“Sweetheart, spread your legs for me.”eyes were dark and slightly cautious, but she complied. She watched as he gazed at her appreciatively, his eyes darting up to meet hers.smiled and gently began to pet her with his fingers. Julia moaned.touched her lightly at first, testing her with one finger, moving carefully. Then he stretched her with two fingers, curling them upward as his thumb began to rub tiny circles. He never took his eyes away from her face, watching for any sign of discomfort, listening to her breathing speed as his curled fingers found her spot inside. He bowed his head in admiration, bringing his lips to the top of her inner thigh, teasing her before taking the flesh into his mouth and sucking with abandon, while continuing the movements of his hand. It was an extraordinary combination.’s body bowed off the bed as she came with a cry so loud it approximated a scream. He continued touching her, but lessened his suction until she thrashed and tried to close her legs. He brought his mouth up to hers and kissed her tenderly.
“Thank you,” she whispered, feeling feather-light. It should be a crime to have such gifted fingers…andwhat a mouth…
“Did that please you?”nodded, breathing heavily, her eyes a little wild.doubted that the senator’s son had ever found her spot, and the thought made his chest swell with pride. He was looking forward to introducing her to all of the places on her body that he could bring pleasure to, one by one. He dragged his finger from her neck, circling a breast, and down to the place on her thigh where there was now a fresh mark. He pressed the newly colored skin lightly.
“Does it hurt?”
“No. But how —?”
“This part of your thigh is very sensitive. Someone who is selfish or rushed would ignore it and touch here first.” He moved his finger to pet her lightly between her legs.was still sensitive from her orgasm, and so she jumped. He withdrew his hand and traced her thigh again.
“Julia, the only thing that redeems my previous experiences is that I can place what I’ve learned at your service. The only woman I’m interesting in pleasing from now on is you.”reached up to touch his face, and he leaned his cheek against her hand, closing his eyes. She pressed her thumb against his mouth, feeling his full lower lip, and tugged him forward into a passionate kiss. He responded by placing his body over hers, and her heart quickened, thinking the moment of their union was imminent.again, she grasped his beautiful behind, urging him closer. He smiled patiently and pushed back on one arm. “This isn’t a good position.need to move you.”
“I thought — me underneath you, isn’t that right?”
“It’s the worst position to lose your virginity in,” he explained, planting baby kisses across her shoulder.
“I think I’ll like it.”pulled back. “Not for your first time; it would be too easy for me to hurt you without realizing it.”?she thought.heart stuttered at the worry that flitted across her eyes. He placed his hands on either side of her face. “I am not going to hurt you, Julianne. I am not a teenage boy. I’m not him. I’m going to be very, very gentle. That’s why we can’t do it like this.”
“Why?”
“The angles. My weight on top of you, even if I’m distributing it to my knees. Gravity. If you’re on top, you can control the movements, the depth of penetration. I’m giving the control to you. Trust me,” he breathed, kissing her ear.continued to caress her, murmuring adorations against her smooth, almost translucent skin. Then he wrapped his arms around her back, lifting her from the bed and switching positions so that he was flat on his back and she lay on top of him.she rested on his chest, he whispered Dante’s words to her in Italian:
“Color di perle ha quasi in forma, quale convene a donna aver, non for misura;è quanto de ben pò far natura;esemplo di lei bieltà si prova.li occhi suoi, come ch’ella li mova, escono spirti d’amore inflammati,fèron li occhi a qual che allor la guati, e passan sì che ‘l cor ciascun retrova: voi le vedete Amor pinto nel viso,à ‘ve non pote alcun mirarla fiso.”praised her beauty and her goodness, comparing her to a pearl and declaring that Love, itself, was featured in her visage. Julia whispered her thanks for his beautiful words, stilling so that she could hear his heart beat under her ear. She was overwhelmed to think that she held this person, this man she had loved for so long, in her arms. She couldn’t stop touching him, tracing every muscle, every sinew of taut perfection. She traced his eyebrows, the indentation above the center of his sensuous upper lip, his sideburns, his ears…reached up to kiss her, tracing her lips with his tongue and drawing her plump lower lip into his mouth. For a few moments there was skin on skin, two naked bodies flush and prone. Julia’s hands continued to explore Gabriel’s form, his face, his chest, his hips. She began to stroke his erection softly, hesitantly, pressing kiss after kiss to his neck and throat as she worked him with her hand.growled in her ear, signaling his pleasure. A surge of confidence propelled her to stroke him more surely, quickening her pace as she brought her lips to his chest, kissing his pectorals and his tattoo. He was panting now.
