Chapter 4

The next day Sam woke up feeling refreshed. It had been a while since he had slept in such a comfortable bed. While he had his own room in the small apartment he had rented with a few people in college, his mattress had been given to him and was well used. The one he had slept on the night before had been nothing short of perfect. The only thing missing had been someone to curl up with, to hold at night. Making his way downstairs, Sam was careful to be as quiet as possible, while he was an early riser he didn't know when Gabriel typically woke up.

He hadn't needed to worry. As Sam walked into the kitchen he saw his husband sitting at the island in the middle of the large room nursing a cup of coffee. Smiling at the sight of Gabriel's ruffled hair and how the man was looking over the morning paper with a pair of glasses on, Sam couldn't help but hope he could make this work. Not wanting to startle the man, Sam walked normally instead of quieting his steps while he made his way over to the still-hot pot of coffee.

When Gabriel noticed him, the older man mustered up a smile though his eyes still seemed unfocused from sleep. Fixing his coffee, Sam leaned against the counter. It was Gabriel who broke the silence, folding the paper in front of him and taking off his glasses, which Sam was surprised to note he was disappointed about. "Sleep well?" asked Gabriel while giving Sam his undivided attention. It was hard sometimes to remember this was all for show, that they weren't married for any other reason than having too much to drink.

Sam felt something for Gabriel. It was the way he spoke, how he would give Sam every bit of his attention and truly listened. It was in the way Gabriel seemed to feel personally responsible for everyone else's trouble, and how he effortlessly offered to help Sam when he didn't even know him. The fact that Gabriel was physically his type was the icing on the cake. Smiling, Sam tried to hide his reaction to being under Gabriel's gaze while taking a sip of his coffee.

"Yeah I did, thank you. So what's on the agenda today? You weren't due back until next week, so you still have a few days off right?" Sam asked while watching Gabriel. It was hard to read the man, he was always so careful on how much he showed and while Sam understood that as a CEO he would need to be careful it hurt that Gabriel was careful while around him. Sam was broken out of this thoughts when Gabriel spoke, this time instead of looking at Sam directly he looked down at his mostly empty cup.

"I figured since we would be living together for a while we could maybe work on us? I mean I have the surveillance around my property and the guys won't be here until Monday to install some cameras around the house, but we should at least look like we're trying right?"

Sam nodded his head though he was a bit disappointed they would only be putting on a show. "Sounds like a plan… where exactly are they putting up the cameras anyways?" Sam asked while finishing off his drink and rinsing it out in the sink. "I figure we could have one in the major rooms downstairs, living room, library and kitchen… maybe a couple others but I refuse to have any kind of camera that isn't strictly for fun in any bedroom, so you don't have to worry." Answered Gabriel.

Glancing at Gabriel who winked at him, Sam couldn't help but remember how it had felt to share a bed with the man. Gabriel had been drunk out of his mind but still he had been fantastic. Sam could feel how interested he was becoming from the memory alone, what he wouldn't give for a repeat performance. "I'm not worried. I didn't think you would do that anyway Gabriel, I trust you. I was just wondering what rooms we are going to have to play it up in."

"Do you want to?" asked Gabriel glancing at Sam who looked like he was frozen by the question. "I mean, correct me if I'm wrong; but while I fully intend to sign some divorce papers once this is done we had to have had something to have done this in the first place, right? So how about we do what they're asking and give this a go?"

Sam didn't know what to say. He wanted it more than anything, to actually try and have a relationship with Gabriel. As he didn't answer right away Sam could see when Gabriel felt rejected by his silence. "It's fine if you just want to play it up, I mean this can't be ideal for you. Still we should go on date, you know? If we really were going to try we would date and get to know each other, right?"

Nodding his head, Sam bit his bottom lip before speaking. "I would like that… to actually try that is…" seeing the surprised look on Gabriel's face Sam had the distinct impression that while the man had the ability to buy just about anything he didn't have as good self-esteem as he tried to make people believe. The thought made Sam both sad and almost excited from learning something real about the man.

"So… I'll take you out to diner tonight? Would you like the tour of the place now or after breakfast?"

