The Way To A Man's Heart (page 9)
(back to page 8: http://luv-bowie-luver.livejournal.com/43694.html)
***
Maze was not known very well for doing breakfast service, it was a trial run to see if interest was good enough to make it a permanent thing and so far, it was doing great. When it was over and everyone left for a break, Alaina was curious to note that Areena remained behind. The other chefs in the kitchen had cleaned up their stations, but there were bits and pieces here and there that had been missed and Areena was now going around, cleaning up after them all. So she was a hard worker on top of everything else, clearly deserving of a chance to work here and Alaina saw why Gordon did not want to get rid of her so quickly.
In all reality, he should have fired her on the spot for unwanted physical contact in the workplace but she knew that because he was who he was, it'd quickly go public and create a scandal where there simply wasn't one. Alaina wasn't such a big fan of the media anymore, it was good when her twins got into the magazines and their wedding photos were published with consent but then there was the other side to it all. Sneaky photographers snapping pics when they least suspected it, using them to make headlines that often weren't true and Gordon's spokesperson had to do some serious damage control before things got out of hand. Some people seemed to just want to believe the worst about Gordon and Alaina no longer held any positive feelings towards Jamie Oliver, either. He had said some pretty snide and untruthful things concerning Gordon and she would stand with her husband all the way, finally understanding the bitter rivalry between the two of them.
She considered Jamie to be a spoiled brat and he would never ever hold a candle to Gordon, no matter how much he pretended to be the better cook.
"Everything's clean, Chef," Areena's voice broke through Alaina's daydreaming and she focused her attention on the woman once more.
"Thank you," Gordon nodded to her, "take a break already!" Areena smiled at him and wandered towards the door, pausing to greet Alaina for the first time.
"Hi.. I'm Areena," she held out her hand.
"I know who you are," Alaina said stiffly, not accepting the offered handshake. Gordon looked over at them worriedly, wiping his hands on his towel. Areena lowered her hand awkwardly, clearing her throat.
"Chef Ramsay is such a great guy," Areena tried to be nice, but it was hard, "you're so lucky.. "
"Indeed," Alaina narrowed her eyes, "and so are you, it would seem.. very lucky.. " Areena took the hint and lowered her gaze, exiting the kitchen and swearing under her breath once she was outside.
"Alright?" Gordon lifted his chin.
"Just fine!" Alaina beamed at him, "that was really fun to watch!" Gordon's shoulders visibly relaxed and he grinned back at her, turning to wipe down the pass before everyone returned to prep for lunch service.
"She's good," Alaina commented.
"Yes," Gordon looked around at her, "she is."
"Pretty, too," Alaina spoke again.
"Uh?" Gordon furrowed his brow, as if he didn't understand the comment.
"I said she's very attractive," Alaina stood up.
"I thought we were past this?" Gordon looked most displeased, were they ever going to be able to move on?
"We are," Alaina softened her tone, as Gordon was still very much in his work frame of mind and she didn't want to argue with him here, of all places, "but.. you know how you were looking for a new head chef in your restaurant in Versailles?"
Alaina left it at that, it had to be his idea and not seem like she was trying to get rid of the competition by sending her overseas. Gordon looked as though he were definitely considering it, which calmed Alaina and set her mind more at ease. The fact that he liked the idea was almost enough to prove to Alaina that he didn't have any sexual interest in Areena, because he was seemingly quite willing to place her in France, somewhere he'd rarely ever see her unless there was a problem or promotion at the restaurant itself.
She knew she was being very hard on him and it pained her to be this way, but she felt that if she just let him off the hook easily, he might not think twice about letting it happen again and how far would it go next time? She hated feeling suspicious of him, it was affecting their relationship and Gordon was suddenly wishing he'd just kept it to himself and dealt with it on his own. He felt like he was being tested and scrutinized every minute of the day and it was starting to annoy him, he'd made a mistake and they had sorted it out, why was she still unable to let go of it unless she didn't trust him?
Trust was important to Gordon, he believed that if there wasn't any trust between two people, they had no business being anywhere near each other. So, he had to ask her straight out.
"Don't you trust me, Alaina?" he approached her as he spoke, putting down his towel and looking at her curiously to await her response.
His arms were folded, chin lifted and his intense blue eyes bore into hers. Alaina knew he wasn't walking away without an answer, so she gathered up her courage and straightened her back to show him she wasn't backing down. Neither of them noticed Areena, as she was back early and had entered the kitchen but halted in her tracks near the doorway when she saw them arguing. She knew it was bad, but it made a smile creep onto her face to imagine them divorcing and her catching Gordon on the rebound, it was just so perfect!
"I trust you," Alaina said carefully, "it's her that bothers me, Gordon and don't you dare take that stance with me! I'm not one of your little 'yes sir' Sous Chefs.. I'm your wife!" Gordon stood his ground, he never walked away from an argument unless he believed he might actually throw a punch at someone, but Alaina had simply had enough.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I thought I could do this, but I can't.. "
She walked out of the kitchen and headed through the dining room, towards the front doors. Gordon sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead with his hand, unsure of what he was supposed to do now. Areena discreetly crept into the kitchen, Gordon glanced up at her briefly as she began to prep for lunch and she offered him a coy smile. Gordon knew then that Alaina was right not to trust Areena, but he couldn't let a personal issue stand in the way of this rare find. Perhaps offering Areena the position as new Head Chef at 'Gordon Ramsay au Trianon' was the best solution for all involved?
Alaina put her hand on the door, but stopped and took some deep breaths in to calm herself. What was she doing?! If she walked out now, Areena would just use the fact that she was pushing Gordon away from her and straight into the little bitch's arms. She turned back and headed for the kitchen, if Gordon had taught her anything at all, it was to never give up on someone you believed in.
"Areena," Gordon called for her. It was now Alaina's turn to stop in her tracks and observe them, unnoticed.
"Yes, Chef?" Areena turned to look at him.
"Come here," Gordon beckoned her with his finger. Areena brightly approached him, stopping mere inches from him and right up in his personal space.
"Can you speak French?" Gordon asked her firmly. Areena was thrown by the question and faltered, she was of the belief that Gordon wanted to make out with her again but he wasn't looking like he was interested at all.
"A little," Areena shrugged.
"Well brush up then," Gordon insisted, "I'm sending you to France as my new Head Chef in Versailles, you'll be working closely with the current Head Chef until he's confident you can do the job. Can I count on you, Areena?" The guy was ready to retire and Gordon was holding him up, unable to locate someone good enough to replace him.
"This is all so sudden," Areena replied, her head just about reeling with the idea, "of course you can always count on me, Chef.. but why so far away? Why not here?"
"I'm happy with my staff here," Gordon told her, "that's not about to change, so.. are you up to the task?"
"I'm up to any task," Areena half closed her eyes and looked him over, "any task at all.. " She sidled up to him and touched the buttons of his Chef's whites with her fingertips.
"Areena," Gordon caught her wrist and firmly pushed it away, stepping back from her. She looked at him now, confused.
"I thought we had something special," she said softly, "I know you're married but.. but I could be.. your mistress or something! I don't mind being secondary to her.. " For now..
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Gordon started to get furious with her for even suggesting such a thing.
"Why not?" Areena stepped closer again, "I know you're interested.. "
Gordon might have crumbled a few days ago, but this morning had set him straight on a few things and he looked at her so angrily then that she stopped and took notice of his body language at last.
"My father had a mistress," Gordon spoke in an even tone, though anger and embarrassment flashed in his eyes, "and I am nothing like him!" Areena stepped back from him slowly, but he did not follow her.
"Go home and pack," Gordon told her dismissively. Areena stood there, stunned that he had refused her advances. A few days ago he'd been completely under her spell, now he was shipping her off to an entirely different country!
"Get out!" Gordon shouted at her.
Areena startled and hurried out of the kitchen, her heart thumping into her throat and her hands trembling as she rushed, wide eyed out the door. Alaina gave him a few moments to calm down, then she slowly walked into the kitchen and regarded him with complete and utter forgiveness in her heart. Gordon noticed her after a minute and she walked right over to him, cupping one side of his face with her hand. Without anything needing to be said, they both knew it was finally over.
With everyone back on board, Gordon was able to feel confident enough to leave Maze in the hands of his staff and he took Alaina out to the car.
"How long is Alicia expecting you to be?" Gordon asked her.
"I told her she could stay the night because we might be late," Alaina replied.
"Okay," Gordon took her hand into his own, "let's go." Alaina followed him curiously into the car and it didn't take her long to figure out he wasn't driving home.
"Where are we going?" Alaina asked him.
"To the beach," Gordon told her.
Alaina smiled, it was such a nice, hot and sunny day, why not? Gordon pulled up just outside a store and they went inside to get themselves something to swim in, then they continued driving until they reached the coast. There was a lovely strip of beach where nobody was around, so they pretty much had the entire place to themselves.
"What a lovely, little cove," Alaina remarked, stepping out with her bikini on.
Gordon grabbed her up and put her over his shoulder, she squealed and kicked her legs but he carried her to the water and they both fell in together, laughing. Alaina splashed him as he came up for air and he shook his head to get the water out of his hair, she giggled at him and then embraced with him. Alaina gazed up into his eyes, the sparkling blue ocean really brought out the color of his eyes and gave them an almost unearthly glow. He leaned down and kissed her, she responded and thrilled as she felt his hand slide up over her ribs and under her bikini top to grasp and squeeze her breast.
She moaned into his mouth and then a wave knocked them off their feet and Alaina swam away from him, playing hard to get. Gordon waded back to the shore, sitting in the wet sand and Alaina soon joined him. She pushed him down onto his back and leaned over him, kissing him deeply and running her hand along the obvious bulge in his swimming briefs.
"Mmm, Chef's all fired up.. " Alaina murmured against his lips.
He groaned and shifted their positions so that he now leaned down over her, their lips still fused together in a deep and passionate kiss. Alaina relaxed her body and submitted to him, he pushed her bikini top up and off of her, tossing it aside and kissing her neck as he massaged and squeezed her breasts softly. Alaina arched into his touch, moaning loudly despite being outside for all to see because she knew there wasn't anyone around anyway. The thrill of being caught turned her on somewhat and she raised the pitch of her moans as he trailed kisses down over her stomach and then slowly pulled down her bikini bottoms, throwing them somewhere nearby into the sand.
Within moments, they were both naked, with Alaina's legs wrapped around Gordon's waist as he started making love with her on the cool, wet sand. She felt the water lapping at her body, as they hadn't quite moved up far enough away from it but it didn't bother her and she was far too aroused to care anymore anyway.
"Oohh, sex on the beach, darling.. " Gordon moaned breathily into her ear, thrusting into her languidly and picking up the pace frustratingly slowly.
"Aah! Ohh! Fas.. Ohh, faster, baby!" Alaina whined.
It was nicer than it had been this morning, there was no anger in his thrusts and there were no pangs of jealously in her heart. His embrace was gentle, his touch was loving and his kisses were full of desire for her. Alaina matched his thrusts with her own, taking some of the control from him and enjoying his ragged breathing as she clamped and squeezed her inner muscles around his rock hard member. His shaky breath in her ear thrilled her as he uttered soft expletives, barely audible moans and sharp gasps of pleasure every so often.
Alaina could feel herself building up into orgasm, so she surprised him by surging up and pushing him back down into the sand so that she was on top. She ground her hips, making him arch his back and moan loudly. She felt his hands grasping her hips, ramming hard into her and she moved her hips then in a circular motion. He responded favorably, sitting up to embrace tightly with her and they kissed fiercely as they both moaned and came within seconds of one another. Alaina held onto Gordon, her body jolting and muffled gasps escaping from her mouth into his. Gordon's throaty groans sounded much like growls, further thrilling her and making her whine deep in her throat as she rode out her climax, still slicking up and down his cock slowly to ensure she maximized their pleasure as he came down, too.
