Page 42 of Gabriela and His Grace (The Luna Sisters #3)

The next several days passed in a blur. Sebastian did his best to take at least one meal in the first-class dining room, mindful he needed to keep up appearances.

While he was the only British lord on the ship, he’d learned there were several well-connected executives and men of business among the passengers.

He accepted invitations to dine with them, play a game of billiards or a few hands of cards—all at Gabriela’s urging, because if he had a choice, Sebastian would have been content to lock himself away in their cabin and stay tangled up in the sheets with her.

As it was, Sebastian spent the majority of his days with Gabriela.

They dined together, read side by side, and discussed all manner of topics.

She told him of her childhood in Mexico City, and he spoke of his mother and the happy home she made for him, in spite of his father, at Whitfield Manor.

She teased him and Sebastian teased her in turn, their verbal bantering often an aphrodisiac, for inevitably they found themselves in bed afterward, their bodies continuing the bewitching dance they had been lured into.

Gabriela was passionate and uninhibited, and Sebastian was pulled more and more into her thrall with every laugh they shared or kiss they exchanged.

He had no notion of how he was expected to let her go after they arrived in London.

Sebastian found himself considering this inevitable reality as they lounged in the sitting room, the double doors propped open to welcome in the salty sea breeze and warm Gulf of Mexico sun.

He was supposed to be reading the newspaper Brodie had managed to secure in Altamira before they departed.

It was more than a week old, but Sebastian had been interested to learn if Maximilian had surrendered, as well as the nature of affairs in the United States.

Yet instead of reading the paper spread open in his lap, he kept sneaking surreptitious glances at Gabriela.

She was curled on the sofa, her eyes glued to the last quarter investors’ report from the Camino Rojo mine in her hands.

“Did you have any questions?” he finally asked, setting the newspaper aside.

Gabriela glanced at him over the report. “I do. If you don’t mind?”

“Not at all.” And he didn’t. Gabriela was inquisitive and driven to learn new things. Attributes he admired.

“It appears there is a detailed multiyear plan for extracting the silver deposit the mine sits upon, but what about the copper? And the zinc ore?” Gabby dropped her eyes to the report for a moment, and then met his gaze again. “Surely there are plans for them?

“There are, in fact,” Sebastian said, smiling. “The hope is to reuse the existing infrastructure to mine them.”

Gabby quirked her head. “What sort of schedule are they working with?”

They discussed the schedule, and Sebastian explained how exactly the silver would be extracted from the earth, and the ways in which the process compared to mining copper and zinc ore.

From there, he told her of how he had come to invest in the mine and what it had meant to the future of the dukedom.

Sebastian didn’t disclose his father’s misdeeds and how his anger had almost bankrupted the dukedom’s reserves.

Nor did he tell her of James and David, because the boys and their place in his life still felt like something to protect.

Eventually, Brodie arrived with a lunch spread and refreshments.

Out of an abundance of caution, the Scotsman had seen to caring for Sebastian and Gabby on his own; a strenuous task, Sebastian knew.

But they had been concerned about the servants spreading gossip that a woman was staying in the Duke of Whitfield’s cabin, and his valet had been adamant that no one would speak ill of Gabriela.

Once again, Sebastian was thankful for Brodie and the attention he brought to all aspects of his job.

Over a lunch of egg salad and a cold vegetable salad, Sebastian told her of what he had read in the paper regarding the French, and Maximilian’s refusal to leave Querétaro. Gabby seemed unsurprised by this, lifting a shoulder as she speared a potato on her plate.

“From what I’ve heard, Maximilian is genuinely interested in the welfare of Mexico.” Her nose crinkled. “Perhaps Presidente Juárez and the archduke would have been allies in another world.”

“Hmm,” was all Sebastian could think to say in response.

Although he had spent almost two months in Mexico, and much longer preparing for his visit, he would not pretend to understand the complex political dynamics at play.

After a moment, he added, “I wonder if your father would agree with that assessment.”

He regretted his words as soon as they left his lips. The blood leached from Gabriela’s face, and her shoulders sank. Damn it.

“I imagine he would…but he’d never admit to it,” she murmured, offering him a pathetic excuse for a smile.

Stifling a sigh, Sebastian tossed his napkin down and strolled around the table to grab Gabby’s hand and haul her from her seat.

“Darling, you’re being silly,” he said as he arranged her in his lap on the sofa. “Haven’t we discussed how shortsighted your father is?”

Gabby glanced at him over her shoulder. “No. We haven’t.”

Sebastian frowned. “Then I must have thought all those damning things in my own mind. An honest mistake.”

The corners of her lips turned up. “You’re silly.”

“When it comes to you”—Sebastian nuzzled his nose against her neck—“perhaps I am.”

She twisted about in his arms to face him, her gaze soft. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked.

Gabriela bussed his cheek. “For never belittling me. For making me feel as if I have a thought in my head worth sharing.”

“I wish I was privy to all your thoughts”—Sebastian buried his face in her sweet-smelling hair—“but then I’d have my feelings hurt.”

Leaning into his embrace, Gabriela tucked her head under his chin. “Not as often as you’d think.”

Lud, but his throat felt tight. Pushing it aside, Sebastian said, “I’m sorry that you’ve been taught such behavior is a nicety, instead of something you’re due simply by being you.”

She sighed. “I’m not just referring to your willingness to listen to my thoughts.”

He arched a brow. “What are you referring to, then?”

Gabriela raised a shoulder. “You think of everything. Ever since we left Isa and Sirius’s, you have seen to all the details of the trip. You arranged for my ticket, and when all the cabins were taken, you offered me a place in yours.”

