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It was nice to hear, even if Gabriel wasn’t convinced that Clara had it right. ‘Or I’m just someone trying to fill my brother’s shoes. Not all that well most of the time. Take your pick.’
Clara grimaced at him. ‘I know what I think.’
So did he. For some reason, Clara always thought the best of him, even though he hadn’t given her much reason to do so. They sat in companionable silence as Gabriel finished his drink, and then Clara flashed him a smile.
‘I’ll take these downstairs and put them in the dishwasher.’ She put on her sandals, picking up the glass and her cup. ‘Thank you. For talking.’
‘Thank you for listening.’ They were slipping back into their everyday routine. The one where Clara followed him, watching but never reacting. Suddenly Gabriel couldn’t bear it. He took the crockery from her hands, putting it back down on the table, and moved to the door, leaning his back against it.
‘I’m taking it for granted that you’ll be able to get past me in a second if you want to...’
She nodded slowly, taking a step towards him. ‘That’s a fair assumption.’
‘And this...’ He let his fingers trace her cheek. ‘If you don’t want this?’
‘It would be a fair assumption that I’d move away.’ She stood stock still, looking up at him. Suddenly all the reasons why he shouldn’t do this didn’t matter.
* * *
Clara had told herself that she’d come up here because she wanted to find out more about what made Gabriel tick. That she wanted to be able to do her job better. But watching him for days, staying impassive and uninvolved, had been an exercise in self-restraint and longing. She was here because she wanted be alone with him.
She felt his arm coil around her waist, and he pulled her slowly against him. Breathing in each moment and making it last, in the dark warmth of his eyes. She could feel his arousal and if he couldn’t feel her instinctive response then he was made out of stone.
His lips curved into a smile. ‘I’ve been thinking about this moment ever since I met you.’
‘I know. You mentioned it at the time, remember?’
‘Not entirely. I know what I was thinking but I can’t remember what I said. I was suffering from a lack of impulse control.’
‘Funny you should say that. So am I.’ Clara knew that she shouldn’t do this. But she couldn’t help it. Touching him now, feeling his touch, seemed more important than anything else.
Just one kiss. Something that would satisfy her curiosity and never be repeated. Where was the harm in that?
She had to stand on her toes to kiss him, and when she did, warmth exploded through her. Gabriel’s response was tender, and full of the longing that she felt for him.
‘I’m trying to find the words to tell you how beautiful you are...’ He slid one hand into her hair, pushing it back so that he could trail kisses along her neck. ‘Might take a while. There are many, many words to describe you...’
‘Take your time.’ He could take all the time he wanted, to do all the things she
wanted. Clara let her fingers explore the strong curve of his arms and shoulders, and the muscles flexed beneath her touch.
He kissed her again, tenderness morphing into something stronger and more demanding. The last time she had been here she’d brought him to his knees, and tonight he was more than repaying her.
‘Clara...’ He whispered her name, and the feel of his breath on her neck made her tremble. Slowly he drew back, trapping her in the heat of his gaze.
‘You’re exquisite. Beautiful and strong, and...’ He quirked his lips down. ‘I want to spend all night telling you, but...’
The consequences of her actions hit home suddenly. She should have known that a kiss would never be enough for either of them. And she could lose her job for this, and then everything would come tumbling down. All she’d done to distance herself from a faithless husband and a childhood that had been scarred by insecurities.
* * *
Gabriel felt her shiver in his arms. Not the delicious tremor of excitement that his kiss had elicited but the kind of response that would have accompanied a sudden, icy wind blowing through the room. In that moment, he knew that he had to make this right.
‘Clara, no one knows. There are no cameras...’
Panic flared in her eyes, and she pulled away from him. This was much harder and more confusing than giving in to his fantasies and kissing her.
‘I know. You know.’
