Coming Soon Follow the continuing story of Gabriel and Julia in the highly anticipated sequel to Gabriel’s Inferno, coming soon from Omnific Publishing. Prologue 22 страница

Chapter 32

Julia awoke the next morning stark naked. Or so she thought. She was in Gabriel’s bed with their bodies wrapped around each other. Her head rested on his shoulder while his left arm ran across her right hip, their legs scissored, their hips pressed close. She moved a hand down his back until she found soft cotton covering his most beautiful of curves, which she explored surreptitiously. Then she looked in between them and realized she was wearing her pink bra and panties. In her dream, they’d fallen into bed naked and made love for hours. Gabriel had placed his body over hers and held her gaze like a magnet as he entered into her slowly, until the two became one. An eternal circle with no end and no beginning. He’d worshipped her with his body and his words, and it was far more emotional and lovely than she’d ever dared hope. But it was only a dream. She sighed and closed her eyes as the previous evening’s events came flooding back. Sorrow and relief commingled and spread across her heart; sorrow for Gabriel’s loss and tortured desperation, and relief that all their secrets had now been spoken. Gabriel murmured her name, his eyes moving beneath his eyelids in deep REM sleep. He’d been so tired the night before. So broken. Julia kissed his cheek and quietly extricated herself from his arms, padding to the bathroom. When she regarded herself in the mirror, she saw wild, rumpled hair, smeared eye makeup, and lips made fuller from kissing. Several love bites, mild in color and quite painless, dappled her neck and chest. He’d been a gentle but enthusiastic lover. She washed her face and brushed her hair, taming her mane into a high ponytail and provocatively forsaking her purple bathrobe for one of Gabriel’s button down shirts. She fetched the Globe and Mail from the exterior hallway and waved a shy good morning to Gabriel’s nervous but not entirely unfortunate-looking next door neighbor, who stared through his rimless spectacles at her shapely bare legs before retreating like a frightened mouse into his apartment. He was not used to seeing such beauty so early in the morning, and he’d been clad only in Superman pajama bottoms of dubious origin. When Julia entered the kitchen she was faced with a mess, for no one had cleaned up after dinner, their hands and minds too full for such pedestrian concerns. After indulging in a slice of apple pie with Vermont cheddar, Julia proceeded to return Gabriel’s apartment to its formerly pristine condition. It took longer than she anticipated. When the kitchen was spotless and Gabriel still had not emerged from his bed, she poured herself a very large mug of coffee and sat in his favorite chair by the fireplace with the newspaper. The sight of his Oxford shirt and her silk blouse lying on top of one another on the floor brought a blush to her cheeks and a smile to her lips. “And this, alas! is more than we would do. ” Gabriel had stopped her. She would have given herself to him gladly because she loved him. For her, it was not a matter of if she would make love with him, but when. But Gabriel had mumbled something against her naked breast and stopped. He’d been so afraid that she would abandon him when she found out about his relationship with Paulina and the tragic loss of their child. But if anything, his confession had brought them closer. At least she’d been able to make that clear to him. And in three days, perhaps, we will be as close as a couple can be. In two days they would leave for Italy, and she would accompany Gabriel to his lecture as his girlfriend. And when their time in Florence was ended, perhaps they would travel to Venice or Umbria as lovers. Despite everything she and Gabriel had experienced, she felt very much at peace in his shirt and in his chair. They belonged to one another, she believed this. And as long as the Fates did not conspire against them, they would have their happiness. She hoped. However, the knowledge that Paulina had the ability to throw Gabriel into a tailspin with a single telephone call troubled her deeply. No less than an hour later, Gabriel strolled into the living room, scratching his head and yawning. His hair was messy with the exception of one perfect, errant curl that had taken a liking to his forehead. He was wearing a pair of faded blue jeans, his glasses, and nothing else. He wasn’t even wearing socks. (Parenthetically, it should be noted that even Gabriel’s feet were attractive. ) “Good afternoon, my love. ” He caressed her cheek with his fingers and leaned over to kiss her firmly. “I like