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“Then what is it that you do want, Eleanor?” he asked.

Eleanor looked like a deer in the headlights as she stared back at him.

“I don’t know,” she said softly. “I want to feel…I want…”

Gabriel felt the space between them closing, even though they remained the same distance apart. She had the same look in her eyes as before, and he knew exactly what she wanted. He knew exactly how to take away her pain. And he knew that he could not hold himself back any longer. He was unable to resist the woman.

“Is this what you want?” he asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“And this?” he asked, wiping away a tear with his fingertip.

Eleanor nodded.

“And how about this?” He cupped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her head gently toward him, bringing her lips to him.

They pressed their lips together softly, and the warmth surged through him. He felt the same anticipation that had filled him on the previous occasions, and all of that anticipation was leading up to this kiss. He moved slowly because if he didn’t, he knew his lips would devour her.

“Mmm,” Eleanor moaned as their lips remained locked.

That moan rippled through Gabriel and down into the pit of his stomach, and then beyond, delving down into the root of his manhood.

He placed his other hand on her side, and he felt the shiver that ran through her body. That shiver brought her arms up, and then her hands seized his cheeks, pulling him into her further, telling him exactly what she wanted.

Gabriel pulled back a little, their lips sticking before coming apart, and Eleanor moaned again. He moved forward a little, tackling her lips with his, and the passion took over, and he couldn’t hold himself back any longer.

His fingers delved into her hair, seeking a better grip, and he pressed his lips against hers, pulling her into his embrace. Her lips parted a little as she welcomed him into her. His other hand moved up her body, exploring her curves. Just below her breast, he could feel her chest rising and falling in excitement.

This was a continuation of what they had started on the balcony at the ball, the unfinished portion of the kiss they had started out there.

He realized he wanted it more than anything. He’d been denying himself the acknowledgment of this desire, but as he kissed her and his hands roamed her body, he knew how desperately he wanted her.

And she wanted him. He could feel her body pressing toward his hand as he moved it, aching for him to bring her pleasure. And he longed to bring it to her—a pleasure that would be so easy to bring. He only had to⁠—

“No,” Gabriel breathed. “No, we can’t.”

Eleanor was still lost in the moment, and she leaned forward to kiss him again, but Gabriel placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. He was shaken by what had just happened, and by what would have happened if he hadn’t stopped it.

Eleanor looked like she wanted to cry again at the rejection.

“I knew you regretted kissing me, and you obviously regret it again,” she said.

“It’s not that simple,” he told her. “Nothing is ever that simple. You should understand that.”

“What am I supposed to understand?” She looked away from him.

“I should leave you alone,” he said. “It’s not fair for you to cling to this.”

“Because you—” she started.

“I don’t regret it,” he scolded her. “Not this or the other kiss, nor anything else we’ve done, but I won’t end up like my father. I can’t do that to myself after what he did. I respect you too much, Eleanor. Don’t you see that?”

He took her by the shoulder and wanted to shake her to make her understand.

“You deserve far more than this,” he said softly. “I am supposed to be taking care of you, not taking advantage.”

“We don’t always get what we want,” she told him.