“Get on your knees, princess.”
Her startled gaze flew to his; her breath lodged at the wicked challenge she saw there. Her knees trembled so badly that she couldn’t have remained standing even if she wanted to. Uncertain and stimulated, she slowly lowered herself so that she was kneeling at his feet.
“How lovely you are,” he murmured.
He, she thought with pulsing arousal, was more along the lines of magnificent. Eye-level with his groin, she couldn’t miss the massive bulge beneath the dark brocade. The words he’d uttered in the library suddenly echoed in her head.
Today it was my pleasure to see to yours. At a time of my choosing, you will see to mine.
She moistened her lips. What would it be like to pleasure him in the same manner that he had pleasured her? To kiss his most intimate parts, the way he had done to her?
She had the shocking, almost overwhelming desire to find out.
He lifted a lock of her hair and rubbed the glinting strand between thumb and forefinger. “You could be made of spun gold.”
“But I’m not.” The last thing she wanted to be compared to was a weak, malleable metal. Lifting her chin to look at him, she said, “I’m not delicate. I helped find the blackmail note in Lord Davenport’s desk, remember?”
“How could I forget? It took years off my life.” he said wryly. “But don’t confuse delicacy with weakness, love. Sometimes the softest things can have the most profound impact.”
His acknowledgement of her power sent a buzzing thrill through her. As did the way he was stroking the silky length of her hair back and forth against her nipple, titillating the sensitive point. The feather-light sensation caused a hot rush between her legs. She squirmed, pressing her knees together as desire burgeoned.
Her cheeks flushed. “Please, Gabriel. I can’t stand it.”
“I like the way you look at me,” he murmured. “With those big hazel eyes of yours. You make me feel as if I’m the most powerful man in the world. As if I could share the darkest corners of my soul with you. As if I’d kill to have you.”
His words elicited another gush of dew.
“I like the way you look at me,” she said. “You make me feel as if I’m the most desirable woman in the world. As if I could give you everything you need. As if I’d do anything to please you.”
They stared at one another, their breaths surging in unison. In that moment, Thea felt something shift between them, as intangible and powerful as an electric current. She saw her own awareness reflected in his stormy eyes.
“You are the most desirable woman in the world,” he said, “and you’re going to give me everything I need.”
He shed his robe, tossed it aside. It was the first time she’d seen him completely naked—and the sight made her dizzy with want. His masculinity overwhelmed her, virile strength in every aspect, from the muscled slabs of his chest to the carved ridges on his taut belly. His manhood stood fiercely, hugely erect.
“Pleasure me, princess.” His words held both a command and a dare.
Eager yet uncertain exactly how to proceed, she came up on her knees. Ignoring his rampant cock for the moment (not the easiest to do since it clamored for her attention), she ran her palms over his chest, savoring the texture of his satiny skin, the light scratch of bronze hair. He bore a few faint scars, mementos of the life he’d led, and it added to his tough potency, his uniqueness. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to the thin ridge of knitted skin below his right nipple. He made a raspy sound.
“Does it hurt?” she said in surprise.
His eyes smoldering, he gave a slow shake of his head.
Relieved, she continued her exploration. She kissed his flat nipples, guessing from his uneven breaths that he liked it. Her hands smoothed over his leanness, learning his edges, his hidden corners, before arriving at the part of him where desire was not concealed at all.
Carefully, she wrapped a hand around his bold member. The thick stalk pulsed with life as she caressed it, moving its velvety cover over the rigid core. Remembering what he’d taught her before, she tightened her grip and increased her pace. She heard his quickened respiration; a drop of liquid beaded upon the burgeoned crown of his cock.
With great daring, she leaned forward and licked it off. His salty clean essence infused her senses. He tasted wild and raw, and she wanted more.
She lapped at the tip, circling it with her tongue. She heard him groan, and determination filled her to please him, to be everything he wanted. She pressed kisses down the length of his shaft, following a veiny ridge down to the root, where his bollocks hung heavily over the edge of the bed. She gave the dusky sac a tentative lick… and his hand speared into her hair.
“Enough.” He guided her head up. “We don’t want this over before it’s begun.”
She looked at him, puzzled.
He gave a dark chuckle. “My sweet innocent, let me have you the way I want.” With his palm at the back of her skull, he brought her lips back to the blunt head of his rod. “Open your mouth, and take me inside.”
With sizzling excitement, she followed his instruction. Fitting her lips around the fat dome, she mouthed him and gently sucked. That had an instant effect, his fingers tightening against her scalp, a hiss leaving him.
