Chapter 387
As Teresa and Gabriel stepped outside for some shopping, dusk began to settle in. Thankfully, Esterwald was a small town, so the drive to a local grocery store was quick.
In the six months they had been together, this was the first time Teresa had gone shopping with Gabriel like an ordinary couple.
They got out of the car, fingers entwined, and entered the market together. Gabriel grabbed a shopping basket, and they began to pick out ingredients.
The market was modest, and the selection was limited. Teresa couldn't find the items she had originally wanted.
"What's wrong, sweetheart? What are you in the mood for tonight?" Gabriel asked with a peck on her furrowed brow.
Teresa looked at him, her beautiful brow pinched in a frown, "I was craving soup."
Gabriel chuckled indulgently at her, "Then we'll have to get someone to bring it from somewhere else."
"But I'm hungry now."
"How about we have a Western dinner tonight and soup tomorrow?" Gabriel suggested.
Teresa nodded her approval and reached into the freezer, placing two filet mignons and some Kobe beef slices into Gabriel's basket. They then continued to select an assortment of fruits, vegetables, bread, and grains.
Though nothing particularly caught Teresa's eye, they still ended up with a basketful. After checking out, Gabriel pulled an apple from the bag, polished it on his shirt, took a big bite, and offered it to Teresa.
She took it without any hesitation and bit into it, exclaiming, "How sweet!"
Gabriel grinned, hefting the large shopping bag in one hand and taking Teresa's hand with the other as they walked out. "Not as sweet as my darling," he teased.
Teresa bit off another chunk, casting a sideways glance at him, then presented the apple back to his lips.
Laughing, Gabriel bit off another big piece. After his bite, Teresa looked at the apple in her hand and saw that he had eaten a third of it with just one bite.
As she was about to express her playful displeasure, Gabriel, with the apple still in his mouth, offered it to her. His deep, sparkling eyes were filled with stars of happiness and sweet laughter.
Without any pretense, Teresa bit into the large chunk of apple at her lips, crunching away half of it.
Not too far away, Luke, the chief bodyguard, watched the couple's public display of affection with an inner turmoil he couldn't quite suppress.
"Why do they have to be so cruel?" he thought with a hint of jealousy. "Can't they consider the feelings of us single folks just once?"
...
Back at the cabin, Teresa headed for a shower while Gabriel got started on dinner.
When Teresa emerged from the bathroom in her nightgown, barefoot and her hair wet, she found Gabriel flipping steaks and tossing a fresh fruit and vegetable salad. The cabin was warm and cozy, its floors covered in carpet, making her choice of attire perfect for the setting. She watched Gabriel work with intense focus and decided not to disturb him. Instead, she tiptoed across the room like a thief in her own house.
Gabriel had heard her approach long before, but he pretended not to notice the quiet steps drawing nearer. It wasn't until Teresa, playfully like a child, jumped on him from behind and wrapped her arms around him that he allowed a pleased smile to curve his lips. He turned around, lifted her effortlessly onto the clean counter, and fed her a bite of the salad he had just prepared.
Chewing with gusto, Teresa nodded with satisfaction. "Darling, this salad is delicious." Before she could finish her sentence, Gabriel bent down and kissed her blushing lips.
Startled by his suddenly closer, handsome face, Teresa tried to push him away, but to no avail.
He just let her be.
Her stomach chose that moment to grumble impolitely, pulling them both out of their passionate daze.
Gabriel looked up, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he gently bit her lip, teasing her, "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you, you naughty woman?"
Teresa pouted playfully, "I've been your sweetheart for over half a year. It's not my fault if you can't control yourself."
"You're right," he agreed. "You are my sweetheart, and why should I hold back? Let's continue." His head lowered once more.
"Hey, Gabriel, the steaks are going to burn!" Teresa pushed him away and shouted urgently.
Gabriel just smirked and turned off the stove, then pinned her to the counter and moved in without any reservations.
...
Their first time in the kitchen was wild beyond belief.
Even though there was no one else in the house, Teresa's embarrassment was profound.
Fortunately, Gabriel was aware of Teresa's hunger and didn't let their intimate moment drag on for too long.
Afterward, once they were both cleaned up, Gabriel carried Teresa to the dining table and seated her before returning to the stove as if nothing had happened. He resumed making most of dinner, acting every bit the perfect gentleman.
Teresa, both tired and hungry, slumped over the table, gazing at him with shimmering eyes that seemed ready to spill over with emotion.
Her phone buzzed on the table—it was a video call from Katherine.
Without thinking, Teresa almost accepted the call, but then she saw the marks he had left on her... strawberries all over her neck and chest.
"Mom's calling. You take it. I'll go get dressed," she said, putting down the phone and hurrying off to the bedroom to find clothes.
Watching her flee with a flushed face, Gabriel smiled, pleased with himself, before he picked up the phone to answer the video call.
"Raymond, Raymond." Croissant's voice came through the phone, sweet and childlike as soon as the call connected.
"Croissant, are you up? Did you brush your teeth and wash your face all by yourself?" Gabriel asked, his voice warm as he looked at his child's adorable face on the screen.
"Uh-huh," Croissant nodded emphatically, tugging at the sweater to show it off, "Baby dressed all by myself, look!"
Gabriel smiled tenderly into the camera, "Baby, dressing yourself? That's wonderful!"
"Our Michael is amazing, waking up and not wanting help from anyone, picking out his clothes from the closet, and getting dressed all on his own. Just look at this outfit. He even matched it well," Katherine beamed, hugging the little one, "Our Michael is becoming so capable."
"Mommy, Mommy, where's mommy?" Croissant looked around, not seeing Teresa on the screen.
Hearing the voice, Gabriel glanced over and moved towards Teresa, speaking into the phone, "Mommy's coming."
Teresa took over the phone, chatting with Croissant and Katherine, while Gabriel continued to prepare dinner.
By the time the video call had ended, Gabriel had dinner ready.
The dinner was an absolute feast – freshly squeezed juice, mushroom soup, steak, mashed potatoes, pasta, salad, and each dish was bursting with flavor. Teresa was genuinely stuffed.
After clearing all the food on the table, she rubbed her belly and moaned, "I'm so full."
Gabriel looked at her with a smile, dabbing away a grease spot at the corner of her mouth with a napkin; he reassured her, "No problem. We'll have plenty of time to digest."
The look in the man's eye was unabashed, and in a second, Teresa got his drift. She shot him a playful glare, "How about we take a walk outside?"
"It's too cold."
"It's fine. I'll put on an extra layer."
"It's too quiet out here at night, hardly anyone around."
"All the better, just the two of us."
"It's too dark, and there are not enough streetlights."
Deflated by his resistance, Teresa frowned, "But you'll be with me!"
Gabriel, slightly furrowing his brows, continued to resist, "There are too many dogs around here; if we go out and startle them, they'll bark like crazy."
Teresa's expression fell completely, "Then I'll go by myself."
"Don't!" Seeing her determination, Gabriel quickly capitulated, "I'll go; I need to be there for my sweetheart."
Teresa's face instantly brightened with a radiant smile, "Then I'll go change. You clean up."
With that, she pushed back her dining chair and scurried off.
Gabriel watched her go, speechless.
But this was indeed how his beloved Teresa should be, absolutely beautiful!
...
