Mum's The Word!

His emotions must have shown on his face because she rushed to say, “It was done by a woman.”

His shoulders relaxed at her words. She was his, or would be soon. And he wasn’t the sort of man who cared to share. Living with two brothers had turned him into a possessive madman when anything encroached on what he believed was his.

“In that case, it’s very sexy.”

She grinned at how grudging his words sounded. It continued to both infuriate and delight him that she was not even remotely close to the type of woman he thought he’d chosen to make the next queen of Sherdana and his wife.

He hadn’t anticipated surprises. He’d expected gracefulness and composure, not this wanton creature with her disheveled hair, bare breasts and body marked by the word hope. But now that he had her, she turned him inside out with wanting. She fired his imagination and his blood in the span of a heartbeat. Life would not be dull with her.

Which was the problem. He’d had passion once, crazy desire. It had consumed him and compelled him to think with every part of him but the one that mattered for the future king of Sherdana: his head. He didn’t need a wife who made him feel out of control. He needed someone sensible, who kept him focused on matters of state.

Yet deep down he knew Olivia would do that.

And then, behind the closed doors of their private suite, she would make him forget everything but the sweet rush of carnal pleasure.

The best of both worlds.

What was there to worry about?

Taking her leg in his hand, he caressed upward from her knee to the place where her thighs came together.

“That’s...” Her voice faltered as he slid one finger beneath the scrap of lace hiding her hot, wet center from him. She balled her fists into the coverlet, holding her breath as the tip of his finger grazed her warmth.

“You are incredibly wet,” he said, delighted by the quickness of her arousal.

“Stop talking and touch me.”

“Like this?” Stripping off her underwear, he did as she asked, dipping between the folds that concealed her core and riding the river of wetness toward the knot of nerves. He circled it slowly, listening to her pant, smelling the waves of her arousal. Her hips rose off the mattress, pushing into his hand.

Gorgeous.

With her eyes closed, her knuckles whitening as she held on to the bed linens for dear life, she was as deep into the throes of sensual pleasure as any woman he’d ever known. She writhed against his hand, mindless in her pursuit of her ultimate goal. He watched her face, absorbing each tremble and jerk of her body as he carried her closer and closer to orgasm. Her brow knit as she concentrated. He picked up the pace and watched her mouth open, her back arch.

It was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

And it was his name that escaped her lips as she climaxed.

Panting, she opened her eyes. “That was incredible.”

He grinned. “It gets better.”

“Better?” She sounded doubtful. “I can’t imagine that it could get better than that.”

He loved a challenge. “Hold your opinion for another hour or so.”

“An hour?” She stared at him, her eyes wide with uncertainty. “I don’t think I could possibly survive that long.”

He didn’t think he would survive that long, either. But he was determined to try.

Forking his fingers into her hair, he brought his mouth to hers. Desire continued to claw at him, and tasting her eagerness only made it that much harder for him to maintain control.

He wanted to claim her, make her his. The notion that he was the first man to put his hands on her made him wild. The uncivilized part of him that had run wild with Marissa roared within its cage, demanding to be free. Gabriel turned his back on those impulses.

Making this first time perfect for her was the only thing that mattered. And for him to do that, he must stay in control.

Her hands left the mattress and moved up his sides. Caresses like fire swept over his skin as she explored the contours of his shoulders and back.

His tongue delved between her parted lips, tasting her passion, capturing the soft cries she made as his fingers found her breasts, nails raking lightly over her taut nipples. Her legs tangled with his. Her wet curls dampened his boxers. He rocked against her heat and broke off the kiss to take her nipple in his mouth.

Her head fell back as he suckled her. Cupping her butt in his hand, he guided her undulating rhythm until they were in sync. A groan collected in his chest as her fingers speared beneath the waistband of his boxers and found him.

Olivia gasped at the first contact with Gabriel’s erection. The silken feel of his skin. The steel beneath. The sheer size of him made her whimper with fear and excitement. How was she supposed to take all of him inside her?

