Chapter 14
fourteen
GAbrIEL
“Your Highness.”
Gabriel merely smirked at the woman currently dancing in his arms.
Genevieve kept the polite, society smile but he could tell she was seething underneath. He loved it when she seethed. “Your Highness. The king is mere steps away from us. It wouldn’t be good if you were overheard.”
“My father isn’t paying any attention to us.” He leaned in close, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered. “Besides, you know you want to.”
Her breath hitched and she stepped slightly back, not missing a step with the dance. “Your Highness.”
“I’d prefer you whisper my name like you did the last time we were together. Or the time before that. Or the time before—”
She glanced around, as if checking to see who else might have overheard. “Your Highness.”
“If you’re not interested in a dalliance at the ball, perhaps you’d prefer I kneel down and propose to you.”
Her feet stuttered, but he kept them deftly on beat to the music. “What?”
“I thought so. Meet me in our spot in ten minutes.”
“We shouldn’t.”
“Maybe not,” he admitted. “But we will.”
The music ended and he led her off the dance floor with a smile. She curtsied to him and he acknowledged it before he turned to find the partner he’d promised the next dance to. Though he didn’t particularly want to dance with her, doing so would draw attention away from his dance with Genevieve.
Ten minutes later, he had slipped away from the ball and was heading to a small sitting room just far enough away from the ballroom, only his two protection agents following.
He’d made this trek many times before, for many other women.
He couldn’t say he regretted those encounters, but now, having met the woman he wanted to spend his life with, he could say he wished he’d had fewer of them, for Genevieve’s sake.
He opened the door and she was sitting near the window, staring into the night sky. The lights were dim, but he could see her face, an almost resigned expression on it.
She stood immediately and curtsied. “Your Highness.”
He closed and locked the door behind him. “There’s no need for formality here. Aren’t we alone?” He glanced around the room, just in case he’d missed something or someone.
“We are alone.”
“Good.” He strode to her and took her in his arms, the skirt of her ballgown swishing against his legs.
“Wait.” She pressed her soft, well manicured hands against his chest and he wanted to rip his military dress uniform off and feel her skin against his.
“Why?” He took one of her hands and kissed her palm. “Why are we waiting?”
“We need to talk.”
He started kissing up her arm to her shoulder. “About what?”
“You said you wanted to propose.”
“And?”
“And! Your father doesn’t approve of me. He hasn’t since you told him I moved in without getting his permission first.”
“My mother likes you. My siblings adore you. I’m absolutely in love with you. That’s more than enough surely.” He nuzzled her neck and started to move towards the top of her strapless gown.
She was trembling slightly, whether from his kisses or the conversation he wasn’t sure, so he stopped to look into her eyes. “What are you really worried about?”
She stepped back and took a deep breath, then started pacing.
“What aren’t I worried about is a more accurate question.
We can’t get married if your father doesn’t approve.
He’d have to present our engagement to the Council and they won’t approve it if he doesn’t.
Not to mention, we’ll need to get engagement portraits done, then wedding portraits which include all of our families, including my abusive mother. And—”
He gently took her arm to stop her. “Do you want to marry me? If I could make those issues go away or minimize them, would you—could you—be happy married to me?”
She looked away, but he tilted her chin back to face him. “Be honest. I won’t get upset.”
She pursed her lips, smudging her lipstick slightly. “Truthfully? I’ve never been happier in my life than I have these last eight months with you. But—”
He cupped her face. “Then that’s all that matters. We’ll figure the rest out. I want you. You and no one else. You’ve bewitched me, Genevieve. Completely.” He took her in his arms again, kissing her with everything he had. “I don’t need an answer from you now.”
She was panting and clutching tightly to him. “I don’t recall being asked a question.”
He touched his forehead to hers. “That’s a fair point. I will ask you, and soon. Just think about it. But now, I don’t want you to think. I only want you to feel.”
His lips took hers again before moving to her neck and down to her chest. He kissed the top of her breasts before turning her around and moving her a few steps. Now her back was to his chest and they faced a mirror on the wall over a desk. “Now, you’re going to watch me fuck you.”
“Gabriel…”
“Is that a no? I know you love it.”
She moaned. “I do. I do love it.” She locked eyes with his in the mirror. “I love you.”
His entire body filled with a sweet warmth, then a burning fire. “Vie.”
“Gabriel.”
He unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor, and she stepped out of it. He carefully picked it up and laid it over a chair, then took off his military uniform and shoes and did the same, pulling out a condom from his pocket as he did.
Standing only in their underwear—he in boxers, she in panties, a bustier, and sexy heels—they rushed towards each other.
Their mouths clashed first and he knew without a shadow of a doubt, that he would never tire of kissing her, not ever.
His hands pushed down her panties, and hers pushed down his boxers. His hands undid her bustier and tossed it aside, and then they were both naked, bodies pressed against each other, hands roaming and lips taking.
He turned her in his arms to face the mirror again and watched his reflection as his hands teased her nipples and toyed with her folds below. He watched as her body tensed against him, as her body rode his fingers and strained for more.
He stepped back only long enough to put on a condom, and she braced her hands on the desk. He entered her in one swift thrust and she cried out.
His voice was gruff and low. “Are you okay?”
“Fuck yes. Don’t stop.”
“Never.” He pulled out to thrust again. “I’ll never stop when it comes to you.”
“Gabriel.”
He leaned over her, one hand twining with hers against the desk, the other roaming and teasing her nipples then clit, all while he continued thrusting. Over and over and over and over again.
“Surrender yourself to me.”
She shook her head, lost in the moment, lost in the sensations.
“You’re mine. Give yourself to me.”
“Gabriel…please!”
“Surrender,” he whispered low and deep. “Surrender yourself to me.”
“Oh. Oh!”
He felt her release building and he thrust faster and faster and faster until her pussy clenched around him.
She let out a long moan and he followed with his own release. Fuck, he couldn’t wait to take her bare, to fill her and claim her completely.
They remained standing for long minutes while they panted and caught their breath. She broke the silence first.
“We’ve been gone from the ball for a long time. People have probably noticed.”
He kissed her neck. “Are you really worried about that?”
“I’m worried about your father noticing.”
“Don’t worry about my father. He’ll understand.”
At her skeptical look, he smiled. “Just so you know, I already asked my father permission to marry you and he agreed. He’ll probably ask you for a dance once we return to the ballroom.”
She sighed. “Gabriel. Why didn’t you say earlier?”
“Because it’s so fun to tease you, in so many different ways. I could announce our engagement tonight. We do have a ballroom full of guests and an official photographer who can take pictures for the paper.”
“Is that my proposal? Because it’s not very good.”
He grinned, then stepped away to find his pants. He pulled out a small, square, velvet box.
“Gabriel?”
He knelt naked on one knee before his naked Vie and the box cricked open. Inside was a amethyst and diamond ring, arranged to mimic a purple rose. His Vie was just like a rose and she’d bloomed so much since he’d met her.
“My dear Genevieve, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”
Her hand reached for the ring, even while she said, “This is how you ask? When we’re both naked and sweaty and about to be found in a compromising situation by your father?”
He smiled even broader. “Is that a yes?”
The tension left her body and she replied softly, “Yes. Yes, I will marry you. I love you, Gabriel.”
He quickly stood and kissed her, twirling her in a circle before setting her down again.
He slid the ring on, kissed her again, this time gentle and sweet.
He wanted to take her again, but decided he could save that fun for later.
So they cleaned up, dressed, and snuck back into the party to announce their engagement.