Page 115 of Notorious

She said something against his chest.

“What was that, sweetheart?”

“I’ve loved you since that first summer we met.”

All the air left his lungs, and he turned to face her, taking her chin between his fingers and forcing her to look at him. “What?”

“Yes, I did. But I knew even then, before I saw how many women pursued you—hurled themselves at you—that you would never want a woman like me. So I—I—”

“So you abused me at every opportunity.”

She choked out a watery sound that was half cry, half laugh. “Oh, Gabriel! I was so afraid you could never care for me, that you would take lovers and that I would die inside.”

“You goose,” he said, brushing back a spiraling strand of hair. “Besides, I can see you killing me before I see you dying.”

She sniffed loudly. “I might have.”

Gabriel pulled her soft, feminine, and already beloved body against him. “Your strength of purpose is one of the things I love and admire most about you.”

“Oh? What other things do you love and admire?”

He grinned into the darkness. “Well . . . I like the way you win some of our arguments—”

“Some!”

“All right, most of our arguments. I like your beautiful, wild hair and the feel of it across my body. When I’m naked,” he added in a rough whisper. “And I like the way you look when I am thrusting inside you and—”

“Gabriel!”

“Am I making you blush?” he asked as she pulled away and straightened her bonnet.

“I’m as red as a beet.”

“I love beets.”

They were enjoying a deep, languorous kiss when she broke away, her expression suddenly pensive.

“What is it?” he asked.

She bit her lower lip, her forehead furrowed with worry.

“Drusilla—”

“I went to see Giselle and Maria today.”

* * *

Drusilla had expected him to yell. Or to look angry. She had not expected him to laugh.

She frowned, inexplicably peeved by his response. “What is so funny?”

He shook his head, still chuckling. “I’m laughing because I’m imagining their surprise.”

Drusilla grunted. It was true, the two women had been flabbergasted to find her in their small but charming sitting room.

“I’m sorry for going behind your back on this matter, but I felt a persisting aura of mystery between us would only give my rather fertile imagination more, er, fertilizer.”

“I daresay they both admired you very much.”