Page 99

Gabriel took charge. He took a step forward so their bodies were almost touching, and waited a beat before moving again.

Eleanor tried to slow herself down to take it all in. She could smell the duke’s masculine cologne—the heady base of sandalwood always apparent—but there was more coming from the open window behind the curtains. She could smell the sweet aroma of wildflowers.

The duke wrapped his arm around Eleanor’s waist, pulling her closer to him. A small part of her, the flight response clung to her nervousness, but the response had no power now that it was up against the duke.

He was both commanding and soothing. He had told her that he would be with her through everything, and she knew him well enough now, even if it had only been weeks, to know he was a man of his word.

“What do you see?” she asked.

“I see you,” Gabriel replied. “The shape of you, the body that I want to claim as mine, and the woman in that body. All are beautiful and take my breath away.”

Eleanor found some comfort in confrontation and challenge, but this was overwhelming; she’d never dealt with this before, or such a level of vulnerability.

“I…I just…” Eleanor tried to talk, but her tongue had been tied. Instead, she looked down at the floor.

Gabriel reached out and took her chin in his fingertips, lifting her head up to look her in the eyes again. When he bent to kiss her, the room seemed to fall away.

Eleanor’s arms slipped around his neck almost of their own accord. She drew him closer, answering the kiss with a certainty she had not known she possessed. If he had been looking for an answer, he had it now. She was not going anywhere.

For several long breaths, neither of them moved beyond the embrace. Eleanor felt the warmth of him through their clothing, the solid breadth of his shoulders beneath her hands, the steady rise and fall of his chest against hers. Every point of contact seemed suddenly heightened. She could feel the heat gathering beneath her skin.

When Gabriel finally drew back, Eleanor’s hands fell from his neck and settled instinctively over her stomach.

Gabriel stared at her.

“There’s nothing to be worried about.”

Eleanor nodded. “I know.”

Gabriel held her chin for a moment as if to make sure that she wouldn’t drop her head the moment he let go.

“May I?” he asked when he set her chin free.

His breathing had deepened, his nostrils flaring slightly, and there was something almost feral in his expression that sent a delicious little shiver through her. Yet beneath it was restraint. He was holding himself back.

His gaze travelled slowly over her, and for the first time since they had begun, Eleanor felt the urge to hide from the intensity of being watched so intensely.

Eleanor followed his gaze to her midriff and the ribbon tied around the dress at her waist. She nodded. She felt frozen to the spot. Thankfully, her body didn’t shiver this time with what was to come.

Gabriel took Eleanor by the waist and gently turned her around to face the fire. Embers glowed in the fireplace, caressing her bare skin. Soon, there would be a lot more bare skin to caress.

Gabriel’s fingers touched her back where the ribbon was tied, and Eleanor felt it loosen at her waist. She felt lighter touches along her back as he worked his way up to loosen the ribbon completely.

Eleanor took a breath in when one shoulder slipped off, and the silky fabric slid partially down the other side of her body without his help. She resisted the urge to prevent it from falling, keeping her arms down by her sides, so the dress could be easily pulled down and peeled from her, leaving her in only her shift.

It was the most undressed she had ever been before a man.

Still, the fire warmed her from one side, and the duke warmed her from the other. Some of the bashfulness slipped from her with the dress, and even though there was now only a thin layer of cotton between the duke and her bare skin, she didn’t try to cover herself. She didn’t bring her arms up to wrap around her body. Everything she had was now his.

The duke placed his hands on her upper arms, but he didn’t turn her around immediately. He slid his hands from the tops of her shoulders, down her arms and briefly linked his fingers through hers before moving them to her waist. The warmth of his mouth surprised her as his tongue found the back of her neck, tracing gentle kisses, and gentle breaths along the sensitive spot behind her ear; she melted into his touch, relying on the strength of his upper body and his gentle grip around her waist to prevent her from falling.

A warm shiver ran through her body.

Eleanor lifted her arms and reached behind her to run her fingers through the duke’s hair as he brought his chin to her shoulder. Gabriel’s strong hands moved from her waist around to her stomach, resting there for a moment before venturing upwards and over the curve of her breasts.

“Mmm,” Eleanor moaned.

Her nipples stiffened beneath the thin fabric.