The Duke's Temptation (13 page)

Chapter 17

Gabe knew he should stop. Hell, he knew he should never have joined her in bed to begin with. But knowing and doing were two different things. And to walk away now would surely slay him.

He became lost in her lush lips as they tenderly pulled at his. When her tongue sweetly swept across his, he thought he
had
died. Except, he knew he’d never qualify for heaven, and this definitely felt like heaven, so he must still be alive.

Well past the point where he could halt without severe pain in the vicinity of his erection, he decided to show her pleasure beyond anything she had ever dreamed of.

His lips fully on hers, he slid his hand over her hip, exploring its roundness through the soft linen. Once he reached the back of her thigh, he bunched the fabric of her shift, inch by titillating inch. When he encountered the hem and his fingers brushed her bare skin, he groaned into her mouth. She was so warm. Heat washed through him, starting from the very fingertips creating circles on her soft skin.

Keeping her engaged by increasing the pressure of his lips, he slipped his hand beneath the thin material and was greeted by her soft gasp melting into his mouth. He couldn’t tell if it was in response to his deepened kiss or the hand he had splayed across her bottom. Either way, he would revel in it.

He lifted his head and felt a deep emptiness at the loss of her lips. He quickly rectified it by swirling his tongue over her delicate neck, inhaling her light womanly scent, enhanced by a hint of lilac. One goal in mind, he continued downward, anointing her blushing skin with his lips. He gave her buttock a gentle squeeze before he moved his hand and opened her shift to his roaming mouth.

The sight of Elizabeth’s ripe breasts, crowned with hardened nipples, stole his breath and tightened his cock to the point of throbbing. Awareness that
he
would have no release tonight made his arousal tilt toward agony rather than pleasure. However, no matter what his body craved, this was for her satisfaction only. That wasn’t to say he wouldn’t find immense pleasure in coaxing her to her first climax.

By the time he closed his lips over one tight peak, her breathing had turned into deep gasps, interspersed with breathless moans. Each sound heightened his passion, making it almost impossible for him to focus only on her. He fought to keep from moving her hand to his aching cock.

He bit gently at her nipple, then soothed it with a flick of his tongue. She rewarded his deed by twining her fingers into the hair at the back of his head, pulling him tighter against her breast, her eagerness more than he had ever dreamed of.

Lost in the intensity swirling through him, still he kept his head and devoted himself to arousing her body with wicked nibbles and light licks of his tongue. When she began arching to meet his lips, he gave her other breast the same attention.

“Oh, God, Gabe,” she moaned. “What are you doing to me?”

He chuckled against her soft flesh, then skimmed his fingers over her tight stomach. The further he traveled, the faster her breaths came—and the harder his erection strained against his breeches. When his fingers finally connected with her silky curls, he wasn’t sure if it was her gasp or his that escaped into the room.

“Easy. Simply relax and feel,” he murmured as her muscles tightened under the palm of his hand. “I promise this will be better than you ever imagined.”

Her heated center a slip of his hand away, his fingers itched to bury themselves there. But until he was sure of her readiness for such a sensual onslaught, he held himself in agony.

“Look at me, Minx.” Her eyes met his and excitement ripped through him at the unmistakable desire pooling in the depths of her deep green gaze. “This is the last time I’m going to ask. Are you sure you want me to continue?” One hand propped on the mattress, holding the brunt of his weight from her, Gabe stilled, waiting for her answer.

Her next words had the power to propel him into heavenly bliss or drop him straight to hell. No matter her answer, he would abide by her decision. Perhaps he should have asked
before
he’d stoked her desire. A true gentleman would have had her final consent before touching her. But he’d never qualified as a gentleman.

The feel of her lush body beneath his felt too good for him to suffer much guilt.

“I want more. Please, Gabe.” Her answer came in a whisper but he heard it all the way to what remained of his soul.

He flashed her a wide smile. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Reassured, Gabe parted her damp folds.
Bloody Hell.
Just the feel of her against his fingers almost pushed him over the edge. He’d never come this close to losing control, not even as a callow youth.

