side. Let me spoil and protect you.”

“But you want to … to ….” She couldn’t say it out loud. Her face was scarlet because it was too embarrassing to say it.

“To what?” He grinned. “You have a habit of saying something, but then don’t finish it.”

“To … you know? This!” Rosalind’s hand pointed out at Gabriel’s chest and then hers. Licking her lips, her face was crimson. “Sleeping together!” Finally, she could say it.

Gabriel chuckled and put his hand on her cheek, rubbing it with his thumb. “There you go! It isn’t so hard, is it?” He kissed her lips. “You are so adorable when you are shy. I like it when you blush.”

Rosalind pouted, but she was hesitant now. Gabriel helped her forget her sadness, and she was comfortable with him. But then, they were strangers …. She wondered if the hurt because of Jeremy’s betrayal made her want someone so badly to comfort her. Yet, Jeremy’s uncle? She sighed. It didn’t feel right.

“What is it? You sighed.” Gabriel stared at Rosalind.

“I can’t do it ….” She shook her head. “It will be like I’m selling myself to you if I accept your offer. I’m not a whore, you know.”

“Rose, I know you aren’t a whore. I don’t need to offer a whore anything, nor will I be interested in one, either.” He took her hand and kissed the knuckles. “I want you, Rose, only you.”

“But why?”

“You have more to offer. Other things besides your excellent character?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. I just feel you are the right person for me after last night.”

She clasped her hands together. For sure, she wouldn’t be drunk again for the rest of her life. It made her do something she didn’t want and didn’t remember at all! Placing her hand on forehead, Rosalind closed her eyes. Then, when she opened her eyes again, Rosalind gazed into Gabriel’s eyes.

“I need to take a shower.”

“Okay. Please take your time and think about what I said.” He bent forward and caught her lips in a long kiss before he released her.

Rosalind shook her head as she licked her lips. She had to be out of her mind because she enjoyed his advances, despite not wanting to be his mistress. Well, mistress, lover, what was the difference? It was only words, semantic they said, but basically, she would be his plaything. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to do that.

So, going to the bathroom, still naked, she took a shower quickly and then took a few minutes to soak her body in the tub with warm water. She moaned a little because it was quite a luxury to spoil herself like this. As it was Sunday, and every two weeks she would have a day off, she didn’t need to rush to go to work today.

After ten minutes, Rosalind got up and left the bathtub. When she wanted to dry her body with a wide brown towel, her eyes spotted a few hickeys on her neck. Then, she noticed there were some more on her chest, breast, stomach, and thighs.

She gaped because she didn’t expect to see those. Later, she covered her mouth with a hand to stifle her gasp as she could only stare at herself in the mirror. It was no doubt they had spent the night together. The hickeys on her body were the undeniable proof.

The question was only one now. What would she do?

: What about My Offer?

Rosalind wrapped her body in a wide dry towel and sat on a chair near the mirror. The easiest decision was to accept Gabriel’s offer. She didn’t need to work hard anymore, even no need to work again. He even promised her to give a lesson to Jeremy, though she didn’t know what he would do.

Her mind pondered the option. It seemed Gabriel was sincere with his offer, but how long would it be? She heard Gabriel’s reputation as one of the wealthiest people in the capital. Many feared him because they heard he wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to get what he wanted. But many women also sought after him because of his wealth, power, and impressive look.

Gabriel’s skin was tan, although he was a Caucasian since his business was in transportation. Despite he had been successful, she heard he still worked outside, checking his business in so many places regularly. No one dared to mess with him. Since she knew Gabriel and his family were immigrants in her country, his success was even more impressive.

More women attracted to him because of his perfectly shaped body, sharp eyes, pointy nose, firm jaws, and kissable lips alone, but he ignored them all. There was gossip he rejected and humiliated some of the sexiest celebrities who wanted to lure him to have a one-night stand with them. Some said he was a gay.

Rosalind shook her head. After this morning, although she didn’t remember what happened last night, with all touches and kisses, she was sure Gabriel was a passionate man who loved women.

He could get any woman he wanted as easily as snapping fingers. But then, why did he offer her to be his lover? Gabriel didn’t need to pay anyone for having pleasures in his bed. Many even voluntarily offered themselves for that.

