Throwing caution to the wind, she peeled off her cardigan. And then, before she let her insecurities talk her out of it, she quickly unhooked her bra, letting it slide away from her.
She quivered when she met his ravenous gaze. His eyes roamed her body with such blatant desire that it felt like a caress on her exposed skin. First, she watched his gaze slide across her bare flesh. Then saw him stare at her peaked nipples.
“You are gorgeous, you know that?” His voice was tight with the same raw need that burned behind his eyes. “It’s too bad you hide that perfect body under so many clothes.”
“You want me to walk around naked in the wintertime?” she asked with a sardonic laugh.
“Can you blame me for wishing you would?”
Gabriel pulled her to him again, his fingertips hot against her waist. He lifted his hand to cup her breast and then, seemingly desperate to explore her, he dragged his thumb across her nipple. His touch sent sparks of pleasure shooting through her and she tossed her head back with a moan.
Desire pooled between her legs, making her so hot and bothered she was already practically melting.
When he lowered his mouth to her nipple, she almost came apart. She moaned, more heat spiraling through her as he swirled his tongue against her flesh.
Without warning, Gabriel started to kiss a hot trail down her breast, then lower still across the plane of her stomach. Then he was on his knees in front of her, his wondrous mouth against her skin while he unbuttoned and then unzipped her jeans. With sure hands, he slid her jeans off and she stepped out of them, her legs shaking. Next, he found the waistband of her panties and started to slide the fabric down.
“Hold on.” With her panties still around her ankles, Jane stopped for a second to look down at him meaningfully. “We don’t have protection.”
He moved to the antique nightstand by the bed. Quickly, the opened the top drawer and retrieved a condom. “I do.”
Jane’s eyes widened. “You brought condoms halfway around the world with you? Why? Did you think you were going to be getting it on during your working vacation?”
“If you want to stop, just say the word and we can go back to our respective corners,” he said.
“I don’t want to stop,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound as desperate as she felt inside.
“Good. Because we’re both adults, right? I’m a single man, so I’m always prepared.” He paused. “Pretty sure you’re single, too, even though you’ve never actually said—”
She gasped, cutting him off. “Of course I’m single. You think I’d get naked in front of you if I wasn’t?”
“I wouldn’t mess around, either, but I’ve got to make sure, Jane,” he said firmly. “I’m not the only one here who might have ulterior motives.”
“My only motive right now is to screw the fear away.”
Shock flashed in his eyes and then he gave her a lazy smile. “I never know what you’re going to say next.”
She paused to discard her panties and got on the bed, peering up at him through her lashes. “We’ve talked enough, don’t you think?”
Keeping his eyes glued to hers Gabriel took off his shirt, then stripped off his pants, exposing more of his muscular physique to her. All he had on now were black boxer briefs, leaving almost nothing to her imagination now.
Damn, his body was even more perfect than she’d anticipated. Wide shoulders she knew she would barely get her arms around. Sculpted abs she ached to explore. Firm, muscular calves. There was no way his body got like that naturally. Only exercise accounted for a man being that toned. Which meant he was just as dedicated to staying in shape as he was everything else.
He caught her staring and flashed her a cocky grin before sauntering over to her. “You want to do the honors, or should I?”
Jane’s cheeks burned at that. Obviously, he was trying to figure out how badly she wanted to get him out of those boxer briefs. As desperate as she was for that, she wasn’t going to let on. “You know you’re dying to show me, so show me already,” she said in a casual tone that hid her burning need to see the rest of him.
Without hesitating for a second, he pulled off his boxer briefs.
Her eyes went wide. No wonder he was so arrogant. Gabriel was huge. From the base of his erection to the engorged tip, he was thick and perfect. So mouthwatering that she forgot how to think clearly.
When he sheathed himself with the condom she exhaled sharply, licking her lips as she watched.
Tired of waiting, Jane grabbed his hand and yanked him onto the king-sized bed with her.
Gabriel grinned. “Is this what you want, Jane?”
“Yes,” she said breathlessly. “Now get over here.”
He positioned himself between her thighs, the length of his hard body weighing down on hers. The weight of him was crushing, but oh so welcome. Being underneath a man of his size made her feel feminine and perfectly wanton. There was something slightly dangerous about surrendering herself to him that made her feel alive. Because this was a danger she was determined to control and then enjoy. Not like the danger that lurked outside the door. The danger of a dagger pressed into a still-beating heart. The image of the blood filled her mind, and her pulse quickened as she remembered it. With Gabriel here, even the threat outside was becoming a dark, taboo sort of thrill she didn’t dare admit to herself.
As he entered her with a savage groan, she felt her senses awaken. The heat of his body set her aflame. That piney masculine scent that was distinctly his and his alone
