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Suddenly she felt weary. She stood up abruptly. ‘I’m quite tired now. I think I’ll go to bed.’
She turned before he could see the emotion she was feeling. She suspected deep down that Gabriel wouldn’t really have gone so far as to seduce her and marry her just to score points, but it still stung.
He called her name just as she reached the door. She stopped reluctantly but didn’t turn around.
He said from behind her, ‘You were never a pawn. I went to the engagement announcement that night because of Sanchez, yes. But then I saw you, and I wanted you from that moment. I went after you because I wanted you. I seduced you because I wanted you. And I married you because I knew we’d be good together. Because I want you more than I’ve ever wanted another woman.’
Leonora’s heart beat a little faster. Her hand tightened on the door handle. Gabriel had really hurt her this evening. And his power to hurt her only reminded her of how far she’d fallen. She had to protect herself.
She said, ‘I’ll take the spare room tonight.’
She walked out with her head held high and didn’t look back. But it felt like a pyrrhic victory, because every instinct was urging her to go back and seek solace and oblivion in the arms of the man who had hurt her. Ironically, he was the only one who could help her to forget.
* * *
Leonora lay awake in the spare bed for a long time. It was the first night since she’d married Gabriel that she’d spent alone. And her body ached for him.
Dammit.
The hurt she’d been feeling had dissipated. She believed Gabriel. And she knew in her heart of hearts that if she was offered the choice of a sterile, emotionless marriage with Lazaro Sanchez over this...this sea of emotions with Gabriel, she would choose Gabriel again.
Something she’d been clinging to—a sense of injury—dissolved. She realised that her reaction would only reveal to Gabriel that she had feelings for him. Why else would she have been so affected? She thought of his anger because she’d disappeared. The expression of what had looked like fear on his face.
Impulsively, she got up from the bed and went outside the bedroom. The suite was dark. Quiet. She hovered uncertainly outside Gabriel’s bedroom door, not even sure what she was going to do, but then she heard a sound coming from the living room so she went in that direction.
She found him sitting on the couch, watching a black and white movie on TV. One of her favourites. A classic. Her heart clenched. He was still wearing his tuxedo trousers and his white shirt was open at the neck by a couple of buttons, revealing the strong column of his throat. Stubble lined his jaw and her skin tingled with awareness.
Then he looked up and saw her. He stared at her for a long moment, almost as if he wasn’t sure she was real. She was very aware of her flimsy silk negligée. Then he slowly sat forward and muted the movie.
He put out a hand and Leonora took a breath and moved towards him. He caught her hand and tugged her down onto the couch beside him. Electric heat flooded her body. Instantaneous. Addictive.
She opened her mouth but he put a finger to it, stopping her. He shook his head. And then he said, ‘Let me show you how much I want you. You, Leo, no one else.’
Weakly she gave herself up to the temptation she’d denied herself earlier, and with every touch and kiss she blocked out the hurt and the fact that she would undoubtedly face more hurt in the future.
* * *
When Leonora woke the next morning the sun was up. She was disorientated, and then she realised where she was and remembered the previous evening. She looked around but the room was empty. She was naked and her body ached all over. They’d made love on the couch, like teenagers, and then Gabriel had taken her into the bedroom and they’d made love again. And then again, as dawn had been breaking. Each as insatiable as the other.
Leonora groaned and rolled over, burying her face in the pillow. She didn’t recognise this wanton side of herself. In fact she barely recognised herself at all. Her emotions were so raw and all over the place.
The revelation that Gabriel had known Lazaro all along still had the power to hurt, in spite of his assurances. He wouldn’t be human if he hadn’t been aware that seducing Leonora might affect Lazaro’s pride. But, having met Lazaro’s pregnant wife, Leonora figured Lazaro had more important things to consider than hurt pride.
She put a hand on her flat belly. Could she and Gabriel have conceived a child? Last night? She had to be ovulating around now... Her pulse quickened. Even though everything logical told her that they weren’t yet ready for the seismic reality of a baby—they were still getting to know one another!—nevertheless she had to admit that she’d felt a pang of jealousy when she’d seen evidence of Skye’s pregnancy.
Leonora suddenly imagined Gabriel appearing and finding her dreaming of becoming pregnant with his baby. She scrambled out of the bed and grabbed a robe. She went into the opulent bathroom and took a shower, standing under the hot spray for a long time, relishing the jets of water on her pleasantly aching muscles.
When she soaped herself she saw the signs of Gabriel’s lovemaking: stubble rash on the inside of her thighs. She blushed and quickly rinsed off and got out. She roughly dried her hair and pulled on the robe again.
She steeled herself before she left the bedroom, wishing she could feel blasé and nonchalant after a night like the one they’d shared. They were married, hardly illicit lovers, and yet she felt like a jittery teenager.
When she emerged into the living area she saw the dining table was set up for breakfast. A hotel staff member was there, pouring coffee for Gabriel, who stood up when he saw her.
‘Good morning. I ordered a selection of everything. I wasn’t sure what you’d prefer.’
Leonora smiled at the staff member as she poured her coffee and then melted discreetly away. She took in the array of food laid out—fresh fruit, yoghurt, pastries, pancakes, bacon, eggs, toast—and to her mortification her stomach rumbled.
She sat down quickly, avoiding Gabriel’s eye, putting some fruit pieces in a bowl and helping herself to some yoghurt.
