by Meghan Sloan
“You shouldn’t be in here. The servants…”
“I took the side entrance and bypassed the main room. Nobody knows I’m in here.” Gabriel’s eyes drifted over her face. “Are you scared of me, Cassie?”
Cassie. The simple mention of her name had Cassandra fighting back a moan. It sounded so good coming from his lips. She wanted to hear it again. She swiped that from her mind.
“I’m not scared of you.”
“I don’t know if I believe that or not.”
Now his eyes were on her mouth. Cassandra felt her lips tingling. Was he remembering the kiss as well? She certainly hadn’t forgotten. She took a deep breath and counted to five. There was no way she was going to let Gabriel take control. This was her territory. He had no right.
“What do you want?”
“I wanted to see how things were with my brother at the Duchess of Suffolk’s ball last night.”
Cassandra frowned. He was concerned about that?
“Why don’t you just ask Percy? You live closer to him.”
“I had some errands to do and I was passing.”
“And I call that lies,” Cassandra folded her arms. “You have no business on this side of Ipswich.”
“How do you know?”
He didn’t move from the door. He just leaned against the doorframe with his arms folded. Even if Cassandra wanted to leave, she would have to get past him. Actively push him out of the way. And Cassandra wasn’t sure her resolve would hold if she touched him.
The tension in the air was getting far too thick. Cassandra wished she didn’t have to wear a corset, because it was making it harder for her to breathe. She stood her ground, wishing her heart wasn’t racing so much that she was feeling lightheaded.
“It was fine. We danced, talked, and then danced some more. That was it.” She saw the slight tightening of his jaw. Curious. “What else were you expecting? That I was going to drag him off to a secluded part of the house and throw myself at him?”
There it was. A twitch around his eye. That was when she realised that Gabriel was jealous. That threw her a little. Jealous of his brother? Or the fact he wasn’t the one she had thrown herself at?
I’m not going to throw myself at him. Never.
If you don’t want to, stop thinking about it.
“I just wanted to know how you and he were progressing.” Gabriel’s voice was tight, so close to a growl, “I still think you two are good for each other.”
“Do you now?”
“Yes.”
Cassandra glared at him.
“If that’s the case, why did you kiss me yesterday? You were the one who got us to meet, and then you’re kissing me. You still think I’m good for your brother?”
Gabriel’s eyes flashed. He looked away.
“It was a mistake to do that.” His voice rumbled, tickling over Cassandra’s skin, “I shouldn’t have accosted you as I did. And it won’t happen again.”
“Right. A mistake.”
That hurt more than Cassandra had expected. Why did she even care? He was right that it was a mistake, and that he’d had no right to kiss her the way he did. But the feel of being in his arms, melting into his embrace, was too great to ignore. No matter what Gabriel thought, the attraction between them was not only mutual; it was intense.
Cassandra needed to knock Gabriel off his perch. He seemed to think he was holding on the cards. He was bad at playing card games; Gabriel hadn’t come up against Cassandra. She gave him a smirk and sauntered towards him.
“At least I’ve got something to compare you with to your brother. And he certainly measures up better than you in...that department.”
It took a moment for Gabriel to realise what she had said. His eyes widened.
“You what? He kissed you? I...I thought you said the two of you didn’t sneak off anywhere.”
“You don’t expect a woman to tell you everything immediately, do you?” Cassandra made a big sigh and pressed a hand to her chest. “Oh, it was so beautiful. Your brother certainly knows how to kiss a woman and make her want more. I’ve never felt such shivers down my spine from just a kiss.”
The memory of Gabriel kissing her the day before came flooding back, and Cassandra realised she was describing that moment. It had been beautiful, even if bittersweet now with Gabriel’s statement. She shivered and let out a sigh as the tightening low in her belly went between her legs and started throbbing. Cassandra glanced at Gabriel, who was now looking at her with stunned outrage. He really had no idea what he was doing to her right now.
She knew she should back away now, but Cassandra found herself moving closer. She was punishing herself being this close and not touching him, but Cassandra was past the point of caring. She wanted to be selfish for the first time.
“Such tenderness but such...I don’t know how to describe it, except that it was masterful.” Cassandra bit her lip and shot Gabriel a sideways glance. “I wanted to drag him somewhere even more secluded for more. Maybe...for the first time in my life, I wanted to be salacious.”
