Klaus looked in the mirror curiously as they sat down in the back of the car, but he drove silently.
Gabriel leaned back in the seat with closed eyes. He held his hand on his chest, trying to still steady his breathing. His heart was racing, and he was still drowsy from his medication. He wasn't sure whether what happened was real. It was too surreal for him to believe it.
He flinched as Claire's hand rested on his unexpectedly. He sat upright and opened his eyes.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Claire said with slight concern. "It's okay, rest." She nudged him. Gabriel nodded, laying his head back down and letting a sigh. His headache was getting worse. He moved his hand on top of Claire's and squeezed it tightly.
Claire wasn't as relaxed. She watched the lights of the city as they passed, watching out for any men in the suits and any other cars with tinted windows that might be following them. She had very little care for her own safety, but she didn't want to drag Gabriel into this mess. Gabriel's face twisted in discomfort which only made Claire more worried for him.
As they arrived at the villa, Gabriel slowly tried to pull himself together, rubbing his face as if he could rub off all of the tension, stress, and tiredness. Claire patiently waited for him to come out of the car, coming round and holding the door for him. She grabbed him by his arm to support him as he had a slight wobble in his step. They've walked into the dark hallway together.
"You're absolutely soaked. You need to get yourself dried and changed." Gabriel said with worry, still trying to hide how I'll he was starting to feel. "I don't want you to catch a cold."
"You aren't much better off," Claire noted. "You should get changed too." Claire scowled at him.
"I will. I just need a word with Harry."
Claire gave him a curious look. "Harry?"
"Our security manager."
"Oh." Claire tilted her head. "Can't you sort it out in the morning?"
"I want everything ready for the morning. It will just take a moment. He's on his way now."
"Okay." Claire nodded, unwillingly letting go of Gabriel's arm. "Don't stay up too long. You need a good rest. All that excitement is going to wear you down." She gently caressed the back of his hand before she turned around and rushed upstairs, to her bedroom.
As Claire entered her room, she slid to the floor, trying to work out how much of the evening was real. She touched her lips in disbelief, remembering the kiss, still so fresh in her memory that she felt it, its warmth and softness. Her cheeks flushed again, and she felt ever so embarrassed that she was the one to initiate it. It took her some time to collect herself and to push that memory deep enough to move.
Claire had a quick shower and she dressed herself in her nightie. As she still didn't hear Gabriel coming up the stairs and she was worried that he run himself to the ground, she put a silk robe on and she wandered out of her room, trying to listen out to any sounds. As expected, the light was still on downstairs and Gabriel's hushed voice could be heard.
After some hesitation, Claire decided to check on him.
Gabriel was in the hallways chatting with another man. That man was bald and slightly older than Gabriel, wearing black denim and a t-shirt, as well as some earpiece. The way he stood and his mannerism almost made him seem like a soldier. Gabriel caught a glimpse of Claire, stopping mid-sentence. His mouth opened at her sight. He composed himself quick enough, letting a smile on his face.
"This is Claire." Gabriel reached his hand towards her as if he was inviting her over. Harry followed his gaze.
"Good evening, ma'am." He said in a rather cold voice, bowing his head.
"Claire is your boss now," Gabriel said. "She's the one that will need looking after. She's also the one to decide how many men she needs and what security she needs for the day."
"Understood, Mr Moore." Harry nodded. "Ma'am." Harry bowed again. "We will provide you with all the equipment you might need in the morning. I highly recommend a watch with automated SOS signalling. It can be voice controlled or you can tap on it to summon us. It has GPS tracking so as soon as the alert is sent, we will know your exact location. Our response time is under five minutes, with men stationed throughout the city. We recommend at least two bodyguards at any given time, aside from this house and your workplace as there is already enhanced security in place."
"Enhanced security?" Claire looked up curiously.
"I've suggested continuous monitoring of the property perimeter as well as additional men throughout the grounds. I'd say thirty-odd men should be sufficient. As per Diamond Corporate building, I suggest men monitor the perimeter of the building and stringier security inside with no visitors allowed unless by appointment only. Each of your bodyguards is going to be highly trained in combat and will carry arms."
"Isn't that a bit much?" Claire asked with worry, looking over at Gabriel.
"We were instructed by Mr Moore that your safety is our number one priority, Ma'am. We don't want to take any chances."
"I see." Claire nodded, still unconvinced.
"We will also provide you with a phone that can be used solely to contact us. It has several additional safety features such as that it cannot be tracked, but also it has an app showing all of our current locations. You can also input the location where you want the guards to be stationed, and pre-plan our locations by adding the time stamps."
"I didn't know you have an entire army," Claire said in surprise to Gabriel.
