CHAPTER FOURTEEN WITHOUT CHARM #4
He moved. The first thrust was shallow, testing the position.
Eleanor adjusted her hips, drawing him deeper and changing the angle until the friction made them both groan.
Gabriel gripped the table edge beside her.
Eleanor leaned back upon her hands, watching him.
No shame. No uncertainty. She moved to meet each stroke, setting the rhythm openly.
“Faster,” she said.
Gabriel gave her more speed. The table creaked. Downstairs, the press answered with another heavy movement. Eleanor laughed breathlessly. Gabriel nearly lost his rhythm.
“What?”
“We are maintaining production.”
He laughed too. The joy of it moved through the sex, making pleasure brighter.
Gabriel thrust more deeply. Eleanor’s breasts moved with each impact, and he bent to take one nipple into his mouth.
She cried out. Her legs tightened around him.
Gabriel’s hand slipped between their bodies.
He touched her where his mouth had brought her to release.
The sensitive flesh responded immediately.
“Too much?” he asked.
“No. Softer.”
He reduced the pressure. Eleanor moved against his hand and body together. Gabriel felt her beginning to tighten around him. His own release approached quickly.
“Look at me,” she said.
He lifted his head. Their eyes met. No mask. No role. Eleanor’s pleasure gathered while she watched him. Her breath caught. Her body clenched around his erection, each contraction drawing him closer to the edge. Gabriel slowed, fighting to remain present. Eleanor reached up and touched his face.
“You may let go.”
The permission undid him. Her climax came first, a deep shudder passing through her as Gabriel continued touching her.
She cried his name, eyes still open. Gabriel followed moments later.
He thrust deeply and reached release with a rough groan, his forehead dropping against hers.
For several breaths, neither moved. The table remained intact. Gabriel lifted his head.
“Respectable publishing has unexpected advantages.”
Eleanor’s smile appeared slowly.
“Do not become attached to the furniture.”
“I intend to endow a stronger table.”
“You will not invest.”
“A wedding gift.”
“Still suspicious.”
He kissed her. Then withdrew carefully. Eleanor winced slightly. Gabriel noticed.
“Tender?”
“A little.”
“We should stop.”
She looked toward the rug near the fire.
“For several minutes.”
His body reacted despite the recent release.
Eleanor saw and laughed softly. Gabriel disposed of the sheath, cleaned them both with water from the office basin and spread the rolled rug properly before the fire.
It was not thick, but several discarded wrapping blankets softened the boards beneath it.
They lay together naked. The second intimacy began without urgency.
Gabriel traced the curve of Eleanor’s shoulder while she rested beside him.
Firelight moved across her skin. The room had grown warmer, though rain continued against the windows and the press below had finally gone quiet.
Quinn had either gone home or chosen tact.
Eleanor’s fingers followed the scar across Gabriel’s side. He did not flinch.
“Do you still believe love traps people?” she asked.
“Yes.”
The answer surprised her. Gabriel continued before concern could form.
“It can. Anything powerful can become a weapon.”
“Then what has changed?”
“I no longer believe the possibility means we must refuse it.”
Eleanor looked at him. Gabriel touched her cheek.
“I trust you to tell me when love begins feeling like control.”
“And you?”
“I will tell you when fear begins calling itself freedom.”
Her expression softened. This time their kiss began quietly.
No frantic need. No celebration requiring immediate expression.
Eleanor’s mouth moved against his with slow tenderness.
Gabriel tasted the promise of ordinary days within it: mornings, arguments, work, fear admitted before it became departure.
He touched her breast gently. The nipple tightened beneath his thumb.
Eleanor shifted closer. Their bodies responded again, less urgently but no less completely.
Gabriel moved his hand between her thighs.
She was sensitive after two releases. He touched lightly.
“Too much?”
“Not there yet.”
He moved lower, entering her gently with one finger.
Eleanor exhaled. Her hand wrapped around his recovering erection.
They pleasured one another slowly, keeping their faces close enough to share breath.
No one directed at first. They adjusted through movement, listening to every small reaction.
Gabriel’s body hardened fully beneath her hand.
He kissed her throat. Eleanor’s fingers tightened.
“I love you,” she said.
The words came during stillness. Not at the height of pleasure. Not while her body made judgement difficult. Gabriel stopped breathing. Eleanor looked into his eyes.
“I love you.”
His first instinct was to smile. He did not. His second was to make the answer beautiful enough to deserve her. He abandoned that too. Emotion tightened his face. Gabriel lowered his forehead to hers.
“I love you,” he said, and his voice broke upon the final word.
Eleanor’s arms came around him. He buried his face against her neck.
For several breaths, the man who had made charm appear effortless could not speak at all.
She held him. Not because he had provided pleasure.
Not because he was entertaining or useful.
Because he was loved. The knowledge entered every place in him that had once expected affection to be followed by pain.
Gabriel lifted his head. Eleanor touched the dampness near one of his eyes without comment. He kissed her palm.
Then her mouth. Their bodies came together again with no urgency beyond closeness.
Gabriel opened another sheath and prepared himself while Eleanor watched, her hand resting over his heart.
He moved above her. Face-to-face. Eleanor opened her thighs and welcomed him between them.
Gabriel entered slowly. The tenderness of the position overwhelmed him more than the printing table had.
Their bodies joined with deliberate care.
Eleanor wrapped one leg around his hip while her hands moved over his back.
He remained deep inside her without moving. She felt everything. So did he.
“Stay,” she whispered.
“Always when chosen.”
Then he began. Slow strokes. Unhurried. Their eyes remained open.
Gabriel touched her face, her breast and the place where their bodies met.
Eleanor moved beneath him, guiding without words until the angle pleased them both.
Pleasure built gradually. This joining held no performance and no attempt to reach release quickly.
Each movement seemed to confirm the truth already spoken.
I love you. I am here. You may choose. Gabriel kissed her between every breath. Eleanor’s body tightened around him.