The Forgotten Gallo Bride

‘Tomas,’ she implored him rawly. ‘Please take me.’

But he drew her nub into his mouth again and pulled, tossing her into that delicious abyss alone to scream loud and harsh as ecstasy overwhelmed her.

* * *

She didn’t know how long it was until she opened her eyes again, but when she did it was to find him leaning over her and watching her close, one arm either side of her bared body. She couldn’t move if she tried. But as he gazed down at her she slowly became aware of how she must look. A wanton woman, pleasured to within an inch of her life, spreadeagled before him. Not even in a bed, but on his kitchen table—as if she were the late-night dessert for him to feast on. And he had.

But now that sombre expression was back in his eyes.

‘You should get to bed,’ he said as he straightened away from her.

Oh, no, he couldn’t do that to her again. His expression remote, he took her hands in his and tugged her into a sitting position.

He stepped back, almost angry.

Her courage crumbled. ‘I’m not wearing anything,’ she mumbled.

She wanted to get her clothes. Wanted to cover up and hide and run away to privacy to process what on earth had just happened. Most of all how he seemed to have rebuilt those barriers so horribly quickly. Unless they’d not really come down at all?

‘Leave them.’

It was a harshly given order.

She was about to argue, determined to, but he didn’t give her a chance. He gripped her hand in his and marched, not bothering to turn off the lights as he left the kitchen.

He held her hand as she walked alongside him up the stairs, unable to speak for fighting the disappointment crashing over her in waves. Those moments in the kitchen had been the best of her life. These were now not far from the worst. She was naked—utterly naked. And he was not.

She shivered as cold set in, covering her skin in goosebumps. Inwardly she tried to process what had happened, but all she could think was that he wasn’t satisfied. It was over and it had been so unfair. And she was so selfish all she wanted was more.

But he didn’t. She could feel him pulling away with every step they climbed.

That disappointment morphed into anger. What had that been about? Had he wanted to secure her silence by seducing her?

Her heart turned to cinders as mortification burned her inside out. She was both hot and cold and so horribly uncomfortable, all she wanted to do was get away so she could hide how wounded she felt.

But he stopped by her door. For a moment he stood stock-still, not looking at her, as if he was picking his words with care.

‘I shouldn’t have—’ He broke off as he turned and finally met her gaze.

He huffed out a breath. ‘Don’t look at me like that,’ he muttered angrily, his hand tightening on hers.

‘Like what?’

‘Like—’ He broke off again, his expression tense.

‘Like what? Like I’m confused? Like I feel used?’ She squared her shoulders, damning the embarrassment to hell. She was naked and he’d tasted every inch of her body and made her more sensually aroused than she’d ever been in her life. And all of a sudden she was so cross with him because he hadn’t let her do the same for him. ‘Like I’m furious with you?’

CHAPTER SIX

‘Please.’

‘YOU FEEL USED?’ he snapped.

She didn’t get the chance to stalk off and slam the door in his face. Because he slammed into her—his kiss an explosion of passion and rage and need. He walked her backwards so quickly she stumbled and in the end he simply picked her up and dumped her in the centre of her huge bed. He instantly followed, his weight gloriously heavy and pressing her deep into the mattress.

‘I want to make you feel good too,’ she snapped her explanation when she finally got the chance to speak. ‘I want you to—’

Her words were crushed again in his kiss. She held him to her as she had on the kitchen table. But she was over those jeans. As sexy as he’d looked wearing nothing but them, she knew he’d look better utterly naked.

‘Let me...’ she whispered, her mouth tender when he finally lifted his head long enough for her to speak again. ‘I want to touch you. Turn you on. Make you—’

She broke off, finally realising the bluntness of her words. Words she’d never have dreamt of snapping to anyone ever. But they’d spilled out in her anger.

‘You think I don’t want you?’ He shifted off her to lie on his side facing her. His anger was as apparent in the rigidity of his muscles. ‘Touch me and find out for yourself.’

For a split second she just stared at him. But then she reached out.

She didn’t really know what she was doing. She simply traced her fingers over his muscled chest and then she tracked lower, intently focused on what she wanted so much she shook with need. She struggled to undo the zipper, desperate to have him as naked as she was. Impatience made her fingers clumsy.