Sam smiled at Gabriel who seemed to be slightly flustered. Reaching out and taking Gabriel's mug from where it had gone cold in front of him, Sam smiled. "How about we do the tour and then go out for breakfast? I don't know about you, but I don't feel much like cooking this morning. We can make a day of it, you can show me the area and then we come back to get ready for our date and hit the town again?"

Gabriel nodded, standing and waving his hand in a grand gesture. "Well if I'm to give you the tour would you follow me Mr. Milton?" Sam grinned and followed closely behind Gabriel while he was given the tour of the house and property. And if Sam let his hand brush against Gabriel's every now and again just to feel the contact with the other man that was his own business.

Gabriel was going to lose his mind. Everything had been perfect, too perfect. Sam had kept close to him all day, smiling and laughing and slowly they had become comfortable with each other. After giving the tall man a tour of the house and giving him the code to the alarm system they had showered and gone out for breakfast.

The closest town was nice, a place Gabriel often visited when he wasn't working just to roam around. It had that vintage feel to it, with it's brick sidewalks and small shops lined up along the main streets. While it wasn't perfect it was as close as Gabriel could ever find, and he loved it.

Sam had loved it too.

It was easy to tell with the way the taller man had looked around in almost wonder at the place he would be seeing for the next three months at least. The weather had been nice enough they had been able to walk around and take in the town, Sam pointed out what he liked and what shops he wanted to visit along the way. By the time they were done for the day and had to head back to get ready for their date, Gabriel couldn't help but be smitten by the other man.

Now as Gabriel looked at the pile of clothes he had discarded and the pile he had chosen for the date he couldn't help but think this might be a mistake. It wasn't that Gabriel didn't date, while he didn't do it often enough according to his few friends, he did occasionally put himself out there. The problem was most people started to treat him differently once they were together for a bit. He didn't know if they were trying to impress him or his family but each and nearly every date had felt forced, fake and he hoped dearly Sam would remain himself.

Pulling the clothes on, Gabriel sent a quick message to the woman he hired to do the cleaning explaining the pile of clothes and asking her to come by in a half hour when they would be gone. While she wasn't exactly on call she agreed and wished him luck. Checking to make certain he had his wallet and phone on him, Gabriel took a breath before opening his door and making his way downstairs.

Having agreed to meet in the foyer Gabriel put on his jacket and looked up at the stairwell where Sam would be making his way down any minute. The second he caught sight of the other man Gabriel had to swallow reflectively. Sam was gorgeous. Though Gabriel had appreciated Sam's form before he could see the outline of it perfectly in the clothes that he was wearing. The suit was cut to match his long legs and broad shoulders leaving Gabriel practically drooling over the man.

This was going to end up with Gabriel embarrassing himself he just knew it. Still Gabriel managed to hide some of what he was feeling by whistling at Sam who flushed before offering Gabriel a hesitant smile. It hit Gabriel then that this wasn't just some guy he was asking out, or even someone he was taking to one of the functions which practically forced a plus one. This was his husband. While it wasn't the way he had planned to get married if he ever found someone, it didn't change the facts. Sam belonged to him, even if it was only because of bad decisions and alcohol right then Sam was his husband.

If it was the last thing he did Gabriel was going to at least try to keep Sam. He had every intention of filing for divorce once this was through but that didn't stop him for wishing he could maybe do it right in the future. Divorced people could remarry if they wanted to, right? Knowing that he was getting ahead of himself, Gabriel flashed Sam a grin and reached out to the other man.

"So you ready for me to sweep you off your feet Sammy?" Gabriel asked with a grin. Sam placed his hand in Gabriel's and though he was flushing slightly Sam couldn't help but comment which caused Gabriel to delight in the banter.

"Sweep me off my feet? Didn't you ever learn you shouldn't try to lift a giant? I could totally squish you. If anyone is going to do some feet-sweeping it is so going to be me."

P.S. If you want to keep up to date on my writing add me to Facebook, Tumbler or Twitter as CrowNoYami ;-) Also, if you want to see what I'm reading (I always review so you know what you're getting into) I'm on Goodreads as well, same name as always.