Alaina withdrew from their kiss and gazed into his eyes, feeling lost within them and perfectly taken by Gordon to the point of no return. She could not help but love him so deeply, that he could do no wrong in her eyes. In her heart, she knew nothing could ever come between them and whatever was thrown in their way, somehow they would always find a path back to one another in the end. Whether she knew it or not, this was exactly how Gordon felt about her right from the very beginning. It was he who had mostly chased her, not the other way around and he felt that perhaps now she was finally starting to understand just how much he was so very helplessly in love with her.
"Darling," Gordon spoke breathlessly.
"Hmm?" Alaina didn't want to move off him, content to just stay sitting and cuddling with him.
"Darling, the water.. " Gordon said quickly.
"What about it?" Alaina sighed lazily, smiling happily.
"It's taken our clothes, babe," Gordon informed her.
"Oh!" Alaina glanced around, watching her bikini floating away.
"Don't worry," Gordon carefully pulled out of her and she sat on the towel, "I'll get them."
She giggled as he ran into the water and admired his naked ass, then she sat back to enjoy watching him collect their clothing, he was such a strong swimmer and what a fit body. It made her want to get back into shape, after having the twins she wasn't quite where she wanted to be at the moment but it wouldn't take too long. Gordon would help her train and make sure she did it correctly, what a load to have on her plate, though.. Raising twins, maintaining a social life, learning to cook properly and now getting fit. She felt suddenly exhausted and could not wait to get home to bed, cuddle up to Gordon and fall asleep in his muscular arms.
"Ugh," Gordon complained, as he sat down next to her and gave her back her clothes, "I'll be washing sand out of my arse for days!" Alaina collapsed in fits of giggles, causing him to laugh amusedly at her because she was giggling so hard that she snorted!
Alaina and Gordon walked back to the car and got in, awkwardly getting dressed back into the clothes they were wearing before they arrived at the beach. During the drive home, the tension was non existent and Alaina even rested her hand on Gordon's thigh for most of the trip. By the time they got back, the lights were all off and Alicia and the twins were fast asleep, so they had to be quiet.
Alaina took the first shower, while Gordon put some things away and then he placed their swimming clothes into the washing machine. Alaina smiled broadly, her heart thumping madly as she heard a gentle knock on the bathroom door. This deep into the relationship and he still respected her privacy, despite her telling him repeatedly that she didn't mind him walking in on her.
"It's alright, honey," Alaina called softly, "you can come in.. " The door opened and he crept inside, closing the door behind him again.
"What a day, uh?" he asked, taking his shirt off.
"I can't wait to curl up in bed," Alaina agreed with a stifled yawn.
She stepped out of the shower and left it running as Gordon took her place, keen to wash the smell of brine out of his hair. Alaina toweled herself off and put on her slip of a nightgown, turning to watch him shower simply because she could.
"Do you want to head back to L.A. darling?" Gordon asked her.
"I kind of like it here," Alaina responded thoughtfully, "could we stay a little longer?"
"If you like," Gordon nodded, this was their home, too afterall, "I'm not fussed where we are, as long as we're together."
"Sounds perfect to me," Alaina smiled, unable to take her eyes from him.
She'd seen him naked so many times, yet it still made her giddy to stand there and watch him take a shower. When he was done, Alaina playfully helped him dry off and then they both used the blow dryer to make sure they didn't go to bed with wet hair. As they passed by the nursery, Gordon stopped to check in on the twins and Alaina hesitantly followed him. They gazed down at the sleeping babies and Gordon slipped his hand into Alaina's, squeezing it firmly. Alaina rested her head against his arm, this was what it was all about, love and affection and family.
*
Alaina slept very deeply that night and in the morning, she woke up to a warm, sunny morning and Gordon's soft breathing beside her. She couldn't imagine ever being at odds with Gordon, they had their ups and downs but they always managed to sort through it and come out the other side stronger than ever before. There would always be a pang of anxiety whenever he left for days or weeks at a time, but it was just another thing for them to work through together and try to meet each other halfway on the subject if and when it arose. Holding back and keeping feelings pent up was disagreed upon, they had to be upfront and honest or it was just going to rip them to pieces in the end and neither of them wanted that to happen.
Alaina carefully cuddled up to Gordon, he shifted slightly and made an unintelligible utterance but did not wake up and Alaina dozed off again until she felt him stir about an hour later. She loved to watch him as his eyes slowly opened and Gordon was always keen to have her smiling face be the first thing he saw each and every morning. Before breakfast woke him up properly, Gordon had this sleepy tone of voice that Alaina found absolutely irresistible, so morning conversations, however brief, were always a must for her.
"I had sex on the beach with Gordon Ramsay," she teased him playfully, enjoying his sudden blush and faint grin at her. But honestly, how many people could boast about that?
"Big deal," Gordon pulled her tighter against his body, "that's where I fucked his wife." Alaina's jaw dropped and she laughed, hitting him gently and he grinned at her again, mischief dancing in his eyes.
"You're such an ass," Alaina kissed his lips, smiling back at him lovingly.
*
Alaina and Alicia took the twins for a drive just after lunch, as neither of them wanted to skip Gordon's cooking if they could help it. Gordon had stayed behind because he had quite a few phone calls to return since his accident in the fire, he had put it off for too long and he figured it was high time he just got stuck into it and got it over with. As he set down the phone and was about to punch in another number, his door bell sounded. With a light furrow of his brow, Gordon stood up and shoved his phone into his pocket. He opened the door and stepped back, looking very surprised.
"Areena?" Gordon could not believe it, "what are you doing here?"
"I didn't know where else to turn, Chef.. " Areena looked upset, "my father's been arrested.. could I come in?"
Gordon stepped aside, never one to turn away a woman in tears and he followed her in to the living room where she sat down across from him.
"What's happening?" Gordon enquired.
"Everyone saw my father deliberately start the fire you were caught in," Areena kept her gaze lowered shamefully, "the janitor's key was found in his pocket.. " Gordon sat back at the admission, Django had been purposefully trying to kill him and he would have been lying if he said it didn't shake him quite badly.
"If the police haven't seen you yet, I'll give you a head's up," Areena sniffled and Gordon handed her a tissue box, "thanks."
"So what are you doing here?" Gordon wondered.
"Nobody wants to run the restaurant," Areena told him, "it's been in trouble ever since Maze opened up and well.. it's been dumped into my lap.. since I'm the only one who knows anything about cooking."
"It's your restaurant now?" Gordon asked her.
"Yes," Areena confirmed, nodding, "and I don't want it, either. It's an eyesore and nobody really goes there anymore except friends and family." Gordon breathed out in disbelief, he'd had no idea it was in so much trouble, no wonder Django was furious with him.
"Wait, so what are you going to do with it then?" Gordon asked her.
"I guess I'll sell it," Areena responded with a shrug. Gordon stared hard at her.
"You could run your own restaurant," Gordon stated the obvious, "you could be incredible.. a big success.. " She lifted her gaze at last to meet with his.
"That means so much to me, coming from you but I don't want to compete with you," she said softly, "I want to go to France and work for you."
"You're selling yourself short, darling," Gordon looked confused and Areena sighed heavily, she hated to disappoint him but how could she make him understand?
"What about France?" Areena asked him, as he'd made it clear to her that someone was needed there urgently.
"Oh fuck France!" Gordon looked slightly angry at her, "I'll do it myself if I have to.. Areena, you have an amazing opportunity here and I am shocked that you're just ready to throw it all away before you even try it out!" Areena could see his point of view, but she shook her head and Gordon noticed the defeat in her eyes.
"Wow, what a shame," he said bluntly. Areena couldn't look at him anymore, the sheer disappointment emanating from him seemed to suck the life right out of her.
"Would you buy it from me?" Areena asked him quietly, "since I'm going to be leaving the country soon, I'm after a quick sale. It would really help me find a nice apartment and settle in." Gordon was torn because he wanted to see her standing on her own two feet, but her restaurant was in a prime location for him to open a Maze Grill.
"If that's what you want," Gordon reluctantly accepted the offer, "I'll give you a fair price."
Areena kept her gaze lowered and nodded, relief swelling in her chest that he hadn't continued to argue about it. She was crazy for him and being so close to him was so hard for her, she needed to go to France and try to forget her feelings for him. It hurt her deeply though because she honestly believed that if he wasn't already married, there was a definite future here for them both. He liked her, she saw it in his body language and in the way he looked at her. There was something strongly there between them, it wasn't just her crushing on him with nothing coming from him in return.
"I'll have the paperwork sent to you," Areena said, standing up, "I should go before Alaina comes back." Gordon cleared his throat and rose to his feet as well.
"Yes you should," he agreed, showing her to the door, "at least think it over, yeah?" Areena nodded but he could already tell she didn't really mean it.
"Good luck," Gordon said to Areena.
"Don't say that like it's so final," Areena replied, "the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life is walk away from you, Gordon and that's really saying something because I come from a family who believe women have no place in a man's world. I've had to fight for every scrap of anything I've ever gained.. "
"..And you've given up," Gordon pushed her.
"No! I have not given up!" Areena's eyes flashed, "I have not even begun to show you what I can do!"
"Then why sell, uh?" Gordon folded his arms, his intense blue eyes stared at her firmly, "that looks like giving up to me."
"Because," Areena looked him in the eye, "there's more important things in life than being on top, rich and successful."
"Such as?" Gordon looked more puzzled now.
"I'm a very passionate woman, Gordon," Areena told him something he already knew, "I see what I want and I go for it a hundred percent."
"What do you want, Areena?" Gordon asked her.
"In a nutshell?" Areena responded boldly, "I want you, Gordon." There was a tense silence between them for a full minute, then Gordon looked away from her.
"If you weren't already married," Areena pressed her luck, "would there be any chance for us? I need to know.. "
Gordon didn't understand why she had to know the answer to such an impossible scenario, but he would be open, honest and blunt with her just as he was with anyone else.
"Honestly?" he said quietly, pausing. Areena swallowed dryly, her palms began to sweat and she dared to look into his eyes once more.
"I have disturbingly strong feelings for you that really shouldn't be there," Gordon admitted, "I'm ashamed to tell you this, do you know that?" Areena nodded, her suspicions confirmed and her heart feeling more at ease now to finally hear it from him that she wasn't just imagining things.
"Thank you for being truthful with me," Areena managed a tiny smile at him, "I'm gonna go now. If you're ever in France, look me up?" Gordon furrowed his brow.
"Why?" he asked her.
"I'd like to stay in touch," Areena shrugged, "so.. you know, don't be a stranger, okay?" Gordon nodded and Areena wanted to touch him, or kiss his cheek, but she refrained.
"If it ever goes sour with Alaina," she said boldly, "I'll always be there for you."
Gordon lifted his brows in surprise at her gall, silently watching her walk back to her car and drive away. He went back inside and closed the door, leaning against it and letting out a long, loud breath of air. He took out his phone and walked into the upstairs bedroom, closing the door and waiting for David to pick up.
Gordon was struggling with the temptation and he needed to talk to someone he could trust, the last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Alaina or end up like his father and David was someone Gordon had looked up to more and more in recent years. He might not always be serious, but his pearls of wisdom often astounded people and Gordon knew a good mind when he saw one.
*
"The best thing you can do, is put her out of your mind," David told Gordon, "you're still pretty much new to being married, you haven't quite settled down yet so it's very easy to be tempted by someone like that." Gordon listened carefully, he made a lot of sense and he appreciated David's discretion on the matter.
"As long as you're here and she's in France, I think you'll be okay," David added as an afterthought, "but if you do end up going to France later on, I would advise you not to look her up unless it's absolutely necessary and that's only in the business sense. If you have to deal with her, it's best to stay in an open, public place with plenty of people about."
"Thanks David," Gordon felt much better now, "time for a nice cold shower I think."
"You could always come over to my place," David told him jokingly. Gordon laughed.
"Not until your wife comes home, big boy," Gordon replied.
"Was worth a try," David teased him, "g'night.. "
"Night.. " Gordon ended the call and looked around the quiet house, it was nice here in New York but he felt homesick for Los Angeles and at least there, he wouldn't be bothered by Areena anymore.
