by Tawny Weber
“You want me to stick around?” Tessa offered quietly. “Divide and deflect?”
“No, no.” Her smile easy again, Livi shooed them away. “Go, hurry. Otherwise she’ll have you counting place settings or chasing down the right shade of cornflower ribbons.”
What the hell was cornflower? Before he could ask, Tessa tilted her head toward the balcony.
“You don’t want to know,” she murmured, crooking her finger to indicate that he should come along.
He followed her out of the lobby, grinning when her steps quickened as Pauline’s strident voice asked where they were going. The increased speed did amazing things for her hips, the red fabric of her skirt swaying temptingly, right there in touching distance. His palms itched to cup those hips, to pull her tight against his body and see how that butt fit against his erection. His eyes slid down her shapely legs to the spiked heels, noting they were at least four inches high and would bring her butt in perfect alignment with the hardness of his eager dick.
Before they reached the balcony, she angled right. He followed her up the short flight of stairs, wondering where they were going but enjoying the view too much to ask.
After the second short flight of stairs, she paused in a long, semidarkened hallway that appeared deserted and turned.
Her eyes glinted with a light that Gabriel recognized.
He did a quick recon, noting that there were only three doors in the hallway, that the silence indicated they were completely alone and that his chances for lasting until tomorrow were somewhere this side of slim and none.
Still, he had to try.
“Maybe we shouldn’t have left Livi,” he said. “I kinda feel as though I should help as much as I can since Mitch pulled extra duty.”
Especially since he was directly responsible for that extra duty.
“Livi’s fine,” Tessa assured him, her voice low as she gave him a long, slow look from head to toe. “If we’re there, she’ll feel as if she has to be polite and put on a show that her mother isn’t a bully who took lessons from Attila the Hun.”
Tessa reached out to skim her fingers over his cheek, her smile calculating. But not in the way he’d seen on other women. She didn’t look as if she were trying to figure out what she could get out of him, what he was worth or how well he’d look for show-and-tell. Tessa looked as though she was trying to figure out just exactly what she’d like to do first to drive him crazy on the way to fulfilling his every sexual fantasy.
Gabriel barely resisted the urge to check his brow to see if he was sweating.
“You know her pretty well.” He stopped to clear his throat, then tried again. “Why don’t we get a drink and you can fill me in on everything I need to know to navigate the treacherous wedding waters this week.”
“Why don’t we talk about that later,” Tessa said, her fingers trailing down his chest now, swirling in teasing little circles. “I think we have a few other things to discuss now.”
Discuss.
Discussion was good.
Some of the tension drained from Gabriel’s shoulders. Sure, it pooled in his dick, but he figured that’d recede eventually. Maybe.
“What did you want to discuss?” he asked, ready for anything that’d distract from his hard-on.
“This,” she said, holding up one finger so an old-fashioned iron skeleton key dangled.
“What’s this for?”
“My room.”
About damned time, his body shouted. Oh, hell no, his mind yelled right back. But his erection was giving a happy salute behind his zipper, easily drowning them both out.
Gabriel glanced at the door just a reach away. Then he looked at the woman standing in front of him with a look on her face that promised to introduce him to a myriad of decadently sensual pleasures on the other side of that door.
He’d never been more tempted in his life.
Still, he’d made a decision. And given the results of giving way on his last decision, he knew he’d better stick with his resolve.
He’d just have to do so with enough charisma and appeal that she didn’t mind waiting. Not an easy task if she was as hot for him as he was for her. But hey, he had an abundance of charm. He’d make it work.
His smile shifted from edgy to easy, his body language set at about the same heat level as a friendly hug.
“Tessa—”
Before he could finish his sentence, or even figure out what he was going to say, her mouth was on his. Her lips were so full, so soft.
Her taste filled his senses, addictively rich with just a hint of sweetness.
Her scent wrapped around him like darkness on a moonless night. Alluring and dangerous.
Just one kiss, he decided.
Lips on lips, nothing more.
Then her tongue swept over his mouth.
Like a flame to a fuse, he went off.
A blast of need more powerful that a C-4 explosion flashed, destroying his resolve, flattening his resistance. Screw his rules. To hell with mistakes. He didn’t give a damn anymore.
All he cared about was Tessa.
He thrust his tongue into her mouth, taking control and setting the pace. Fast, hard, intense. Just the way he liked it.
Tessa met his passion with her own, her hands seeming to be everywhere at once. Cupping his biceps, gripping his shoulders, scraping over his pecs and grabbing his ass.
It wasn’t until he had her backed up against the wall that he realized that he’d filled his own hands with her lush breasts. And more impressive, that she’d hiked herself up high enough to wrap those silken legs of hers around his waist.
The move brought her core flush against his throbbing dick, his pants and her bunched-up skirt the only things keeping him from heaven.
Heaven with his very own angel.
Groaning, Gabriel shifted to slide his mouth over her cheek, nipping at the delicate curve of her ear before scraping his teeth down her throat.
“Somebody could come at anytime,” he murmured, burying his face in the curve of her neck and breathing in her seductive scent.
