Kiss me again, her heart screamed. Teach me not to be afraid.
Her eyes fluttered open. With an artist’s fervor, she drank in the angular lines of his face, the uniqueness of the two halves, the sensual curve of his lip.
His brow perched into a taut bow. “You are drawing me with your mind,” he murmured, the heat of his breath fanning across her cheeks.
“The mind is where every great masterpiece begins.”
A rumble of laughter shook his broad chest. “I see. Now where do you want me, madame?”
Ariah felt her cheeks warm at the words. An undeniable challenge laced them together … a not-so-hidden innuendo that melted her insides. She shifted her weight from foot to foot and scanned the room, then crossed both arms over her chest and turned her attention back to Gabriel. His stare was intense – heated – and she fought to ignore the prickles of fear and excitement that gathered across her nape.
“Well, where do you reckon you’d feel most at ease?”
Gabriel folded both hands behind his back and scaled the room with leisurely strides. Ariah’s breath caught inside as she examined his sheer size and virility. He was indeed one of the tallest men she’d ever laid eyes on. Over the last few days, he had presented himself with an intoxicating confidence … a magnetic pull that inspired equal parts fear and desire. He strolled the length of the room as if he owned it, then rounded the corner and returned to stand before her. Each of his paces was determined and sure, brimming with authoritative power. She envisioned him marching along the battlefield, an entire regiment at his command.
She felt inspired. She felt alive. She ached with the need to create something unforgettable. Her muse sparked to life and blazed into a fierce inferno. Memorizing every bit of Gabriel de Laurent, she propped her hip against the table. The elegant, determined stride of his walk. His crooked, alluring grin. The gruff, husky melody of his quips. Eyes that would forever haunt her dreams and arouse her fantasies. Alas, he was a piece of art. And she yearned to commit this moment to eternal memory – to capture this feeling, the essence of who he was, and never let it fade into darkness again.
These inspirational feelings entwined with ones of desire, shaking Ariah to the core. The rush of emotions threatened to overwhelm her. She inhaled deeply as Gabriel completed another round, then stepped toward him.
His strong hands folded around the rocking chair, urging it in front of the hearth. He dropped into the seat and crossed one leg over the other. The breeches hugged each thigh to perfection, encasing them within a lover’s decadent touch. Eyes beaming with amusement and hunger, Gabriel tilted his head and returned her stare. The forelock slid over his mangled features, shielding them beneath a dense curtain of jet-black. Ariah swallowed, shuffled forward, and swept the wayward strands from his face. Passion darkened his eyes while he traced each of her movements. Then that enchanting gaze lowered to the swell of her breasts and held there.
The memory of his kiss seared her thoughts, and subtle tremors quaked through her body. Her fingertips burned with the desire to touch him. Swallowing back her fears, she did precisely that. She met his eyes again and sank to her knees. The contrast of his handsome features and disfigured half struck Ariah. Streaks of blue-black flashed within his silky hair and tugged at her imagination. Perceiving only beauty, she took pleasure in every detail, every line, every imperfection …
An ocean of possibilities shimmered before her – kissed by sunlight, vast, deep, and endless. For years, she’d been imprisoned and burdened by her past while surviving off false hope and pretty lies.
Is this what freedom feels like?
Her hand trembled as she tentatively reached for him. Those rich eyes never parting from her own, Gabriel encircled her wrist and placed her hand across his chest. The beat of his heart thundered beneath her fingertips – fierce, loyal, and unmistakable. The simple gesture was overwhelmingly beautiful. He was making a present of his soul.
“I am yours, Ariah.”
Heart pounding, she mutely nodded and skimmed her palm down his sternum. With each movement, his chest expanded and deflated with soulful breaths. His gaze darkened while he tracked her movements. Shattering the silence, the dangling medals tinkled and clinked as she brushed over them. Pulse racing in her ears, she dared to venture lower … lower … down the hard planes of his stomach …
A choked groan emerged from his throat. Cords of muscles clenched, convulsed, and tightened beneath her fingertips. His head lolled backward as if in agony – yet she knew he felt only desire. Red-hot, raging desire. Every bit of his body was hard and on fire, resembling newly forged steel. A fierce confidence surged through her veins. She increased the pressure of her touch and swept his inner thighs once more. The fabric of his trousers expanded with each movement. A husky growl reverberated, swelling the drawing room to its rafters. Quicker than lightning, his hand shot out and ensnared her wrist, enveloping it completely. Energized heat sweltered between them – as tangible and dangerous as the very air they shared.