She knew it would complicate things. Despite Jeremy’s cheating on her, she was still his girlfriend. Before ending her relationship with him, it didn’t feel right to start a new relationship.

Rosalind took a deep breath. This one couldn’t be counted as a relationship. It was more of a transaction, a business. What else could she think? Since he offered her so many things in exchange for her willingness to be his.

There was a knock on the door. “Baby, are you okay?”

“I … I’m okay. I just need time to think.”

“You can think elsewhere, darling. I don’t want you to be cold in the bathroom.”

Rosalind let out a sigh. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Sure.”

Gabriel sounded like a nice and thoughtful man. Would it be foolish to turn down a rare offer like this? But then, she knew she couldn’t accept it since being his lover meant she would lose respect to herself. What could be worse than that?

After deciding, Rosalind fastened the towel around her body. Then she unlocked the door and faced Gabriel. He sat on a couch. This time, he already wore a white T-shirt and black shorts.

When Gabriel saw Rosalind, he reached out his hand in her direction. “Come here, darling.”

Rosalind strolled to approach Gabriel. Before she could sit, he wrapped his hands around her waist and brought her to sit on his lap. She tried to squeal and remove herself from his lap, but his grip on her waist was like steel that clamped her tiny waist.

“Let me go,” Rosalind hissed.

Gabriel stared at her. “Before I do that, I want to know your decision. What is your answer?”

“The answer is no.” She shook herself. “Though I found it was a tempting offer, I must decline.”

“Why? Do you think I’m too old for you?” Gabriel rubbed Rosalind’s waist.

Rosalind tilted her head a little. “How old are you? I didn’t think of your age at all.”

He chuckled and wrapped her waist tighter. “You are good for my ego, baby.” His thumb stroked the small of her back. “I’m 45 this year. How old are you, darling?”

“Twenty-three.”

Gabriel nodded. “Still so young, but strong. Since you didn’t find our age difference a problem, what then?”

“Being a mistress isn’t something I want. It will make me lose my pride and respect for myself.”

“Ah, prideful little thing aren’t you?” Gabriel chuckled again. “But if you accepted it easily, I would be disappointed.” He bent forward and kissed her lips in a long kiss. “I want you more, baby.”

“Gabe, it’s not a negotiation. I want to go home now. About last night ….” She looked elsewhere and let out a long sigh. “I take it as my mistake to get drunk. Despite it was my first time, I wouldn’t be your mistress because of that.”

Gabriel raised his eyebrow for a second, but then his expression was unreadable. His hand moved to her chest and tried to untie the towel knot there.

She shook her head and grabbed the towel tighter. “Gabe, I said no.”

“And I want to change your mind.” He kept holding the towel.

“With sex?” She widened her eyes.

He grinned. “Why not? You liked it. I know you do.”

“It’s a bad idea. I …” Rosalind let out a long sigh. “I haven’t ended things with Jeremy, and I can’t start something with anyone before everything’s clear.”

“Even after he has betrayed you?” Gabriel whistled. “Damn! He truly doesn’t deserve you. Your loyalty is misplaced, darling. You should be loyal to someone who is also faithful to you.”

“Gabe, please ….”

“Okay, then how long must I wait? I don’t mind waiting as long as I know the time frame.”

“Let me wear my clothes first. Then we can talk about it.”

“Go ahead. I’ll wait here.” Since Rosalind looked around to find her clothes, Gabriel said, “Your clothes are on the table next to the bed.”

So, Rosalind picked up her clothes and went to the bathroom to wear them. As he said, her clothes were on the table, folded neatly. There weren’t many creases. She put them on quickly and felt much better after wearing the clothes.

Later, Rosalind faced Gabriel in the bedroom. He wasn’t sitting on the couch, but on the bed. When he saw her, he grinned. “So?”

“So, what?” Rosalind asked.

“Will you end your relationship with Jeremy?”

Rosalind nodded. “Yes, for sure, though technically, it ended the moment he cheated on me.”

“Good! And after that?” He stared at her, hoping she would come to accept his offer right away because waiting longer wasn’t what he liked.

She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “After that, I’ll continue with my life.”

Gabriel frowned because Rosalind didn’t give him the answer he wanted. “And what about my offer?”