‘And you think she’s just some village doxy who was there to offer my cousin a quick prigging. Shame he wasn’t in any fit state to enjoy her.’ Henry sniggered and turned to look over at Gabriel. ‘Come to think of it cousin, you are a tad sickly-looking. Mayhap it won’t be necessary to shoot you after all.’ He stepped forward and grabbed hold of Hope’s chin. ‘Zooks, you really are hellishly dirty,’ he muttered, stepping away hurriedly. ‘It seems my dear cousin has had to lower his sights.’ He wiped his hand in distaste on his breeches, then seemingly weary of tormenting his captives, abruptly turned on his heel and ordered the two henchmen to bring the hostages inside.
As they were unceremoniously pushed through the door, Gabriel looked around to see if there were any witnesses, but the large entrance hall appeared deserted.
‘If you’re hoping to see any of your servants, you will be disappointed,’ Henry threw over his shoulder as he led the way to the back of the house. ‘Heavers and Reynolds, the doddery old fools, were turned out months ago. I prefer to use servants of my own choosing, so don’t think to find any allies cousin.’ He stopped at the entrance to a small room which had evidently been used as a small study. Gabriel’s heart sank as he realised where Henry was taking them.
Pushing open the door, he headed to a panelled wall. Pressing… something, Hope heard a click and blinked as the panel opened to reveal a dark narrow staircase leading down. ‘Remember when we were trapped down here overnight?’ commented Henry jovially as he started down the shadowy stairs.
‘You mean when you lockedmein,’ responded Gabriel through gritted teeth.
‘Oh yes, that was it,’ chuckled his cousin. ‘I seem to remember you having peed yourself when your father finally freed you. Gave you a thrashing to punish your cowardice, didn’t he?’
‘I seem to remember you receiving a similar beating from your own father,’ Gabriel ground out as his cousin reached the bottom of the stairs.
‘True,’ Henry conceded. ‘It was more than worth it though.’ With another chortle, he threw open the door and stepped to one side, waiting.
Hope shrank back as she was hauled down the stairs towards the yawning blackness. ‘I’ll bloody well throw you down if you don’t move,’ she was warned.
‘Hope it’s alright, I’m here.’ Gabriel kept his voice was low and soothing, when what he really wanted to do was kill all three men with his bare hands.
‘I’m here,’ sneered Henry from the bottom of the stairs. ‘Not for much longer cousin. It’s merely my curiosity keeping you alive for the moment.’
Gabriel felt a small jolt of satisfaction as he was shoved through the door into complete blackness. He was right, Henry could not help himself. He had to find out just how his cousin had survived in Cadiz. The Viscount bit back a groan as he was thrown to the floor but struggled immediately to his feet to catch Hope as she was forced in after him.
‘We need a light,’ Gabriel bit out as his cousin started to close the door. ‘And some food,’ he yelled, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice. The encroaching darkness paused, then, after a few seconds, the light grew again as Henry reopened the door and placed a lantern on the floor.
‘Wouldn’t want your littleladyto be scared of the dark like you,’ he mocked, stepping backwards and pulling the door closed behind him.
‘Food,’ bellowed Gabriel again just as the door slammed shut. He heard some laughter on the other side, followed by a key turning in the lock and then receding footsteps.‘Damnation,’he swore violently, entirely forgetting Hope’s presence for a moment. He hated the desperation in his last entreaty.
A small sniffle brought him back to his senses, and muttering another oath, this time under his breath, he went to pick up the lantern. The burning candle inside was relatively new and Gabriel estimated it might last them for two or three hours. Taking the light back to Hope, he seated himself next to her crumpled form and after placing the lamp on the floor, simply took her in his arms.
‘Forgive me,’ he murmured, feathering soft kisses over her forehead.
Borrowing into his warmth, Hope was silent for a moment. Then, ‘for which bit?’ she responded with a half sob, half laugh.
Gabriel placed his finger under her chin and tipped her head to look up at him. Henry was right, she was dirty - they both were. Her hair was mussed and tangled around her face… and she stared at him with complete trust and belief. As her dark gaze clung to his, in Gabriel’s eyes she had never looked more beautiful.
‘For my language,’ he breathed, ‘for getting you into this deuced mess… and for this.’
He stopped speaking and bent his head, taking her mouth in a gentle kiss. In answer, Hope’s fingers slid upwards around his neck her lips opening against his. With her unexpected acquiescence Gabriel’s kiss deepened, taking on a desperate edge that suddenly turned into an all-consuming melding of mouths that forgot everything except need. Hope gave a small whimper as she rose up onto her knees, pressing herself against him, seeking that same elusive…something. Groaning, all coherent thought gone, Gabriel instinctively sought to position her where he needed her most and sliding his hands down her back, pulled her bottom towards him, crushing her softness against his already hard cock.
Heedless of the cold damp floor, Gabriel fell backwards, taking her unresisting body with him. She fell onto him with a small oomph, briefly breaking their kiss, and staring down into his starkly handsome countenance stole away what little breath she had as her heart continued to pump wildly, erratically.
‘Hope,’ he groaned as she lowered her mouth back to his. ‘Hush,’ was all she breathed as she planted her hands on either side of his shoulders and bent her head until their lips came back together, searching, demanding, giving. She felt his hand slip between them, pulling at her bodice. The sudden blast of cold air on her bare breasts made her gasp for a second until his hand cupped the exposed globe, his fingers unerringly finding its peak and rubbing his thumb back and forth across the already stiffened bud. Sensation shot straight down between her legs and with a small moan, Hope pressed herself into the hardness at the junction of her thighs, instinctively knowing that it was there… right there that she needed to be. His fingers continued their relentless rubbing backwards and forwards across the sensitive nub, even as his mouth continued to plunder hers and helplessly, she ground that most sensitive part of her onto the unfamiliar hardness between her legs, gasping as he raised his hips to push against her.
But it wasn’t enough. Hope knew there had to be more than this. Tearing her lips away from his, she rose up until she was straddling him. His eyes stared up at her, almost glittering with desire as he lifted his hands, both of them this time, to once again cup her breasts with their shadowed peaks, now fully on view to his heated gaze. Panting, Hope arched her back offering them to his hands and oh so skilful fingers. Reaching behind her, she fumbled at his breeches and abruptly Gabriel stilled below her.
Almost mindless with desire, Hope paused and looked back down at him, at the harsh tautness of his features. ‘We have to stop,’ he ground out, panting with effort.
Hope stared down at him, realising his words were taking every ounce of strength he possessed. Licking her lips, she deliberately resumed her investigation of his britches, finally finding the buttons holding them closed. Gazing down at him, she slowly undid each of the buttons and slipped her hand inside. Without breaking eye contact, she took hold of his thick shaft and watched as he sucked in his breath and groaned.
‘Show me what to do,’ she whispered, slipping his cock free of his britches.
‘Hope, we cannot,’ he bit out, even as he instinctively lifted his hips to aid her questing fingers.
‘I want to know,’ she answered softly, shaking her head. ‘I will not die without knowing.’
Her hand squeezed his shaft. ‘Show me,’ she demanded.
