Gabriel's Hope

He withdrew long before she was ready for him to. She opened her eyes. Their faces were inches away, his fingers tracing a line of warm electricity down her jaw.

"Okay?" he asked, voice husky.

"Yeah."

"I got time. You got a one night stand on your bucket list?"

Her breath caught in her chest.

"You can be on top," he added. "Once. There's a few other things I have I mind."

Deidre laughed, uncertain what else to do. This was too crazy, even for her, and yet she wanted to unwrap the mysterious man before her and experience his heat, his strength. She wanted to feel his large hands on her body and to find out what it was about him that made her feel like he was the only real person she'd ever met.

"You'll face down death but not spend the night with me?" he teased.

She kissed him. His response was hungrier, deeper. He opened to her, and she was thrilled to find he tasted as good as he smelled. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his body. Deidre yielded, alarmed but yearning. The desire lighting her body was hot and aching, as if her body innately knew how well he'd satisfy her.

She was lost in a haze of heat and dark spices, of his hot kisses and solid strength, until his touch left her. Dazed, she was surprised to find they were standing in the bedroom of the bungalow. She didn't remember walking there. Moonlight streamed through one window while the rest of the house was dark. Before she could ponder how they'd gotten there, she felt his heat again. Deidre touched him tentatively, awed by his size and the gentleness of his touch.

His large hands slid down her bare arms and settled on her hips, drawing her against his body. She shuddered, enthralled by the sensations running through her. She didn't even reach his chin. It was like being drunk, but on a person, not alcohol.

"Okay?" he asked again.

She tilted her head back to meet his gaze and smiled. "You're not backing out, are you?"

He chuckled. "Oh, no. You're mine tonight."

There was something primal in his low growl that made her body boil. She felt delicate and feminine in his arms. This was the way it was supposed to be. He was the way it was supposed to be.

His next kiss was consuming, hungry yet sweet, teasing her with a hint of promise and driving her body to new heights of awareness. She needed to feel his bare body against hers, ached for his hot hands to brand her as his. She wanted to wake up with his scent ingrained in her skin.