Dream by the Fire: Winter Magic

by Editor: Michelle Puffer

  Gabby let Devlin walk a few yards ahead of her before she bent down and scooped snow into her hands. As she patted it into a perfect ball, she called, “Milord?”

  Devlin turned around. She brought her arm back and hurled the snowball forward. It splattered into tiny pieces of flying ice against his chest.

  The look of pure shock on his face was more than she could handle. She laughed so hard she doubled over. When she realized he continued to stand frozen, she quieted and twisted her fingers together in nervousness. “I’m sorry, Devlin. I shouldn’t have done that.”

  Slowly, he walked forward. “You’ve apologized a lot this morning, Gabrielle.”

  Unsure of how to respond, she stayed silent. Devlin moved closer still, and she took a protective step back. She couldn’t decipher his intentions from his movements. Neither could she tell if he was angry or not.

  This was outside the realm of the book. This scene was her doing, and hers alone. Gabby needed to show Devlin what loving a fun loving woman could be like. But, by the look on his face, she wasn’t sure she had showed him anything positive. She bit her lip and took another step back. Perhaps he didn’t care for a little frolic in the snow.

  Devlin advanced closer. Mere inches separated them, and he quickly bent. Seconds later, freezing, wet snow smacked the side of her face. A gasp of surprise came from her, and she brought her hands up to wipe away the cold slush.

  Male laughter rang through the Highlands and echoed in the distance. Gabby stilled. She wasn’t kidding earlier when she’d said she loved to hear him laugh. The rich sound sent shivers down her spine, and she made a silent promise to strive to make him do it more often.

  Alight with happiness, Devlin’s brown eyes twinkled. “I know your memory is lacking, but you have surprised me today.”

  For a minute she silently debated with herself. Her curiosity won out. “Why?”

  Some of the happiness dimmed from his eyes, and the bright smile on his face faded.

  She cocked her head to the side and watched him closely. What did his reluctance mean?

  Finally he said, “You’re normally more reserved.”

  “Will you tell me about myself?”

  Devlin’s jaw tightened, and he seemed to have an internal battle with himself. “There isnea much to say.”

  He turned and walked back to the castle.

  Gabby let him go. She knew he needed time alone. Worry ate at her. God, what if he didn’t like the new Gabrielle?

  * * *

  Devlin slammed his goblet down. Droplets of red wine splashed over the edge and landed on the parchment scattered across his desk. Fear had overtaken him. Fear Gabrielle would revert back to who she once was. Shame hit him at the thought. He was supposed to love her, and he did, but this new Gabrielle brought out a part of him he’d long since thought dead.

  He’d laughed, truly laughed, not once, but twice today. The last time that had happened he could not recall. And it surprised him that it had been Gabrielle who made him feel happy again. Generally, her presence brought him heartache. Her continued denial of him had, at times, become too much to bear.

  But now, now, he’d had a taste of a life with this woman. How was he supposed to go back? Admit it, Devlin. It will be easier if you just admit it.

  But to acknowledge that the woman he loved was an emotionless piece of stone wasn’t easy. Resentment clawed at him. If she hadn’t had the accident, hadn’t lost her memory, he’d never have known any different. Never would have doubted his love. Never would long for something that may, one day, disappear.

  Devlin’s heart clenched. The image of Gabrielle looking at him with impassive eyes surfaced in his mind.

  Dear God, please donnea take this woman from me.

  * * *

  Gabby walked into the dining hall the next morning and expected to find Devlin there. Instead, she found an empty room. Disappointed, she sighed. She hadn’t seen one hair on his gorgeous head since he left her standing in the snow yesterday.

  It had been hard, but she’d gone out of her way to give him the space she felt he needed. It had to be difficult to look at her and see Gabrielle, yet find everything else about her different.

  The only thing she wished was that she had some inkling about how he felt. Was the change refreshing? Did he suddenly wonder what he had ever seen in the other Gabrielle? Or did he miss his ice princess and wish to have her back?