He put his phone back into his pocket and grabbed his car keys, heading out to do a bit of shopping and maybe if he had time, drop in for a quick massage to ease the tension in his body. It had been so long since he'd had one, he could feel the knots in his muscles and the stiffness that came with them. Usually his morning workout and a quick swim in the pool sorted them out but he hadn't been doing that due to his busy routine and then the incident with Django's attempt to kill him. He needed to get back on track, a nice, deep tissue massage should do the trick and then he could take it from there with a light workout tomorrow morning and a dip in the pool soon after.
With a plan set in his mind, Gordon got into his car and headed out, he felt in control and that made him relax much easier. He was looking forward to dinner tonight, but first he had to pick up a few things. To keep them fresh, he'd grab the food on his way home so that he could get it back as quickly as possible and maximize on his time. He favored a particular massage parlor along the strip he was driving on just now and he pulled in around the back, entering the quiet, little building and hoping they were not fully booked out, as they so often were.
"Oh my gosh, Gordon!" a familiar voice greeted him as he approached.
"Hello Kimberly," Gordon smiled at her. They hugged and he kissed both her cheeks, a custom he'd never quite been able to shake off since he had lived in France but nobody ever complained about it.
"It's been so long!" Kimberly looked him over, "how are you? Look at you! You look great!"
"Thank you," Gordon blushed lightly, "I'm fine, have you got a place for me?"
"We've always got a place for you, Gordon," Kimberly winked at him, "come on through." Gordon followed her into a back room.
"You know what to do," Kimberly smiled at him, "I'm afraid everyone's busy right now, so you'll be stuck with me today."
"That's not a problem," Gordon assured her.
She left him to it and shut the door, Gordon took off his clothes and placed them neatly where they were supposed to go. He lay down on the massage table and placed the towel over his rear, then Kimberly returned and oiled up her hands, starting the massage from his shoulders.
"Wow," Kimberly remarked, "there's a lot of tension up here."
"Mmm.. " Gordon agreed, closing his eyes and trying to relax.
"Oh hey, congrats on getting married!" Kimberly gushed, "your wife is so pretty! And oh my gosh your twins are like, soooo sweet!"
She went on and on, Gordon tried his best to listen but he eventually fell asleep and Kimberly wasn't about to wake him, even after she was done. It was not unusual for her more overworked clients to fall asleep and with Gordon, it happened every single time. Kimberly walked along the hallway, placing a finger to her lips as Jenny passed her by.
"Room four is asleep," Kimberly warned her. Jenny stopped and glanced at the closed door.
"Is it a regular?" she asked, "there's people waiting and all the rooms are taken.. "
"It's Chef Ramsay," Kimberly replied.
"Star treatment then," Jenny nodded, "understood."
She continued on her way quietly and Kimberly went to make sure the customers waiting for a room were kept comfortable and happy. They all loved Gordon being here because he'd mentioned them favorably on one of his shows and ever since then, they'd been packed full every single day.
A short time later, the dozing Chef woke up and slowly sat up to put his clothes back on and then he wandered out to reception.
"Hey, how do you feel?" Kimberly asked him cheerfully.
"Ohh, so much better thank you, darling," Gordon replied with a grin, "incredible massage, as always."
Kimberly beamed at him, it was high praise indeed from someone with such elevated standards. He got held up by some of the people who were left still waiting, posing with them for photos before he finally left for the shops.
*
By the time he got home, as he was recognized repeatedly in the shops and on the street, it was early evening and Alaina was already back.
"Damn," he grumbled, pulling up in the driveway, as he'd hoped to have dinner at least partially cooked before she got home. He took the shopping bag inside and went straight into the kitchen to prepare, calling for Alaina as he did so.
"I'm upstairs, honey!" came her reply and he was pleased to hear a note of happiness in her tone.
Gordon got started on dinner, he felt so much more relaxed now, it really was amazing what one simple massage could do. Alaina wandered in some time later, hugging him around his waist from behind and resting her head on his back.
"Something smells wonderful!" she exclaimed.
"You sound surprised," Gordon told her, trying to continue cooking whilst unable to move his feet.
"I'm just curious," Alaina giggled at him, "I've never smelled this before, what is it?" She kept forgetting he was very defensive about his cooking, not only at work but at home as well.
"It's a Spaghetti with seafood velouté," Gordon replied distractedly.
"Sounds delicious, babe," Alaina smiled, then she let go of him and left him to it, going in to the living room to check on the twins and keeping herself out of his way.
Gordon didn't mind her being close to him or hugging him while he cooked, but his mind just was so focused on the meal and Alaina would just have to wait until later for his undivided attention. The dinner conversation was mostly about Alaina's day and Gordon explaining what the meal was as she tried it for the first time, she could see he was anxious and when she told him she loved it, he was definitely relieved and excited by her reaction.
*
A few months after they celebrated their twins' first birthday, Alaina and Gordon were back in Los Angeles. Gordon had bought Django's restaurant and it was now a Maze Grill, it was doing very well and he was very pleased with the venture. Areena had taken over as Executive Chef in France, quickly gaining the place a startling three Michelin Stars. At 18 months of age, the twins were now walking and Alaina often took them to the playground with some of her friends who were also mothers. It was nice to have a day out, especially when Gordon wasn't spending a lot of time at home. Work often kept him busy and he took her and the babies with him as often as possible but lately Alaina had been refusing to go, insisting that it wasn't good for the twins to have such instability this early on in their lives.
Constantly going from place to place, not always in the same country, seemed like a lot of fuss and hassle. She was happy to wait for Gordon to return home whenever he was done cooking, filming or whatever else it was that happened to be on his agenda at any given time. It bothered him at first, but as time went on he got used to it and he knew that he'd be back sooner or later and everything would be back to normal again. Alaina loved her life and right at the moment, when Gordon was clearly the happiest she'd seen him for a little while, everything just seemed so perfect.
"Hi Alaina!" called Olga, one of Gordon's friend's wives, who was sitting in their usual place at the playground with a few of her other friends.
"Hey everyone," Alaina smiled, approaching the benches with her twin stroller, "it's just me today."
"Where's Gordon?" Olga asked her, helping her get the twins out.
"In Versailles giving his Chefs a pep talk," Alaina replied.
"Ohh yeah!" Olga's eyes lit up, "I heard he got three Michelin Stars! Oh wow, he must be thrilled!"
"He is," Alaina grinned, "oh he was over the moon! Now he wants to make sure he never loses them."
"Very wise," Olga agreed, "how exciting for him! And you!"
"Oh, absolutely," Alaina said happily, "I'm so proud."
*
Despite her problems at Maze in New York, Areena was having no such problems in France. She worked under the guidance of the current Executive Chef and when he believed she was ready, he finally retired and she took over. Areena was full of confidence, her energy and enthusiasm inspired the other members of staff and just as quickly as she'd arrived, 'Gordon Ramsay au Trianon' had suddenly become a three Michelin Star restaurant!
To further boost her ego and everyone's high spirits, Gordon was talking to them at the end of dinner service and he was more than just thrilled with their achievement, he was ecstatic! But, he was not keen to lose those stars and he was making that perfectly clear, he would find out somehow who was responsible and they would never work in a kitchen ever again.
"You can count on me to keep things in order, Chef," Areena spoke to him firmly, meeting his eyes with her own, "as long as I'm working here for you, those stars aren't going anywhere."
"Good girl," Gordon nodded approvingly at her, "now all of you, go home and get some rest. We're closing for the weekend for repairs, I've already dealt with the bookings ahead of time.. Goodnight."
They all said goodnight to him and thanked him for the (paid) time off, wandering out of the restaurant happy and excited and further inspired by Chef's visit. Areena stayed behind to lock up and ensure everything was switched off, just like she used to in New York at Maze, preparing herself for the position long before it was offered to her. She wiped down the pass and looked over her shoulder at Gordon, who was inspecting some of the appliances that showed signs of disrepair.
"I think I deserve a bonus," Areena commented.
"Yes," Gordon agreed, "you all do. How are you settling in?"
"I've got a great momentum going here," Areena answered him, "my apartment is great, everyone listens to me when I speak, the customers are always giving us rave reviews, it's a dream come true!" Gordon laughed, closing the oven he was just looking into.
"Have you met someone yet?" he ventured, walking a little closer to where she was cleaning up some crumbs.
"Nope," Areena said dismissively, "but then, I'm not really looking, to be honest."
"Oh," Gordon looked at her curiously, "why's that?"
Areena found it cute how naive he could be sometimes, it had to be that because she was too egotistical to believe he'd forgotten how she had kissed him in New York. She could just about feel the heightened mood Gordon was in, he was so pleased with her and those three stars, perhaps he wouldn't object to her making another pass at him?
"You know how it is, Chef," Areena replied with a sly smile, "I'm just too busy right now.. "
"Huh, fair enough I suppose," Gordon rubbed his chin, "are you going straight home?"
"Actually," Areena set down her cloth, "I was thinking we could celebrate.. wanna buy me a drink?"
Gordon relaxed his shoulders, he wasn't looking forward to spending the evening alone when he was so excited about the Michelin Stars. Before he'd came to Versailles, he had already been away from home for more than a week. Everytime he went to a place where he had a restaurant, Gordon was always invited to conferences and meetings that he was always keen to attend and have his input considered.
"Why not?" he agreed, glad to see that she had matured and grown as a person and wasn't throwing herself at him so blatantly as she had before.
"Great!" Areena beamed at him, "let me go home and freshen up, first. Want to follow me and see my place? It's really neat." Gordon looked at his watch.
"Alright," he nodded shortly, "but just briefly, yeah? I've got an early start tomorrow."
"Oh dear," Areena breezed by him and was thrilled when he followed after her, "all work and no play, Chef, it just isn't good for you.. "
*
Areena watched in her car mirrors as she drove along, making sure Gordon's car remained directly behind hers so he wouldn't get lost. A shiver of excitement coursed through her body, the timing couldn't be more perfect and she had woven her web around him, all she had to do now was lure him into it.
Gordon swore as his phone beeped, indicating the battery had died, he kept his eyes on the car in front of him and decided he would charge it later when he got back to the hotel. That got him thinking about possibly looking for a house to buy somewhere in the city, then Alaina and the twins could come along more often. His smile faded as he remembered her reluctance to go with him anywhere anymore, her reasons were sensible but it still got him down when he was alone and away from her for so long.
He was feeling particularly lonely tonight, he was away from home for a full ten days now and he was missing his family like nothing else. He pined hard for Alaina's soft body, her sweet lips, the sound of her voice and her smile that lit up any room she entered. He pulled up in the long driveway, behind Areena's car and got out, looking around at the apartment building as he followed her inside.
"This is it," Alaina told him, gesturing around and closing the door behind him.
"Wow," Gordon was impressed, "lovely, is it expensive?"
"A little, yes," Areena replied, leading him purposefully into the kitchen, "but I'm an Executive Chef in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant with three Michelin Stars, so I can totally afford it."
"Living it up, uh?" Gordon asked her, admiring the very modern kitchen and touching everything curiously.
"You bet," Areena stood back and refrained from getting too close to him.
"As well you should," Gordon looked around some more, his gaze politely flicking to hers while either of them were talking, "you've had a very hard time of it growing up. You deserve it." Areena felt humbled that he hadn't forgotten her reasons for becoming a Chef, it warmed her heart and she smiled at him.
"I fought tooth and nail," Areena replied softly, "I never once gave up on my dream." Gordon nodded in agreement and Areena wandered away, she needed to freshen up.
"Make yourself at home," she told him, "I'll just be a minute."
Gordon looked in the fridge, everything was fresh and there were no take-out containers inside. He closed it and heard the shower running, so he got himself a glass of ice water while he waited. Some minutes later, he turned around and Areena stood just inside the door but she was wearing an almost transparent nightdress that clung very snugly to her body.
"Areena.. " Gordon tried to ignore it and glanced quickly at his watch, "I thought we were heading out?"
"Have you eaten?" Areena asked him knowingly. Chances were pretty good that he hadn't, he'd already admitted earlier he was completely run off his feet today.