your…outfit. ” His eyes took in the naked flesh that was visible below the edge of the shirttail. “I like your outfit too. You’re looking awfully casual this morning, Professor. ” He leaned forward and gave her a heated look. “Miss Mitchell, you’re lucky I decided to put on any clothes at all. ” He chuckled at her fierce blush and disappeared into the kitchen. Oh, gods of all virgins who are planning to have sex with their sex-god (no blasphemy intended) boyfriends, please don’t let me spontaneously combust when he finally takes me to bed. I really need a Gabriel-induced orgasm, especially after last night. Please. Please. Pretty please… A few minutes later he reappeared and sank down on the couch with his coffee cup, scrubbing at his stubble with one hand. At length, he frowned in her direction. “You’re too far away. ” He patted his knee invitingly. She grinned and walked over to him, allowing him to guide her so that she was seated comfortably on his lap. Gabriel crooked an appreciative arm around her hips, pulling her shirt up so that he could rest it comfortably against the lace of her boy shorts. “And how is Miss Mitchell this morning? ” “Tired, ” she sighed. “But happy. ” Her eyes darted to his. “If it’s okay for me to say that. ” “It is. I’m happy too. And God, so relieved. ” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back, exhaling a very deep breath. “I was certain I’d lose you. ” “Why? ” “Julianne, if one were doing a cost-benefit analysis, I would be a high-cost, high-risk, low-benefit venture. ” “Nonsense. I don’t see you that way at all. ” He gave her a half-smile. “Only because you are the soul of forgiveness and compassion. Although I must admit, my best qualities and talents have heretofore remained hidden. ” Now his voice was husky, and the familiar spark of sensuality lit his blue eyes. “But I look forward to placing them entirely at your service again and again and again, ad infinitum, until you are weary of both them and me. And entirely, blissfully sated. ” Julia swallowed. Hard. He reached up to kiss her forehead, placing his coffee on the side table so that he could wrap her in his arms. “Thank you for staying. ” “I love you, Gabriel. You have to accept the fact that I’m not going anywhere. ” He hugged her in response, but remained silent. “And you don’t have to win me sexually. You’ve already won me, ” she whispered. “Your best quality is your heart, Gabriel, not your sexual prowess. It’s your heart I fell in love with. ” He was silent for so long, Julia thought she had upset him. Or insulted him. Not a wise move to insult a prospective lover’s lovemaking skills before you’ve had the opportunity to sample them. She opened her mouth to apologize, but he stopped her. He kissed her firmly, a closed mouth kiss that quickly developed into the tugging of lips, the gentle play of tongues, and the caressing of cheeks. When he pulled away, he crushed her to his chest and whispered in her ear. “You strip me bare. You see through everything. You are the only one who has ever known everything and still wanted me. Only you, my beloved. ” She’d known intuitively that Gabriel used his sexuality as a shield to keep true intimacy and love at bay. But with his admission, she realized how painful and lonely it must have been for him all those years, and that was after the soul-crushing time in which he was invisible to his mother and the painful adjustment of becoming an adopted child. Having recognized all of this, in addition to his sorrow over Maia, she tried very hard to fight back tears, for she didn’t want to upset him, but she couldn’t stop them. “Sssshhh, don’t cry, ” Gabriel breathed. He wiped away her tears and kissed her forehead. “I love you. Please don’t cry. Not because of me. ” She snuggled in his arms and worked at stemming the flow of tears. He rubbed her back, gently petting her over and over. And when she was calm, she spoke. “I love you, Gabriel. And I can’t help but think that Grace would be very proud of you. ” He frowned. “I’m not sure about that. But she would certainly be proud of you and all you’ve accomplished. ” Julia smiled. “Grace had the gift of mercy. ” “She did. Your choice of words is very interesting. A Severe Mercy was one of Grace’s favorite books. She tried for years to get me to read it. I have a copy of it somewhere in the study. Maybe I should look for it. ” “What’s it about? ” “A young couple. The man ends up studying at Oxford, and I believe he becomes a proté gé of C. S. Lewis. It’s a true story. ” “I’d love to go to Oxford, to see where the Inklings drank their beer and spun their tales. Katherine Picton talks about Oxford a lot. ” Gabriel kissed her forehead. “I’d love to take you. I can show you the