21. Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
Ophelia
The rings felt heavier than Ophelia remembered.
The engagement ring and wedding band rested on her finger where Gideon had placed them.
His hands had stopped shaking, but his dark eyes still looked stunned.
He stared at her as if he understood that she’d returned and couldn’t quite believe it at the same time.
Ophelia could. She’d chosen the drive back to Astor Street. She’d chosen to bring her bags in and leave them by the stairs, the dinner, the hard conversation, and the rings. She’d chosen a different marriage without giving up the woman she’d rebuilt.
Now she chose this. Desire spread low and hot through her body. It no longer frightened her. The emotional decision was made. She wanted her husband, and wanting him didn’t threaten her judgment anymore.
Ophelia held out her hand.
Gideon looked at it, then at her face. “What are you asking?”
“Come to our bedroom with me.”
His breath stopped. “Ophelia.”
“That’s still my name.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
He searched her face. She understood the care behind the pause, but she wasn’t going to let him protect her from a choice she was making clearly.
“I’m certain,” she repeated. “I want you. I want us. And if you ask me again before we reach the bedroom, I’m going to assume you’re stalling.”
“I have no interest in stalling.”
“Good.”
She took his hand and led him. In their bedroom, one lamp cast warm light across the bed. Ophelia stopped beside it and turned to Gideon. He’d followed her, but he still stood a careful step away.
“You may come closer,” she said.
“I’m trying not to rush you.”
“You aren’t rushing me.” She reached for his tie and pulled him toward her. “You’re making me do all the work.”
His mouth finally curved. “You said you wanted equal respect for both careers. I didn’t realize that included seduction.”
“This isn’t my career.”
“Thank God. I’d be badly outmatched.”
“You are badly outmatched.”
Then she kissed him. Gideon’s control lasted less than a second.
His hands closed around her waist, and his mouth opened over hers.
The kiss turned deep and hungry. Ophelia pushed the jacket from his shoulders and gripped the back of his shirt.
He made a rough sound against her tongue that sent heat through her.
She’d wanted him for weeks. His mouth was hungry, and his hands gripped her tightly. His body was familiar under her palms, but the way he waited for her response was new. He didn’t move past what she offered. He met her there.
Ophelia pulled at his tie again. “Off.”
“The tie?”
“Everything. Try to keep up.”
Gideon removed the tie and tossed it aside. She opened his shirt while he drew her top over her head. His gaze dropped to her breasts, and his expression changed.
“Say it,” she told him.
“I missed you.”
“That’s not what you’re thinking.”
“I’m thinking you’re beautiful.” His hands settled at her ribs, thumbs brushing underneath her breasts. “I’m thinking I’ve wanted to put my mouth on you since you kissed me at your sister’s door. I’m thinking restraint is becoming a serious problem.”
Her nipples tightened before he touched them. “Then stop restraining yourself.”
Gideon bent and closed his mouth over one nipple. Ophelia gasped. His tongue circled the hard tip before he sucked it deeper. One hand cupped her other breast, squeezing firmly as his thumb rubbed her nipple. Pleasure ran straight between her thighs.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Like that.”
He switched breasts, biting gently before soothing the spot with his tongue. Ophelia pushed her fingers into his black hair and held him where she wanted him.
“Harder,” she said.
Gideon sucked harder. Her head tipped back.
“You like giving orders here too,” he said against her skin.
“You like following them.”
“From you? Very much.”
His hand moved down her stomach and slipped under the waistband of her pants. His fingers found her through her underwear, and he groaned.
“You’re wet,” he said.
“For a few days now,” she admitted.
“What?”
“Don’t sound proud. You were still on probation before tonight.”
“Am I off probation then?”
She pressed against his hand. “Make me come and we’ll discuss it.”
“A clear performance measure.”
“Gideon.”
“I’m taking it seriously.”
He proved it by dropping to his knees. Ophelia’s breath caught as he pulled her pants and underwear down together. She stepped free, and Gideon looked up at her from the floor. His dark eyes were hot, but he didn’t touch her until she spread her legs for him and slid one hand into his hair.
“I want your mouth,” she said.
“Where?”
She stared at him. “You know where.”
“I want to hear you say it.”
Heat rose across her face. The old Ophelia might’ve softened the words or waited for him to decide what she wanted. She was done being convenient, even here.
“Lick my pussy,” she said. “And don’t tease me.”
Gideon’s eyes closed for one brief moment. “Fuck.”
