Page 50 of Things We Do for Love and Science
He still made no move to get dressed.My God, but he’s gorgeous. She broke eye-contact and pulled up her jeans. “Privacy, excellent. We won’t have to keep the noise down.”
His gaze traced a path down her body, and flames licked through her. “My thoughts exactly.”
~ * ~
“What are you so smileyfor?” Liam asked, stepping forward to get a closer look at Gabriel as he crossed the vestibule of Renwood Hall. “Found a hoard of gold in the garden underneath the tool shed?”
Gabriel laughed. “No such thing, unfortunately. I’m just in a good mood.”
“Glad to hear it. With all the renovation work that’s going on, it’s great you’re keeping your spirits up.” The older man patted his shoulder.
Gabriel dipped his chin and chose to keep the exact reason for his exuberance to himself. “Have you seen Renoir? I wanted to take him for a run around the park after having been cooped up inside all morning.” He’d been working on client accounts and every so often had found himself staring into the distance, conjuring images of Delia naked in his arms. His concentration was shot. He needed fresh air. In seven hours, he would be seeing her again. There were fun times ahead if she stuck to their new agreement to forget about plastic jars and syringes.Here’s to hoping she doesn’t get pregnant too soon.He bit back a grin.
“I last saw the dog in the kitchen with Mary,” Liam replied.
As if on cue, the Irish Wolfhound ambled down the hallway and made straight for Gabriel.
“There you are.” Gabriel crouched to pet him. “Let’s head out. See you later, Liam.”
In the park, Gabriel threw a stick for his dog and watched the animal’s graceful movements as he raced after it. His mind, of course, was elsewhere. What would he bring with him? He couldn’t turn up at Delia’s flat empty-handed. Flowers? They could be construed as a romantic gift—best not to risk it. She was a smart academic, maybe the library contained some curious old science book she might like. Thrilled with his idea, he completed three laps of the park with Renoir before heading to Renwood Hall’s library. Filled from parquet floor to stuccoed ceiling with wooden bookshelves, the room never failed to enchant him. It had been his parents’ favorite haunt. They’d sat here together, almost every day, drinking tea and reading.
Gabriel scanned the shelves. There were sizeable gaps in the rows of leather-bound volumes. Every book of value had been sold, but maybe the shelves would yield some curiosity of interest to Delia. He ran his fingers along the spines of the small science section. There, this one sounded good: ‘A New System of Chemical Philosophy-Volume I’ by John Dalton. He carefully pulled out the hardback and leafed through it. A first edition from 1808 and in reasonably good condition with illustrative plates. It wasn’t worth much because the two other volumes were missing, but Delia might still like it.
Humming a jaunty tune, he closed the book and took it upstairs to his office.
~ * ~
Delia brushed a handover the smooth counterpane of her bed. Everything was perfect. The bed linen pristine, all rooms aired, all dishes washed and put away, the whole flat hoovered and cleaned. She paced the room, vibrating with anticipation.
At five past eight, she buzzed Gabriel in with trembling hands but grew calm at the sound of him bounding up the stairs.Impatient man.
A tingling joy flushed through her. They were going to have a great time and maybe even get her pregnant. He crossed the threshold and handed her what looked like a gift-wrapped book. “I brought you something.”
She glanced at the package, then placed it on the small table beside the coat rack. “Oh, thank you. Do you mind if I look at it later?”
“Not at all,” he said and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Welcome to my humble abode.” With her cheek pressed against his chest, she inhaled his familiar scent. She tilted her head back, and their gazes locked.
“Delighted to be here.” His smile stole her breath, and her pulse accelerated.
Funny how quickly things had changed. A week ago, she would’ve sworn she’d never try to lay a hand on him. Tonight, she could hardly wait to have him in her bed.
Still enveloped in his arms and pressed close to his long, lean body, she touched her lips to his, signaling to him that small talk wasn’t required. He took her cue and deepened their kiss, opening her mouth with his lips, searching, exploring.
Their first encounter had been spontaneous, hurried along by her astonishment at her audacity. Today, she would be more deliberate and savor him. Because he was attractive, and she’d already had a taste of what he was capable of.
He traced a line from her shoulder to the small of her back.
“Go on,” she whispered, breaking their kiss.
He cradled her head with his left hand, bringing her lips back to his while he slid his other hand lower. Fire spread through her center, and kissing was no longer enough.
She broke free from his arms and took him by the hand.
“Come,” she said.
She stood beside her bed when this gorgeous man entered the room. All thought of anything other than wanting him was brushed from her mind. She put her arms around his neck and gazed into his eyes, losing herself in their depths.
