"Stop, Gabriel..," she pushed at his chest, their proximity was making her claustrophobic.

He held her shoulders back, "Shh... listen to me… Violet I'm very serious about you. I did not come upon this decision overnight," he paused, "I've been thinking a lot and had come to the conclusion that you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with," he said this with a soft look on his face, and somehow in the course of their conversation, his hand had crept up to her cheek.

She was hypnotized, he had that look in his eyes that was promising her all the things he was saying and more. How could a dominating person like him say such romantic words to her? It made her feel weak in the knees, so she had no say when Gabriel hugged her.

"I will give you time to gather your thoughts, I hope it will be positive," he said softly while hugging her, "Don't make me wait."

Violet did not know if she should laugh right now. He threatened her indirectly by saying he was giving her time, but he wasn't really giving her an option to refuse him. Or come to think of it even time to think about it. "This guy is impossible," she thought, "He tells me I'll give you time then follows it up with, don't make me wait."

There was no escaping him, but he was going to give her a few days to think about his proposition.

"Take care," he says as he breaks their hug and kisses her on the forehead. She was in a daze, coming to only when she heard the sound of her door closing.

She tossed and turned the whole night, thinking about what Gabriel said, "...you are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with…"

In the morning, she wondered when he would show up, or if he would show up today, she was not ready to face him yet.

She was apprehensive about seeing him again, what would she even say to him when she was not sure about what she wanted.

It did not take long for him to show up, he was there when she got out of her office.

"Come with me, I will drop you off at the cafe," he opened the door to his car, not giving her an option to run or hide from him.

"So have you thought about what I said?" he asked, not beating around the bush.

"Gabriel, it hasn't been 24 hours since you asked me your question. I need more time," she stressed.

"Okay, so how about tomorrow morning?" he asked with a naughty smile on his face.

"Ugh! You're insufferable," she said irritably, looking out the window so he wouldn't see her rolling her eyes.

But Gabriel was not one to heed any requests, especially since he wanted her very badly. He just smiled and kept on driving. He had put a hundred percent effort to get her, there was no backing down now.

All those frequent nightly visits, going to the grocery store, dropping her off and picking her up from work, having meals together, and the last pièce de résistance, Enzo and his cute little antics.

He even went to see her mom at the hospital and asked the doctors to make sure she was well cared for. But he did not introduce himself, since it was still too early on in the relationship.

The more she analyzed her feelings, the more she realized she was falling for him or had been falling for him the whole time. She was so used to his sarcastic remarks, that she did not mind them at all anymore, some of them, she even found funny.

All the conversations they've had, the dinners, and the visits had all embedded themselves into her heart, softening the lock to let him in.

-=-

At Violet's house, Gabriel laid back on the couch and closed his eyes, there was so much to do these days, especially after that unfortunate incident involving Aurora.

Violet sat next to him and placed her palm on his forehead to check his temperature, "Are you okay?"

"Hmm...," he grasped her hand in his.

"Just too much work," he replied.

"Oh, then take a nap, and I will wake you up once dinner is ready," she suggested.

"Are you concerned about me?" he teased but hoped that she was concerned for him. He sneaked a peak and opened an eye.

Violet looked embarrassed, "Well that's a first," he thought, "where did the catty Violet go?"

Her face was beginning to heat up, and Gabriel's question just hit its target. With a blush on her face, she nodded at his question.

"What? Do you like me?" he asked, the hand holding hers pressing a little tighter.

"Yes," she murmured, looking everywhere but him.

"What?" he was stunned. He didn't think she was going to agree that fast. He expected her to play a little hard to get, stringing him on until he lost his patience.

"Say that again?" he pulls her toward him. Close enough so he wouldn't miss anything she said.

"I… like you, Gabriel," she looked at him shyly.

"Violet! You made me so goddamn happy," he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her on the mouth, while he held her face between his hands.

"Umm...umm…," Violet tried to struggle, but it was futile. She gave up when she felt that his kiss did not feel like an attack, it was more of an assault to her senses, blazing a trail down her spine. His lips were softly nibbling hers, and his tongue trying to seek entrance, so he could taste her sweet nectar.

Gabriel had kissed a ton of women before, yet it felt like this was the first time he was really kissing someone with feelings involved, this made it feel more special.

He felt her kissing him back, nibbling his lips, and copying what his tongue was doing. She was moaning by the time they stopped for air, and her face was as red as a tomato.

She hid in his shoulder when he let go of her face, "So cute," he said as he kissed the top of her head. His hug tightened as he caressed her back.

"I will not let my past dictate my future. History will not repeat itself," he vowed to himself.