But he was already drawing her closer, one hand sliding firmly to her waist, the other capturing her fingers and lacing them with his. He didn’t so much lead as gather her into the shape of a dance, his body dictating the slow, deliberate sway.
“I warn you, this is exceedingly perilous.” Clara breathed, feeling his palm warm through the thin muslin of her gown.
“Everything about us is perilous.”
“Someone could walk in.”
“Then we’ll scandalise them with our fully clothed, perfectly proper dancing.”
She almost laughed, but then she met his eyes and the look there burned through her composure. “There’s nothing proper about the way you’re looking at me.”
“How am I looking at you?”
“Like you want to devour me.”
His thumb stroked the inside of her wrist where he held her hand. “I do want to devour you. I want to start at your throat and work my way down until you’ve forgotten every reason why we can’t be together.”
“Gabriel…”
“I wish only to draw you to my chamber and lavish every adoration upon your person until your lips can utter nothing but my name in a fervent supplication.”
Her heart stuttered.
“We agreed…”
He gave a low, humourless laugh. “We agreed to boundaries we’ve been breaking since the moment you walked in on me half-dressed.”
“We haven’t broken the most important one.”
“Only because you have more self-control than I do.” His grip on her waist tightened, pressing her just a little nearer until the outline of him was unmistakable against her stomach.
“I have no self-control when it comes to you,” she said, her voice raw. “I have determination not to make things worse than they already are.”
“How could they be worse?”
“I could be with child when I leave.”
He went still at that, the slow circles of their dance faltering. “Clara…”
“That’s the reality, Gabriel,” she said softly. “One night of giving in could result in consequences that would follow me forever.”
“I’d make you my wife.”
“I’d refuse.”
“Clara…”
“I won’t trap you into matrimony, and I won’t bring a bastard into the world to suffer for our choices.”
“Our child wouldn’t be…”
“Our child would be illegitimate unless we entered into matrimony, and we can’t wed without destroying your life.”
“My life is already destroyed without you.”
“No, it’s damaged. There’s a difference.”
“You and your differences.”
