Page 38 of A Bargain with the Rake (Necessary Arrangements 3)

Chapter 11

Gabriel left the inn at a brisk pace. Spending the night in the same room as her, watching her bathe again, would be a torture the likes of which he had never experienced before. He stood quietly in the garden, waiting for his arousal to subside. He wanted to wait until he knew she’d be in bed, asleep. The less temptation he faced, the more sanity he would be able to preserve by the end of the trip.

He took out a cigar and lit it, watching the ambers glow in the dark. He hadn’t smoked very often, but tonight, it seemed like the right occasion. He walked around the garden, trying unsuccessfully to divert his thoughts from his enticing wife. His wife, who at this moment was probably bathing in steaming water, her cheeks flushed, her skin warm and wet…

He shook his head but was unable to rid himself of the thoughts of her. He flicked the cigar away and expelled a deep sigh with the remnants of smoke. Gabriel leaned his back on the side of the wall, thinking about the way she’d kissed him just now in the woods, how her breasts had tasted in his mouth. With a groan, he undid the falls of his breeches, and his aroused length sprang out instantaneously. God, how he wanted her. He took himself in hand and started rubbing his cock in an erotic rhythm.

Gabriel imagined Evie on her knees in front of him, holding his cock, then he thought of Evie’s hot lips on him, of her silky hair beneath his fingers. He would hold her tighter in his grasp, her wet tongue circling the head of him. He quickened the pace, thrusting his arousal into his hand. He imagined himself moving his cock between Evie’s wet lips. The way she would feel in his arms, around him, under him. In a short burst of bliss, he spilled himself into his hand and stood, breathing heavily.

He heard a tiny gasp and looked in that direction, only to see his wife watching him, her hand covering her mouth.

“Damn.” The foul curse left his lips without a thought.

Evie watched him wide-eyed for a moment, then turned on her heel and stalked away.

Gabriel entered their chamber a few minutes after Evie. She’d managed to change into her nightgown, crawl into bed, and pretend to be asleep. Gabriel came closer to the bed and sat at the edge.

“Do you want to talk about what you saw?” he asked quietly.

“No, thank you. I just came to let you know that supper was getting cold while you—you, well, you know.” Evie grimaced and turned to her other side.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed by what you saw.”

Evie scoffed. Of course, he wasn’t embarrassed.

“It’s natural,” he said conversationally. “When you spend time with a person you desire, you start to feel… uncomfortable. Your skin starts to crawl when they are near, your temperature rises.”

Evie felt like squirming, and goosebumps covered her skin.

“It is nothing to be ashamed of. However, sometimes it reaches a point when you just need a… release. And you either take a partner to bed or… do what I did.” A pause followed.

Evie’s mind went blank, and she didn’t know how to react to what he was saying. She finally turned to him. “If it doesn’t matter whether you do it yourself or with… with a partner—”

Gabriel’s lips twitched slightly. “It does matter. It is much more pleasurable with a woman. With a willing woman,” he corrected himself. “You can do this yourself too,” he added with a sly smile.

“I don’t think….” Her face scrunched up thoughtfully again. “How?”

Gabriel let out a laugh. “Do you want me to show you?”

Evie’s felt her face heat. “No, thank you.” She turned her back to him again.

Gabriel patted her on the arm and sauntered to the supper table.

* * *

Evie tossed and turned that night, unable to fall asleep. In comparison, her husband was snoring softly, contentedly lying on his side. She turned to him, watching his muscled back, and had a sudden urge to trace his muscles with her finger and then to press up against him, rubbing herself over him like a cat.

Evie shook her head and turned away. Ever since theeventshe’d witnessed in the garden, she felt uncomfortable in her own skin. Her nipples hardened and chafed against her clothes. She wanted to take off her chemise so it wouldn’t rub against her sensitive skin. More than that, she wanted to envelop Gabriel with her body, throw her leg over his hips, and press herself close to him. She wanted him to touch her everywhere but especially between her legs.

When you spend time with a person you desire, you start to feel… uncomfortable. Your skin starts to crawl when they are near, your temperature rises.

It was like he was describing the effect he had on her. Did he truly feel the same when he was around her?

You can do it yourself too.

His words rang through her mind. She slowly ran her hand down her stomach and pressed a hand between her legs. She almost moaned. She quivered, but it felt good, the feeling of having something against her center. She pressed herself harder against her palm and took a deep breath. She then quickly removed her hand and threw a sideways glance at her husband.

What am I supposed to do next?

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