  “I never showed you what I wanted to yesterday.”

  Gabby gasped and whirled around.

  He walked toward her. “It was unforgivable of me to leave you.”

  “I understand.”

  “Do you?”

  “It must be hard to see me and expect a certain way out of me. I’m sorry I am putting you through this.” The lie came easily to her lips.

  He grasped her hands. “Donnea apologize. You cannea help it.”

  She scowled at his answer. That was not what she’d been fishing for. More along the lines of, no I much prefer you like this, would have been better. This answer gave her no insight to his mind.

  He lifted her fingers to his lips. “Let’s start where we left off yesterday.”

  “Yes, let’s.” Her words came out on a sigh. Gabby knew where they were about to go. This time she would not sidetrack him. She wanted this scene, even if she was not the correct Gabrielle.

  A smile came to his features then he pulled her behind him, stopping only to grab a cloak and head out the door.

  Devlin led them across a snow-covered field and into a patch of trees where he let go of her fingers and turned to face her. “This is my special place. I wanted you to share it with me.”

  The view took her breath away. Heavy, grey clouds brushed the tops of the leafless trees that surrounded them. A large, ice-glazed pond dusted with a layer of powdery snow hid in the center of the thicket. Snow-covered boulders dotted the water’s edge. The silence that entombed the area left Gabby with a sense of serenity.

  “It’s beautiful, Devlin.”

  “As you are.”

  Gabby glanced up and noticed the look of desire in his grey eyes. She swallowed and licked her dry lips.

  A guttural noise came from Devlin. Excitement raced through her and pooled between her thighs. Devlin crossed the small distance between them and yanked her to his chest.

  He didn’t immediately kiss her as she expected, just stared into her eyes with a fierce expression. Moments passed, and he continued to gaze at her with such intensity, she gulped nervously. What was he thinking? She raked her mind and tried to remember what was written in the book, but her memory failed her.

  “Who are you?”

  Her world stilled on those three words. Dear God, he never said that in the book. She was as certain of that as she was that the snow fell on her skin and melted on contact.

  Wh…what?” She stumbled over the word, her nerves frayed.

  His eyes narrowed, and he leaned closer as if he tried to see inside her mind.

  “Devlin?” Gabby hoped the use of his name would jar him out of whatever he was doing. It didn’t.

  “Who—are—” he released her and stepped back, “you?”

  She grabbed hold of the only thing she could think of. “I don’t know.”

  The lie came out a plea.

  “You are not Gabrielle Barborac.”

  The words hit her with such force she almost doubled over.

  No, she was not Gabrielle Barborac.

  She was Gabrielle Stone. That she hadn’t forgotten, but the fact that he could see past the guise of amnesia stunned her. He seemed very much aware that she was not his lady love. It would have been romantic if it didn’t feel as if her heart was breaking.

  She wasn’t the one. She wasn’t supposed to be here. The real Gabrielle still owned his heart. A sob caught in her throat. Gabby whirled around. The snow and ice, slick under her feet caused her to stumble. She regained her balance and fled to the castle. Devlin yelled her name, but she refused to stop.


  * * *

  Who could this woman be? Devlin had known she wasn’t his Gabrielle as soon as he stared deep into her green eyes. They were identical on the outside, but the inside was a different matter. Amnesia or not, it was impossible for her to be Gabrielle. Relief almost brought him to his knees at the knowledge.

  Devlin returned to the castle and searched for her, even went to her room and sent a maid in retrieve her. Only to be told the chamber was empty.

  Where could she be hiding?

  Now restless, he prowled the castle halls. A creak of an opening door made him pause. Devlin glanced behind him and watched Gabrielle leave her room. Hidden in the shadows, he followed her as she descended the stairs.

  Watching her disappear into the Great Hall, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. What was she doing?

  A heavy sigh reached his ears. Gabrielle walked back into his line of sight. She had wrapped herself in the cloak he’d found earlier.

  Panic rose in his throat and strangled him. On shaky legs, he stumbled down the stairs.