"Well.. I.. No," Gordon responded as predicted, "but I kind of had my eye on this little bistro not far from here."
"So let me cook for you," Areena told him, "I really want to show you how far I've come, oh please let me cook something.. just this once?"
"In that?!" Gordon asked of her clothing. Areena shrugged.
"It's comfortable," she reasoned. Gordon was looking forward to winding down at the bar, but he figured that perhaps alcohol mixed with Areena's company wouldn't exactly do him any favors and so he agreed.
"Alright," he said with a nervous smile, "let's see what you can do." Areena's heart raced excitedly.
"I'll go and sit in the living room," Gordon offered to leave her to it.
"No, no!" Areena snagged his arm gently, "I want you to watch, I'd really appreciate any tips you might have for me to do better."
"Fair enough," Gordon stood off to the side to watch her, feeling suddenly like something was amiss here.
"I'll talk you through it," Areena said to him with a happy smile, "so you know exactly what I'm doing.. feel free to correct me at any time alright?"
"I don't think that will be necessary," Gordon replied absently.
Areena took the compliment to heart and started to prepare the meal, hoping she didn't slip up because she was only after one thing tonight and it wasn't Gordon's opinion on her cooking; she already knew he was going to love that. She told him in detail exactly what she was doing the entire time, as he looked on and observed her silently. She noticed him shift every so often, with a bit of luck it was because she was succeeding at arousing him. She was almost done when she felt something touch her arm, she looked up and he was adjusting her thin shoulder strap, which had slipped down while she was cooking.
"Thanks," she smiled at him, looking deeply into his eyes.
"You cook beautifully, Areena," Gordon complimented her, "the preparation was clean, you've cut the meat flawlessly and it just smells so fucking delicious already.. " Areena blushed hard, her smile growing wider at his praise.
"I can't wait to taste it," Gordon told her excitedly, "I just want to dive right in there.. " Areena knew the feeling, but seducing Gordon was a lot like cooking the perfect dish; timing was extremely important.
"Patience!" Areena laughed gently at his eagerness, "it'll be ready in five minutes."
"It should take three," Gordon commented, his eyes challenging her but Areena didn't take the bait.
"Yes Chef," she purred, turning away from him to tend to the meal because if she stayed so close to him for a moment longer, she couldn't trust herself to abandon the plan and just pounce on him.
She was sure it was working, but she had to play it cool in case she was misreading his body language. She had to be sure before she made her move, or he was quite likely to just fly back to Los Angeles earlier than planned just to get away from her. Gordon was a lot more comfortable now than when he had first arrived, he enjoyed watching others cook, especially when they did it so damn well. Areena got the subtle impression that he was starting to get a little flustered, not to mention confused as to what to do about it. She wanted so badly to offer to take care of it for him, but taking a deep breath in and letting it out slowly, she was able to keep her cool.
"Can I help?" Gordon itched.
"No!" Areena giggled at him, "stay put." He half growled at her in frustration, so Areena took her time in plating the meals and garnishing them.
"You should be finished by now," Gordon remarked impatiently.
"All in good time," Areena teased him with her slow pace, "it's almost ready, just a few finishing touches and.. "
"..and it'll get cold!" Gordon rushed her.
"Hmm, too many Chefs in the kitchen," Areena said scoldingly, "go and sit at the dining room table."
Gordon looked like he was about to argue, but Areena pointed to the door and he sighed heavily, walking stiffly out of the kitchen. Areena knew she was pushing it a little, but hopefully it hadn't hurt her chances too much.
Gordon tried to sit still at the table but he thought that perhaps David was rubbing off on him because he was finding it very difficult. Finally, Areena served the plate to him and he looked down at it with approval.
"Wow," Gordon picked up his knife and fork, "I feel so spoilt."
"Nothing's too good for the man who signs my paycheck," Areena said amusedly, "lager?"
"Mm, not right now," Gordon replied, already starting on his meal, "I don't want to taint the flavor."
So after they were done eating and had cleared the table, Areena and Gordon sat in the living room and Areena filled him in on everything that had happened since she left New York.
"Can I get you another lager?" she offered, as Gordon set his fourth empty bottle down.
"Nah, I have to drive soon," Gordon looked once more to his watch, though it blurred slightly. Damn, was he over the limit already?
"You don't have to go," Areena said to him quietly, fixing her gaze intently to his.
"I really, really should leave," Gordon responded firmly.
Areena felt almost like she'd lost her chance, but quickly realized he hadn't moved. She slowly scooted closer to him on the sofa, grabbing his shirt to pull him down to her level, seeking his lips with her own. His body tensed up slightly and he pulled away from her, but she cupped his face with one hand and he became still, as if the gesture was somehow comforting and familiar. Areena looked at his expression to try and figure out how to proceed, he looked subtly interested and at the same time, a little afraid of her. That was interesting, she didn't honestly believe Gordon Ramsay was afraid of anyone.
But Gordon wasn't afraid of Areena, he was terrified of how he felt about her. His heart was thumping, her face blurred from time to time and he had to shut his eyes tightly for a moment to make them focus again. Areena picked up on this and she knew he wasn't going anywhere tonight, she let her hand stroke down his face and pulled it away from him.
"You can't drive like that," she told him softly, "why don't I show you to my spare bedroom, hm?"
"I'm fine, really," Gordon stood up and his head spun a little, he furrowed his brow curiously, "did.. did you put something in my food, Areena?" Areena nibbled at her bottom lip, she got up and took him gently by the wrist.
"You're really going to want to lay down soon," she told him, leading him slowly to the bedroom.
"Why?" Gordon asked her, having no choice but to follow along, "what have you done?"
Areena encouraged Gordon to lay down on the bed, smiling at him faintly.
"I've done nothing," she reassured him, "your mind is quite possibly working overtime, take off your shirt and I will help you to relax." Gordon sat up, a trusting look in his eyes that made Areena feel almost guilty about what she was going to do. Almost.
"You can massage?" Gordon asked her, taking off his jacket and shirt without hesitation. Areena opened her bedside table drawer and took something out of it.
"Of course not," she replied, "but this thing is supposed to work wonders."
"Magic Hands," Gordon recognized the device.
"You're familiar with this?" Areena looked surprised.
"Yes," Gordon turned away from her, "just the upper back please, darling.. "
Areena loved it when he called her that, it made her feel special and so much closer to him. As she began to use the Magic Hands on his back, Areena had to bite her fist to keep from whimpering at his favorable utterances and slight squirms of pleasure. After a minute or two, it became too much for her to take and she leaned up to begin kissing his neck, holding nothing back as she now let him know her full intentions. She feared he might reel back from her, but he didn't.
"Ohh.. yes.. " Gordon's quiet utterances continued, "fuckin' 'ell, uhh.. "
Areena finally let a whimper escape her throat and it seemed to catch his attention, because he turned towards her and hesitantly, very awkwardly, leaned in as if he was unsure about her signals. Areena put him out of his misery by meeting him halfway, soon tasting lamb and lager in her mouth as his tongue ventured eagerly into it.
Tossing the massager aside, Areena wriggled up into his lap, straddling him and kissing him heatedly. He could feel her slowly thrusting her hips, grinding them against him and he heard her soft moans of desire when his erection strained in his jeans in response. Areena couldn't help herself, with each grind she could feel his rock hard member rubbing against her quickly dampening folds. She broke the kiss and stared into his half closed eyes, the soft light of the candle on her bedside table making them look almost as if flames were dancing within them.
"I want your cock so badly," she whispered to him, pushing his hand up under her night dress.
His gaze dropped to her breasts, they were quite large and he was unable to find the will to not touch them. Areena could see he was getting so much more excited now, she pushed on his chest and to her relief, he lay right down onto the pillows. She lay on top of him, encouraging him to continue touching her breasts with his hands as she leaned down and coaxed him into making out with her once more. A throaty groan rumbled deep within his throat, arousing and exciting her.
She slowly, firmly thrust her hips and pressed herself into his erection, thrilling when he mirrored her actions and thumbed her nipples. She turned her head to let a loud moan escape her mouth, leaving her throat exposed and he claimed it instantly, love biting her passionately. Areena gasped and breathed heavily, feeling a little in over her head now and unsure of herself. She winced at his love biting, it felt so good but she was no longer in complete control of the situation. She was certain he was too far into it now for her to ask him to stop, there was no way he'd listen to her, but she was getting a nervous fluttering of butterflies in her stomach and she had to try.
"Gordon.. " she said quickly, then she moaned in pleasure as he licked and sucked at the bite less fiercely.
"Mmm?" he hummed in response.
"Please.. c-can we stop?" Areena ventured and just like that, he became still and completely stopped.
Areena moved off him and sat back as he sat up, regarding her heatedly but not making a move towards her. She expected him to be angry, waited for him to curse and shout at her but it never came.
"Are you alright?" he asked instead, concerned that he might have hurt her without realizing it.
"I'm fine," Areena nodded, "I just.. I got a little scared."
"What of?" Gordon wondered.
"I'm not sure," Areena admitted, "can we just cuddle?"
"I'm not really into it," Gordon looked at her reluctantly, "but if that's what you want to do.. "
So she cuddled up with him as he reclined into the pillows, her hand soon wandering down over his chest and she started to draw circles on it with her finger.
"Areena," Gordon spoke quietly, "are you a fucking virgin?"
Areena pursed her lips nervously, giving him the very slightest of nods in unwarranted shame and embarrassment.
Gordon lifted her chin with his fingers gently, she looked up into his eyes and felt the sting of unfallen tears within hers. All her life she was repeatedly told that she was to save herself for marriage, because if she didn't, no decent husband would want her. So far, she had managed to keep her legs closed and simply focused upon her chosen career instead. Meeting Gordon had weakened her resolve and she found the desire to have him far too great, she'd finally managed to get him here but her inexperience failed to tell her what she was supposed to do with him.
His kiss to her mouth was softer than before, his entire attitude changed and she found herself relaxing into his embrace. She got the feeling they were back on again, only this time, he was in control and she was comfortable now to let him take it from her after unburdening herself of her confession. Gordon was going to have to be careful, he did not want to hurt her and it was difficult to think straight after drinking a couple too many bottles of lager. He pushed her down onto her back and continued to kiss her, trailing one hand down between her legs to stroke her through her panties.
She gasped in his mouth, bucking her hips in response to his touch and moaning urgently. He broke the kiss and Areena slowly slipped off her night dress, exposing her breasts to him while he pulled off her underwear and tossed them aside. Her gaze lowered to his jeans as he unzipped them and took them off, unable to look away from him when he took his briefs down. Her eyes grew wide in amazement at his size, feeling as though there was no way in hell that thing was going to fit inside of her! Gordon knew it wasn't going to be easy, especially if she wasn't slick or excited enough.
Only one way to help it along, he smiled at her and she felt a pang of guilt strike in her guts because he was intoxicated and she shouldn't be encouraging him. The thought left her mind the moment his tongue swept over her folds, his head between her legs and his hands grasping her thighs to push them apart. Areena's head was thrown back into the pillows, she gasped loudly over and over, a long, high pitched moan involuntarily leaving her parted lips as his tongue slowly yet firmly turned her into a quivering mess.
She grabbed a handful of his hair, thrilling at his soft grunt when she gripped it roughly and held him in place. Her hips bucked and she began to thrust rhythmically, a strange sensation of something impending beginning to build up within her. Her cries grew more urgent and unrestrained, her body began to jolt and shake, her voice trembled and she called his name as the sudden shock of release claimed her at last. It felt like waves were crashing through her, she shut her eyes tightly and cried out again as he continued to suck and lick at her sensitive nub.
He slowed and stopped, she was very slick now and he felt confident that she could take him at least part of the way in. He pushed her knees up to her chest and positioned himself over her, his eyes meeting with hers as she opened them. Areena gazed up at him sedately, lost in the blue flames that were his lust filled eyes. They were somewhat questioning and he had hesitated, she could feel the head of his cock nudged right at her entrance and poised ready to push in. With a clear nod of her head, Areena gave him her full consent.