She heard his half-laugh and he moved, leaving the bed to stand and kick off his jeans. Her breath caught in her throat as she registered the magnificence of his physique. And the extent of that scar.

She scooted to the end of the mattress and reached out to touch him again before she thought better of it. Before he’d had the chance to get back on the bed. Before nerves made her shy. But instinct was riding her hard now—all she could do was touch him. Kiss him. Take him as deep as possible into her—wherever, however she could.

His breath hissed between his gritted teeth as she firmly palmed down his chest and curled her fingers around his rigid length. She glanced up at him, knew he was about to speak, but she held him fast and licked his tip just before he could.

His mouth parted, but no words came out. He stood, utterly rigid, his hot eyes staring at her.

She smiled—had she actually silenced him for a moment? Good. She kept her gaze on him as she lowered her head. Then she licked him again. She felt him jerk in her hand, so she tightened her grip then released to stroke upwards.

His breath hissed out again. She closed her eyes, and bent forward to totally take him into her mouth.

‘Zara...’

She was still a little unsure of what she was doing, but quickly discovered that trying to give him pleasure like this only increased her own arousal. She panted as she rocked her hips in time to her rhythmic sucking. Oh, hell, she was so hot, and she couldn’t get close enough again. Couldn’t touch him enough.

She heard him swearing in a guttural tone. Then he stiffened under her hands.

‘Zara,’ he whispered. ‘I... You...’

His hips jerked uncontrollably. She liked it and sucked him harder, deeper. That was the only answer she gave him.

He released a harsh sigh and combed his fingers through her hair, holding her head in place as he gave over to the urge biting him. She felt him trying not to thrust too hard but she wanted him to let go of his restraint altogether. Operating on blind instinct, she leaned closer and worked her hand that bit faster, rapidly tonguing his tip as she sucked as hard as she could.

His fingers were tight on her scalp as he tried not to push too deep into her. But she didn’t care. She was too pleased.

When he released her with a shuddering sigh, she drew back to look up at him and smile. Now she felt better. Now they were almost even. But he didn’t smile at her. His expression was fierce. He shoved her shoulders so she fell backwards onto the mattress.

‘Spread your legs for me, Zara,’ he ordered harshly. ‘I need to taste you again.’

This time she didn’t hesitate. Nor did he. He was there—kissing, sucking and rubbing right where she was wet and hot and almost hurting with hunger.

Relief swamped her for only a second before his sensuality sent her soaring. She wanted everything with him this time. Just this once.

‘Please, please, please.’ She couldn’t contain her moans. She gripped the bedclothes beneath her as she arched up, offering herself to him completely. But he didn’t

let her have her release.

Not this time.

‘I need to get something...’ he growled as he pulled away with sharp, leashed movements. ‘Just a second.’

That was when the reality hit her. He was going to give her exactly what she wanted.

‘There can’t be any consequences,’ he said as he emerged from her bathroom carrying an unopened box of condoms.

Not physical ones. But she already knew there’d be implications for her. And she didn’t care.

The dying firelight flickered, emphasising the angles and planes of his sculpted body with the warm glow. Her mouth smiled at the pure athleticism of him as he gritted his teeth and concentrated on the task of protecting them both. She wasn’t surprised by his preparedness—there was everything a guest could ever need in that bathroom. She was pleased. Aroused. And slightly terrified.

He glanced up and caught her watching heavy eyed, her lips parted in admiration and anticipation. A muscle flinched in his jaw.

Maybe it was just that he’d been alone so long and she was here. That was okay. She’d take it. She wanted to give him pleasure, and relief, even for just a little while.

‘Don’t look so worried,’ he muttered. ‘I might not remember many things, but I don’t think I’ve forgotten how this goes.’ He knelt on the bed and leaned over her.

It wasn’t as if she had the experience to help him. She should tell him. She knew she should tell him. But instinctively she knew that if she did, he’d stop and that was the last thing she wanted. He probably wouldn’t even notice. If she just went with it. He’d made everything else happen so easily. So beautifully.

She wanted this. She wanted this more than she’d ever wanted anything. With a fierceness she’d not known she had within her she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him close.

He kissed her again. It was more familiar now, yet she’d never get used to how intensely and quickly his kisses could rouse the total wanton within her.

‘You make it impossible for me,’ he growled as he braced over her and nudged her legs apart with his knee. ‘I cannot resist.’