And they were so close. He blew out a strained breath and raked a hand through his forelock. Passion kindled within his eyes, setting his stern features aglow. His dark gaze glittered with mounting arousal and hunger.
And yet all of Ariah’s fears faded away. She felt empowered. Entirely in control.
Inspiration bloomed inside her chest and set fire to her spirit. Smiling from ear to ear, she jackknifed to her feet and rushed toward the small closet. Nearly tripping over herself, she collected drawing tools from the top shelf and arranged the easel in front of Gabriel’s seated body. The entire room spun wildly as she pressed the pencil against the blank canvas. Inspiration poured from her fingertips, from her thoughts, from every fiber of her being. An emotional hurdle had been cleared – and she was finally granted access to her inner muse. Raw energy thrummed through her mind and body. And, for the first time in years, her heart sang with true hope.
•
Ariah sat before the hearth as nighttime unfurled its wings. Gabriel had mysteriously departed in the early afternoon, offering no explanation. Hours later, the clang of ceramic pottery echoed as Miriam bustled about the kitchen nook and prepared supper. Beyond the walls, the wind chime tinkled a merry song and infused the home with warmth. Smiling wide, Emmaline huddled close to the blazing fire. Devoured by the flames, the logs snapped and dissolved into glowing embers. Cheerful chatter filled the drawing room as Emmaline manipulated her dolls with an energy Ariah hadn’t witnessed for months.
Her heart stirred as she stole a glance at Gabriel’s portrait. She’d stayed up the previous night perfecting each little detail and had finally slipped into bed when dawn’s rays seeped through the drapes.
Less than a month had passed since she found Gabriel de Laurent – yet each second seemed to blur together in a single suspended moment. The realization was undeniable; in many ways, they were becoming a family. It was that unspoken, genuine desire to care for each other in one’s time of need that bound them together. Even Miriam had become emotionally invested in Gabriel’s recovery.
Ariah sighed and swung both feet, urging the rocking chair into a sway. Gabriel had been gone only hours, yet a profound ache formed inside her chest. She missed him dearly.
How much longer could they play at this fantasy?
Her eyes drew to Emmaline. How happy she looked … happy, radiant, and brimming with life. What would become of her when she learned of Jacques’s death? Non, she couldn’t know. Not for a while. Not until Ariah was certain she was completely over the cough. She couldn’t risk jeopardizing her daughter’s fragile state.
Ariah sighed, brushed a fallen curl from her eyes, and gazed at Miriam. Her sister paused her handiwork and offered a reassuring smile. She’d taken the news of Jacques’s death quite hard. He’d been a dear friend to every one of them.
The sound of creaking wood captured Ariah’s attention. Her heart fluttered as Gabriel entered the home. Wary of his sweeping height, he ducked and crossed t
he threshold. Emmaline leapt to her feet and raced over, her gaze alive with unmasked adoration.
“Monsieur Gabriel! You came back!”
“Of course I did, ma chérie.”
As expected, a bandage concealed half his face. He chuckled and ruffled Emmaline’s hair with his left hand; the other was hidden beneath the material of his greatcoat.
“I’ve brought you a gift.” He lowered onto one knee, that gaze sparkling with youthful mischief.
Emmaline clasped both hands together, her entire body visibly thrumming. “A gift? For me?”
Gabriel grinned. “Hopefully your maman shan’t murder me in my sleep.”
