Bride for a Night

“Yes,” she whispered.

Tugging the nipple between his lips, Gabriel skimmed his hand down the length of her spine, lingering on the curve of her buttocks. His erection twitched at the sensation of her soft, feminine flesh beneath his hand. He could spend the entire day exploring her from the top of her tousled curls to the tips of her tiny toes.

Or perhaps not, he conceded as she shifted to brush against his aching cock.

Such a delectable exploration might have to wait until he had sated his burning lust.

More than once.

“Touch me,” he pleaded softly, allowing his hand to continue down the back of her thigh, urging her legs to part.

She hesitated only a moment before he felt the shy brush of her fingers down his back. He growled, stunned by the raw pleasure at her timid caress. He did not know how it was possible for an untutored innocent to set him on fire, but there was no denying her power.

Returning to claim her in a kiss of masculine demand, he used his tongue to urge her lips apart, bliss clenching his muscles as he at last gained access to the sweet warmth of her mouth.

She tasted of all the things in life that were good and decent. He wanted to capture that goodness, as if it could heal his jaded soul.

He trembled, his breathing ragged as her hand slid over his ribs to search the tense muscles of his chest. Distantly he was aware of the rain pelting against the roof tiles and the occasional streaks of lightning that outlined the shutters, but wrapped in the warm cocoon of the barn he allowed himself to become lost in the sensations searing through him.

Taking care not to startle Talia, Gabriel smoothed his fingers up the inner flesh of her thigh, tracing aimless patterns as she threatened to stiffen at the intimate contact.

“Trust me, Talia,” he murmured, scattering hot kisses over her face.

“Yes.”

Something shifted inside Gabriel at the soft word. Something so significant that he did not dare examine it too closely.

With a shake of his head at his ridiculous fancy, he set about stirring her to a fever pitch of desire.

His kisses became more heated as he followed a path over her cheek and down her throat. He paused to lick and suckle her straining breasts before he moved down her quivering stomach.

Gabriel lifted his head, capturing her darkened gaze as he settled between her legs, his fingers sliding delicately through her feminine heat.

“Oh,” she gasped, a flush of pleasure staining her cheeks.

He chuckled, slowly replacing his fingers with his tongue. She gave a small shriek that settled into a groan of ecstasy as her eyes slid shut.

And it was ecstasy.

Paradise.

Over and over he teased at her tiny bud of pleasure before dipping his tongue into her body, bringing her to the edge of completion before pulling back.

Her eyes flew open, her gaze laced with need. “Please…Gabriel.”

“Yes,” he choked out, unable to wait another moment.

Gathering her in his arms, he rolled onto his back, shifting until she was perched atop him. Her eyes widened at the unfamiliar position and, pressing her hands against his chest, she regarded him in puzzlement.

“This will be more comfortable for you,” he muttered, barely able to speak as her legs naturally draped on either side of his hips, her pelvis pressed perfectly against his arousal.

She bit her bottom lip. “I am not certain what to do.”

His heart squeezed. She was so beautiful with her hair tumbled over her bare shoulders and her body flushed with need.

“I will show you,” he assured her, reaching to guide her hand to his straining erection.

The breath was slammed from his body as she gingerly curled her fingers around him, nearly unmanning him. Gods. He was supposed to be a sophisticated lover, not a randy schoolboy.