Gabrielle watched as Darius pulled on his pants and shirt. Good Lord, she could not get enough of the man.

“See you shortly,” he said with a devilish smile, and a second later the door opened and closed. She heard Darius and Demetri talk in hushed tones before they walked away, farther down the hallway.

Her stomach twisted. Did they not want her to hear what they spoke about? Did Demetri have information about her uncle or Sutherland?

She tried not to worry about what might be wrong, or that perhaps she had truly endangered Darius, his brother, and Remont. She had spent too many days being miserable while living in her uncle’s home, awaiting her wedding to Sutherland. Now she wanted only to experience love.

Love?

Was she already in love with Darius MacLeod?

Or was she mistaking lust for love?

After seeing all the images of them together in a previous life, she felt safe to say she did love him, or she would come to love him just as she had loved him before.

But aside from the fact Darius had loved his wife, what had transpired between them? How had he gone on to become a vampire—and how had his wife died?

She had so many questions to ask him.

Be careful, daughter. You might not want to hear the answers you seek.

The room turned cold, and she pulled the blanket tighter about her.

I am happy, Mother. For the first time in a long while, I am doing what I desire.

There is nothing wrong with that, child. But at what cost will you love him? He is not human. He will never be human…

Darius is good to me and I care for him deeply, Mother. He has protected me, where your own brother handed me over to the horrible Lord Sutherland. Would you prefer I marry a man who has killed his previous wives and would no doubt kill me in time?

I visit your uncle in his dreams and shall continue to haunt him for what he has done to you. Be careful, Gabrielle. If MacLeod was to bite you, he will make you into what he is. Do you want to live as such a creature for the rest of your life? You were given the gift of healing, and how can you continue to heal if you are made into a monster?

He is not a monster, Mother. He isn’t, nor is his brother or Remont. I love him, Mother. I loved him in another life, and we are getting a second chance.

Ask him how his wife died, Gabrielle. Or since you were that wife, do you remember?

A fierce breeze rushed through the room, blowing out the candles, leaving Gabrielle in darkness. She did not bother to light them again, but instead looked toward the fireplace where the embers burned.

Tears stung her eyes. For so many years it had been just she and her mother, who she trusted with all her heart. And all she had ever wanted was her support. In this situation though, her mother would never give her peace, not for as long as she stayed with Darius. Why could she not just be happy for Gabrielle, especially since she was free from Sutherland and finally living the life she wanted?

Remembering her mother’s comment about Darius biting her and making her a vampire, Gabrielle nodded and lit a candle, a trick she had not shown Darius yet, but would one day.

Taking the candle from the holder, she walked to the mirror, lifted her chin, and looked at her neck, but could not see any marks in the waning light. Leaning closer, she bumped her head on the mirror and nearly set her hair on fire with the flame from the candle.

Darius appeared in the mirror from behind her, and she screamed. She had not heard him come in, and finding her in front of the mirror yet again was downright humiliating. She noticed though that in her reflection there was no mark over her heart, like there was over his. She sighed with relief.

He extinguished the candle and set it on a nearby table. “Careful lass, you do not wish to burn that beautiful hair of yours.”

“I did not mean to.”

To his credit, he tried not to smile but failed miserably. “I did not mean to startle you. I said your name, but you did not hear.”

She went into his arms, pressing her cheek against his chest. She closed her eyes, taking comfort in the slow, steady beat of his heart.

“Are you trying to seduce me back to bed, lass?”

She looked up at him. “What do you mean?”

He nodded toward the mirror and she glanced over her shoulder, seeing her bare bottom reflected.

“I should put on the pants,” she said, not budging.

“No more breeches for you, love.” He took her by the hand, toward the settee and the box he had arrived with earlier. “Before I become distracted yet again, this is for you,” he said with a wolfish smile.

Gabrielle’s heart did a little flip inside her chest. She had never received a lot of presents, and the gifts Sutherland or her uncle had bought her had not been given out of affection. “You did not have to buy me anything.”

“I wanted to. I just hope you like it.”

“I know I will.” Gabrielle opened the box to find a gorgeous gown of light yellow muslin with a pink silk underskirt. The detailing was exquisite, with tiny flowers embroidered throughout. Beneath the gown was a new chemise, petticoats, silk drawers, and stockings. “Darius, they are all so beautiful. Thank you!” She held the gown up to her body and looked at her reflection. “It is absolutely perfect.” Her throat tightened and she blinked back tears.

