Page 46 of A Duke's Lustful Riddle
In a voice that was nearly a whisper, Gabriel admitted his mistake. “We could never be just friends.”
Gemma let out a sharp gasp as Gabriel’s hands found the small of her back. He tightened his hold and their bodies molded to one another.
The tension between them reached its zenith before Gabriel finally succumbed to his greatest desire.
Gabriel captured Gemma’s lips for his own a second time in as many days.
The kiss was just as charged as the first one. It was a tempestuous whirlwind causing their shared desire to set off a passionate blaze.
Gabriel took Gemma’s bottom lip in between his own and nipped at it, causing a low noise to burst from Gemma’s throat. Gabriel wanted nothing more in that moment than to hear that sound for the rest of his life, so he repeated the action.
As her legs gave way beneath her from the arc of their passion, Gemma moaned and buried herself into Gabriel.
Gabriel held her tight to his chest, his hands wanting to roam over every inch of exposed skin that this nightgown allowed, which wasn’t much but was more than her everyday dress.
The two kissed and held one another for what felt like hours.
The escalating heat between them neared its peak, Gabriel’s hands starting to shift Gemma’s thin gown over her shoulders, when a sudden noise interrupted their fervent embrace.
The two jumped away from each other, Gemma tripping over her own feet and landed on her bum.
Gabriel rushed to her side and helped her up.
Their hands touched and electricity shot up each of their arms. They exchanged a glance, but Gabriel pulled away.
Gemma was flushed all over and her nightgown crinkled. It was obvious that she had been up to questionable activities.
Gabriel was overcome with a wave of guilt at the sight. If anyone had caught them, Gemma would be ruined by way of her reputation.
“You should return to your bed chambers,” Gabriel said softly, breaking eye contact with Gemma. He felt as if he had ruined her and did not want things to go further like he thought. If he let himself do everything that he wanted to do with her, Gemma’s innocence would be lost, and he would never forgive himself for ruining her.
“But—” Gemma started.
“Please, Gemma. Please go before I do something that cannot be undone.” Gabriel turned from her, his back as rigid as his manhood.
“As you wish, Your Grace.” Hearing her be so formal cut him deep.
Tears pricked at the corner of Gemma’s eyes, and one lone tear fell.
Gabriel felt like a villain, but he did what had to be done. Or at least, that is what he told himself as Gemma fled the library.
Chapter 20
Gemma ran the entire way back to her bed chamber, not carrying if anyone heard her loud footsteps or her cries.
She did not want to break down in tears in front of anyone, but she was overcome. Gabriel had just kissed her, even more intensely than the first time, and now he was dismissing her as if nothing even happened between them. She could not take any more of this with him. It was toying with her emotions all the more. It was wrong. He was wrong.
Gemma made it back to her bed chamber in record time and slammed the door shut behind her. She didn’t care about keeping quiet or waking anyone. Her heart was splitting in two.
Why had Gabriel reacted in such a way? She simply could not make her way to understanding what his true motivations were, and it was hurting her in terrible ways.
Gemma wished he had held her longer or confessed his feelings for her in greater depth. She knew he had them. Why else did he keep kissing her?
He had said that they could never be friends before kissing her.
What exactly did that mean? That they couldn’t be friends, but he could sneak around the manor at night, assailing her senses with his passion and igniting hope in her that he would just squash?
Why couldn’t he just tell her what is on his mind? What has happened that has made him so guarded?
