her far more than her normal run of gowns, white muslins that were primly cut and better suited to a schoolroom miss. She was the sort of woman who should wear colors and should not be shy of accentuating her voluptuous curves. Gabriel thought of what he’d bought—unbeknownst to her—at the dressmaker’s today, smiling in anticipation of seeing it on her body.
“Sir?”
“Hmm?” He looked up to see Drake had finished. “Ah.” He took the hot linen cloth from his valet and pressed it against his freshly shaved skin.
“Thank you, Drake.” He handed back the towel, and his eyes flickered toward the door for the millionth time. “That will be all for tonight. I shan’t need you again.”
Drake dropped a quick bow. “Very good, sir.”
Gabriel’s eyes narrowed; was that a smile on his valet’s face? He’d never seen the dour, highly efficient man smile before. He shrugged. Who cared if he was smiling?
He pushed out of his chair and made for the door, knocking once before entering.
Chapter 19
Drusilla was in front of her window, her back to him. He grinned like a fool: she was wearing the negligee he had purchased for her.
“Drusilla?”
She jumped a little and then turned.
Gabriel sucked in breath and said a silent prayer as his eyes ate her body.
She ran her hands awkwardly down her sides and plucked at the diaphanous skirts with her fingers. “Thank you for this; it is—it is . . . lovely.”
His eyes had become stuck at the level of her chest. She had the kind of nipples he loved—big, dark rose peaks that thrust up when erect and aroused. Like right now.
He looked from the flushed skin over her sternum, up her throat, to her slightly parted lips.
How had he ever thought she was not attractive? True, she wasn’t pretty, but she was sensuality personified.
“You look delicious.” That was the only word for it. He wanted to eat her.
She turned her face away, her expression one of mortification.
Gabriel laughed and caught her chin, forcing her eyes to his. “My wife is shy. Delectable, and shy.”
“You speak of me as if I am food.”
He grinned the moment what she’d said dawned on her face, which she promptly hid between her hands.
“You are so—” She appeared to run out of words. His articulate, clever wife was out of words. His smile grew even bigger.
“This gown is perfect for your body,” he said, taking her wrists and gently pulling them away from her face, exposing the bodice of the lacy nightgown to his hungry gaze. The rosy pink lace had been cunningly designed so that it swirled around her breasts, exposing only a glimpse here and there. But her nipples . . . Those refused to be concealed.
Gabriel leaned forward and took one in his mouth and sucked it. Hard.
“Gabriel.” Her voice was scratchy, raw, needy. She arched into him, pushing into his mouth. “Please.”
It was the most erotic word he had ever heard.
He took her waist and held her motionless while he switched to her other breast, teasing it until she vibrated beneath his touch.
“Pull up your gown,” he said as he released her nipple. She hesitated. “Do it. Now.”
Her hands scrambled over her hips and he felt the silk fabric bunching between them. He walked her backward toward the bed, not stopping until her thighs hit the mattress. When the nightgown reached the apex of her thighs, he slid a hand between their bodies, and between her legs.
A vulgar word slipped out of him before he could stop it, and she shuddered, her thighs tightening on his hand.
“You are so wet for me, Drusilla.” He thumbed her peak while pushing a finger inside her. He stroked and she tightened, her sheath unspeakably soft and hot. “You like it when I talk to you—tell you what I feel, what I like, what I’m doing.”
It wasn’t a question, but she nodded.
Gabriel nipped the pebbled tip of her breast as he worked her with his hand. “I’m going to take you in my mouth and make you orgasm.”
Panic flashed across her face as he slid to his knees.
“Wh-what?
“Hold your gown up higher.” He didn’t stop stroking and probing. “Better yet, remove it.”
She was looking down at him, her lips parted, bright red stains of passion across each cheek.
“Take it off, Drusilla.” He punctuated his demand with a quick, deep thrust that made her body shake. “Do it now.”
Her hands fumbled to unfasten the bodice, which had a row of diabolical, tiny buttons that he’d thought about