“It’s okay,” he murmured, easing her fingers away. Somehow he’d understood what was in her mind. “I’ll take it slow. You’ll get the chance to get used to me little by little.”

“But you aren’t little, so little by little isn’t how I see this happening,” she retorted, twisting one hand free so she could touch him again.

A groan burst from him as she wrapped her hand fully around his length and measured him from tip to base.

He pulled her hand away and pinned it on the pillow by her ear. “It certainly isn’t going to happen that way if you don’t stop touching me.”

“But I like touching you,” she countered, lifting up to kiss his chin. She’d been aiming for his lips, but with his chest pressed against hers, she couldn’t lift up that high. “Kissing you.” She could barely gain the breath she needed for speech as his body slid down hers. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

“Then let’s not delay.”

Further conversation became impossible as Gabriel kicked off his boxers and slid between her thighs. Olivia felt his erection against her skin and wiggled her hips to entice him to bring their bodies together in the way they both wanted. Her entire focus consisted of this powerful man and the ache only he could satisfy. Despite her inexperience, she knew exactly what she wanted. Gabriel inside her. She needed to be connected to him on that elemental level and she needed it now.

“Gabriel, please,” she murmured, her body shuddering as his mouth slipped over her skin, licking, nibbling, kissing. He seemed determined to investigate every inch of her when there was only one place she wanted his attention focused. “Take me.”

Her voice broke on the plea. But it had its effect. He kissed her one last time on the hollow beside her hip bone and settled the tip of his shaft at the entrance to her core. The feel of him there was so amazing. She lifted her hips and took him a little way in.

“We’ll get there,” he murmured, framing her face with his hands.

Surrendering to the ride was part of the excitement. Forcing him to move faster would get her to satisfaction quicker but wasn’t the journey worth some patience?

“You’re extremely tight.” Capturing her lips in a hot, sizzling kiss, Gabriel flexed his hips forward, sliding into her a little deeper. “It will go easier the first time if you relax.”

She was a mass of anticipation and tension. How the hell was she supposed to relax? Olivia gripped his wrists and focused on his expression. His rigid facial muscles and intense concentration told her that this slow loving was taking its toll on him, as well.

“I have no idea how to do that.” The heavy throb in her womb grew more powerful as she held her breath and waited for him to join with her completely.

His low chuckle sounded near her ear.

“Breathe.”

“I can’t.” Her words were garbled, starved for air.

His teeth nipped her throat and she gasped. Then he was sucking on the spot where he’d administered the love bite, his tongue laving the tender area. Her mouth fell open as an electric charge shot from where he’d placed his mouth to the place where he was claiming her in the most elemental way possible. Her body stretched as he rocked against her again, his movement driving him a little deeper into her.

The sensation was incredible. She focused on the joy of being filled by him and her muscles unwound. Relief swept through her and she gave herself over to wonder with a murmur.

“Or maybe I can.”

“That’s it,” he coaxed, withdrawing with the same deliberate motion only to move into her again.

The sensation was incredible. She loved the way he filled her.

It took a moment of concentration before she shifted her hips into sync with his slow rhythm. Which was too slow as it turned out. He might have all the patience in the world, but she didn’t. His gentleness wasn’t getting him where she needed him most. So, as he began his next measured, torturous thrust into her body, she arched her back, drove her hips forward and sunk her nails into his tight rear, accepting all of him. They cried out in unison. If she hadn’t been so shattered by the feel of him so deeply buried in her, Olivia might have giggled. Utterly possessed, she had no breath to laugh or speak.

Gabriel licked his lips and slowly his gaze refocused. The transformation of his features from rigid concentration to outright shock magnified the pleasure inside her.

“What happened to slow?” he murmured, fingertips grazing her cheeks with reverent gentleness.

Olivia’s body had adjusted to his. A contented purr rumbled in her chest. She ran the soles of her feet down his calves and drifted her hands along his spine.

“You were taking too long.”

“It’s your first time,” he grumbled. “I was trying to be gentle.”

“What happens now?” Her inner muscles flexed as he rocked his hips against hers.

“Watch and see.”