statues at Magdalen College that inspired Lewis to write about the stone animals in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. We could go in June, if you like. ” Julia smiled and kissed him back. “If you lend me Grace’s book, I’ll take it to Italy. It might be nice to have something to read during our vacation. ” He smirked at her and tapped a single finger to the end of her nose. “What makes you think I’ll let you have time enough to read? ” She blushed and fumbled a vague response, but Gabriel continued, a grave expression on his face. “I’m sorry we had to stop last night. It isn’t right for me to tease you like that and just…” He searched her eyes for her reaction. She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tenderly. “It was an incredibly emotional evening. I was happy to be close to you and to fall asleep in your arms. I just wanted to comfort you any way I could. You don’t need to apologize. ” He cupped her face in both hands. “Julianne, your mere presence comforts me. But I was exhausted, and I’d been drinking…a recipe for disaster. ” He shook his head and looked ashamed. “I didn’t want our first time together to have so much baggage, with all the ghosts of my past swirling in the air. I want us to go to a place that is ours alone and make some new memories. Some happy ones. ” “Of course. Although I must say that I was pretty happy with our interactions last night. ” She laughed lightly and kissed him. He returned her kiss eagerly. “So you aren’t upset? ” “Gabriel, you are a gentleman worth waiting for. What kind of person would I be if I threw a tantrum because you said stop? If I were to say stop, I would hope that you would accept it and not get angry. ” He frowned. “Of course, Julianne. You can always say stop. ” “Well, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. ” “So I’m a gander now, am I? ” He kissed her once again. “It’s better than being a geezer. ” “Oh, no. ” He squeezed her tightly. “No age jokes. I’m sensitive enough about our age difference. ” She tossed her hair. “Our souls have to be about the same age. So who’s counting? ” He tugged at her ponytail. “You’re incredible. You’re intelligent and funny, and damn, you’re gorgeous. Last night, kissing your breasts…” He placed a hand reverently over her heart. “You rival Botticelli’s muse. ” “Botticelli? ” “Haven’t you noticed how several of his paintings all feature the same woman? She is the topic of my lecture for the Uffizi Gallery—Botticelli’s muse. ” Julia smiled at him sweetly, placing a corresponding hand on his heart. “I can’t wait. ” “Neither can I. ” After a lonely shower, Julia had a deuce of a time convincing Gabriel to let her out of his sight so that she could go shopping. He insisted on accompanying her. But when she finally explained that she wanted to shop for lingerie, alone, he relented. “Promise me you’ll stay with me until we leave for Italy. ” He looked at her through his eyebrows. “I have to pack. My suitcase and all my things are at my apartment. ” “When you’ve finished shopping, take a cab home and pack before you have the driver bring you back here. I have to run a few errands, but you have your own key and security card to let yourself in. ” “And what kind of errands does Professor Emerson have to do today? ” He smiled at her seductively, and Julia felt her boy shorts slip along her hips as if they were intending to take a header to the floor. “Perhaps I have my own shopping to do for—ah—personal items. ” He leaned forward to press his lips against her ear, his voice a smooth whisper. “I told you I was a good lover, Julianne. Trust me. I will anticipate your every need. ” She shivered at the way his breath breezed across her neck, almost fluttering the omnipresent scarf she wore to hide her scar. She had no idea what he was implying, but she found herself tantalized by the way his words tripped off his tongue. He owned her, body and soul.
***
While Julia was pulling lingerie from the store racks to add to her ever expanding pile of items to try on, her iPhone chirped. She quickly checked it and found a text: What are you looking at? —G She giggled slightly and typed a short response: Very tiny things. —Julia Gabriel replied immediately: How tiny? —G
P. S. Send pictures Julia rolled her eyes as she hit reply: Too tiny. No pictures—
they’d ruin the surprise.
Love, Julia It took a little longer for Gabriel’s next text to arrive: Darling,
No picture could ruin
the experience of seeing you
in all your glory
for the first time…
You’re that beautiful. Love, G Julia’s fingers couldn’t type fast enough: Thank you, Gabriel.
I love you Gabriel’s final text message reached her just as she entered the dressing room: I love you too, sweetheart.
