Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4)(59)

A sharp inhalation drew her attention.

Gabriel’s eyes were open, their stark blueness standing out against the dark hair that swept his brow.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Never apologize for touching me,” he rasped. “If my soul is yours, my body is also.”

He adjusted the pillow behind his head so he could see her better.

She sat back, carefully moving her ankle. “I need you.”

“Then take what you need.” Gabriel’s eager, curious look was encouraging.

Julia returned her hand to his body, caressing and touching him, before cupping him through his underwear. He made a strangled noise.

She removed the underwear, tugging it determinedly down his legs before dropping it to the floor. Then she knelt next to him and placed his hand at the hem of her nightgown. Hastily, he tore off her nightgown and panties.

Without words, she straddled his waist, adjusting her position so no weight was placed on her ankle. She brought his large hands to her breasts and leaned into his touch.

Gabriel passed his thumbs over her nipples.

She reacted by arching against him, curving her spine.

He thumbed her nipples and replaced them with his mouth, fastening his lips over a rosy bud. He licked her.

Julia reveled in his ministrations until her want could not be contained. She moved back and wrapped her hand around him.

He gasped against her breast and she stroked up and down, her pace slow but sure.

Gabriel was already aroused. She touched him to please him, as his lips found her other breast.

Then she positioned him carefully and sank down, inch by inch.

Gabriel bit out a curse at the feel of her around him.

She rocked back and forth as his thumbs found her nipples again. And then she lifted herself up and brought herself down, experimenting with rhythm and depth of penetration.

She pulled his hands to her hips, one at a time, encouraging him to help her set the pace. But Gabriel was only too eager to let her lead and to watch her, eyes half-closed in pleasure.

Her palm found his chest, careful not to touch the tattoo that was healing. The face of Dante, leaning against Beatrice, gazed up at her. As if she were a promise ready to be fulfilled.

She closed her eyes. The feelings were too intense. One more ascent and she was falling, falling. Gabriel lifted his hips, increasing the pace, chasing after her.

He pulled her down as he thrust up and she felt him jerk inside her. She opened her eyes to see his gaze meet hers. His chest tensed beneath her palm.

She relaxed atop him and his body slowly softened.

A lazy smile passed over his face. “I’d like to be awakened like that every morning. Look at you—a beautiful, fierce goddess of love, who never takes except she gives tenfold more. Let me be your servant in love and desire.”

“Gabriel.” She touched his face.

“And you did all of that with an injured ankle.” He grinned wickedly.

Before she could answer she was pinned beneath him and he was settling between her hips. He lifted her arms above her head.

“Now it’s my turn, goddess. Let’s see what you can do without any hands.”

She laughed until he took her mouth.

“My Beatrice,” he whispered.





Chapter Forty-Four


December 21, 2012

Julia was dreaming.

In itself, this was not an unusual occurrence. She had dreamed vividly throughout her pregnancy but found her sleep deep and dreamless after she brought Clare home from the hospital.

In the wee hours of the morning, while Clare slept soundly in the nursery, Julia dreamed she was back at St. Joseph’s University, walking down the hall to the room she shared with Natalie, a fellow undergraduate.

It was Julia’s birthday. She was supposed to celebrate it with her boyfriend but forgot her camera. Walking down the hall, she felt happy and excited.

In her dream, Julia knew what was about to happen. She knew what lay behind the closed door to her room. Still, she pulled out her keys and unlocked the door.

Thud.

The sound of the door hitting the wall was unusually loud. Julia stared at the door, wondering why it had made such an odd sound.

Crash.

Julia’s eyes snapped open.

She was no longer in Philadelphia; she was in her bedroom in Cambridge. The night light plugged into the wall cast a gentle glow over the room.

But something wasn’t right.

Julia lifted her head and saw a man standing a few feet away, holding the reproduction of Henry Holiday’s painting in his gloved hands.

He stared straight at Julia.

The man was a behemoth—well over six feet, six inches and formed like a linebacker. His dark eyes were flat, emotionless.

He took a step in her direction.

Julia screamed.





Chapter Forty-Five


Gabriel awoke immediately, confused. He’d fallen asleep at his desk in his study.

He stumbled to his feet, not bothering to figure out why he wasn’t in bed with his wife. Tearing open the door, he saw a large, dark figure moving down the hall. Gabriel stood between him and the nursery, where Clare was sleeping in her crib.

The figure didn’t hesitate. He rushed toward Gabriel and threw a punch, directed at his jaw.

Gabriel ducked and drove his fist into the larger man’s midsection.