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Julia lifted her hips one last time, and he felt her shudder around hier and rapidly followed

When he’d caught his breath, he stretched over her like a banner, his lips sainst her shoulder

“This is transcendence,” he whispered “I’ve never had better”

Julia’s heart skipped a beat “Never?”

“Never”

His palm rested on her backside and he felt her body sink into the bed as a wide, joyous sht

The nextHe rarely snored, but when he did, it was a force of nature

(Even Dante specialists snore, on occasion)

She’d slept soundly all night He’d given her a gift—the knowledge that she was the sexual pinnacle for hi of anticipation and uncertainty filled her at the prospect of repeating the previous evening’s activities

Gabriel loved her That fact gave her confidence when it ca control to him But as CS Lewis had once written about Aslan, Gabriel was not taer and unpredictability surrounding him

With caution in mind, she elected not to wake hi Instead, she decided to brave convention and skinny-dip in the hot tub

The hot tub sat on the balcony just outside their bedroohbor was severalher bathrobe She entle wind to caress her face, while the water soothed her tender spaces and sore muscles

She’d almost fallen asleep when she heard the sound of Gabriel’s voice She opened her eyes to find hi on his iPhone

She took a ed beauty that was her untamed professor

With her eyes, she traced the curves of his muscles, the lines and tendons that etched his arms She watched the strands of hair that decorated his chest, and their cousins that led frolanced at their surroundings—at the hills and valleys surrounding their villa No one could see the, Gabriel ended his conversation and put his phone on a table nearby

“Can I join you? Or are you simply interested in a show?” He flexed his biceps theatrically

Julia sed noisily “Um, what’s included in the price of admission?”

He smiled slowly

“Whatever you desire I’m here to please, Mrs Emerson” He dropped his voice “So name your pleasure”

Julia indicated that he should approach, and he quickly divested himself of his shorts and joined her in the hot water She straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around higed her and she rested her chin on his shoulder

“Thank you for last night”

“It is I who should be thanking you, Mrs Emerson”