Gabriel’s eyes flashed. Now he looked angry. He really was jealous. Cassandra almost gasped at the intense look in his eyes. It hit her in the gut. Gabriel’s hands clenched against his arms.
“That doesn’t sound like Percy at all. He’s not one to lose control like that.”
“Maybe you don’t know him as well as I do,” Cassandra couldn’t stop herself from giggling. “Or maybe you do.”
She had hoped to maintain a straight face for a little longer, but she couldn’t. Cassandra burst out laughing. Gabriel’s eyes widened, and he looked bewildered.
“What are you laughing about?”
“The look on your face.” Cassandra pressed a hand to her belly and tried to stop the laughter, but it wouldn’t stop. “It’s just priceless.”
She watched as realisation dawned. Gabriel was now staring at her in shock. His eyes narrowed.
“You were lying about kissing my brother? Why would you do that?”
“Simple,” Cassandra turned to him, still giggling. “I saw you were jealous, and I wanted to tease you.”
Gabriel growled.
“That was not teasing, Cassie. That was just cruel.”
“I hardly think so, seeing as you tease women all the time,” Cassandra pointed at him. “But I was right, wasn’t I? You are jealous of what I might have with your brother.”
“I’m not jealous.”
“Are you not?”
Gabriel glowered at her. Then he reached out and grabbed her. Cassandra squeaked, barely having time to cry out before she was spun around and pressed against the door. Moments later, Gabriel was blocking her in, his hands against the door by her head as he crowded her.
He was standing far too close, barely touching her. And Cassandra could still feel his body heat; feel the tension press against her chest. The throbbing between her legs was building, and Cassandra’s giggles faded as she saw the heated desire in Gabriel’s eyes, his head bowing with his mouth inches from hers.
“No. I’m not.”
#
Gabriel couldn’t believe that she was even laughing at him. Did she not know that this was not a time to jest? But that laugh, and that brief sparkle in her eyes as she’d goaded him had the lust stirring. She thought she could stand there and say all that without him reacting?
Now he was reacting, and he had crowded Cassandra against the door. Gabriel knew he should back away immediately; being this close to her was a dangerous thing to do. Once he touched her again, he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Already, Gabriel could feel his heart racing as he saw the dark flush appear on her cheeks and spread. Her chest was reddening, and not for the first time Gabriel had an overwhelming urge to strip that dress off her to see how far that blush really went.
His trousers were certainly feeling a lot tighter now. Gabriel swallowed, allowing himself to drink in the sight of this infuriating woman.
“You think I would be jealous
of my brother?” he murmured. “Over you?”
“Why not? And you shouldn’t lie,” Cassandra prodded his chest. “I can tell when a man is jealous.”
Gabriel gritted his teeth. She should not be touching him; his control was already slipping. That had not been the intention when he first came in.
“You’ve not met enough men, then.”
“I’ve met enough to recognise the signs.”
“You’ve met enough to know how to be cruel, certainly,” Gabriel frowned. “That was not amusing, Cassie.”
“I thought it was.”
Cassandra shrugged. If it weren’t for the flushed expression and her eyes seeming darker than before, he might have thought she was being nonchalant. Her lips parted and Gabriel could see her pulse racing in her throat. He leaned in, feeling her rapid breath on his face.
“You really have no idea what sort of fire you’re playing with.”
“Do I not?” Cassandra shot back. “If you’re not jealous, why are you getting angry?”
“Because I don’t like my feelings being played. I have done a lot of things in the past, granted, but I don’t wish to be played around with.”
Cassandra glared at him.
“How do you think all the women you’ve seduced feel when you take them to bed? You think they liked being played with? That their feelings were inconsequential?”
“They knew exactly what they were getting into when they first entered into an affair with me. I make it perfectly clear that I was not looking for love, only fun to pass the time.”
Cassandra’s eyes flashed. God, she was stunning when she was riled up.
“But do you ever wonder if they did start to have feelings towards you? It’s not something you can turn on and off. You may be able to bank down emotions, but you can’t not have them.” She lifted her chin, seeming to be gaining confidence, “Ever thought they might be in love with you?”
“No.” Gabriel didn’t even need to think. “Because when we ended our flings, they walked away without any crying or pleas to come back.”
“Except one.”
Except one. Gabriel had done his best to forget about that one particular woman. He closed his eyes and growled.