“Let me worship you with my body, Julia,” he rasped, not wanting his impending satisfaction to take place in her hand.released him as he grasped her thighs, gently coaxing them apart so that they rested on either side of his narrow hips. She felt him beneath her, lifting of his own accord between her legs. She shifted slightly, and a worried look shadowed her lovely face.placed his hand on her heart. The little beating thing inside her spluttered frenetically at his touch and sped up. “Are you all right?”leaned forward, allowing her hair to hang about her face like a screen.reached up to push her hair behind her shoulders so that he could see her better. “Please don’t hide. I want to watch you.”bit her lower lip and looked away.
“What?”shook her head.
“Sweetheart, now is not the time to be shy. Tell me.”stared at his chest, trying very hard not to look at the dragon as it mocked her with its permanence. “This isn’t how I imagined it,” she whispered, so low he had to strain to hear her.
“Then tell me how.”
“I thought you’d be… overme.” His banner over me is love.
“I like being on top, I won’t deny it, but you’re very small, sweetheart, and very delicate. I’m worried that — ”
“I know I made you wait a long time, Gabriel.” Her voice was just above a whisper. “It will be all right if you can’t be careful with me. If you need to be…aggressive.”remark disturbed him deeply, for behind the words he recognized not her voice but Simon’s. Of course that’s what she thinks — that’s howheher. Men are dogs with no self-control, and she’s just a plaything for their sexual release.The idea sickened him, but he fought to keep revulsion from showing on his face. He placed his hand on her cheek and gently stroked her.
“Julia, I love you. If I were the kind of man who would be aggressive with you because you made me wait, then you shouldn’t be going to bed with me. You’re a person, not a toy.
“I don’t want to use you. I want to please you. So much.” At this he gazed up at her with large, dark eyes, dropping his voice to the merest whisper.
“I want you forever, not just for tonight. So please, let me do this my way.”begged her with his eyes to take him at his word. He didn’t want to have to explain whyhe was concerned and what kind of outcome he was studiously avoiding. There would be time enough for that in the morning.
“All I ever wanted was for someone to love me,” she said, quietly.
“You have that now.”moved his mouth to her breasts, holding one gently in his hand while he nuzzled the other. They were perfect. Perfect in weight and size, natural and pretty. Rosebuds and cream. He thought back to the night he’d first seen one, peeking out from behind her purple robe in their hotel room in Philadelphia. How he’d longed to take her into his mouth. He flicked her with his tongue, licking softly, and gently drew on her nipple, feeling it peak still further in his mouth.threw her head back, making inarticulate noises. Gabriel measured her reaction carefully. He wanted her to be aroused, and if she orgasmed by this alone, so be it. It would make what followed much, much easier.
“Let go, love. You don’t have to fight it,” he spoke to her other breast, as he offered it his attention.shuddered at his words and began rocking against him, eyes closed, sliding back and forth. Within a few minutes he felt her tighten and release, her posture sagging as she finished. She opened her eyes, blinked, then smiled down at him almost languidly.thank you very much for orgasm number two…took the initiative to kiss him, murmuring her affection through swollen lips. When she retreated, he reached over to grab something from the nightstand. She watched as he freed himself from under her, squirting a clear substance into his right hand and rubbing it somewhat roughly up and down on himself.noticed the expression on her face and hastened to explain. “It will make things easier for you.”flushed deeply. She knew about such things, although she had never had reason to use them before. She felt embarrassed that she hadn’t thought to purchase it for herself. She had come to Florence unprepared.
“You’re very kind.”mouth curved up into his cocky half-smile. “I told you I’d anticipate your every need.” He kissed her and reclined back on the pillow. “I can use a condom, if you’ve changed your mind.”
“With all the tests you’ve had, I don’t think we have anything to worry about.”
“It’s still your choice.”
“I trust that you told me the truth about everything.”
“I’m glad I’m your first.”smiled widely at his declaration. “I want you to be my last, Gabriel.”kissed him passionately, her heart quick and full because of his words.of his actions. “But I want something from you now.”
“Anything.”
