her a standing ovation. But she heard only Gabriel's applause, and it was the sweetest sound she'd ever known.
Hurrying to her dressing room, she quickly changed into her street clothes. She was on her way out of the building when Maurice caught up with her.
"You were sensational tonight," Maurice said. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Gabriel's waiting for me."
Maurice swore under his breath as he caught hold of her arm and dragged her to a halt. "I don't want you seeing that man anymore."
Carefully and deliberately, she pried his fingers from her arm. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me."
"I will see who I want, when I want. And right now, I want to see Gabriel."
"There's something not right with that man," Maurice exclaimed.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not sure, but last night, when I looked into his eyes, I... I can't explain it except to say he's evil, Sara Jayne. Stay away from him."
"Evil! What are you talking about?" Sara demanded, yet even as she waited for his answer, an image appeared in her mind, an image of Gabriel's eyes glowing blood-red as he rose over her.
"Sara, listen to me..."
"No! I love Gabriel, and he loves me. Now leave me alone."
Maurice stared after Sara as she ran down the corridor toward the exit. Somehow, he had to save her from making the worst mistake of her life.
PART One Chapter Fourteen
She was too excited to sit in a cafe, too happy to eat, so they went for a long walk in the moonlight, her arm tucked possessively through his.
Once, he paused in the shadows to kiss her brow and she wound her arms around his neck, hugging him close, shamelessly pressing her body against him.
"Gabriel, I..." Sara bit down on her lower lip, wishing she had the nerve to ask him to make love to her again. She was eager for his touch, but, knowing little of men, she wasn't sure if he was plagued by the same restless yearnings that kept her tossing and turning far into the night.
"What is it, cara?"
"I... nothing."
Gabriel gazed deep into her eyes and knew, in that instant, what she wanted. Wordlessly, he pivoted on his heel and headed for her apartment.
Inside, he closed the door, then held out his arms. With a small cry of relief, she stepped into his embrace, sighing as his arms wrapped around her.
"Is it terribly wicked of me to want you so?" she asked, refusing to meet his gaze.
"No, cara mia."
"I couldn't think of anything but you all day," she confessed shyly. "When you left so abruptly this morning, I was afraid I'd done something to displease you."
He shook his head, the anguish in her voice stabbing him to the heart.
"Will you have breakfast with me tomorrow?" she asked tremulously.
"I cannot."
"Why?"
"No questions, Sara."
"But..."
"I mean what I say."
"Will you dine with me tomorrow night then?"
He hesitated a moment, his eyes shadowed with doubt.
"I'm quite a good cook," she said, hoping to reassure him.
"I'm sure you are."
"You'll come to dinner then?"
"If you wish."
She gazed up at him, her blue eyes shining with happiness and love. "Won't you kiss me now?"
Slowly, gently, he lowered his head and claimed her mouth with his own. As always, holding her, touching her, filled him with light, driving away the darkness in which he had lived for so long.
Carrying her into the bedroom, he made love to her with exquisite tenderness, telling her with each heartfelt kiss, each stroke of his hands, each word that whispered past his lips, how much he adored her.
Her love enveloped him, surrounding him with the purity of her heart, the generosity of her spirit. She offered him her love, nothing held back, and he grabbed it with both hands, clinging to her goodness, telling himself that he couldn't be a monster, not when Sara could love him so completely.
He held her in his arms while she slept, his gaze never leaving her face. Her lashes lay like dark fans upon her cheeks. Her lips were full and pink, faintly swollen from his kisses. Her hair fell over the pillow and across his chest like streaks of sunlight. He lifted a lock of her hair and brushed it across his face, inhaling the scent, delighting in the touch of each silken strand.
"So beautiful, so innocent," he murmured, his voice thick with anguish. "Will you ever forgive me for what I've done?"
Her eyelids fluttered open and she gazed up at him, a soft smile curving her lips, her eyes aglow with the love