****
(page 10: http://luv-bowie-luver.livejournal.com/44265.html)
***
Maze was not known very well for doing breakfast service, it was a trial run to see if interest was good enough to make it a permanent thing and so far, it was doing great. When it was over and everyone left for a break, Alaina was curious to note that Areena remained behind. The other chefs in the kitchen had cleaned up their stations, but there were bits and pieces here and there that had been missed and Areena was now going around, cleaning up after them all. So she was a hard worker on top of everything else, clearly deserving of a chance to work here and Alaina saw why Gordon did not want to get rid of her so quickly.
In all reality, he should have fired her on the spot for unwanted physical contact in the workplace but she knew that because he was who he was, it'd quickly go public and create a scandal where there simply wasn't one. Alaina wasn't such a big fan of the media anymore, it was good when her twins got into the magazines and their wedding photos were published with consent but then there was the other side to it all. Sneaky photographers snapping pics when they least suspected it, using them to make headlines that often weren't true and Gordon's spokesperson had to do some serious damage control before things got out of hand. Some people seemed to just want to believe the worst about Gordon and Alaina no longer held any positive feelings towards Jamie Oliver, either. He had said some pretty snide and untruthful things concerning Gordon and she would stand with her husband all the way, finally understanding the bitter rivalry between the two of them.
She considered Jamie to be a spoiled brat and he would never ever hold a candle to Gordon, no matter how much he pretended to be the better cook.
"Everything's clean, Chef," Areena's voice broke through Alaina's daydreaming and she focused her attention on the woman once more.
"Thank you," Gordon nodded to her, "take a break already!" Areena smiled at him and wandered towards the door, pausing to greet Alaina for the first time.
"Hi.. I'm Areena," she held out her hand.
"I know who you are," Alaina said stiffly, not accepting the offered handshake. Gordon looked over at them worriedly, wiping his hands on his towel. Areena lowered her hand awkwardly, clearing her throat.
"Chef Ramsay is such a great guy," Areena tried to be nice, but it was hard, "you're so lucky.. "
"Indeed," Alaina narrowed her eyes, "and so are you, it would seem.. very lucky.. " Areena took the hint and lowered her gaze, exiting the kitchen and swearing under her breath once she was outside.
"Alright?" Gordon lifted his chin.
"Just fine!" Alaina beamed at him, "that was really fun to watch!" Gordon's shoulders visibly relaxed and he grinned back at her, turning to wipe down the pass before everyone returned to prep for lunch service.
"She's good," Alaina commented.
"Yes," Gordon looked around at her, "she is."
"Pretty, too," Alaina spoke again.
"Uh?" Gordon furrowed his brow, as if he didn't understand the comment.
"I said she's very attractive," Alaina stood up.
"I thought we were past this?" Gordon looked most displeased, were they ever going to be able to move on?
"We are," Alaina softened her tone, as Gordon was still very much in his work frame of mind and she didn't want to argue with him here, of all places, "but.. you know how you were looking for a new head chef in your restaurant in Versailles?"
Alaina left it at that, it had to be his idea and not seem like she was trying to get rid of the competition by sending her overseas. Gordon looked as though he were definitely considering it, which calmed Alaina and set her mind more at ease. The fact that he liked the idea was almost enough to prove to Alaina that he didn't have any sexual interest in Areena, because he was seemingly quite willing to place her in France, somewhere he'd rarely ever see her unless there was a problem or promotion at the restaurant itself.
She knew she was being very hard on him and it pained her to be this way, but she felt that if she just let him off the hook easily, he might not think twice about letting it happen again and how far would it go next time? She hated feeling suspicious of him, it was affecting their relationship and Gordon was suddenly wishing he'd just kept it to himself and dealt with it on his own. He felt like he was being tested and scrutinized every minute of the day and it was starting to annoy him, he'd made a mistake and they had sorted it out, why was she still unable to let go of it unless she didn't trust him?
Trust was important to Gordon, he believed that if there wasn't any trust between two people, they had no business being anywhere near each other. So, he had to ask her straight out.
"Don't you trust me, Alaina?" he approached her as he spoke, putting down his towel and looking at her curiously to await her response.
His arms were folded, chin lifted and his intense blue eyes bore into hers. Alaina knew he wasn't walking away without an answer, so she gathered up her courage and straightened her back to show him she wasn't backing down. Neither of them noticed Areena, as she was back early and had entered the kitchen but halted in her tracks near the doorway when she saw them arguing. She knew it was bad, but it made a smile creep onto her face to imagine them divorcing and her catching Gordon on the rebound, it was just so perfect!
"I trust you," Alaina said carefully, "it's her that bothers me, Gordon and don't you dare take that stance with me! I'm not one of your little 'yes sir' Sous Chefs.. I'm your wife!" Gordon stood his ground, he never walked away from an argument unless he believed he might actually throw a punch at someone, but Alaina had simply had enough.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly, "I thought I could do this, but I can't.. "
She walked out of the kitchen and headed through the dining room, towards the front doors. Gordon sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead with his hand, unsure of what he was supposed to do now. Areena discreetly crept into the kitchen, Gordon glanced up at her briefly as she began to prep for lunch and she offered him a coy smile. Gordon knew then that Alaina was right not to trust Areena, but he couldn't let a personal issue stand in the way of this rare find. Perhaps offering Areena the position as new Head Chef at 'Gordon Ramsay au Trianon' was the best solution for all involved?
Alaina put her hand on the door, but stopped and took some deep breaths in to calm herself. What was she doing?! If she walked out now, Areena would just use the fact that she was pushing Gordon away from her and straight into the little bitch's arms. She turned back and headed for the kitchen, if Gordon had taught her anything at all, it was to never give up on someone you believed in.
"Areena," Gordon called for her. It was now Alaina's turn to stop in her tracks and observe them, unnoticed.
"Yes, Chef?" Areena turned to look at him.
"Come here," Gordon beckoned her with his finger. Areena brightly approached him, stopping mere inches from him and right up in his personal space.
"Can you speak French?" Gordon asked her firmly. Areena was thrown by the question and faltered, she was of the belief that Gordon wanted to make out with her again but he wasn't looking like he was interested at all.
"A little," Areena shrugged.
"Well brush up then," Gordon insisted, "I'm sending you to France as my new Head Chef in Versailles, you'll be working closely with the current Head Chef until he's confident you can do the job. Can I count on you, Areena?" The guy was ready to retire and Gordon was holding him up, unable to locate someone good enough to replace him.
"This is all so sudden," Areena replied, her head just about reeling with the idea, "of course you can always count on me, Chef.. but why so far away? Why not here?"
"I'm happy with my staff here," Gordon told her, "that's not about to change, so.. are you up to the task?"
"I'm up to any task," Areena half closed her eyes and looked him over, "any task at all.. " She sidled up to him and touched the buttons of his Chef's whites with her fingertips.
"Areena," Gordon caught her wrist and firmly pushed it away, stepping back from her. She looked at him now, confused.
"I thought we had something special," she said softly, "I know you're married but.. but I could be.. your mistress or something! I don't mind being secondary to her.. " For now..
"I don't think that's such a good idea," Gordon started to get furious with her for even suggesting such a thing.
"Why not?" Areena stepped closer again, "I know you're interested.. "
Gordon might have crumbled a few days ago, but this morning had set him straight on a few things and he looked at her so angrily then that she stopped and took notice of his body language at last.
"My father had a mistress," Gordon spoke in an even tone, though anger and embarrassment flashed in his eyes, "and I am nothing like him!" Areena stepped back from him slowly, but he did not follow her.
"Go home and pack," Gordon told her dismissively. Areena stood there, stunned that he had refused her advances. A few days ago he'd been completely under her spell, now he was shipping her off to an entirely different country!
"Get out!" Gordon shouted at her.
Areena startled and hurried out of the kitchen, her heart thumping into her throat and her hands trembling as she rushed, wide eyed out the door. Alaina gave him a few moments to calm down, then she slowly walked into the kitchen and regarded him with complete and utter forgiveness in her heart. Gordon noticed her after a minute and she walked right over to him, cupping one side of his face with her hand. Without anything needing to be said, they both knew it was finally over.
With everyone back on board, Gordon was able to feel confident enough to leave Maze in the hands of his staff and he took Alaina out to the car.
"How long is Alicia expecting you to be?" Gordon asked her.
"I told her she could stay the night because we might be late," Alaina replied.
"Okay," Gordon took her hand into his own, "let's go." Alaina followed him curiously into the car and it didn't take her long to figure out he wasn't driving home.
"Where are we going?" Alaina asked him.
"To the beach," Gordon told her.
Alaina smiled, it was such a nice, hot and sunny day, why not? Gordon pulled up just outside a store and they went inside to get themselves something to swim in, then they continued driving until they reached the coast. There was a lovely strip of beach where nobody was around, so they pretty much had the entire place to themselves.
"What a lovely, little cove," Alaina remarked, stepping out with her bikini on.
Gordon grabbed her up and put her over his shoulder, she squealed and kicked her legs but he carried her to the water and they both fell in together, laughing. Alaina splashed him as he came up for air and he shook his head to get the water out of his hair, she giggled at him and then embraced with him. Alaina gazed up into his eyes, the sparkling blue ocean really brought out the color of his eyes and gave them an almost unearthly glow. He leaned down and kissed her, she responded and thrilled as she felt his hand slide up over her ribs and under her bikini top to grasp and squeeze her breast.
She moaned into his mouth and then a wave knocked them off their feet and Alaina swam away from him, playing hard to get. Gordon waded back to the shore, sitting in the wet sand and Alaina soon joined him. She pushed him down onto his back and leaned over him, kissing him deeply and running her hand along the obvious bulge in his swimming briefs.
"Mmm, Chef's all fired up.. " Alaina murmured against his lips.
He groaned and shifted their positions so that he now leaned down over her, their lips still fused together in a deep and passionate kiss. Alaina relaxed her body and submitted to him, he pushed her bikini top up and off of her, tossing it aside and kissing her neck as he massaged and squeezed her breasts softly. Alaina arched into his touch, moaning loudly despite being outside for all to see because she knew there wasn't anyone around anyway. The thrill of being caught turned her on somewhat and she raised the pitch of her moans as he trailed kisses down over her stomach and then slowly pulled down her bikini bottoms, throwing them somewhere nearby into the sand.
Within moments, they were both naked, with Alaina's legs wrapped around Gordon's waist as he started making love with her on the cool, wet sand. She felt the water lapping at her body, as they hadn't quite moved up far enough away from it but it didn't bother her and she was far too aroused to care anymore anyway.
"Oohh, sex on the beach, darling.. " Gordon moaned breathily into her ear, thrusting into her languidly and picking up the pace frustratingly slowly.
"Aah! Ohh! Fas.. Ohh, faster, baby!" Alaina whined.
It was nicer than it had been this morning, there was no anger in his thrusts and there were no pangs of jealously in her heart. His embrace was gentle, his touch was loving and his kisses were full of desire for her. Alaina matched his thrusts with her own, taking some of the control from him and enjoying his ragged breathing as she clamped and squeezed her inner muscles around his rock hard member. His shaky breath in her ear thrilled her as he uttered soft expletives, barely audible moans and sharp gasps of pleasure every so often.
Alaina could feel herself building up into orgasm, so she surprised him by surging up and pushing him back down into the sand so that she was on top. She ground her hips, making him arch his back and moan loudly. She felt his hands grasping her hips, ramming hard into her and she moved her hips then in a circular motion. He responded favorably, sitting up to embrace tightly with her and they kissed fiercely as they both moaned and came within seconds of one another. Alaina held onto Gordon, her body jolting and muffled gasps escaping from her mouth into his. Gordon's throaty groans sounded much like growls, further thrilling her and making her whine deep in her throat as she rode out her climax, still slicking up and down his cock slowly to ensure she maximized their pleasure as he came down, too.
