Finding Gabriel (31 page)

“You are exquisite.”

Ariah shivered at the husky sound of his voice. It fell upon her ears like molten lava, scorching hot and capable of consuming everything in its path. She could feel the baritone resonating within. Her insides quivered, burned, screamed, and ached for more. Then his mouth swept downward and claimed the erect tip of her breast. Her toes curled against the barrier of her kid boots as she abandoned herself to the erotic ministrations. His tongue swirled around the flesh, plastering the chemise to her skin. Three fingers hooked around the straps of her chemise and urged the material downward.

Gabriel’s penetrating gaze seared her as both breasts sprang free. The night air caused her nipples to further harden. She felt the delicious burn of his eyes as they tracked over her exposed flesh. Then his mouth lowered to the base of her neck, slowly, sensually, and he pressed a kiss against her pulse. She inhaled an unsteady breath as both of his hands rose from the ground and cupped her cheeks. He drew invisible circles along the slates of flesh, worshiping her with a touch so gentle, so full of adoration that she nearly wept from the beauty of it.

“You are still frightened,” he whispered against her skin. She mutely nodded, voice stolen from her throat. In spite of his gentleness, ancient memories surfaced inside her mind. Frustration quickly followed. She felt imprisoned – and she wanted nothing more than to be granted freedom.

His lips ventured higher, ghosting over her collarbone, brushing against her shut eyelids in a fleeting caress. “Do not think,
chérie
. Only feel. Stay with me, in this moment.”

“I trust you, Gabriel.”

Gabriel responded with his touches. Broad hands skimmed over the valley of her curves as he traced each and every bend. He showered a wet line of kisses down her throat, lapping up the pants that formed within. Ariah’s head spun as she squirmed beneath the weight of his well-muscled body. Her fingertips buried in the thick waves of his hair and drew him ever closer. She gave an insistent, impatient pull, guiding his mouth where her body demanded it. He obliged with a husky groan and another foreign endearment.

Then her final barrier shattered as his mouth found her nipple once again. He sucked it deep inside the cavern of his mouth. She arched against the sensation while his tongue swirled around the peak. He blew gently … his teeth grazed the flesh, drawing a moan from her gut. Her entire body thrummed. She fidgeted against the greatcoat, her body restrained by his chest. His scarred hands cupped her shoulders and peeled away both the dress and chemise in a single movement. She shivered as the material whispered down the sides of her body. The dress and chemise bunched about her waist, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. Her body twisted, needing release … needing more …

Gabriel moved away from her and sat back on his heels. Her eyes shot open as she desperately reached for him.

“
Mon Dieu,
do not stop now,” she gasped. “Why ever are you – ”

He silenced her words with a fingertip. Then he grasped onto the bunched material and slid it from her body. She lifted her bottom off of the greatcoat, allowing the two garments to be shed. A knot of anticipation bloomed inside her chest. The chilly night air tightened her bare skin into gooseflesh – a sensation that contrasted with the warmth of his body.

On his way back up, Gabriel tracked his lips against the heel of her foot and peppered kisses along her outstretched leg. She tensed as he continued the upward pursuit, not leaving a centimeter of her untouched. His fingertips curled beneath the waistband of her pantalettes, the callused pads tantalizing her with featherlight touches. In a suave movement, he rolled the linen down and over her curves, allowing it to join the ever-growing pile of clothing. He pressed delicate kisses down her inner thighs – and Ariah’s legs instinctively clenched together as she realized his intention.

Echoed by the surrounding stone walls, a husky laugh resonated within the night. His weathered palms massaged her thighs, those sensually long fingertips soothing her muscles with encouraging strokes. His palms were uneven and rough from when he’d shattered the mirror.

“Just relax. Relax and keep trusting me. On my word – you shall be glad you did.”

She obliged, forcing her legs to go limp. Chords of awareness spiraled down her spine as his mouth closed in – and the molten heat of his breath wafted against her damp core.

Conflicting sensations crashed together. Hot and cold. Fire and ice. Desire and uncertainty.

Strong hands cupped her bottom and elevated her lower body from the greatcoat. Meeting her in midair, Gabriel parted her intimate curls and circled the sweet bud in repetitive and loving strokes. His smooth tongue – so hot, slick, and pliable – plunged in and out of the moist, tender heat. One hand slid away from her bottom and rested atop the dense patch of curls.

