Scandal and the Runaway Bride (Heirs to an Empire 1)

“I know,” she answered. “I feel the same. And I felt so wrong, too. Because you’re Stephen’s brother. I was supposed to be the problem and you were supposed to be the enemy, and honestly, after about twenty minutes I couldn’t think of you that way.”

“My brother’s a damned fool.”

“Let’s make that the last time we mention your brother tonight, shall we?” She curled in closer. “Tonight is about you and me. Only you and me.”

And then Gabi leaned forward and touched her lips to his, something they hadn’t done since the olive grove.

He tasted like beer and hints of espresso and cream from the tiramisu, and a particular flavor that was just Will. His lips opened and invited her in, and she made a little noise of surrender as she pressed herself closer, looping her knees over the arm of the chair and wrapping her other hand around his neck. He leaned forward a little, bracing her back with one strong arm, and deepened the kiss.

And still he didn’t hurry. Instead they took their time, kissing on her balcony, letting the lights of Perugia come on, blinking and twinkling as darkness settled.

His hand slid out of her hair and over her shoulder, then down over her breast.

“Mmm.” She arched into his palm, loving the sensation. “That feels so good.”

In response, his thumb flicked over her nipple, and she gasped into his mouth. “Will...”

“We should go inside, before we give your neighbors a free show,” he suggested.

She knew he was right. Once inside, she led him through the flat to the stairs, and began the climb to her bedroom. The air was warmer as they approached the second floor, and once inside her bedroom, she went to the window, opening it wide to let in the cooling air.

“I’m sorry it’s so warm,” she apologized.

“Don’t be. It’ll be cooler with our clothes off.” He grinned at her again, and she figured her whole body fl

ushed at his suggestion. Goodness, she wasn’t some green virgin. Why did he have the power to embarrass her so?

“Are you nervous, Gabriella?”

“A little.”

“Me, too.”

“Why are you nervous?” she asked.

“We may only have tonight,” he said, “but it feels important, don’t you think? I don’t want to screw it up.”

“Oh, Will. You couldn’t. I promise.” She went to him. “You’re the most decent man I’ve ever met. You’re handsome and sexy and kind and funny and you make me crazy. I want to touch you everywhere and have you touch me. I want you to kiss me like you never want to stop. I want you to make love to me, Will. Because I trust you. I trust you with me, and that isn’t something that happens very often.”

Especially not now, after living a lie for so long. But Will...he was different. She knew it deep inside, where it mattered.

He didn’t answer. He gathered her in his arms for a passionate kiss that emptied her brain of anything but him. She fumbled with the buttons of his shirt; he pulled her top over her head, leaving her standing in her bra and trousers. Wordlessly she reached for the button and zip on her pants and let them drop to the floor, stepping out of them to stand before him in lacy peekaboo panties that matched the bra. His nostrils flared as he looked at her, his eyes glowing in the twilight of the room. Then he undid the button of his jeans and took them off, so he was standing in a pair of dark boxer briefs.

“Touch me, then,” he invited, and she closed the distance between them in a nanosecond. His breath hissed as she pressed against him, skin to skin, and cupped him in her hand.

“God,” he groaned. “I didn’t expect that.”

“I’m not shy,” she replied, moving her hand. “I want all of this, Will. I want to give and I want to take. Oh, your skin is so warm.” Her abdomen grazed his, and she marveled at the beautiful feeling of skin against skin. Was there anything sexier?

For a while they took their time exploring, touching here, kissing there, learning what the other liked, where the sensitive spots were. He reached behind her and unclasped her bra with one hand, and she wrapped her arms around his neck so that she was pressed firmly against him. She couldn’t get enough of that feeling. There were no barriers between them, not physically and not emotionally, either. Gabi couldn’t remember a time when she’d been this naked with someone. She’d been too afraid. Too worried about trying to be “right.” She didn’t worry about that with Will. He seemed to want her just as she was.

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her the short distance to the bed, then laid her down and stretched out beside her, on his side so that his left hand made trails over her breasts, her belly, the tiny bit of fabric between her legs. He braced his weight on his right arm and let his lips follow the path of his hand, until she wasn’t sure how much more she could stand.

When she thought she might weep or else somehow come out of her skin with wanting, he shed his briefs and skimmed her panties down her legs. “In the drawer,” she whispered, turning her head to look at the small stand beside the bed. “There should be a condom in there.”

He opened the drawer and found the tiny foil packet. Then there was nothing holding them back. They met equally and enthusiastically. If Gabi were only going to have this one chance to be with him, she wanted to make it something to remember.

There was no particular rush; once Will paused and gripped the pillows beside her head, clenching his teeth. “Not yet,” he ground out. “I want it to last.”