Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4)(82)

She gazed over at Gabriel expectantly.

He lifted his arms—an invitation.

She crossed to where he was seated and sat on his lap, legs dangling under water on either side of his.

His hands smoothed down the curves of her waist to where her hips flared. He squeezed, making an eager sound, and urged her closer.

Her breasts brushed against his chest as she felt him rise between her legs.

His hand passed over her navel and moved down, down. He lifted his head so he could see her eyes, just as his finger made contact.

Julia gasped and rested her hands on either side of his neck, leaning forward.

He continued to touch her, his hand jostled by the hot, swirling water. Then he slipped a single finger inside.

She lifted herself up, allowing him more room.

He moved in and out, gently stimulating her, his thumb pressing up against her.

When she was close, she pushed his hand aside and gripped him firmly. She lifted up and, guided by his hands on her hips, slowly sank down until she rested on his lap.

Gabriel groaned.

She used his shoulders for leverage and lifted herself up before slowly, slowly sinking down.

His fingers dug into her hips as she rolled forward on his lap. Then she was ascending and descending, up and down, her gaze dropping to the image of Jacob’s ladder on his chest.

Gabriel’s hand left her hip to lift her chin. His blue eyes seared into hers.

Up and down. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. His teeth bit into his lower lip as she rolled forward once again.

Ascending and descending. His hands began to lift and pull down, over and over. She ground herself against him.

He reached forward and kissed her neck, drawing the flesh against his teeth.

Julia rolled forward just as he thrust up, lifting his hips. His hands were a vise, keeping them joined.

She moved back and rolled forward. He jerked and pulled her closer, continuing to thrust up and in.

She felt him begin to lose control and bemoaned the fact she’d lost him. But then his hips shifted and she felt it, the glorious crescendo as every nerve in her body came alive. Pleasure raced along the nerves and she lost the ability to move.

Gabriel moved for her, his hips snapping forward.

Her head fell forward as he stilled. She felt him inside her.

His body tensed and relaxed.

And then his mouth was at her neck again, whispering kisses over the wet skin. “That was worth waiting for.”

“Yes.” She hugged him and rested her chin on his shoulder. It took her a minute to catch her breath. “Let’s just stay here.”

He kissed her nose. “All right. But I think eventually we’ll start to cook.”

“Well, let’s get out before that happens.” She toyed with his hair, winding the strands around her fingers.

His hands slipped slowly up and down her back, massaging her. “I’m not finished with you. Yet.”

“Oh, really?” She sat back, searching his eyes.

“Really. More delights await you, if you get out of the Jacuzzi.”

“Such as?”

“Such as one of the activities Dr. Rubio expressly and closed-mindedly forbade.” Gabriel brushed his nose against Julia’s. “So let’s dry off and move to the daybed.”

“I—I don’t know if I have another incredible orgasm in me.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed with the focus of a dying man. “I’ll take that as a challenge.”

He lifted her out of the water and carried her up the steps and onto the deck. Then he placed her atop the daybed, wrapped her in a dry towel, and proceeded to best his challenge.

Multiple times.





Chapter Sixty


February 4, 2013

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Julianne hadn’t left the light on.

In itself, her choice was almost inconsequential. There was a night light in the wall nearby. There were lanterns that housed flameless candles in the hall, illuminating the path to the nursery, where Clare was sound asleep in her crib. But Julianne had switched off the lamp on her nightstand when she retired for the evening. By the time Gabriel joined her in bed, after a long evening spent in his home office making his own translations of Dante from Italian into English, the master bedroom was dark.

Gabriel hovered in the doorway, surprised by the sight.

Rebecca was asleep down the hall. She’d been working tirelessly since she arrived from the airport to make the house ready for them. And she’d made lasagne for dinner, which was one of Julianne’s favorite dishes.

Aaron and Rachel had joined them, speaking enthusiastically about their new jobs. Rachel had brought a stack of Dunkin’ Donuts gift cards for Julianne, who accepted them gratefully.

And Leslie, their eagle-eyed neighbor, had greeted them with a homemade apple pie and tales of a very quiet but very alert Foster Place. The upgraded security system on the Emersons’ property seemed to have accomplished its goals.

Nevertheless, Gabriel was surprised that their first night at home after the break-in, Julianne would be sleeping so soundly, in the dark.

He approached her side of the bed and as he did, he nearly tripped over that damn pink flamingo. Julianne had posed it like a guard dog beside her bed and she’d dressed it in an I love Miami T-shirt.

The Professor skirted the lawn ornament with distaste, but he allowed himself a restrained chuckle. If Julianne was making jokes, she wasn’t mired in fear. And that relieved him. Greatly.