Robin Schone by Gabriel's Woman

Author:Gabriel's Woman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Gabriel stepped aside for Victoria to precede him down the corridor. She looked neither left nor right, every sense focused on the man behind her.

The electric chandelier inside the study was blinding; she stumbled.

Gabriel did not catch her.

They must trust one another, he had said.

She must trust that he would give her pleasure. He must trust that she would not touch him.

The light in Gabriel’s bedroom was only marginally dimmer than the one in his study.

Victoria paused by the bed, fingers worrying the blue silk sash cinched around her waist. “I . . . am thinner than I used to be.”

The women behind the transparent mirrors had come in varied sizes; none had possessed ribs that ridged their sides.

Gabriel’s face hardened. “I won’t turn out the light, Victoria.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “I don’t want you to be . . . put off by my appearance.”

Shadow darkened his face. “I have seen you, mademoiselle, and I assure you, I was not put off by your appearance.”

How ridiculous she was being. Victoria had undressed for him the very first time they met. She had stood naked in front of him while Madame René had measured her and Victoria asked how to seduce a man.

How to love a man.

She squared her shoulders.

Gabriel’s gaze dropped to her breasts.

Victoria did not have to glance down to know that her nipples stabbed the thin silk.

She notched her chin higher. “I would enjoy seeing you.”

“I’m not an angel, Victoria.”

A smile was surprised out of her. “I assure you, sir, I have no expectations of finding wings underneath your garments.”

Gabriel did not return her smile. “But you expect a miracle.”

Gabriel was God’s messenger, Victoria had said.

Michael was his chosen, Gabriel had returned.

For better or for worse, the lives of two boys had been forever altered by a French madame.

The cost of survival.

Victoria had once believed in fairy tales, but . . .

“I have never believed in miracles, Gabriel.”

“I will try not to hurt you.”

Trust.

But Gabriel still did not trust her.

He didn’t trust her to touch him.

He didn’t trust her to see him naked.

But she trusted him.

“I know you will,” Victoria said shakily.

She dropped the robe.

Gabriel weighed her breasts with his eyes. And then Gabriel weighed them with his hands.

Victoria locked her knees to prevent them from buckling at the lightning sensation that shot through her.

“You have beautiful breasts, Victoria,” he said hoarsely, calluses rough, the heat of his skin scorching hot.

She forced air into her lungs to speak. “Thank you.”

He traced her right rib cage, a raspy trail of pleasure, smoothed her waist. “Women wear corsets to have waists like yours—”

“Thank you—“

His gaze snared hers. “I know what it’s like to go hungry. You have no need to apologize for your appearance. Not to me. Jamais.”

Never.

The heat of his hand and his gaze scorched her skin.

“I don’t have any cream,” she said breathlessly.

“You won’t need it.”

She sucked in air. “But you said—”

“Sit down, Victoria.”

Victoria sat on the edge of the bed.

Her gaze unerringly rested on gray wool trousers.

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