Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4)(49)

“Grief clouds the mind,” Julia said gently. “Look at my father. I don’t think he would ever have gotten involved with someone like Deb Lundy if he hadn’t been so messed up after my mother died.”

“That’s true.”

“Your sister is having a hard time right now. Much as I think it’s hilarious she believes Katherine is Wonder Woman, her pairing of Katherine with Richard is ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous is a bit strong, don’t you think?” Gabriel’s tone was grave. “Wonder Woman can have her choice of partners at any age.”

Julia struck Gabriel playfully in the chest. “It’s the costume. It does things to people.”

“It does indeed.” Gabriel captured her wrist, his voice growing husky. “Which raises the question, why didn’t you dress up for me for Halloween?”

“Buy me the costume, and help me get a good night’s sleep, and I’ll dress up for you anytime.”

Gabriel moved closer to Julia on the blanket, wrapping his arm around her waist. “I’ll hold you to that.”

“Please.”

Gabriel chuckled and his smile widened. “How fortunate I am to have married my Beatrice and to be lying by her side.”

He kissed her reverently, pressing his lips to hers. When he lifted his head, he stared down into her eyes. “You can’t fault me for wanting to do everything within my power to protect you. And to take you and Clare with me to Scotland.”

“Of course I can’t fault you.” Julia reached up to twine her fingers in his hair. “We want the same thing. But my situation at Harvard is precarious.”

Gabriel’s eyes reflected understanding. “It’s difficult for me to stand by and do nothing.”

“You aren’t doing nothing.” Julia’s whisper grew fierce. “You’re supporting me.”

“I just love you so desperately.” Gabriel lowered his head and tugged on her lower lip. He spread his lips across hers, firmly and with intention.

His hands parted her coat and lifted her sweater, spanning her waist and stroking the bare skin with his thumbs.

Julia made a noise and they parted. “Here? Now?”

“I want you.” Gabriel’s eyes shone with desire. “Right here and right now.”

Her hands lifted to his shoulder and she caressed his neck as their mouths joined once again. Their lower limbs tangled with one another.

Above them, the moon hid behind a cloud and darkness became emboldened. Gabriel seized that opportunity to flick open the button on Julia’s jeans and rest his hand across her abdomen, avoiding her scar.

She fluttered beneath him.

His lips found her neck in the dark, trailing kisses up and down her throat. He worshipped the indentation at the base of her throat and ascended to the space behind her ear. “What do you want?”

“I want you to touch me.” She covered his hand with hers and inched his farther down, retreating when he dipped below her underwear.

His fingers caressed her before passing between her legs.

He kissed the expanse of skin above her breasts before unbuttoning her shirt with one hand. With practiced ease he continued to embrace her with his lips, while his long fingers sought their prize.

He lowered her bra, exposing her breast to the night air. His mouth descended, kissing around the nipple while stroking her below.

“It’s all right,” she encouraged him, applying light pressure to the back of his head. “I’m not overly sensitive tonight.”

He chuckled against her skin, for her eagerness pleased him. Experimentally, he licked her nipple. It constricted in the cool November air. Then his warm mouth engulfed her, licking and gently teasing.

Julia lifted her hips as a strangled moan escaped her chest. She was trying to be quiet.

“You can be loud,” he encouraged her, taking her nipple into his mouth once again. “We have more privacy here than at the house.”

She gave voice to her pleas, begging him to taste her other breast and lifting her hips as he stroked between her legs.

“Do you want to come?” he rasped, paying homage to her other nipple.

“I want to come with you inside me.” The confession had scarcely left her mouth when he was tugging down her jeans and removing his own.

The voyeuristic moon shone, giving light to Gabriel’s endeavors. He took one of her hands in his, resting it beside her head.

He cupped her opposite hip and separated her legs more widely. His hips nested with hers.

Gabriel’s eyes measured hers as he pressed forward. Again, with the practiced ease born of lovers who’d coupled to infinity, he slid inside.

Julia moaned.

“I want you to move.” Gabriel’s speech was terse, clipped. He seemed overwhelmed, holding himself still over her.

Julia did as she was bidden, lifting her hips and gripping his backside to urge him deeper.

Gabriel watched. Then he captured her mouth, kissing her deeply. “You arouse and delight me.”

“Good,” she managed to say, lifting her hips once again.

Gabriel began to move, slowly at first, marking his pace by Julia’s reactions. Then he began to speed up, thrusting more deeply.

Julia’s hands slid up to his shoulders and she clung to him as he drove inside her.