Page 20 of Devotion

“Not what?”

I don’t answer, dropping my eyes and wishing I’d thought more about my words before I’d spoken.

“I asked you a question, Jess. Answer me.”

He’s not mean. He’s never mean. But he is usually direct, and his authority is evident in his brief order.

“He didn’t want me to look cheap and blowsy,” I admit, not able to meet Gabriel’s eyes. “Because of my body and the shape of my face, he thought that’s how I would look with a hairstyle like the other girls wear.”

Gabriel doesn’t say anything, so I risk a glance up to check his face. His eyes are narrowed, focused on an empty spot in the air.

“He wasn’t trying to be insulting,” I say quickly. Barrett didn’t do anything wrong, and I don’t want Gabriel to make a big deal about it. It was different with Poppy. That needed addressing. This doesn’t. “That’s his job. To help us look our best for the palace.”

“All right,” Gabriel murmurs, his tone matching his disapproving expression. “In that case, you can wear your hair up like usual whenever you’re in public. But if you want to wear it down in our rooms, that’s fine. I think it looks pretty this way.”

A shudder of pleasure runs through me. There’s no way I can hold back the shaky smile I aim up at him. “Okay. Thank you.”

For just a moment, something might have softened on his face, but it’s gone before I can wrap my mind around exactly what the expression means.

Gabriel glances at the clock. “Shit, I’ve got to get dressed. You’ll probably get most of the day to yourself—I think these meetings will last for hours.”

“I’m sorry. I know you hate days like this.”

He makes a face and gulps down the last of his drink. “I really do.”

The day passes exactlyas Gabriel predicted. He’s gone all morning and even longer.

By midafternoon, I’m expecting not to see him until dinnertime, and I’m trying not to be upset because that means I won’t be able to pleasure him today.

It’s fine. It happens. It’s not something to make a fuss about. But I’m resigning myself to a long, boring afternoon when the door to the room swings open.

I sit up straight with a surprised jerk as Gabriel strides in, looking hot and annoyed and rumpled. “Your meeting is over?”

“No.” He sounds decidedly pissed. “There are hours more left. It’s like torture. But we took a break.” He collapses into his desk chair and then pushes it backward and turns toward the small rug. “Come do me real quick before I have to go back.”

I’m stunned. So surprised it takes a few seconds for my mind and body to catch up to what he said. He’s making a familiar summoning motion toward me when I orient myself enough to stand up.

I don’t actually know how long of a break from the meeting he has, so I ask, “Do you want me to start with a back rub?”

“No time for that today.” His expression is tense and still slightly frustrated—no doubt the result of that endless meeting—as he puts his hands on my upper arms and guides me down to my knees in front of him. He seems impatient and just a little pushy as he adjusts his position in the chair while I undo his trousers, and then he moves my head toward his groin when I quickly free his cock.

He’s not aroused yet, but he feels urgent somehow. His hands are firm as he holds my head in position. It excites me so much my heart is hammering as I take his penis in my mouth and suck it until he’s fully erect.

“Fuck yes,” he breathes out, leaning back in the chair once he’s fully aroused. “That’s what I need.”

Thrilling in response to his rasped words, I bob my head eagerly as I apply rhythmic suction.

“I need it harder. Really suck me good. There you go. Now you have it.” He’s moving my head back and forth at the rhythm he wants as his body tenses and heats up. “Now you’re doing better. Good. That’s really good. I need it just like that.”

I’m sucking for all I’m worth since he seems so urgent today. Almost needy if that word could ever be applied to a man as completely contained as Gabriel. I’m excited by both his mood and his verbal instructions and praise, so I keep moaning shamelessly around a mouthful of his cock.

“Oh fuck, you’re doing good now. Can you take me a little deeper? There it is. That’s what I need.”

I didn’t put my hair up today, so he’s got the fingers of both hands fisted in it, using the grip to move my head.

“Fuck, I’m almost… Fuck, oh fuck!” He comes on the last choked word, arching his back as his hips rock jerkily up toward my mouth.

I’m so lost in sensations that I forget my basic skills and don’t slide his cock out of my mouth before he comes, so he ends up spurting his semen right into my throat. I swallow it reflexively, still sucking hard around his shaft as he works through the spasms of release.

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