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G abby was secretly delighted that she could read Cassian’s response.

It was there in the way the muscles tightened around his eyes, and his lips thinned just slightly, although he’d never allow disappointment into his expression.

She couldn’t help her little chuckle at how she’d tricked him, and watched as his brows twitched downward, betraying just the slightest confusion.

Allowing her smile to bloom, Gabby bent down, bracing her hands behind his shoulders, loving how he didn’t lean away from her.

“Because I want to kiss you ,” she whispered.

Slowly, one corner of Cassian’s lips inched—centimetered? Millimetered?—upward. She knew the moment he gave in, because his lips parted and his breath eased out as his hands found her waist.

“Never let it be said I dinnae give a lady what she wants,” Cassian murmured, a wicked gleam in his eyes as he tugged her closer.

This time, it was her lips which claimed his.

Her second kiss.

Was that it? Or should their time in the stables count for her second, ninth, forty-seventh kiss, because it lasted so long? How often had she wished they hadn’t been interrupted? How many times had she imagined his hands—his mouth —on her skin?

Now Gabby’s thighs squeezed together of their own accord, trying to capture the sweet sensation pulsing through her core as his tongue gently teased her. Her lips parted, welcoming in his soft forays—she matched him.

Cassian’s fingers flexed around her waist, as if he wanted to tug her closer, but hesitated.

Could he possibly doubt her interest in such a plan? Her interest in this ? Her interest in him ?

Because in this moment, she knew she was making the right decision.

Cassian Grey was a good man, and she trusted him enough to make him her first lover.

Gabby’s lips curled upward at the thought, the realization of where this night would end, and the noise he made at the movement sent shivers down her spine. Her hands moved to his neck, cupping his skin, her fingers tugging at his hair, and she felt him shudder in need.

With a groan of surrender he pulled her down, and she went willingly.

Gabby tugged up her skirt as she straddled him, her legs settling over his thighs, her arse resting near his knees.

Her lips didn’t leave his skin and Cassian gave as good as he got, his hands skimming up her sides and down her arms.

They didn’t need words to communicate.

Slowly they undressed her, unwrapping each article of clothing as if it— she were a gift.

Gabby delighted in finally— finally !—being allowed to touch his chest. All evening it had mocked her, with its tanned skin and wiry hair and puckered white scars.

Now she could run her palms over his stomach, his chest, his shoulders…

could see the way his nipples tightened under her touch, and could feel the way hers matched them.

And Cassian?

The way he sighed and murmured in awe as he slowly stripped her blouse from her, the way his fingers danced up her bare legs, the way he sucked in a reverent breath when he realized she wasn’t wearing a corset…he was everything.

She felt powerful and desirable, straddling his lap like this, and he was doing nothing to change her mind.

“Christ, Gabby,” Cassian murmured, cupping her breasts, his callused thumbs brushing over her pebbled nipples. “I cannae…”

“Yes, you can,” she urged him, leaning closer to claim his mouth again, her own hands roaming over his bare skin.

Without stockings, without drawers, surely he could feel how wet she was already?

Gabby rocked against him, wondering if she was spreading her desire across his dark trousers.

Each brush of that delicious hardness against her swollen clitoris made her whimper, made her want to reach between them to unleash him, made her want to wrap her fingers around his cock and push it against her welcoming wetness.

Cassian’s mouth moved down her throat to her breasts, and—well. Time went a little wonky for a while.

It were as though she were floating on a cloud. A cloud of desire, each touch and each lick sending her higher and higher. This wasn’t desperation; this was slow and calculated. A soft seduction, and Gabby adored it.

And then…

And then …

Cassian’s fingers slid up her thigh, pushing aside the remains of her skirt, and Gabby felt her breathing stutter. He paused and pulled his mouth away from her breast, his gaze shifting to her face.

Without having to speak, she knew he was asking after her feelings, checking to see if she was comfortable with this intimate touch…

and she loved that. With a smile, she tightened her hold on his neck and rocked her hips forward, showing him—without words—that she did not only welcome his touch, but she craved it.

Cassian’s gaze stayed on her as his fingers reached her core, spread open for him as she straddled him. The first touch of his fingertips along her cleft had them both sucking in a breath.

“So wet,” he murmured almost in wonder. “For me?”