Alaina withdrew from their kiss and gazed into his eyes, feeling lost within them and perfectly taken by Gordon to the point of no return. She could not help but love him so deeply, that he could do no wrong in her eyes. In her heart, she knew nothing could ever come between them and whatever was thrown in their way, somehow they would always find a path back to one another in the end. Whether she knew it or not, this was exactly how Gordon felt about her right from the very beginning. It was he who had mostly chased her, not the other way around and he felt that perhaps now she was finally starting to understand just how much he was so very helplessly in love with her.
"Darling," Gordon spoke breathlessly.
"Hmm?" Alaina didn't want to move off him, content to just stay sitting and cuddling with him.
"Darling, the water.. " Gordon said quickly.
"What about it?" Alaina sighed lazily, smiling happily.
"It's taken our clothes, babe," Gordon informed her.
"Oh!" Alaina glanced around, watching her bikini floating away.
"Don't worry," Gordon carefully pulled out of her and she sat on the towel, "I'll get them."
She giggled as he ran into the water and admired his naked ass, then she sat back to enjoy watching him collect their clothing, he was such a strong swimmer and what a fit body. It made her want to get back into shape, after having the twins she wasn't quite where she wanted to be at the moment but it wouldn't take too long. Gordon would help her train and make sure she did it correctly, what a load to have on her plate, though.. Raising twins, maintaining a social life, learning to cook properly and now getting fit. She felt suddenly exhausted and could not wait to get home to bed, cuddle up to Gordon and fall asleep in his muscular arms.
"Ugh," Gordon complained, as he sat down next to her and gave her back her clothes, "I'll be washing sand out of my arse for days!" Alaina collapsed in fits of giggles, causing him to laugh amusedly at her because she was giggling so hard that she snorted!
Alaina and Gordon walked back to the car and got in, awkwardly getting dressed back into the clothes they were wearing before they arrived at the beach. During the drive home, the tension was non existent and Alaina even rested her hand on Gordon's thigh for most of the trip. By the time they got back, the lights were all off and Alicia and the twins were fast asleep, so they had to be quiet.
Alaina took the first shower, while Gordon put some things away and then he placed their swimming clothes into the washing machine. Alaina smiled broadly, her heart thumping madly as she heard a gentle knock on the bathroom door. This deep into the relationship and he still respected her privacy, despite her telling him repeatedly that she didn't mind him walking in on her.
"It's alright, honey," Alaina called softly, "you can come in.. " The door opened and he crept inside, closing the door behind him again.
"What a day, uh?" he asked, taking his shirt off.
"I can't wait to curl up in bed," Alaina agreed with a stifled yawn.
She stepped out of the shower and left it running as Gordon took her place, keen to wash the smell of brine out of his hair. Alaina toweled herself off and put on her slip of a nightgown, turning to watch him shower simply because she could.
"Do you want to head back to L.A. darling?" Gordon asked her.
"I kind of like it here," Alaina responded thoughtfully, "could we stay a little longer?"
"If you like," Gordon nodded, this was their home, too afterall, "I'm not fussed where we are, as long as we're together."
"Sounds perfect to me," Alaina smiled, unable to take her eyes from him.
She'd seen him naked so many times, yet it still made her giddy to stand there and watch him take a shower. When he was done, Alaina playfully helped him dry off and then they both used the blow dryer to make sure they didn't go to bed with wet hair. As they passed by the nursery, Gordon stopped to check in on the twins and Alaina hesitantly followed him. They gazed down at the sleeping babies and Gordon slipped his hand into Alaina's, squeezing it firmly. Alaina rested her head against his arm, this was what it was all about, love and affection and family.
*
Alaina slept very deeply that night and in the morning, she woke up to a warm, sunny morning and Gordon's soft breathing beside her. She couldn't imagine ever being at odds with Gordon, they had their ups and downs but they always managed to sort through it and come out the other side stronger than ever before. There would always be a pang of anxiety whenever he left for days or weeks at a time, but it was just another thing for them to work through together and try to meet each other halfway on the subject if and when it arose. Holding back and keeping feelings pent up was disagreed upon, they had to be upfront and honest or it was just going to rip them to pieces in the end and neither of them wanted that to happen.
Alaina carefully cuddled up to Gordon, he shifted slightly and made an unintelligible utterance but did not wake up and Alaina dozed off again until she felt him stir about an hour later. She loved to watch him as his eyes slowly opened and Gordon was always keen to have her smiling face be the first thing he saw each and every morning. Before breakfast woke him up properly, Gordon had this sleepy tone of voice that Alaina found absolutely irresistible, so morning conversations, however brief, were always a must for her.
"I had sex on the beach with Gordon Ramsay," she teased him playfully, enjoying his sudden blush and faint grin at her. But honestly, how many people could boast about that?
"Big deal," Gordon pulled her tighter against his body, "that's where I fucked his wife." Alaina's jaw dropped and she laughed, hitting him gently and he grinned at her again, mischief dancing in his eyes.
"You're such an ass," Alaina kissed his lips, smiling back at him lovingly.
*
Alaina and Alicia took the twins for a drive just after lunch, as neither of them wanted to skip Gordon's cooking if they could help it. Gordon had stayed behind because he had quite a few phone calls to return since his accident in the fire, he had put it off for too long and he figured it was high time he just got stuck into it and got it over with. As he set down the phone and was about to punch in another number, his door bell sounded. With a light furrow of his brow, Gordon stood up and shoved his phone into his pocket. He opened the door and stepped back, looking very surprised.
"Areena?" Gordon could not believe it, "what are you doing here?"
"I didn't know where else to turn, Chef.. " Areena looked upset, "my father's been arrested.. could I come in?"
Gordon stepped aside, never one to turn away a woman in tears and he followed her in to the living room where she sat down across from him.
"What's happening?" Gordon enquired.
"Everyone saw my father deliberately start the fire you were caught in," Areena kept her gaze lowered shamefully, "the janitor's key was found in his pocket.. " Gordon sat back at the admission, Django had been purposefully trying to kill him and he would have been lying if he said it didn't shake him quite badly.
"If the police haven't seen you yet, I'll give you a head's up," Areena sniffled and Gordon handed her a tissue box, "thanks."
"So what are you doing here?" Gordon wondered.
"Nobody wants to run the restaurant," Areena told him, "it's been in trouble ever since Maze opened up and well.. it's been dumped into my lap.. since I'm the only one who knows anything about cooking."
"It's your restaurant now?" Gordon asked her.
"Yes," Areena confirmed, nodding, "and I don't want it, either. It's an eyesore and nobody really goes there anymore except friends and family." Gordon breathed out in disbelief, he'd had no idea it was in so much trouble, no wonder Django was furious with him.
"Wait, so what are you going to do with it then?" Gordon asked her.
"I guess I'll sell it," Areena responded with a shrug. Gordon stared hard at her.
"You could run your own restaurant," Gordon stated the obvious, "you could be incredible.. a big success.. " She lifted her gaze at last to meet with his.
"That means so much to me, coming from you but I don't want to compete with you," she said softly, "I want to go to France and work for you."
"You're selling yourself short, darling," Gordon looked confused and Areena sighed heavily, she hated to disappoint him but how could she make him understand?
"What about France?" Areena asked him, as he'd made it clear to her that someone was needed there urgently.
"Oh fuck France!" Gordon looked slightly angry at her, "I'll do it myself if I have to.. Areena, you have an amazing opportunity here and I am shocked that you're just ready to throw it all away before you even try it out!" Areena could see his point of view, but she shook her head and Gordon noticed the defeat in her eyes.
"Wow, what a shame," he said bluntly. Areena couldn't look at him anymore, the sheer disappointment emanating from him seemed to suck the life right out of her.
"Would you buy it from me?" Areena asked him quietly, "since I'm going to be leaving the country soon, I'm after a quick sale. It would really help me find a nice apartment and settle in." Gordon was torn because he wanted to see her standing on her own two feet, but her restaurant was in a prime location for him to open a Maze Grill.
"If that's what you want," Gordon reluctantly accepted the offer, "I'll give you a fair price."
Areena kept her gaze lowered and nodded, relief swelling in her chest that he hadn't continued to argue about it. She was crazy for him and being so close to him was so hard for her, she needed to go to France and try to forget her feelings for him. It hurt her deeply though because she honestly believed that if he wasn't already married, there was a definite future here for them both. He liked her, she saw it in his body language and in the way he looked at her. There was something strongly there between them, it wasn't just her crushing on him with nothing coming from him in return.
"I'll have the paperwork sent to you," Areena said, standing up, "I should go before Alaina comes back." Gordon cleared his throat and rose to his feet as well.
"Yes you should," he agreed, showing her to the door, "at least think it over, yeah?" Areena nodded but he could already tell she didn't really mean it.
"Good luck," Gordon said to Areena.
"Don't say that like it's so final," Areena replied, "the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life is walk away from you, Gordon and that's really saying something because I come from a family who believe women have no place in a man's world. I've had to fight for every scrap of anything I've ever gained.. "
"..And you've given up," Gordon pushed her.
"No! I have not given up!" Areena's eyes flashed, "I have not even begun to show you what I can do!"
"Then why sell, uh?" Gordon folded his arms, his intense blue eyes stared at her firmly, "that looks like giving up to me."
"Because," Areena looked him in the eye, "there's more important things in life than being on top, rich and successful."
"Such as?" Gordon looked more puzzled now.
"I'm a very passionate woman, Gordon," Areena told him something he already knew, "I see what I want and I go for it a hundred percent."
"What do you want, Areena?" Gordon asked her.
"In a nutshell?" Areena responded boldly, "I want you, Gordon." There was a tense silence between them for a full minute, then Gordon looked away from her.
"If you weren't already married," Areena pressed her luck, "would there be any chance for us? I need to know.. "
Gordon didn't understand why she had to know the answer to such an impossible scenario, but he would be open, honest and blunt with her just as he was with anyone else.
"Honestly?" he said quietly, pausing. Areena swallowed dryly, her palms began to sweat and she dared to look into his eyes once more.
"I have disturbingly strong feelings for you that really shouldn't be there," Gordon admitted, "I'm ashamed to tell you this, do you know that?" Areena nodded, her suspicions confirmed and her heart feeling more at ease now to finally hear it from him that she wasn't just imagining things.
"Thank you for being truthful with me," Areena managed a tiny smile at him, "I'm gonna go now. If you're ever in France, look me up?" Gordon furrowed his brow.
"Why?" he asked her.
"I'd like to stay in touch," Areena shrugged, "so.. you know, don't be a stranger, okay?" Gordon nodded and Areena wanted to touch him, or kiss his cheek, but she refrained.
"If it ever goes sour with Alaina," she said boldly, "I'll always be there for you."
Gordon lifted his brows in surprise at her gall, silently watching her walk back to her car and drive away. He went back inside and closed the door, leaning against it and letting out a long, loud breath of air. He took out his phone and walked into the upstairs bedroom, closing the door and waiting for David to pick up.
Gordon was struggling with the temptation and he needed to talk to someone he could trust, the last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt Alaina or end up like his father and David was someone Gordon had looked up to more and more in recent years. He might not always be serious, but his pearls of wisdom often astounded people and Gordon knew a good mind when he saw one.
*
"The best thing you can do, is put her out of your mind," David told Gordon, "you're still pretty much new to being married, you haven't quite settled down yet so it's very easy to be tempted by someone like that." Gordon listened carefully, he made a lot of sense and he appreciated David's discretion on the matter.
"As long as you're here and she's in France, I think you'll be okay," David added as an afterthought, "but if you do end up going to France later on, I would advise you not to look her up unless it's absolutely necessary and that's only in the business sense. If you have to deal with her, it's best to stay in an open, public place with plenty of people about."
"Thanks David," Gordon felt much better now, "time for a nice cold shower I think."
"You could always come over to my place," David told him jokingly. Gordon laughed.
"Not until your wife comes home, big boy," Gordon replied.
"Was worth a try," David teased him, "g'night.. "
"Night.. " Gordon ended the call and looked around the quiet house, it was nice here in New York but he felt homesick for Los Angeles and at least there, he wouldn't be bothered by Areena anymore.
