I want to say something profound, but again, the words aren’t there. So instead, I lean in and kiss him where his heart resides. It’s a simple gesture, but one Gabriel seems to appreciate as his gaze locks with mine. Neither of us looks away, and in that moment, I realize just how intimate eye contact is. It’s something he’s denied me before when he was in control, but not now. Now I can see into his very soul, to the depths of his hunger… for me. It’s still hard to wrap my head around that, so I don’t even bother trying.
He groans when I move down to his pants, releasing his swollen cock beneath me. I stroke him with my palm, enjoying the feeling of his velvety flesh against my heated skin. His eyes are hooded now, and he is watching me with anticipation as I nudge him against my arousal. I use his shoulders to support myself as I wiggle my dress up around my hips, sinking down onto him slowly.
A mumbled curse whooshes from his lips, but his eyes are molten hot as he watches me rock my hips against him. This beautiful man, who has the power to do anything he wants to me, is giving me control. I know it isn’t easy for him, and I want to show him how much I appreciate this gift.
I roll my hips forward and back, taking him in and out in a torturously slow rhythm. He doesn’t move, and there’s something so erotic about that. I can see now why he likes to control because the power that I have in this moment is intoxicating. I capture his mouth with mine, and Gabriel doesn’t hold back as he kisses me possessively. It sparks the mounting need inside of me, and I reach for his hands, moving them to my waist.
He groans as I increase the pace of my movements, taking what I need from him. I throw my head back and let the passion take over, riding him until everything inside of me detonates. I collapse against him, milking out the tremors until there’s nothing left.
And then, in a moment of extraordinary bravery, I cup his face and bring his gaze to mine. “I love you, Gabriel,” I whisper.
He freezes beneath me, his body rigid as he stares back at me with assessing eyes. I know he’s probably heard it before from a lot of women who didn’t mean it. But I’m not one of them, and I want him to know that.
Minutes seem to pass as he searches my eyes, his cock still hard inside of me. We aren’t moving, just staring at each other. I feel vulnerable under his scrutiny… and nervous. I don’t know what he’s thinking, and I feel panic setting in. Gabriel sees it and wraps me in his arms and crushes his lips to mine. Instead of speaking, he starts moving inside of me again, and I don’t know what to make of that.
I fist my hands in his hair, never taking his eyes from mine.
“I didn’t mean to,” I sob. “But I do. God help me, I’m in love with you Gabriel Maddox.”
He grins and grunts at the same time, looking so fucking adorable I never want this moment to pass.
His thrusts grow quicker, his hands touching me everywhere as his lips lay claim to my neck. He sucks and nips at my skin until I’m certain he’s marked me, and then he shudders inside of me with a powerful growl.
He pulls me against his chest and strokes my back, nothing but the sound of our breaths filling the room. We lay there forever, not saying a word, and my eyes are growing heavy. He’s still inside of me, and I like that. I like that he hasn’t moved.
“You are so different, Victoria,” he whispers, stroking my hair away from my face.
I give him a gentle kiss, and then he scoops me into his arms and carries me down the hall. We pass by the room that we normally stay in, and I glance up at him. He doesn’t say anything, but when he opens the door, I know we’re in his bedroom.
I look around, surprised by the warmth of this room compared to the cold starkness of the other one. Gabriel sets me down on a plush California King bed with gray and blue blankets, and I sink in with pure delight, noticing it smells like him. Across the room, there’s a large dressing table, a bookshelf, and to my delight, a fireplace.
When he sees my face light up, he reaches for a remote on the nightstand next to me. With the push of a button, the fireplace blazes to life.
“Come here.” He motions for me.
He turns me around and unzips my dress, pulling it off and tossing it onto the chair. Then he pulls back the covers and lays me in his bed, curling up beside me. It’s blissful and warm and exactly where I need to be.