Tempt Me (13 page)

Hadn’t she just been lecturing herself on not being led around by this man? Not letting her obsession cost her her pride? No woman in her right mind would say yes to such a crude offer. But Angelique was coming to realize she wasn’t in her right mind, and it was all his fault. He was a fraud. Pretending he chose to be isolated. Pretending he didn’t need anyone or anything. But she was on to him.

He wanted just sex? Well, so did she. “Just sex.” Her voice was more breathless than she’d have liked as she agreed, but his reaction was more than satisfying.

He shuddered against her, moaning against her mouth. “Where?”

Where what? What was he asking her? How did he expect her to think when she was so close to him? “What?”

Gabriel growled. “Fuck it.” He whirled her around and lifted her onto the small dining room table in the corner of the apartment. The same table she’d colored on as a child. Where she’d said her prayers before dinner. Done her homework.

God, why did that idea make her so hot?

He spread her legs and stepped between her thighs, his jeans rough against her bare flesh. He lifted his lips from hers to look into her eyes. “No going back, angel. Not this time.”

Thank God. Maybe that locket was lucky, after all.

SHE’D GIVEN HIM AN OUT. HE COULD HAVE LEFT, COULD
have walked away, unselfishly sparing her from what he was. On a good day he was a spoiled, arrogant jackass. The not-so-good days, which came more often than not lately, he was so much worse.

But he wasn’t one of the good guys. Never had been. He left the heroics to Angelique’s brother, to the patient Ben Adair.

Gabriel took what he wanted, when he wanted it. And he wanted her. More than he should.

“Wait.”

Fuck. Was she pushing him away? He tried to focus on her, tried to restrain himself from falling on her like a wild, hungry animal.

She licked her lush lips as if she were savoring his taste. Damn, she was beautiful. He saw her mouth move, but the blood pounding in his ears made it hard for him to hear her. “What?”

“Undress. I want to see you this time. All of you.”

He was having a hard time catching his breath, his hands shaking, cock so hard he was worried this might be over before it began, and she wanted a
striptease
?

But it never crossed his mind to deny her. One button flew across the room as he hurriedly complied. He watched the flush darken her cheeks when he slipped off his shirt and felt a rush of adrenaline. She liked what she saw.

So did he. And he wanted to see more. His hands paused on the brass buttons of his jeans. “I need motivation. Show me those perfect breasts, Angelique. Offer them to me.”

She shivered, shrugging her shoulders so the straps of her silk, lace-edged gown slid down bare arms. Gabriel loosened the first button, then the second. Her breasts were so deliciously firm, despite their fullness, that they held the fabric up by themselves.

Her hands slid up, cupping her breasts like a lover before her fingers curled around the lace. Taunting him.

“Little tease.” His throat was tight and his mouth watered. He kicked off his shoes and finished unbuttoning his fly, but refused to push the denim down until she complied. Or he lost whatever restraint he had left.

She stared at the patch of tight, dark curls he’d revealed, her breath coming in short, sexy little pants. “Hello, Pot, this is Kettle.”

He laughed in surprise. How did she do that? Get him this crazy and make him love it? Surprise him? “I seem to recall you mentioning a spanking. Is that what you’re aiming for, baby? Is that what you want?”

Her brown eyes sparked, and he felt his cock jerk in response. She swallowed, pulling down the ivory satin to reveal her flushed golden skin, the dark nipples peaked and, he already knew, delicious.

He reached for her but she leaned back, her palms bracing on the table as she shook her head. The move arched her back, highlighting the edible breasts that remained just out of reach. “A deal’s a deal.”

“Tease.” But he was fighting a smile. He couldn’t help it. He stepped out of his jeans and his hands curled into fists at his side... waiting.

Her doe eyes were wide as she studied his thick erection. She sat up straight again, moving closer as she reached out her hand to touch it.

Gabriel gripped her wrist. “That’s not a good idea right now, angel.”

“It’s not?” She sounded distracted. Needy.

He growled. “No.” He slid his other hand underneath the skirt of her slip, scraping his short nails across her underwear. She was wet. Hot and wet and he couldn’t wait anymore.

“Not this time.”

Gabriel released her wrist and cupped her jaw, pulling her close for a deep, openmouthed kiss. Thrusting his tongue deep in her mouth, imagining how good it would feel when he got his cock inside her tight heat.

He leaned forward until her back was pressed against the smooth, wooden table, until she was laid out for him like a feast.

He tore his mouth away from hers and reached for her hips, dragging the fabric concealing her sex down her legs before pressing his hips between them once more.

“Oh God.”

He silently echoed her cry. Just this. Finally this. His sensitive shaft rubbing against the wet lips of her pussy. So close to what he wanted. What he needed. He pushed the hem of her slip up around her waist so he could see her pink flesh gleaming as his flushed cock searched for entry. Beautiful.

Her hands reached up to grab him—no,
push
him away. She couldn’t—not now. Fuck, not now. He grabbed her arms and pushed them over her head, his hips lining up with hers. The head of his cock slipped inside her, his breath hissing out of his lungs. She was so hot she might burn him alive.

“Wait. Damn it, Gabriel, not without protection!”

He jerked back as though she’d slapped him. Son of a bitch, he’d forgotten. Even when he’d been blackout-drunk, taking home someone he’d met five minutes before, he hadn’t forgotten.

What the hell was she doing to him?

He released her and forced himself to step back, away from temptation. “Fuck.”

She shook her head, damp curls clinging to her temple. “It’s okay. I don’t want you to stop. Please. Just—Do you have... ?”

He almost wished he didn’t. How sick was that? Almost wished she’d been too lost to notice. The feel of her on his bare skin wasn’t something he would likely forget.

