She looked up with a start, the blush in her cheeks deepening as her eyes met his. "Yes."
He paid the bill, helped her with her cloak, took her hand. The night wrapped around them, dark and intimate, as they walked along a narrow, tree-lined path through the gardens. The fragrance of a hundred flowers rose up all around them, perfuming the air, but it was Sara's scent that filled Gabriel's senses, her nearness that made his heart pound in his chest. She looked like an angel in the light of the moon. A wealth of golden hair framed her delicate face, her skin glowed, her eyes were like shadowed blue pools.
The twin talons of need and hunger rose up within him, their claws piercing the darkness of his heart, his empty soul. It would be so easy to take her, to enfold her in his arms and feast upon her sweetness.
So easy.
He paused before a low stone bench. "Shall we sit awhile?"
"All right." She sat down, the folds of her pink gown spreading around her like the petals of a rose. "Where were you today?"
"I'm afraid I must ask you not to pry into my personal life."
"I didn't mean to pry," Sara said quickly, hoping to conceal the hurt caused by his censure, "I just wondered... never mind."
"Wondered what?"
"Where you spend your days. What kind of work you do."
"I don't work."
"You don't?"
"No. Not only am I a very private person, but a very wealthy one, as well."
"Oh."
"So," he said, forcing a smile, "how did you spend your day?"
"Trying on clothes." She placed her hand over his and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you, Gabriel. The dresses are lovely. I adore the book, and the candy, and everything else. You've been so generous."
"My pleasure."
"I went exploring today."
She felt his hand stiffen beneath hers. "Did you?"
Sara nodded. "I was looking for a mirror," she confessed, wondering if he would think her vain. "The dresses are so pretty. I wanted to see how I looked..."
Gabriel nodded. He should have known she'd want to primp before a looking glass, but it was the one thing he could not provide for her.
"I didn't find one, though." She stared at her hand, so small compared to his. "I... do you... ?"
"Go on."
"Do you really live in the abbey? I mean, there doesn't seem to be anything of you in any of the rooms." She shrugged. "I mean, for a wealthy man, you don't seem to own very much."
"I have a castle in Spain," he remarked. "If you're looking for wealth, I'll take you there one day."
"No, I didn't mean that!"
"I know."
"Where do those stairs go? The ones in the rear of the monastery?"
"To the catacombs. Don't go down there again, cara. There's nothing in those dark vaults but those who sleep the endless sleep of death."
A shiver ran down Sara's spine. "I know. I could feel it. Oh, Gabriel, it was awful."
Wordlessly, he gazed into her eyes. Never had the abyss between them seemed wider or deeper or more impossible to cross. It was a chasm with no bridge save death. Her death.
She watched him rise to his feet in a single fluid movement. "Is something wrong?"
"It grows late. We should be getting back."
She offered him her hand, felt the strength of his fingers close over hers as he helped her to her feet.
"I had a lovely time, Gabriel. Thank you."
He inclined his head in acknowledgment, then pressed his lips to her hand. "My pleasure, cara."
Unexpectedly, she wound her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. He gasped at her touch, at the warmth of her body against his own. She was like a shadow in his arms, fragile, elusive, yet loving and warm. So warm. So full of the energy of life. His heart thudded in time to the pulse fluttering in her throat, exciting his hunger, tormenting, tantalizing.
His body hardened at her nearness, and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her closer, basking in her nearness, her youth, her innocence. Ah, but she felt good in his arms.
She moaned softly, grinding her hips against his as his tongue scorched her mouth. Her scent rose all around him, female, musky, desirable.
With a low groan, he lifted her arms from his neck and took a step backward. "We'd better go," he said hoarsely.
Tucking her hand in his, they walked back to the restaurant. He lifted her into the carriage, his hands lingering at her waist, before he