“Please.” My eyes stay locked on his and electricity crackles between us as indecision plays out across his face. I want to chase this feeling. To know I’m not broken beyond repair, and I think Gabriel can give me that.
“You said we could be broken together,” I remind him.
His gaze rakes over my face, looking for any sign of indecision, but he won’t find one. I’m sure about this, or at least as sure as I can be.
He licks his lips and his eyes flick to my mouth, a hungry look taking over his expression. “Are you sure?” His voice is husky and I squeeze my legs together as I nod in confirmation.
“Yes.”
“We’re not having sex.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he raises one hand to stop me.
“I’m not saying I don’t want to.” He pulls me impossibly close, pressing the hard length of his erection against my abdomen to show me the extent of his desire. “But, you’re not ready. And I’m not going to take advantage of you.”
I chew on my bottom lip, feeling the sting of his rejection, but nod my head anyway, accepting defeat until he adds, “That doesn’t mean I can’t make you feel good.”
My head jerks up and he grins.
“Would you like that?” he asks. “You want me to make you feel good?”
CHAPTER 18
GABRIEL
Fuck, she’s beautiful. My instinct is to roll her to her back, settle myself between her legs, and bury myself between her thighs, but doing that would be taking this—whatever it is—too far. I meant what I said to her. She’s not ready. Not for sex. Maybe not even for what I have planned.
I’m flying blind here. Something obviously happened to her. I don’t know how far to push her. What is and isn’t okay. I’m letting instinct guide me and praying that if I fuck up, she lets me know and forgives me.
Biting her full bottom lip, she nods her head.
“I need words, Cecilia. Do you want me to make you feel good?”
“Yes.” The word comes out breathy.
My smile widens. “You get uncomfortable, you tell me. Understand?”
Her brows pinch together.
“I mean it,” I tell her and brush my fingers along her cheek. “Trust goes both ways. You need to trust that I’ll make you feel good. And I need to trust that you’re brave enough to tell me to stop if it becomes too much.”
She swallows hard. “Okay.”
“Okay?” She needs to be real fucking clear here. There’s zero room for misunderstandings.
“If I get uncomfortable, I’ll ask you to stop.”
Not good enough. “No.” She stiffens in my arms, but I don’t let it deter me. “If you get uncomfortable, you’lltellme to stop. No asking, Cecilia. This is your show. Your rules. Got it?”
Another nod. Good.
Without any further fanfare, I lean in and capture her mouth. She responds to me immediately, her mouth opening beneath mine and granting me entry to slide my tongue into her mouth. God, she tastes good. Kissing her, I let my hands wander down her body until I’m cupping her ass. I give in to the impulse to squeeze it between my palms and she moans into my mouth. Fuck.
Releasing her, I trail my hand over her body, getting her familiar with my touch as we make out like teenagers for a full ten minutes. When she’s boneless in my arms, I take a risk and push my hand beneath the hem of her shirt, shoving it up to expose her full, pert breasts. She sucks in a harsh breath as soon as the cool air hits her skin, but she doesn’t push me away or tell me to stop. Her eyes are hooded, filled with a mix of desire and trepidation.
I make it a mission to ensure only the desire remains.
Tugging down the cup of her bra, I release her lips to trail kisses down her neck and collarbone. Her back arches, pressing her tits into my hands, and I use the movement to roll her onto her back as I tweak her nipples. They harden beneath my touch and she starts to squirm on the mattress. I know she wants more, but she’s too shy to ask for it.
