Gabriel’s Inferno Trilogy by Sylvain Reynard Page 0,228

by kissing him eagerly.

With fingers entwined, they found themselves drawn to the Ponte Santa Trinita, the bridge where Dante saw Beatrice. Standing on the bridge, they looked down at the Arno, illuminated as it was at night by the lights of the buildings on the riverbanks.

“Julianne,” he murmured, holding her in his arms as they watched the river flow.

“Gabriel.” She smiled up at him and angled her face for a kiss.

He kissed her softly at first, but their kisses grew more and more intense. He pulled away, well aware of the fact that they were becoming a spectacle for the foot traffic across the bridge.

“I’m so glad I found you again. I’ve never been this happy.” He stroked her cheek lazily and pressed his lips to her forehead.

Impulsively, she reached out and grabbed his silk tie, pulling him so that their faces were mere inches apart. “I want you,” she breathed. And with that, Julia pulled him even closer and kissed him.

And what a kiss it was. Here was the tiger emerging from behind the façade of the kitten. Julia’s passion, ignited by Gabriel’s affection, poured into his mouth as she endeavored to show him how much she felt for him. Her hands, which had normally rested on either his shoulders or in his hair, left his tie to explore his chest and his back, feeling his muscles through his clothes, pressing him tightly against her.

Her aggression delighted him. He reciprocated within reason, well aware of the edge of the bridge at his back and the clusters of impertinent youths who continued to walk by.

When they were both panting for air, she brought her lips to his ear, “Make me yours. Now.”

“Are you sure?” he rasped out, caressing her hips and her backside.

“With all my heart.”

He brushed his thumb against her now swollen lower lip. “Only if you’re ready.”

“I’ve wanted you forever, Gabriel. Please don’t make me wait any longer.”

He chuckled softly. “Then we should get off this bridge.”

He kissed her once more and excused himself to make a brief phone call. It was a quick exchange in Italian that sounded like Gabriel was confirming something with the concierge, but Julia couldn’t hear everything. He turned his back on her deliberately and spoke in hushed tones.

When she asked him about it he grinned. “You’ll see.”

It took them a little longer than it should have to arrive at the hotel, for every few steps one of them would pull the other into a passionate kiss. There was laughter and gentle caresses; there were tender embraces and murmured words of seduction, and a tango or two against the wall of a darkened alley.

But really, the seduction was complete. For it had occurred in an old orchard years ago.

By the time Gabriel led Julia into the penthouse and out onto the terrazza, they were vibrating with shared electricity and very, very needy. Which meant that it took Julia a moment to notice the transformation. Pillar candles had been scattered around the space and contributed a warm, flickering luminosity to the starlight from above. The air was perfumed with jasmine. Pillows and a cashmere blanket beckoned them to recline on the futon banquette.

A bottle of champagne sat chilling in an ice bucket, and nearby, Julia saw a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries and what looked like tiramisu. And lastly, she noticed the music of Diana Krall.

Gabriel came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her left ear with his nose. “Does this please you?”

“It’s beautiful.”

“I have plans for you this evening, my love. I’m afraid those plans don’t include sleep until much, much later.”

Julia shivered at the tone of his voice, low and sensual.

He held her more tightly. “Am I making you nervous?”

She shook her head.

He began to kiss her neck softly, floating his lips across her skin. “A declaration of desire,” he murmured. “But tonight I will make good on my declaration when I take you to bed and make you my lover.”

She trembled once again, and this time he crooked his arm across her collarbone, hugging her close. “Relax, darling. Tonight is all about pleasure. Your pleasure. And I intend to please you all evening.”

He kissed her cheek, then spun her around slowly. “Foreplay is essential. And since this is new to both of us, there are a few things I’d like to do first.” He searched her eyes for her reaction.

“I’m yours, Gabriel.”

He smiled and embraced her softly. “I want to explore your senses—sound, taste, sight, touch. I