“Mr. Lorimer takes all those sheets out for the women readers. Only a man can claim them, and I’ve always wondered.”
He smiles, still not answering me.
“I don’t see what’s so funny.”
“I had no idea he kept the pages from you.”
“Well, he did, and I would like to finally read them if I can. I don’t think that it’s fair that you keep that part of the story to yourself.”
“I’m not sure if it would be right for me to offend your feminine sensibilities.”
“Let me see the damn pages.”
He lets out a low laugh and rolls me off him. Helping me to my feet, he walks over to a shelf.
Then he pulls me down into a chair and sets the book on my lap, flipping to the proper page. “Read the scene aloud to me.”
“Gladly.” I find the place where I last read and clear my throat. “Once the door was shut, he walked over to the maiden’s chair and slowly kneeled before her. He slid a hand between her thighs and angled his head against her…”
I blink a few times, feeling my cheeks redden at the next lines.
Her soaking wet slit, yearning for a taste of her lips, her swollen clit.
“Continue reading, Belle,” Gabriel says. “I’d like to hear the rest.”
“You’ve already read this part.”
“And?” He smiles. “I’m intrigued by what you’ll think about it.”
“No, um…” My eyes widen as the lines become progressively more obscene. “I think I’ll just read this later and ask you how real it is after. Do you have a first edition copy of um—”
“Read the rest,” He commands.
He spreads my legs, pushing the dress up as I continue to read.
“He blew against her, kissing her lips like a gust of wind,” I read, and Gabriel buries his head between my thighs, blowing a kiss against my clit.
I suck in a breath before continuing. “His tongue caressed her and…”
He slides his tongue over my lips, kissing me like he was kissing my mouth. My back arches off the chair, just like the heroine’s, and I drop the book to the floor.
Gabriel keeps his hands planted on my thighs, locking me in place. Gently humming as he devours me, the vibrations from his mouth send tremors up and down my spine, and I grab onto his hair.
“Gabriel…” I say his name as he slides two fingers inside of me while still sucking my clit. “Gabriel, slow down.”
He doesn’t dare. His kisses come faster, harder, and it’s too much all at once.
My entire body shakes uncontrollably, and I scream at the top of my lungs, letting go of his hair.
When I finally come to again, Gabriel is scooping me into his arms and carrying me up the staircase.
In the Morning
Belle
The next time I open my eyes, Gabriel is lying next to me in bed, running his fingers through my hair.
His mouth meets mine in a soft kiss, and he whispers against my lips. “Would you like me to grab another book with scenes you might’ve missed?”
“Maybe.” I can feel my cheeks heating. “Does it always feel like that?”
“You’ll have to tell me…” He presses his mouth against my neck and trails his kisses lower, rendering me useless for the rest of the day.
Conflicted Hearts
Belle
Harsh sunlight streams through my window the following morning, burning my exposed skin.
Wanting to feel Gabriel’s lips on my body again, I roll over and reach for him, but he isn’t there.
Confused, I slip out of bed and step onto the balcony. I walk over to my door and push it open, waiting to hear a guard’s voice.
It never comes.
No one is holding watch, and the corridors below are eerily silent.
Remembering the route from yesterday, I return to his library and walk between every shelf in search of him.
It’s odd that he didn’t say something before leaving this time…
I select a blue-covered book at random and read the first few pages on my way to the kitchen.
Sola is humming and twirling around between attending to trays of tea.
“Good morning, Sola,” I say.
“Morning?” She stops mid-twirl. “It’s the afternoon, Belle.”
“Oh. Good afternoon.” I clear my throat. “Have you seen Gabriel today?”
“He’s in his study, I believe.”
“That’s in the north wing, right?”
“It is,” she says, crossing her arms. “Why?”
“I’m just curious.”
“Then get un-curious.” She pats the seat next to her. “Let’s discuss what you’d like to do around the castle today instead…”
Hours later, after I’ve walked through the rose gardens for the umpteenth time and read fifteen chapters of my new novel, Sola finally leaves me alone.
Looking up at the north wing’s tower, I spot Gabriel through the window. He’s pacing fast, talking to someone I can’t quite see, and then the lights suddenly darken.
Intrigued, I return inside and make a quick left, tiptoeing up the lone silver-coated staircase that I was never given access to.
When I reach the top, toppled chairs and old furniture are blocking the east side, so I head west.