Chapter 157
At last, the house was empty, and a profound silence enveloped the space once filled with jubilant laughter, the clattering of dishes, and the warm chatter of family. The echoes of celebration faded into the background, leaving only Isla and Gabriel in the hushed stillness. It was as if reality had settled over them like a soft, yet heavy blanket, reminding them of the weight of their new responsibilities.
They lay side by side in bed, yet sleep eluded them both. Their eyes remained wide open, gazing into the dimly lit room, while their minds raced with thoughts too tumultuous to allow for rest.
In hushed tones, they began to discuss their future—the responsibilities that loomed ahead like shadows, the burdens now resting heavily on their shoulders. They spoke of the legacy of Alfred Wyndham, the man whose vision had forged the empire they now found themselves at the helm of, a legacy they knew they had to uphold.
“Protect the family,” Isla whispered, her voice barely above a murmur, as if speaking too loudly might shatter the fragile peace.
“Keep them united,” Gabriel added, his brow furrowing as he considered the challenges ahead.
“And ensure that no toxic person ever disrupts our peace again,” Isla concluded, her heart heavy with the implications of their task.
Gabriel let out a slow, measured breath. “I may be his only grandson, Isla, but he loved all of us equally. He treated every one of us with the same warmth. Even after learning the truth, he never changed his affection.”
Isla felt her eyes welling up once more. The ache of loss was fresh and sharp, a relentless reminder that they would never again hear his voice. Just days prior, they had been excitedly planning for his upcoming birthday—his eighty-ninth celebration, a milestone that now felt painfully out of reach.
Her voice quivered as she spoke. “And that’s precisely why you must extend that same love to them. Nothing has changed. But…” She hesitated, her brows knitting together in concern. “I’m not so sure about Wyatt.”
Gabriel listened intently, the silence between them heavy with understanding.
“I just don’t think he’s capable of change,” Isla continued, her voice trembling slightly. “And I worry that pushing him might only make things worse. I just hope he doesn’t turn into another Anna for our family.”
Gabriel nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful. “Stone has been keeping an eye on him for quite some time. He’s been visiting her more frequently. I know what he’s after; it’s all about wealth for him.”
Isla’s concern deepened at his words.
“You don’t need to fret,” Gabriel reassured her, his tone steady. “We have eyes on him, and my father is aware too. He suspects Wyatt may stir up trouble one day. But we’re always several steps ahead.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of Isla’s lips, a soft expression filled with trust, reassurance, and love.
Gabriel’s gaze softened as he looked at her, the gravity of their earlier conversation giving way to warmth and deeper emotions. Isla’s smile transformed, blooming into something tender and inviting.
“I want you,” he whispered, his voice low and sincere, striking a chord deep within her.
She reached for his hand, her voice equally soft. “I am all yours, Gabriel.”
That simple affirmation was all he needed.
His hands cradled her face with a fierce tenderness, drawing her closer as he captured her lips in a deep, passionate kiss that consumed her entirely. Isla gasped against him, the intensity of the moment stealing her breath away, her body igniting under the raw desire he unleashed.
Their tongues intertwined, dancing wildly as his explored deeper into her mouth, tasting her essence as if he could never get enough. It was a claim, a desperate need that made her heart race.
A soft moan escaped her lips, vibrating into him as his hands roamed from her face, trailing fire down her neck and over her shoulders, until they reached her thighs. His fingers parted her folds, discovering her already slick and swollen with arousal.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been waiting for this?” he teased, his voice a low rumble laced with possessive delight, while his thumb circled her clit with firm, insistent pressure, causing her hips to buck involuntarily.
Isla found herself at a loss for words; the kiss had left her reeling, her mind clouded with overwhelming desire and the emotional storm of their reunion. Her chest heaved, every nerve ending alight from his touch—as if she were his salvation, his everything.
With a swift, impatient tug, Gabriel ripped her nightdress away, the fabric whispering as it fell to the floor, leaving her completely bare before him. His eyes darkened with hunger, locking onto her hardened nipples, pebbled and aching for his attention.
He lowered his head, capturing one in his warm mouth, sucking hungrily while his tongue flicked over the sensitive tip. A gentle bite followed, sharp enough to send jolts of pleasure-pain racing through her, all while his fingers plunged deep into her, curling expertly to stroke that inner spot that made her see stars.
In that moment, he possessed her, his touch both commanding and reverent, as if rediscovering a treasure he had feared lost forever.
Releasing the first nipple with a wet pop, he shifted to the other, lavishing it with the same relentless worship—suck, flick, bite—his fingers never ceasing their rhythmic thrusts inside her, stretching and filling her with deliberate strokes.
Isla’s eyes rolled back in ecstasy, a wave of pleasure crashing over her as her hands fisted in his hair, pulling him closer, desperate for more of his heat, his dominance, his love. He groaned against her skin, the sound raw and guttural, vibrating through her breast and straight to her core, amplifying the pressure building within her.
Her body trembled violently, her stomach twisting in knots of exquisite tension as her walls clenched around his invading fingers, squeezing tight in rhythmic pulses. The orgasm hit her like a tidal wave, her body convulsing wildly, milking his fingers as waves of bliss tore through her.
Gabriel didn’t relent, continuing to pump through her spasms until she was utterly spent, her cries echoing softly in the room, her heart pounding with the depth of her vulnerability and trust in him.