Her foot slid higher, her stiletto rasping along the back of his thigh with enough pressure that he could feel the sharp edge through his jeans.
His dick echoed his groan with an aching throb.
“I’m betting that somebody is me,” she purred, her head falling back against the wall to give him better access to her throat and, he was pleased to note, the glory that was her chest. Full and ample, her breasts pressed tightly against her dress, the red fabric cutting into her lush flesh. “And that time could be any moment now if you put those clever hands of yours to work.”
As if he was in a trance—or simply knocked stupid from the explosion of lust between them—Gabriel watched as his finger traced along the edge of her dress. For a second he marveled at the contrast of his skin against the porcelain white of hers, the hardness of his hand against the softness of her breast.
Desperate to see more, he slipped his knuckle under the fabric, pulling it down until the sweet pink of her aureole was visible. Damn. He had to lean closer, had to taste her.
As soon as his tongue touched that pale delicacy he had to have more. Forgetting that they were in a public hallway, he hooked his finger between her breasts and tugged harder, nearly ripping her dress in half. Black lace wrapped over those breasts, highlighting rather than hiding their beauty.
Damn. Passion surged, need spiking through him so fast that he had to close his eyes for a moment to get control.
“Oh, yeah,” she gasped, her legs tightening around his waist. “Those are some very clever hands.”
His clever hands slid under her skirt, reveling in the taut smoothness of her silken thigh before squeezing her butt. He ran kisses over her breasts while his hand meandered around
from her butt to dip between her thighs.
It was like discovering heaven. A wet, hot heaven.
Gabriel wasn’t sure how he managed it, but somehow he got the key into the door, twisted it and shoved the carved wood open. It ricocheted off the wall, almost hitting him in the shoulder as he angled Tessa inside. He was pretty sure he closed it. At least, he heard a loud bang. But he couldn’t spare it enough attention to check.
Instead, he gave himself over to Tessa.
Every delicious inch of her and the mind-blowing sensations she was eliciting in his body.
Her fingers combed over his chest, scraping gently before curling over his shoulders to grip him tight as she angled herself higher. Her heels dug into the small of his back, her body curved into his in a way that made him curse the layers of clothes separating him from her wet heat.
It took two tugs to send what was left of her dress and bra flying across the room, leaving that warm, silken flesh bare for his mouth. Cupping one full breast in his hand, he leaned closer, running his tongue around her aureole in ever-tightening circles until he reached the delicious center. He sucked her nipple, pebbled taut, between his lips, flicking it with his tongue.
“More,” she demanded, her breath coming faster in time with her hands as they raced over his shoulders, tugging at his shirt hard enough to send the buttons flying.
“Take it,” he said, his words husky against her other breast. He shifted so she was balanced between his body and the wall, leaving his hands free to cup both her breasts. His mouth moved from one to the other, hot and wet.
“Oh, yeah,” she moaned as her hands found bare flesh, her nails scraping like delicate fire down his abs. Then she grabbed hold of his chest with one hand, angling her body away so there was enough space between them for her hand to slip down and free his zipper.
Already on fire, Gabriel’s body hit inferno as her nails skimmed his rock-hard dick.
He yanked her dress out of his way, the sound of ripping fabric echoing over their labored breath. Their arms tangled and bodies twisted as he shoved his shirt and pants out of the way and sent Tessa’s panties flying. Somehow he managed to sheath himself with a condom before Tessa’s legs tightened again, her heels pressing against the small of his back.
“Mmm, you’re definitely worth the wait,” Tessa said with a little growl. “But I’m through waiting. So you need to do me, lover. And do me now.”
Oh, yeah. Need pounded through him, but one of her words echoed over pleasure’s demand.
Lover.
“Say my name,” he demanded.
“Do me first,” she teased, her words muffled because her mouth was skimming over his shoulder. She punctuated the demand with a bite sharp enough to send a shaft of desire through him so strong he thrust forward.
He barely caught himself.
“Say it,” he growled, his tense body poised for entry.
“Romeo,” she breathed, slowly lifting those heavy lids and giving him a challenging look.
“Say it,” he repeated, his fingers sliding between her thighs to gently flick her swollen bud. When she didn’t respond, he gave it a little pinch.
“Gabriel,” she gasped. Her nails dug into his shoulders; her back arched.
“Gabriel.”
It only took a single thrust to send him to heaven.
* * *
OH, GOD.
Oh, God.
Oh, God.
The chant rang through Tessa’s mind. Pleasure surged through her body with more power than anything she’d ever felt. The trembling started in her core and spread, rippling through her system in ever-widening waves of delight.
He was incredible.
Her hands gripped Gabriel’s shoulders, fingers kneading with every plunge of his body. He was so big, so hard, every thrust slid against her G-spot, filling her with pleasure so powerful she was shaking.
Her back was anchored to the wall, so she used the pressure of her heels to pull herself tighter against his body with each thrust until they were slamming together.
His fingers pinched her nipples, his mouth taking hers in a sloppy, wet kiss that was all tongue and heat.
