Page 150 of The Wallflower Takes All

His fingers stilled. “Did I shock you?”

“Yes.”

“Do you wish me to stop?”

Her hand closed around his wrist. “No.”

His smile was brief and wicked enough to send another tremor through her. “Then I shall endeavor to shock you again.”

He resumed the circling motion, firmer now, his rhythm growing more certain with every quickened breath she drew. Poppy turned her face toward the pillow, but he kissed her cheek and murmured her name until she looked at him.

“Let me see you,” he whispered. “I want to watch what my hands do to you.”

The words sent heat sweeping through her. She had thought the pleasure he had given her in the drawing room astonishing. This rose faster and struck deeper, leaving her no room to retreat from it. The pressure wound tighter, each circle carrying her higher until her body seemed to belong entirely to his hand.

“Gabriel, I?—”

The climax seized her before she could finish. Her back arched, and a cry tore from her as pleasure broke through her with such force that she could scarcely breathe. Wave after wave moved through her, stronger than anything she had known before, until she was trembling helplessly beneath him.

Gabriel held her through every shudder, his mouth against hers and his free arm firm around her. Only when the last tremor eased did his touch gentle.

For several moments, Poppy could do nothing but breathe.

Gabriel pressed his face into her hair, his own body taut with restraint.

“Oh,” Poppy said at last.

His laugh was uneven. “Yes.”

“That was…” She blinked, still dazed. “Good heavens.”

“I shall accept that as praise.”

“You should.”

His mouth curved. Then her gaze moved lower, and curiosity overcame the last of her shyness. She reached for the fastening of his trousers.

Gabriel caught her hand. “Careful.”

“With what?”

“With me.”

The words sent another pulse of heat through her.

“Are you so fragile?” she asked.

“No.”

“Then why careful?”

“Because if you put your hand on me now, I may disgrace myself with the speed of Mr. Loxley abandoning mortality when cake arrives.”

Poppy burst out laughing.

Gabriel closed his eyes. “That was a regrettable comparison.”

“It was extremely clarifying.”