Page 21 of Devotion

“Yes,” he breathes, almost inaudibly as his body is still jerking slightly with lingering hits of pleasure. “Yes, take all of it. Don’t stop.”

No matter how quietly he breathed out the words, I heard them, so I follow his instructions. I keep sucking him gently as his cock finally stills and then softens. And I don’t stop until he loosens his grip on my head.

He’s panting urgently when I straighten up, but he’s collapsed back in a sated sprawl in the chair, his eyes closed and his cheeks flushed darkly.

I stroke him a few times before I put his shaft back into his clothes. I stay on my knees between his legs until he finally opens his eyes.

“Thank you,” he says hoarsely.

“You’re welcome.”

“Shit, I need to go back to that damn meeting. He only gave us twenty minutes.”

“Okay.” I stand up reluctantly since it’s been fourteen minutes since he walked in the door. “Well, don’t be late.”

He groans as he pushes himself up to his feet, his eyes focused on my face. “Fuck,” he says at last. “I really needed that. Thank you.”

“I’m glad I could help. Now get going so President Vincent doesn’t get mad at you.”

He groans again but heads for the bathroom. When he’s done in there, he grabs his notebook and strides toward the door. He glances back at me one more time, but he doesn’t say anything else.

I’m all flushed and achy and jittery after he leaves. It feels like I’m going to jump out of my skin.

I go to the bathroom to wash up and cool down, but it doesn’t help. At all. My pussy is still throbbing, and it’s wrong.

Pleasing Gabriel isn’t about me. I’m not supposed to be aroused by it. I’m embarrassed and ashamed that I’ve reacted this way.

But no one else is around right now. He’s returned to the meeting, and I’m alone. So I lean against the door of the bathroom, bunch up the skirt of my dress, and tuck my fingers into my underwear. I rub my clit until I’m panting, and then I let out a little moan as the tension breaks in fast waves of pleasure.

I feel better afterward. At least physically.

But I need to be careful. The worst thing a partner can do is try to make it about her own pleasure. If I start to do that, I’ll never be able to take care of Gabriel in the way I’m required.

7

Three weeks later,on my sixty-third day as Gabriel’s partner, breakfast arrives earlier than normal, while Gabriel is still finishing his morning swim. I’m already dressed, so I chat with Nico about one of the cooks, who has accidentally gotten pregnant, until he leaves to continue delivering meals.

I’m checking out the large omelet and platter of fruit and waffle pieces when Gabriel strides into the room, still damp and smelling like salt water.

“Oh good, it’s here already,” he says when he sees me by the table. “I’m ravenous today for some reason.” He joins me in peering down at our breakfast.

“You didn’t eat all your dinner last night.” Unsurprisingly, he worked late yesterday. I brought his plate to the desk the way I always do, but after a few bites, he forgot about eating.

“That’s probably it. I’m going to take a quick shower first.” He grabs a triangle of waffle as he heads for the bathroom.

Because he’s hungry, I begin preparing his plate as soon as I hear the shower spray turn off. I’m placing a few strawberries next to the grapes and melon balls when he comes out wearing a thick white bathrobe.

He must be seriously hungry if he’s not taking the time to put on his clothes first.

I hand him the plate, and to my surprise, he doesn’t take it to his desk to work while eating.

He sits at one of the chairs at the table and forks off a bite of omelet. “They do have good food here.”

I’m fixing my own plate as I respond. “I know. It’s better than anything I’ve ever tasted.”

His eyes move from his plate to mine with a frown. “You gave me too much omelet.”

I divided the omelet in the proportions I always do—giving him two-thirds and me the rest. He usually eats without noticing. “You eat more than me, so I always give you extra. Plus it’s technically your food. Not mine. You’re the one who’s supposed to divvy it up.”

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