Winter Peril

by Pinder, Victoria

  She swallowed hard. She couldn’t lose him if she lied. But her heart and mind needed to work together. Her gaze lowered. “I don’t know. I don’t know much about you.”

  His large hands firmly held hers now. “What do you want to know?”

  Should she tell him what she found? She needed answers. She opened her mouth to tell him about the newspaper, but when she gazed into his intense eyes, she became hypnotized. “You were a captain in the Marines. And you live here alone. Do you have a job that pays you?”

  “I don’t need one. I have enough with the rebuilding of this ski chalet.”

  She turned her shoulder away, but said nothing.

  He stared at her eyes for a moment. Then with a firm smile, he told her, “I’ve been living off my investments and restoring this place. I have more money than most people, if that’s what bothers you.”

  Her eyes misted a little, but only because her heart opened to him. “I just wanted to know if you had the means to take care of yourself.”

  He nodded, but the silence clung in the air. She’d screwed up this conversation. “But if you live here alone, what happens if you get sick?”

  “My parents will find me in the spring.”

  “What do they do?” The question fell out before she could do anything else.

  He sat next to her on the couch. “Dad was an investor and owns hotels. Mom was a librarian until she married my dad. She was his second wife, though they met long before my brother, sister, or I were born.”

  Her eyebrows shot up. “Tell me more about them.”

  His entire body went rigid. “I don’t want to talk about my brother.”

  His wife. Raphael and the betrayal had to be painful, but Erica needed to know. So she stepped closer, leaned on his shoulder, and whispered, “Your sister, then. Who is she?”

  His grim frown opened up, and his jaw went slack when he told her, “Baby sister, Michaela. Mom wanted four children to name after the four archangels. She had three.”

  She nodded. “That’s a cool concept.”

  He continued. “Michaela’s a terrible writer, but she hopes to write the next big song.”

  Her hands brushed against his. “We should all be talented at something.”

  “Talent does not run in our genes.” Then he took her hand and rested it in his lap.

  She turned her body a bit more. “Everyone has something they are good at.”

  His nose turned a little. “Our mom is on the spiritual bent where it’s almost a religion, but she’s not as bad these days. I can’t imagine any brother with the name Uriel.”

  “It wouldn’t be that horrible of a name. I kind of like it.” Her mind relaxed.

  “You’d kiss a guy with the name Uriel?” He froze after the words came out of his mouth.

  She swallowed, then swung her leg over his to sit on his lap. “I don’t know anymore. I have a thing for the name of the messenger angel, and I don’t go for sharing. Now shut up and kiss me, Gabriel.”

  He followed instructions, and her lips ached for more. With a sigh, he stopped a moment later. “Wait, are you the boss again?”

  Her eyebrows rose. “I’m slightly bossy all the time.”

  A smirk grew on his face. “I’m okay with that.”

  With a wide grin, she told him, “Good, because I want to stay in your arms.”

  Her stomach stayed hard, but flashes of heat coursed through her. Another flutter of kisses sent her body into overdrive. This time, he ended the kiss, and he stripped her of her shirt and sweater. Her head rolled back, and she bounced in his lap and brushed against his manhood.

  He groaned at how she moved. “Unbutton my belt, Snowflake. I like your hands all over me.”

  A watery smile appeared on her lips. Tomorrow, she’d tell the truth. Tonight, she needed him. She did as he commanded, and was turned on. But something held her back. Why hadn’t she told him what she found? The truth would set her free. But every second he brushed her skin with his callused hands, her body burned up, and she loved his every touch.

  He unhooked her bra and gave her the biggest smile. “This is your only fitting one. Guess you’ll earn it back.”

  “Earn?”

  “Get it back later. I need you.”

  “Good.”

  The boyish smile on his face melted her heart. Her hair on her arm rose. Her smile grew. And her skin electrified every second his hands traced her bare back.

  She lost her ability to think, and could only react. Her body convulsed the moment he kissed her ear; then she whispered, “Take off your pants.”

  “What will you do?”

