Druid Temptation (A Druid Quest Novel Book 2) (14 page)

Diana scanned the area for danger, but nothing stood out in the swarm of people. Pain slammed into her skull, and the vision struck without warning. She grabbed her head as images began to flood her mind.

All of them involving Gabriel.

Fear tightened her throat. It was one thing to threaten her—she could handle it—but how was she supposed to protect Gabriel every second of the day?

“Get off the horse,” she croaked. “There is something wrong with your horse.”

Gabriel didn’t hesitate and quickly dismounted, then helped her down as well.

The pain should have abated as soon as the danger had passed, but the pressure behind her eyes threatened to explode. As she began to sort through the images, the power left her in a rush, nearly dropping her to her knees, leaving behind a dull ache that would require a few hours of sleep to recover. Only Gabriel’s hand on her waist kept her upright. Diana twisted around until she saw the arches of the park and a rider in the distance. “Not you. It’s Vance.”

Even as she spoke, Vance’s horse began to buck. At first the man tried to control his mount, but the animal only fought harder. A trained horseman, Vance kicked himself free of the stirrups and was launched into the air.

Gabriel began to run even as the man hit the ground with a resounding thud and rolled.

People screamed and scrambled to get out of the way as the horse charged into the crowd.

She could feel the thunder of hooves through the soles of her feet, and her eyes widened when she saw a child had been left in its path. “Gabriel!”

With a burst of energy, she ran toward the boy, but knew neither of them would reach him in time.

Diana placed herself between the child and the charging horse. Her veins felt on fire when she called on her powers, her body protesting the abuse at using her gift again so soon. The horse’s blind panic blocked the connection and cost her precious seconds. He was only yards away when the link snapped into place.

She braced herself for impact when she felt Gabriel wrap an arm around her waist. He whirled with her in his arms and hunched over her, protecting them as the horse reared.

A breeze from the swinging hooves lifted her hair.

She waited for the pain when she sensed the horse backing away, and then she was only aware of the warmth of Gabriel’s arms as he held her safe. Diana lifted her head and melted when she saw Gabriel gazing down at her with such tenderness. He straightened, reluctantly setting her back on her feet.

Diana immediately missed his arms. Not wanting Gabriel to notice her reaction, she hurried toward the horse.

The animal’s coat was covered with sweat. She ran her hands over his quivering hide, searching for the source of pain. She forced her gift into the animal, and her palms warmed when she touched the saddle. When she pulled at the girth, the horse whinnied in distress. Once the belt released, she lifted the saddle, only to have it taken from her. “Let me.” Vance leaned over and dumped the saddle on the ground. His clothes were dirty, his normally orderly hair unruly.

Diana went over to stand next to Gabriel, shaking from the near miss, and she swallowed hard. “I thought it was your horse.”

“It is.” Gabriel’s face was grim. “Vance asked permission to exercise my stock while I was out of town. We’ve had the agreement in place for years.”

Vance lifted the saddle blanket then cursed.

Six burs lay across the horse’s back, right where the weight of a rider would embed them deeper. Blood marred the stallion’s dark brown coat.

The implications were clear.

“Then I suppose I should ask—were you the target or Vance?”

Gabriel held the horse steady as Vance plucked the spurs from the horse’s back. “Vance is the next in line for his uncle’s title. To some, it’s worth killing for.”

Their eyes locked, and she saw the doubt.

He didn’t believe Vance was the target, either.

Rand and Tallie joined them when a rider cantered toward their group. The man pulled viciously on the reins, tearing at the horse’s mouth. The animal neighed, sidestepping until a riding crop snapped against its hindquarter. “That horse is a dangerous beast and should be shot.”

The nasally voice belonged to the weasel.

“And so should some people.” Diana allowed her anger to get the better of her. It infected the horse, and the animal bucked, throwing the odious toad off his back. Diana snorted when he squealed like a pig and landed with a resounding thud.

“I want them both shot.” The dandy stood painfully, his voice a screech. Offal was smeared on the backside of his pants. She thought the look suited him.

Ashmore narrowed his eyes, and his mouth firmed. “The last time I checked, these horses weren’t your property.”

Geoffrey minced closer and whispered so only they could hear. “This is not finished.” He turned in his high-heeled boots and stormed off, the effect somewhat ruined by his pronounced limp and offal-smeared posterior.

Someone snickered, and Diana watched while Geoffrey snapped his riding crop in half. “You should watch yourself around him.”

“I enlisted to get away from my family. When my brother died, leaving me as heir to the estate, it landed me back in the loving arms of a nest of vipers when I was inconvenient enough not to die.” Ashmore rubbed his brow. “I will, of course, pay for the damages to the horses.”

