WELL, SHE COULDN’Tobject to that. Not when his thick, hard member stretched her with its delicious slide. She relished every inch of his possession as he buried himself to the hilt inside her. Her flesh contracted around the magnificent fullness, and she had the satisfaction of hearing him gasp.
“Wicked.” But there was reluctant amusement in his gaze.
He leaned forward, the change in angle causing delicious ripples of desire in the place where they joined. Supporting himself on his elbows, he covered her with his torso. Her nipples grazed his chest as he rocked into her. She whimpered at the pleasure of being skin to skin. Her hands skated down his flanks, feeling the strong, wide muscles, and came to rest on his rock-hard buttocks. Their rocking motion as he thrust into her with a measured rhythm heightened her pleasure.
She kneaded his buttocks, wanting more of him. He was filling her to the brim both physically and emotionally. Her flesh stretched to the limit, and still she wanted more. He brought their mouths together, fusing their lips in a deep, soulful kiss. His tongue invaded her mouth, mimicking the possession going on down below.
She went a little insane with want. The noises she made would alarm her if she had been capable of rational thought. Her arms and legs clamped around him, wanting to hold him closer than physical bodies were capable of. He growled, reclaiming her mouth. Deeper, faster. His arms twined around her, holding her while below, his body pounded into hers.
The friction of their bodies was too much to bear. Pleasure was a hot lava that kept rising, bubbling to the surface. One of his hands snaked lower, wedging beneath her arse, changing her position.
The new angle allowed him to hit some point of exquisite pleasure inside her. She screamed, the noise muffled between their mouths as another cataclysm overtook her. She was flying. Weightless. Vulnerable. She would feel afraid, except for his arms, that were holding her secure. Protected by his strength.
In the middle of her crisis, she heard his own hoarse cry of pleasure as he emptied inside herself with a mighty shudder.
After that, they lay entwined in each other’s arms, stunned, unmoving, for a long time, their bodies and hearts still joined. She savored the closeness, knowing that her heart would always remain connected to his, even after their bodies separated.
CHAPTER 28
GABRIEL WOKE UP WITHa start. How long had he slept? He had not meant to fall asleep at all. Every moment with her was precious, and he didn’t want to waste them on sleep. But the bone deep contentment of the releases they had shared had pulled them under.
Careful of not waking the sleeping beauty in his arms, he got up from the bed and walked to the clock on the mantelpiece. Ten minutes past three in the morning. He had only slept for about two hours then. It would be at least another hour until he needed to take her home.
Home. The word caused a pang of sadness. He wished this was her home, here with him. That he didn’t have to sneak her back into her own house under cover of darkness. Like thieves. Fruitless wishes. Things were the way they were, and nothing would change that.
He added more wood to the fire before he walked naked to the adjacent bathing chamber. With hot and cold plumbed water, it had been an extravagant luxury the old earl had indulged in. One of many that had helped ruin the estate. He couldn’t complain about this particular folly, however, for he enjoyed the benefits. And today he would share them with her.
He maneuvered the taps, testing the temperature of the water, until he was satisfied with the results, and left the bath to fill up as he went back to the bedchamber to wake Hannah. She was sleeping on her side, her fist tucked in beneath her chin. She looked so peaceful that he was loath to disturb her, but time wasrunning short, and he wanted her to have time to bathe. Then he would help her dress and they would depart for her home.
His baser instinct wondered if perhaps there would be time to make love once more, but he quelled the impulse. Bending over her sleeping form, he deposited a soft kiss on her lips.
“Hannah,” he murmured. “It’s time to wake up, love.”
She cracked open her eyes, and the sweetness of her smile curled around his heart. She reached for him, and for a few crazy, magical moments, he allowed her to pull him into the warmth of her embrace. When she pulled at the edges of his robe, however, he knew it was time to stop. If they went down this path, they would never leave for her house on time.
Rising from the bed with her cradled in his arms, he turned and walked towards the bathing chamber.
“Hmm, where are you taking me?”
It pleased him that she was so relaxed, so trusting of him, that there was no apprehension in her query at being carried naked out of the room. Only curiosity.
“I’ve drawn a bath for you. The warm water will soothe any strained or overused muscles.”
Her laugh was still husky from sleep. “A bath sounds divine.”
He walked to the enormous tub, and he would have lowered her directly into the warm water, but she stayed him. “Wait. I need to pin my hair up so that it doesn’t get wet.”
He had not considered that. Frowning, he stood her on the soft rug next to the tub. “If I bring you the pins, can you do your own hair?”
“Of course. It won’t be anything like the coiffures my maid does, but I can manage a bun.”
Relieved, he went to collect the pins. He knew how to undo a lady’s hair, but damned if he had any idea how to put it back up.
Her movements as she dealt with her long strands were efficient and assured. He took great pleasure in watching herperform this simple domestic task. If they were married, he could watch her do that every night.
Now, where did that thought come from?
Soon, she had securely pinned the thick mass of hair at the top of her head, and he offered her his hand to help her step over the rim of the tub. She sank into the warm water with a sigh of pleasure.
