Page 95 of A Bargain with the Rake (Necessary Arrangements 3)

Chapter 25

Evie’s entire body buzzed with anticipation. She knew she was playing with fire, letting Gabriel spend the night, but she couldn’t help but feel giddy at the prospect of having him by her side again.

Once they entered her chambers, Evie dismissed her maid and settled on the edge of the bed. Gabriel leaned his back against the wall across from her and folded his arms on his chest, watching her curiously.

“Just so you know, you’re a prisoner in my house until you admit that dueling is a foolish solution to the problem you’re trying to solve.”

“Am I?” Gabriel quirked his brow. “In this case, I shall be a permanent occupant of your… err… prison. I wonder, what shall we do to pass the time?”

“Oh, come, Gabriel! Be serious for one moment.”

“I am extremely, deadly serious.”

“Dead is what you are going to be no matter the outcome of this duel!”

“Do not be melodramatic. Have you seen Bingham? He will delope, and I shall have made my point.”

“What if he doesn’t delope? What if he shoots you? Or what if he injures you, and you’re required to defend your honor and kill him? What then? You’re going to hang.” Evie’s chest heaved from exasperation. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Fine.” Gabriel pushed off the wall and started unbuttoning his coat. He hung it on the back of the chair and started on the buttons of his waistcoat. Evie sat on the bed, her entire body tensing as Gabriel shed one piece of clothing after another. Her mouth went dry as he removed his cufflinks and started undoing his shirt, revealing a gleaming, muscled chest. “If I am stuck here, then we might as well get on with it,” he grumbled under his breath.

“I am not sleeping with you,” she said with as much dignity as she could muster.

“Well, if you’re planning to keep me here until I change my mind about the duel, then we are going to grow old together. The least we could do is have some fun while we are at it.”

“You are incorrigible.”

“That is why you love me.” He grinned at her, and Evie lowered her head.

Gabriel cursed under his breath and came toward her. He stood so close that his knees brushed her skirts. Her entire body vibrated from the heat radiating from him.

“Evie, I might not love you,” Gabriel said gently, and Evie felt as if a huge boulder was stuck in her throat. “But I do care about you. More than I have ever cared for anyone. And I am not about to let people mistreat you.”

He offered both hands, and she took them. Gabriel tugged her up and nudged her chin so that she’d look at him. “I might not know the first thing about love, but I know that I shall rip anyone to shreds if they look at you the wrong way. You think if I don’t love you, that means I don’t think about you? Worry about you? Oh, I do.

“I think about you all the damn time. I wonder if you slept well, if you are warm enough. Whether you are safe or have gotten yourself into mischief. Being separated from you is like torture, and not because I cannot kiss you, although it is definitely on the list, but because I constantly worry if you’ve had enough to eat, and if you’ve taken the ginger root with you on your travels. Every time it rains, I pray it doesn’t storm because I know you’re alone….”

Evie’s eyes grew rounder with every word of Gabriel’s confession. She stared at him as he held her hands in his and continued his recitation.

“So what if I don’t love you? I am incapable. But I miss you with every fiber of my being. Your scent, your touch, the glimpse of you. I’m haunted by the vision of you every time I close my eyes. I crave you. Your lips, your tongue, your tasty little”—he smirked and suggestively lowered his eyes—“everything.”

Evie reached up on her toes and gently nudged his lips with hers. Her heart was beating loudly in her ears, and tears burned at the back of her eyes.

“Tell me more,” she whispered against his lips.

“More of what?” he whispered back.

“How you don’t love me.” She smiled and kissed him again. Evie opened her mouth over his and ran her hands up his chest until they settled at his nape. She kissed him ardently, weaving her hands through his silky locks.

Gabriel’s hands traveled down until he cupped her by the buttocks and crushed her closer to him. Evie moaned as she felt his hot arousal and rubbed against him.

“Evie.” Gabriel tore his mouth from her. “I didn’t say any of this to change your mind about the bargain.”

“I know.” She reached up and closed her mouth over his. She licked at him, devouring his mouth, tasting him with her tongue.

Evie whimpered in frustration, wanting more from their embrace. She pulled away and started frantically untying her bodice.

Gabriel watched her, his eyes round, his breathing frantic. “Evie, what—”

---