I gave a little push and felt some resistance. I paused. He kissed me.
“Sweet and slippery. Your body needs to adjust,” he whispered against my lips.
He pulled the tip of one nipple between his fingers. I arched toward him, the heat demanding satisfaction. Another inch inside.
“Shhh, love. Hold yourself there for a second. Try not to move.” He continued to play, to drop kisses on my neck and chest, and I gritted my teeth to keep from moving. He pulled out an inch, then pushed back in. A wave of heaviness passed over me. Anxiety grew—to move, to reach something.
“Halfway, love. Which—”
I grabbed his head and pulled him toward me, kissing him hard. Breaking his touch on my breast and dragging him more inside me. His eyes were bright green and triumphant when he pulled away.
He flipped us so he was lying on top of me, his hands braced on either side of my head. He pulled out and gave a short thrustand then another, the promised slide materializing as he pushed farther in. My feet scrambled on the bed, trying to find purchase to push up, to reach that heat that everything to this point had promised.
“Keep pushing, that’s right. Wrap your legs around me. Follow everything your body tells you and let go of the rest.”
He pulled back and thrust all the way. My head fell back, the feeling too much, and I moaned, deep and loud. I was too far gone to feel embarrassment. I just wanted relief.
“Don’t forget to breathe, Marietta. Deep breaths. Moaning is good. That’s right.”
He thrust in again, the long length of him spearing me and lifting me an inch off the bed. Wrapped around him, my legs trembled, trying to press up, trying to get him to touch the place that he had just rubbed. He pulled back, and when he thrust this time, I lifted my hips to meet his. He slotted into a place where only he belonged. The edge of my vision went hazy. Sparks of flint ignited, my mouth caught in a silent scream.
“Sweet and lovely. Let go, love.”
He thrust again and again and I followed his direction and let go of everything. Moaning and gasping against his shoulder, I burst apart in his arms, butterflies scattering to the four corners of the room.
Chapter 10
GABRIEL
I awakened abruptly to a vigorous knock on the front door. I glanced at the clock to see the hands indicating a hair past five in the morning. I hadn’t planned on rising for thirty more minutes. Sixty if I was feeling lazy.
A lock of brown hair slid along my arm. I was definitely feeling lazy. Perhaps I would stay in bed all day. I looked over to see the brown head buried into a pillow at my side. I lifted a hand to lightly touch her back. I had never invited a woman to my bed, choosing other locations instead, but she looked natural here.
A heavy knock fell again, and I realized which house I was in, with no butler to answer the door. Off my game again.
I threw back the covers on my side and grabbed a dressing robe. As my brain started reasserting itself, I hoped whoever was at the door realized their days were numbered. I saw Marietta’s body shift in my peripheral vision as I stormed from the room. The knocking continued.
I opened the front door to see one of my footmen, Billy, standing on the stoop looking apoplectic. I motioned him inside and counted to ten.
“Master Charlie sent me. He said to put this in your hand immediately.”
I took the missive and opened it. “Why didn’t you just come inside and awaken me?”
“Forgot the key in my rush. Master Charlie said it was of the utmost importance that I get this to you. Sorry, Master Noble. Won’t do it again, Master Noble.”
I started to mutter something suitably terrifying, which would even have cowed Charlie, my butler with ogre in his line, when my brain caught up to the realization that Mariettahad been in bed with me and the whole thing might have been awkward. Billy was looking terrified already, and I decided to rib him instead, until my eyes caught the first paragraph.
The paper crinkled in my fingers. “Did you bring the carriage?”
“Yes, Master Noble. It’s out front.”
“Good, stay here.”
I took the steps two at a time. All remnants of sleep cleared from my head.