He put his phone back into his pocket and grabbed his car keys, heading out to do a bit of shopping and maybe if he had time, drop in for a quick massage to ease the tension in his body. It had been so long since he'd had one, he could feel the knots in his muscles and the stiffness that came with them. Usually his morning workout and a quick swim in the pool sorted them out but he hadn't been doing that due to his busy routine and then the incident with Django's attempt to kill him. He needed to get back on track, a nice, deep tissue massage should do the trick and then he could take it from there with a light workout tomorrow morning and a dip in the pool soon after.
With a plan set in his mind, Gordon got into his car and headed out, he felt in control and that made him relax much easier. He was looking forward to dinner tonight, but first he had to pick up a few things. To keep them fresh, he'd grab the food on his way home so that he could get it back as quickly as possible and maximize on his time. He favored a particular massage parlor along the strip he was driving on just now and he pulled in around the back, entering the quiet, little building and hoping they were not fully booked out, as they so often were.
"Oh my gosh, Gordon!" a familiar voice greeted him as he approached.
"Hello Kimberly," Gordon smiled at her. They hugged and he kissed both her cheeks, a custom he'd never quite been able to shake off since he had lived in France but nobody ever complained about it.
"It's been so long!" Kimberly looked him over, "how are you? Look at you! You look great!"
"Thank you," Gordon blushed lightly, "I'm fine, have you got a place for me?"
"We've always got a place for you, Gordon," Kimberly winked at him, "come on through." Gordon followed her into a back room.
"You know what to do," Kimberly smiled at him, "I'm afraid everyone's busy right now, so you'll be stuck with me today."
"That's not a problem," Gordon assured her.
She left him to it and shut the door, Gordon took off his clothes and placed them neatly where they were supposed to go. He lay down on the massage table and placed the towel over his rear, then Kimberly returned and oiled up her hands, starting the massage from his shoulders.
"Wow," Kimberly remarked, "there's a lot of tension up here."
"Mmm.. " Gordon agreed, closing his eyes and trying to relax.
"Oh hey, congrats on getting married!" Kimberly gushed, "your wife is so pretty! And oh my gosh your twins are like, soooo sweet!"
She went on and on, Gordon tried his best to listen but he eventually fell asleep and Kimberly wasn't about to wake him, even after she was done. It was not unusual for her more overworked clients to fall asleep and with Gordon, it happened every single time. Kimberly walked along the hallway, placing a finger to her lips as Jenny passed her by.
"Room four is asleep," Kimberly warned her. Jenny stopped and glanced at the closed door.
"Is it a regular?" she asked, "there's people waiting and all the rooms are taken.. "
"It's Chef Ramsay," Kimberly replied.
"Star treatment then," Jenny nodded, "understood."
She continued on her way quietly and Kimberly went to make sure the customers waiting for a room were kept comfortable and happy. They all loved Gordon being here because he'd mentioned them favorably on one of his shows and ever since then, they'd been packed full every single day.
A short time later, the dozing Chef woke up and slowly sat up to put his clothes back on and then he wandered out to reception.
"Hey, how do you feel?" Kimberly asked him cheerfully.
"Ohh, so much better thank you, darling," Gordon replied with a grin, "incredible massage, as always."
Kimberly beamed at him, it was high praise indeed from someone with such elevated standards. He got held up by some of the people who were left still waiting, posing with them for photos before he finally left for the shops.
*
By the time he got home, as he was recognized repeatedly in the shops and on the street, it was early evening and Alaina was already back.
"Damn," he grumbled, pulling up in the driveway, as he'd hoped to have dinner at least partially cooked before she got home. He took the shopping bag inside and went straight into the kitchen to prepare, calling for Alaina as he did so.
"I'm upstairs, honey!" came her reply and he was pleased to hear a note of happiness in her tone.
Gordon got started on dinner, he felt so much more relaxed now, it really was amazing what one simple massage could do. Alaina wandered in some time later, hugging him around his waist from behind and resting her head on his back.
"Something smells wonderful!" she exclaimed.
"You sound surprised," Gordon told her, trying to continue cooking whilst unable to move his feet.
"I'm just curious," Alaina giggled at him, "I've never smelled this before, what is it?" She kept forgetting he was very defensive about his cooking, not only at work but at home as well.
"It's a Spaghetti with seafood velouté," Gordon replied distractedly.
"Sounds delicious, babe," Alaina smiled, then she let go of him and left him to it, going in to the living room to check on the twins and keeping herself out of his way.
Gordon didn't mind her being close to him or hugging him while he cooked, but his mind just was so focused on the meal and Alaina would just have to wait until later for his undivided attention. The dinner conversation was mostly about Alaina's day and Gordon explaining what the meal was as she tried it for the first time, she could see he was anxious and when she told him she loved it, he was definitely relieved and excited by her reaction.
*
A few months after they celebrated their twins' first birthday, Alaina and Gordon were back in Los Angeles. Gordon had bought Django's restaurant and it was now a Maze Grill, it was doing very well and he was very pleased with the venture. Areena had taken over as Executive Chef in France, quickly gaining the place a startling three Michelin Stars. At 18 months of age, the twins were now walking and Alaina often took them to the playground with some of her friends who were also mothers. It was nice to have a day out, especially when Gordon wasn't spending a lot of time at home. Work often kept him busy and he took her and the babies with him as often as possible but lately Alaina had been refusing to go, insisting that it wasn't good for the twins to have such instability this early on in their lives.
Constantly going from place to place, not always in the same country, seemed like a lot of fuss and hassle. She was happy to wait for Gordon to return home whenever he was done cooking, filming or whatever else it was that happened to be on his agenda at any given time. It bothered him at first, but as time went on he got used to it and he knew that he'd be back sooner or later and everything would be back to normal again. Alaina loved her life and right at the moment, when Gordon was clearly the happiest she'd seen him for a little while, everything just seemed so perfect.
"Hi Alaina!" called Olga, one of Gordon's friend's wives, who was sitting in their usual place at the playground with a few of her other friends.
"Hey everyone," Alaina smiled, approaching the benches with her twin stroller, "it's just me today."
"Where's Gordon?" Olga asked her, helping her get the twins out.
"In Versailles giving his Chefs a pep talk," Alaina replied.
"Ohh yeah!" Olga's eyes lit up, "I heard he got three Michelin Stars! Oh wow, he must be thrilled!"
"He is," Alaina grinned, "oh he was over the moon! Now he wants to make sure he never loses them."
"Very wise," Olga agreed, "how exciting for him! And you!"
"Oh, absolutely," Alaina said happily, "I'm so proud."
*
Despite her problems at Maze in New York, Areena was having no such problems in France. She worked under the guidance of the current Executive Chef and when he believed she was ready, he finally retired and she took over. Areena was full of confidence, her energy and enthusiasm inspired the other members of staff and just as quickly as she'd arrived, 'Gordon Ramsay au Trianon' had suddenly become a three Michelin Star restaurant!
To further boost her ego and everyone's high spirits, Gordon was talking to them at the end of dinner service and he was more than just thrilled with their achievement, he was ecstatic! But, he was not keen to lose those stars and he was making that perfectly clear, he would find out somehow who was responsible and they would never work in a kitchen ever again.
"You can count on me to keep things in order, Chef," Areena spoke to him firmly, meeting his eyes with her own, "as long as I'm working here for you, those stars aren't going anywhere."
"Good girl," Gordon nodded approvingly at her, "now all of you, go home and get some rest. We're closing for the weekend for repairs, I've already dealt with the bookings ahead of time.. Goodnight."
They all said goodnight to him and thanked him for the (paid) time off, wandering out of the restaurant happy and excited and further inspired by Chef's visit. Areena stayed behind to lock up and ensure everything was switched off, just like she used to in New York at Maze, preparing herself for the position long before it was offered to her. She wiped down the pass and looked over her shoulder at Gordon, who was inspecting some of the appliances that showed signs of disrepair.
"I think I deserve a bonus," Areena commented.
"Yes," Gordon agreed, "you all do. How are you settling in?"
"I've got a great momentum going here," Areena answered him, "my apartment is great, everyone listens to me when I speak, the customers are always giving us rave reviews, it's a dream come true!" Gordon laughed, closing the oven he was just looking into.
"Have you met someone yet?" he ventured, walking a little closer to where she was cleaning up some crumbs.
"Nope," Areena said dismissively, "but then, I'm not really looking, to be honest."
"Oh," Gordon looked at her curiously, "why's that?"
Areena found it cute how naive he could be sometimes, it had to be that because she was too egotistical to believe he'd forgotten how she had kissed him in New York. She could just about feel the heightened mood Gordon was in, he was so pleased with her and those three stars, perhaps he wouldn't object to her making another pass at him?
"You know how it is, Chef," Areena replied with a sly smile, "I'm just too busy right now.. "
"Huh, fair enough I suppose," Gordon rubbed his chin, "are you going straight home?"
"Actually," Areena set down her cloth, "I was thinking we could celebrate.. wanna buy me a drink?"
Gordon relaxed his shoulders, he wasn't looking forward to spending the evening alone when he was so excited about the Michelin Stars. Before he'd came to Versailles, he had already been away from home for more than a week. Everytime he went to a place where he had a restaurant, Gordon was always invited to conferences and meetings that he was always keen to attend and have his input considered.
"Why not?" he agreed, glad to see that she had matured and grown as a person and wasn't throwing herself at him so blatantly as she had before.
"Great!" Areena beamed at him, "let me go home and freshen up, first. Want to follow me and see my place? It's really neat." Gordon looked at his watch.
"Alright," he nodded shortly, "but just briefly, yeah? I've got an early start tomorrow."
"Oh dear," Areena breezed by him and was thrilled when he followed after her, "all work and no play, Chef, it just isn't good for you.. "
*
Areena watched in her car mirrors as she drove along, making sure Gordon's car remained directly behind hers so he wouldn't get lost. A shiver of excitement coursed through her body, the timing couldn't be more perfect and she had woven her web around him, all she had to do now was lure him into it.
Gordon swore as his phone beeped, indicating the battery had died, he kept his eyes on the car in front of him and decided he would charge it later when he got back to the hotel. That got him thinking about possibly looking for a house to buy somewhere in the city, then Alaina and the twins could come along more often. His smile faded as he remembered her reluctance to go with him anywhere anymore, her reasons were sensible but it still got him down when he was alone and away from her for so long.
He was feeling particularly lonely tonight, he was away from home for a full ten days now and he was missing his family like nothing else. He pined hard for Alaina's soft body, her sweet lips, the sound of her voice and her smile that lit up any room she entered. He pulled up in the long driveway, behind Areena's car and got out, looking around at the apartment building as he followed her inside.
"This is it," Alaina told him, gesturing around and closing the door behind him.
"Wow," Gordon was impressed, "lovely, is it expensive?"
"A little, yes," Areena replied, leading him purposefully into the kitchen, "but I'm an Executive Chef in a Gordon Ramsay restaurant with three Michelin Stars, so I can totally afford it."
"Living it up, uh?" Gordon asked her, admiring the very modern kitchen and touching everything curiously.
"You bet," Areena stood back and refrained from getting too close to him.
"As well you should," Gordon looked around some more, his gaze politely flicking to hers while either of them were talking, "you've had a very hard time of it growing up. You deserve it." Areena felt humbled that he hadn't forgotten her reasons for becoming a Chef, it warmed her heart and she smiled at him.
"I fought tooth and nail," Areena replied softly, "I never once gave up on my dream." Gordon nodded in agreement and Areena wandered away, she needed to freshen up.
"Make yourself at home," she told him, "I'll just be a minute."
Gordon looked in the fridge, everything was fresh and there were no take-out containers inside. He closed it and heard the shower running, so he got himself a glass of ice water while he waited. Some minutes later, he turned around and Areena stood just inside the door but she was wearing an almost transparent nightdress that clung very snugly to her body.
"Areena.. " Gordon tried to ignore it and glanced quickly at his watch, "I thought we were heading out?"
"Have you eaten?" Areena asked him knowingly. Chances were pretty good that he hadn't, he'd already admitted earlier he was completely run off his feet today.