“I take it you’re talking about Jessica Gibson.”
“I am.” Cassandra folded her arms. “She warned me off last night.”
“She what?” Gabriel’s eyes snapped open. He stared at her. “I thought she had left.”
“She will today. I don’t think she’s coming back, not if her family has anything to do with it.” Cassandra pursed her lips, “Even if you do finally decide to marry, she’s going to cause problems for you. Your wife would have to be a saint to deal with her. This is what happens when you have affairs and those women fall for you. You’re not going to get rid of them that easily.”
Jessica was still here? Her father had said she wasn’t going to be around for much longer. They should have left Ipswich already. Gabriel made a mental note to go and see the Gibson family and tell them to get her out of there before Jessica did anything further to his woman.
Wait, did you say Cassandra was yours?
Gabriel tried to focus on Cassandra. Which wasn’t easy when her folded arms had pushed her breasts together and they looked like they were in danger of bursting out of the low neckline. Gabriel was trying his hardest not to stare.
“Miss Gibson is an unstable woman.”
Cassandra snorted.
“That’s your response to it? She’s unstable. If she is, all the more reason why you shouldn’t conduct affairs. If she isn’t, that’s just a callous way of disregarding her feelings.” She jabbed him in the chest again, “I thought you would be better than that.”
Gabriel simply reacted. He grabbed her wrist, watching as Cassandra faltered, her eyes widening. He couldn’t take his gaze off her mouth, lips parting on a gasp. Cassandra tried to tug her hand back, but Gabriel tightened his hold. She had touched him, and now his self-control was barely hanging on.
“When it comes to that woman, I have nothing good to say.” He lifted her hand to his mouth and pressed a butterfly-like kiss to her wrist. Gabriel smiled when he heard her gasp. “I told her what was to happen, and she ignored me.”
“You shouldn’t have taken her to bed in the first place.”
Now she seemed to be almost panting as Gabriel kissed the palm of her hand. Her chest was practically heaving as Gabriel kissed each of her fingertips, sucking her thumb into his mouth. He never took his eyes off her, and the sight of her arousal clearly building had Gabriel groaning.
“Jealous, are you?” he whispered.
“Me, jealous?” Cassandra’s voice was trembling. “Not a chance.”
“You don’t sound convincing.” Gabriel leaned in, linking his fingers with hers and pressing her hand against the door. “Are you sure you’re not jealous?”
“I’m sure.”
She still didn’t sound convincing. Her breath tickled his mouth, and Gabriel brushed his lips over hers.
“No?”
Cassandra didn’t respond. Her eyes were so dark they could have turned black. Gabriel had seen the fire in this woman, and he had seen the passion. This time he saw the arousal. And it was beautiful.
He kissed her, pressing her hard against the door. Cassandra whimpered, but she didn’t push him away. If she had, Gabriel would have gone with her wishes. Instead, she moaned and kissed him back, her free hand grabbing onto his coat and holding on.
God, all bets were off now.
Gabriel shifted his leg and pressed between her legs, nudging her up onto her toes. He then shifted himself so he could feel her core against his thigh. Cassandra gasped into his mouth and broke away with a whimper.
“Gabriel…”
Gabriel knew he was in serious trouble. If anyone came by to find Cassandra, they were going to be caught. But that seemed to set him on fire even more. He ran his hands through Cassandra’s hair, not caring when the pins stabbed his fingers as he tilted her head back.
“You’re such a temptress.”
“That’s…not my intention.”
Cassandra’s breath hitched as Gabriel started to kiss down her neck. She whimpered and tugged him closer. Her other hand, now freed from his grasp, slid through his hair and tightened hard enough for Gabriel to feel momentarily pain. That just made his arousal even higher.
“You don’t need to try.” He licked along her collarbone. “You tempt me far too much just by being in the same room.”
Cassandra sighed, and she shuddered against him as he nipped at her shoulder with his teeth. She rolled her hips, rubbing along his thigh, and she clutched even tighter onto his head. Gabriel felt as though his heart was about to explode.
If Cassandra had been on fire before, she was a blazing inferno now. His hand dropped to her leg and gathered up her skirts, groaning as he touched her bare thigh for the first time. Her skin was so soft, so warm. Shoving his hand under, Gabriel cupped her hip, pushing her drawers aside to slide his hand over her backside.