Page 76 of A Lie so Pretty and Poisonous

“For starters, am I able to set up a place within the castle to practice herbalism? It is of great importance to me that I continue to bolster my skills.”

“I would give you an entire storefront in the city if I thought it would keep you here,” he stated, smiling.

“Do King Torrish and Queen Mollah know you have asked us to remain in the castle?”

He inclined his head. “Of course.”

“I worry about dangers for Cora but also for me. Can you promise our protection, inside and outside of these walls?”

Gabriel pulled me in closer to him. “I know you had an unfortunate run-in with a thief and then yesterday with that militia attack, but I will ensure you have more than one security guard at any given time when you aren’t with me.”

I gave him a tight smile. “I need time to think this through. I hope you can remain patient with me. I don’t make big decisions like this lightly. I have to think of what’s best for my daughter.”

Gabriel stepped into me, snaking one arm around my waist, and the other slid into my hair at the back of my head. I wanted to bolt, to push him away, but I had to play a part.

“Kiss me,” he whispered into my ear, and without thinking, my lips crashed into his.

Wait. What?

I wanted to pull back, but I was stuck, like there was no turning back now that my lips met his. His hand tightened in my hair, and he pulled my head backward, exposing my neck to him. The feel of his tongue running down my throat made my stomach turn as he kissed along my collarbone. My body was frozen, and panic tingled under my skin. “Gabriel, I…”

Not even stopping his lips’ descent over my body, he whispered, “Shh. Your decorum is unnecessary here. Nobody will see us.”

That’s not comforting.

My body tensed beneath his wandering hands. “Give in to me. Feel your desire. Let me make you feel good, Rory. Let me make you come like you did in the bath.”

I softened into him, and my hands grabbed his lapels, pulling him toward me. I didn’t know why my body reacted to him this way. All I knew was that I wanted him intensely, and I let go of all hesitations. A burning desire spread through my core, my panties wettened as Gabriel pushed me against the marble wall between two stained-glass windows.

I lifted a leg and hooked it around his waist. He glided his hand under my dress and up my thigh, his lips finding their way to the top of my breasts, which heaved in breathless need. “You are even more exquisite when you give in to your desires,” he growled into my neck.

“Gabriel,” I moaned in a low, throaty voice.

He smiled against my throat. His finger traced the seam of my panties, and his hand slid down to my slick core. I wanted nothing more than to feel him inside of me. My hips rocked into his hand in response, egging on his touch.

Gabriel’s voice deepened, breathless. “So responsive. Dripping for me already. Let go of all your inhibitions. You can take what you want from me. I am willing to fulfill your desire.”

I was about to tell him to fuck me, to rip this dress right off me, but with no warning, like a bucket of water dousing a flame, my hunger went cold.

What am I doing?

I pushed against him. “Gabriel. Gabriel, we have to stop.” He didn’t hear me, or he refused to. I tried to push away from him, but his grasp on me was firm. “Gabriel, please. I want to stop.” My breathing intensified as the memory of my assault flashed before me.

Gabriel was pulled abruptly away and flung backwards from me, hitting the opposing wall.

“I believe Lady Aurora asked you to stop, Commander,” Darragh spoke with the promise of violence laced in his words. He turned to me with a tender voice. “Rory, are you alright?”

Gabriel’s maniacal laugh echoed around the hall. “I see it now,” he spat. “You’re falling for her because she gives you pity and attention, and you’re jealous that you can’t have her.”

I pushed off the wall. “Gabriel, enough!” The embarrassment of Darragh finding me with him settled in my chest.

Gabriel stepped up to Darragh, mere inches from his stony face. “She is MINE!”

My jaw dropped.

Darragh’s posture was relaxed in response to Gabriel’s aggression. “Rory belongs to no one, least of all you.”

Crack! Darragh’s head jolted backward as Gabriel’s punch landed.