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Elena found herself under the water, her foot wrapped in seaweed holding her down. Panic and fear snuffed out all reason and logic. Clawing for the surface she found herself trapped.
Through the murk water, she spied a dark shadow coming for her. Letting out the last of the air in her lungs, she screamed. Bubbles filled her view as two strong arms engulfed her. With a jerk, the weeds and reeds holding her prisoner in the deep released her.
“Are ye alright?” Gabriel’s voice was filled with worry and fear etched across his face. Elena gasped and gulped the air as if she couldn’t get enough of it. Bobbing her head, Gabriel pushed back her wet hair from her face and stared at her.
The worry on his face broke her. She curled her arms around his neck as he held her close to his body. Every fiber of her being sparked and tingled. She had never in all her life felt more secure. Uncertain if her feelings stemmed from Gabriel rescuing her, or if she had always felt such an attraction to him, she felt obligated to him now.
“Best to get back to the shore,” he said as he swam through the water with her beside him.
“Ye saved me.”
“Ye would have figured out a way to get free. I doubt anythin’ so common as a loch would snuff the light out from ye. I just assisted.”
“Nay,” Elena gasped. “It was ye.”
Gabriel set her down on the solid ground. His hair clung to his shoulder and neck like clumps of seaweed. Brushing the water from his face stunned her as the droplet looked like diamonds glistening on his flesh.
Cupping his hand to her face, his gaze stole the very breath from her. There was no malice in his gaze. No ill wish or hostility. Only love and compassion were to be found lurking behind the worry and fear.
“Rest a bit more,” Gabriel said in such a hushed tone, that Elena found herself gravitating toward him. Swallowing hard, her lips trembled. His breath on her face caused bumps to rise all over her. A part of her wanted for him to take her right there. Elena’s desires were magnified as her body quaked from the breeze.
Pressing her hand on his chest, she leaned forward, filling the gap between them.
“We have a ways to go,” Gabriel said. His voice shifted and his body went rigid. Elena noticed his manhood growing with anticipation for her. Chewing her lower lip, she wondered what she should say or do. Not wanting to let the moment go, she wasn’t sure if she should be so bold.
“Get dressed,” he said stiffening. Before Elena knew what happened, Gabriel released her from his spell and stepped away from her. The moment passed before her very eyes as he reached down and collected his clothes.
Rejection washed through her. She flexed her jaw muscle as she glared at him.
I shouldnae want to kiss him anyway. If it werenae for my uncle, I’d nae be in this conundrum.
Elena rushed for her clothes feeling put out and embarrassed. She couldn’t believe she let herself get so carried away in the moment.
Clearly, he is still mad at me for last night. If he wasnae he would have stolen this moment and kissed me. I’m such a fool as to think he wants anythin’ more than to torment me.
That’s what this trip is all about, all the ways Gabriel McAllaster can torture me. Well, he’ll find out I’m nae one to easily break.
Chapter 10
The carriage rockedand rattled as it rolled through the country. Pulling in a long deep breath, Gabriel took in all the colors of the sky. He couldn’t help but be in awe of the way the sky looked like a furnace as the soft rusty orange of dusk flashed across the sky in all its vibrant splendor.
As the colors blended and scattered away the hues of the day, Gabriel couldn’t help but allow his thoughts to linger on Elena. The way she looked in the water with her shift clinging to her body sent him into a frenzy. A smile played on the corner of his lips as he tried to burn the image of her into his mind. But he knew he’d never do the memory justice. Elena’s beauty was something no artist could ever get right.
His eyes shifted away from the window. Stealing a glimpse of her, he checked to see what she is doing. A part of him wished he could hold onto this moment forever, but with the daylight fading, all he would have was the memory of her to keep him company in the darkness.
Gabriel’s head tilted as he noticed Elena’s eyes closed allowing him to stare at her a bit longer. He could not help but notice the way her button nose met the bow of her lips just right. And the smoothness of her skin as she rested her head on her hand. It was like he was staring at a painting. He wished he had paper and a pen to etch the likeness of her. To be able to capture the curve of her chin and neck.
His body trembled with desire. Every ounce of him craved to touch her again. Yet, the sting of her rejecting him still ached. Struggling to control his desires, he concentrated on the way the clouds looked like brush strokes that reminded him of the curves of her body.
Oh, Elena, why cannae ye see what ye do to me? Do ye nae ken how much I care for ye? I couldnae let ye marry who yer uncle wanted ye to. And I would have given all the money I own to have ye. But then what would ye have think of me? A man wit’ nay means to care for ye.
“Gabe…”
The sound of his name caused his ears to perk. Sitting straighter, he couldn’t help but wonder if she caught him staring at her. Carefully, he shifted his attention from counting the stars to her angelic face. The moonlight poured through the window causing her to look surreal.
“Please,” her voice bent as he found himself captivated by her movements. Elena’s hands shifted a bit from her lap. Ever so carefully, she brushed her fingertips over the width of her chest causing his heart to quicken.
Gabriel’s mouth parted. He wished he could reach for her, but the fear of waking her held him back. The last thing he wanted was for her to wake from whatever splendid dream she might be experiencing.
