Ravenous (Siren Publishing Classic) (6 page)

Gabriel released them and found himself standing by the fire listening to Mercy’s even breathing. She was sleeping deeply. He willed himself back into her room and found himself floating above her prone body. Why did Mercy satisfy his hunger when another could not? He was in desperate need for her blood. He felt a raging lust for her body as well. He would not take from her this night. She was still healing. He floated through the hallway and back into his office, where he sat in his chair and listened to her deep, even breathing.

* * * *

Emma awoke the very next morning to no pain in her body, other than her broken heart. She felt that she was penetrating the rough exterior of her employer. However, she was wrong.

“We don’t want to learn our sums today!” Rose screeched.

Emma sighed internally. This child was the most infuriating girl she had ever met.

“Rose, please, dear, we must try to do our lessons for today. Perhaps we could move through this without a complaint?”

Rose sat in her seat, arms crossed, angry and petulant.

“If I were to tell you that you will be eating in the dining hall with your uncle, would that set you to rights?”

“Truly,” she said in wonder.

Her brother sat in his desk waiting for Emma’s reply. “Indeed, Rose. You and James are to be dining with your uncle every evening, provided you mind your manners and continue with your studies.”

At the announcement, Rose bent her head and counted sums, while James continued on. Emma felt immediate relief. She just hoped his lordship would keep his promise from late last night.

The day progressed quite a bit easier than it had since she took on this post. The children were in high spirits and eager to learn. Rose changed her manners as she worked harder than Emma had ever seen her. The day came to a close, and the children ran above stairs to rest and wash before dinner. With these new arrangements, the children would stay up one hour past their usual bedtime, which meant they needed to be on their best behavior.

As Emma made her way down to the dining hall, she met the children at the doorway.

“Now remember your manners and answer any questions your uncle may have.”

As they entered, they noticed the room was empty save some servants. She could see water begin to form at the back of Rose’s eyes. Emma looked to George, and he started toward the small group.

“Your uncle will be in momentarily.” He looked out the window and stated, “In precisely ten minutes.”

This calmed Rose and James was quiet as usual, so Emma tried to engage the boy in conversation. However, every time she spoke the boy tilted his head and lost focus. She stared at the boy and realized he had affection for her. She smiled and shook her head. She was certain it would pass as most adolescent likings did.

As soon as Emma had engaged Rose in topics of childhood games, his lordship entered the room. The children became deathly quiet in his presence. Emma could understand. He was very foreboding.

“Good evening, children. How fare your lessons for today?”

And so it went. The children answered his questions with fervor. Rose looked upon Gabriel as if he was God himself as James showed quiet respect.

“So are you happy with Miss Goodwin?” he asked.

Emma slowed her eating for she was ravenous as well as thirsty. She waited in quiet desperation as Rose and James sat completely still.

“Aye, Uncle, she is the best governess I have ever had,” James inserted with pure adoration written on his face.

Gabriel looked to the boy and felt a moment of jealousy. James was clearly infatuated with Mercy. He shook his head at the ridiculous thought. He had nothing to fear from his adoptive son. The boy was experiencing his first brush with finding a woman attractive.

“Very good, children, I am pleased to report that Miss Goodwin has had nothing but fantastic things to say about you as well. However, you must mind your manners and continue with your studies.”

“Miss Goodwin said if we were to continue with our work as completely as we have been, you will dine with us each night. Is this true?” Rose asked, hope shining in her eyes.

Gabriel looked to Emma, who colored under his gaze. The governess had been making bargains with the children.

“Indeed, Rose, certainly. Be mindful of that fact every day while you are in the schoolroom,” he stated.

“We shall, Uncle Gabriel. We shall,” James inserted.

And so the supper passed with no incident. The children were gay with glee that their reclusive uncle was dining with them. Emma was quiet during the meal, only stating quick yes-and-no answers. She could feel the heat of her employer’s gaze upon her body. Her betraying spine sent shivers of tiny pleasure through her system. Her dreams did not compare to his hot and lusty mouth. He was a masterful lover, who knew how to please his lady. Her body still slightly ached. She knew she was still a pure woman for she felt no pain, and she did not bleed after their encounter. She was a gently bred lady of a marriageable age.

As her mind wandered, supper had come to a halt; it was time for the children to retire to bed.

“Miss Goodwin, Uncle Gabriel has been trying to claim your attention for a while,” James stated.

“Oh dear, I apologize. I was lost in thought,” she replied.

“I wonder of what you were thinking?” Gabriel asked.

Emma refused to make eye contact with the devilish earl, lest she gave away her true feelings. She stated that they were to act in the capacity of employer and employee. She did not want to entice the earl with ideas, to the contrary. She needed the sanctuary of this position. She could not risk her father or the duke coming here.

The group stood and began the journey to the nursery. The children were immediately placed into sleepwear as the adults waited. When they retired to their beds and were given wishes of good sleep, the earl walked out of the room with Emma.

Emma’s fast-paced walk was easily kept by Gabriel. It was as if the man floated on the very air. Feeling strange with extreme desire, she ignored the charming rogue.

“That was quite an evening, Mercy. I believe you may have the children well in hand even though you have them behaving by way of a slight manipulation,” he teased.

Sighing inwardly, Emma said, “I did not manipulate them. I explained that if they were to do good work you would dine with them. The arrangement was and still is if they are to behave, they may eat with you, if they misbehave, they will be sent to bed early without supper, is that not correct?” she asked.

