Page 28 of Prince She Shouldn't Crave
Her whole life she’d been waiting to hear those words. Confirmation of what she’d hoped, then believed. That Gabriel acknowledged her value as a person, when most of the time she’d felt either dismissed, or invisible. Finally, someone had given voice to an unmet need she’d carried for years. To be seen for who she was, to be seen as worthy. It was overwhelming, like a burden lifting, even if the sensation lasted for only a night.
‘You have no idea what that means to me.’ The burn of tears pricked at her eyes, and she blinked them away.
‘I fear I do,’ he said, ‘and that makes the world an unfair place.’
Lena tilted her head up, and her lips parted. She craved his touch, his kiss. To do something to channel this emotion that was banked up inside her, though she had no idea how to initiate things. What to do with all the feelings threatening to overwhelm her.
‘Life’s unfair. We just have to snatch what joy and pleasure we can when it’s offered, and live the rest the best way possible.’
Gabriel shut his eyes for a moment, took a deep, slow breath, then opened them again. It was as if something had changed. His jaw clenched, nostrils flaring in a kind of determination.
‘You know what’s bound to happen if you don’t leave? You know where this is heading?’
‘Yes.’
‘Tell me you want it as much as I do.’
‘I want you more than my next breath,’ she said.
‘Thank God.’
She wanted to lose herself in him, and his body. But she knew that she might just find herself as well. Although there were rules, she was sure. Unspoken ones, which she needed to voice.
‘Gabriel, I know it’s just for tonight. I know what we are—’
He placed a finger gently on her lips where it burned like a brand. His other hand settled on her waist as Gabriel slipped his arm around her, and she craved for him to touch every part of her, to kiss her, to fill the terrible emptiness gnawing deep inside.
‘There’s no difference between us. We’re two people who want. Tonight’s all we have, so I plan to give you the world for one evening,’ he murmured as he dropped his head to hers, and their lips touched—his mouth soft, coaxing. The tenderness of him in this moment, as if giving thanks, as if fusing her to him. He tightened his hold and deepened the kiss. She opened for him, their tongues touching. She didn’t have time to be shy. Sensation overwhelmed her. She pressed against his body, into the hardness of him, relishing his arousal, knowing she’d done this to such a magnificent man. It gave some truth to her statement that she had all the power here, though she felt the scales tipping at his masterful touch.
He pulled away. She didn’t want to let him go. His breath came in heavy gusts. Gabe took her hand.
‘What you do to me,’ he said, and placed it on his groin. He was so hard—the feel of him made her ache inside. She clutched him and stroked through the fabric. He moaned, the sound deep and carnal, making her catch fire. Tremble with need.
‘Come to bed. Let me make love to you,’ he said.
There was only ever one answer for her.
‘Yes.’
He swept her into his arms. This wasn’t like the moment on the terrace. This was something else, purposeful, almost romantic, if she didn’t know this was all they could have. Hestrode into the bedroom and placed her down gently at the end of the bed, looking at her feet in their strappy gold sandals.
‘Shame there are no heels.’
Lena wanted to saynext time, but there were rules and she’d stick by them. ‘You just want me to fall into you so you can catch me. I know your style.’
He laughed deep and low, the sound rumbling right through her. ‘I wanted to feel them digging into my back as you screamed in pleasure underneath me.’
Lena almost dissolved on the spot in a puddle of need. What could she say in response? She had nothing in her repertoire. Luckily Gabriel knew exactly what to do. He undid the tiny buttons at the side of her waist, holding her dress in place.
‘You’re like the most precious gift for me to unwrap.’
The front of the dress fell open. Then he moved forward and unclipped the snap between her cleavage that kept the bodice together, trailing his lips up her neck to her ear.
‘Beautiful,’ he murmured as goosebumps showered over her skin.
Lena shivered with the pleasure of it. She wanted him to unwrap her, to unravel her, to pull her apart at the seams. She could put herself back together in the morning, but right now, she was thankful for his control. He reached to the other side of the dress, where ties held it together inside. Slowly, he undid one bow, then the next, until the skirt came apart, and he stood back, staring at her, his mouth partly open, looking deliciously dishevelled.
‘I need to be inside you,’ he said.
