A Curse of the Heart

Sarah laughed. “I would do anything for my family, Gabriel, but I draw the line at being pelted with rotten apples.”

Rebecca threaded her arm through Gabriel’s and squeezed. “When we take you home, Sarah, would you mind if we called in to see Ariana? We will not stay long. I believe she will be surprised to find that her brother has finally returned from his tour of Egypt.”

Gabriel glanced at Rebecca, who offered him an innocent smile, and then at Sarah, who was busy trying to disguise her trembling lip. For some reason, the thought of spending time with them didn’t bother him as it used to. Surprisingly, he’d grown fond of Sarah in the few hours they’d spent together, and he would always be indebted to her for helping him find Rebecca.

“We would only stay long enough to take tea,” he said, “or perhaps something a little stronger. And on the way, you can tell me why I’m supposed to be in Egypt.”

Chapter 28

They stayed with Sarah and Ariana for two hours, the child soon forgetting her distress, happy to have her mother home and even more delighted to see her brother at long last.

Rebecca choked back the tears when Ariana ran into Gabriel’s arms, and she found she loved him all the more for not showing the slightest sign of awkwardness.

When he regaled tales of a boisterous camel and of a pilfering monkey who’d stolen a fig from his plate, she laughed with them. Even though she knew it was all a figment of his wild imagination.

“Ariana’s a wonderful child, and I must say, I find her laugh infectious,” Rebecca said as Gabriel escorted her to her front door.

He chuckled in response, his eyes warm and inviting and she wanted to press her body against his, thrust her hands into his hair, claim his mouth and devour him.

“I had forgotten how affectionate she can be.”

Rebecca smiled, her heart singing the sweetest song. Would there ever be a time when she did not feel a desperate ache in her chest whenever she looked at him?

“I thought we would have to drag her arms from around your neck. Indeed, I believe she loves you almost as much as I do.”

Gabriel froze, stared into her eyes and then down at the floor. “Rebecca, I …”

She knew the declaration would surprise him, but she was tired of hiding her true feelings. “Oh, don’t be all coy. Sarah told me what she said to you. Although you would need to be blind not to notice.” She slid her hand into his, the heat radiating from his palm sending tingles shooting up her arm as she pulled him towards the door. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“I’m surprised you even need to ask.”

Desire unfurled in response to his rich, sensual tone. “Well, it would not do to be too presumptuous.”

They made their way inside, his gaze searching, assessing, never leaving her.

“After such a terrifying ordeal you must be famished,” he said, bringing her fingers to his lips and brushing a gentle kiss on top. “Shall I go to the kitchen? Mrs. James must still be here.”

Feeling tired and exhausted, Rebecca shook her head. “I’ve no appetite,” she replied. “But you go, and help yourself to whatever you can find.”

As if on cue, a growl rumbled from his stomach.

“Your body is in desperate need of sustenance,” she continued with a chuckle. Aware of the fact that he was the only sustenance she needed. “I must wash and change and then I’ll join you at the table.”

She moved to walk upstairs, but he caught her by the hand and pulled her into an embrace. “Tell me you’ve changed your mind about Egypt,” he said, his hot breath caressing her cheek as he brushed a loose tendril back behind her ear. “Tell me you’ll stay here at the museum, where you belong.”

If only he had said ‘stay with me’ then she would never have refused him.

Rebecca wound her arms around his neck and kissed him until their tongues were lost in each other’s mouths. Until their breathing grew ragged and their bodies burned with passion.

“I can’t tell you that, Gabriel,” she said lowering her hands so they lay flat against his chest, the steady beat of his heart pulsing beneath her palm. “But know I am deeply in love with you. Know there will never be another, only you.”

He swallowed visibly, his eyes brimming with emotion. But she stepped away, and he watched her walk up the stairs.

Once in her room, she stripped off her clothes down to her chemise, soaked a linen square in a bowl of cold water and wiped over her neck and face with long massaging strokes.

It was hard to believe that only this morning, she’d sat at her mirror unaware of Pennington’s devious plans for revenge. His acrid smell still clung to her skin, the urge to scrub, to remove every trace, impossible to ignore. Topping up the bowl, she rubbed away at her skin again until it prickled from the abrasive movements. And the uncomfortable feeling forced her to acknowledge the reality of the situation.

If Gabriel hadn’t saved her, she would most probably be dead.