  “Where do you think you are going?” His tone came out harsher than he intended.

  Gabby jumped. A squeak of surprise passed her lips, and she smacked her mouth with her hand.

  “Jesus, Devlin, you scared me!”

  He could care less that he scared her. Only one topic was important to him at this time.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’m leaving.”

  “The hell you are.” Without thought, he moved forward and pinned her against the wall. Her hands came up to push on his chest. But Devlin refused her attempt to push him away. He grabbed her wrists and forced them above her head. Shocked green eyes met his.

  Unable to resist her tilted face, he claimed her parted lips. He plunged his tongue into her mouth and almost jerked backward at the sheer rightness of the kiss. This was what he’d waited on.

  A groan from Gabrielle urged him to continue. Need overcame his senses. Devlin released her wrists and pulled at the fabric of her gown. Desperation to claim her now compelled him.

  Devlin lifted the material and revealed long, sleek legs. She wore no undergarments and, heaven help him, he would never allow her to again. Grasping her by the waist, he lifted her and pressed between her naked limbs.

  Her small movements enflamed him further. With hands that trembled, he moved aside his plaid and plunged into her. She arched against him, throwing her head back.

  “Yes, Devlin!”

  Devlin thrust, hard and fast. Tight flesh squeezed around the length of him as he pumped into her. Small fingers ran through his hair, and her nails scored his scalp. He took her mouth in a deep kiss. Sliding his hand up her waist, he cupped her breast and kneaded the swollen flesh with his palm.

  A moan echoed in his ears. Her hands moved from his hair to his shoulders, her arms wound around his neck and pulled him closer. Her sweet tongue did battle with his. A growl vibrated deep in his throat, approving of her wanton ways.

  Devlin slid her down the wall and kneeled on the floor. Gently, he placed her on her back. The cloak spread beneath her and created a barrier against the chill of the stone floor.

  Joined as one, Devlin sank back on his knees and continued their union. His fingers circled the wet nub between her legs.

  Gabby’s hips rose and met each of his movements using a circular motion of her own. “Oh, yes!”

  He worked his fingers and increased the speed of his thrusts. Short, sharp gasps sounded through the hall. Devlin fought for control, refusing release until she came.

  “Come for me, lass.”

  Under his hands her body quivered, and she screamed her climax. Velvety flesh compressed around him, and the sound of her climax surrounded him. Devlin groaned and spilled himself inside her. Shuddering from the intensity of his release, he collapsed. Gabby’s fingers came up and lightly traced the back of his shoulders. The feathery touches sent a shiver over his body. Devlin shifted his weight and leaned his forehead against hers.

  Content at last, he gazed into the green depths of her eyes, quickly kissed her lips, and stood.

  A feeling of pure male possessiveness seized him as he looked at the beautiful woman spread so invitingly on the floor. “You willnae be going anywhere but to my bedchamber, lass.”

  Gabby’s lips formed a perfect O, and he chuckled. Devlin swooped her into his arms and took the steps at a quick run.

  * * *

  Gabby lay curled up under the furs, but stretched as she awakened. Her muscles ached in some of the most delicious places and reminded her of the night of lovemaking she’d shared with Devlin.

  She might not be his Gabrielle, but apparently he didn’t care, which was totally okay with her.

  Excitement coursed through her at the idea of seeing him, and she jumped out of bed.

  After she dressed, Gabby quietly left his chambers and moved down the hall. A female voice carried up the staircase. Curious, she crept down and stood outside the door.

  “Gabrielle, I think you should leave.”

  Gabby stiffened and glanced around, but saw no one.

  “Devlin, how can you say that to me?”

  Gabby’s heart stopped. The witch was here. Even in fiction she’d never liked Gabrielle. The woman was a bitch to the tenth degree. She tortured Devlin with her cold, devious way and only agreed to marry him after he saved her from drowning.

  “Tis how I feel.”

  “Well, that is neither here nor there. There is a blizzard outside if you haven’t noticed, and I was lucky to arrive here at all.”