Have fun…Hurry home to me. —G The next two days were a whirlwind as Gabriel finished his administrative duties for the university, ensuring that all his grades were submitted. The semester was finally over. Julia made a special trip to a spa for some pre-Italy pampering. In keeping with her low pain tolerance and overall Mediterranean sensibility, she politely declined the aesthetician’s invitation to embrace all things Brazilian. Gabriel had kept most of their travel plans a secret, wishing to surprise her. So it was with amazement that their arrival in Florence on a warmer than usual December day resulted in the happy couple walking into the Gallery Hotel Art. The hotel was upscale, modern, and located very close to the Ponte Vecchio, Julia’s favorite bridge, and a few minutes from the Ponte Santa Trinita, which was featured in Holiday’s painting of Dante and Beatrice. The concierge, Paolo, greeted them immediately. Although Gabriel had not stayed in his hotel before, Paolo had been instructed by Dottore Massimo Vitali, the Executive Director of the Uffizi Gallery, to extend every courtesy to Professor Emerson and his fidanzata. In fact, Paolo himself accompanied the bellhop and the lovers to their seventh-floor suite, which was called the Palazzo Vecchio Penthouse. Julia gasped as the men parted like the Red Sea before her so that she could enter first. It was, perhaps, the loveliest room she’d ever seen. The floor was a dark hardwood offset with light-colored walls. The sitting room was graced with elegantly modern furniture and a sliding glass wall that partitioned it from the bedroom. The bedroom itself was spacious and featured a large bed that was piled high with crisp, white linens. Mere steps away was a glass door that opened out onto the rooftop terrazza, which allowed bright sunlight to spill over the bed, illuminating it. One of the bathrooms boasted a huge pedestal bathtub, not unlike the tub Julia had enjoyed in their hotel in Philadelphia, while the other bathroom had a shower and two matching vanities. Gabriel took one look at the bathtub and decided that he needed to share it with Julianne that very evening. But the crowning glory of the space was the terrazza itself, which offered breathtaking views of the Duomo, the Palazzo, and the surrounding hills. Julia envisioned curling up with Gabriel on the comfortable futon bed, which dominated the terrace, with a glass of Chianti, looking up at the stars. Or perhaps (she blushed), making love with him by candlelight underneath those same stars. Orgasms with Gabriel by starlight… Once they were alone, Julia hugged him tightly and thanked him over and over again for choosing such a beautiful room. “It’s all for you, my love. ” He kissed her softly. “All for you. ” Truthfully, he would have liked nothing better than to spread Julianne out on the bed and make love to her immediately, but she hadn’t slept well on the airplane, and he knew that she was tired. She yawned twice in a row and giggled when he tried to kiss her. “I should clean up and pay a visit to the Uffizi. Would it be all right if I left you on your own? You can take a nap, if you like, or I could ask the concierge to book a massage for you in the spa. ” Julia’s eyes lit up at the latter offering, but she knew she was too sleepy to enjoy it. “A nap sounds good. I know it isn’t the best strategy for overcoming jet lag, but I will be much better company over dinner and, um, later on, if I have a little more sleep. ” She blushed. Gabriel traced a single finger around her jaw line. “I’ll only say this once, Julianne. There is no rush. We can take our time tonight and just relax. Although I think it would be nice if we were to try out the bathtub. Together. ” His lips curled up into a sexy half-smile. “I’d like that, ” she said. He kissed her nose, chuckling. “I requested special amenities from the Farmacia di Santa Maria Novella. See if any of the scents are to your liking, and we’ll use them. In the meantime, I’ll book our dinner reservations for nine or nine thirty. ” “Sure. Where will we go? ” He smiled widely. “The Palazzo dell’Arte dei Giudici. Do you know it? ” “I’ve walked by it, but no, I didn’t know they had a restaurant. ” “I’m looking forward to showing it to you. ” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it softly. “I ordered a fruit basket and a few bottles of sparkling water. Charge what you like to the room. ” He grinned. “Although save the champagne to share with me later. In the tub. ” Julia looked down at her feet. “You’re spoiling me. ” He lifted her chin. “No, my love, not spoiling. Just treating you as you deserve to have been treated all along. You’ve been surrounded by fools your whole life. Of whom I was chief. ” “Gabriel, you are many things, but a fool you are not. ” She leaned up on tiptoes to brush his lips with her own before leaving to take a shower. A few hours later, Gabriel returned from a cordial meeting with his friend Massimo Vitali. Over espresso, the gentlemen discussed Gabriel’s lecture the following evening and the plans for an elaborate banquet to be held inside the Uffizi in his honor. Gabriel was very grateful for the gesture, but more on behalf of Julianne than himself, for he thought only of how pleased she would be to participate in such a festive event. And in her favorite art gallery. Entering the penthouse, Gabriel walked through the sitting room