by Suzie Grant
~*~
Desire spiked her temperature as he drove Ava back atop the bed, spread her legs and ground his erection against her. Coherent thought fled as she clawed at his back, silently urging him on. He lavished attention on every square inch of her body until he reached the apex of her thighs.
His hot breath brushed her thigh and she arched upward, seeking relief. Their gazes locked for seconds as his mouth descended with agonizing slowness. The first touch of his tongue shot her off the bed as it slid over her swollen nub.
Pleasure wracked her body and swirled through her veins. His tongue plunged inside her, licking, sucking and nibbling until she exploded in a frenzy of need. His finger joined his mouth, rubbing the pad across her sensitive core. Ava lifted her hips and spread her legs wider, giving him better access.
Sensation built inside her once again as he worked his mouth in a rapid pace. She sobbed, needing another release. Her hands gripped the bed sheets and her head tossed back as the tension coiled tighter and tighter.
A breeze wafted through the open doorway, cooling her heated flesh and brushing her sensitive nipples just as she burst into a thousand shivers. Convulsing shudders wracked her body again and again as she plummeted back to reality.
And then he rose over her, like a Greek god, shedding his clothing as he moved. Powerful, hungry and demanding, he entered her, filling her with his flesh. Another hot sensation cascaded into liquid fire around him, easing his entry.
Gabriel ground his teeth above her as he seemingly attempted to control the pleasure. But she didn’t want his control. She wanted his complete release. Ava lifted her legs onto his shoulders and he gasped. All restraint fled as he pounded into her depths. The muscles in his neck and shoulders expanded with his fierce grip and struggle to maintain control.
“God you’re so wet.”
No one had ever brought her to climax so quickly. As his rhythm increased, she felt the stirring of another on the brink. She clawed at his arms as blinding hot desire raked her body. Gabriel’s howl of pleasure mixed with her own high pitched whimpers.
His hard body collapsed atop her, their breathing ragged and shared. He rolled to her side and gathered her close. Hot breath fanned her shoulder before he dropped a quick kiss to her bare shoulder. She peered over at him. Their gazes met.
Reaching up to brush his sweaty hair off his brow, she gave him a quick smile. He captured her hand and eased it to his mouth kissing each knuckle. “Thank you,” he whispered.
Her brow furrowed. “For what?”
Murky green eyes studied her. “For bringing me back to life.”
Words left her, and she rolled onto her side to face him. “I didn’t do anything.”
He kissed her fingertips. “You did more than you know.” Gabriel then placed her hand over his heart. “I’ve been dead for years. I lost my wife and my son ten years ago because a criminal robbed a bank.” He shrugged. “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
His voice choked. “I died the day I buried my four-year-old son. I forgot what it was like to feel pleasure or pain. And you’ve given it back to me.”
“You give me too much credit.”
He shook his head and cupped her cheeks. “No, I’m certain I’ll never love another woman the way I loved Elizabeth, but for the first time in years I can feel my heart beat.”
Tears burned her eyes, filled them, and then trickled down her cheeks. His own eyes shimmered with emotion. “I’m not sure where to go from here and I know I’ll never forget them.” He ducked his head. “But it’s time to start living again...”
“Call me Ava, Gabriel.”
He smiled gently. “Ava. That’s a beautiful name.” Releasing her cheeks he crawled from the bed and held a hand out to her. “Come on, I’m famished. Let’s go find something to eat.”
She giggled and scooted to the edge. “Let me get some clothes on.”
Gabriel pulled her up to squeeze her tightly to his chest. “No, let’s stay just like this.”
“What?” She laughed. “We can’t! Someone will see us.”
He grinned. “Who cares?” Kissing her mouth, Gabriel nuzzled her neck. “Come on, live a little dangerously. It’ll be fun.”
How could she resist such boyish charm? “All right. You win.”
He gave a shout of joy and swung her around in his arms. When he set her feet on the floor she raced from the room with him hot on her tail, laughing like children. They made it to the kitchen without running into anyone, grabbed a plate of fruit, and raced back to the bedroom. Entering, Ava slammed the door shut, giggling and breathing heavily from their run.
Realization struck her like a fist to the gut, she’d been dead as well. All these years, she’d simply survived each day. For the first time since her childhood, Ava smiled with genuine joy, rejuvenated and carefree.
She clasped Gabriel’s hands after he deposited the plate of fruit onto the bed and drew him closer. “I guess I need to thank you as well.”
“For what?”
“For bringing me back to life.”
And he captured her mouth in a fierce kiss, backing her into the wall. “Then let me make you come alive once more, mi princesa.”
