“Why would you deny us this?” He whispered the words against her lips.
Her answer was to tug his mouth back to hers. Gabe wasn’t sure how long they stood there, only that every other thought was obliterated from his head but one: her.
His hands found her breasts, and his thigh pressed between hers. He lost all reason and let need drive him.
“Well now, this looks like fun. Mind if we join in?”
Gabe wrenched his mouth from hers and turned. The look on his face had the two men scurrying away.
“W-We need to go.” She stepped sideways away from him, and he fisted his hands to keep from pulling her back into his arms. His body ached, and he realized in that moment that he’d lost control. He never did that. He would have raised her skirts, lowered his breeches, and taken her right here in this filthy street, because she made him forget who he was.
Christ, what was I thinking?
“Dimity, I’m sorry.”
She had started walking away from him, but stopped, turning to face him.
“You are not the only one at fault, Lord Raine.”
“But I should have known better.”
Her chin rose, and he knew that his words had infuriated her.
“Because you were bred to know better? A mighty earl, whereas I am a simple servant who is unaware that it is wrong to be pressed to a wall and ravished in a filthy lane?”
“That’s not what I mean, and stop assuming when you clearly have no idea what I’m thinking.”
She exhaled slowly.
“You’re right, I have no idea what you are thinking, but I know what my thoughts are.” She sounded sad suddenly.
“Gabe, thank God! We were worried.”
Michael and Zach appeared.
“I am well,” he said. “Take Dimity up with you, Zach.”
“I don’t need—” Her words turned to a squeal as Gabe lifted her in front of his brother. He then climbed on behind Michael, and they headed back to his townhouse in silence.
“My lord!” His butler opened the front door when they arrived. “All is well?”
“It is, thank you, Fairfax.” Gabe dismounted and lifted Dimity down. She walked away from him and into the house.
“Mr. Nathanial is presently keeping the Duchess of Yardly company.”
“I bet he is loving that,” Michael said.
“Henry, my lord?”
“Is well and will not be returning for a while, Fairfax. There is danger for him and his family here. I have removed them until such time as they are once again safe to return to London,” Gabe said, watching Dimity’s straight back. “Call the staff together. I wish to speak with them.”
“At once, my lord.”
He followed Dimity, with Zach and Michael on his heels.
“O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
