Page 41 of My Darling Rogue
Thank God, no one saw the full effect of this man destroying her. How easily he accomplished destruction with just a crook of his finger. As far as the others were concerned, they’d simply caught Celia and Gabriel locked in a passionate embrace with only kisses passing between them. Scandalous and certainly ruinous but hardly the full truth of what was truly happening
Lifting his hand the tiniest bit from Celia’s mouth, Gabriel whispered in her ear, “Tell them you are unharmed, Celia. Better yet, tell them all how much you love my hands on your body, my finger inside you. You do like my finger inside you, don’t you? If not, tell me to stop and I shall.”
She almost swooned from the fiery rush of his breath and the sharpness of his teeth nipping her ear lobe. Her head shook in protest that he might cease doing these wicked, wonderful things.
“I’m in no danger.” She addressed the crowd at Gabriel’s back. Her tone rose higher when his finger twisted in the most devilish of ways. “Please, please go away.”
He grinned against her neck as his free hand clamped once again over her mouth. What should have infuriated her only left her boneless and compliant to Gabriel’s will.
“Good girl,” he murmured. “And it’s true. You are in no danger with me, and you never will be.”
The pleasure in his voice caused by her surrender lit a strange flame inside Celia. This man was the key and he would unlock her in ways she could never imagine.
Rumbles of confusion met Celia’s statement. No one seemed inclined to follow her shaky plea. It took Gabriel’s drawled command to get the desired effect.
“You heard the lady. Run along now. All of you.”
The people Celia could not see began retreating, their outraged murmurs drifting over the garden.
He may have been a bastard with no social standing, but no one dared challenge Gabriel. Celia could only imagine the power he would yield as a marquess. It would be terrifying.
“By God, you will pay for this outrage, Rose,” Robert declared, his voice quivering with anger. He stood somewhere behind them, reluctant to abandon Celia to someone he deemed unfit. “This is not the end of this.”
“I should hope it’s not,” Gabriel replied to the other man, even as his finger glided in and out of Celia’s body with lazy, secretive intent. Robert let out a frustrated curse before he finally stomped away.
Now they were alone once more in the darkened silence. There would be no further challenges to Gabriel’s claim upon her.
“No, this is definitely not the end of things, is it, Celia? And do you know why? Because there’s still more to come,” he whispered, his full attention centering on her. “And I’ll be damned if anyone steals your pleasure while I’m in the process of giving it to you.”
Removing the hand over her mouth, he tilted her head back and used his lips to ensure her silence. He devoured her, bringing her once again to the edge of insanity before pushing her into its silky, darkened depths.
Celia plummeted and flew into the stars with his fingers guiding her journey.
Moments later, when his hold finally eased, Celia turned in his arms. His erection pressed against her belly. It was heavy. Hard. She shivered with awareness of his own unsatisfied need. The fact he’d done nothing to ease his own torture twisted her heart with shocking affection.
She was safe with him. He’d not harm her, but should Gabriel decide he’d take her right there on that stone bench, Celia knew she would not stop him.
In a haze of morbid curiosity, she watched as he deliberately licked his finger clean of her essence. Why did she feel this sudden compulsion to take his finger into her own mouth? To lick and suck any part of his body he’d allow her to devour? She wanted to taste him as he’d tasted her.
Gabriel’s whiskey-hued eyes glittered as though every dirty thought in her head was being screamed aloud. “Soon, sugarplum. Soon.”
The husky promise sent another stab of lust curling through Celia’s body. If he asked it, she knew she would fall to her knees and take him into her mouth. He could teach her the many ways of pleasing him, and she would gladly accept the tutelage.
She should be mortified. Scandalized. Humiliated by this public display of Gabriel’s hold on her. But Celia could not muster up even a smidgen of outrage. Even as he proved his ownership, she wanted more.
And that would be her ultimate downfall.
Falling for a man who would eventually despise her.
CHAPTER18
Lady Darby did not appear very upset over the fact her daughter was recently ruined and would be expected to marry as quickly as possible. The fact her daughter would become a marchioness no doubt eased the sting of scandal.
“These matters must be taken care of with the utmost haste,” Lady Darby commented with a serene smile.
“Of course, my lady,” Gabriel murmured. “My intentions are to leave at first light to meet with my father’s barristers. He has already petitioned the queen to recognize the marquess’s will, but I shall see to it personally as well.”
“I have every confidence you will see to every detail.” Lady Darby nodded in approval for Gabriel’s haste. “I must say, however, you are a most unexpected marquess, Lord Rosenthorne.”