And that was all it took to send her over the edge. Her body exploded. Pleasure spun out of control, spiraling through her so fast she was dizzy. Gasping for breath, her head fell back against the wall, her orgasm going on and on and on.
Gabriel thrust faster, plunging in and out.
Harder.
More.
So incredibly good that he sent Tessa over another time.
“Gabriel,” she gasped.
He growled. She felt his muscles tighten, his thrust hitch.
“Gabriel,” she breathed again.
His moan reverberated through her, his body freezing before plunging again.
Having this kind of power over him sent Tessa spiraling up again. Need tightened in her core.
“Gabriel,” she gasped, grinding against him.
Then he thrust again. So hard, so deep, she swore she felt him all the way to her heart as he exploded.
“Gabriel, Gabriel, Gabriel,” she panted as she came again with an intensity that blew her mind.
The room went black against her closed eyelids, her body so numb with pleasure she wasn’t sure if she’d passed out or not. It might have been five minutes, it might have been five hours before Tessa could feel her body again. She pried her eyes open, too overwhelmed to even be surprised that they were on the bed, Gabriel’s body warm over hers.
She’d known he was talented.
A man didn’t earn a reputation like his without pleasing an incredibly high number of women. She’d spent the past month with his own words about pleasure zones ringing through her mind, keeping her awake at night wondering which zones would give her the most pleasure if he played with them.
But she’d had no idea just how talented he was.
“Angel?”
“Hmm?” she murmured, struggling to hear him through the roaring in her ears.
“We’re not finished,” he growled against her throat, his teeth scraping a gentle trail across her shoulder.
“We’re not?” Tessa couldn’t even raise her head, let alone imagine going another round.
Then his mouth found her breast, his teeth working her still-throbbing, deliciously swollen nipple.
“Not even close. I’ve wanted you for what feels like a lifetime. It’s going to take a lifetime to get my fill.”
With that he slid lower, his mouth an erotic magnet for pleasure as it moved over her belly. His fingers teased and tweaked her nipples, flicking then rubbing in time with the kisses he spread lower and lower.
Tessa gasped as his jaw pressed her thighs apart, his breath warm on her still-wet, oversensitized nether lips.
She wasn’t sure how she’d gotten naked—she barely remembered how they’d gotten into the hotel room.
All she knew was that she had never felt this way. Never before, in all her experiences, had she ever been so far gone with passion that she lost the ability to think, to reason.
All she could do was feel.
And, oh, God, she felt good.
As if he’d heard her thoughts and took them as a challenge, Gabriel’s tongue swept over her clitoris, sipping gently before sliding into her trembling core. His fingers worked magic while his tongue danced so seductively that it took Tessa a few moments to realize the mewling sounds she heard were her.
“Come for me, baby,” he whispered against her thigh. “I want to taste you while you go over.”
Ooh, God.
Tessa’s orgasm came in waves, each one bigger, more powerful than the last. Pleasure pounded over her, sweeping her away to a place she’d never been.
Overwhelmed, she p
ressed her eyes tight to try to keep the sudden tears from falling.
Gabriel gently kissed his way up her body, worshipping her back to earth with a sweetness that blew her mind.
Her head was spinning, her body melting into a sea of sexual delight. She’d never felt this way. So sated with pleasure that she knew nothing would ever feel this good again. How had he done that? Tessa surreptitiously rubbed her finger under her eyes to wipe away the teary mascara smudges even as he poised over her with a look of awe on his face that told her he was as hooked as she was.
Pretending that didn’t terrify her, Tessa lifted her body, her hips thrusting high and hard to welcome him in.
Perfect, was all she could think.
He was so awesomely perfect.
* * *
TESSA WOKE LATER, her body draped over Gabriel’s, her bones a melted puddle and her mind pure mush. It took her a few seconds of blinking to realize that dark had fallen and she wasn’t still asleep.
She still didn’t move, though. She couldn’t. How many times had they made love? Three? Five? She’d lost track.
Something did seep through the pleasure-drugged fog, though.
She’d been right.
He was good.
So good that he took sex past the realm of pleasure into the land of mind-blowing oh-my-God awesomeness.
That was the kind of sex she could get hooked on.
She didn’t know if it was his mouth and the wicked things he could do with his tongue or his hands.
Oh, his hands. Her thighs trembled, the swollen folds of her center throbbing at the memory of those hands.
The man had some amazing hands. Almost as amazing as his body. She took a deep breath, her lungs the only thing she could move, and reveled in the sensations of that body beneath hers.
Oh, yeah. He was good.
Good enough to be dangerous.
Her muscles, molten just seconds ago, stiffened as fear trickled through her system.
That kind of dangerous was scary.
Then Gabriel—no, not Gabriel. If she were going to keep from freaking out, he needed to stay Romeo.
Then Romeo’s hand curved over her butt, giving it a gentle squeeze. And all the fears faded, the worries, the crazy thoughts about getting up and running away didn’t stand a chance against the pleasure of his touch.