Page 29 of Prince She Shouldn't Crave
‘I need that too.’
She didn’t have any fear, even though this was her first time. He reached out and slipped the dress from her shoulders and it fell to the floor around her feet.
‘Undo my shirt,’ he commanded in a way that was so princely, she almost smiled. Thrilled to do as he asked. She began unbuttoning the studs on the front of his dress shirt till it was open. She’d seen pictures of him when he was younger, with his shirt off, but it was nothing like seeing him for real. The defined muscles of his pectorals, the washboard abdomen, which spoke of hard work and dedication to exercise, as she knew he applied to all parts of his life. Would apply to her. She pushed the shirt from his shoulders, resting her hands on the powerful muscles there for a moment, feeling all that strength, wondering how it would be when she was underneath him.
Trembling with the anticipation of it.
‘Now my trousers.’
She reached her shaking fingers and undid the hook at the waist. Slowly undoing the zip, notch by notch, as he stood there, his gaze glassy, his breathing heavy. Once she was done, she reached inside and cupped him, feeling how hot he was, how large. She knew they’d fit. Human bodies were made for each other. But the size of him. Didn’t she owe Gabriel to tell him that she’d never done this before? She squeezed slightly, testing him out.
‘Temptress,’ he hissed through gritted teeth, and she couldn’t help but smile. She’d never seen herself that way and loved that was how he viewed her. She rested her hand on his chest, the slight dusting of hair there that bisected his abdomen and disappeared beneath the band of his underwear.
‘There’s something I need to tell you.’
‘Contraception? I have condoms. I’m careful. I have regular health checks.’
‘No.’ She shook her head, ‘You need to know… I’ve never done this before. I’m a virgin.’
‘I’m a virgin.’
Gabriel stopped. He couldn’t have heard correctly. Could he? But there’d been no ambiguity. This was… He’d never made love to a virgin before. The only time he thought he might have to was on his wedding night. And even then, it wasn’t the sort of thing he’d ever sought out. A woman’s past was her own. He’d never judge, since he believed everyone was entitled to pleasure, but this?
The sensations overwhelmed him. The privilege of her wanting him to be her first. The responsibility. Then all the questions. Such as why? Lena was a beautiful woman. Men would clamour for her, even though in this moment he might have wanted to tear each of those men apart with his bare hands.
He looked down at her and he could see in her eyes. The way they were a little wider. The way she raked her lower lip through her teeth. Her vulnerability.
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘You don’t have to say anything. It’s not important. I just thought you should know if you wondered why I…’
Seemed inexperienced? He hadn’t even thought about it, being so caught up in the moment. He took a step back to give himself space when all he wanted to do was to drag her closer.
‘We shouldn’t… You’ve clearly been waiting… You should—’
‘No, I’ve been waiting for you.’
The heat roared over him like a wildfire. If he’d been aroused before it was nothing to how he felt now. He was so hard he could almost snap in two.
Lena wrapped her arms round her waist, another sign of the insecurity and innocence he’d not noticed before. ‘I…maybe not youexactly…’
He wanted to chuckle, because she had a unique way of cutting him down, but feared that she’d think he was laughingather, rather than at himself.
‘I think you’ll be nice to me. Take care of me. Make it good.’
She’d set the bar so low for herself.Nice?Was that all she hoped for? Part of his heart tore. Bled. He shouldn’t be doing this, especially since her admission. And yet here she was, with complete power over him. Holding him in her thrall.
‘Come here. Let me hold you.’ He held out his hand.
She placed her own in his and he reeled her into him. Gabriel sat on the side of the bed and cradled her in his lap. She nestled into his body. He was so damned hard, desperate for her. Yet was torn between desire and doing the right thing.
She trembled in his arms. From desire, nerves or a combination of both, he couldn’t tell. He stroked his hand up and down her spine, goosebumps peppering her skin under his fingertips. Gabriel kept up his ministrations. Caressing, soothing, till she melted into him.
‘Why did you wait?’ he asked.
‘It’s not important.’
‘You’reimportant, Lena.’
