Gabriel walked with Claire up to her bedroom, making sure that she was okay.
He looked at her in her rather bad state, with his suit jacket on, still wearing her skirt and heels. Her hair was sticky from the alcohol, and her make-up smudged. Even with the wobble and slightly slurred speech, she was still stunning. Whether it was the bright red cheeks or a spark in her eye, Gabriel couldn't tell.
"Good night, Claire." Gabriel said ready to leave her in the privacy of her bedroom.
"Where are you going?" Claire furrowed her brows in disappointment. She looked at Gabriel studiously, analysing his every move and glance. There was something different about him, something new, something enticing. He held his hand across his abdomen to steady it and to ensure that he didn't keep catching on it. It was reddened and swollen. Claire felt guilty about it and embarrassed that she acted so frivolously.
"I was going to stay in my bedroom tonight." Gabriel admitted. His eyes showed longing for Claire but he remembered that she asked for space. He didn't want to go against her wishes. But he couldn't move, not under her gaze. Her hazel-brown eyes were fixated on him, looking at him bravely. They were hypnotising.
Claire realised what was different about Gabriel.
When he came up to the table in the club, she was truly happy to see him, ecstatic even. When he hugged her to cover her up, she felt a flutter in her stomach. When he fell off the table with her, he protected her whilst getting harmed in the way. When he drove her back home, he gave her the space and comfort that she needed.
And… there was one more thing that was different. Claire liked him more than she was willing to admit. She liked him in a way that she couldn't quite put into the words. It wasn't the passionate love at the first sight, but rather something much more powerful. Gabriel was her friend and partner. He was her shield and a pillar. He was a broken man that tried to mend his wounds to help Claire heal hers. He was hers and Claire could see it clearly now. And she was his.
Something seemed to weigh her down, a weight of yet another thought that rested on her shoulders amongst other baggage that she carried with her. As much as she found him attractive, the mere thought of intimacy beyond what they already had filled her with dread. He was the first man she was near since the 'incident', and although his touch seemed to change from threatening to comforting over the months they were married, Claire still couldn't break the final wall. Gabriel must've known. After all, he was patient, respectful, and careful. He must've known how difficult it was for Claire to break through the walls and allow him near her.
A dangerous thought passed through Claire's mind. Or rather, a moment of bravery, a moment of weakness, and a moment of stupidity.
Claire walked up to him with puppy dog eyes which made Gabriel hate himself for saying no to her, but he spotted the dangerous spark in her eye, the mischievous glint, and he instinctively knew that he should back away before she was going to have yet another bad idea.
"In that case, have your jacket back." Claire said with a smug smile, pulling it off and revealing her chest again, passing it to Gabriel who turned beetroot red - including his ears. As he didn't expect it, he accidentally glanced over Claire's body, which now flashed as a vivid image behind his closed eyelids. He looked down as he reopened his eyes, trying his hardest not to stare at what seemed like an image of perfection.
"Thanks, I guess." Gabriel said, looking at the floor as he clenched onto the suit jacket with his unharmed hand.
"I thought you liked them." Claire said sweetly as she took a step forwards. "Or did you lie to me in the car?"
"Jesus, Claire." Gabriel mumbled nervously.
"You're my husband… isn't that what's meant to happen?" Claire asked innocently. It was hard to tell what was going through her head. Something deep inside was bothering her and alcohol just broke the wall around it.
"Look, Claire, as much as I'd love to see you naked, you are very drunk. I am not going to do anything which you might regret by the morning." Gabriel said as he picked up her cardigan from the chair on the side and placed it over her shoulders, focusing solely on her face.
"I already did a lot that I regret." Claire said quietly. "I don't think this would be it."
"We can talk about it tomorrow." Gabriel said gently planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Please, don't leave." Claire muttered. "I don't want to be alone." A stray tear escaped her eye as she remembered how little time she had left with him, not wanting to waste another minute.
"Okay." Gabriel agreed. "Get changed into some pyjamas first."
"Okay." Claire nodded. "Gabriel...?" she started in surely as she tilted her head.
"What's the matter?" Gabriel's calmness tonight still surprised Claire.
"What if...?" She wasn't able to say her words out loud.
"What is that sweet little head worrying about now?" Gabriel asked as he caressed her cheek.
"What if that's the only way we can…" Claire stuttered. "What if I will need to be drunk for us to be intimate?" Claire spat out looking embarrassed.
"Then, I'll wait until you're ready while sober too." Gabriel smiled. "I don't want you to sleep with me only whilst drunk, Claire, if that's what you're hinting at by exposing your ever so stunning chest to me. I want you to make that decision fully and consciously. That's the only way I can let this happen."
"What if…" Claire stuttered again.
"If it doesn't happen then it doesn't. I'll live." Gabriel chuckled nervously as he moved some of Claire's sticky hair from her face. "And you'll be fine too. We're going to work it out together."
"But you're my husband!"
"And as your husband, I respect you enough to accept a 'no'. And as your husband, I agreed to take you as you were, with your own wounds and cracks. And as your husband, I promise you that this won't change a thing for me as your happiness is far more important to me."
Claire was stunned at his words, second-guessing every single one of them, theorising and agonising over all the scenarios that haven't happened yet. "I'll go get changed and I'll be right back with you."
"No, don't leave." Claire shook her head as she grabbed onto his hand.
"It'll be just a moment."
"I can't waste even a moment now." Claire decided. "I need you to stay."
Gabriel looked confused but seeing Claire's increasing anxiety he gave up.
"That hand of yours is looking sore." Claire pointed out. "You should get it checked out."
"It's probably a small strain." Gabriel said dismissively. "I'll put some more ice on it and if it doesn't get better by the morning, I'll get seen."
He pushed her towards her bathroom so that she got changed, even if she protested momentarily. She settled on it when Gabriel said that he'll get himself an ice pack while she's getting changed.
She climbed into her bed, with Gabriel laying down beside her, still in his suit trousers and shirt on. She snuggled her head into his chest, wrapping her arm around his waist, gripping her fingertips tightly into him.
"Good night, Mrs Moore." Gabriel said with a chuckle.
"Good night, Mr Moore." Claire answered with a smile.
"My invincible wife…" Gabriel mused as he gently drew circles with his fingertips on her back.