Setting The Mood (4/4)

(A/N - Hello fellow sect members. Daoist MTL Chat - GPT here. I am pleased to see you have come together and donated Power Stones to support our sects growth. As promise, here is your bonus Romance Manual. Much love. <3)< p>

**********

Holding a twinkle in his eye, Gabriel looked down at Rosalie's head resting on his chest. It was hard for her to ignore the pull she felt once she found her mate, but she had been trying her best not to come across as desperate.

"I honestly thought you'd take me out to some cheesy movie and dinner," Rosalie said, her breath tickling Gabriel's neck as she spoke.

"I said I was new to dating, not stupid."

Scoffing at his smugness, Rosalie lightly slapped his stomach.

"So, Rose," Gabriel began, "I heard a little rumor in school that you were called 'Ice Queen,' but from what I've seen, you're nothing like that."

With a slight movement of her head, she lifted her eyes to meet Gabriel's gaze. "They're just a bunch of judgmental idiots. Just because I don't enjoy spending time with them and I reject the guys that hit on me, I'm icy?" She scoffed at the thought.

"Hmm, yeah. You're right. Judging someone on something so superficial is stupid." Laying down, he pulled her body closer as she cuddled up to him even more. "I can't blame you for liking me, though. Have you seen my cheekbones?"

"Fuck off. I give you an inch, and you take it a mile." She laughed at the fake confidence he was displaying.

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes while the chilly night air brushed past their skin. The crashing of waves sounded out over the cliff side as Gabriel closed his eyes, basking in the moment.

"This isn't jealousy, but is there something going on between you and Bella Swan?" Her question came out of the blue and blindsided Gabriel completely.

Releasing his grip, he laughed out loud. "Pfffft! No fucking way. Have you spoken to her? She's like a doorknob. I'd go insane dating her. Though she is fun to tease." He clutched his stomach at the thought of dating her. She wasn't ugly or anything, but he just couldn't imagine dating someone who thought ten things at once when asked a simple question.

"I guess you're asking because your brother has a crush on her?" he asked, bringing his arms back to hold Rosalie.

"How did you know?" Her voice carried a tone of curiosity.

"C'mon, Rose. Dude stared at her so much you'd have to be blind to think otherwise."

Sighing in resignation, she merely nodded. "Yeah... we've talked to him about that, but it goes through one ear and out the other."

Giggling, she nestled even further into his embrace. Gabriel placed his hand on her head and drifted his fingers through her hair, caressing her soft golden locks.

Rosalie shifted in his embrace, her mind lost in her own thoughts. Sensing the change in her emotions, Gabriel thought about distracting her.

"So, I guess I should tell you a little about myself," he said, resigned to letting her know more about his past. Rosalie offered a small squeeze in agreement.

"Both my parents are pretty distant. I only see them around Christmas time or other national holidays. Dad's too invested in his career to the point he hasn't called me in months."

Recalling his thoughts from his current life and the previous, his body shuddered at the memories.

"My mom tries her best, I can tell. But I'm pretty sure she was never ready to raise a kid. I was probably an annoying little shit back then, but they never saw that." Briefly, he laughed to himself in resignation.

"But hey, that's the point of money, I guess? No need to look after your kid if you can hire nannies."

He knew his problems weren't the worst, especially due to living a life of comfort, but the lack of parental love in both lives weighed heavily on his heart. Especially in moments where even adoptive vampires cared more for their children.

Sensing Gabriel's emotions, Rose raised her head slightly, planting a soft and subtle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for telling me. I know it's difficult talking about your past."

Sighing, she knew she couldn't keep some of the darkness of her past hidden. Sitting up, she pulled Gabriel along with her.

"As you know, I'm adopted." Her eyes looked out to the ocean as she thought of her next words. "I remember my biological father. He was kind and caring, but deep inside, he hid something I didn't know about. He always focused on his career, even if it meant using his own family to climb up the ladder."

Gabriel braced himself as his arms snaked around her waist, holding her body closely.

"Something happened that I don't really want to talk about. It was a dark time for me, something I wish to forget every day of my life. But it led to Carlisle meeting me and adopting me from my negligent father."

As she was lost in her thoughts, Gabriel held her shaking body. He knew if she could cry, she would have broken down right there. The only thing he could do was hold her body and rest his chin on her shoulder, hoping she would eventually calm down.

Both sat in silence, washed in their own emotions. The calm of holding one another relieved them of the accumulated stress they had brought upon themselves upon opening up their wounds.

"So, I guess we're both pretty fucked up, huh?" Gabriel chuckled.

Rosalie scoffed at his statement. "Excuse me, I'm perfectly fine. Don't lump me in with you."

Twirling her head around, she met his eyes. Both of them stared at one another, the silence palpable between them. Gabriel gazed into her eyes, then shifted his focus to her lips, and back to her eyes. Rosalie did the same, their breaths mingling in the cool night air.

Gradually, they inched closer, their faces mere millimeters apart. The anticipation was electric. Gabriel closed the distance, his lips meeting hers in a tender, lingering kiss. Rosalie responded in kind, tilting her head as their mouths melded together, the kiss deepening into a soft and intimate embrace.

Engulfed in the fresh sensation, their gentle kiss turned into something more. Gabriel moved his hand to the back of Rosalie's head, pulling her in deeper as their lips clashed. Their faces turned, lips locked passionately.

Rosalie pushed her tongue out, meeting Gabriel's open mouth. Their tongues met, exploring each other. The mixture of cold and warmth added a different sensation. Gabriel wrestled his tongue into her mouth, exploring its depths as Rosalie softly moaned into his mouth.

Moments later, they both pulled back, their bodies buzzing with excitement and arousal.

Rosalie licked her lips before leaning back in Gabriel's arms. "That wasn't bad, but I think we need to keep practicing to perfect it."

A sheepish grin spread across Gabriel's face as he held her tight, both locked in comfort as they watched the moon in the sky.

They stayed in their position for what seemed to be hours, both embracing one another as they chatted about anything and everything. Rosalie seemingly much happier as she had finally taken a step to further their relationship. Gabriel was just content with the feeling of the beautiful girl in his arms, the intimacy they held only for one another.

'It's not a bad feeling. Taking things slow, it's nice.' He had half expected her to reveal she was a vampire tonight, but maybe she had chickened out once they began speaking about their pasts.

'If I say something now, it may throw a wrench into the plan she has.'

"Maybe we should head back. I don't think your dad would be happy that you're out till 2AM when you have school tomorrow." Rosalie, forgetting that she had to act more like a human with a normal family, nodded before standing up.

Both packed up their belonging and hopped in the car. Both sat in silence as soft music played through the speakers. Rosalie holding Gabriel's hand as he held a small smile on his face.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at her home. Despite the light being turned off, Gabriel could hear each of the Cullen's inside the house. They seemed to mutter about taking a peek at the two lovebirds.

Exiting the car, they walked hand in hand to the front door before Rosalie leaned in once more, placing a soft kiss on Gabriel's lips. They held one another for a few minutes before Rosalie turned and opened the door.

"Thank you for the beautiful date, Gabe. I'll see you in the morning."

Smiling, he waited for her to enter the house before leaving for his car.

'Wait, the morning? She wants me to pick her up. Fuck yeah!'

Entering the car, Gabriel was about to turn on the ignition when he heard the Cullen family talking.

"Rose and Gabriel sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-..." A soft smack interrupted Emmett's singing. "Shut up, Emmett, or you're on the couch tonight," Jasmine said, berating him.

Laughing, Gabriel drove home.