He fought for self-discipline as he caressed her, playing her as if each touch held the next perfect note in a symphony. Never before had he been so intent on a woman’s pleasure. He had always believed himself a generous lover, but if he were honest his past encounters had never been about his partner. The only goal had ultimately been his own satisfaction. Now it was different. With Elizabeth he’d be pleased simply giving to her, not asking for anything in return
.

To help her reach her pinnacle, he claimed her lips, the deep thrust of his tongue mimicking the movement of his fingers.

Her breath came in short bursts against his mouth.

As he eased the pressure on her lips, she moaned, “Gabe. Oh, Gabe. Please, I can’t . . .”

“Yes, you can, sweetheart. Just let go.” Sensing she was close to her release, he swirled his thumb over the hidden nub.

“What . . . Oh . . .
Gabe
.”

He covered her mouth with his, muffling the sound of her climax with his kiss, until she quieted. Once her body stilled and her tremors waned, he rolled to his side, drawing her close, and pulled the blanket over her.

Desire still resonated from his body but for some reason he felt content to merely hold her. At the moment he refused to examine it further.

Her silence, on the other hand, worried him.

“Elizabeth, sweet, are you all right?” The husky undertone of his voice surprised him. It seemed witnessing her release had a greater effect on him than he’d realized.

Her only response was to burrow closer to his side, nuzzling his chest. Followed by a light moan. He chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

The thought of her unguarded response had him fisting his hands so he wouldn’t reach for the buttons of his breeches.

Then she emitted a dainty snore, breaking the silence of the room. The pleasure he’d given had exhausted her.

Never had a snore sounded so provocative. He wanted to wake her and explore her body again. Most of all, he simply wanted to be with her. Which scared the hell out of him. If things could be different . . .

But he remained the murderous son of a black-hearted scoundrel. Because of that, he must never allow Elizabeth to know he held a deep affection for her.

He had to distance himself. Being in her presence only made things worse. Gabe slowly drew away from her warm body, but she tightened her hold on him. He had little choice but to wait until she settled.

Then he froze as she muttered, her warm breath heating him through his shirt, “I love you, Gabe.”

The room seemed to tilt, knocking him off balance. Somewhere deep inside he took great pleasure in her words. But a shred of sense acknowledged the misery such innocent words could bring.

Not for him, but for his Minx.

Careful not to wake her, he eased from her embrace and left the bed. His body tensed when she moved restlessly, afraid she would rouse and he’d have to face her, with her vow of love still echoing in his head. He could never respond in kind.

When she settled deeper into the pillows, he relaxed as much as his tight muscles would allow.

Standing alongside the bed, gazing at her, the memory of her soft announcement warmed Gabe’s heart. Images of the young girl who had followed in his shadow coaxed a smile from his lips. Thoughts of that innocent child were quickly replaced by visions of the incredible woman she’d become. A woman willing to sacrifice her Season to aid him. Any man would be blessed to have her affections—any man but him. The hopelessness of the situation destroyed his smile.

She deserved a man who would love her, be faithful to her, treat her with the respect she was worthy of. Not one who would someday break her heart with his infidelities and his inability to love her fully. Not a man like him.

And heaven forbid she ever learn the secret that had created such darkness inside him. If she knew he was responsible for someone’s death, she’d despise him.

Feeling the walls closing in on him, he grabbed his coat. On his way to the door, he turned and scanned her sleeping form. If only things could be different. If only he was capable of giving her what she needed, what she deserved. He shook his head in disgust. What the hell was he thinking? He could never be that man. Not with Wesbrook blood flowing through him. And not with the death of an innocent woman on his conscience.

In defeat, Gabe’s shoulders slumped, and locking the door behind him, he left the room.

And the temptation of all the things he would never have.

Chapter 18

A knock at the door roused Elizabeth from a sleep more relaxing than she could remember. So relaxing, her body seemed weightless. It wasn’t until she rolled over, and inhaled the scent of Gabe from the pillow, that she recalled the source. A smile slowly spread across her lips at the thought of the intimate moments that had played out the prior evening.

When she realized she was alone in the room, her smile vanished. Where had Gabe gone?

