Embrace the Night

Page 92



usual, he was dressed in black evening clothes. His linen was snowy white; his cravat impeccable. His cloak was as black as the night, and she had the sudden fanciful notion that Gabriel was a part of the night, dark and mysterious. He moved with an unusual gracefulness for such a big man; his steps were incredibly light, as if his feet hardly touched the ground. She would have given anything to be able to move like that.

Her gaze moved to his face. Just looking at him made her smile. He was so handsome. The burns that had once marred his smooth flesh were gone as if they had never existed. There was a ruddy glow to his cheeks. His hair was the color of midnight, his eyes as gray as the storm clouds swirling overhead. And his lips… ah, those lips that kissed her with such mastery, such passion.

She felt an odd little quiver in her stomach as his hand tightened on her arm. Soon, she thought, soon he would kiss her again.

"You're very quiet this evening," Gabriel remarked as they reached her door. "Is something wrong?"
"No. I was just wondering…"

He lifted one thick black brow in question as they entered the parlor. "Wondering?" She crossed the room and lit one of the lamps. "If we were going to make love tonight."

She turned to face him, and he thought he had never seen anything as lovely as Sara Jayne Duncan, with her guileless sky-blue eyes and her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

He lifted a lock of her hair and let it fall through his fingers. "You've not grown tired of me then?"
"Oh, no."

"Ah, Sara," he murmured, "your innocence humbles me."
"Hardly innocent anymore," she replied with a saucy grin. "Indeed." His voice was quiet, filled with self-reproach. "Gabriel! You're regretting what we've done again, aren't you?" "No."

She lifted her chin so she could see him better, her hands fisted on her hips. "You're lying. If I don't regret it, I don't know why you should."

"You're too—"

She stamped her foot angrily. "Don't you dare tell me I'm too young!"

"I won't." He cocked his head to one side, his eyes alight with amusement. "Is your temper tantrum over?"

"I'm not having a temper tantrum. I'm simply tired of being treated as if I were a child. Look at me, Gabriel. I'm a woman, with a woman's needs, a woman's desires."