Wicked Proposition (13 page)

“Feel free to express your enjoyment at any
time, my dear,” he said knowingly, his dark eyes clashing with
hers.

Gabriel’s head slid downward, leaving a hot
blistering trail of need. She squirmed under him. Gasps escaped her
as his lips and tongue scored her flesh. Catherine closed her eyes
tightly as his head slipped between her thighs. The luxuriant feel
of his hair against her naked thighs was nothing next to the
torment of his lips parting and exploring her feminine secrets,
gripping her hips and urging her to raise her knees.

He splayed them wide, before his tongue caught
and found her quivering nub, tormenting it with slow precise flicks
until she was gasping, gripping the coverlet in fury as searing
stabs of pleasure made her tense.

Gabriel brought her to a fast, furious release
in minutes, his hands finding hers bunched into the bedding. His
fingers forced hers open, splaying them to hold his hands. Her
cries slid past her lips in a torrent as she undulated beneath his
voracious mouth, feeling the insistent shaking within her.

Gabriel rose to lie above her, smiling to see
her face flushed with pleasure. He reached over and grabbed a
French letter off the bedside table and put it on quickly. She
gasped as he inserted the head of his shaft inside of her first,
watching her face.

Gabriel saw her struggle to deny the urges of
her body. He pushed farther and smiled to see her tense.

“Tell me you want me, Catherine. Give in to your
passions, my sweet,” he murmured softly as his hips moved slowly
between her thighs, his fingers tracing her face as he held himself
above her.

Catherine shook in his arms, wanting him as much
as he wanted her. She could not fight this intense need
anymore.

“It is wrong, but I do want this, oh God, I do
want you, Gabriel. Please, do it quickly!” she whispered
softly.

“I am never quick, my sweet,” he pointed out
thickly before his mouth took hers.

He lifted her leg slightly at her knee and slid
deeply within, gripping her hip tightly as he filled her. She was
trembling as he thrust gently within her, making her gasp as the
pleasure began.

Gabriel was determined to show her what was
between them. His lips hungrily sought her neck and then her
breasts, making her shiver as gooseflesh slid over her flesh. She
was hot and cold all over, trembling with expectation. She met each
movement of his body, urging him on with low, throaty moans.

His hips rocked urgently against hers as she
arched to receive him more fully. Gabriel pinned her hands above
her head and lost himself in the heady pleasure.

“Yes, my sweet, that’s it,” he whispered softly
as he stroked deeply within her pliant body. “Take all of me in
you, Catherine.”

Gabriel’s soft words drove her wild. Catherine
cried out hoarsely and moved hungrily with him. He raised her knees
high up along his hips and delved even deeper, gripping her long
legs. He began to hit her very center. She felt the spasms begin
and her arms wrapped around his neck, holding him tightly.

“Oh God, oh yes, do not stop, Gabriel,” she
cried as he began to move harder. The pleasure was so intense she
sobbed aloud and gripped his back, clawed at it to get closer to
him.

She shook uncontrollably from the intense waves
of release that hit her one after the other. Gabriel felt her
climax begin, her body squeezing him so tautly he erupted, groaning
in satisfaction.

Catherine was shaken from the force of their
ardor. He eased down next to her. He disposed of the French letter
and lay with her, smiling to see her sated expression. His body
conformed to hers, his lips kissing the hollow at her neck, his
lips at her ear.

“That is how it should always feel, my sweet,”
he said softly, his dark eyes solemn.

He slept soon, his face burrowed in her hair.
His big body curved possessively around hers, wrapping her in a
cocoon of warmth. Catherine lay awake for some time. She was
confused and dismayed. She felt tears fill her eyes to know she had
betrayed her own cause the minute he put his hands upon her. She
wanted him and it had nothing to do with the pact she made with her
sister. This was not part of the agreement she made with Lilly at
all. Guilt ate at her to know it.

###

When Catherine awoke early the next morning,
Gabriel was dressing quietly. He was clothed only in dark breeches
and a loose shirt, hanging open to reveal his hard flat abdomen.
His golden hair was damp about his shoulders. Catherine smelled his
rich shaving soap, a woodsy sandalwood scent. He used no valet. She
found that most strange for a man of his exalted rank. He continued
to surprise her.