She sat up in the bed, pushing her unbound hair out of her face, as the door opened. Disappointment bit into her when Aunt Millie walked into the room.

“Good morning, child. How are you feeling this morning?” her aunt asked, crossing the room and taking a seat on the bed.

“I am well. Much improved from yesterday,” Elizabeth responded, hoping her aunt wouldn’t decipher the
real
reason behind her vast improvement. Never had a night of rest after an episode refreshed her so thoroughly.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Concern flickered in the older woman’s eyes. “I may be familiar with your burden, but I still worry about you, dear. And poor Gabe was beside himself.” Aunt Millie’s troubled expression quickly vanished; instead, she studied Elizabeth with a scrutiny that almost made her squirm. “How did he handle it? Did you explain everything?”

Elizabeth couldn’t be sure, but she suspected Aunt Millie was asking about more than sharing her secret with Gabe. “Yes, I told him about my fears.” Remembering Gabe’s understanding, Elizabeth smiled. “In truth, it was a relief to speak of it with someone other than you and Marcus, or a horde of doctors.”

“I’m glad you were able to unburden yourself to someone else.” Then Aunt Millie huffed, “If it weren’t for the ninnies of the
ton
, you would be able to speak freely of your episodes. Your affliction may not be common, but it is not unnatural.”

Elizabeth scooted toward her aunt and placed a hand on her arm. It was just like Millie to want to transform the world and fix what hurt her. Almost as if her mother were still alive. “Don’t fret, Aunt. Those who hold any importance to me know the truth, and nothing else matters.”

“You are far too forgiving, child.” Aunt Millie stood and retrieved the dress Gabe must have draped across the dressing table the night before. “Now, I’ve come to help you. Gabe has sent the servants ahead to ensure everything is ready for our arrival. If we are to reach Frenton Hall by nightfall, we need to be on our way. Gabe is downstairs with Phoebe awaiting breakfast.”

Elizabeth’s aunt placed the dress and underclothes on the foot of the bed, before she bent to retrieve an article from the floor. Elizabeth blushed when she realized it was her shift. Oh heavens, what her aunt must think. She might believe it reasonable for Gabe to remove some of Elizabeth’s clothing, but the circumstances hadn’t warranted him removing everything.

Aunt Millie set the shift next to the rest of the garments and, much to Elizabeth’s relief, never commented on it. “Now, don’t dawdle, child. There is much to do before we depart.”

Anxious to avoid giving her aunt time to assess the situation and her nakedness, Elizabeth promptly vacated the bed and with Aunt Millie’s assistance, donned her clothing.

As her fingers smoothed out any remaining wrinkles in her dress, the feel of Gabe’s fingers running over her body returned to her. She wished her aunt wasn’t present, so she could dally and thus recall every touch, every sound, every kiss. Now was not the time to reminisce about such things.

Perching on the only chair in the room, Elizabeth pulled on her half-boots and allowed herself a smile.

Soon she would see Gabe, and being with him was better than sitting with a bunch of memories.

Her boots on and laced, Elizabeth placed a hand on her mussed hair and turned to her aunt. “Do you think you could manage a simple coiffure?”

“Child, if we had time, I could manage the most intricate of styles.” She moved to stand behind Elizabeth and swiftly began to arrange her hair.

Aunt Millie completed the task easily and Elizabeth admired her aunt’s skill. The style was subtly elegant, and all with only a few pins. The woman never ceased to amaze her.

Elizabeth turned to her aunt with a smile. “Shall we join Phoebe and Gabe?”

“We had better, dear. If we hurry there might be a roll or two left, and maybe a tad of marmalade to go along with it.” With that, her aunt herded Elizabeth toward the door.

It wasn’t until they were descending the stairs that a touch of worry hit Elizabeth. What if Gabe regretted what had happened between them? He hadn’t been abed with her when she woke. If he had been delighted with the change in their relationship, wouldn’t he have stayed with her?

As swiftly as those concerns came, she pushed them aside. Of course he hadn’t stayed. Gabe carrying her to the room the prior evening would have been enough to cause a scandal. His departure before dawn would have been for her protection, an attempt to cut short any gossip. Elizabeth didn’t want to think of the consequences if her aunt had found Gabe in bed with her.