“I want you to be on top.”his brow crinkled and he looked perilously close to a frown, she leaned over him in earnest. “You have already shown yourself to be a generous lover. But it isn’t a good idea to put me in control when I don’t know what I’m doing. It makes me nervous. I won’t be able to relax and concentrate on how it feels. Please…” She added the last word as a half-hearted addendum, for she didn’t want to have to plead with him. He’d asked her to voice her desires, and she was doing so.realized at that moment how stressful it would be for her to sit above him naked and exposed, responsible for what was to happen. Later on, perhaps, but not the first time. Despite his worries, he could not deny her. Gabriel nodded, a slight tension visible in his jaw, and in one fluid movement she was on her back and he was kneeling between her legs.smile was like the rising sun. For this was how she had always imagined it.
“Thank you,” she murmured against his mouth as he kissed her tenderly.
“It takes so little to make you happy.”
“I wouldn’t say little, ”she giggled as she rubbed her thigh against him.smirked at her, reveling in a moment of levity.music changed then, and Julia looked up at him with interest.
“What’s the name of this song?”
“Lying in the Hands of Godby the Dave Matthews Band.”
“I like it.”
“Me too.”regarded him curiously. “Why did you choose it?”
“The words, the music…” His smile widened as his eyes sparkled.
“The rhythm.”
“Oh, really?”
“Feel it. Focus on the rhythm. It’s perfect for making love.” He gripped her hips and pressed himself up against her, sliding up and down in time to the music, knowing that she would enjoy the contact as much as he.moaned, all laughter gone, and began to push herself toward him.
“Take a deep breath, love,” he whispered.she inhaled, he pressed inside her just a little. She closed her eyes and drank in the feeling.that Gabriel had the merest hint of how she would feel around him, his body was tempting him to push in hard and fast. But he knew that any thrusting on his part would tear her. He wanted her. He wanted to be inside her. But he cast his desires aside for the moment and remained perfectly stil, distributing his weight to his elbows on either side of her shoulders, lapping and sucking her breasts.that she had an inkling of what it would be like to be connected to him, to be filled by him, she wanted more. Much, much more. She wanted all of him.
“Careful,” he warned, as she lifted her hips, eager to entice him further.
“The next part will be uncomfortable.”she didn’t open her eyes, he placed a hand to her face, running his thumb along her cheek.
“Look at me. Look into my eyes.” His eyes fixed on hers as they fluttered open.
“I’ll give you anything. My body, my soul, take them. Take everything.”stared at one another as he pushed in a little deeper, nudging slowly, slowly…eyes widened, and she inhaled roughly as he entered her.immediately froze, steadying her with a hand to her hip, ensuring that neither of them moved.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” he crooned. He moved his hand to her face and began stroking her. “That’s the worst of it, I promise. Are you all right?”scanned her face eagerly for any signs of tears.there weren’t any. It wasn’t as painful as she thought it might be.wasn’t completely comfortable, either, but the sensation of having him inside her, the emotions she saw on his face, in his eyes, distracted her from the twinges inside…it was almost too much.wanted more. More of him. More of thisand them…she wanted to see him come apart above her and know that they had done this together.wanted to find their own beautiful rhythm. The music swirled and rose about them, a tempting pace she was eager to match. She smiled, and he felt her smile travel all the way to his heart, allaying his worries. Without breaking eye contact, he began to move in and out maddeningly slowly.blinked rapidly at the feel of Gabriel inside her. Her hands slid down the tensing muscles in his back to his behind, smoothing over his curves and feeling his rhythmic thrusting beneath her touch. He balanced himself on one elbow, tracing sensual patterns up and down her ribs and over her shoulder. She was magnificent: her long, dark hair spread out across the white pillow, her brown eyes full and deep, locked on his, and her mouth, red and open, as she began to groan with every thrust.moved a hand to splay his long fingers across her ass, guiding and moving her, but following a gentle pace. He had waited so long.watched his eyebrows come together and his teeth clamp down on his lower lip. They were moving, moving, not fast but with determination, the synchronized connection of two lovers who would not look away.saw so many emotions in his eyes: love, concern, passion, adoration, affection, erotic desire…He looked at her as if she was the only woman on earth, as if there was nothing else in their private universe but the two of them and the sensual music that floated in the air as Gabriel made love to her, punctuated as it was by the noises escaping their chests.heard herself moan and pant, casting aside any embarrassment at hearing sex sounds fly unbidden from her throat. Gabriel loved her cries, and they spurred him on, arousing him even more, as if that were possible.reached in between them, and as his speed increased, he began to pet her in time to his thrusts. Her tightened grip on his ass indicated her pleasure, as she fought to keep her eyes open.
