If the deep inhales and exhales coming from Celia were any indication of her unconscious state, Gabriel thought it possible he could ease the ache pounding within him while also keeping his vow.

He gave himself a quick stroke, his hand forming a circle around the base of his cock and moving upward. It wouldn’t take him long to come to a finish. He felt as though he might burst at any moment, especially when he thought of the woman lying beside him in the quiet darkness of the night. He could imagine her hands drifting over him. Learning his shape. His strength. Her whispers that she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her.

Lust surged through Gabriel like a hot tidal wave. Eyes closing with the fantasy, his hand loosened then tightened, moving again and again. Up and down. Gripping harder. A bit faster. Almost violently. But oh, so necessary. Because if he held any hope of stemming the maddening desire that he sink himself inside Celia’s softness, this must be done.

Bliss shimmered just beyond his reach. He hovered on the verge of exploding. Seconds from plummeting over the precipice.

Almost there. Almost…

“Gabriel?”

Celia’s soft voice broke through the haze of pleasure of his impending climax. Gabriel clutched himself, trying desperately to stave off the inevitable. She raised herself up on her forearms. Now, she would discover just how depraved he really was. How hungry he truly was for her.

CHAPTER 24

“Celia, turn away from me this instant.”

Gabriel’s voice was a guttural growl. And while the darkness she’d woken to frightened Celia, his response only intrigued her.

“But the lamp has gone out. And, and I cannot sleep without it.”

“It did not go out, I turned it down. Now, please. Do as I say. Turn over.” His tone reeked of anguished hope that she would do as he commanded.

Celia could just barely make him out in the dark. Her new husband was a mountainous form beside her in the bed, but oddly enough, it was comforting to have him so close. Heat emanated from his body, and although she wasn’t quite sure what awoke her from such a deep slumber, she was warm and cozy because of his nearness.

Peering at him, she leaned closer, her hand sliding up from his stomach to his chest. It was heaving beneath her hand, distracting her from the realization she’d woken with that same hand on his stomach and her legs thrown over his. “Are you ill? Or perhaps injured in some way?”

He let out a bark of a laugh that sounded pained. “Jesus Christ. I’m two seconds from exploding in my own hand with your name on my lips, Celia. For the love of God, please roll over. I cannot stop this from happening.”

Celia wasn’t quite sure if he meant what she thought. Having overheard conversations she had no business hearing in the past, she was aware that men sometimes pleasured themselves. Especially if a woman was unavailable.