‘I...have...never...’ he confessed brokenly, barely recognising his voice, ‘wanted any woman as much as I...want you now...’
His kiss drove her back against the pillows and he continued to kiss her even as his hand blindly sought her wetness, delving to feel it slippery against his fingers.
He broke off to don protection, which took a matter of seconds yet seemed to drag as long as a lifetime, and as the cool air settled on her Izzy felt a rush of nervous panic.
She flinched back just a fraction as he settled over her, his big, powerful body a vision of strength and muscle. He nudged her entrance and she held her breath, waiting for his entry, praying it wouldn’t hurt.
‘Be gentle,’ she gasped as he pushed deeper. She wanted so much to grit her teeth and find a way through her nerves and the pain she expected, and she was now realising that it had been naïve to assume that a man of his experience would be fooled.
She cried out as he plunged in deeply. The pain was sharp and her eyes were closed, squeezed tightly as he stilled, looking at her. She could sense the glint of his questioning eyes on her face and she refused to meet those questions head-on.
‘Izzy,’ he moaned huskily.
‘Please don’t stop,’ she whispered.
‘I must.’
‘No!’ Her eyes flew open and she looked at him fiercely. Both her hands reached to cover his taut buttocks, urging him on.
‘You should have told me.’
‘Please stop talking,’ Izzy all but begged. ‘I want this. I wantyou.’
She shifted, her body as supple as an eel’s, encouraging him to keep going, not to leave her like this, awash with frustration and disappointment.
It seemed vitally important that this beautiful, ruthless and utterly inappropriate man hold her hand and take her through the door that had been opened.
She pulled his head down, arched up and kissed him while he was still inside her and, when he groaned and began to move, she knew that he couldn’tnot.
The nerves had dissipated. The burst of pain she had felt had subsided to a dull, throbbing ache but that was eclipsed by something else as he skilfully moved in her,
How could he do that? How could he angle his bodyjust so? How could he make her forget that this was her first time?
He filled her, taking it slow then moving faster, slow and easy one minute, ever deeper the next, until he had developed a tempo that began carrying her away.
He found the spot inside her with expert accuracy and as he pushed against it, over and over, a sensation of soaring began to rise inside her and she succumbed to it, loving the pleasure he was giving her and the pleasure she knew she was giving him.
Her orgasm was shattering, unexpected in its intensity and coming in waves. Izzy heard herself sob a wrenching response just as he arched back, stiffened and had one final plunge that took him over the edge.
He collapsed onto her, but only for a few seconds, then he shifted immediately to move onto his side. He propped himself up on one elbow, and she said without looking at him, ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘That’s not an option, I’m afraid.’
‘I’m sorry.’ Izzy could feel her eyes beginning to well up. Could there be a more crushing anti-climax to what had been the most wonderful experience of her entire life?
‘Jesus, Izzy. Look at me.’
She glared at him. ‘Why does it matter whether I was a virgin or not?’
‘Because if I’d known,’ Gabriel grated, ‘I wouldn’t have...made love to you.’
‘Why not? You didn’t force me into doing anything!’
‘That’s not the point,tesoro.’
‘Then what is?’
‘You don’t know me, Izzy. I’m...’ He sifted his fingers through his tousled hair and met her eyes steadily, seriously. ‘I’m not capable of committing to any kind of relationship with you. You’ve been hurt by some bastard in all sorts of ways and you’re inexperienced... You’re probably searching for a replacement, someone to fill whatever void has been left inside you by some loser you’re better off without.’