She lay there quietly as she watched him,
fighting the urge to sigh. Her emerald eyes clouded with the
churning emotions within her. He was glorious to wake up to.
Catherine wanted to purr like a cat to recall how he had awoken her
that morning. Her body felt decadently sated. She stretched and
felt lazy in her contentment.

She could not ignore the doubts she continued to
have about Lord Iverleigh. He was nothing like the man her sister
described. True, she had little proof her sister lied, but
everything she knew was at war with what Lilly said. What sort of
man would rescue a woman he did not even know from a brothel, yet
abandon three orphans related to him by marriage? It made no sense
at all.

Worse, she believed she was growing weak in her
resolve to meet her end of the bargain. The desire to confide in
Gabriel now was overwhelming, but the thought of those dark eyes
filling with disgust and condemnation stilled her tongue. He
detested liars, he had said on more than one occasion. She had not
stopped lying to him since they met.

Gabriel felt her watching him. He looked over at
her, his dark eyes as warm as simmering chocolate. “Good morning,
my sweet. I trust you slept well?”

Catherine nodded as she sat up. She was unaware
of how appealing she looked to him with her hair tussled from sleep
and her face glowing in the early morning light.

“I slept very well, thank you,” she replied,
unable to keep from admiring him. Her breath caught to see his
hard, taut belly, the trail of golden hair drawing her eye. She was
unnerved by those knowing dark eyes that seemed to know exactly
what effect he had on her.

He walked to a table where a tea service sat and
poured her a cup. “How do you take your tea, Catherine?”

She was surprised he would even think to serve
her a cup of tea. The simple gesture took her by surprise. “Just
plain, please.”

Gabriel brought a steaming cup to the bedside
table as she scooted near. She accepted it gratefully. He smiled as
she sipped her tea, sighing in delight at how good it tasted.

“You may thank Nicholas for the tea. He imports
many items you would also enjoy,” he was saying as he turned and
walked back to his wardrobe. “I am free today. I thought we might
take a carriage ride to show you the sights, and through the park
later. Would you like that?”

Catherine gaped at him before she recovered. She
had seen little of London since she arrived. The idea of a carriage
ride appealed to her greatly. His offer to squire her about took
her completely off guard at the thoughtful gesture.

“Yes, that would be lovely, Gabriel,” she
mumbled softly, dropping her eyes and sipping her tea.

Gabriel hid his smile and continued to dress. He
was aware his lovely bedmate was thrown by his indulging her. The
desire to please her was unconscious, and wholly unlike him. He had
never taken any of his other mistresses anywhere but to bed.

Gabriel could hardly convince her to not attempt
to run away if he gave her no incentive to stay. He could be quite
charming when he tried, and wanted to do more than try with her.
Winning his new mistress over and forging some understanding with
her was his goal.

Gabriel was far too busy to keep an eye upon her
every minute of the day. He wanted her word she would not run. The
thought of her wandering the streets and falling prey to other
disreputable individuals unnerved him.

“I will send Mrs. Whitley up to attend you,” he
was saying as he buttoned up his shirt. He looked over at her and
grinned. “Can you be ready to come down in under an hour? I hate
eating alone, but I am starving, my dear.”

She smiled at his pleading look, delighted with
how boyish he appeared. “I can be ready, my lord. We would not want
to see you starve.”

Gabriel finished dressing and came to the bed.
He leaned down and surprised her by brushing a light kiss across
her lips. She was bemused, her fingers going to her lips.

Gabriel looked up in less than hour as she
entered the dining room, taking her breath away with how attractive
he looked across the breakfast table from her. She envied Lilly, no
longer wondering why her sister wanted him back so desperately.
Gabriel was probably one of the most handsome men she had ever
seen. He had done nothing to make her think him the ogre Lilly
described.

