Chapter Four #2
“How can I convince you that we will be well? That we’ll puzzle all the problems out?
” He was moments away from exploding, but he wanted to prolong the foreplay, merely because she captivated him.
Needing to feel the heat of her, he burrowed a hand beneath her skirting and didn’t stop until he brushed his fingers through the curls hiding that swollen bud at her center.
“I will hold you to it.” Her eyes briefly closed but she held him tighter, nipped and nibbled at the place where his neck joined his shoulder, and when she lightly bit that skin, it was his turn to moan and hover on that razor’s edge of pleasure.
With one hand playing her breast, he strummed the fingers of his other hand along the swelling button, and as she gyrated her hips against his hand, he continued to kiss her, their moans blending into the all-encompassing silence around them.
“Oh, yes! You know what I like.” A shiver went through his wife.
All too soon, Mary hit release, and as always, it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
She threw back her head and arched her spine, giving in to a soft cry.
Her body shook, and passion-crazed man that he was, Gabriel took full advantage.
He suckled her nipple repeatedly until he’d brought her to the brink once more, and all the while, he never let up on the firm friction he put against that all-important nubbin. “Bright!”
“Bloody hell,” he whispered against the soft skin of her neck. “How is it that you can still arouse me even at my age?”
She snorted. “You’re not yet ancient,” she said, her dulcet tones breathless as she trembled on his lap. “And perhaps absence makes the heart grow fonder?”
“Perhaps.” Gabriel chuckled yet worry wormed its way back into his mind. “Continue?”
“Absolutely.” She fought her way through yards of skirting before her fingers fumbled at the buttons of his frontfalls. “I need to feel you inside me. Quite desperately.”
“Vixen.” He batted her hand away to complete the task of freeing his hardened, straining shaft. “How much do I love you?”
Her grin faltered. “That is the question, isn’t it?”
Again, life interfered, and doubt sneaked in. “Mary…” Gabriel cupped her cheek, peered into her face, made certain she could see into his eyes. “What I feel for you…” Dragging the pad of his thumb along her lower lip, he tenderly kissed her mouth, for he was without words.
Remarkably, tears welled in her eyes. But then those blue pools winked with wicked promise. “Show me. I am not happy about our situation and need reassurance.”
“In this we are of one accord.” He looked forward to having many more opportunities to join with her while away from home.
She nipped at his chin, pressed tiny kisses to his cheeks, his forehead, the side of his neck, and he let her, for he adored her. His wife’s fingers went gently around his aroused length, and when she squeezed, his whole world upended itself.
Dear God, he’d embarrass himself if she continued. “This night will end far too soon from your handling. Is that what you want?”
“Absolutely not, but I can’t promise this will be our only coupling tonight.” Her smile could have lit the whole of England with its brilliance.
“Is that a challenge, Mrs. Bright?”
“If you think it is, Inspector.” When she rose onto her knees, he guided the head of his member to her opening, and as she slowly, oh so damned slowly, impaled herself on his length, a shuddering sigh left his throat.
“Bloody hell, you feel so good.”
She made a sound much like the purr of a contented cat.
“Well, you are quite satisfying as always even if we are out of sorts just now,” she whispered as she wriggled on his length to fully seat him.
With a soft laugh, she moved, up and down, sliding along his shaft, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she held his gaze.
“Do I look as desperate for you as I feel?” she whispered against his lips and then was apparently distracted in kissing him or learning the secrets of his mouth.
“Of course not. Though our ardor might have cooled, I will assure you it is a temporary situation.” As he spoke, Gabriel widened his legs, thrust upward with each of her downstrokes, and with every pass, sanity slipped away.
“Don’t disappoint me, hmm?” As she bounced, a sound of frustration escaped her throat. “I need more than this position allows as lovely as it is.”
“Let me help with that.” Quickly, he urged her off his lap then he lifted her up into his arms and deposited her on the bed.
