He strained against the fastenings, and she could already see how well-endowed he was. She swallowed hard and let her hands move to his erection. But her wrists were caught in his gentle hands.
Sibyl pouted. “I want to see you.Allof you. And I-I can take care of… that.”
Heavens, she hated how her voice cracked.
Gabriel released her wrists to stroke her cheek again and brush her hair back. “Another night.”
He leaned down, peppering her face with playful, light kisses until she was giggling.
“Why?” she asked, pulling back. “You cannot distract me with more kisses.”
“It is no distraction,” he laughed, sitting beside her again. “It is me simply indulging us. But if I let myself fully have you, I will not be able to restrain myself. I want your first time with me to be gentler than I feel I could provide right now.”
“Whatwouldyou do, then?” Sibyl dared to ask.
“I crave you so badly, Sibyl,” he began, kissing her neck lightly, “that I do not trust myself to go easy on you. You ignite such a fire in me that I fear I would be rough with you, drowning in my need.”
“Then perhaps that is all right.”
“Another night,” he promised. “When I can give you what you deserve. For now, just let me hold you and take care of you.”
Sibyl’s breath caught at the sheer tenderness in his voice, how he wanted to make sure she was safe and secure with him for their first time.
While hot need roared inside her—the need to explore him, to feel his body flush against her own, no more barriers and layers between them—she knew he was right.
So she tugged back the bedsheets once again, and they both slipped beneath them. Gabriel turned her so her back was pressed to his bare chest.
“For a man who insists on not giving in, it’s quite torturous how I can feel your erection against me.” Sibyl laughed softly.
Gabriel answered by turning her head to kiss her and pulling his hips back so she could not feel him.
They kissed sleepily into the night, and by the time Sibyl fell asleep, her desire had banked to an endurable warmth, and all she could think of was how much it meant to her to have a husband who made her feel so taken care of.
Chapter Sixteen
The following morning, Sibyl woke to an empty bed, and she blinked at the space where Gabriel had fallen asleep.
There was a slight indent on the pillow from his head, and she smiled, realizing he had not been long gone if his lingering scent was anything to go by. She rolled onto her front, burying her face in the indent for an indulgent moment.
When the door opened, she was so relaxed that she did not even glance up, but she did when she heard a low chuckle.
“What on earth are you doing?” Amusement laced her husband’s voice.
Sibyl lifted her head, humming happily. “I do not quite know.”
Eventually, she rolled onto her back and pulled herself upright.
Gabriel was wearing loose breeches and a robe that was too undone for her to stay truly focused. She forced her eyes to remain on his face, softer right after waking up, as if he had not quite put on the mask of the Duke of Stonehelm just yet.
She liked this version of him, too.
“Well, as much as I do not want to pry a lady from her comforts,” he said, smirking, “I had breakfast laid out outside. It is quite a nice day, and I am loath to waste it, so will you join?—”
Sibyl was on her feet in an instant, nodding eagerly.
How long had she waited for such a gesture?
Too long.
