Page 69 of Devotion

He unties his pool robe as he holds my gaze in the mirror. “You’re all dressed.”

“Yes.” I blink. “The motor is picking me up soon.”

“I guess that means you’re excited for your day off.” He lets his robe fall off his shoulders and onto the polished tile floor.

Instinctively, my eyes stray down from his face to his mostly naked body. His skin is still damp. The lines of his shoulders and arms are strong and leanly sculpted. His chest hair is a bit ruffled. His belly is slightly soft above the wet waistband of his swimsuit. He’s so incredibly attractive. Every inch of him.

“I’m excited to see my family. And to see somewhere different from the Capital. I never have before.”

“I know. I’m glad you’re getting the chance now.”

“I guess you’re probably going to work all weekend.” I’ve lost focus on my hair, so half of it has slipped out of the bun. I have to start over again.

“Probably. What else am I supposed to do without you for two days?”

“It’s not that long.”

“It feels like a long time. I haven’t been without you for more than twelve hours at a time in almost six months.”

“I know.” I slide in the final pin and smooth back a few flyaways. Reposition the cameo locket so it’s not lopsided. A familiar pretty face looks back at me in the mirror. Neat hair. Large brown eyes. Rosy cheeks. A glimpse of dimples. It’s the same face it was when I arrived in the palace a year ago, but I feel like an entirely different person.

He must notice the way I’m watching myself. He steps closer, his front brushing against my back. “You’re beautiful.”

I smile at the soft words.

“Don’t meet a stranger in Saint Louis, fall in love with him, and decide to stay there.” The sardonic tone is characteristic of him, but something serious is underlying it.

I recognize it. My breath hitches as I check his expression in the mirror. “Gabriel.”

“Yes?”

“You can’t possibly think I’m going to do that.”

“I was teasing.”

I spin to face him, bringing my hands up to palm both sides of his jaw. “I’m your partner.”

“I know you are.”

“That means something.”

“I know it does.”

“Being a partner is for life unless you trade me for someone else. You’re never getting rid of me.”

He swallows hard. “Good.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow night.”

“Okay.” His voice is slightly thick now. “I’ll be here. Trying to work. And waiting for you.”

I’m so touched by what he’s revealed in the dry words that I pull his head down and stretch to kiss his mouth.

I usually let him initiate kisses since it’s not a normal partner activity, but I need it right now and he does too.

He deepens the kiss almost immediately with a fervor that startles me. Soon we’re all over each other. He’s making hungry sounds into the kiss as he pushes me back so the edge of the vanity surface rubs against my bottom. It almost hurts.

His cock has grown erect in his swimsuit. The wet fabric does nothing to hide the shape as it lengthens and hardens. I reach down with one hand so I can wrap my fingers around him. He grabs handfuls of my long skirt and hikes it up.

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