Gabby suspected she might have whimpered again, her hips grinding forward, needing more, determined to take more?—

“Such a good lass, kenning what ye like.” His teasing blue eyes held hers as his fingers slowly slid inside her. “So wet, so ready. Ye want to come, aye?”

“Yes,” she repeated, beyond aroused, already rocking on his hand.

But he wasn’t going to give her control.

Two of his fingers slid into her, curling upward and forward, the tips stroking inside her as his thumb gently toyed with her clitoris. Each brush sent her higher and higher, but even more remarkable was the way Cassian watched her.

He held her gaze, watching not her body but her eyes , looking for indication she liked what he was doing.

Wanting to learn.

Willing to be taught.

And dear Lord , she liked what he was doing. Liked him . Liked the way he was studying her.

“Cassian,” she breathed, tugging his hair. “I need…”

“Aye, lass, I ken it.”

Still holding her gaze he continued to stroke her softly as he hefted her breast, capturing the nipple between his thumb and forefinger…and he rolled it tightly.

With a sudden gasp Gabby came, her inner muscles tightening around him as her body exploded, the first time with another—a peak she had never reached, a climax she had never known .

And because she was looking right at him, she saw the proud way his lips curled upward as she came apart on his hand.

“Fooking magnificent,” he whispered, still stroking her, guiding her through the pleasure. “So beautiful, Gabby. Just like that, love. Take all you want.”

In too short a time her pleasure had diminished, but not her need. His fingers were still inside her, his movements lazy, his eyes half-lidded in pleasure.

It wasn’t enough.

When he began to pull his hand away from her core she stopped him, dropping her hand to the hard length in his trousers. “I want to touch you, Cassian.”

“Lass, I dinnae think?—”

“ Please ? That was not enough.”

Something flared in his eyes, something possessive and proud.

Gabby took it as permission and began to undo his buttons. Within seconds his cock sprang free, thick and hard and ready for her. When her fingers curled around him, his own rhythm, the way he still stroked her gently, faltered.

Her first cock.

Well, she’d seen many over the years—horse, dog, monkey, and some even more exotic, like that tapir. But this was the first human’s cock she’d seen, felt. Stroked . It was so deliciously tempting, soft skin yet hard muscle .

She wanted to feel it pressed against her most intimate part.

Surely no dildo could possibly capture this softness and warmth…

“Lass…” Cassian’s words were strangled, and her gaze snapped back to his. “If ye continue, I’ll no’ last.”

She didn’t want him to last. But how to ask such a thing?

Her tongue darted over her lips in hesitation, and she watched his gaze flick to her wetted mouth. The knowledge—the feeling of power—had her lips curling.

“I want you inside me, Cassian.”

His breath stuttered.

Was he going to tell her it was a bad idea? Was he going to ask if she was certain?

But his lids lowered once, and when he opened his eyes, there was something in his eyes she hadn’t seen before. Not just acceptance, not mere sufferance, but joy .

“Use me however ye’d like, Gabby.”

Cassian slowly removed his fingers from her and Gabby shifted, raising herself up and positioning herself over his cock. But when she lowered herself, taking his cock inside her, she felt…not resistance, but stretched. Was it too much? Too thick?

“Breathe, lass,” Cassian murmured, his hands stroking gently up and down her back, soothing her. “Take yer time. We're in nae rush.”

Gabby focused on her breath, inhaling deeply and exhaling slowly. She forced herself to relax, her body adjusting to the intrusive feel of him. She was still so aroused, every fiber of her being alive and yearning for more. As she relaxed, she felt Cassian exhaling too.

When she met his eyes, she saw nothing but concern in his gaze.

He was so focused on her—on her experience—and she loved him for it.

Leaning forward, she kissed him. It was soft and gentle, and helped her relax further as he cradled her against him.

Cassian caught her lower lip between his teeth and she rocked forward—then gasped at the sudden sparking sensation. She felt him grin, and felt like matching it.

Because holy God, the feeling of sliding over his cock? Magnificent , and tempting as hell.

She wanted more.

Gabby rocked forward again, then again, each minute movement causing flashes of pleasure up and down her spine. It was just like the way his fingers had stroked her, only better . Thicker, longer.

Harder.

The pressure and pleasure grew with each movement, building steadily. Cassian's hands moved to her waist, guiding her but not controlling her. He was watching her intently, his blue eyes dark with desire and something more—a tenderness which made her heart flutter.