With those cryptic words, Olivia turned herself over to the dazzling display of fireworks in Gabriel’s eyes as he began to move against her, gauging her every response. Then he thrust back inside her and pleasure began to build once more.

He captured her hips in his hands and helped her find his rhythm. To her astonishment her body caught fire. Pleasure radiated outward from her core, spreading in waves of sensual hunger that climbed higher and higher, reaching outward with an intensity that made her feel as if she was on the verge of splintering into a million pieces.

And then it began, the breaking. Yet this time, unlike the last, she had Gabriel with her, climbing beside her. She held on to him, glorying in his strength and the power of the pleasure he gave her.

Her breath caught as the sun exploded behind her eyelids. Ecstasy blasted through her, detonating with all the power of a volcano. She cried out and clung to Gabriel as his movements increased. Everything went dark for a second, then she heard her name on Gabriel’s lips and he thrust one last time, shaking with the power of his orgasm, before collapsing on her.

Olivia tunneled one hand through his hair while her other unlocked from his shoulder. His chest heaved against her, as he dragged air into his lungs in great gulps. Their hearts thundered in unison, as matched in the aftermath as they’d been during their loving.

She scrambled for words, but nothing could describe her emotions at the moment. Instead, she settled for silence and let her fingers talk for her. She ran them soothingly across his skin, conveying her profound thanks.

“Are you okay?” Gabriel asked, rousing himself enough to slide out of her and roll onto his side.

The loss of him from her body hit her like a sledgehammer. The connection they’d had, now severed, made her realize just how intimate the act of making love was. For those few minutes, she’d not just taken him into her body, into her womb, but into her heart, as well. He’d possessed her body and soul.

“Never better,” she replied, unable to mask the smile in her voice.

He gathered her close and dropped a chaste kiss above her brow. Beneath her palm, his heartbeat returned to normal.

“That makes two of us.” His thumb moved against her shoulder in an absent fashion as if his mind was somewhere besides the two of them naked in this bed. “You’re sure that wasn’t too rough?”

“Since I have nothing to compare it to, I’m going to say it was just rough enough.”

He stopped staring at the canopy overhead and sliced a sharp look her way. His mouth tightened for a second until he realized she was teasing him.

“I had hoped to initiate you in a more civilized manner.”

“There’s a civilized way to make love?” Despite her best intentions, she giggled. “Do tell.” Lifting onto her elbow, she walked her fingers down his stomach. “Better yet, why don’t you show me?”

Gabriel growled and captured her fingers in a tight grip, placing their clasped hands on his chest. “Behave.”

“Or what?” She had no idea what demon had possessed her but suddenly she felt more free and alive than any time in her life. Keeping her virginity intact all these years had obviously created a powder keg of trouble. Like a genie in a bottle, once released, her sexuality was ready to cause as much mischief as possible before she stuffed it back in and replaced the cork. “You’ll spank me?”

Gabriel’s eyes widened at her outrageous suggestion, but temptation danced in their bronze depths. His pupils widened, a sure sign of sexual arousal, and his erection flared to life again.

And shockingly enough, she felt herself awakening, as well. What did this man do to her?

“You led me to believe you were cool and composed,” he complained as she wiggled around until she got a thigh on either side of his hips. His erection prodded her from behind. He looked pained as she extricated her hand from his grasp and raked her nails down his chest and over his abdomen, smiling as his muscles twitched beneath her touch. “What’s gotten into you?”

She leaned forward to grin at him. “You.”

His hands bracketed her hips as she poised herself over his shaft and slowly lowered herself downward. Taking him deep, adjusting the angle to give herself the most pleasure, she watched his face contort with delight and his eyes glaze over.

When she sat on him, savoring the feel of him buried inside her once more, she watched his gaze come back into focus. He reached up to capture her breasts in his hands, kneading gently, pulling at her nipples while she rose off him, mimicking the slow way he’d tortured her.

For a while he let her control the action, and she appreciated the chance to learn how the feel of him sliding in and out of her could be different if she leaned forward or backward. She liked taking him deep until the tip of him nudged against her womb.

