“You wretched, wretched man!” she accused, launching herself at him.
He caught her, enveloping her in a powerful embrace. Laughter rumbled through his chest as his arms tightened around her, as if he would never let her go.
“I’m sorry for causing you worry, my darling,” he said, as he planted a kiss on her temple. “I boarded the train before you arrived at the station. But I have been hiding in the hallway. I didn’t want to risk being seen by anyone on the platform.”
“You could have announced your presence to me! I almost perished from worrying.”
“Judging by the way you reacted just now, I don’t think that would have been wise. You would have given it away,” he teased her with a mocking smile.
“I wouldn’t have!” she protested, just because she should challenge his assertion, but there was no heat in her words. Finding him on board had been such a relief that there was no space for irritation in her heart.
The compartment had two benches, facing each other, but he sat and tugged her onto his lap. His eyes captured hers, igniting a fire low in her belly with their intensity. He uttereda curse under his breath that sounded something like ‘damned, I’ve missed you, then there were no more words as his mouth descended on hers, claiming her with exquisite thoroughness.
His lips were hot, dry. Sometimes soft, sucking, sliding, molding to hers. Sometimes hard, claiming, biting, commanding surrender. His tongue traced the corner of her lips, teasing, inflaming, inviting. She answered his invitation. Opening her mouth to take him in. His flavor, his essence. Their tongues mated in a sensual dance, and she was lost.
Sensations cascaded one into the next. Coursing through her like pulses of heat that bathed each corner of her body. She couldn’t get enough of him. Outside, the scenery flashed by as the train sped through pastures and low hills. Charging towards their destination. The speed matched her racing heart. She was hurtling towards something as well.
“Straddle me,” he said in a hushed tone, already maneuvering her skirts into position.
Her eyes widened even as a thrill ran down her spine. “Here?” she whispered.
His eyes held hers full of lambent desire and wicked promise. “Here. Now.”
God, she wanted it. Wanted him, but even as she complied and readjusted herself on his lap, some sense prevailed. “The door—”
“It’s locked.”
“The windows...”
“We are speeding across empty fields and are not due to arrive at the next station for hours.”
“But what if the attendant...oh.” Her protest died on her lips as his sneaky hand found its way through the layers of petticoats and drawers to caress her sensitive flesh, left open and exposed by her position.
“Damn, you are so ready, so eager. You missed me too, didn’t you?”
“You know I did.”
“I do. Your flesh holds nothing back. It tells me. It calls to me.”
His wicked fingers played with her bud, sliding, rolling, circling... driving her mad.
“Gabriel!” she groaned.
How did he know exactly how to touch her? Where to exert pressure, when to double down, and when to retreat? Her body no longer felt like hers, but his to command. And he played her like a virtuoso played a violin.
“Yes, Hannah. Say my name. Look at me.”
Her eyes had fallen closed, focusing on the pleasure he elicited, but she opened them, unable to refuse his command. His azure gaze captured her, held her in thrall as his fingers entered her, strumming a place inside that made her see stars and emit a choked cry.
“Shh. Such a noisy wench you are. They will hear you...”
“I-I can’t help it.” It was true, damn him. Her hands raked through his hair. Holding fistfuls of it, pulling hard in her desperation.
“Bite my shoulder if you need to,” he rasped.
He didn’t stop, didn’t offer a respite, but continued to caress her, both within and without. Every touch of his fingers sent waves of pleasure coursing through her, making her writhe like a wild creature.
“You are about to come, aren’t you, my duchess? Come for me. I need to see you fall apart.”