“There are slippers as well,” he said, pulling the cream silk shoes from beneath the undergarments.

“Do you wish to try it on?”

“Yes, but only after I bathe.” She went up on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you so much, Darius. They are all so lovely.”

“You are most welcome, Gabby. I took the liberty of buying a few more gowns that need small alterations. They should suffice until we reach Scotland. They will be arriving by tomorrow evening.” He smiled, but she sensed he had something else to tell her.

“What did Demetri want?”

“You are intuitive, aren’t you?” he said with a warm smile.

She blushed. “I have been known to be.”

“I fear we must leave London, posthaste.”

Her stomach coiled. She had put them all in danger.

“Remont and Demetri attended a party last evening. They learned that your uncle is aware you are here.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “How?”

“Spies are watching the townhouse.”

She remembered looking out the window and seeing the young man staring up at her. That stupid mistake had put them all in danger. “I am so sorry, Darius. I wish I would not have brought this on you. Yesterday I looked out the window, and I saw a boy watching me. For an instant I wondered if he could be spying, but dismissed it. Forgive me for not telling you.”

He lifted her chin with gentle fingers. “Do not worry. You are well worth any risk, Gabby.”

“You make me happy,” she said, unable to keep her thoughts to herself.

He cupped her face with his hands and kissed her gently. “I am happy, too, my love.”

My love. She grinned like a child in a candy store. “Truly?”

His thumbs brushed along her cheeks. “Aye, I have never been happier than I am at this moment, Gabrielle. I have felt dead for centuries, living life day after endless day. When I saw you at the Vanderline ball, I knew I must have you. You were taken from me once. I will not lose you again. Not to anyone. I am not afraid of Sutherland or your uncle. We shall leave at sundown tomorrow evening.”

“What if they follow us?”

A murderous gleam shone in his eyes. “I hope they do. I shall give them a fright they will never forget.”

“Sutherland still scares me. He is unpredictable.”

“Sutherland will not harm you. I will not allow it. Demetri will not allow it, and Remont will not allow it. Trust me, Gabrielle. Trust us. You are safe. You will have all three of us, and we are a force to be reckoned with.”

She did not doubt it, especially after what she had seen the night of the robberies. “Perhaps we should leave tonight?”

“It is too late already. Plus, your uncle and Sutherland’s men are watching us intently. That is precisely why Demetri and I are going out this evening in order to be seen.”

“What of Remont?”

“He will stay with you this evening. I cannot leave you alone without any of our protection, and Remont says if I stayed, then Sutherland would surely know you were here. I know Remont looks like he could cause little harm, but he is the oldest, and thereby the strongest among us.”

She nodded, relieved to know she would not be alone tonight. “When will you return?”

“As soon as possible. I will make sure I am seen at a few different parties this evening.”

“Be seen with other women?” Her voice broke. She hated that he would be flirting and charming other ladies.

His thumb brushed along her jaw, over her bottom lip. “Aye, it will help the guise if I am in the company of other women, but know this, Gabrielle. I want only you, and no one else, lass.”

She held his gaze and knew he spoke the truth. He did not want to leave her. In fact, he yearned to return to the bed just as she did.

He took her by the hand. “Come, your bath should be just about ready.”

“Already?”

“Aye.” He led her into a smaller sitting room, where steam rose from the surface of a bathtub.

“Very impressive,” Gabrielle said, itching to sink into the bath. “It smells delightful.”

“That is the oils you smell. Jacob, my valet, always adds them.”

“I shall thank Jacob next time I see him.”

“I am sure he would appreciate that. And now it is time for you to get clean.” He took the gown from her and helped her into the bath. She eased down into the warm water with a contented sigh.

Darius laughed as he sat down in a nearby chair to watch.

How could any woman not get used to this? To being treated like a princess. She lay back against the tub’s edge, closing her eyes, savoring the feel of the water against her sore extremities.

“Tell me about Scotland,” she said, opening her eyes to find him watching her intently, one elbow propped up on the chair’s arm, chin in hand. His gaze slid down her body. The lack of bubbles meant he could see everything. “What do you want to know?” he asked, his gaze returning to her face.

The heat in those blue eyes sent her pulse racing. “About your home. Where you were born and where you grew up. Everything.”

He ran a hand through his long hair, something he had done before when she asked him a personal question.

“My father was a clan laird, and my mother was a daughter of a rival clan. Their marriage was meant to achieve peace, but it was a long time coming.”

“But did it?”