“Yes, well”—Sebastian brushed a loose curl from her brow—“I was not about to leave you behind.”

“It’s not just that, though. You’ve also been generous”—her throat bobbed on a swallow—“in bed. With my pleasure. I’ve heard the rumors, you know. But I was sure they were exaggerations.”

“Exaggerations?” Sebastian pushed until she angled back to meet his gaze. “Did you doubt I would bring you pleasure?”

“There’s no reason to be upset,” she murmured, smoothing her palm over his cheek. “I was simply unsure if women were being complimentary because you were a thoughtful lover or because you were a duke.”

“Aah.” Considering the previous nature of their association, Sebastian could understand her thought process…even if he didn’t like it.

“And I’ve also appreciated how protective you’ve been,” she continued, her eyes darting between his.

Sebastian scoffed. “The least I can do is protect a woman in my care.”

“And I appreciate that your protection extends to pregnancy, as well.”

Growing still, Sebastian blinked down at her.

Gabriela nibbled her lip. “We didn’t discuss it. And frankly, I was so caught up in”—her cheeks turned crimson—“I didn’t even consider it. I’m thankful you did.”

“Yes, well,” he said, twirling his finger in the satin sash around her waist, trying to ignore the heat that rushed up his neck to crowd his face, “I’ve never left a woman with a child of mine, and I don’t intend to now.”

Gabriela smirked. “And I have absolutely no interest in falling pregnant—”

“But if you did, there would be no reason for worry, because I would marry you and make you my duchess.” The words were clear. Firm. Sebastian was almost proud. “You would be well cared for.”

Much to his chagrin, she snorted. “Sebastian, you should know me well enough by now to know I have no interest in your title.”

“Of course I know that.” He glared at her. “But you could have feigned interest in it. Or in my declaration. Quite rude of you, really.”

Her hazel eyes turned gentle, and Gabriela moved to straddle his lap. Sebastian planted his hands on her waist. “Have I offended your pride?”

“More times than I can count.” Unable to have her this close and not taste her, he nibbled along her jaw to whisper in her ear, “And yet I keep coming back for more.”

Gabriela dropped her head to the side, presenting the fragrant skin of her neck to him. “I never would have thought you a masochist.”

“Only for you, darling.” Sebastian sucked at the delicate spot behind her ear, heat rushing to his groin when she shuddered.

· · ·

He would marry her. But only if she fell pregnant.

Gabby didn’t know how to feel about that declaration.

She was elated by Sebastian’s words, stated so staunchly, his blue eyes flashing with resoluteness—but would he even entertain marriage if pregnancy weren’t a consideration?

Did it matter when the idea of marrying anyone unnerved her?

Hadn’t she fled England, and then Mexico, to avoid being forced into marriage?

Gabby couldn’t bring herself to be hurt by the contradiction, and he didn’t give her time to consider her warring emotions, for Sebastian moved to set her on the sofa and then dropped to his knees on the floor before her.

“Open your legs, Ella,” he ordered, ripping his spectacles from his face and tossing them on the armchair.

With impatient hands, he unhooked her skirts and shoved them down her legs.

As she rarely left the cabin, Gabby had shunned her corset and caged crinoline in favor of a simple petticoat under her day dress.

Such attire had also made dressing and undressing easier, a fact she celebrated as Sebastian shoved her thighs apart and wedged his shoulders between them.

He glanced up the line of her body to meet her gaze, his eyes blue fire. “I no longer taste you on my tongue.”

Gabby speared her fingers through his soft black hair, anticipation making her breath short. “Was this morning not enough?”

Sebastian leaned forward to softly blow across her already wet slit. His lips twisted when she sighed. “I fear I may never have enough.”

Before Gabby could respond, Sebastian leaned forward and caressed her sensitive bud with his tongue, and any coherent thoughts were wiped from her mind.

Every one of her senses focused on him. On the feel of the broad strokes his tongue made through her folds; the hungry sounds that slipped from his lips as he devoured her; the sight of this powerful man kneeling before her, intent on bringing her pleasure; the tinge of blood in her mouth from clamping down on her lip to keep from crying out; his woodsy cologne on her skin, infusing her lungs, her soul , with him.

And when he thrust his fingers inside of her, Gabby cried out his name.

“That’s it, darling,” he crooned, his fingers working her harder and faster than they ever had before. “You may think me a cad, but you’ll never again hear the name Sebastian without growing wet.”

“You talk too much,” she managed.

Sebastian chuckled, placing a kiss to the inside of her thigh. “You’re right. My mouth could be doing more pleasurable things.” And he ducked his head to put it to work.

Soon Gabby lay quaking before him, her legs limp. A flush encased the entirety of her body, and she flung her arm over her eyes as she tried to catch her breath. But Sebastian had other ideas, for he suddenly grasped her knees and pressed them into her chest.

“We’re not done.”

She blinked her eyes open and found him stroking his cock as he stared down at her. He had already donned a condom, and while he held her gaze, Sebastian ran his member down her tingling flesh. Gabby whimpered.

Sebastian was silent as he slid inside her, but she hissed as her body worked to fit him.

Her reaction was swallowed by his lips when they snared hers.

His hands cradled her cheeks so gently, even as his hips snapped between hers at a frantic pace.

His eyes—the pupils dilated—focused on her as he ushered her to the peak once again and watched in satisfaction as she keened her pleasure.

When she finally exploded around him in a burst of lights and moans, he whispered how perfect she was as he continued to stroke within her, prolonging her release.

Before he followed her, Sebastian gathered her close against his chest, his mouth nestled near her ear.

She heard the words he whispered, words Gabby was sure he hadn’t meant for her to hear.

“Never enough.”