She bit her lip to think of all his other
notable qualities she discovered. He was neither thoughtless, nor
selfish. The alleged tight-fisted tyrant had already made an
appointment for her at the dressmakers. Catherine fought the wave
of panic to think she had been wrong to jump to conclusions about
him. She felt a feeling of guilt and unease. However, Mrs. Farrand
was still an issue. As soon as she knew Gabriel left the other
woman, she was going home.

“I believe I arrived under the allotted hour
with six minutes to spare,” she informed him pertly he rose to seat
her.

“I like punctuality, my dear. I despise waiting
for anything,” he said apologetically and dimpled down at her.

Catherine already knew how impatient Gabriel
was. She reasoned he had been a difficult child, just by his
overall demanding nature. An only child and the heir to Iverleigh,
it was obvious he had been catered to and adored his whole
life.

The maids began to serve and retreated, leaving
them alone. He returned to his paper between bites. Catherine found
herself regarding the London Times instead of his handsome
face.

Catherine ate her breakfast of poached eggs and
salmon with a careful eye upon her companion at the end of the
table. Gabriel read the paper as he ate, reminding her of her
father. Her mother often got her father’s agreement upon a great
many things, using this distraction as a means. She smiled and
decided to test the theory.

“Beautiful day, don’t you think, Gabriel?”

Her comment only elicited a mumble from the man.
The paper hardly moved. She smiled, enjoying the game.

“I thought about running away today,” she
continued as she buttered her toast.

He merely grunted a response, the paper
rustled.

Catherine smiled and slathered some marmalade
onto a piece of toast. She nibbled upon it, tempted to giggle.

“Can we just forget this silly debt of mine and
consider it a gift?” she called out. The paper rustled once more,
and he uttered something she could barely make out.

“I didn’t quite hear you,” she called. “Was that
a yes, I heard?”

The paper came down and he eyed her with
twinkling dark eyes. “I apologize, you were saying, my dear?”

Catherine smiled innocently and shrugged.
“Nothing, it was nothing at all.”

He went back to reading the paper. After several
minutes, she could not resist, knowing him to be once more
engrossed.

“I thought to run naked and chase the ducks
through the park today. The lovely weather were having is too much
to resist from shucking one’s clothes,” she mentioned and took a
bite out of her toast, wanting to explode in laughter at the absurd
visual.

His distinct grunts beyond the paper wall
between them made her cover her mouth to keep from laughing
aloud.

“After my run with the ducks, I think I will
take a leisurely swim in the fountains,” she said, warming to the
game now. “Do you think it would offend the other people in the
park, Gabriel?”

The paper rustled once more. He mumbled an
inaudible reply.

“I would not wish to cause a furor. I will be
sure to take one of your hats.”

Catherine bit her lip to keep from laughing
aloud as she still got no response. She finished her breakfast and
was sipping her tea when the paper wall came down.

“What did you say, my sweet? You wondered if you
should wear a hat?” he asked, eyes glowing as he folded the paper
and put it aside finally.

Catherine’s lips twitched slightly as she sipped
her tea.

“I asked if you had a cat, my lord.”

Gabriel frowned and looked even more confused.
“I have no cat. Why do you ask?”

Catherine bit her lip to keep from laughing
aloud at the adorably confused expression on his face. It was
apparent he had heard nothing she said.

“I like them, I was saying. That is all.”

Gabriel smiled indulgently, his handsome face
softening. “You wish for me to get you a pet?”

Catherine shook her head, her lips twitching.
“No, I was just saying how much I’m fond of them, is all. Clever
animals, they are.”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow and looked as if he
would have said something more but shook his head instead. He
gestured to her plate. “Have you finished? Can we go?”

Catherine nodded and he rose and pulled out her
chair, offering her his arm. The exited the dining room and he
leaned down near her ear, his warm breath making her shiver.

“The thought of you running through the park
naked chasing ducks will haunt me for the rest of the day, my
sweet. Your intended dip in the fountain as well. And I have the
very hat you can borrow to pacify the other patrons, do not
worry.”

Catherine blushed furiously under his amused
look, realizing he had heard every word she said clearly. Her
mother assured her a man went deaf while reading the morning paper.
Clearly Gabriel was not like other men. She was mortified to know
he had heard every word. He probably thought her a daft idiot.