The men shared a look of understanding. “Not needed. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

“Let’s leave the men to work.” Tallie took her arm, easily moving Diana away from Gabriel’s touch. Once alone, Tallie gently squeezed her arm. “I love my husband.”

Diana felt her cheeks burn. She hadn’t realized she’d been so obvious. “I didn’t—”

“But the question was in your eyes.” She smiled in sympathy. “Gabriel never cheated on his first wife, and he was given plenty of reason. His wife even encouraged him. He will keep his vows to you the same way.”

When Gabriel proposed the marriage, she hadn’t thought it would be one in truth. She expected that when he found out about her past, he would set her aside. After spending the past few days together, she began to hope their marriage would turn into something real.

Her breathing sped up and her head spun when she realized he would never abandon her, till death do they part.

“Gabriel!”

“I’ve got her.” Strong arms wrapped around her. He stooped, swept his arms behind her knees and picked her up without missing a beat.

Diana pushed at his chest, struggling to put distance between them. “I’m fine.”

Everyone ignored her.

Tallie trailed behind them. “I think the excitement was too much for her.”

“Take our phaeton, we’ll pick it up when we return the horses.” Rand unwound the laces and held them out.

“Thank you.” Gabriel gently deposited her on the bench, then hurried around the back of the vehicle.

Rand leaned forward and touched her hand, his words for her alone. “I don’t care why you’re here. Thank you for bringing my friend back to me.”

Gabriel swung himself up on the seat next to her, not giving her a chance to respond.

The cool air on the ride home cleared her head. She wished she could blame her gift for her weakness. Despite the nagging headache, she was relatively fine, nothing a nap wouldn’t cure.

“Do you want to tell me about it?” Gabriel kept his focus on the road, clearly not buying Tallie’s excuse.

Call her a coward, but she couldn’t tell him the truth. “It must have been the excitement.”

“Bollocks.” Gabriel pulled the phaeton to a halt outside of his mansion and turned toward her. “You stood in front of a charging horse without flinching, and then you smiled. What happened?”

His outburst jerked her out of her muddled thoughts. Much to her chagrin, she realized Gabriel knew her well enough to tell when she was lying. She scrambled down, her movements not as graceful as usual. She felt him behind her—too close. She needed time to think. The door opened before her, and she smiled gratefully at Milles as scurried toward the stairs.

“In here.” Gabriel snagged her arm, using her momentum to swing her around and guide her into his study. He released her once inside, shutting the door tightly behind them.

His normally repressed emotions bubbled up through the cracks in his normal phenomenal self-control. His hair stuck up in all directions, his eyes were wild. Instead of fussing with his clothes, he remained perfectly still and stared down at her like a wolf sighting its prey.

She barely resisted the urge to walk into his arms.

Desperate to organize her chaotic thoughts, Diana studied the room. A large desk dominated the center of the chamber, a solid wall of books stood behind it. The books were perfectly aligned, the desk pristine, every pen in order, an exact distance apart. The chairs were evenly spaced on the floor and measured the same distance from the desk in a tidy row.

This was the Gabriel she knew.

* * *

G
abriel seated
himself in a chair in front of the desk, gripping his knees to keep his hands from shaking. He watched her hair swing back and forth while she wandered around the room, the movement hypnotic. His death grip eased and he leaned back, his breathing evening out.

She was safe.

He took a deep breath for the first time in hours, the tightness in his chest loosening.

The incidents were getting too close.

The next time, he might not be able to protect her.

Something had her rattled. Since nothing normally broke her iron composure, it left him on edge while he waited for her to tell him what was really wrong.

She kept her back to him as she spoke, her shoulders so tense she looked like she might shatter at a touch. “When you proposed marriage, I assumed you would eventually set me aside.”

Gabriel struggled to keep his tone even while dread knotted in his gut. “You knew what I expected.”

“I thought you would…I expected…I don’t know.” She shrugged. Whatever happened to her in the park had drained her normal bright vitality, left her pale and shaken, and he resisted the urge to gather her up in her arms.

His voice roughened at the thought of her trying to back out of the marriage. “What changed your mind?”

“You kept your vows to your first wife.”

Gabriel couldn’t take it anymore, and something inside him snapped.

“I killed my last wife!” He stood, too agitated to sit still. He rubbed his brows, sick to his stomach as he recalled the details.

“Emilie was sick. I forcefully removed Meredith from London because Emilie wanted her mommy. Meredith resented being taken away from her parties and wouldn’t even speak with her own daughter. Later, she would scold Emilie to straighten up her appearance, that she was a disgrace.”

