Free Miss Austen's Vampire by Monica Knightley

It was the most immensely delightful thing I have ever experienced.”
    Gabriel took her hand and kissed her palm. Then stretching out his arms to Jane, he gathered her to him and held her. “I will try to answer both questions. First the easier of the two.” Before continuing, he pressed his lips to Jane’s forehead. “What you experienced was very enjoyable, yes?”
    “Oh my yes. The most enjoyable experience I have ever had.”
    “When a woman is properly pleasured that is what happens. So I am very pleased that I was able to make you feel that.”
    “Well, Gabriel, then I would certainly say you properly pleasured me.”
    He smiled warmly at her.
    “You know, despite all I have written on the topic of men and women in love, I had no knowledge of anything sexual, and absolutely no idea of the true workings of what men and women do in bed, beyond the most rudimentary facts. I am rather embarrassed now by my naiveté in my writing. I wonder if my readers have been laughing at me, an old spinster writing about love.”
    “Never, my love. No one ever would laugh at you and your wonderful writing.”
    The term of endearment did not go unnoticed by Jane, and she felt her face warm with a flush. My love. Something to be considered more fully at a later time. There were too many thoughts and intense feelings rushing through both her mind and body to give the words more thought right then.
    “And please never again refer to yourself as an old spinster. There is nothing about you that fits that dreadful description.”
    She smiled coyly at him, and he placed a soft kiss on the tip of her nose.
    “And that other thing, the bite?” she asked.
    Gabriel put his lips to her forehead and muttered, “Let’s dress, and perhaps go outside into the fresh night air, walk about the gardens, and I will explain that to you. I must warn you though, dear Jane, it is a frightening reality I must share with you.”
    A tremor passed through her.
    “That is a fine idea, but at this moment I have something else I would prefer to do.”
    Gabriel raised his brows in question.
    “Properly pleasure me again, Gabriel.” Laughing, Jane sat up, then pushed him down onto his back and straddled him.
    Gabriel smiled and brought her in for a kiss.

Chapter 7
    The scent of citrus hung heavy in the warm air of the orangery. One shiver from Jane in the chill night air had sent Gabriel looking for a more comfortable, yet private, place for their conversation, and the orangery fit the bill. Kept at a tropical temperature, the glass-walled room was soothing and sensual, and the citrus scent very appealing. Though she thought she should be quite satiated after all of Gabriel’s ‘proper pleasuring,’ she found the atmosphere seductive, especially with the dark of night outside the windows, and the house quiet with slumbering occupants.
    Gabriel led Jane to a bench in the middle of the room, and after seating her, he remained standing. He linked his hands behind him and began pacing in front of her, sighing with each turn in his route.
    “Gabriel, do please sit by me. You are making me nervous.”
    He stopped and held himself erect, as if called to attention by a military captain. He gazed out into the branches of the trees surrounding them, carefully avoiding Jane’s eyes.
    “Gabriel, please,” Jane implored as she patted the place beside her.
    Brow furrowed and still avoiding eye contact, he lowered himself onto the bench, keeping as much distance from Jane as possible.
    “This will not do.” His voice was gruff, tinged with anger.
    Jane wondered what she might have done to upset him so. She understood that whatever he had to share with her was unpleasant, but she was confused by his apparent anger.
    After waiting several seconds for him to continue, and fearing he had no intentions of continuing, Jane spoke up. “I know you worry about whatever it is you must share with me, and while I must admit to some fear on my own part, I do not think,