to the bedroom and found Julia asleep in the geographic center of the bed, on top of the covers. She was wearing champagne-colored satin pajamas, her long hair flowing around her head like a warm mahogany halo. She looked like a dark-haired Sleeping Beauty. He watched her sleep for a moment and pressed a kiss to her cheek. When she didn’t stir, he decided to pour himself a drink and sit out on the terrace until it was time to wake her. Truthfully, he was glad to have a moment to himself to plan and dream about the next few days. He felt as if the world had been lifted from his shoulders. Not only did she know the truth about Paulina and Maia, but she still loved him. And they’d escaped the wrath of the judicial committee and survived the academic semester together. He had much for which to be grateful. And most of all, he had his Julianne all to himself for two entire weeks. Julia is not the kind of girl you screw around with. She’s the kind of girl you marry. Scott’s words resounded in his ears. Scott was right. Julianne was special: an intelligent, compassionate beauty who loved deeply and gave freely. She deserved much more than just an affair, although Gabriel refused to consider their relationship an affair, no matter what people might say. He stealthily patted the small velvet box he’d hidden in his jacket pocket. The thought of being in a long-term relationship had always been so remote. Julianne had changed all that. Tonight his plan was to show her how much he loved her. To adore her and to relax her. A bubble bath, a massage…anything he could do to make her comfortable with having him see her body. Julianne was still shy with him, and he wanted her to feel sexy and desirable. Simon had wrought deep fissures in her confidence. She thought she was frigid. She thought she was clumsy and sexually inadequate. She feared she would disappoint Gabriel when they eventually made love. Gabriel knew that it would take a long time to dispel those lies and to heal those wounds. He was resolved to build her confidence incrementally, to help her see herself as he saw her—sexy, attractive, and passionate. The only way he could do this would be to take his time and be patient and affirming. He was looking forward to demonstrating his love for her and subjecting all of his erotic arts to her service. She would never demand such things, such attention, which made the thought of giving everything to her so much more satisfying. If their relationship was more advanced and Julianne was less shy, he would suggest that they make love on the terrace. The thought of how Julianne’s rose and cream skin would glow in the starlight made his heart soar and his trousers twitch. But having sex outside would likely be too nerve-wracking for her, and he’d be damned if he’d push her to do anything that would make her even remotely uncomfortable. We’ll just have to come back…

Chapter 33

At eight o’clock that evening, Miss Julianne Mitchell put the finishing touches on her hair as her sweetheart gazed at her longingly from the doorway of the bathroom. He adored her. It was evident in every look, every touch, and the way he stared, unblinking, at her simplest actions. She’d curled her hair and pinned it up, coaxing a few tendrils about her face, tendrils Gabriel longed to wrap around his fingers. Her aesthetician in Toronto had given her a small tube of industrial strength concealer, makeup that was designed to cover even the worst scars. It was so effective, Julia no longer had to wear a scarf to hide Simon’s bite. Just being able to forget about the scar made Julia joyous, especially since Grace’s lovely scarf would not have matched her new dress. Her dress was a silky emerald green—long-sleeved and V-necked, as she preferred, its hem brushing the top of her knees. She wore sheer black stockings with a surprise attached to them and was about to step into her black Prada stilettos. As Gabriel watched her lean forward to put on her shoes, he vowed to purchase more of them. They did incredible things for her legs and to her cleavage as she leaned over. “Allow me, ” he said, crouching in front of her in his freshly pressed navy suit. He took her hand and placed it on his shoulder, to aid her balance, while he lifted each foot and slipped on her shoes. “Thank you, ” she murmured. He smiled up at her and kissed her hand. “Anything for you, Cinderella. ” Julia pulled her black three-quarter length trench coat from the closet and was about to wriggle into it when Gabriel took it out of her hand. “Let me, ” he protested. “I want to fuss over you. ” “It’s just a coat, Gabriel. No worries. ” “Yes, I know it’s a coat. But it’s an opportunity for me to behave like a gentleman and honor you. Please don’t deprive me, Julianne. ” She flushed in embarrassment and nodded slowly. She wasn’t used to such attention, of course, except from Gabriel. She wanted to be gracious and let him attend her, but it was far more than she ever expected or thought that she deserved. She reached up to kiss him and whispered her thanks against his lips. He took her arm and led her downstairs and toward the restaurant. Julia and Gabriel walked slowly through the cobblestoned streets from the Palazzo Vecchio, over to the Palazzo dell’Arte dei Giudici e Notai, laughing and reminiscing about previous visits to Florence. They had to walk slowly, for navigating Florence in stilettos was more