“No wonder that man was staring at you.”
“Stop talking about other men.” She tugged at his bow tie.
He leaned forward to taste her lips again, stroking her tongue with his own.
Julia shifted in his arms, the heels of her shoes catching on his tuxedo jacket. She undid his bow tie, tossing it to the floor, and hastily unbuttoned his shirt. She began kissing his neck and chest, her lips whispering across the surface of his skin, before sliding a hand down to his waistband.
But Gabriel would not be rushed. He moved her hand back to his shoulder, then reached between her legs, touching her gently. He was barely able to contain his joy at her reaction to him.
Julia moved and writhed, moaning in his ear.
“Don’t make me wait,” she begged, trying in vain to pull him closer.
Gabriel rummaged in his pockets.
“It’s a good thing I brought this.” He held up a square foil packet triumphantly.
She opened her eyes, fixing on the item. “Where did that come from?”
Gabriel chuckled.
“I thought you’d be uncomfortable all evening otherwise.”
She blinked. “Did you plan this?”
“Absolutely.” His left hand squeezed her backside for effect.
She moved to take it from him, but he shook his head.
“Allow me, Mrs. Emerson.” He held the packet in his teeth while he unzipped his trousers. Then he ripped the foil before swiftly rolling it over himself.
Gabriel teased her, sliding back and forth before easing inside. She exhaled in satisfaction, tightening around him.
There were no words. Indeed, they were beyond speech. Gabriel knew his wife’s body as she knew his, and the two of them moved and responded to one another with an increasing pace.
Muffled groans and grunts of satisfaction echoed down the corridor, so much so that a group of statues covered their ears. Julia’s back thumped against the window as they moved in concert.
“I’m close,” she managed, the last word cut off as her orgasm overtook her.
Gabriel quickened his thrusts, filling her deeply until he, too, was overcome.
Julia clung to him as if she were dying, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her face buried in his neck.
They were motionless for some time. Gabriel’s breath left his body in a long, relaxed exhalation.
“Okay?” he asked, kissing her cheek.
“Fantastic.”
They remained in one another’s arms, holding each other tightly as their hearts and breathing slowed. Gabriel gently placed Julia on her feet, and pulled her dress down to cover her. His hand found her waist and he squeezed.
“Can you walk?” He eyed her, and her expensive shoes, with concern.
“I think so. I might be a little wobbly.”
“Then allow me.” He lifted her into his arms and carried her to a nearby bathroom.
“Is it very different when you wear one of those?” Julia nodded at the condom that Gabriel threw into a trash can.
“I can’t feel as much, so it’s frustrating.” Gabriel proceeded to wash his hands. “For most of my life, it was all I knew. But knowing what it’s like to be inside you without it makes a condom a kind of torture.”
“I’m sorry.”
He dried his hands and leaned over to press a kiss to the top of her head. “Don’t be. I’m not so selfish that I want you to be uncomfortable or messy simply so I can have better sex.”
She frowned.
He brought their foreheads together. “Sex with you is always magnificent. But that’s because it’s more than just sex. Now I think you’ll have to fix your hair and your face. Or everyone will know that you’ve just had museum sex.” He looked a good deal more than proud of himself.
She arched an eyebrow. “And you’re all set to return to the party?”
“Of course.” Gabriel buttoned his tuxedo jacket.
“You don’t need to make any—adjustments?”
“No.” He cocked his head to one side. “Of course, I don’t mind if people realize I just had museum sex with my wife.”
“Oh, they will.”
“How?”
“Because you’re forgetting something, Professor.”
“And what’s that?”
“Your tie.”
Gabriel reached up to his neck, a look of surprise flitting across his face. He began buttoning his shirt.
“Where is it?”
“On the floor where I left it.”
“Temptress,” he muttered, shaking his head.
She leaned over the vanity, attending to her hair and makeup. “So how good was the sex we just had? On a scale of one to transcendent?”
“Earth-shattering and tie forgetting.”
Smugly, she reapplied her lipstick. “Don’t you forget it.”
Chapter Thirty-six
I love exhibition openings,” Julia murmured, as they rejoined the other guests. “They’re the best.”
“You never cease to amaze me.” Gabriel’s hand hovered at her lower back.
“I could say the same. I think you can see an outline of my body on the window upstairs.”
He chuckled, his hand sliding down to pat her bottom.
Someone cleared his throat behind them.