The woman might be lax in her chaperoning duties, but she wasn’t completely irresponsible. In no way would Elizabeth consent to Gabe being forced to marry her. No, if—
when
—he married her, it would be because he loved her, and nothing else would do.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and scanned the open space. Similar to the room above, sparse furnishings filled the area, simply a group of shabby tables and chairs off to one side of the room. Sunlight filtered through the oversized windows and kept the dreariness away. In fact, it was almost quaint.

She surveyed the room’s few occupants; an elderly couple sitting at a table close to the fire, a young man and woman with a small boy at their table, and a few other gentlemen sprinkled throughout. At a later hour, the room would be filled with travelers, but now most of the tables sat empty.

Her aunt gently pulled on her arm. “This way, dear.” Aunt Millie chuckled. “Oh, good, I see there is some food left.”

Elizabeth turned in the direction her aunt indicated and her eyes found what she craved more than sustenance. Seated at a table with more than enough food, Gabe appeared on edge with his only companion, his child. Elizabeth watched as he sent glances from the corner of his eye to his daughter and smiled. At least here he couldn’t run from Phoebe’s company as he had in London.

Elizabeth and her aunt wove around the tables, while she studied father and daughter. She still felt that after spending more time with his daughter, he’d accept the notion of being a parent. The close proximity the trip required could only aid it along.

“Poppet, I am pleased to see you’ve left us something to eat.”

At Aunt Millie’s greeting, Gabe’s head snapped up before he quickly got to his feet, and Elizabeth’s insides turned cold. Gone was the warmth of the man who had held and stroked her during the night. This version of Gabe, standing before her and looking everywhere but at her, bore no resemblance to the one who had listened to her as she’d divulged her deepest fear.

“Elizabeth, do have a seat,” Aunt Millie instructed, pulling her attention from Gabe.

The thought of sitting before Gabe when he was like this—and trying to eat—knotted her stomach.

She floundered for an excuse not to when Gabe spoke. “Ladies, please excuse me. I need to make certain all is ready with the coach before we depart. Enjoy your meal.” And, with a quick bow, he strode from the inn.

Stunned by his abrupt departure, Elizabeth stood frozen beside the table, staring at the door that slammed closed behind him.

The longer she stood there, the more powerful her building fury became. She clenched her fists until her fingernails bit into her palms.

“Aunt, I find I’m not hungry after all. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take in some fresh air before we leave. Would you object to watching Phoebe?”

Aunt Millie’s eyes narrowed, increasing the gentle lines surrounding them. The woman was far from dumb and had probably connected Gabe’s departure with Elizabeth’s arrival. But her face quickly cleared. “You go on ahead, dear. Besides, you not partaking in this delicious food guarantees there will be plenty for Phoebe and me.”

Elizabeth, already exiting in pursuit of Gabe, heard Phoebe’s youthful giggle. She would be in good hands with Aunt Millie. Which would give Elizabeth ample time to confront a certain gentleman.

She stormed from the inn, intent on finding him. Free of the doorway she abruptly stopped, momentarily blinded by the bright day. Relieved to see all signs of the storm had passed, she let her eyes adjust to the intensity of the morning sun. As much as she dreaded storms, the crisp, clean aftermath never ceased to delight her.

The brightness diminished, allowing her to see about the yard. Her gaze quickly latched onto Gabe, standing alongside the coach conversing with the coachman. Before commonsense prevailed, Elizabeth marched across the yard and halted at Gabe’s side.

If she hadn’t been so enraged, she would have found Gabe, as he blatantly ignored her, humorous. But, she
was
infuriated and refused to be overlooked. Especially by a man acting more childish than his three-year-old daughter.

“Pardon me, Gabe.” She wasn’t certain but he appeared to flinch when she started to speak. “I would like to speak with you.”

He didn’t turn; instead he kept his focus on the coachman. “Elizabeth, I’m currently speaking with Henry. You’ll have to wait.”

