Julia wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her breasts against him.
He nudged at the seam of her lips with his tongue and she opened. She accepted him eagerly, her tongue twisting with his.
“I will never stop wanting you,” she whispered, kissing him deeply again.
“Bless you for that.” He spoke against her mouth before stroking inside.
A few minutes later, Julia pulled away. “Can anyone see us?”
“No. There’s no one above us and I doubt anyone could see us over the glass of the balcony.” His lips widened. “So long as we’re lying down.”
A gentle breath of wind whispered over them, causing her skin to pebble. “Did you have something else in mind?”
“Not tonight. Tonight, I am reminded of loving you on the balcony in Florence, when we were very new. I want to recapture that evening.”
He lifted her hand and kissed it, his blue eyes finding hers. He brought her hand to his chest and pressed it over his heart. “See how it beats faster, knowing you’re near.”
She drew their connection to her own heart and pressed. “It’s the same for me.”
She released his hand, but he kept it where it was, his thumb caressing the tops of her breasts.
“Your eyes are shining,” he observed. “Glittering like dark pools.”
“I know what’s in store for me.”
“Come, then.” He kissed her again, his fingers winding through the waves of her hair. They slid down her back and gripped her waist.
He eased her onto the daybed and stretched beside her, his kisses slowing to gentle pressure, lips against lips.
“What do you want?” he murmured, easing the straps of her dress down her shoulders.
“I want to see you.”
Gabriel’s eyes sparked. “Undress me.”
Julia unbuttoned his shirt and swiftly pushed it over his shoulders. His hands moved to her bra and unfastened it with one hand. Now they were both naked to the waist.
Gabriel’s skin was warm as he covered her, her nipples brushing against his chest hair.
He kissed the arch of her throat and descended the valley between her breasts, moving to cover one with his hand. The other he explored with lips and the merest edge of teeth. His tongue darted to taste her nipple.
He was careful to kiss and lick but not to draw on her. Still, she clasped his head urgently, pressing him closer to her breast.
When her grip lessened, he transferred his affections to the other breast. His hand dipped to the skirt of her dress and slid beneath it, ascending her thigh.
He lifted his head. “No underwear?”
Julia nodded, a subtle lift to her mouth.
“Surely you aren’t forgoing underwear after I gifted you with enough for days?” His long fingers drifted below her hip bone into the crease between her hip and her inner thigh.
“It made me feel sexy. When you said you were going to touch me, at the restaurant, I wondered if you’d discover my secret right there.”
Gabriel cursed. “If I’d known, I would have.”
“We’d have been arrested.”
“Not arrested.” Gabriel smiled against her lips. “Merely asked to leave.” He coaxed her legs apart, beneath her dress.
Her hand moved to his belt, which she unfastened. She touched him over his trousers before tugging the zipper down. Her fingers found the band of his underwear and slid beneath. She found him already hard and eager.
“Not so fast,” he warned.
She explored him deftly until he grew impatient and moved her to a seated position.
“Off,” he commanded, tugging at her dress.
She lifted her arms and he pulled the fabric over her head, dropping it to the floor. But Julianne would not suffer being the only one naked. She tugged at his trousers and boxer briefs until he lifted his hips and kicked them away.
It was darker now. The blue glow still lifted from the pool, while the pale starlight shone above.
The shadows cast by the candles danced over their naked forms as Gabriel covered her with his body.
With his hand he parted her, touching lightly. Julia tugged his hand away. She grabbed his backside and opened her legs, and his hips fell against hers.
“Are you in a hurry?” He smiled down at her.
“Clare might wake up.” Julia’s hands smoothed over his backside and she gripped him.
“She wouldn’t dare.” Gabriel kissed her nose.
“She has before.” Julia’s eyes met her husband’s.
“Point taken.” Gabriel covered her mouth with his even as their lower bodies slid against one another.
Julia groaned and urged him on with her hands.
He responded, surging forward and gaining entrance with one smooth thrust.
Julia put her head back, lifting her hips.
Her breasts rose tantalizingly below his face and he plied them with kisses, using the edge of his teeth against the round, full flesh.
She urged him forward and he began to move, her hands dropping away as he found a satisfying, slow rhythm.
“Look at me,” he whispered, arching above her.
She gazed up into his eyes. There was possession, and protectiveness, and want. Anxiety, perhaps, and hope and love.
He watched her to decipher her reactions, to see what made her head loll back and her hands grip tighter. To read eagerness in the rise and fall of her breasts. To see urgency when she found herself on edge.
Self-control was not one of Gabriel’s virtues, but his pride in being a good lover motivated its development. In the case of Julianne, making love to her inspired him to temperance.
He wished for their coupling to last as long as possible and to raise her to the heights of pleasure and keep her there until her body rebelled and she came. Only then would he chase his own completion.
“I’m close,” she panted.
He increased his pace incrementally, drawing out her climb.
Her hands clamped on his backside like a vise and she pulled and pulled, bringing him deeper inside her.
She held her breath and her body tightened. He could feel her losing control.
He moved more quickly, dropping his head to kiss her breast.
She clutched him to her chest as her head rolled back. He felt as well as heard her pleasure overtake her.
Now he could chase.
His pace increased, faster and faster, his hand grabbing hold of her hip. A flaring of nerves and an exquisite quickening, and he was releasing inside her. His entire body contracted.