His chuckle held no joy. “I forced her out of the room, and the entire time I ranted at her, she just sat there, then calmly asked to return to London, completely unaffected by her daughter’s tears or my threats.

“It was the last straw. I said she was welcome to leave, but I was cutting her off, and that she wouldn’t be welcome back. She took her jewelry and bribed one of the men in town to take her to London. It turned out the man was not a local. He accepted the bribe, drove her to Scotland and abandoned her. She was found wandering the moors the next day after a vicious storm had swept through. A week later she died of pneumonia.”

Diana approached him carefully, wishing she could gather him in her arms. “It was not your fault. She made her choice.”

“I should have been there to protect her. It was my job as her husband, and I failed.” His mouth tightened. “I won’t fail you.”

Diana’s heart clenched at all the guilt he carried around with him. He couldn’t control his wife, so he tried to control every other aspect of his life. “You do realize you might not have a choice.”

“You will survive.” His reply was emphatic, daring her to argue with him.

His words frightened her. Such a commitment would make him reckless. She couldn’t bear it if anything happened to him—not because of her.

D
iana woke
the next morning after a troubled sleep to find the number of birds outside the window waiting to be fed had doubled. She dressed and exited her room, only to stop short to see Wolf slowly backing out of Gabriel’s chamber, a boot in his large maw.

“Wolf!”

His head snapped up and a large string of drool plopped to the floor. She snapped her fingers and pointed to Gabriel’s room. Tail tucked down, he crept back inside, and then he sulked as he made his way back toward her without the incriminating evidence. When she glanced up, her attention snagged on the bed…or more precisely, the man sprawled on top of the bed.

Gabriel lay sleeping, his naked chest on display, the blanket low on his hips, and she nearly swallowed her tongue. A smattering of hair dotted his chest, trailing lower before disappearing beneath the blanket, and her fingers itched to trace the path and explore those glorious muscles and tempting skin.

She was really coming to hate his no-touch rule.

As if sensing her stare, Gabriel began to stir.

Diana stumbled back at the thought of being caught ogling, when Wolf reared up, grabbed the knob with his mouth, and pulled the door shut. Her heart thudded against her ribs, threatening to pound out of her chest, and she could’ve kissed the mutt.

“I’m blaming you for this.”

Wolf bared his teeth in a smile, and she knew he was laughing at her. “Why don’t we find Emilie?”

He padded down the hall, his nails clicking on the stairs as he travelled to the third floor, and Diana followed.

Wolf pushed open a far door, revealing a bower fit for a princess. Sunlight flooded the room, the floor littered with every kind of toy she could imagine. Sitting amid the chaos was Emilie. “Did you come to see me?”

“Of course,
Muirneach
.” Diana was taken aback when Emilie launched herself at her, and she bent, accepting the hug. Wolf licked Emilie’s face, causing her to giggle uncontrollably, and they fell to the floor wrestling. The way the temporary nurse for the day smiled indicated that this was their usual daily greeting.

After a few minutes, Emilie sat and peered up at her with those big, inquisitive brown eyes. “Why do you call him Wolf? Daddy says s’not a proper name.”

She spoke like she was an authority on the issue, and Diana repressed a smile. “I never thought about it.” In truth, she hated to get close to anyone—it hurt too much to leave them behind. “Do you think he wants a name?”

Both pairs of eyes locked on Wolf, and he promptly sat. Emilie giggled. “Yup.”

Charmed by the little minx, Diana decided to play along. “What do you think we should call him?”

“Me?” Pure awe softened her voice to a whisper, her eyebrows disappearing under her bangs.

Diana nodded, her heart breaking at how eager Emilie wanted to please everyone.

“Jack.”

“Jack?” Diana was surprised by the prompt answer, and she stared at Wolf in bewilderment. “Why?”

Emilie bounced with excitement, struggling to stop wiggling. “He pops up just like my toy. Dad calls it a Jack-in-the-box. Every morning when I wake up, he pops up at the end of my bed.”

“Then let’s see if he likes his new name.” They turned toward Wolf. “Call him and see if he answers.”

“Jack!” She hollered the name, and it echoed in the room. Wolf barked, then pounced and Emilie fell back, her giggles filling the room.

Diana spoke softly. “Then Jack it is.”

She watched them wrestle for half an hour before the three of them trooped outside to feed the ever-increasing number of birds. Afterward, she detoured through the kitchen and picked up a snack for Jack and Emilie. His ears perked up when he noted the direction, practically prancing, and he licked his chops. Emilie giggled at his antics while she nibbled on her cookies. Tossing him a small bite, Diana smiled when he groaned in ecstasy, earning a few snickers from the staff at his goofball antics.

