“Do ye have any idea how much I want ye right now?” he moaned as his fingers traced along the curve of her back until her hair wound around his fingers.
“Then take me.” Her voice was low. There was a hunger lurking within each syllable she spoke. He crushed his lips to her, harder this time, hoping to infuse his soul into hers. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her to the small duvet in the corner of the room. Gabriel pushed aside the loose fabric of her robe. To his surprise, she had come to him in only her shift.
His heart pounded frantically in his chest as he loosened the tie at the collarbone. The fabric being as light as it was drifted easily over her shoulder exposing more flesh to him. Gabriel leaned down and kissed her shoulder only to glide his lips across her chest until he found her breasts.
The moan that escaped her lips thrilled him. Her fingers curled into his hair as his hands roamed wildly over her body. There wasn’t an inch of her torso he didn’t touch. Exploring her was like finding treasure in the desert.
A knock on the door startled them. Gabriel’s head whipped up as Elena scrambled for her robe. The door slowly opened causing Gabriel’s heart to quicken. The last thing he wanted was for any of his servants to see the painting of his wife.
“Go away,” Gabriel growled as Elena giggled into the collar of her robe, trying not to make a sound.
“Forgive me, M’Laird,” Jacob’s voice rattled as the door swiftly closed, entrapping them inside the study.
“It seems our time is up,” Gabriel said. He felt defeated as if he was so close to the finish line, yet could not cross. Elena shook her head as she lunged for him.
“Nay,” she said as she assaulted him with kisses. “Ye denied me once before, ye cannae do it again.”
“I will nae embarrass ye,” Gabriel said as he fought against his urges. He pulled her robe higher over her shoulder and forced himself to look her in the eye. There was no denying it. Elena had the same impulses and needs burning within her as he did.
Her lower lip dropped into a pout as she plopped down on the couch.
“Best run back upstairs and dress yerself. If Jacob is awake, it will nae be long before the other servants wake as well. And I need to hide the painting before anyone else can see it.”
“I understand.” Disappointment laced her words as she climbed off the couch. Gabriel’s eyes drifted down the length of her body taking in the curve of her hips and her plump butt. He wanted to grab it and pinch it as she walked away, but held himself back.
“Wait,” he said. Rising to his feet, Gabriel rushed to the door. Prying it open, he glanced around the hallway ensuring Elena had a clear shot to the stairs.
“Go now,” he said as he opened the door wider.
“What if I daenae want to,” Elena said in a playful tone that drove Gabriel wild. He shook his head as he grabbed her.
“Ye must,” he said.
“It’s like ye said before, we are married, are we nae?”
“Aye, and I ken what yer thinkin’ but understand where I am comin’ from too. Yer my wife.” Gabriel made no mistake in showing his possession of her. His voice nearly growled as he spoke. “I will nae share ye wit’ anyone and that includes what others get to see. Do ye understand?”
Elena’s head bobbed as she reached up onto her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. “I’ll go and dress. Ye might want to do the same.”
“Hold a moment,” he said as he quickly glanced around the room. Gabriel scanned the room hunting for a coat or something more he could use to cover her. Finding a throw blanket over the couch, he raced to the couch to snatch it.
“There,” he said, draping the blanket over her shoulders. “Now go, before anyone sees you.”
He kept the door open and his eyes locked on her as she scrambled up the steps. His heart pounded as he closed the door. Glancing at the painting, he sighed heavily. With the castle stirring and servants waking, he couldn’t risk moving the painting out of the study. He knew he would have to wait till night.
Gabriel walked to the painting and brushed his fingers over Elena’s face, checking the paint. His heart skipped as he stared at her.
Without another word and risking someone seeing what he did, he picked the painting up and stashed it behind the cabinet. It broke his heart to have to hide such a masterpiece, but there was no way he would allow such a piece of art to be seen by anyone other than himself.
“One of these days my love,” he bemoaned. “I promise ye, we will have our moment. Till that day comes…”
Chapter 17
Elena’s mindraced and pandered after Gabriel. She had never been one to have her portrait made before and Gabriel’s likeness of her was stunning. A smile played on her lips each time she thought of it. A light rapping on the door perked her ears.
“Come in,” she said. Emily popped in looking as radiant as ever. A smile stretched across the servant’s face piquing Elena’s interest.
“Ye’re in a good mood,” Elena commented.