“Never more so than now.” And then he pulled her to him, kissing her as though it would kill him to be apart from her for even one second. With the roof of the carriage pulled back, they made a perfect display of newly wedded bliss, eliciting loud hurrahs as the carriage rolled forward along the country road.
Chapter 34
It took five hours of drinking, dining and dancing before the guests finally decided that it was time to retreat. As much as Gabriella had enjoyed their company, she looked forward to being alone with her husband, her arm linked with his as they waved good-bye to her parents.
“I thought they’d never leave,” Raphe said the moment their carriage was out of sight. Looking down at Gabriella, he quietly asked, “Are you ready to see our accommodations, Your Grace?”
A delicious thrill of anticipation swept through her at the mention of the room they’d be sharing. Feeling her cheeks warm beneath the heat of his gaze, she gave a slight nod. “By all means, husband, show me the way.”
His eyes seemed to darken as he tugged her back inside and led her toward the stairs. “Oh, I intend to.” The words, filled with a promise of decadence and sin, enhanced his masculinity in an elemental way that made Gabriella’s knees grow weak. His strength emanated from every part of his solid frame as he guided her up toward their destination, his muscles flexing slightly beneath her hand with every step they took.
“Raphe.” Her voice stopped him at the top of the stairs.
“Yes?” he inquired.
Turning to face her, his arm slid away from hers until only their fingers connected, the bare touch heightening Gabriella’s need for closer contact. She prepared to speak in spite of the nerves that danced inside her, but for some reason, she couldn’t seem to align her thoughts. So she just stood there, staring up at him while each exhalation of breath trembled upon her lips.
A moment passed, and then he curled his fingers around hers and raised her hand for a tender kiss. His eyes met hers, full of warmth and sincerity, the hungry desire she’d seen there a second earlier momentarily banked. “You’re nervous?” Forcing herself not to look away, she nodded. “Don’t be. What you and I are about to experience together will be full of love and devotion. Because of that, it cannot be anything but absolutely incredible.”
“But—what if I do something wrong? What if—”
“You won’t.” He shook his head with absolute certainty. “That just isn’t possible.”
She dropped her gaze briefly before returning it to his. “I’ve been told it might hurt.”
“Only momentarily.” He brought his hand to her forehead, smoothing away her frown before letting his thumb caress her cheek. “I promise to treat you with care, and to make it as enjoyable for you as possible. Trust me, Gabriella, the pain is brief. After that there is nothing but endless pleasure.”
“Really?”
He chuckled slightly. “If it were really that awful, women would not be as willing as they are to attract men’s attention.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“Come on,” he whispered.
Unable to resist the seductive nudge of his voice, she followed him down a corridor to the room at the end, her lips parting on a gasp as soon as she stepped inside. Rose petals covered the floor, while garlands tied with cream-colored ribbons framed the ceiling. Candles had been placed along the walls, their glow creating an intimate air of subdued lighting. Everything was soft and inviting—an irresistible haven of pure romance. Awestruck, Gabriella uttered a single word. “Beautiful.”
The door closed quietly behind her, and then a hand settled carefully against her waist. “I couldn’t agree more.” He spoke against the nape of her neck.
A shiver curled its way along her spine, leaving nothing but heat in its wake. Gone was the reservation she’d felt in the hallway, now replaced by a sense of calm that soothed her from within. So she settled herself against his strength, reveling in the feel of his hands moving over her. With nimble fingers he undid buttons and ribbons, pulled aside lace and silk, exploring every curve of her body until he’d revealed all of her.
“My God,” he rasped, turning her in his arms and taking a step back. “You are so incredibly stunning.” His hands went to his neck, tugging off his cravat before shoving his jacket from his broad shoulders. Both items fell to the floor behind him.
Gabriella stared, her own nudity and the self-aware timidity that came with it completely forgotten as she watched him hastily shirk off his waistcoat and shirt. Nothing could make her tear her eyes away from his impressively sculpted torso. Her fingers itched to touch him there—to slide across those hard planes of perfectly carved muscle.
“Go ahead,” he murmured, reading her thoughts.
Her eyes flew to his. Drawn by the fire that burned there, she took a hesitant step forward. Then another. And another still. He remained exactly where he was, completely still, save for the rise and fall of his chest. Raising her hand, she placed her palm against his beating heart. A gravelly sound rose from his throat, emboldening her to continue, hands gliding up over his shoulders and down the lengths of his arms, mapping every inch of exposed skin in an effort to sate her curiosity.
“You’re killing me,” he murmured, even though he still allowed her exploration.
Running her hands across his back, she pressed the tips of her fingers against the tight rows of muscle there. “You’re so solid,” she said with wonder, “so incredibly hard.”
He growled then, moving with a swiftness that would have knocked her over had he not decided to catch her. “You’ve no idea.” And then his mouth was on hers, kissing her with a pent-up passion that burst its way through her, filling her with nothing but thoughts of him and of how good it felt to be back in his arms.
His mouth never left hers as he lifted her off her feet and carried her to the bed like a marauding pirate claiming his treasure. She would later wonder how he managed to remove his shoes and trousers without her noticing. All she knew was that as he lowered himself over her seconds later, she was able to feel every part of him—his warmth and his strength surrounding her in a rich combination of male virility that drove her own desire to new and wondrous heights.
His caresses were careful and gentle, his mouth hot against her skin as he slid his hands over her. “Gabriella.” He whispered her name across her belly on a breath of air that made her sigh with pleasure.