She might have been angry before, but the way he spoke to her like a wayward child turned her livid. Perhaps she should remind the man of the woman she’d been when she’d shattered in his arms a few hours earlier.

“No. It cannot wait.” She sent a forced smile to Henry, hoping the older man wouldn’t notice the undercurrent of emotions flowing beneath their seemingly normal exchange. “I’m sorry, Henry. This will take but a moment.”

“Not at all, Lady Elizabeth. We are finished,” Henry said, with a grandfather-like twinkle in his eye. She had a suspicion the coachman understood more of the situation than she would have liked, but since he appeared to be furthering her purpose, her smile melted from strained to genuine. He answered with a nod before he turned to Gabe, offering a slight bow of his head and a quick “Your Grace,” before making his way to the stable.

Elizabeth stifled a laugh at Gabe’s bemused expression as his coachman abandoned him. “It appears your conversation with Henry is over.” His discomfort at being outmaneuvered encouraged her words to tumble out, before she could come to her senses. “Why are you avoiding me?”

His jaw, already tight, constricted until it appeared to be chiseled from granite. But she wouldn’t back down. This was too important for her to be intimidated by his surly mood. Besides, over the years she’d seen him scolded, and Marcus too, enough to dismiss him as a figure of intimidation. So, she waited.

Her patience was finally rewarded when he pivoted and glared at her. She would have been pleased, if not for the distant look of his eyes.

His voice bordered on icy. “Would you care to explain what is so important that you would interrupt my conversation?”

Agape from the force of his words, she found herself at a loss.
What is going on?
Fueled by the memory of how he had touched her so reverently, she retorted, “Don’t take that superior tone with me! Especially after last night.”

A flush stained his cheeks. Good to see he wasn’t as indifferent to her as he wanted her to believe. “Besides, you know perfectly well what this is about. You also should have known I wouldn’t dismiss your behavior.” She gave a dramatic pause, hoping to make her point clear. “Not after what happened between us.”

The strong column of his neck worked as he swallowed and his words came out slightly hoarse. “About that . . . Elizabeth, we both know it should never have happened.” His feet shuffled slightly, as if he wanted to get away from her. “Either way, it will never be repeated.”

She opened her mouth to protest, then swiftly closed it. No words would come to her. She hadn’t expected him to dismiss everything that had occurred.

“I . . . I don’t understand. Last night—”

His uncomfortable demeanor turned bored, composed. “Last night, I was in the company of a half-naked, beautiful woman. Not even the most paramount of gentlemen would have been able to restrain himself—and I’m no gentleman.”

Her insides screamed for him to stop. To kill the pain spiraling through her.

She died a little when he continued, “There is no excuse for what happened. I take full responsibility. I should have remembered you are not the usual sort of woman I dally with. I’m just thankful I didn’t ruin you. That would have stirred an entirely different problem.”

He met her eyes, their coldness seeping into her. “We both know I am not husband material.”

Stop. Oh, God. Please stop.
She couldn’t endure much more. To her dismay, her silent pleas continued to go unanswered as he shoved the sharp words deeper. “I am sorry if you expected anything else. However, you know me well enough to realize, I’m not capable of anything more than a quick tumble.”

Her heart fell at her feet, in tiny pieces, torn to shreds.

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to collect Phoebe and be on our way.” And with that, Gabe walked away—never looking back.

Through her numbness, the jumble of activity around the yard penetrated her senses. Her eyes, surprisingly dry—when all she wanted to do was burst into tears—viewed servants as they darted around, readying their employers’ conveyances. Horses stomped impatiently on the cobbled ground, eager to move on now that the storm had passed.

How could the lives of others continue undisturbed, while her future fell like dust around her? It all seemed so unfair.

This wasn’t the time or place to come apart, so she stuffed her pain deep. And not a moment too soon, as Aunt Millie and Phoebe exited the inn, with Gabe following close behind. Watching him stride through the yard, showing none of the agony she felt, caused new fortitude to surface.

She drew a ragged breath, cloaked her emotions in a blanket of disinterest, and placed a faint smile on her lips. She wasn’t about to announce to Gabe how thoroughly he’d hurt her.