Page 32 of Her Tempting Traitor
His breath burst from him in a harsh bark of laughter, then his lips brushed against her temple, a tender, almost reverent touch. “Ye're a dangerous woman, Gabby. Dangerous to my resolve. To my future.”
Oh God.
He was right.
She’d come here to take away his future, had she not?
Suddenly the desire in Gabby’s core seemed false. Cruel. Swallowing, she settled back on her heels and studied his jaw, unable to look him in the eyes. “How am I dangerous?”
His hand moved from her nape to her jaw, his fingertips tracing her skin. “Ye make me want things…”
You were sent here to learn the truth. Here he is, opening up to you. You like him—you are attracted to a traitor and a murderer, which is a whole other thing that you will examine at a later date—but he treats you as if you are an equal, and you like him! Use that, for goodness’ sake!
Her resolved strengthened—mostly—Gabby lifted her chin. “I want those things too, Cassian. I thought I had made that quite clear.”
His grin was a little crooked. “Aye, and I’ve never turned down a willing and eager lass. But yer brother?—”
“Is not in charge of me.”Or this mission.“I am a grown woman, with no father to worry about my innocence and no interest in marriage. What is the problem in sharing some pleasure with a man?”
A man I am very attracted to. A man who makes my body feel as if I am flying. A man who might be a traitor.
A good man. A man who loved his son.
Gabby was beginning to suspect these arguments would give her a headache before long.
On the other hand, Cassian’s expression had turned speculative, and he hadn’t ceased touching her. His feather-light caresses had moved from her jaw to her throat, almost absent-mindedly as he studied her.
“Ye really feel that way, lass? Ye’re just looking for some fun—nae future, just fun?”
Fun? Yes, that kisshadbeen fun. And Gabby suspected anything else she did with Cassian would befunas well.
He seemed to be a good man, one she needed to investigate further, and this was a prime opportunity. So she lifted her chin, met his eyes, and instead of the carefully constructed lies that had got her here…told him the truth.
“Yes, Cassian. I…I liked the way your kiss made me feel. I would like to see howyoucould make me feel.”
He growled a low curse under his breath and lowered his mouth to hers once more. Eagerly, Gabby pushed herself to meet him.
But the moment he would have claimed her, Cassian froze. He straightened, his gaze twisting to fall upon the large double doors across the barn.
With her pulse pounding in her ears, Gabby couldn’t hear anything beyond their breathing, buthehad. Between one moment and the next, he was flying across the aisle to the llama enclosure, where she’d stood with Gus, with her unprotesting body in his arms.Before. Before that kiss. Before her world had changed.
Gabby didn’t understand what was happening.
He swiftly draped her there over the top railing, then stepped away and turned to Jerald the llama, reaching out to scratch the fussy animal behind his ear.
Rightwhere Gabby had taught Gus all animals enjoyed being touched.
Lord knows she had liked it when Cassian touched her behind her ear, even if he hadn’t been scratching her…
“Yearea handsome lad,” crooned Cassian to the llama. “Steve’s a fool for no’ noticing ye.”
Gabby gaped.
There was no other word for it.
A heartbeat ago—three, tops!—she’d been in his arms, blissfully preparing for another kiss that was going to shatter her defenses, arouse her further, and teach her things she hadn’t imagined possible. Or at the very least, hadn’t been inThe Harlot’s Guide.
And now she was draped over a railing watching him—a respectable distance away—compliment a llama.