But her education would not be complete without a little tutoring, and Gabriel’s patience couldn’t last forever. His fingers bit into her hips, changing her cadence. He began to move powerfully, driving himself into her. The bite of her nails created half-moons in his shoulders as his hand slid between their bodies and touched the knot of nerves hidden in her hot wet lips. Sparks exploded behind her eyes as her body began to pulse with ever stronger pleasure. She threw her head back and her mouth fell open in a keening cry as pleasure spun through her like a cyclone.

Gabriel thrust into her, his pace frantic, his own mouth open to expel a groan of acute pleasure. Olivia watched him climax, watched him become completely hers. Panting, she trembled in the aftershocks of her orgasm, her inner muscles clenching around his shaft as he poured his seed inside her and she welcomed this essence of him she could keep.

* * *

For the past two hours, Gabriel had lain beside Olivia and listened to her deep regular breathing while his thoughts retraced the evening. As morning light began to come in through the windows, he rolled out of bed, moving carefully to avoid waking Olivia. While he dressed he kept his eyes off her to avoid succumbing to the temptation to return to bed and wake her. Again. A full-fledged grin engaged every muscle in Gabriel’s face. He couldn’t help it. Making love with Olivia had demonstrated his life would be spectacularly entertaining from here on out.

As he exited her room, he wondered if she’d done it on purpose. Picked a fight with him that ended in spectacular lovemaking. It was something Marissa had done often enough. Sex with her had been mind-blowing, hot, passionate, animalistic. She’d scratched long welts on his back and marked his shoulders with love bites. She’d possessed him as much as he’d possessed her.

But although their sex had been out of this world, it had many times left him feeling empty. And in typical male fashion, he’d ignored the emotional vacuum because what did he care if his carnal needs were satisfied.

Then, last night, he’d discovered what he’d been missing all those years. Spectacular sex and a deep emotional connection that left him more than a little rattled. With her curious innocence and startling sensuality, Olivia had slipped beneath his skin as if she’d been there all along. As if she was the answer to a prayer he hadn’t even realized he’d breathed.

He hadn’t liked the sexual power Marissa had held in her delicate hands. He liked Olivia’s ability to influence his emotions even less.

Which was why he was heading for his suite of rooms rather than face her in the moments before dawn.

An hour later, Gabriel found Stewart in the office on the first floor. His private secretary had a cup of coffee at his elbow and wore a troubled frown.

“You’re up early,” Gabriel commented, settling himself behind the intricately carved cherry desk.

“I think you might be interested in seeing this.” Stewart extended a jewelry box in Gabriel’s direction.

He frowned at it. “What is that?”

Stewart nudged his chin at the box. “When Lady Darcy’s secretary delivered her message that she wasn’t joining you for dinner, she gave me this. You left before I had a chance to open it.”

With an impatient snort, Gabriel cracked open the box. The hairs on the back of his neck lifted as he stared at the contents.

“Where the hell did this come from?” he growled, staring in shocked dismay at the bracelet he’d given Marissa for their second anniversary. “Why did Olivia have it?”

Stewart shook his head. “I spoke with her secretary this morning and apparently it was waiting in her room when she got back from her fitting.”

“No wonder she was so angry.” He closed the box with a snap. “Ariana must have told her I’d bought this for Marissa.”

“Who would have done this?” Stewart asked, refocusing Gabriel on the real trouble spot.

“Whoever it was wanted to create trouble between Olivia and me.” Gabriel sat back and steepled his fingers.

“Someone could have entered her suite and left it for her. Staff is coming and going all the time.”

“That means someone in the palace is playing a dangerous game.” Gabriel poked at the box with a pen. “Time to give Christian a call. This sort of intrigue is right up his alley.”

Seven

Finding Gabriel gone when she awoke didn’t surprise Olivia. A quick glance at the clock told her it was past eight. He had probably been up for hours. She eased into a sitting position, taking inventory of every strained and aching part of her. Nothing a hot shower wouldn’t cure.