Almost immediately, he followed her down, covering her body with his, settled between her splayed, bent knees, planted his elbows on either side of her to encompass her body within the cage of his arms while holding her head in his palms. “Better?” In the desire-soaked vestiges of his memories, this reminded him of one of the first times he’d coupled with her during that house party three years ago in this manor house.
I need to remember what is most important in my life—her.
“It is, now claim me. Remind me why I married you.”
“I think you know. We both know.” At least he hoped. With one powerful thrust of his hips, he speared into her, burying himself in her tight heat until they were irrevocably joined.
And it was like coming home. Every single time, there was a similar welcome, and he marveled over it. Even now while they were trying to come to terms with their new roles in life.
“Oh, Gabriel!” Desire and love filled her eyes as she wrapped her arms about his shoulders and cradled his hips with her knees. Her breath came in soft pants. “When we do this…” She thrashed her head on the sofa cushion.
“I know.” Now was not the time for words. He simply wished to love her.
Not that he had ever stopped, but it felt far too urgent this time, so she wouldn’t think he’d fallen out of love with her.
Again and again, he stroked into her body, thrilled that her honeyed heat sucked greedily at his shaft.
Over and over, he lost himself in the glory of his wife.
She held him close, encouraged him even closer with the subtle tightening of her fingers and legs, and he obeyed—how could he not?
This carnal dance had been perfected for them over the course of the two years they’d been together, and he adored every exciting moment of it.
Emotions clogged his throat, for he couldn’t imagine life without her, not after everything they’d gone through together or the life they were continually building.
His pulse roared in his ears while he continued to penetrate her.
Not able to find the appropriate words, he pressed his forehead to hers, and when a moan escaped her, that tiny little sound broke the hold on his control.
Need tingled through his stones, drawing them tight to his body.
His rhythm changed, quickened, and he shifted his stance so that the root of his member rubbed against her nubbin, for she had always adored that.
The acceleration of her breathing guided him, reassured him all was well, and he stroked into her with more authority.
Already primed, Mary slipped over the edge into bliss with a cry that echoed in the quiet.
With another forceful thrust, Gabriel was thrown into the abyss where the vortex sucked him under, and bright stars burst behind his closed eyelids.
Every damned release with his wife was like this, and he couldn’t help but marvel at that.
Would that always prove true?
“Damnation, Mary.” He ground his hips into hers to prolong the wild sensations coursing through his body. “It has been too long indeed.”
“Agreed,” she whispered as she shivered from the release that still trembled about his member.
Words stalled in his throat and on the tip of his tongue, so he kissed her instead of becoming emotional. Eventually, his shaft ceased to pump, and he lay still with her cradled beneath him while her arms remained looped about his shoulders.
“Good heavens but I need that.” When she giggled, the sensations that washed over him, from the root of his length to the tips of his hair, had him gasping. With a sigh, she relaxed her legs but didn’t try to separate herself from him. “You always know what I need.”
“That will never stop.”
“Let us hope this is so.” With a sigh, she snuggled into his side after he rolled them both into a more comfortable position. “I’m looking forward to the remainder of this holiday even if I miss the children.”
“I do as well. Though we’re suffering growing pains, it is my belief we will come through them stronger. Together.” Having her in his arms was both amazing and relaxing. “Again, I’m trying.”
“We both are.” She nuzzled into him. “You are the best of men, Gabriel. I am working to trust, to repair the little rifts between us, because as a family, we are stronger than not.”
“Very true.” He reveled in her worlds and the feel of her arms around him. “I constantly try to make sure I’m worthy of you and our little family.”
“You are. We are merely suffering from bumps and puddles in the path, I think. As long as we are together, we’ll prevail.” She pressed her lips to the side of his neck, and then with a sigh, settled into him with silence.
They remained layered against each other for long moments. Had anything been solved? It was difficult to tell, for nothing could be miraculously healed with one coupling, but he had faith they could regain the magic they had enjoyed before.
And he would do anything to make her happy again.