“Thank you, Gabriel.” She brought his hand to her mouth, pressing kisses to his knuckles.

“It will not keep your fears at bay forever, but it is a start.” His reply came out in a growl. He sounded like an angry bear when truly he was attempting to behave more gentlemanly.

But, seven hells, how he wanted to fuck his sweet wife into oblivion at that very moment.

She appeared unconcerned by his gruffness. Taking the hand she’d just kissed, she held it to her bosom. Her gaze was calm and steady—so unlike the frightened, anxious woman in his arms last night.

“There is that, at least.” Celia smiled again. “I’m willing to try your methods again. If you think it will help me.” Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment while Gabriel clenched his teeth to keep himself from rolling her beneath him. Did she even realize she was naked beneath the coverlet? And he was as well?

Did she not know the willpower required to stop from doing everything his body howled for?

“I think, perhaps, I went too far last night. Sugarplum, I do not wish to truly hurt you.”

“You haven’t and you won’t,” she stated firmly, her chin tilting up. “I trust you, Gabriel. With all that I am, I trust you.”

She moved even closer until the soft scent of roses, lemons, and sex filled Gabriel’s nostrils. It was intoxicating enough to make his head swim. “Will you kiss me, Gabriel? And… touch me again?”

Dear God. Celia was not frightened by his methods. She was not shrinking away from him in horror. She wanted him as badly as he wanted her.

“Yes,” he choked out before pulling her into his arms so that she sprawled against his chest. He knew she felt his cock, hard and insistent between their bodies, but she was not intimidated by it. Instead, she rotated a little against him, and he growled in a heated warning.

“Celia, keep moving like that, and I will not be responsible for what happens next. You are driving me crazy with need.”

Celia bit her bottom lip, somberly gazing down at him. “I called you my love last night, didn’t I? In the height of my pleasure.”

“You did. And I loved hearing it from your lips.”

“It’s true, you know. You are my love. I will do anything for you, Gabriel. Anything you ask of me. To support you. To protect you.” There was a tiny quiver of distress in her confession, but Gabriel dismissed it because everything else in that moment meant more.

She loved him.

“I feel the same for you, sweet wife.” Gabriel cradled her head in his hands, peering into her chocolatey brown eyes. “I love you with all that I am.”

Celia smiled, her head dropping down until her lips met his in a fiery mingling of their souls. They made love then, sweetly, with tenderness and careful attention to each other’s needs. And before Celia fell asleep once again, exhausted from his kisses and the force of their passion, Gabriel’s arms tightened around her.