Chapter 23
Gabe stood, frozen. Mary’s question hung in the air between them, her expression one of wonder. She could not possibly be asking what he thought she was asking.
“Whatwhatfeels like?” Gabe whispered.
Mary’s eyes widened. “Good heavens, did I ask that aloud?”
She was not… She couldn’t possibly be… Gabe’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You did.”
“Well.” She waved a hand through the air in apparent unconcern. “I don’t know what possessed me to say it. Think no more on it.”
Mary flounced down the hall, but Gabe remained still, his feet entirely immobile.
Shehadcome markedly easily, but then, so had he. Her attentions to him had been well practiced, as he had expected. But thinking on it, Mary’s reaction to his ministrations had been untutored and noticeably inexperienced.
Could Mary be a maiden?
Just as quickly as the notion had entered his mind, he dismissed it with a silent scoff. In all the years of Mary’s service to the crown, it was impossible for her to never have made love to a man. She was a beautiful woman and was proficient in the ways of pleasuring men; some bloke must have taken her to bed long ago. Herinnocencewas undoubtedly all but a clever act to entice lovers.
He could not help the sudden, fierce frown that creased his forehead, nor the speeding, angry tempo of his pulse.Curst bizarre and entirely unwanted emotions.
Mary was entitled to bed whomever she chose. But Gabe would make certain that he would be the next. Brief, and perhaps flippant, as their tryst had been, Gabe most certainly wished to continue in their physical association. He had never felt such remarkable pleasures as he had with Mary. And as green as she seemed in the ways of her own gratification…
Gabe’s eyes widened as sudden anticipation leapt to his breast. Good God, why had he not realized it before? Mary had unquestionably had past lovers, but what of herowncompletion? Could every cad before him never thought to reciprocate the gift of orgasm? Had they all taken what they liked of her and never taught her the delights of her own body? Could he be the first man to ever give her such satisfaction?
He hoped he was. In fact, he was almost certain that he was.
The thought sent a burst of absurdly optimistic pride through him. And God help him, but it got him half hard again just thinking of teaching her all the ways her body could delight her.
Suddenly very aware that he was still standing in the middle of the dim corridor, already half aroused again, Gabe decided it would be prudent of him to make himself scarce.
With a grin on his lips and eagerness in his heart, he made his way through the shadowed, eerie halls and returned to his guest bedchamber, the oddly spooky nature of the house not dampening his mood one jot.
* * *
The door stood closed, but Gabe let himself in. Mary sat writing at their bedchamber’s desk, her gaze shooting up in alarm when he entered.
“Oh!” she gasped. She had lit a taper and placed it beside the ink blotter on the table. Firelight flickered dimly over the room, the candle upon the desk giving a warm light to Mary’s flushed cheeks.
He grinned, locking the door behind himself. “I did not mean to startle you.”
She returned his grin with a shy smile then bowed her head once more over a sheet of parchment. “Not startled,” she mumbled. “I’m simply glad that I have not been caught being naughty.”
Gabe’s brow creased. “Naughty?” He strode toward her. “Whatever are you doing?”
“Forging those documents while they are still fresh in my memory.”
Gabe nodded, “Ah.”
He removed his coat and draped it over the back of a chair.
“Tell me, Gabe…” she started, her head still bent over her task. “How will we replace these documents? It is far too late tonight to make an escape before others are awake, and the traitors will be watching you.”
“Yes,” Gabe scrunched his face as he considered their options. “Our best choice is to replace them on the morrow. If you will distract the others, I will replace them.”
Mary nodded. “Very well.”
Gabe cleared his throat. “I should probably inform you that I promised your…er…charms to Boxton and Reddington for tomorrow evening.”
