As soon as we jump down from our horses I hug the rest of the team. Andrés and Linden first, then Charley, who I pull into a long kiss as well, not caring who sees us.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
GABRIEL
“You should be very proud of this, brother,” Imogen says, standing next to me at the door to the ballroom as I watch people take their places at the tables arranged round the edge. The awards will be presented soon.
“Charley’s done a lot of the work,” I reply. I’m proud of how he’s run with this, how he took the mess I dumped into his lap and made it happen.
“Yes, but it was your vision in the first place. I know it wasn’t easy after Father died, but you never let go of it.”
“Some things are worth clinging on to,” I say as I see Charley across the room escorting my mother onto the raised platform at one end. Immy follows my line of sight.
“Yes, never let him go,” she chuckles.
“I don’t intend to, sis.” I smile at her and offer my arm to walk her to her table. I notice she has a half-full champagne glass in her hand and I frown at her.
“Relax, brother, it’s non-alcoholic. It tastes like sweetened petrol but at least I can pretend. Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything to jeopardise the future Lord or Lady Sinclair.”
“Good,” I say and she rolls her eyes.
“Between you and Olly I’ll be surprised if I’m allowed to do anything until the baby’s born. At least when we get to Spain I’ll only have one of you hovering over me,” she groans.
“I’ll be expecting regular updates. I rather think I’m going to like being an uncle.”
Immy takes her seat and looks up at me, her eyes narrowing.
“Urgh, you’re already planning their first pony, aren’t you?”
“Well, Twiglet is too old now,” I tease—well, it was meant as a tease but she’s got a point. Twiglet, who was the first pony both Immy and I learnt to ride on, is well into her thirties. She groans again, but I know she loves it really. I join Charley and my mother on the low stage ready to say a few words to welcome everyone and start the awards.
First of all, the team trophies are awarded. Trellworth Park are of course the winners, and worthy ones too. We managed to take second place, beating the Dockington Diamonds by two goals. Linden collects the trophy on our behalf. When the Diamonds come up to collect theirs, I look for Xander in case there’s a problem, but I don’t see him so maybe he hasn’t come tonight. I’m quite relieved about that. I don’t fancy having to step between him and Linden. Linden is a golden retriever most ofthe time, but he does have his limits, and I don’t want to see him reach them tonight.
The Langton team came last, but if there is any bad feeling when they collect their prize, it doesn’t show. They just look like they had a good time on the field and are enjoying themselves tonight as well, which is what it’s all about.
Alongside the team prizes there are a range of individual trophies. The most goals scored goes to a Trellworth player. Best pony goes to Andrés’s Chispa, which is no surprise. I think that horse knows more about the game than most players. Best turned-out horse goes to a Langton horse, and overall best turned-out team goes to the Diamonds. The award for best groom is given to Kit, Linden’s groom and Kirsty’s nephew. He looks shocked, standing open-mouthed like a fish until Kirsty gives him a little shove to get him to move forward and accept it.
“Th-thanks,” he stammers as my mother hands him the small trophy. I look over at Kirsty and can see how proud she is of him. Once the ceremony is over, we clear the way for the string quartet to set up and start playing, and people can dance if they wish.
“I’m claiming the first dance.” Charley doesn’t even give me time to respond before he whirls me onto the dance floor. After that, I dance with Immy, my mother, and then Charley again. The rest of the time I talk to as many people as I can. Some are old friends who I’ve seen at lots of polo events, but it’s nice to meet new people as well. I walk past Andrés who is deep in conversation with one of the Trellworth players and catch a snippet of it.
“Your English is a lot better than I was led to believe from Hugh down at Hamlington. Your playing too.”
“You should only believe what you see with your own eyes,” Andrés says and I move on, chuckling to myself that his ploy worked to a certain extent. It’s a shame we didn’t get to play against Trellworth, but I’m sure we will in the future. Around midnight people start leaving, and before long it’s just us and the staff. We tidy chairs and tables while they wash dishes and clean glasses, and the quartet pack their instruments away.
“I think we can say that was a success. People seemed to enjoy themselves.” I help Charley gather the tablecloths into a laundry bag ready to go for cleaning, then we stack the tables to one side of the room.
“It was. I had fun too.” He steps closer as he bundles up another tablecloth and says huskily, “You look really sexy in your tux. But you’ll look even sexier out of it.” I shiver at his words.
“Are you coming on to me while we’re cleaning up?”
“Gabby, I’ve been watching you in that suit all night, how it fits you perfectly, all tight across your arse, and I had to keep my hands to myself. I’d take you in the cleaning cupboard if I could, but I’d rather take my time.”
“You want to fuck me?” My cock twitches at the thought. We haven’t done much except using our mouths and hands since I fucked him last week. But ever since he slipped a finger into me in the shower I’ve wanted to explore that more.
“Senseless.” His voice is dark and my cock thickens. He runs his hands down my chest and gives a little tug on the waistband of my trousers. Then he goes further and hums as he feels how hard I am for him.
“We’d better finish the cleaning up quickly, then.” The words come out a little breathless. He takes my hand and places it on his dick; he’s as hard as I am.