"We're doubling the security around the villa and diamond corporate," Gabriel said decisively.
"Yeah." Harry nodded.
"What are your thoughts?" Gabriel asked Claire.
"I wonder whether you're not going a little overboard," Claire said quietly.
"The thing is, you can decide on a day what security you need and adapt it accordingly. You don't have to have thirty men on your back at every given moment. This will give you the flexibility to change your mind." Gabriel said calmly, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms. "You can send them all away, but if necessary, they'll step in."
"Why do you carry arms?" Claire asked with worry.
"It is just a precaution. We are all certified to carry weapons and we will only use them as a way to disable the attacker. We will not intentionally cause any harm, and we will not use it to purposely injure anyone."
"I don't know if I feel comfortable with this," Claire admitted
Gabriel looked at Harry as if he awaited some other suggestion, but Harry didn't say anything.
"Can you reassure Claire that your actions must follow specific step-by-step guidelines, and using any weapon is the final step, and only if anyone's life is in danger?" Gabriel asked Harry.
"Of course, Mr Moore, you're right. We will prioritise getting ma'am to safety, and if a conflict arises we will try to resolve it with melee combat, before using less hazardous weapons first. We will usually reach for tasers first." Harry nodded. "Our job is to work as your shield, ma'am, and to get you to safety. We do not intend to harm anyone else in the process."
"I do not wish for anyone to reach for the arms for my own sake. So only if their own life is in danger." Claire said sternly.
"If that's what you wish, I'll ensure that this is within the briefing," Harry confirmed with a nod. "I'll make sure that you receive the basic equipment in the morning as well as the list of all bodyguards that will be to your disposition, as well as all of our vehicles and license plates. Each of the bodyguards will have a specific badge pinned to their suit to make them easily recognisable. You'll receive a photograph of it too. Unless otherwise instructed, there will be two bodyguards following you as soon as you leave the house or your workplace. Mr Moore advised that you might prefer them to operate at a distance and more discreetly, so again, that is going to be the case unless told otherwise."
"Thank you." Claire nodded, reaching her hand for a handshake.
"That's not a problem, ma'am." Harry shook her hand. "I'll be overlooking all of the operations in regards to yours and Mr Moore's safety. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns."
"Thank you."
"Good night, Mr Moore and…" Harry looked at Claire realising that he didn't know her title or surname.
"Miss Thompson," Claire said with a smile.
"Mrs." Gabriel chipped in. Claire looked at him with raised brows.
"Mrs Thompson." Harry saluted her as he left the villa.
Claire still looked at Gabriel with her puzzled eyes.
"Mrs?" She asked.
"I do not like you using 'Miss' as your title. Ideally, I'd like you to go by Mrs Moore, but I'll settle on Mrs Thompson." Gabriel picked her hand up and kissed the back of it. "You do not have to disclose your marriage to me, but I rather no one misunderstand and think that you're single."
"I didn't think that you'd be so possessive," Claire replied.
"Oh, Claire dear, you don't even know what kind of demons I have to fight to not have you all to myself."
"Now, I'm intrigued."
Gabriel let go of her hand and moved it to her face, gently drawing an invisible line from her cheek to her ear and down the side of her wet neck. His fingertips moved along her silhouette across the silk of her robe, down the side of her neck, the top of her shoulder and her arm, reaching the back of her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers again. Claire felt goosebumps all over her shoulder and arm, her hairs standing up as if they were electrified by Gabriel's touch. She clenched her jaw in fear that she will say something or make a sound. That she will show Gabriel just how much effect his touch had on her.
"The demon on my shoulder keeps reminding me how much I want you," Gabriel said in a raspy voice, moving closer to Claire, and looking down at her face. "It reminds me how much I want to hold you, touch you, kiss you. And how much I want to keep you in my arms, and never let go." Gabriel closed his eyes letting a slight sigh escaped his lips. He reopened his eyes and put his soft smile on. He leaned forward and gently kissed Claire on her forehead. "For now, can you be Mrs Thompson?"
Claire nodded.
"You really should get into something dry," Claire said in a weak voice as she was too afraid that Gabriel would be able to hear in it just how her body suddenly was yearning for him even more, how she fought her instincts and the need to touch him.
Gabriel chuckled, moving her hair from her face.
"Of course." He nodded. He pulled her with him, walking alongside her up the stairs. "Good night, Claire, dear." He said by her bedroom, gently pecking her cheek.
"Good night, Gabriel," Claire replied quickly hiding in her bedroom, hearing his increasingly distant footsteps as he went into his bedroom.
Claire threw herself onto the bed, wanting to scream in excitement and agony. She tossed in bed for a long while, her mind almost solely occupied by Gabriel.