  “Ride you. Sit back on the couch.”

  She shivered. She’d do anything to stay. Gabriel backed away. Her feet rocked for one second. She was unsure what to do.

  He gave a wild wink, then dropped his pants.

  She giggled. Her stallion was ready to go.

  Her mind cleared. She closed her eyes. A bubble of excitement grew inside her, and she pushed her ill-fitting jeans off her body and sat on his erection. Her pace stayed slow, but she lowered herself further down. “Is this good for you?”

  “Teasing, Snowflake.” His hand traced her thigh and squeezed her backside at the same moment he met her gaze. “I thought tonight, we’d played chess.”

  “Later. I like this first.”

  “Erica, you are insatiable.”

  “True.”

  Her lips trembled. A primal urge grew inside her. He rubbed her backside, which sent a longing for his sumptuous body to take her.

  “I’ve thought of your breasts all day.”

  Hunger for him grew in her womanhood, and her fingers ached with need to touch. “I hope you enjoy.”

  Then she bounced up and down on his shaft. He groaned.

  He shook his head. “Erica, you’re amazing.”

  “I like how you say my name.”

  With passion that built inside her, she let him lavish his attention on her hardened nipples. Every few seconds, she bounced. Desire coursed through her and a warm sweetness grew.

  First he took one bud to suckle, then the other. He took his time, licking, kissing, and her body ached with a need for release.

  She soon pressed closer and begged him to take her.

  He flipped her around suddenly; her butt stuck out and her chest pressed into the couch. The liquid desire for him grew. She needed him, and his hands checked her apex. Good. Then he pressed his finger inside her and kissed her shoulder blade. “You’re excited, Snowflake. I have no idea how I lived this long without you.”

  His tenderness was her undoing. Her body shook, and her adrenaline spiked. He slightly squeezed her ass. She squirmed, and he played with her clit. A small burst of rapture coursed through her. Had she ever been so alive? With heavy breath, she opened her mouth and told him, “I’m yours, Gabriel.”

  “And I am yours.” A second finger plunged inside her and made the fever in her body electrify.

  An unstoppable moan escaped her lips. She panted. “Please, Gabriel. I need you.”

  His fingers picked up the pace, and her release grew, about to explode. He pushed her on the couch and told her, “Erica, you are my weakness.”

  A moan escaped her lips and she closed her eyes. Everything inside her shuddered. Her words were true: “Gabriel, you are the only one I ever want.”

  Love was too strong a word. She’d prove him innocent.

  After he squeezed her ass, he pushed into her mound and the deepness of him inside her set her off balance. Aching with desire, she ruptured and lost all control.

  With her eyes rolling backward, he pushed deeper again. His manhood rammed into her. The moment the wave seemed to end, another frenzy took over her and pushed her off the edge again. Her last thought was that Gabriel was definitely an angel to cherish, because no other man sent her into oblivion like this.

  Chapter 18

  Euphoria deserved a reward. With her shoulders back, Erica lazily stretched her arm
s wide. A vague memory of last night surfaced, and she visualized the moment he’d called her his weakness. Gabriel gave her what she had always wanted but never dared ask for. Then she had met him. Sated, she’d slept beside him most of the night.

  Erica settled on her pillow and a deep sigh escaped her lips.

  Her nakedness made her flush and bury herself in the blankets. Last night’s multiple orgasms from Gabriel lay at such odds with what she had found. Her well-suckled breasts still ached for him. Marks of his ample attention remained.

  He set out to please her and make her every wish come true. Her heartbeat was too sure now. She’d find out the truth here.

  She’d hand him the article and the diary. Then she’d call it rubbish and toss everything in the trash.

  Her heart ached to trust Gabriel and go slow with him. Her lips twitched, but her head reminded her that the man could be a murderer multiple times over. Her heart screamed no. Fulfillment didn’t come from doubt, though, and she had no answers, except that her instinct was to trust him.

