Page 12 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
With that, Hugh left, and Gabriel threw his head into his hands.
Hugh was right. The conversation went well, but it was a lot for Gabriel to take in.
He was now the guardian of Gemma Whitmore, the estate was running out of funds, and he was expected to find a wife this season.
Gabriel was overwhelmed and needed a stiff drink.
Chapter
After a sleepless night, the only place that could comfort Gemma was the grand library. She loved the library and would spend countless hours there learning about art and history. When she needed a major distraction, Gemma could also be found reading fiction books.
As Gemma entered her cherished sanctuary brimming with fond memories of her late guardian, she felt at peace for the first time since the previous evening. Gabriel’s naked torso was an image burned into her mind and wreaked havoc with her body.
The sight of a naked man. Not just any naked man, but a naked Gabriel.
Gemma shook out her auburn tresses trying to get the memory of Gabriel’s body out of her mind. It only worked in the slightest manner.
The library was grand and the biggest room at Ashbourne Estate. It had many shelves and countless volumes of books. From nonfiction to fiction, Gemma knew that she could get lost in the library for hours.
Gemma went to the historical adventure section of the library, her favorite place to find a fiction novel, and sorted through the books to find one that she either had never read or found comforting.
Gemma picked up a book she had never read before calledTravels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts.By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships.
She sat down to read the historical adventure and was drawn in from the first few pages.
What a treasure it was to lose oneself in a delicate and beautiful place of literary heaven. Gemma was instantly mesmerized by the adventures and travels taking place.
The book's main character, Gulliver, was a delight to read about and his travels were enlightening. They were political, but fun and this adventure quickly became a delightful escape, as she cozied herself by the fire.
Gemma was so engrossed in the words that she didn’t hear the library door open. She started at the sound of boots on the wood flooring approaching, becoming muffled as they crossed the area rug and stood nearby.
Gemma looked up from the pages and saw Gabriel, clothed in riding clothes. She kept her eyes downcast, not daring to look him in the eye after what she saw last night.
He cleared his throat, a subtle request that she look at him. Slowly she brought her eyes to his.
He looked the picture of elegance in his all-black outfit. His brown locks were tousled, and his eyes were sharp.
His unexpected visit to the library caused Gemma's pulse to quicken and sweat beaded on her brow.Not this again, her feverish mind was lecturing her in quickened tones. His presence was all the more disturbing since her mind kept seeing him without his darkened attire, awash in candlelight. She needed to get control of her emotions. It would not do for him to read her improper thoughts.
“Your Grace? Is there something I can do for you?” She hoped her attempt at distraction would help ease the burning she felt over her entire body.
His tall, imposing figure filled the room and made it hard to concentrate. The mere sight of him stirred a newfound awareness in her. Knowing the contour of his body under the clothing he wore, sent electricity coursing through her veins. The statue of David has nothing on The Duke of Ashbourne.
Gemma squirmed under his gaze; the book forgotten. Should he not be elsewhere taking care of matters of much more importance, than standing here, wasting time in the library, staring at her?
Did he seek her out because he caught her staring at his nude form last night? The mere thought nearly tripled the rate of her heartbeat which seemed as though it would burst forth from her chest as assuredly as a rooster crow in the morning.
Gemma subtly shook her head. She had not been caught the other night. She felt confident in that knowledge.
The images of his tight back muscles and his round buttocks coursed through her mind and made her shudder with feelings of a physical nature that she did not quite understand. Her body flamed and sparked in places she felt sure were inappropriate.
Her cheeks were burning with what could be either embarrassment or passion. It was difficult to determine at this point.
There was just something magical about his form that set her on fire in a way that she did not quite comprehend, but she was also overcome with embarrassment from watching Gabriel without his knowledge. Her mind simply could not seem to stop from rotating the image in and around within her mind, on repeat once again.
What would he think if he knew about her accidental voyeurism?
Would he judge her, hate her, would he never want to see her again?