Enlightenment came to the earl’s eyes at her words. “You are very clever, Mercy.”

“Please, address me by Miss Goodwin. As I stated last evening, we are employer and employee. No more intimacy shall pass between us while I am in your hire. It is best that way. We should have never engaged in any type of sexual activity together.”

Gabriel remained deathly silent as she came upon her door.

“Have a pleasant rest of your evening, my lord,” she stated as she opened her door.

As she went to walk through, he leaned in against her back, which made her shiver, and whispered, “Pleasant dreams, Miss Goodwin. I am sure I will have the enjoyable evening you wished for me.” With that said he let her cross the threshold and close the door.

She stayed her back against the cold hard wood. Emma fell in over her head. The earl was devastatingly handsome, and he seemed to find her attractive. She tasted desire at his lips, and she longed for more. Her heart beat quickly at the thought of his hands upon her breasts again. She quivered and moved into the room. She hoped she could sleep tonight without images of her employer touching her, bringing her to an incredible orgasm, tasting her cum upon his fingers.

Gabriel did not need to enter her room or read her thoughts to smell slippery cum. The lady may say she did not want his cock, but her twat defied her words. He felt the hunger rise inside of him as he made his way to his office.

As it went, Gabriel and Emma shared the evening meal with the children and subsequently placed them to bed each evening. He would walk her down the long hallway and bid her a good rest.

Emma closed her eyes and dreamed of her employer that night. Touching her, loving her, and bringing her to an orgasm. Each time she awoke she felt empty and bereft of company. As a few days and nights passed, Emma found herself forming feelings for Gabriel. Feelings that were akin to love. She denied herself and made excuses, but as she said good evening to Gabriel last evening, she almost asked him into her room for intercourse. Emma always promised herself she would wait for marriage as it was expected of her. However, she wanted a union of love and mutual trust, and she realized if she was willing to give her virginity to Gabriel, she was in love with him.

Gabriel sat at his desk and cursed himself a weak fool. He visited Mercy each night as she slept. He felt a rake and a cad for watching her as she brought herself to an explosive orgasm, spilling her cum on her night rail. His heart that no longer beat felt a tug at the thought of Mercy. He had never met anyone who made him act thus. He denied the idea that he could possibly be in love with her. He could at no time love a woman. He would not bring a human across to be the monster he knew he was. He had to stop this. He must stop this. She would only be hurt in the end, and he would be alone for all eternity.

That evening he did not go to her.

As she taught the children, she dreamed of Gabriel and his loving touch. Her heart warmed at the idea of children and marriage with Gabriel. She knew it was fanciful, but the dream was there nevertheless. She had to remind herself that she was his governess and employers rarely married their help.

* * * *

The duke sat upon his chair drinking a measure of scotch when a footman showed another man in.

“We have had no trace of her, your grace. It is as if she has vanished into a thin air. We have had men scouring the countryside for her. She has yet to be seen. Shall I move on to the servants?” the man asked.

The duke was prepared for this. “Indeed, find her maid and question her again, thoroughly. She must know where her mistress has gone. Find her by any means necessary.”

“What of her father?”

“I have his cooperation, and I believe he has no idea of where she had fled. He has more to lose if she does not marry me,” he stated.

“Very well, your grace.”

The man left the room leaving the duke to his drink and his thoughts.

* * * *

Gabriel was waking up from his death sleep as George walked in.

“To what do I owe this pleasure, George?” he asked.

“I have inquired about our governess and have yet to find anyone that knows of her existence. It is as if she was conjured by air, my lord. I have made contact with those I know in Sussex, and they have never heard of Mercy Goodwin, nor do they recognize her by description. I believe we have to take her story as fiction and move on to other contacts, sir.”

“Indeed, George, do whatever you can.”

“Aye, my lord, and I must say that the children are exuberant to eat with you this evening. They have a story of the house cat and a mouse they want to share with you,” George said with a twinkle in his eye.

Gabriel smiled with affection at the statement of the children. He had become accustomed to them, no longer feeling strange around the small people.

Gabriel stood and dressed for the evening meal. His mind raced to Mercy and heard her breathing and laughing with James and Rose. It felt almost domestic, and Gabriel shut his mind off to the noises. He and Mercy could never live as a family. He could not at any time give her children, and a young woman like Mercy deserved to have dozens of them. He could not watch as she grew old and succumbed to human death, and he would not cross her into the monster he was now.

Emma waited patiently with the children in the dining room waiting for his lordship. She felt her heart begin to race when he stepped into the room. He was as always breathtakingly handsome. His hair was slightly fussed by the wind, which aided him in a roguish look. Their eyes connected, and she could feel the spark from the tips of her toes to her hairline. This must be love.

As he sat, so the evening went. The children told him of what they learned today and of the mouse the cat had caught earlier. It was a joyful dinner full of laughter. She had never experienced so much merriment. It made her crave a family of her own. Two children much like James and Rose, and a husband who was handsome and loving. She smiled at her own thoughts when Gabriel looked upon her.

* * * *

She was beautiful, her hair, eyes, lips, and body. He craved her mouth as if she was made of sweets. He wanted to feel her orgasm around his cock, milking him of his cum. His body made demands of him that he could not possibly give. He cursed his own weakness and looked away from the tempting creature.

* * * *

As the meal came to an end, Gabriel and Emma attended to their nightly ritual, however, Emma felt something was amiss. Gabriel did not tease her. He kept his distance, trying not to touch her in the process of putting the children to sleep.