Darius walked into the bedchamber just as Gabrielle finished brushing out her hair. All night he had thought of her, wondering what she was up to, yearning for the moment he would return and take her to bed.

He closed the door behind him, and she set the brush down and stood. “You are finally home.”

Home. Just hearing the words from her lips made him smile.

His gaze shifted down her body. She wore one of his shirts, which hung to the middle of her thighs. “I have a greater appreciation for that shirt now.” He turned the lock without dropping his gaze.

She grinned and twirled around, the shirt flying up, showing her lovely bottom. “I am glad you like it. The material is quite comfortable.”

Blood heated his groin, his cock aching. “If this is what will greet me upon every return, then perhaps I shall refrain from purchasing you more dresses.”

She took the few steps that separated them. “Did you have a nice evening?”

“Yes, and did you have a nice time with Remont?”

“A very nice time,” she said with a wide grin. “He is a wonderful companion and has so many stories to tell. In fact, he told me a few about you.”

His brow furrowed as he untied his cravat. “None too telling, I hope.”

She laughed. “No.”

“I hope I did not do myself a disservice by leaving you here alone with Remont. I forgot how charming and engaging he can be.”

“Yes, he is. Speaking of charming, did you charm any ladies this evening?” She lifted a brow as she awaited his response. Despite her effort to block him, he could read her mind, knew she worried that he might find another lover.

Little did she realize he wanted no one else. “I did try to charm a few women, but only because I had to prove I did not have a beautiful young woman waiting for me at home.”

“Flatterer.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

Her words pleased him immensely. To his great relief, she trusted him. He felt her trust, but he also felt her insecurity about their future. How would they ever be able to get over such a hurdle? After all, he was immortal and she was not. Thinking of having to say goodbye to the love of his life again would be too much.

“No one can compare to you, lass.”

He saw the vulnerability in her eyes slowly slip away.

His hands moved to her shoulders and he bent down, kissed the side of her neck. Her heart was beating so fast, he wondered if it was from desire or fear.

Her arms encircled his waist. Pressing her cheek to his chest, he knew she heard his slower heartbeat. He held her tightly to him, one arm about her waist, the other at the back of her neck. “Look at me, Gabrielle.”

She did, and what he saw in her eyes took his breath away. Desire. “I have waited too long for you to return to me, and I would never ruin that. I went tonight because I had to. This is where I want to be, here with you. I can hardly wait to leave the city tomorrow evening and return home.”

She leaned into him, and he knew she must feel the hard length of his cock by her expression. Her eyes widened. “You did miss me.”

Delighted by her playful mood, he laughed before he kissed her. “See what you do to me?”

“I am glad.”

He lifted her in his arms, and she wrapped her legs around his lean waist, locking her ankles at his back. Cupping her naked buttocks with his hands, he squeezed the high, firm mounds.

Darius’s soft lips left Gabrielle’s to journey over her jaw, over her throat, and then up the other side of her neck.

The flesh between her thighs tingled with anticipation as the hard ridge of his sex rubbed against her sensitive bud.

He took a few steps toward a large side table. Resting her bottom on the edge, he went slowly to his knees and brought her legs to rest over his shoulders.

She gripped the sides of the table as he licked her slit, his tongue lifting her delicate nub, over and over again.

How exquisite his tongue felt laving her sensitive folds, even dipping inside her hot, dripping channel. Her stomach coiled in a tight knot as she climbed toward orgasm.

Her climax came and she shifted, nearly toppling the table, but Darius braced it with a foot. She looked down at him as he continued to pleasure her and was stunned by how excited she became just watching him.

Even after the orgasm he continued to stroke her, his long tongue slipping into her heat before circling her tiny button, over and over again. He slipped a finger into her and she arched her hips, moaning when he slid another finger in.

With his free hand he reached up and palmed a breast, weighing it with his hand before playing with the nipple. He rolled the taut bud between thumb and forefinger, pulling it, pinching it lightly.

His fingers began pumping in and out of her slowly while he continued to taste her, his tongue bringing her to orgasm again and again.

The multiple sensations were almost too much. She came again, her insides pulsing around his long fingers, coating them with her dew. “Darius,” she said, her inner muscles still throbbing, her legs shaking from the intensity of her climax.

“Yes, love.”

“I need you.”

Thankfully, he did not ask her to elaborate, but stood, his cock rising above the band of his pants. She stared at his large, thick length while he unbuttoned his pants, took his cock in hand, and guided it toward her dripping entrance.

She opened her legs wider as he inched inside her.

When he eased the tip of his manhood out, she looked down to see it glistening with her essence.

“Darius, please,” she begged.

He thrust into her, and they moaned in unison. His strokes were slow and fluid, the table shifting with each thrust.

The now-familiar stirring grew more intense as she pushed toward orgasm. For once she did not guard her thoughts or her emotions from him. Instead, she wanted him to feel what she felt.

As the first flutters of her climax hit her, she moaned, reveling in the feel of her lover filling her completely.

Darius would never forget Gabrielle as she was at this moment. Those haunting green eyes stared at him with such desire.

He could hardly believe that just days before she had been a virgin. How comfortable she had become with sex in such a short time.

To his shock she pushed her thoughts at him, her joy and exultation, and as he came, he reveled in the knowledge that she truly and deeply cared for him.

* * *

Across the street from Darius MacLeod’s townhouse a man rested against a tree, inhaled deeply of his cigar, taking the smoke into his lungs. Smoking always calmed him, and as he blew out a trail of cigar smoke, he cursed Gabrielle Fairmont and her lover. He had been made a fool of one too many times in these past days since she had disappeared at the Vanderline ball.

Fool or no, he wanted Gabrielle Fairmont in his bed, if only to fuck her once before he squeezed the life out of her.

And that day was coming very soon.

His sister had asked him just last evening why he did not pursue another woman. After all, he could have any number of women. His wealth made that possible, even at his age and his less than agile body, but he yearned for only one. And that woman was the beautiful blonde with haunting green eyes who had all of London talking about her beauty and her ability to heal.

Ironically the whispers of her being a witch had soon died down, and now the rumor went that Gabrielle was descended from angels, put on earth to save the helpless.

It had been angels who whisked her away that night at the Vanderline mansion, many said. He knew the truth. She had escaped him, and had no doubt planned it all along.

Sutherland shook his head and took a long drink from a near-empty brandy bottle.

She might have fooled everyone else, but he knew her secrets. Had watched her witchcraft with his own eyes.

As though his thoughts conjured her up, Gabrielle stepped near one of the windows. Her hair fell around her like a veil, and the window was not low enough that he could make out what she was wearing, but it looked very much like a man’s shirt.

His blood ran cold.

Damn Darius MacLeod.

A second later the Scot appeared, and pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

Sutherland trembled with anger.

“I shall have the last laugh,” he said, dropping the cigar, crushing it beneath his heel, before draining the contents of the bottle. He walked around the corner to where his carriage awaited. Opening the door, the beautiful brunette smiled. “Are you ready for me?”

“Yes, it is time to make your grand entrance, my dear.”

“And what of the money?”

Greedy bitch.

He patted his waistcoat pocket. “Here, when you have done your job.”

With a nod, she stepped out of the carriage and walked toward Darius MacLeod’s townhouse.