“Aye, it did. As you can guess, I had a somewhat privileged upbringing. As I said before, I was raised in the Highlands of Scotland.”

“Where you live now?”

“No, but just a day’s ride from there. I built a lovely manor house between two large hills.”

The place she saw in her dreams.

“Were you always at war?”

“Aye, for as long as I can remember. It was a way of life. Our father trained my brother and me, along with other children of the clan. I think that is why so many feared us, because fighting was ingrained in us at such an early age.”

She smiled, imagining Darius as a child. She wondered if ever they had a child, if it would look like Darius and have dark hair and ice blue eyes or have her fair coloring.

Could he even have children?

The smile slowly faded, and she looked away, toward the fire before he could sense something was wrong.

“Did Demetri have a wife?”

“No, but the ladies loved him, and he broke many hearts. I remember one occasion when he actually juggled three mistresses.”

“How scandalous.”

“Aye, it was scandalous.”

“And now?”

Darius shrugged. “He loves Remont.”

“Has he always loved Remont?”

“One always loves their maker.” He pursed his lips, as though deep in thought. “The bond is incredibly strong. I love Remont, but not in the same way my brother does.” He sat forward in the chair. “Obviously.”

Gabrielle nodded, and taking the sponge, began to scrub at her skin. She could feel Darius’s eyes follow her movements.

“Rose fell in love with Demetri before she fell in love with me.”

Now that surprised her. “Why do you say that?”

“A man knows when a woman desires someone else.”

“But you are twins.”

“Aye, we are, but that does not mean our personalities are alike.”

“What did you do when you realized Rose liked Demetri?”

“What can a man do, but buy pretty trinkets and gowns to win a woman’s affection,” he said with a wink.

“I am sure she was pleased to have married you in the end.”

“Aye, she told me as much. We came to love each other very much.”

He stood and came over to the bath. “Let me wash your hair.”

“Are you sure? It will not be easy with all the rats and snarls.”

“Which I helped create,” he said with a wicked smile.

He went down on his haunches, and she relaxed while he soaped her hair, taking his time, working it into the long strands and rubbing her scalp.

Closing her eyes, she moaned. “That feels positively heavenly.”

“I am happy to oblige.”

His hands fell away, and she opened her eyes to find Darius grabbing a pitcher. “Let me rinse it for you.”

When he was finished, he set the pitcher aside and proceeded to remove his shirt and pants.

“You are going to join me?” she asked, excitement rushing through her.

“Since I am already wet,” he said, motioning to the water spots on both articles of clothing, “I thought it might be wise to do so, and I would be a fool not to with such a lovely lass tempting me.”

Soon he had settled in behind her, and she lay back against his powerful chest and stomach.

He soaped his hands and brought them up her arms, over her chest and her breasts.

She hid a smile and closed her eyes as his fingers rolled over her nipples, drawing them into tight little buds. Her body came to life under his wonderfully talented fingers. One hand slid down her belly, over her sex, where he touched her sensitive button, drawing circles around it, flicking it. The oils only added to the sensuality of the moment, and as he slid a finger into her, she arched against him.

As usual, he seemed to know just what she needed and when she needed it, and soon she needed more than just the pleasure of his hand.

She felt his cock, long and hard against her lower back and buttocks. Turning slightly, she kissed him. His hands moved beneath her arms and he lifted her so that she faced him.

His cock rose between them, long and thick. “Ride me, Gabby.” His eyes darkened as he lifted her slowly onto his rod. When she looked into his eyes again, she could not believe the heat there. She moved her hips a little and soon found that holding onto the tub’s edge gave her leverage.

Bending his head, he kissed one breast and then the other. Taking a nipple into his mouth, he flicked his tongue over the sensitive bud, suckling her while pinching and pulling the other with gentle fingers.

Her head fell back and she moaned as he sucked harder, tending to one breast and then the other.

It did not take her long at all to reach climax, and she cried out his name as her sheath tightened around him.

His mouth left her breast and kissed a path up to her neck. He placed a kiss there, above the erratic pulse, his breath hot against her throat. For a moment she paused, half expecting the prick of his teeth against her skin.

Then he lifted his hips against her, and she rotated hers. He came with a low, guttural moan that told her she had done well and ridden him to completion. To her surprise she came again, her arms wrapping around his broad shoulders as she rode out the final tremors.

A sharp pinch on her neck made her wince. She could feel him suck and could not believe the sensations that wracked her body as she cried out his name on a sigh.