than a little challenging. Thankfully, Gabriel had taken Julia’s arm to escort her properly, thus enabling her to walk upright and also to avoid much of the wolf whistles and catcalls of Florentine youths. The city had not changed that much since the days of Dante. The restaurant Gabriel had chosen was called Alle Murate. It was located in a fourteenth-century guild hall a short walk from the Duomo, and it boasted incredible period frescoes, including a portrait of Dante himself. Julia was overwhelmed by the beauty of the artwork and found herself wandering slightly as the maî tre d’ escorted them to their table. Gabriel had reserved a quiet space on the loft floor overlooking the main room, just under the vaulted ceiling. It was the best table in the house, for it afforded the finest and closest views of the medieval illustrations. Four angels frozen in frescoes floated above them as Julia took Gabriel’s hand and squeezed it. She was ecstatic. “It’s beautiful. Thank you. I had no idea these frescoes were here. ” He smiled at her enthusiasm. “Tomorrow night will be even better. Massimo tells me that my lecture is scheduled after the museum closes and there will be a reception with local dignitaries and academics. Later on, there will be a banquet inside the Gallery. It will be a semi-formal affair, and we will be the guests of honor. ” Julia smiled narrowly. “I didn’t bring anything fancy enough for a semi-formal. ” “I’m sure anything you brought would look beautiful. But I can understand not wanting to wear the same dress twice. So I will just have to take you shopping. ” “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather I left you to it? The banquet is a celebration of your lecture, so you’ll be very busy. Maybe you’d be more comfortable if you could—mingle freely. ” He reached over to push a curl away from her face. “Julianne, your presence is not only encouraged, it’s required. I dislike going to social events alone. I always have. Having you at my side is the only pleasure the evening will afford, I assure you. Don’t you want to join me? ” His face took on a worried expression. “I always enjoy your company. But people will ask me who I am and what I do…won’t that be awkward for you? ” His features immediately darkened. “Of course not! I’ve been waiting for the end of the semester so I could enjoy your company in public and introduce you as my girlfriend. And there’s nothing shameful about being a graduate student. Half the people at the banquet will have been graduate students at one time. You’re a grown woman, you’re intelligent and beautiful…” He grinned wickedly. “I will have to stay close to you in order to keep my rivals at bay. They’ll be circling around you like Etruscan wolves, vying for the attention of the prettiest woman at the party. ” Julia smiled her gratitude and leaned over to kiss him. “Then I would be delighted to accompany you. ” In answer, he pressed his lips to her hand, her palm, and her wrist, moving his lips gently to the sleeve of her dress. He pushed it up her forearm to expose her bare skin to his mouth. Julia’s eyelids fluttered as he began kissing the delicate skin of her arm with wet, unhurried kisses. He dragged his lips to the sensitive space at the inside of her elbow and sucked lightly. For Gabriel knew, as Julia did not, that the inside of a woman’s elbow was a particularly erogenous zone. The sound of the waiter clearing his throat behind him merely slowed Gabriel’s attentions. Julia blushed a brilliant red at being caught, which prompted him to release her arm reluctantly. Over a bottle of Tuscan wine and a few antipasti, Gabriel asked about her study-abroad program, where she lived and what she did. When she spoke of how she would visit the Uffizi on an almost daily basis to gaze at Botticelli’s masterpieces, he wondered if there really was such a thing as destiny. And he wondered how he’d ever been fortunate enough to find her not once, but twice. After they’d finished their main courses and were sitting quietly gazing into one another’s eyes and exchanging chaste kisses, Gabriel released her hand and rummaged in his suit pocket. “I have something for you. ” “Gabriel, the trip is a gift in itself, and now you want to buy me a dress. I can’t. ” He shook his head. “This is different. Before I give it to you, I want you to promise that you won’t refuse it. ” Julia looked over into serious blue eyes. He wasn’t joking. In fact, he was quite grave. She wondered what was hidden in the palm of his right hand. “I can’t promise something without knowing more about it. ” He made a face. “Promise that you’ll keep an open mind? ” “Of course. ” “Hold out your hand. ” Julia did as she was bidden, and Gabriel placed a small, black velvet box in her palm. She inhaled sharply. “It isn’t a ring. So you can start breathing again. ” His face was smiling, but his eyes were tense. She opened the box and was stunned by what she saw. Nestled amongst black silk were two large, round, and perfect diamond solitaire earrings of about a carat each. “Gabriel, I…” She searched for more words, but couldn’t find any. “Before you refuse them, I need to tell you their story. Will you listen? For me? ” She nodded, mesmerized by the glittering stones. “They were Grace’s. Richard gave them to her the first time he told her that he loved her. They weren’t together very long before he fell for her completely. Legend