"Well.. I.. No," Gordon responded as predicted, "but I kind of had my eye on this little bistro not far from here."
"So let me cook for you," Areena told him, "I really want to show you how far I've come, oh please let me cook something.. just this once?"
"In that?!" Gordon asked of her clothing. Areena shrugged.
"It's comfortable," she reasoned. Gordon was looking forward to winding down at the bar, but he figured that perhaps alcohol mixed with Areena's company wouldn't exactly do him any favors and so he agreed.
"Alright," he said with a nervous smile, "let's see what you can do." Areena's heart raced excitedly.
"I'll go and sit in the living room," Gordon offered to leave her to it.
"No, no!" Areena snagged his arm gently, "I want you to watch, I'd really appreciate any tips you might have for me to do better."
"Fair enough," Gordon stood off to the side to watch her, feeling suddenly like something was amiss here.
"I'll talk you through it," Areena said to him with a happy smile, "so you know exactly what I'm doing.. feel free to correct me at any time alright?"
"I don't think that will be necessary," Gordon replied absently.
Areena took the compliment to heart and started to prepare the meal, hoping she didn't slip up because she was only after one thing tonight and it wasn't Gordon's opinion on her cooking; she already knew he was going to love that. She told him in detail exactly what she was doing the entire time, as he looked on and observed her silently. She noticed him shift every so often, with a bit of luck it was because she was succeeding at arousing him. She was almost done when she felt something touch her arm, she looked up and he was adjusting her thin shoulder strap, which had slipped down while she was cooking.
"Thanks," she smiled at him, looking deeply into his eyes.
"You cook beautifully, Areena," Gordon complimented her, "the preparation was clean, you've cut the meat flawlessly and it just smells so fucking delicious already.. " Areena blushed hard, her smile growing wider at his praise.
"I can't wait to taste it," Gordon told her excitedly, "I just want to dive right in there.. " Areena knew the feeling, but seducing Gordon was a lot like cooking the perfect dish; timing was extremely important.
"Patience!" Areena laughed gently at his eagerness, "it'll be ready in five minutes."
"It should take three," Gordon commented, his eyes challenging her but Areena didn't take the bait.
"Yes Chef," she purred, turning away from him to tend to the meal because if she stayed so close to him for a moment longer, she couldn't trust herself to abandon the plan and just pounce on him.
She was sure it was working, but she had to play it cool in case she was misreading his body language. She had to be sure before she made her move, or he was quite likely to just fly back to Los Angeles earlier than planned just to get away from her. Gordon was a lot more comfortable now than when he had first arrived, he enjoyed watching others cook, especially when they did it so damn well. Areena got the subtle impression that he was starting to get a little flustered, not to mention confused as to what to do about it. She wanted so badly to offer to take care of it for him, but taking a deep breath in and letting it out slowly, she was able to keep her cool.
"Can I help?" Gordon itched.
"No!" Areena giggled at him, "stay put." He half growled at her in frustration, so Areena took her time in plating the meals and garnishing them.
"You should be finished by now," Gordon remarked impatiently.
"All in good time," Areena teased him with her slow pace, "it's almost ready, just a few finishing touches and.. "
"..and it'll get cold!" Gordon rushed her.
"Hmm, too many Chefs in the kitchen," Areena said scoldingly, "go and sit at the dining room table."
Gordon looked like he was about to argue, but Areena pointed to the door and he sighed heavily, walking stiffly out of the kitchen. Areena knew she was pushing it a little, but hopefully it hadn't hurt her chances too much.
Gordon tried to sit still at the table but he thought that perhaps David was rubbing off on him because he was finding it very difficult. Finally, Areena served the plate to him and he looked down at it with approval.
"Wow," Gordon picked up his knife and fork, "I feel so spoilt."
"Nothing's too good for the man who signs my paycheck," Areena said amusedly, "lager?"
"Mm, not right now," Gordon replied, already starting on his meal, "I don't want to taint the flavor."
So after they were done eating and had cleared the table, Areena and Gordon sat in the living room and Areena filled him in on everything that had happened since she left New York.
"Can I get you another lager?" she offered, as Gordon set his fourth empty bottle down.
"Nah, I have to drive soon," Gordon looked once more to his watch, though it blurred slightly. Damn, was he over the limit already?
"You don't have to go," Areena said to him quietly, fixing her gaze intently to his.
"I really, really should leave," Gordon responded firmly.
Areena felt almost like she'd lost her chance, but quickly realized he hadn't moved. She slowly scooted closer to him on the sofa, grabbing his shirt to pull him down to her level, seeking his lips with her own. His body tensed up slightly and he pulled away from her, but she cupped his face with one hand and he became still, as if the gesture was somehow comforting and familiar. Areena looked at his expression to try and figure out how to proceed, he looked subtly interested and at the same time, a little afraid of her. That was interesting, she didn't honestly believe Gordon Ramsay was afraid of anyone.
But Gordon wasn't afraid of Areena, he was terrified of how he felt about her. His heart was thumping, her face blurred from time to time and he had to shut his eyes tightly for a moment to make them focus again. Areena picked up on this and she knew he wasn't going anywhere tonight, she let her hand stroke down his face and pulled it away from him.
"You can't drive like that," she told him softly, "why don't I show you to my spare bedroom, hm?"
"I'm fine, really," Gordon stood up and his head spun a little, he furrowed his brow curiously, "did.. did you put something in my food, Areena?" Areena nibbled at her bottom lip, she got up and took him gently by the wrist.
"You're really going to want to lay down soon," she told him, leading him slowly to the bedroom.
"Why?" Gordon asked her, having no choice but to follow along, "what have you done?"
Areena encouraged Gordon to lay down on the bed, smiling at him faintly.
"I've done nothing," she reassured him, "your mind is quite possibly working overtime, take off your shirt and I will help you to relax." Gordon sat up, a trusting look in his eyes that made Areena feel almost guilty about what she was going to do. Almost.
"You can massage?" Gordon asked her, taking off his jacket and shirt without hesitation. Areena opened her bedside table drawer and took something out of it.
"Of course not," she replied, "but this thing is supposed to work wonders."
"Magic Hands," Gordon recognized the device.
"You're familiar with this?" Areena looked surprised.
"Yes," Gordon turned away from her, "just the upper back please, darling.. "
Areena loved it when he called her that, it made her feel special and so much closer to him. As she began to use the Magic Hands on his back, Areena had to bite her fist to keep from whimpering at his favorable utterances and slight squirms of pleasure. After a minute or two, it became too much for her to take and she leaned up to begin kissing his neck, holding nothing back as she now let him know her full intentions. She feared he might reel back from her, but he didn't.
"Ohh.. yes.. " Gordon's quiet utterances continued, "fuckin' 'ell, uhh.. "
Areena finally let a whimper escape her throat and it seemed to catch his attention, because he turned towards her and hesitantly, very awkwardly, leaned in as if he was unsure about her signals. Areena put him out of his misery by meeting him halfway, soon tasting lamb and lager in her mouth as his tongue ventured eagerly into it.
Tossing the massager aside, Areena wriggled up into his lap, straddling him and kissing him heatedly. He could feel her slowly thrusting her hips, grinding them against him and he heard her soft moans of desire when his erection strained in his jeans in response. Areena couldn't help herself, with each grind she could feel his rock hard member rubbing against her quickly dampening folds. She broke the kiss and stared into his half closed eyes, the soft light of the candle on her bedside table making them look almost as if flames were dancing within them.
"I want your cock so badly," she whispered to him, pushing his hand up under her night dress.
His gaze dropped to her breasts, they were quite large and he was unable to find the will to not touch them. Areena could see he was getting so much more excited now, she pushed on his chest and to her relief, he lay right down onto the pillows. She lay on top of him, encouraging him to continue touching her breasts with his hands as she leaned down and coaxed him into making out with her once more. A throaty groan rumbled deep within his throat, arousing and exciting her.
She slowly, firmly thrust her hips and pressed herself into his erection, thrilling when he mirrored her actions and thumbed her nipples. She turned her head to let a loud moan escape her mouth, leaving her throat exposed and he claimed it instantly, love biting her passionately. Areena gasped and breathed heavily, feeling a little in over her head now and unsure of herself. She winced at his love biting, it felt so good but she was no longer in complete control of the situation. She was certain he was too far into it now for her to ask him to stop, there was no way he'd listen to her, but she was getting a nervous fluttering of butterflies in her stomach and she had to try.
"Gordon.. " she said quickly, then she moaned in pleasure as he licked and sucked at the bite less fiercely.
"Mmm?" he hummed in response.
"Please.. c-can we stop?" Areena ventured and just like that, he became still and completely stopped.
Areena moved off him and sat back as he sat up, regarding her heatedly but not making a move towards her. She expected him to be angry, waited for him to curse and shout at her but it never came.
"Are you alright?" he asked instead, concerned that he might have hurt her without realizing it.
"I'm fine," Areena nodded, "I just.. I got a little scared."
"What of?" Gordon wondered.
"I'm not sure," Areena admitted, "can we just cuddle?"
"I'm not really into it," Gordon looked at her reluctantly, "but if that's what you want to do.. "
So she cuddled up with him as he reclined into the pillows, her hand soon wandering down over his chest and she started to draw circles on it with her finger.
"Areena," Gordon spoke quietly, "are you a fucking virgin?"
Areena pursed her lips nervously, giving him the very slightest of nods in unwarranted shame and embarrassment.
Gordon lifted her chin with his fingers gently, she looked up into his eyes and felt the sting of unfallen tears within hers. All her life she was repeatedly told that she was to save herself for marriage, because if she didn't, no decent husband would want her. So far, she had managed to keep her legs closed and simply focused upon her chosen career instead. Meeting Gordon had weakened her resolve and she found the desire to have him far too great, she'd finally managed to get him here but her inexperience failed to tell her what she was supposed to do with him.
His kiss to her mouth was softer than before, his entire attitude changed and she found herself relaxing into his embrace. She got the feeling they were back on again, only this time, he was in control and she was comfortable now to let him take it from her after unburdening herself of her confession. Gordon was going to have to be careful, he did not want to hurt her and it was difficult to think straight after drinking a couple too many bottles of lager. He pushed her down onto her back and continued to kiss her, trailing one hand down between her legs to stroke her through her panties.
She gasped in his mouth, bucking her hips in response to his touch and moaning urgently. He broke the kiss and Areena slowly slipped off her night dress, exposing her breasts to him while he pulled off her underwear and tossed them aside. Her gaze lowered to his jeans as he unzipped them and took them off, unable to look away from him when he took his briefs down. Her eyes grew wide in amazement at his size, feeling as though there was no way in hell that thing was going to fit inside of her! Gordon knew it wasn't going to be easy, especially if she wasn't slick or excited enough.
Only one way to help it along, he smiled at her and she felt a pang of guilt strike in her guts because he was intoxicated and she shouldn't be encouraging him. The thought left her mind the moment his tongue swept over her folds, his head between her legs and his hands grasping her thighs to push them apart. Areena's head was thrown back into the pillows, she gasped loudly over and over, a long, high pitched moan involuntarily leaving her parted lips as his tongue slowly yet firmly turned her into a quivering mess.
She grabbed a handful of his hair, thrilling at his soft grunt when she gripped it roughly and held him in place. Her hips bucked and she began to thrust rhythmically, a strange sensation of something impending beginning to build up within her. Her cries grew more urgent and unrestrained, her body began to jolt and shake, her voice trembled and she called his name as the sudden shock of release claimed her at last. It felt like waves were crashing through her, she shut her eyes tightly and cried out again as he continued to suck and lick at her sensitive nub.
He slowed and stopped, she was very slick now and he felt confident that she could take him at least part of the way in. He pushed her knees up to her chest and positioned himself over her, his eyes meeting with hers as she opened them. Areena gazed up at him sedately, lost in the blue flames that were his lust filled eyes. They were somewhat questioning and he had hesitated, she could feel the head of his cock nudged right at her entrance and poised ready to push in. With a clear nod of her head, Areena gave him her full consent.
****
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