And without another word, he withdrew his hand. A puppy dangled in midair as he held it by the scruff of its neck. The creature erratically kicked, its entire body squirming like a worm on a hook. Emmaline jumped up and down, flew forward, and knotted both arms around Gabriel’s lower legs. He endured the show of affection with a shallow oomph and ever-growing smile. In the same breath, Miriam lifted her skirts, shrieked like a giddy schoolgirl, and raced over. Unable to suppress her own smile, she clasped both hands together and examined the flailing puppy. Long, floppy ears fell to the puppy’s shoulders. Miriam ruffled them between her fingers while her grin expanded. Its pink tongue darted out, rewarding her with a sound lick to the face.
“My word. What a little b-beauty!”
Ariah fairly melted from the puppy’s cuteness. It boasted a dark auburn coat, sorrowful eyes, and slender tail. The thing was three-fourths fur and small enough to fit in Gabriel’s palm. Its breed was inscrutable – though it appeared to be an unusual spaniel-terrier mix. Little more than a ball of fuzz, two oversized blue eyes took in the surroundings with obvious apprehension. The creature continued to fidget in midair, its tail tucked beneath pudgy legs.
Gabriel held the pup above his head and lifted said tail. “She is all yours, little one.”
Emmaline madly jumped up and down, her curls bouncing with each movement. “May I hold her, monsieur? Please?”
Ariah climbed to her feet as her daughter seized the puppy. “Come now, Emma. You must be gentle! I reckon she is very scared.” Emmaline repositioned her arms and cradled the puppy like a newborn babe. Tongue hanging from its jowls, its distended tummy inflated with deep breaths. “A puppy shall require a great deal of caretaking, you know,” Ariah resumed with a propped brow. “Are you quite sure you’re ready for that responsibility?”
“Oh, yes! I will take good care of her. I promise I will. I shall be like a maman to her.” Emmaline hugged the puppy to her chest, inclined her chin, and peppered kisses atop its fuzzy head.
“Well. It shall be a learning experience. For both of us, I suppose.” Oliver had been rather old when she’d brought him home, and she’d never had a dog as a child. A puppy would be an adventure and an excellent companion for Emmaline. Smiling broadly, Ariah knelt beside Gabriel and ran her fingers over the creature’s downy fur. Flushed with excitement, Ariah felt like a little girl again. “What must you say to Monsieur Gabriel?”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! She’s the most beautifulest pup I’ve ever seen.” Clasping the mutt against her body, Emmaline showered Gabriel’s bandage with kisses – and Ariah swore the right side of his face blushed a deep crimson.
•
Ariah eased inside the bedchamber, where she found two pairs of bright blue eyes staring at her. Emmaline was curled up beneath the coverlet, the puppy snuggled firmly against her chest. Scrambling to break free of the blanket, its body wiggled as its black, wet nose twitched. Ariah surrendered to a light laugh, peeled away her shawl, and flung it over the vanity.
“Emma, darling! She’s your pet, not your prisoner. I dare say she can hardly breathe beneath all those blankets!”
The puppy wriggled free as Emmaline loosened her hold on its body. Scrambling over the mountain of rumpled covers, it gave a high-pitch yip and pawed at the air. “She’s just so warm and cuddly.”
Ariah ruffled through her folded garments and quickly changed into a simple nightdress. Then she slipped next to Emmaline and smoothed the coverlet over their bodies. The creature was a plump little thing, bearing a round tummy, beaming eyes, floppy ears, and oversized feet. Its thin tail whizzed back and forth, elaborately slicing the air. Emmaline giggled and smoothed her palm over the fluffy coat. Yipping and yapping, the puppy waddled over and splashed Ariah’s face with a barrage of kisses. She wrinkled her nose at the assault and gently urged her away. Tiny, daggerlike teeth nipped at her palm.
“No,” Ariah muttered and secured his jaws shut. As if in retaliation, the puppy grabbed a mouthful of coverlet and vigorously shook it back and forth. Then, exhausted from the day’s events, she flopped onto the mattress and promptly fell asleep.
Settling onto the mattress, Ariah shook her head in silent disbelief; Gabriel had spent the entire day scouring the town for a puppy – and had finally discovered a schoolboy selling a litter in the marketplace.
What kindness and sensitivity.
