Page 71 of Gabriela and His Grace

“Open your legs, Ella,” he ordered, ripping his spectacles from his face and tossing them on the armchair.

With impatient hands, he unhooked her skirts and shoved them down her legs. As she rarely left the cabin, Gabby had shunned her corset and caged crinoline in favor of a simple petticoat under her day dress. Such attire had also made dressing and undressing easier, a fact she celebrated as Sebastian shoved her thighs apart and wedged his shoulders between them.

He glanced up the line of her body to meet her gaze, his eyes blue fire. “I no longer taste you on my tongue.”

Gabby speared her fingers through his soft black hair, anticipation making her breath short. “Was this morning not enough?”

Sebastian leaned forward to softly blow across her already wet slit. His lips twisted when she sighed. “I fear I may never have enough.”

Before Gabby could respond, Sebastian leaned forward and caressed her sensitive bud with his tongue, and any coherent thoughts were wiped from her mind. Every one of her senses focused on him. On the feel of the broad strokes his tongue made through her folds; the hungry sounds that slipped from his lips as he devoured her; the sight of this powerful man kneeling before her, intent on bringing her pleasure; the tinge of blood in her mouth from clamping down on her lip to keep from crying out; his woodsy cologne on her skin, infusing her lungs, her soul, with him. And when he thrust his fingers inside of her, Gabby cried out his name.

“That’s it, darling,” he crooned, his fingers working her harder and faster than they ever had before. “You may think me a cad, but you’ll never again hear the name Sebastian without growing wet.”

“You talk too much,” she managed.

Sebastian chuckled, placing a kiss to the inside of her thigh. “You’re right. My mouth could be doing more pleasurable things.” And he ducked his head to put it to work.

Soon Gabby lay quaking before him, her legs limp. A flush encased the entirety of her body, and she flung her arm over her eyes as she tried to catch her breath. But Sebastian had other ideas, for he suddenly grasped her knees and pressed them into her chest.

“We’re not done.”

She blinked her eyes open and found him stroking his cock as he stared down at her. He had already donned a condom, and while he held her gaze, Sebastian ran his member down her tingling flesh. Gabby whimpered.

Sebastian was silent as he slid inside her, but she hissed as her body worked to fit him. Her reaction was swallowed by his lips when they snared hers. His hands cradled her cheeks so gently, even as his hips snapped between hers at a frantic pace. His eyes—the pupils dilated—focused on her as he ushered her to the peak once again and watched in satisfaction as she keened her pleasure. When she finally exploded around him in a burst of lights and moans, he whispered how perfect she was as he continued to stroke within her, prolonging her release. Before he followed her, Sebastian gathered her close against his chest, his mouth nestled near her ear. She heard the words he whispered, words Gabby was sure he hadn’t meant for her to hear.

“Never enough.”

20

He wasn’t ready for the trip to be over.

Sebastian emitted a quiet sigh as he stood on the first-class deck, his gaze fixed on the London harbor as it slowly came into view. Once the ship docked, the idyllic accord he’d enjoyed with Gabriela would be over. Yes, he was eager to be reunited with his brothers and share tales of his adventures in Mexico with them, but the thought of no longer seeing Gabriela, of awakening next to her, was a cloud on the horizon Sebastian could not outrun. For while they had never outright discussed the terms of their affair, there seemed to be an unspoken agreement that it would end when they reached London.

And the city was now within sight.

Tapping his cane on the deck, Sebastian wondered how he would say goodbye to her. Should he make it casual? Offer to stop by during visiting hours at Yardley House and take her for a drive through Hyde Park? Host a homecoming ball at Whitfield Place simply so he could invite her to attend? Mayhap she’d wear that heart-stopping red gown again…

He pounded his fist against his forehead. There was no way Sebastian could let Gabriela step off the ship and act as if the last two months had not happened. As if holding her in his arms, losing himself in the warm, wet embrace of her body had not completely knocked him off his axis. Sebastian could not possibly be satisfied with fleeting glimpses of her across ballrooms or salons. He needed more…and he could be more for her.

“I thought you’d be relieved to finally be home.”

Sebastian swung about to meet Brodie’s questioning gaze. He shrugged. “I look forward to returning to the manor and seeing the boys. It feels as if I’ve been away for a lifetime.”

“Young James and David will be happy to see you,” Brodie said, stepping forward to wrap his hands around the deck rail.

“And I them,” Sebastian murmured.

“But I’m sure you’ll be sad for other goodbyes.”

Sebastian didn’t dare meet his valet’s gaze. “Goodbyes are never easy.”

“Especially when it’s the end of something unexpected.” The Scotsman paused. “It’s been good to see you happy, Yer Grace.”

“It’s not a foreign emotion to me.” Sebastian made a rough noise in the back of his throat.

“Perhaps not,” Brodie allowed. “Or perhaps you’ve confused happiness with contentment. For I’ve seen you smile and laugh more in the last few weeks than I ever have before.”

“Yes, well”—Sebastian coughed into his fist—“whatever the case may be, I should check on Miss Luna and ensure she’s packed.”