When he ate his fill—or more like inhaled the waiting snack and couldn’t find anyone else he could beg for scraps—Diana scooped up a near-sleeping Emilie, headed up the stairs, and tucked her into bed.

“I’m not tired.” Emilie tried to pout, but ruined the effect by yawning.

“But Jack is exhausted.” Even as she spoke, Jack jumped on the bed, circled and settled himself, dutifully closing his eyes. “Why don’t you keep him company while he naps and see if you can keep him out of trouble?”

Emilie bit her lip as she studied the dog, then nodded her head. “I ‘supose.”

By the time Diana reached the door, both of them were snoring.

Diana walked toward the dining room and stopped short to find Gabriel sitting at the head of the table.

Images of his naked chest flashed through her mind, and she immediately glanced down at his chest, disappointed to find him immaculately dressed once more. She was debating whether to back out when he cleared his throat.

“You might as well come in.” He didn’t even look up from his paper, dratted man.

Diana took a breath and collected an assortment of foods from the sideboard. In the past, knowing food could be scarce, she never turned down a meal. She piled eggs, kippers, toast, and sausage on her plate. She stared longingly at the other dishes, but her plate was already stacked to overflowing, so she decided against adding more.

Gabriel stood, and she tensed, surprised to find herself disappointed he was leaving. Only he didn’t leave. He strode to where she stood, then reached around her and grabbed a piece of toast. His heat immediately soaked into her back, and she imagined that only inches separated them. His masculine scent wrapped around her, and to her utter embarrassment, she couldn’t stop herself from leaning toward him to catch another whiff.

It immediately went to her head, and she practically trembled in expectation of what he would do next.

“You stayed,” he rumbled.

Diana blinked.

When she turned, she found him back at the table, seating himself. Her brows furrowed as she followed and realized he had really expected her to flee from him in terror.

“I have no intention of going anywhere. I’ve been hunted by the best, and I know when I’m threatened. You would never hurt me.” Avoiding Gabriel’s look, she sat and picked up the toast. With great relish, she methodically spread a thick layer of marmalade on the piece with even strokes and took a healthy bite, enjoying the rich texture on her tongue.

Once she’d finished the first slice, she licked her fingers clean. Gabriel cleared his throat, and she glanced up, having completely forgotten his presence.

He appeared dumbstruck, his eyes focused on her mouth.

Diana dabbed at her lips, and he blinked, those deep blue eyes turning to a delicious cobalt that made her forget her surroundings.

“You wouldn’t by chance happen to know how my boots became soaked?”

Choking on the dry crumbs, she reached for her tea. The hot liquid burned her tongue, and she fumbled the cup, nearly dropping it before setting it back into its saucer. She sucked in a breath, desperately trying to think of an excuse.

“How about my paper?” Gabriel held the paper aloft.

Nothing seemed wrong, but Diana wisely kept her mouth shut. She watched him calmly unfold the paper, then raise it higher…and stared meaningfully at her through the section missing smack-dab in the center. The rest of the paper appeared to be glued together by drool. He ruffled the sheets, and she heard the soggy separation of two wet pages.

He stuck out his boot, turned it one direction, then another as he admired it. “Don’t you just love the decorative tooth marks? Maybe they will become a new fashion trend. What do you think?”

“Ahhhh…Wolf obviously likes you.” She forced a shaky smile, then dropped her gaze to avoid his unnerving stare. He rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward, his fingers rubbing his jaw.

“And how do you suppose he gets into my room?” His too-congenial tone put her on edge, and she leaned back, sensing a trap.

He was trying to be polite and ease the mention of her magical talents into the conversation…too bad the answers weren’t so easy. Her pulse skittered, and she considered lying for a few seconds, but quickly dismissed it.

Gabriel had more than earned straight answers.

Diana plucked up a fork, shoveled a mound of eggs into her mouth and mumbled an answer, hoping to delay the inevitable and praying for a miracle to interrupt them. The congealed mouthful of food slid down her throat like a slug.

“What was that?” He cupped his ear to emphasize his point, his voice far too pleasant.

Diana was not fooled. He would not relent until he had the answers he wanted. She swallowed the eggs, and they slid down her throat in a large lump. She stared at the plate, dispirited. “Jack opened the door.”

“Who?” he asked, his gruff voice dangerous.

Refusing to be cowed, she looked him in the eye. “Emilie named the dog Jack after the Jack-in-the-box you gave her.” She hoped the mention of his daughter would soften him, but his expression never changed.

