However, she was right beside Gabriel. Why would he feel this was necessary if she was his wife? Did he not think she was worthy of such attention? Well, she was. Even if she didn’t quite understand it all and the thought of any man pushing his way into her body left her drenched in a cold sweat, this was Gabriel. Her husband. And he would not harm her. She was certain of that.

In a swift movement, she leaned fully across Gabriel so she could increase the lamp light. Her breasts swung in front of his face as she reached for the lamp’s lever, and he let out a groan of helpless lust.

“Celia, I swear on all that is holy, if you don’t distance yourself immediately…”

She sat back on her haunches. The low light illuminated Gabriel’s face. Celia found herself entranced by the raw emotion that darkened his eyes. Beneath the coverlet, it appeared his hand was between his legs, and a flush of heat pinkened her cheeks. He was pleasuring himself.

“It’s either this or I take you, sugarplum,” he said in an almost forlorn voice. “And I promised you would not have need to fear my attentions tonight.”

In response, Celia pulled lightly on the coverlet until it finally fell away past his hips, exposing him from head to knee. In the lamplight, his chest gleamed like bronzed slabs of granite, the muscles lining his abdomen rippling with every breath. For some strange reason, Celia was possessed by a desire to explore those intriguing ridges with her mouth. But what arrested her attention more than anything was the shape of his body beneath the fabric of his sleeping pants, and the outline of his hand where he gripped himself so tight, Celia wondered if it was painful.

It certainly appeared painful.

“Does it hurt?” she asked hesitantly.

“Fuck,” Gabriel muttered beneath his breath. Then, in a somewhat normal, but strangled voice, he said, “Yes, but not for reasons you think.” His gaze searched hers, the depths nearly black and so mysterious Celia wondered if falling into an abyss would have the same effect. “This has become all too common for me since I’ve met you.

“Can I… help somehow?” She did not wait for permission. As if her hand belonged to someone else, Celia watched herself tug his pants down, exposing him fully to her gaze.

Gabriel growled when her fingers brushed across his knuckles, but he didn’t stop her actions.

The sight was fascinating. Beautiful. And lord above, more erotic than anything she could have ever imagined. She stared as Gabriel held himself tightly, fingers wrapped just below the thick, mushroom-like head of his cock.

Celia swallowed past a lump in her throat, her fingers aching to stroke the velvety-looking skin to discover if it was as soft as it looked. Even in the soft glow of the lamp, she saw the vein running down its length. It throbbed with the strength of his heartbeat, keeping time in perfect cadence.