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Hiskisses grew more feverish and his mouth travelled towards her ear, down her neck and down to her breast.Hetook her nipple between his teeth through the fabric of her shirt and bit down gently.Shegroaned and bucked against him.
Thenhe stopped. ‘Ican’t do this.’
Inthe space of a second, the weight of him disappeared and she was left on the sofa, alone.Gabrielpaced the room.
‘Gabriel…?’
Hishands fixed onto his hips. ‘Thisis too dangerous…’
Jesscouldn’t get her head around what was happening. ‘Dangerous…we’re just two people taking solace in each other’s bodies.It’sjustsex.’Herwords seemed to echo in the room and he stopped pacing, his eyes finding hers and pinning her down.
‘Isit?’
Theystared at each for a beat.Whatdid he mean by that?Herheart thumped painfully.
Andthen he whipped around on his heel and fled the room.
‘Gabriel!Gabriel!’Jesscalled after him.
Buthe was gone.
12
Atthe very topof the stairs,Jesssaw two doors illuminated by the dim orange glow of the hallway lights: one closed and one open at the end of the hall.Shechose the open one and found herself in a grand bedroom, a four-poster bed dominating the space, the walls painted a tasteful warm grey, and her suitcase waiting for her next to the refurbished, antique wardrobe.
Jessgrunted with displeasure and plopped onto her bed, sinking into the feather duvet.Whathad just happened downstairs?Hadshe read the situation between her andGabrielall wrong?Whathad caused him to push her away?
Shestood up and paced the room, the floorboards creaking under her feet.Shedidn’t care if he heard her.Lethim!Hewas being ridiculous.Theattraction between them was so sizzling hot that it would warm an entire colony of penguins and yet, he’d just run away from her like she had a disease.Whyhad he brought her out to his chateau if not to seduce her?
Nope.Shewasn’t having this.Ithad taken her a while to come around to the idea of sleeping with a man she hadn’t been dating since birth, but now that she had arrived, she wanted it.Herbody thrummed with pent-up desire, robbing her of any thoughts of sleep, especially knowing he was just down the hall.
Generally, she didn’t swear, but what the actual fuck.
Whywas he hiding from her?Allshe wanted was to give him pleasure and take some in return, right?Theonly reason it would become a problem is if feelings became involved…
Shecame to a sudden stop.
‘Isit?’Sheremembered his face when he said those words to her, his eyes haunted.
He’strying to protect himself.Sheslapped her forehead.
Jessused to thinkFatimawas the one holding him back, and she was…in a way.Hehad lost so much when he lost her: his friend, his foot, his sense of security, his joy for life.Elodie’swords echoed in her head: ‘He’sjust biding time until he dies.’
Itdawned onJessthatGabrielhad cut himself off from real emotion for so long, he’d forgotten what it felt like to want somebody like he wanted her.Ifit was half as much as she craved him, then of course he was struggling.Thisconnection between them…it was powerful.Heady.Intoxicating.
Butit was also invigorating.Itreminded her of the richness and pleasure of life in a primal, natural way.
Howcould she show him there was still so much to live for?
Jess’seyes migrated to her suitcase and she strode to it, flipping it open.Tuckedinto a discreet tote bag was some expensive lingerie she’d bought fromOh!Paulinain expectation of wearing it forKrish.
Shestroked the bag as a plan formed in her head.She’dshow him just how much she’d bloomed since she met him, how he didn’t have to keep his walls up around her, how they could find solace in each other.
Jesshad just the thing to zap him back to life.
Gabrielstaredat this reflection in the bathroom mirror, his hands leaning on the marble countertop.Whatwas he doing?He’dbrought a beautiful woman who wanted to have sex with him to his chateau in the country…and he’d run away from her.
Ifhis penis were a giant club, it would smack him over the head.