has it that he sold his car to buy those earrings. ” Julia’s mouth hung open. Now she recognized them. Grace wore them almost constantly. “I want you to have them. ” She shook her head and gently, reverently closed the box. She held it out to him. “I can’t. They were your mother’s. You should keep them. ” “No. ” “Gabriel, please. They should go to Rachel or Scott. ” “Rachel and Scott have other things. Richard gave these to me. ” As Gabriel began to panic, all he could do was focus on the small patch of velvet surrounded by her porcelain skin. His eyes narrowed a little. “If you refuse them, you will injure me. ” His words were barely above a whisper, but they hit Julia as if he had screamed. She swallowed and took a minute to gather her thoughts. “I’m so sorry. They’re lovely. And I can’t express how wonderful I feel that you want me to have them, but this is wrong. ” Julia saw that his mood was shifting from hurt to upset, and so she looked down at the tablecloth in front of her, hiding her eyes. “You misunderstand me, Julianne. I’m not giving them to you because I think you should have something of Grace’s. They aren’t the equivalent of a scarf or a string of pearls. ” She chewed at the inside of her mouth as she waited for him to continue. He leaned across the table and pressed his palm against her cheek. “I am giving you these to commemorate the fact that I have already given you my heart. ” He swallowed thickly as his eyes searched hers. “This is my way of saying that you, Julianne, are the love of my life, and I want something of mine with you always. Don’t you see? These diamonds represent my heart. You can’t refuse them. ” Julia saw in his eyes that he was absolutely serious. She knew that if he’d given her an engagement ring, she would have been shocked, but she would have accepted it. There was no other person in the world for her, just him. So why was she hesitating? On the one hand, there was her pride, and on the other, there was the thought, the painful unacceptable thought, that she would hurt him by rejecting his gift. She didn’t want to hurt him. She loved him, which meant that her decision had already been made. “They’re beautiful. The most beautiful gift I’ve ever received, next to your love. Thank you. ” He kissed her fingers in gratitude. “Grace would be happy that we found one another. I believe that, Julianne. I believe that she’s looking down on us and offering us her blessing. And she would be overjoyed that I was able to give her earrings to the woman I love. ” He smiled, extending his hand and pulling her into a passionate embrace. “Thank you, ” he whispered. After he’d kissed her, he took the box from her hand and helped her place the earrings in her ears. And he pressed a tender kiss to each earlobe. “Meravigliosa. Marvelous. ” Julia laughed nervously. “Everyone downstairs is staring at us. ” “Not everyone. The waiter is in the kitchen. ” He smirked at her, and they both laughed. He caught her eye and leaned forward to whisper in her ear, “Behold, thou art fair, my beloved. ” Julia flushed deeply at Gabriel’s erotic Hebrew poetry and murmured her reply against his neck, “By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him. ” Gabriel responded with a slow, surprised smile and kissed her until the waiter returned. When Julia declined dessert and the wine bottle was empty, the blissful couple floated in the direction of their hotel. “How are your feet? ” Gabriel gazed down wistfully at her beautiful high-heeled shoes. She squeezed his hand. “I can’t feel my feet. I can’t feel anything at this moment except happiness. ” He smiled at her tenderly. “My sweet girl. ” He chose a single lock of hair and wound it gently around his finger before releasing it. “Can you tolerate a detour? The Duomo is beautiful by night, and I’ve never kissed you in its shadow. ” She nodded, and he led her to the church so they could admire Brunelleschi’s dome. It was an incredible feat of renaissance architecture, a great egg shaped dome with a tiled roof soaring above a beautiful church. They walked to the front of the structure, near the Baptistery opposite, gazing at the faç ade and up at the roof. It was breathtaking, even at night. Gabriel pulled her to his chest and kissed her lovingly, winding his fingers around the loose tendrils of her hair. She half-moaned as he dragged his lips to her earlobe, drawing it into his mouth gently. “You have no idea how it feels knowing that I gave you these. ” He nuzzled her earring with his nose. “Knowing that you wear my love for everyone to see. ” Julia responded by kissing him eagerly. With fingers entwined, they found themselves drawn to the Ponte Santa Trinita, the bridge where Dante saw Beatrice. Standing on the bridge, they looked down at the Arno, illuminated as it was at night by the lights of the buildings on the riverbanks. “Julianne, ” he murmured, holding her in his arms as they watched the river flow. “Gabriel. ” She smiled up at him and angled her face for a kiss. He kissed her softly at first, but their kisses grew more and more intense. He pulled away, well aware of the fact that they were becoming a spectacle for the foot traffic across the bridge. “I’m so glad I found you again. I’ve never been this happy. ” He stroked her cheek lazily and pressed his lips to her forehead. Impulsively, she reached out and grabbed his silk tie, pulling him so that their