“You are telling me a dog—”

“Jack.”

He spoke through gritted teeth, and gave a slight nod of concession in her direction. “Jack…opened and closed my door?”

Diana bit her lip, not sure what to say to make things better.

“Call him.”

Diana stood and strode toward the door, when he stopped her.

“I want to see him open the door unaided.”

He was silently asking her to use her gift, not wanting to sound crazy by voicing his suspicions out loud. Diana resumed her seat, conscious of Gabriel watching, and clenched her hands in her lap to cover her nerves. Magic sizzled under her skin, her back twitching as her tattoos tighten in warning, the air thickening with static as her powers rose.

Gabriel reached out toward her, touching the air as if he could sense the magic, but didn’t say a word. The handle to the door began to rattle, then slowly turned, and Gabriel dropped his hand to his side, his eyes widening as if he hadn’t really believed what he suspected.

The door opened and Jack entered, seating himself at her side.

Gabriel carefully leaned back, tapping a finger to his lips, his face a shade paler than normal, as he glanced between her and the dog.

Diana braced herself for condemnation, stoically waiting for his rejection.

“So Pastor Williams…” He trailed off, a mask falling over his expression as he waited for her response.

“I have never lied to you.” His lack of reaction felt like someone punched her in the solar plexus. Jack whimpered in sympathy, and Diana clutched his neck with one hand for comfort, his thick fur doing nothing to sooth her as it normally did. “Williams is an evil man. He has no intention of turning me over to anyone. He plans to use me to further his blackmail scheme.”

Speaking past the ache in her throat became difficult, and she lapsed into silence. Hope dwindled until her heart felt like a cold lump in her chest, each thump of her heartbeat painful.

“This was a mistake.” Diana launched to her feet, struggling to escape the chair that seemed to have turned into a cage. She rose without looking at him, unable to bear that her last image of him would be cold indifference, and darted toward the door.

Gabriel moved so quietly she didn’t hear his approach until he gripped her arm.

Instinct and fear took over.

She turned and thrust out with her foot, angling her shoulder into his chest to knock him off balance. Gabriel startled glance met hers as he fell backward, but instead of letting her go, he tightened his grip. She tumbled forward and ended up sprawled on top of him. He grunted on impact, his arms coming to settle around her protectively. She froze when she realized only inches separated them, and she became trapped in his stare.

His eyes darkened to cobalt, churning with the same emotions she saw whenever he didn’t think she was looking…almost as if he was baffled about what to do with her. She could recognize hate and disgust, having seen it so often, but this was something she’d never witnessed before.

“You’re not afraid of me.” A sense of wonder left her light-headed.

His hands tightened on her hips, the naked yearning in his expression leaving her aching to be touched…everywhere.

“You’re perfect,” he whispered.

Her breath caught at his reverent tone. When his gaze dropped to her mouth, her lips tingled at the curiosity and desire she saw there.

Jack latched onto her boots and tugged.

She wiggled her leg, trying to kick loose, and a growl of possessiveness rumbled from beneath her. Gabriel’s hand slid around her, and a dark flush filled his face as he inexorably drew closer, never once removing his hungry gaze from her face. A curious warmth filled her stomach, and her common sense evaporated.

He sucked in a breath then stilled, lying completely still beneath her. His lids lowered, his complete attention on her mouth. Diana inhaled, and his sandalwood scent filled her head until it spun.

He cupped the back of her head, his fingers sinking into her hair, tugging her closer, and she gave into temptation and brushed her lips ever so lightly over his.

Her whole body tingled at the contact.

Breathing became unimportant.

“For shame, Lord Mendenhall! You and your harlot are making a spectacle of yourselves. Cease your vulgar behavior this instant! I won’t stand for it, do you hear me?” Mrs. Ashmore stood in the doorway, practically vibrating in outrage.

Before Diana had time to surface from the pleasurable haze of his kiss, Gabriel thrust her away as if she had forced herself on him. Embarrassment stung her cheeks, and she began to wonder if she misinterpreted his interest.

Gabriel helped her to her feet, refusing to look at her, and the hot spark of desire turned to ashes as dread tightened her gut.

“You’re right.” At Gabriel’s words, the back of her throat burned.

Gertrude looked suspicious but triumphant. “I’m so glad you see the error of your ways.”

“You don’t have to stand for it.” Gabriel put his hands behind his back and began to circle Mrs. Ashmore. “You are in
my
home. Since my
wife
and I are newlyweds, it’s only appropriate that we’d want to spend time alone. You will, of course, move out by the end of the day in order to spare your delicate sensibilities.”