Mon Dieu …

“Relax and open to me.” Obeying the whispered command, the tension from her muscles eased, her thighs went limp, and her entire body grew pliant. She was ready. Ready to be molded into whatever Gabriel saw fit.

Her thoughts ricocheted against each other as two thick fingertips burrowed inside her body. Sweet, sweet agony. They moved in and out, in and out … circled the tingling bundle of nerves … rocked deep, deep within … then spread her wide … before discovering the swollen, aching mound.

Then he angled his lips and drew the tip into the hot cavern of his mouth. Her body unconsciously jerked upward, and Gabriel drank from her. The uneven texture of his face ground against her inner thigh. Long, firm sweeps fell across the hardened nub, delicate pressure was applied … a little more … then just enough …

Hard moans rocked Ariah’s body. He steadied her hips as he suckled, drinking her deep, consuming her. Colors burst in front of her eyes … the speckled night sky spun around in circles. A gust of wind swiped over her heated body, helping cool the blazing inferno, and the stars shifted against the black expanse. Needing to anchor herself, she grasped onto the greatcoat, arched into his hot mouth and expert caresses … then shattered completely.

Poignant waves crashed within and spilled over her mind and body. She cried out in a burst of mind-bending pleasure, swept with pure euphoria, every centimeter of her flesh tingling and on fire. Spasms quaked through her body with the force of an avalanche. Gabriel continued the ministrations with his fingers, sending a second wave of pleasure slamming through her core, her limbs, and her heart. Her inner walls clenched tightly, drawing him in, sucking him deeper, deeper. Mumbling into her ear, he obliged and eased farther inside. His fingers sank knuckle-deep, stoking the passionate fire back to life. Trembling and dizzy from the pleasure, she rode the wave into bliss. The sensation was so explosive, so unbelievable and beautiful … and it seemed to last forever. The rooftop transformed into a coliseum of pleasure, and the surrounding stonework amplified each of her moans.

Heart slamming against her rib cage, she loosened her hold on the greatcoat and fought to catch her breath. Aftershocks traversed up and down her spine while a feeling of elation overpowered her senses. Gabriel climbed up her body, dotting kisses along her flesh as he did so. Tears spilled down the slopes of her cheeks as his dark head bowed forward. Then he grasped her face within both palms and brought his lips to her temple. Rocking her in his arms, he held his mouth there for several indescribable moments.

“I never knew. I never thought – ”

“Shh,
chérie
. I have you. And I shan’t let go.”

Gabriel tilted her face back and claimed her lips in a slow, seductive kiss. She tasted the sweet tang of her womanhood on his lips, felt the insistent probe of his tongue as it thrust in and out of her mouth in provocative motions …

They thrust, plundered, and parried in a seductive dance – and each movement mirrored their undulating hips.

Her hands rose from the greatcoat and settled on the buttons of his shirt. The material was covered in smudges and soot – a testament to their climb. “I want to see you, Gabriel. And I want to touch you. All of you.”

Gabriel latched onto one of her hands and drew it against his heart. When he spoke, his voice was low, husky, and laced with desire. “You already have.”

•

Gabriel’s heart drove against Ariah’s palm at a rapid pace, strong and sure. Indeed, the depth of his affection was unmistakable. He studied her features in pure wonderment, unable to tear his eyes away. Curls of gold swirled across her cheekbones, blending into the white slates of the roof. There was a light dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. He examined the intricate design, acquainting himself with each marking. Then he smoothed down her curls, inhaled deeply, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Returning the gesture, she elevated her back from the greatcoat and awarded the immobile side of his mouth with an intoxicating kiss. Staring down, he entwined their hands together and reveled in the simple touch. His breathing grew labored at the feeling … the exquisite, magical feeling of her fingers rubbing against his own. Then, for the first time, he noticed her nude wedding finger.

“Ariah. I – ”

The words died on his tongue. She tugged on the material of his shirt and leaned forward, connecting her mouth with his cheek. Then she fumbled with the buttons as her breaths emerged in shallow puffs. A fierce bolt of desire impaled his mind and body. It robbed him of his sanity, spirited his breaths, and melted the countless stars that drifted overhead.

