Sylvain Reynard - Gabriel's Rapture

He moved so he could see her face while one of his hands trav-

eled to rest atop her lower abdomen. “Are you sore?”

“A little.”

“Then we should wait.”

“No!”

He laughed, his lips curling up into his signature seductive smile.

“Did you mean what you said last night about making love out here?”

She shivered at the way his voice inflamed her but returned his

smile, winding her fingers in his hair, tugging him closer. He opened her robe and began to explore her curves with both hands before

dropping his mouth to kiss her breasts.

“You were shy with me this morning.” He pressed a reverent kiss

over her heart “What changed?”

Julia brushed against the hint of a dimple in his chin. “I will

probably always be a little shy about being naked. But I want you. I want you to look into my eyes and tell me you love me as you move

inside me. I will remember that as long as I live.”

“I’ll keep reminding you,” he breathed.

He divested her of her robe and positioned her on her back.

“Are you cold?”

“Not when you’re holding me,” she whispered, smiling. “Wouldn’t

you rather have me on top? I’d like to try it.”

12

Gabriel’s Rapture

He threw off his robe and boxer shorts quickly and covered her

body with his own, placing a hand on either side of her face. “Someone might see you out here, darling. And I can’t have that. No one gets to see this beautiful body except me.

“Although the neighbors and passersby might be able to hear

you…for the next hour or so…” He chuckled as she inhaled sharply,

a tremor of pleasure coursing all the way down to her toes.

He kissed her, pushing her hair away from her face. “My goal

is to see how many times I can please you before I can’t hold back anymore.”

She grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

“So do I. So let me hear you.”

The blue sky blushed to see such passionate lovemaking, while

the Florentine sun smiled down, warming the lovers despite the

gentle breeze. Beside them, Julia’s coffee and milk grew stone cold and sullen at being ignored. P

After a brief nap, Julia borrowed Gabriel’s MacBook to send an

email to her father. She had two important messages in her inbox.

The first was from Rachel.

Jules!

How are you? Is my brother behaving himself? Have you slept

with him yet? Yes, it is COMPLETELY inappropriate for me to

ask that question, but come on, if you were dating anyone else

you would have told me already.

I’m not going to volunteer any advice. I’m trying not to think too much about it. Just let me know you’re happy and he’s treating

you properly.

Aaron sends his best.

Love you,

Rachel.

PS. Scott has a new girlfriend. He’s been secretive about her

so I’m not sure how long they’ve been dating. I keep bugging

him to introduce me but he won’t.

Maybe she’s a professor.

13

Sylvain Reynard

Julia snickered, glad that Gabriel was showering and not read-

ing over her shoulder. He’d be annoyed at his sister for posing such personal questions. She took a few moments to phrase her response

before typing her reply.

Hi Rachel,

The hotel is beautiful. Gabriel has been very sweet and gave

me your mother’s diamond earrings. Did you know about that?

I feel guilty about it, so please let me know if this upsets you.

As to your other question, Yes. Gabriel treats me well, and I

am VERY happy.

Say hi to Aaron for me. Looking forward to Christmas.

Love, Julia. XO

PS. I hope Scott’s girlfriend is a professor. Gabriel will never let him hear the end of it.

Julia’s second email was from Paul. It could be said that he pined for her, but also he was grateful to have maintained their friendship.

He would rather keep his longings to himself than to lose her entirely.

And he had to admit that since she’d begun seeing her boyfriend

Owen, her very skin glowed.

(Not that he would have mentioned it.)

Hey Julia,

Sorry I didn’t get the chance to say good-bye before you went

home. I hope you have a good Christmas. I have a gift for you.

Would you give me your address in Pennsylvania so I can

send it?

I’m back at the farm trying to find time to work on my

dissertation in between large family gatherings and getting up

early to help my dad. Let’s just say my daily routine involves a

lot of manure…

Can I bring you something from Vermont?

A Holstein of your very own?

Merry Christmas,

Paul.

P.S. Did you hear that Christa Peterson’s dissertation proposal

was accepted by Emerson?

I guess Advent really is the season of miracles.

14

Gabriel’s Rapture

Julia stared at the computer screen, reading and re-reading Paul’s postscript. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. It was possible, she thought, that Gabriel accepted Christa’s proposal because she threatened him.

Julia didn’t want to bring up such an unpleasant topic during

their vacation, but the news troubled her. She typed a short reply to Paul, giving him her address, then she emailed her father, telling him that Gabriel was treating her like a princess. She closed the

laptop and sighed.

“That doesn’t sound like a happy Julianne.” Gabriel’s voice sound-

ed behind her.

“I think I’m going to ignore my email for the rest of our trip.”

“Good idea.”

She turned to find him standing in front of her, wet from the

shower, hair tousled, a white towel wound around his hips.

“You’re beautiful,” she blurted before thinking.

He chuckled and pulled her to her feet so he could embrace her.

“Do you have a thing for men in towels, Miss Mitchell?”

“Maybe for one particular man.”

“Are you feeling all right?” He raised his eyebrows expectantly,

his expression hungry.

“I’m a little uncomfortable. But it was worth it.”

His eyes narrowed. “You need to tell me if I’m hurting you,

Julianne. Don’t hide things from me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Gabriel, it doesn’t hurt; it’s merely uncom-

fortable. I didn’t notice it during because there were other things on my mind — several other things. You were very distracting.”

He smiled and kissed her neck loudly. “You need to let me start

distracting you in the shower. I’m tired of showering alone.”

“I’d like that. How are you feeling?”

He pretended to ponder her question. “Let’s see — loud, hot sex

with my beloved inside and outside …Yes, I’d say I’m great.”

He hugged her close, and the cotton of her robe absorbed some

of the water droplets from his skin. “I promise it won’t always be uncomfortable. In time, your body will recognize me.”

“It already recognizes you. And misses you,” she whispered.

15

Sylvain Reynard

Gabriel moved the top of her robe aside so he could kiss the

slope of her shoulder. With a gentle squeeze, he walked to the bed, retrieving a bottle of ibuprofen and handing it to her.

“I have to run over to the Uffizi for a meeting, then I have to

pick up my new suit at the tailor’s.” He appeared concerned. “Would you mind shopping for a dress by yourself? I’d go with you, but my meeting won’t leave me with much time.”

“Not at all.”

“If you can be ready in half an hour, we can walk out together.”

Julia followed Gabriel into the bathroom, all thoughts of Christa

and Paul forgotten.