“What is it ye want from me?” he whispered, hoping to aid in her confession.
“I want everythin’. I want ye to kiss me,” she begged. Gabriel found himself on the edge of his seat, gravitating closer to her. Studying her face, there were no signs of distress or anger. She looked as peaceful as a dove before him.
Licking away the dryness of his lips, he scooted closer. Daring to reach for her, he held his breath. Even if all he did was graze his fingertips over her cheeks it would be enough for him. For his hands still burned from holding her in the loch and craved to feel her soft, delicate skin once again.
“And if I do kiss ye, will ye nae slap me for it?” he asked as his fingers brushed against her skin so delicately. The heat of her body shot through his fingertips. It felt as if he was holding the spark of the sun in that single moment.
“I’ll nae slap ye,” she mumbled as her eyebrows scrunched. Gabriel pulled in a swift gulp of air as Elena’s head shifted. Darting back, he pretended he was paying no attention. After all, the bumpy ride could inadvertently cause her to waken. But how he wanted the moment to continue.
“Will ye nae come to me?” she asked. Her eyes fluttered open a moment. Gabriel closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back wall. Crossing his arms over his chest, he breathed in deeply mimicking a slumbering man.
Through the slants of his eyes, he noticed Elena sit upright. Sleep still lingered in her eyes as she stretched out a bit. Her attention fell on him for a moment and he wondered if she could see through his facade.
“Why do ye have to be so handsome?” she muttered under her breath. “Do ye ken how easier it would be if ye were an old man? Then I wouldnae be so drawn to ye.”
Uncertain if she was speaking from her dream or if she meant it, it made no difference to Gabriel. Her words echoed in his ears as hope rose within him. Clinging to every word that seeped out of her mouth, Gabriel found himself trying to keep still. Despite the irritating itch on his nose, he kept his arms locked to him.
She does care.
Shifting his weight a bit, he moved to get a better view and waited for her to fall asleep once more. Through a blurred and hazy view, Gabriel watched Elena as she rustled with her dress for a moment. By the way she moved, he was certain she was trying her hardest not to wake him.
“Elena,” he let out her name like a soft whisper in the wind and waited for her response. Her eyes widened as her attention darted to him. The anticipation on her face was almost too much for him to bear.
How cruel would it be if I jumped up right now to scare her? Suppose I’ll get a slap for it, but at least then it’ll be contact.
Toying with the idea of startling her, he pushed the thought aside. Not after what she had spoken in her sleep, he couldn’t do that to her. After all, his goal was not to drive her away from him but to draw her closer. Out of all the things he wanted from her, her attention was what he craved the most.
Leaning forward, her eyes lingered on him a bit longer. He could feel her stare boring into him as he tried to remain still.
That’s what I’ll do. Ye want to push me away, fine. I’ll keep ye at arm’s length until ye beg for my company.
Gabriel snuggled into his seat. His mind raced and plotted all the ways he would make Elena fall in love with him. The carriage continued on well into the night as his hope grew and solidified within him.
His eyes fluttered open wondering if Elena was asleep or not. He caught a glimpse of her closing her eyes and pretending she was asleep. A smile tickled the corner of his lips knowing she was watching him.
Gabriel could barely sleep all night as the carriage rocked him to and fro. It seemed as if every other hour he was jostled awake. Finally giving up the idea of resting, he sat in the seat across from Elena and stared at her. With every nod or twitch she made, he wondered what she was thinking.
His ears perked with every mumble that slipped her lips in hopes he’d catch her talking about him again. Yet, as the night shifted into day, he heard no more longing desires from her. But at least he got to watch her come back to life as she awoke.
“Where are we now?” she asked as she stretched her arms above her head.
Gabriel glanced out the window and shrugged. Although he knew exactly where they were, he wasn’t going to tell her. If he was going to get her to want him, he had to play dumb and distracted, never letting on his intentions.
“Daenae ken, on the road I hope,” he answered as he returned his attention to the book in his hands.
“Did ye nae sleep?” she asked. He wondered if she could see the dark circles under his eyes. And although he wanted to rest, now that she was wide awake there was no way he was going to let the moment slip by him due to a lack of sleep.
“Some,” he answered without a single glance her way.
“What are ye readin’? And is there any chance we can stop for a bit?”
“Why do ye want to stop? There is nothin’ around here for miles,” he said. In the back of his mind, he couldn’t help but laugh. He knew very well why she wanted to stop.
“Aye, but I’d like to stretch my legs some,” she said as her eyebrows rose a bit.
Gabriel slammed the book closed with as much drama as he could muster and waved his hand about. “Fine,” he moaned.
Lifting his hand up, he knocked on the roof of the carriage. Keeping his eyes locked on her, he noticed her cheeks turning red as the jolt from stopping so suddenly pushed her out of her seat and into Gabriel’s lap.