After My Death, My Husband Who Threw Me Into the Hunting Grounds Went Insane novel Chapter 123

AUDREY

"You ready?" Gabriel asked softly. We were standing in his bedroom while his painter friend Francesca waited for me to step into the study room, utterly naked.

I wasn't wearing anything underneath a black, lacy bathrobe, and Gabriel's fingers were playing on its knot.

"I'm ready," I whispered and chuckled nervously.

"Listen. It won't take long. You'll just have to listen to her instruction, she'll take a picture of you, and that's it."

"I don't have to pose for long hours? Because you know I can."

He chuckled. "That's too old-fashioned. No one does that now when she can just paint your picture. France is an excellent fine artist, and I don't want you to become numb from exhaustion. I need your strength later," he teased, smiling.

My cheeks flared, and I felt my nipples harden. I understood his signal.

I cleared my throat. "Okay. I got it."

"Come on. I'll take you to my study."

Francesca was already taking test shots on an exquisite wildflower arrangement on Aztec ceramic pottery and a bench seat cloaked with white sheets with her camera. She wore a very casual shirt, jeans, and sneakers, but she was still as stunning as I first saw her.

She grinned at me when she noticed my presence, and Gabriel remained standing by the door, leaning on the frame with crossed arms.

"Audrey," she greeted, and she kissed my cheek. "How are you?"

"I'm fine." I nodded. "I'm good."

"You can sit on the couch anytime now," she instructed. "And you can take off the robe."

I gulped my throat dry. "Oh." I untied the lacy ribbon but halted when I saw Gabriel cocked his head and tense up. His gazes instantly drove me crazy. I had spent a fantastic night and made love with a man already, but his stares could still make me edgy. Or perhaps, of course, I never stripped in front of a woman with my lover in the same room. I let the robe fall on the floor anyway, with my eyes still locked with Gabriel's. My heart pounded in my chest, and his gaze did not waver enough to make my knees weak.

Francesca instructed me to sit on the white sheets. She asked me to pose where my back was still visible and with my chest forward. She told me to let my arms loose so I wouldn't block my torso and then oriented me to have one of my legs spread forward. I watched her set her camera, asked her to stay still, and snapped a picture.

I made a few different positions where some photos had my breasts exposed, but making sure my private part downward wasn't visible, and in some shots, she asked me to lie on my back with my legs rested on the couch's backrest and let my hair spread on the sheets. I was getting used to it. Gabriel's friend made me feel confident about my body since she knew how to flaunt my best angles.

After the photo session, I put the robe back, and Francesca showed Gabriel the shots while she explained some of her ideas for the painting. I waltzed towards him and slipped a glance at the photo myself, and I simply just stood there and admired her art. I was beautiful in all those pictures. The images were sensual but aloof as if someone would go yearning for the woman but wouldn't be able to touch her. An angel. It was the theme, after all.

I was informed that the vast portrait of the fallen angel hanging in the study was Gabriel himself, but Francesca tweaked the images, used her skillful hands, and made him wings. I didn't notice it was him until I glanced at the picture again and studied the body's features. It was him, but it was probably when he was younger because his muscles were more defined, and his body was much broader now.

Gabriel thanked his friend and exchanged a brief hug. She promised to finish the painting by the end of the week before she returned to Italy. She embraced me again and praised me for being a natural, even offered me to go into the modeling business or pose for some photographs in her campaign. I simply thanked her, and she left.

"You are going to be the death of me, do you know that?" Gabriel whispered sorely while his thumb circled my bottom lip in his bedroom later. "I can't wait to have your portrait on my wall. You are very tempting today, love."

I searched his face, looking at the apparent thirst in his eyes. I drew a shaky breath, and my heart throbbed so loudly that I could hear it myself. I feared he would suddenly snatch me while his friend took my photographs and kissed me senselessly in front of her, but we all remained professional. I could jump at him at any moment with his stares alone. His gaze was sensual, so real, and most of all honest. He wanted me, and that's all that matters.

I swallowed hard. "I've done my part. It's your turn now," I teased. "Business is business, right?" I smiled provocatively.

"I don't forget every deal I make. We'll redeem your house back," he whispered hoarsely. "But don't you think it's that easy?"

"I had guessed you wanted something else." I ran my finger over the middle of his chest.

My breath caught in my throat when he swiftly grabbed me from behind and spun me around, and shoved me to the wall. He snatched my robe again, and I heard a zip sound behind me.

He pressed his mouth to my ears. "I'll take you now, Audrey. I need to fuck you."

I breathed hard. It's been a while since they last spoke roughly to me. He'd always whisper goodness in my ears, and he was gentle the last time.

"Don't you think that's what you need right now?" he asked achingly. "Say, Audrey… Do you want me hard?"

I shut my eyes and clung to his shoulders, and I was still wrapped around his arms.

He smelled like his own manly scent and my scent. I was too naked while he was still wearing his dress shirt. His hands still wrapped around me, grasping my ass.

"All right there?" he groaned. "I could keep fucking you for hours like this. It's your body I'm worried about. As much as possible, I should avoid crushing you."

I was lightheaded, to be exact. He did as he promised. He fucked me senseless, but I didn't think I would love to have more like this. I'd always thought I wanted a sweet make love, and we would spoon for the rest of the night. It's exhilarating.

"I love it." I bit my lower lip. "I want this again. Please, Gabriel."

"What, now?"

I nodded.

An amusement was clear in his eyes. "Trust me, you need a bit of rest before we proceed. I'm sure you're sore right now."

I guess I was. I felt the sharp tingling in my womb when he reminded me of how rough he could get. Gabriel carefully brought me to bed and picked up my robe.

"I'll get you something to eat. You can take a shower first," he suggested.

"A shower would be nice."

"Good. Wait for me here." He kissed my temple, and he disappeared into the door. I stepped on my feet and tried to stand. And damn, he was right. My legs still felt weak, and the muscles in my thighs were trembling. How could short-time hard sex make me lose energy?

I was going to the bathroom when my phone screen suddenly turned on. A notification popped up. It was a text. It's from Charles. I realized I hadn't spoken to him yet about the house.

I picked up the phone and read the text.

I'm in Manhattan right now, Audrey. Can I see you?—Charles.