A Curse of the Heart

“Thank God, as I cannot wait a moment longer. There is no easy way to do this, but I promise you it will not be uncomfortable for long.”

She nodded as she caressed his back and shoulders, lifted her mouth to his to show she wanted him regardless. Despite the discomfort, she welcomed the intrusion as he entered her.

“Rebecca,” he whispered as he pushed deeper. And as she stretched to fit him, the look on his face suggested he adored the feel of her.

He kissed her then, their tongues tangling with a rampant need, the hair on his chest brushing against her sensitive nipples as he pushed through her maidenhead, swallowing down her tiny shriek, making her forget it should feel anything other than divine.

Together they found their rhythm, rocking in unison, driving closer and closer to the blissful peak of their passion.

She could feel him moving inside her. Filling her, completing her, chasing away every lonely thought she’d ever had, and she didn’t want it to end. Her frantic hands clawed at the muscles in his back, scrambled lower to dig into his buttocks, to spur him on. Every part of her was made to fit with him. She clung on, anchoring him to her body, to her soul, as his thrusts became more desperate, harder and more frantic.

The feeling was upon her again. It started in the pit of her stomach, pooling and pulsating between her thighs, the waves of pleasure shooting down to her toes as her body sang to his tune.

“Oh, Gabriel, I … I.”

“Rebecca.”

Her breathless pants mingled with his guttural groans. She felt the muscles in his legs stiffen, heard his roar of satisfaction as she soared through some imaginary heaven.

When their breathing slowed he looked down at her, his gaze warm and tender and he lowered his head and kissed her softly on the mouth before collapsing in an exhausted heap.

As he lay sprawled across her, his back damp from over-exertion, his eyes closed in sated slumber, she knew he had not only claimed her body. He had claimed her heart and soul, too. And as she closed her eyes to join him in sleep, she did so in the blissful knowledge that she had fallen in love with Gabriel Stone.

Chapter 15

Gabriel woke from the wild, passionate dream to find a warm, feminine body curled next to him.

He felt her slender thigh draped over his leg, her hand splayed over his chest covering his heart, her breasts squashed against his ribs. And in her slumber, her breath tickled the hair on his chest like a gentle breeze. He had never felt so sated, so content. Yet somewhere deep inside, the desperate ache for her still gnawed away, and he knew he would take her again.

He would take her now if the opportunity presented itself.

Gabriel could not remember another time in his life when he’d acted so recklessly. To take an unmarried lady as a lover was scandalous, to take the daughter of an old friend, sinful. Falling prey to the weakness of his own desire was an entirely new experience.

As his mind replayed a series of lascivious images, a recount of their amorous encounter that did little to ease the ache between his legs, reckless did not even begin to describe his conduct.

Lost in the dizzying heights of his own release, he had forgotten to withdraw.

Bloody hell.

But that was not his only faux pas.

What sort of gentleman takes a lady’s virginity, collapses on top of her and then promptly falls asleep? Next time he would be more alert, more attentive. And he would not be so damn careless.

Would there be a next time?

The question bounced back and forth in his mind, challenging him for an answer before he settled on — definitely. Despite every foolish and sinful thing he’d done, the thought that he would never have her again, never taste her sweet mouth, never experience such bone-shattering satisfaction, was impossible to comprehend.

Even now, he had to fight the irresistible urge to roll on top of her and bury himself deep inside; the snug fit so deliciously tempting. Instead, he did something he knew he would regret. He gathered her closer to his chest, caressed her back with soothing strokes and tried to understand what the hell was happening to him.

He had sworn never to let anyone get this close. So why did he persistently ignore his own advice? Gabriel had known her for four days, yet it felt as though he had known her a lifetime. The thought unsettled him. If he felt this way after a few days, how would he feel after a month?

Needing a distraction, he eased her out of his grasp and climbed out of bed. The room felt cold. So he pulled the sheets over her naked body, swallowing down his desire as he did so, promptly throwing on his shirt and breeches.

It was strange how comfortable he felt having her in his private chamber. His house was his sanctuary, the only place he felt at peace. No other woman had managed to ease her way in. No other woman had found the secret door to his heart.

Dipping his fingers into the washbowl, he splashed his face with cold water. The water he should have used to wash away the evidence of his release.

Then another thought struck him — there would have been blood.