  The warmth she had in her soul for him should be cherished. Perhaps she had missed a few things when she’d skimmed the last part of the diary the other night. Her heartbeat had thrummed in her ears, and all she had heard that night was the thump in her head. Now adrenaline rushed through her body, and she had the energy to conquer the world.

  In the stillness of the night, she decided to read more of the diary. One clue that Tiffany’s diary was a lie would be enough. Erica tapped her finger on her cheek. Gabriel was in his room. The diary might have answers to how bad he was hurt. Or even better, the murder could be explained away. Gabriel had been too good to her to believe anything else.

  She picked up the small book and flipped open to the next page.

  Today was different. Raphael told me that we couldn’t continue our affair. I threw myself at his feet, but he walked away from me. He blames himself for betraying his brother and family. Without him, I am utterly alone. I can’t let him go. My parents are dead. Alan is dead. And my sister and Gabriel both hate me. Gabriel promised to love, honor, and cherish me. He was a liar. I started the affair with Raphael to stab him in the back, but everything changed. I fell in love. I have to get Raphael back. His love is all I need. I need to find the right concoction to make him stay. If I told Gab about Raphael, he’d have grounds for a divorce. If I lose Raphael, then Gabriel will pay the ultimate price. I can’t let Raphael go, and I can’t let Gabriel get away with ruining my life. Not yet. Not ever. I deserve better. There has to be a way to not lose the only thing I love.

  I cannot lose him, or it would be like losing myself. Without Raphael I am nothing, no one. He is all that matters. All I care about. If his family cannot accept that I will have to make them . . .

  With her eyes in a dramatic roll, Erica relaxed. His wife had been an idiot, and slightly off. Concoction? Was she drugging him? The only one Tiffany loved was herself. Selfishness was on every page. Erica swallowed. She had been right about his wife. Besides, if she were married to Gabriel, she’d never cheat. The man set her on fire in a way no other ever had, and Tiffany had used him.

  Erica’s neck tickled again, like someone stared at her. She stretched her hands above her head.

  A loud sigh helped dissipate the strange sensation on her body.

  As Erica flipped the page, her shoulders eased on the pillow behind her, though she noticed the entries were almost done. The other night hadn’t revealed much, so today’s more fine-tuned reading should end all doubts. The woman didn’t write much, though Erica’s eyes stared straight at the name she sought: Alicia. Who was the woman who had died? She hoped this would clear away her doubts.

  That stupid woman doesn’t deserve this attention. Alicia spent the night flirting with Gabriel. She got what she deserved. My husband’s life will never be happy. He doesn’t get to replace me. Not when he stole away my chance at happiness. Raphael is gone now, but he didn’t tell Gabriel anything. At least he had no idea Alicia flirted at all. The man spends most of his time outside with the hired help, and at night he screams. I keep laughing to myself. War is supposed to make a man stronger, but my husband became a coward. I don’t care how many medals he’s won. If he were courageous, he’d not have nightmares. And if he believes war was too much for him, he’ll never withstand what I’ll do.

  Erica cracked her knuckles, and the sound reverberated in the room. Then she narrowed her gaze to read the rest.

  When Gabriel discovers my affair, he’ll be completely destroyed. His mistake with Alicia will be his undoing. It’s my only chance of escape now, if I can find Raphael. His brother will be enough for me, in a way Gabriel and Alan could never be. Raphael will never know the lengths I will go for him. First things first: If I don’t destroy Gabriel, he’ll surely kill me. I have no choice. It’s why I hide the evidence in our secret room. Alicia’s fall was useful. Gabriel won’t know I set him up. He’s never home.

  Erica’s fingers froze on the words Alicia was useful. She scratched her head and sat up. She tapped the entry with her index finger. What did that mean? The entry was riddled with confusion, and Erica’s grin grew less confident. She ticked her tongue to the side of her mouth. What had Tiffany done to Gabriel? If she had killed Alicia, and not Gabriel, everything made sense. She nodded at the book as thunder boomed in the distance.