faces were mere inches apart. “I want you, ” she breathed. And with that, Julia pulled him even closer and kissed him. And what a kiss it was. Here was the tiger emerging from behind the faç ade of the kitten. Julia’s passion, ignited by Gabriel’s affection, poured into his mouth as she endeavored to show him how much she felt for him. Her hands, which had normally rested on either his shoulders or in his hair, left his tie to explore his chest and his back, feeling his muscles through his clothes, pressing him tightly against her. Her aggression delighted him. He reciprocated within reason, well aware of the edge of the bridge at his back and the clusters of impertinent youths who continued to walk by. When they were both panting for air, she brought her lips to his ear, “Make me yours. Now. ” “Are you sure? ” he rasped out, caressing her hips and her backside. “With all my heart. ” He brushed his thumb against her now swollen lower lip. “Only if you’re ready. ” “I’ve wanted you forever, Gabriel. Please don’t make me wait any longer. ” He chuckled softly. “Then we should get off this bridge. ” He kissed her once more and excused himself to make a brief phone call. It was a quick exchange in Italian that sounded like Gabriel was confirming something with the concierge, but Julia couldn’t hear everything. He turned his back on her deliberately and spoke in hushed tones. When she asked him about it he grinned. “You’ll see. ” It took them a little longer than it should have to arrive at the hotel, for every few steps one of them would pull the other into a passionate kiss. There was laughter and gentle caresses; there were tender embraces and murmured words of seduction, and a tango or two against the wall of a darkened alley. But really, the seduction was complete. For it had occurred in an old orchard years ago. By the time Gabriel led Julia into the penthouse and out onto the terrazza, they were vibrating with shared electricity and very, very needy. Which meant that it took Julia a moment to notice the transformation. Pillar candles had been scattered around the space and contributed a warm, flickering luminosity to the starlight from above. The air was perfumed with jasmine. Pillows and a cashmere blanket beckoned them to recline on the futon banquette. A bottle of champagne sat chilling in an ice bucket, and nearby, Julia saw a plate of chocolate-covered strawberries and what looked like tiramisu. And lastly, she noticed the music of Diana Krall. Gabriel came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her left ear with his nose. “Does this please you? ” “It’s beautiful. ” “I have plans for you this evening, my love. I’m afraid those plans don’t include sleep until much, much later. ” Julia shivered at the tone of his voice, low and sensual. He held her more tightly. “Am I making you nervous? ” She shook her head. He began to kiss her neck softly, floating his lips across her skin. “A declaration of desire, ” he murmured. “But tonight I will make good on my declaration when I take you to bed and make you my lover. ” She trembled once again, and this time he crooked his arm across her collarbone, hugging her close. “Relax, darling. Tonight is all about pleasure. Your pleasure. And I intend to please you all evening. ” He kissed her cheek, then spun her around slowly. “Foreplay is essential. And since this is new to both of us, there are a few things I’d like to do first. ” He searched her eyes for her reaction. “I’m yours, Gabriel. ” He smiled and embraced her softly. “I want to explore your senses—sound, taste, sight, touch. I want to take my time arousing and exciting you. ” He lowered his voice. “But most of all, I want to teach your body to recognize the man who worships you, just by my touch. ” “I already recognize you, Gabriel. There’s no one else. ” He kissed her intensely and paused as Besame Mucho sounded in the air. “Will you dance with me? ” “Of course. ” As if I’d ever refuse the chance to hold you in my arms… He pulled her close, and she pressed grateful lips to his jaw. “Is this our song? ” She stroked his lower lip with one of her fingers. “It should be. I remember everything about that night. Your hair, your dress. You were a vision. And I was such a brute. The things I said. ” He shook his head. “How did you ever forgive me? ” Julia rebuked him with her eyes. “Gabriel, you’re giving me the fairy tale I never thought I’d have. Please don’t spoil it. ” He kissed her lips repentantly and held her more tightly, running his hand across her ribs. For Gabriel knew, as Julia did not, that the ribs of a woman were another erogenous zone. As they swayed to the music, he softly sang to her, pouring his soul into the Spanish words but changing them slightly so that she would know he would never let her go. He would give her nothing less than forever and hell itself could not prevent him from keeping his vow. He just hadn’t spoken the words aloud. Yet. She lifted her head and stared at his mouth, memorizing its fullness and its curves, the way his bottom lip curled downward. She tugged it into her mouth unhurriedly, winding her fingers in his hair. He was sweetness and wet warmth, hunger and passionate need, love and devotion. And his kiss pressed itself to her very soul, so that even the tips of her toes felt his adoration and desire. Two bodies pressed tightly together in a lover’s dance, eager with anticipation.