“Look at me.I want to see your eyes when you come.” The intensity of his voice matched his expression.eyes grew wide, and she cried out as his fingers sped. Julia tightened like a knot pulled just too tight and suddenly, gloriously fell.whispers and murmured adorations filled her ears. He had not cursed. She was far too distracted to focus on this surprising fact. She could not know that he was a vocal lover who groaned and shouted expletives to match his urges and satisfactions. But in this space, sacred or otherwise, his spontaneous utterances had been clean and pure.
“I love you. I love you. I love you,” he chanted above her, in time with his movements.was enjoying the feeling of intense, unparal eled fulfil mentas it flowed through her. It was like nothing she had ever experienced before.before she could find her way through her orgasm, she felt him push in deeply and cry out her name.collapsed, careful to distribute his weight to his elbows, a wave of emotion coursing through him as he came down from his climax. He held her close, whispering sweet words in Italian, waiting for her to open her eyes.love this woman. More than I love my own life…beautiful Beatrice was not a virgin anymore. He’d taken — and given — what Dante never had. He prayed silently that she wouldn’t live to regret the decision that brought her to his bed, or her choice of first lover.shifted so that he was beside her and reached a finger to trace her chin. Only then did he notice the flush that had spread across her neck and chest and further down. The skin of her inside thighs had bloomed pinkish red, and Gabriel choked back a sick regret.God, I’ve hurt her.
“Julia?”her eyelids opened. At first her gaze was wide and unfocused.in an instant it shifted. She saw him and the prettiest slow smile played across her lips, exposing her white teeth. She felt like she was a feather coasting on a summer breeze. It was so much better than anything else…see and hear him, to touch and taste him and then finally, gloriously, the naked, raw, and rare climax.exhaled and kissed her deeply. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” she purred.
“I love you. I just want to make you happy, to watch you smile. Forever.”
“You’ll make me cry.” Julia couldn’t continue; she was beyond words.kissed him, eyes closed, reveling in the arms of her lover. Her first.last.
“Don’t cry, my sweet, sweet girl.” He kissed her eyelids, caressing her cheek with his hand., he was gone, and Julia found herself alone in the large bed, made larger still and colder by his absence. The aching loss was immediate, but her mind was still slow, numbed as it was by her first taste of this ecstasy. Before she could slide a hand across the sheet to reach for him, he was pressing near her.
“Just let me look, darling.” His whisper was hesitant.had no idea what he was asking, so she simply hummed her permission. Then tentative fingers grasped her knees and a gentle hand lifted one, angling and spreading her wide, but not too wide. Now her eyes were open.froze as their eyes made contact. “Just a quick look to make sure you’re all right.”he’d attended himself in the washroom, he hadn’t noticed any blood. The realization had relieved him more than he could express. His eyes flickered down, and soon he was sighing, his shoulders relaxing. He pressed something warm and soft between her legs.flinched.
“I’m sorry.” Again he pressed the damp cloth to her sensitive flesh. There were a couple of pinkish spots on it, but nothing alarming. In truth, he wished there had been no pink at all, but pink was infinitely better than red.
“I’m fine. You just surprised me.” Julia’s voice shook, but only because she was still floating, and the feeling of him touching her therehad intensi-fied her sensations.picked up a glass of water from the nightstand and placed it in one of her hands, shaking two a little white pills from a medicine bottle into the other.
“Ibuprofen,” he explained, hastily. “For the pain.”
“It’s not that bad, Gabriel. I wouldn’t call it pain.”
“Please,” he begged.was puzzled by his overreaction but elected not to be stubborn, popping the pills quickly into her mouth and downing the entire glass of water. She was thirsty.he’d soothed her and cleaned her up, he scooped her into his arms, kissing her forehead over and over. He carried her across the threshold of the bathroom.heard the water running before they walked through the door.
“What’s happening?” she managed, holding her head up.
“Let me care for you, baby.” He kissed her forehead and gently placed her in the large and inviting bathtub.hot water and rose scented bubbles were comforting. She was still dreamy, but things were slowly coming into focus. She opened her eyes and saw Gabriel standing over her, still naked, still glorious, checking the temperature of the water with his fingers and adjusting the taps.
“Are you still thirsty?”nodded.disappeared for a moment and returned with a garnet-colored liquid in a wine glass.
“Cranberry with soda,” he said. “It’s good for you.”arched an eyebrow at him, wondering how he became an expert at warding off female problems, but once again, decided not to pursue the question. She drank greedily and passed him the empty glass.
“You changed the music. What is it?”
“Sognoby Andrea Bocelli.”
“It’s pretty,” she murmured.