  Erica frowned and stared at the door. Had she not checked it immediately because she was afraid? Tiffany was dead. If there was something in that secret room, then Erica needed to see. She had to go find the truth. Her mother had always said the truth was better than a lie. Gabriel deserved to know the truth too, if he’d been set up.

  The chilly air was a shock. Her body had overheated from exertion earlier. But she threw a nightgown over her body and found a sweater. She’d sleep better if her brain trusted the same way her heart and body did. She found her slippers, then slipped out of her room. Her hands were frozen, and she rubbed them on her arms to warm.

  ***

  The fire in the library kept her gaze for a moment. Then she stared at her task, and her body soaked in the warmth. She marched toward the bookshelf, shed her sweater on the sofa, and moved books to a pile on the ground first. Her hands had tingles, and, again, there was a tickle on the back of her neck. She refused to entertain doubts now.

  She pushed on the wall that had the mark of the nail polish, and at first nothing moved. There had to be a secret door here that held everything. With her hand on her hip, she decided to knock and listen for any hollow sounds on the wall. Doors had different sounds than walls.

  The entire thing echoed in the same fashion. She sucked in her lower lip. What was she missing?

  Her shoulder ached, but she ignored it.

  Behind the next shelf, she ran her hand on the wall and clicked something. A giggle escaped her lips, and her heart beat a bit faster. She pushed the wall again, and it opened easily.

  A satisfied smile grew. With her hand anchored to her hip, she found it, and her pulse raced. She took a step to go inside.

  “No.”

  She winced. Had he seen her? No. She should have told him. Gabriel’s scream echoed in her heart.

  With a fast inhale of breath, she slammed the door closed and spun around fast.

  No one stood behind her, and she stopped flinching. As she let out her breath, she froze. She heard a second scream, and recognized the guttural cry of terror.

  Had something happened? She ran to Gabriel’s room and tried his door again. This time, he hadn’t locked it. She pushed in and stared at him. Somehow, he sat up in his bed with his legs curled up to his chest, but he wasn’t awake. He had a huge safe next to his bed. She reached out and brushed his hair behind his head. To comfort him, she leaned closer to sit next to him and massaged his scalp. “Gabriel, are you okay?”

  At first he didn’t answer, but his strong body shook. He was in a sleep state.

  Uncertain what to do, she rubbed his shoulder to get him to relax. He stopped
his shaking a moment later, and his body slowly released tension. His gaze sharpened and stared at her. He must have awoken, because he nodded, and she understood.

  “I don’t sleep well.” He kept his hands on his head. “Memories haunt me.”

  She massaged both of his shoulders, then kissed his neck. “It’s okay. Memories of war? Or your wife?”

  “Both.” His eyes met hers for a moment before he dropped his gaze.

  With an understanding heart, she offered him a side hug. He swallowed. Then she heard the sigh from his throat.

  He shook his head. “Erica, I’ve seen more than I should have. The darkness means good girls like you shouldn’t be anywhere near me.”

  “That again?”

  “I’m in a dark place.”

  “And hospitals are filled with optimistic people? I spend most of my time alone.” She brushed his arm, then tilted her head as she continued to stroke him. To protect her from whatever haunted him wasn’t a good idea. “What was your dream? Talking about things helps.”

  He twisted his legs to sit up. “You don’t want to hear it.”

  To gain his trust, she hugged his shoulder and answered, “If it’s haunting you, I’m here to listen.”

  He stared out the window and at first said nothing. Her pulse was on alert. Trust went both ways, and she ought to tell him. Then he took a deep breath and broke the silence. “When I was captured in war with my men, I had to watch a young kid die. They killed him because I had to keep our mission secret.”

  Her heart constricted at the picture he painted. She scooted closer to have her legs brush his and hugged him again. “Gabriel, it’s not your fault.”

  His pupils were big, and his stare so empty that her heart hurt for him. His muscles tensed as he shook his head. “I put us there.”

  What a horrible burden he held. She offered him a small smile, though she couldn’t let him go. “You didn’t shoot him. They were after you, and it wasn’t your fault.”