When she stepped from the bathroom a short time later, she discovered a visitor. Gabriel sat beside a table laden with an array of breakfast offerings. With his long legs stretched out in front of him and his hands clasped around a steaming cup of coffee, he hadn’t yet noticed her.

Olivia leaned her shoulder against the door frame and let her gaze drift over his strong features and muscular torso clad in a tailored midnight-blue suit, white shirt and shimmering burgundy silk tie. For the moment his powerful energy was banked. But Gabriel in a contemplative state was no less arresting than him fully engaged.

Some small sound, probably a dreamy sigh, alerted him to her presence. He straightened and came toward her, his movement fluid, and before she knew it, he’d wrapped her in a snug embrace and given her the lusty morning kiss she’d been hoping for when she’d first awakened.

Desire stirred at the firm press of his mouth against her. He tasted of coffee and raspberries. Olivia dipped her tongue in for a second taste, murmuring approval.

“Good morning,” he said, breaking the kiss, but not ceasing the slow advance of his hands up her spine. “I’m sorry I left without doing that earlier.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?” She snuggled her cheek against his chest, savoring the unsteady pace of his heart and the hoarse timbre of his voice.

“Because I would have wanted to pick up where we left off last night,” he retorted, his voice soft and deep. “And the palace would have been fully awake by the time I left your room.”

That wrenched a laugh out of her. “You don’t think everyone knows what happened last night?” Her cheeks heated despite herself. She’d always known there would be no privacy for her in the palace, but facing his parents and siblings when she knew they’d be apprised of what had happened between them last night would take a little getting used to.

“Perhaps, but I’d prefer to at least give the appearance of propriety until we’re married.” Gabriel gave her a wry smile that enhanced the devilry in his eyes. “Are you hungry?”

Her hands snaked around his waist, to tug his crisp white shirt from his pants. “Starving.”

With a deep, rumbling laugh he caught her wrists. “I meant for breakfast. We missed dinner last night.”

She waited until he’d dusted a kiss across her knuckles before answering. “I’d quite forgotten about dinner.”

His eyes glowed with fierce delight as he drew her toward the table and poured a cup of coffee. “I didn’t know what you liked for breakfast so I ordered some of everything.”

“Usually I have an egg-white omelet with mushrooms and spinach, but today I think I want pancakes with lots of syrup.”

To her astonishment, Gabriel served her himself. Olivia found it quite difficult to concentrate on her delicious breakfast while he watched her through eyes that danced with fondness and desire.

“Aren’t you eating?” she asked.

“I had something an hour ago.” He glanced at his watch. “The girls are going for their first ride this morning. I thought we should go watch. I already checked with your secretary and she said you’re available until ten.”

Considering his busy schedule, Olivia was delighted that he’d made time for such an important event. “They’ll be thrilled. I took them to the stables yesterday afternoon. They loved the ponies. I predict they’ll be enthusiastic equestrians.”

“I have something for you.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and set it on the table between them.

Olivia eyed the black velvet case on the crisp white linen and shook her head. “I don’t want it.” The memory of yesterday’s gift had made her more blunt than polite.

Gabriel didn’t look at all surprised or insulted by her refusal. “You don’t know that until you open it.”

More of his mistress’s leftovers? Olivia heaved a sigh. “You really don’t need to give me anything.”

“I need to explain about the bracelet.”

She did not want to hear about the wretched thing ever again. “There’s nothing to explain. It was beautiful. It was rude of me not to accept something you put so much thought into.”

Gabriel leaned back in his chair, his expression a mask. But his eyes glittered like sunlight on water. “I’m not certain whether to be appalled or delighted that you are such a skillful diplomat.”

She kept her lashes down and her lips relaxed. All her life she’d been watched for any sign of reaction or weakness. She’d mastered her facial muscles well before her fourteenth birthday. And she’d needed to. Her stepmother had enjoyed poking her with emotional sticks. Any reaction was sure to displease Lord Darcy, who wanted nothing more than for his two girls to get on. He was fond of reminding the women that he loved them both. And wished with all his heart that they would get along.