“I want you, Gabriel. All of you.” Her delectable, beautiful voice hummed in his eardrums and traversed through his body.

Each movement was clumsy, and it took several attempts before the buttons came undone. Eyes never abandoning his own, she peeled the material aside in an achingly slow motion. He arched his shoulders – one and then the other – allowing the shirt to slide down his arms. A cold blast of air hit his bare chest and helped temper his flaming desire. Her fingertips rested on the scar that branded his bicep – the scar he’d received that fateful, long-ago night. She traced it carefully, her gaze heavy with emotion and shared pain. Then she arched her back, lifted her body from the unfurled greatcoat, and pressed her lips against the rigid, raised flesh. In the same breath, her hands slithered down his nude chest – down, down, down – and dipped below his trousers’ sweaty waistline. He inhaled a rigid breath as her touch stoked a roaring inner fire.

Emotion swelled his heart and overwhelmed his senses. He blinked away the beads of sweat and breathed in her unique essence. Rosewater and nectar swirled around his consciousness and flooded his soul. Her other hand worked the clasps of his trousers. Groaning, he leaned onto his haunches and shoved the material down his thighs. His erection sprang free – and Ariah wasted no time before reclaiming him. Crisp night air brushed against his skin with the force of a lover’s breath. Apprehension surfaced in her eyes while she examined him entirely in the nude.

“Ariah …” he managed to choke out. Each breath was rasped and guttural. “If it’s too much … if you are not ready – I understand. I shall wait. We – ”

“I am ready.” Swallowing deeply, her throat visibly constricted. “Because of you, I am ready.”

Moans vibrated through his body. The constellations burst into flames. His blood caught fire as tentative fingers coiled around his aching shaft. Staring into her hooded eyes, he blew out a rasped breath and surrendered to the mind-bending sensation. Her warm palm engulfed him whole … moved up and down the turgid length in an experimental touch. He arched into her hand in silent demand; as if reading his mind, she increased her pressure and tempo. Streams of acute pleasure wound about his spine, flowed through his very veins, and unfurled inside his chest. He bowed his head, pressed their foreheads together, then claimed her lips in a slow, sensual kiss.

After a moment, he moved backward and met her eyes. Long lashes cast shadows upon high, artfully sculpted cheekbones. She was breathtaking. And she was his. Missing nothing, that mesmerizing sapphire gaze ran over him. Her eyes remained serene and glazed with desire as they continued their perusal. It was as though the torn half of his face was no different than the rest of him … as if she perceived him as whole … as if she saw beyond his past, beyond his wrecked exterior, and found the lost man within.

“I am not beautiful, Ariah.”

“But you are …” An abundance of curls cascaded down and over her shoulders as she shook her head. “And you mustn’t say such things.” One of her hands settled across the uneven beat of his heart. “You are beautiful to me.”

Gabriel cursed himself while he felt tears resurface. And in that suspended moment, he reclaimed his identity again. He was Gabriel de Laurent, his father’s beloved son and heir … a proud, loyal, strong, and compassionate individual who’d lost his way in the darkness. And now he’d been found.

Ariah massaged his staff from tip to base with agonizing strokes. Mounting pleasure exploded within, washing away any self-deprecating thoughts. Unable to control his desire, he bucked against her palms as his breaths shortened. One hand ventured lower. She ran her fingertips down the inside of his thighs before claiming her prize. She teased his scrotum with the heel of her palm while her opposite hand continued its exquisite movements. Barely able to see straight, he glanced down and admired the delicate contour of her breasts. Kissed by streams of moonlight, they trembled with each motion. Then, God’s teeth, she leaned forward, pressed her swollen mouth to the tip of his erection, and wrapped her lips –

It was too much. With a choked groan, he jerked out of her touch and moved backward several centimeters.

“Gabriel? I – ”

He swallowed the inquiry with his mouth. Then he flipped Ariah onto her back and aligned their quivering bodies. Her warmth radiated – soft, sweet, and full of promise.

When his breathing finally turned steady, he gazed into her eyes and forced the confession. “I won’t pretend that I deserve you. I am faithless. I have done unforgivable things. And I am broken.” He gestured to his face and body with trembling hands. “I know you see past these things when you look at me … but I hope I can be enough for you.”