  “Why are you here, Gabrielle?”

  “To see you, of course, my dear.”

  Lying bitch.

  This was a scene in the book. Gabrielle’s only goal was to worm money out of him.

  “Somehow, I doubt that. But you are correct about the blizzard. I’ll have a room set up.”

  A chair scraped against the floor indicating one of them rose.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I have business to tend to.”

  Gabby frantically looked around and spotted a statue. Quickly, she hid behind it.

  Devlin passed her, his face stormy.

  Gabby thought for a matter of a second before she waltzed straight into the room where his beloved was.

  Gabrielle’s back was to her. She resisted the urge to knock the woman upside the head to get her attention. Instead, Gabby opted to simply clear her throat. The woman whirled around and gasped.

  They looked nothing alike. Well, that was actually an utter lie. They were identical, but there was nothing soft or even inviting in Gabrielle. Her cold, dead eyes stared daggers at Gabby. Gabby’s nose scrunched in distaste. What in the hell did Devlin see in this piece of wallpaper?

  Gabrielle seemed oblivious to the fact they looked the same. She just stood there, motionless, as if she had no soul. A cold chill spread down Gabby’s spine. Warning bells rang in her head. Gabrielle was dangerous. Very dangerous.

  “Who are you?”

  Damn. She had no idea how to answer that question. She still pretended not to know. Oh well, she had to keep up the charade.

  “I’m not sure.”

  A shrill laugh came from the other woman. “You’re not sure?” Gabrielle’s eyes narrowed on her. “Why are you here?”

  “Devlin found me.”

  “He found you?”

  “Yes, I found her.”

  Gabby closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. It had been a mistake to come in here and confront this woman.

  A false smile came to Gabrielle’s lips. “My, haven’t you been the hero.”

  “Something like that.”

  Devlin’s gaze met Gabby’s, and her heart clenched at the closed, guarded expression on his face. The aloof way he regarded her made his intentions clear. He had already pulled away from her. To follow in the direction he had been written to go.

  “I need to speak to Gabrielle. If you would excuse us.”

  Before she could vo
ice a protest, he’d grabbed her upper arm and ushered her to the door.

  Gabby swallowed past the knot that had formed in her throat. She nodded and let him guide her. The overwhelming desire to slap Gabrielle across her victorious face flowed through Gabby and she clench her fists.

  Devlin released her, and she went straight upstairs. The last thing she wanted was to eavesdrop and hear the man she loved tell another woman he loved her. The thought penetrated her sadness, and she froze on the stairs. She loved him. It was hard to admit, but she’d been in love with him for years. Devlin was the reason she read that novel, not the obviously false love story. It was Devlin. But now he was off to live the life he was destined to.

  What about her? Would she be stuck here, forced to watch her man marry someone else in an era she had no idea about. Oh, dear God! What if her only recourse was to become a servant in this home and have to wait on her every day?

  The thought made her stomach lurch. Running up the stairs, Gabby entered her bedchamber and slammed the heavy wood door. Over her dead body would she serve that woman.

  * * *

  “He proposed.”

  Gabby glanced up; Gabrielle stood in the door frame of the study. The words penetrated her like knives and carved an excruciating hole into her already tormented heart.

  “You look surprised. You didn’t think he wanted you, did you?”

  Uncertain of how to answer the question, Gabby remained silent.

  “Oh, my dear, you did.” A forced laugh sounded. “Devlin has been in love with me for as long as I can remember. You didn’t have a chance. But I can understand the draw, he is quite a catch.”

  Bitter words came to Gabby’s lips. To stop their escape, she bit the inside of her cheek. If this was what Devlin wanted, well, she didn’t have much control over it. His fate was sealed.

  Gabby stood and forced a smile. “Congratulations on your pending nuptials.”

  Gabby left the room and brushed past Devlin in the process. Strong fingers grasped her elbow to stop her. She refused to look at him, lest he see the sorrow she was sure reflected in her eyes.