She didn’t want him to stop. Good. Because, condom or not, he wasn’t sure he could. He fumbled for the wallet in his jeans, slipping out one of the square foil packets and tearing it open with his teeth.

“Thank God.” She watched him roll the condom on with eyes glittering with relief and excitement. His cock pulsed in his palms.

He bit into his cheek as he fit the thin sheath over his rigid erection. “Yeah, well, I only have a handful of these with me. We’ll either need to make a run in a few hours or ... get creative.”

Her mouth opened.

Gabriel grinned, the awkward moment over. “You’re surprised ? Don’t those little boys you’ve played doctor with have any stamina, Angelique? Or is it that you think you can’t keep up with me?”

He didn’t give her a chance to answer. Gabriel gripped her thighs and pulled them wide, giving himself a view of heaven. “I like this. I’ve kissed you, touched you here, but I like this the best. Knowing I can see everything. Watch you stretch as I fill you.”

Angelique moaned and he bent her knees until they touched her breasts. He let go of one of her thighs and pressed her clit between his finger and thumb, squeezing lightly. “I can do anything I want, can’t I? Say it.”

“Anything.”

Her words ripped away any illusion of control he had. Maybe another time he could tease her, play with her, build her passion over and over again before he gave in to his own needs, but not now.

He wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to maintain his control around her. Being near her, touching her, was like a drug. He felt intoxicated. Powerful. Addicted. He needed more.

The twinge of disappointment at the barrier between them didn’t compare to how tight she was. The heat he still felt blazing around him as he slowly thrust his cock inside her.

Her legs lifted up to his shoulders, raising her hips a little off the table, and a rumbling growl stuck in his chest. Yes. She wanted him the same way he wanted her.

He fell onto his forearms, his lips hovering above hers. He watched her reaction when he angled his hips for a deeper thrust, impatient to be inside her completely. Her eyes dilated and her neck arched. Perfect.

“Tight, angel. Wrapped around me so tight.”

“Gabriel... oh, Gabriel.”

His smile felt more like a snarl. “That’s what I’ve been waiting to hear. Do you know how many times I imagined you calling out my name as I fucked you? Do you know how crazy you’ve been making me?” His words had him thrusting deeper. Harder. “Do you know how hard I was, knowing you were sleeping in my bed? That close, and so fucking willing. I came in my hand just imagining slipping in beside you and spreading your legs.”

Angelique cried out, her sex clenching around him as a wave of pleasure shook her.

Gabriel gritted his teeth and lifted off her. Still inside her, still thrusting, he turned her onto her side, lifting one of her legs high so he could fill her.

“Oh, that’s good, isn’t it, baby? Deeper than before?” She nodded, gasping, and he slung his hips powerfully against her in acknowledgment. “When I had breakfast in the kitchen that morning, I imagined this. You laid out for me on the table, taking you just. Like. This.”

She was crying now, her fingers curling against the table as if seeking purchase. Trying to gain her bearings. Pushing harder against him.

He didn’t want to stop. Wanted to stay inside her. Her orgasm, stronger this time, had him doubting his ability to last. “Yes, Angelique. God, that feels good.”

But he needed more. He adjusted her position again, until her beautiful breasts were hidden, but her luscious ass was in view.

He gripped her hips. “Should I tell you what I imagined doing to you here? Other than spanking you, of course.”

She looked over her shoulder at him, her lips soft and open, her eyes sparkling with desire. And a dare.

His grip tightened. “Oh, don’t worry. You’ll get exactly what you want soon enough. But I don’t think I can hold back.”

Her ass was too sweet. Round and lush, like silk under his hands. He bent his knees and picked up a faster rhythm, spreading her cheeks with his fingers and growling at what he saw.

God, he wanted to fuck her there. He made a silent promise to himself that he would.

Angelique cried out, the table shaking and creaking with the power of his thrusts. He watched her grip the edges of the table, hanging on for dear life as he rode her.

“Yes, Gabriel.
Harder
.”

Being inside her was better than any fantasy. He felt everything so intensely; his muscles flexing, heart racing, every inch of him feeling alive and on fire for Angelique.

She screamed and he wanted to shout out in victory as she came again, this one so strong her body was shuddering, bruising his cock with the force of it.

A tidal wave of sensation knocked the breath from his lungs, taking him by surprise and sending him crashing, tumbling, into his orgasm.

Gabriel pressed his forehead against her back, waiting for the world to stop spinning and his heart to slow down. Waiting for the usually instantaneous urge to leave.

It didn’t come. Sweet Jesus, it didn’t come. He really was in trouble.

 

 

WHAT WAS HE DOING HERE? HIS JOB WAS TO WATCH OVER
Gabriel, help him discover and overcome his unique ability. Reunite him with his family. Not watch him fuck the brains out of Celestin Rousseau’s little sister.

Emmanuel sighed. He’d been around the man too long; he was starting to think like him. Crass. Vulgar. Dark thoughts.

Right now all he could think about was Angelique. Her curving hips, the way her breasts swayed as Gabriel rocked against her.

He’d seen sex before. Admittedly, most of it from a child’s perspective. A ghost with no understanding of how to treat the female of the species beyond braid-pulling and slipping toads into skirt pockets.

He was no longer a child in any way. The hellish road he’d taken just to return had robbed him of most of his innocence.

The unaware Angelique was swiftly stealing away the rest. She was distracting him, distracting Gabriel, and he wasn’t sure what to do about it.

He’d had a plan, but other than getting Michelle Toussaint’s brother back to New Orleans where he belonged, none of it was working out the way he’d thought it would.

He couldn’t protect Gabriel forever. Whether the ungrateful ass knew it or not, Emmanuel had been shielding him from the worst of what was out there. Just until he was ready to handle it. He was still in too dark of a place.