Her heart warmed as she stole a glance at Emmaline’s sleepy, smiling features. The puppy’s paws twitched. Ariah grabbed hold of one and held it up to the moonlight.
“My, she’s going to be an awfully big girl one day. Have you thought of a name yet?”
Emmaline yawned, her little chin bouncing up and down. “I want to call her Gabriel.”
Ariah couldn’t suppress her smile. “How about Gabriella? She is a she, after all.”
Emmaline nodded once more. Then her eyes grew heavy as sleep overcame her. “I wish Gabriel could be my papa,” she murmured into her pillow, stroking Gabriella’s coat. Golden strands fluttered about her cheeks as her breaths stirred them to life. “I really, really love him.”
Ariah’s heart constricted. She reflected on her conversation with Gabriel from the previous night: You remind me of Jacques in many ways. Except she’d never felt for Jacques what she felt for Gabriel. Jacques had been a dear friend and companion – yet, despite how hard she’d pushed herself, she’d never loved him. And now that his death had been confirmed, she could finally admit the truth to herself.
Tears of mingled relief and sorrow stung Ariah’s eyes. Sighing to herself, she clasped her pillow and whispered the confession into the darkness: “I think I may love him, too.”
Chapter Twenty
Early the next morning, Ariah escorted Gabriella out-of-doors to relieve herself while Emmaline remained fast asleep. She loosened the shawl about her shoulders and urged the crisp air to brush against her skin. As if obliging her request, a gentle breeze caressed her and ruffled her loose curls. The nearby trees rustled and swayed, casting wavering, skeletal shadows against the surrounding stonework.
She sighed and inhaled deeply, filling her lungs to their limit. What a beautiful day it was. Winter was finally melting into spring, and the world teemed with sunshine and promises of warmth. Flooded with an indescribable, almost infantile giddiness, she stretched her limbs and freed her hair from its coiffure. The curls tumbled down her shoulders, tickled her flushed cheeks, and danced in the wind’s breath. After finishing her business, Gabriella gave an enthusiastic bark and padded back to her side. The puppy plopped onto her haunches and gazed up at her with large expectant eyes. They were rather beautiful – a warm, unusual blue tone, rimmed with jet-black.
“All done, are we now? You shall try to be a big girl and hold it this time?”
The puppy lowered her head, as if she understood her earlier misstep, and pressed close to her skirts. Ariah knelt and smoothed her palm over the creature’s feathery coat. Emerging from her shell, the puppy came alive at the show of affection. The little monster leapt onto her hind legs and dampened Ariah’s cheeks with hot kisses. She laughed and scrunched her nose, attempting to tug the puppy from her face.
The sound of a jostling carriage anchored her attention. Cradling the puppy in her arms, Ariah shaded her gaze and studied the approaching vehicle. A smile spread across her lips. Hol
ding the puppy under one arm, she lifted her skirts and raced toward the hackney. It came to an abrupt halt several meters from her home. The two mares clawed at the cobblestones and snorted while Doctor Mongeau’s charming driver tipped his hat in greeting.
•
The rich scents of stewed vegetables and roasted meats wafted beyond the bedchamber. Clinking pottery accompanied the sweet fragrances, sending pains of nostalgia racing through Gabriel’s mind. He lolled his neck against the tub’s side as the tepid water seduced him into a peaceful state. Both of his arms were outstretched and bent over the edge, embracing his warm surroundings. For over a decade, he’d dwelt in lonely solitude, only the ghosts of his past for company.
His body grew taut and alert as images of Ariah streamed through his mind. Her golden mane of curls spun from rich silk, the hot wetness of her lips joined with his own, eyes so pristine and blue they pierced his very heart … her gentle laughter – not a shrill giggle, but a decadent, warm melody that always put him at ease.
Day by day, Ariah was coming to possess him – mind, body, and soul. Every instinct urged him to run away … to run far from here and sweep away his feelings … to hide within himself and escape the emotions that threatened to conquer him. And he’d spent nearly a decade doing just that; Gabriel had sought escape, trading feelings of guilt and sorrow for bloodshed. But Ariah Larochelle had changed everything.
Finding Gabriel Page 27