The Prince (The Florentine 0.5)(11)
Author: Sylvain Reynard

She took a moment to admire his athletic form, the definition of his pectoral and abdominal muscles, the light dusting of hair on his chest, and the muscles of his biceps that flexed as he sat up.

“Here is an angel, fallen to earth,” he whispered, his blue eyes alight with erotic fire.

His gaze traveled from her eyes to her hair and down the length of her body, pausing to admire her legs and stockings before coming to rest on her shoes.

He licked his perfect lips.

She pushed her hair behind her ears. “I went shopping. Do you like it?”

Gabriel’s eyes blazed as he stood.

He strode toward her and placed his hands on either side of her face, bringing their lips together in a searing kiss.

“Like is not the appropriate word.”

He dropped to his knees in front of her, cupping her backside with his hands. He pulled her toward his mouth, pressing a kiss to the place where her navel lay hidden beneath the black silk.

“You’re breathtaking,” he murmured, looking up at her. “But I’m looking forward to peeling you out of this.”

She ran her fingers through his dark, tousled hair, pausing to kiss his forehead.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Mrs. Emerson.”

He touched her ankle before sliding his hand all the way to the top of her stockings. He traced the lace before pulling the thigh-high down achingly slowly. Once he’d removed it, he replaced her shoe on her foot.

While he was repeating the same movements on her other leg, she rested her hand on his shoulder.

“A bit off balance?” He winked.

She floated her hand across his jaw. “In some cultures, you’d be worshipped. Instead, you’re my husband and you’re kneeling at my feet.”

He paused his movements and glanced down at the ring on his left hand. He lifted it, watching in silent fascination as the candlelight shone over the smooth platinum.

“I long to worship you.”

She lifted his hand and kissed the place where the ring lay. “I long to be worshipped by you.”

In a flash, he was on his feet and she was in his arms, their mouths fused. He kissed her deeply, picking her up and carrying her to the bed.

There were no more words as he divested her of her nightgown and the thin scrap of lace that purported to be underwear. He kissed his way from the tops of her inner thighs all the way down to her high heels.

Then he, too, was naked and their bodies were tangling together in the center of the spacious white bed.

He pressed his hand to her hip as he adored her neck, kissing and tasting her smooth and perfect skin.

She reached for his backside, urging him forward and he complied, entering her swiftly.

She cried out immediately, in pain.

“Julianne?” He lifted himself on one arm.

She was grimacing, eyes screwed shut.

He withdrew from her immediately, panic washing over him. “What happened? Are you all right?”

She inhaled a deep breath.

“I’m okay. Something was off.”

His dark eyebrows knitted together. “I’m sorry.”

She pressed her hand on her lower abdomen, testing the area.

He sat back on his knees, watching her. “I thought you were ready. Forgive me.”

She smiled at him wanly. “There’s nothing to forgive. I invited you inside. I’m not sure what happened.”

Gabriel moved beside her, tugging her into his arms, his body tense.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and closed his eyes as his head rested back on the pillow. His face was pained.

She reached for his hand, interlacing their fingers. “It must have been the angle. We can continue.”

His jaw clenched and he shook his head.

Julianne brought their conjoined hands between her legs and encouraged him to touch her.

After a moment, Gabriel began to stroke her with a single finger.

Her body was still responsive, but he took extra care arousing and opening her.

She placed her arms around him and pulled him atop her.

When she urged him forward once again he eased inside her, watching her face for any signs of discomfort.

“Better?” he whispered.

“A little.”

“I don’t understand.” He placed his hand on her hip, his eyes burning into hers.

She closed her eyes.

When she opened them, she smiled and the smile was genuine.

“It’s gone. I’m fine.”

His expression darkened. “Something is wrong.”

“It was just the angle. It feels good now.”

To prove her point, she flexed her interior muscles, tightening around him.

A groan escaped his lips.

“You’ve never had pain during sex.” He placed his hand on the pillow beside her head and lowered his forehead to touch hers. “You need to see a doctor.”

“I’m fine.” Her brown eyes flashed.

She pressed on his shoulders until their bodies were flush. She lifted her hips, provoking him.

Gabriel began to move, his focus and attention solely on pleasing her.

They loved at a gentle pace until their desire for one another grew desperate.

Gabriel thrust inside her more deeply and Julia encouraged him, gripping his backside and whispering in his ear.

Suddenly, she was fluttering around him and gasping in the candlelit darkness. A few more movements and he too was overcome.

She welcomed his weight on top of her body, sighing into the hollow of his throat.

“Nothing feels as good as this.” She kissed his neck. “This is my glimpse of transcendence.”

Gabriel embraced her tightly, unable to find the words to respond.

Later, while she slept on his chest, he whispered a prayer in the darkness, asking God to protect his precious Beatrice and keep her healthy and safe from harm.

Chapter 9

“I have news, my lord.” Niccolò entered the Prince’s private quarters in the Palazzo Riccardi a week after the assassination attempt.

Unlike his villa, the Palazzo was located a short walk from the Duomo in central Florence and was not warded¸ which meant that others of his kind could enter the building. He’d chosen to stay here rather than at the villa, so he could meet with Consilium members personally and monitor the war movement.

The Prince sat at his desk, reading. He gestured for his head of intelligence to be seated.

“Proceed.”

“We’ve just received an urgent message from our agents in Venice. Our spy was able to secure an audience with Prince Marcus and deliver the message and the sword, as you instructed. Marcus immediately informed his inner circle you were dead.”