They both frozeat the shock. She tilted her face up, her lips parted in surprise, every rapid breath bringing her chest close to his. The soft curves of her body pressed against him in all the right places, testing his control.
“I…”Gabriella trailed off as her eyes dropped to his mouth.
The warmthof her body mere inches from his bare torso set his skin aflame. One of her curls had fallen forward, brushing his forearm.
Hector leaned closer,the space between them narrowing to a whisper. Her eyelids fluttered shut, her breath catching in her throat. His body hardened in response, urging him to close that final inch.
He turnedhis head to see the twisted comb more clearly. His fingers found the silver teeth embedded in her hair, working deftly to untangle the strands.
“Almost,”he murmured, his breath stirring the tendrils at her temple.
With one final twist,the comb came free. Her hair tumbled down her back in a cascade of brown waves, some strands brushing his wrist. His fingers lingered, unwilling to break contact.
“Done.”His voice was thick with the need pulsing through him.
Gabriella’s eyes flew open,clouded with what seemed to Hector like disappointment, before awareness returned. She yanked her hands from his chest as if burned, leaving cold patches where her warmth had been.
“I—thank ye—I should—”she stammered, backing toward the door, nearly stumbling again in her haste.
Hector remained rooted in place,fighting the urge to pull her back, to claim the mouth that had been so close to his. His body raged against his restraint, demanding satisfaction. Only years of iron discipline kept him from crossing the room in two strides and showing her exactly what she did to him.
“Goodnight,”she finally managed, then fled, the door closing behind her with a decisive click.
Hector released a deep breath.Sleep would be impossible now.
8
The insistent knock on the door startled Gabriella awake. Her heart raced in her chest, her skin flushed with heat from the dream that had filled her sleeping hours.
“Come in,”she croaked.
Aileen entered with a breakfast tray,her cheerful face bright in the morning light. “Good mornin’, Me Lady! A beautiful day for yer ridin’ lesson.”
Gabriella sighed.The memory of her dream still lingered—how his fingertips had grazed her neck, sending shivers down her spine. How the atmosphere between them had shifted to something far more dangerous.
His strong handshad cupped her face, his lips claiming hers with a hunger that matched her unexpected desire. Dream-Hector had pressed her against the wall, his body hard againsthers as his mouth traveled down her neck, drawing sounds from her she hadn’t known she could make.
“Ye look quite flushed, Me Lady.”The maid placed the tray on a table and turned to her. “Are ye feelin’ well today?”
Her scrutiny madeGabriella blush even more. But then she sat up, suddenly struck by an idea. “Aileen, which of me dresses is the finest?”
The maid looked surprised. “For ridin’?Ye’ll want the brown one with the split skirt, surely.”
“Nay.”Gabriella shook her head. “The blue one, I think. The one I wore to breakfast that first day.”
Aileen furrowed her brow.“But Me Lady, that’s nae suitable for?—”
“The blue one,”Gabriella repeated firmly. “Please.”
The maid’sconfusion was evident, but she nodded. “As ye wish. Though it may be difficult to mount with a full skirt.”
Gabriella ignored her concern.She rose from the bed and approached the dressing table, studying her reflection in the polished metal mirror. Her cheeks were flushed from desire. Her hair hung in waves around her shoulders, her eyes bright with determination.
“And me hair,”she said, picking up the silver brush. “Nae just a simple braid today. Somethin’… more elaborate.”
Aileen’s eyebrows rose higher.“For ridin’, Me Lady?”
“Aye,”Gabriella replied, not meeting the maid’s questioning gaze. “And perhaps some rouge for me cheeks and lips?”