Then he lifted one of her legs over his shoulder and put his mouth on her. His tongue dragged through her wet folds before circling her clit. Ophelia gripped his hair. He licked her with slow, firm strokes, then sucked her clit into his mouth.
“Oh, God,” she whimpered.
He repeated it, and her knees weakened. Gideon’s hand tightened on her hip to hold her steady while his tongue worked faster.
“Don’t stop,” she said. “Right there.”
He didn’t. He slipped one finger inside her, then a second. The stretch made her moan. He curled his fingers as he sucked her clit, finding the place that made her hips jerk toward his face.
“Again,” she demanded.
Gideon did it again. Pressure built fast. Ophelia tried to stay upright, but her body had no interest in dignity. She rode his fingers and held his head between her thighs.
“That’s it,” Gideon said, his voice rough against her wet skin. “Use me. Take what you want.”
The words pushed her over. Her orgasm hit hard, tightening her pussy around his fingers while her clit pulsed under his tongue.
She cried out his name and shook against him.
Gideon kept his mouth on her until the last sharp pulse eased.
Then he kissed the inside of her thigh and lowered her leg carefully.
Ophelia leaned against the edge of the bed, breathing hard. “You may be off probation.”
He looked up at her. His mouth was wet, his hair a mess from her hands. “A generous review.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
She pulled him to his feet and kissed him, tasting herself on his tongue. Gideon groaned and lifted her onto the bed. He came down over her, but Ophelia pushed against his chest.
He stopped at once. “What do you need?”
The question brought back the memory she hadn’t invited. Her hand on his body in this same bed. His brief response, his refusal. Then the quick attention he’d given Simone’s message after saying he was so tired that he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
Gideon saw something change in her face. “Tell me.”
“I remembered that night.”
His jaw tightened. “When you reached for me and I rejected you.”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to stop?”
Ophelia considered the question honestly. Her body was loose from pleasure, but desire still burned inside her. She didn’t want to stop. She wanted the memory to exist without deciding what happened next.
“No,” she said. “I want you to understand that I’m not doing this to prove I can keep your attention.”
“You don’t have to prove anything.” Gideon stayed still above her. “I wanted you that night, but I made my exhaustion your humiliation. Then I showed you I could find energy when I decided something mattered. I won’t ask you to forget that because I’m touching you differently now.”
The simple truth eased the tight place in her chest.
“Good,” she said. “Now take off your clothes.”
His dark eyes sharpened. “Yes, ma’am.”
Ophelia sat up while Gideon stripped. She watched each piece come off until he stood naked in front of her, his cock hard against his stomach. Hunger pulled through her again.
“Come here,” she said.
Gideon stepped between her knees. Ophelia wrapped one hand around his cock. His breath left him in a hard rush.
“Too much?” she asked.
“Not remotely.”
She stroked him from base to tip, feeling the smooth head and the thick vein under her palm. A drop of precum gathered at the slit. She rubbed it over the head with her thumb.
“Ophelia.”
“What?”
“You know what.”
She smiled. “I want to hear you say it.”
His laugh broke into a groan when she stroked him again. “I want your mouth on my cock.”
“Better.”
She leaned forward and licked the tip. Gideon’s hand closed around the back of her neck but didn’t push. Ophelia took him into her mouth, slowly at first, then deeper. His hips moved once before he stopped them.
“Fuck, you feel good,” he said. “So fucking good.”
She drew back, then took him again. His fingers tightened in her hair. Ophelia liked the loss of control in his voice, liked knowing she caused it, and liked even more that she could choose exactly how much to give. She sucked him harder while her hand worked the base. Gideon’s head tipped back.
“If you keep doing that, this ends too soon.”
Ophelia released him with a wet sound. “Then you’d better find a way to recover.”
“Cruel woman.”
“Less agreeable. You said you liked me this way.”
“I love you this way.”
The words were raw, not polished. Ophelia reached up and pulled him down to kiss her.
“I love you too,” she said against his mouth. “Now I want you inside me.”
Gideon kissed her once more, then reached toward the drawer beside the bed. He opened it, took out a condom, and tore the packet free. The square foil rested in his hand. Ophelia put her fingers over his.
“Don’t,” she whispered.
He froze. His eyes lifted to hers. “Don’t use it?”
“Don’t use it.”
Gideon didn’t move. “I need to understand what you’re asking.”
Ophelia sat up. The heat between them remained, but the question deserved more than a rushed answer.
“I always wanted children with you,” she said.
His face changed. “All those times you said it wasn’t the right time…”