“Not as pretty as you.”turned off the water and climbed in behind her, placing his long legs on either side of her body, pulling her to his chest. They each sighed in contentment. She leaned her head back on his shoulder, and he stroked her hair, his touch light and gentle.
“Was it — okay for you?” she whispered.’s an understatement, he thought.
“Like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. You were perfect. You are perfect.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head, and she snuggled into his arms. “And very, very sexy. How about you?”
“It was even better than I imagined. Thank you.”began to run his hands up and down the slick, wet skin around her ribs.
“Why the bath?” she asked, shifting against him slightly, feeling his new arousal against her backside.lips found her ear. “I wanted to care for you.”
“Thank you, Gabriel, for your kindness to me. I know things would not have been as pleasant if I was with someone else.”kissed her hair. “You deserve far more and far better than me, Beatrice,” he whispered. “La gloriosa donna della mia mente.The glorious lady of my mind.”
“My Dante.” She turned to kiss his wet chest. “When can we do that again?”smiled. “Not until tomorrow. You need to heal first.”squirmed slightly. “But it isn’t that bad. You were very careful.”
“After all that we’ve shared, I just want to hold you and be close. Rest in my arms and know that I love you. We’ll be making love again very, very soon.”felt comforted and let herself relax wholly against his body. She silently thanked the gods of large bathtubs, handsome, sexy lovers, and rose-scented bubble bath. (Not necessarily in that order.) And she thanked the gods of virgins who were about to have sex with their sex-god (no blasphemy intended) boyfriends for the mother of all orgasms. Thrice over.the wee hours of the morning, the Edenic lovers wound themselves around each other, flesh against flesh, sleepy and sated in a large, white bed.and darkness, innocence and experience, kissed and caressed in the warmth and acceptance created by their love. The dark angel whispered to his muse in Italian until she fell asleep in his arms, happier than she had ever been. She was loved.End's Rapture
(Gabriel's Inferno-2), 1290poet dropped the note to the floor with a shaking hand. He sat silently for several moments, motionless as a statue. Then with a great clenching of teeth he stood to his feet and swept agitatedly through his house, ignoring tables and fragile items, disdaining the other inhabitants of his home.was only one person whom he wished to see.strode quickly through the city streets, almost breaking into a run on his way to the river. He stood at the end of the bridge, their bridge, his moist eyes eagerly scanning the adjacent riverbank for the barest glimpse of his beloved.was nowhere to be found.would never return.beloved Beatrice was gone.owe a debt to the late Dorothy L. Sayers, the late Charles Williams, Mark Musa, my friend Katherine Picton, and The Dante Society of America for their expertise on Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, which informs my work. In this novel, I’ve used the Dante Society’s conventions of capitalization for places such as Hell and Paradise.’ve been inspired by Sandro Botticelli’s illustrations of the Comedy, which present Dante and Beatrice as I have always envisioned them.the course of writing this story I’ve found several electronic archives to be quite helpful, especially the Digital Dante Project of Columbia University, Danteworlds by the University of Texas at Austin, and the World of Dante by the University of Virginia. These portals will prove valuable to those readers who wish to delve more deeply into Dante’s life and works.’ve also consulted the Internet Archive site for its version of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s translation of La Vita Nuovaalong with the original Italian, which is cited in this book.debt of a different sort is owed to the University of Toronto and its city, both of which serve as a backdrop to this story.would like to thank Jennifer, who read the very first draft of this story and offered constructive criticism at every stage of the process. Her support and encouragement was invaluable, as was her keen eye. I am grateful also to Nina for her technical support, creative input, and wisdom.are due to the fine staff of Omnific, especially Elizabeth, Ly-nette, CJ, Kim, Coreen, and Amy. It has been a pleasure working with you.would also like to thank those who read a previous version of my manuscript and offered criticisms, suggestions, and support, especially the Muses, Tori, Kris, and Erika., I would like to thank my family. Sustained encouragement for the first time novelist over the course of two years is no easy thing to offer, especially when there are other important things to be done. Without their support, this project would not be.
— SR2011the AuthorReynard is a Canadian writer with an interest in Renaissance art and culture and an inordinate attachment to the city of Florence. (Parenthetically, it should be noted that the snarky narrator of “Gabriel’s Inferno” was contracted to write this biographical description, and he can attest that SR is, in fact, real, and has an enviable collection of argyle socks.)
Дата добавления: 2015-11-04; просмотров: 26 | Нарушение авторских прав
| <== предыдущая лекция | | | следующая лекция ==> |