Free A Christmas Spirit by Cindy Miles Page B

glanced out at the midwinter’s night.
    “ ’Tis a wondrously clear sky, aye?” Gabriel said.
    Paige nodded and continued to stare. “It is.” A blanket of white covered the lands of Gorloch. A light dusting of snow drifted down in tiny flakes from the sky. “The moon makes everything look a little blue,” she said absently. “It truly is like a dreamy winter wonderland.”
    “Aye, ’tis a grand Highland Yuletide moon indeed.”
    After a moment of silence, Paige looked up. Gabriel’s gaze penetrated her, and she smiled and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Are you staring at my raccoon eyes?”
    He pulled close and peered even closer. “Aye, and they’re turning all sorts of lovely shades.” His brows furrowed. “Are you sure you’re well?”
    Paige gave a light laugh. “Yes, I’m positive. It only hurts when I touch it.”
    “Well,” he said, standing and moving before her. “Dunna touch it.”
    Paige smiled. “Yes, sir.”
    Without a word, and without breaking his gaze, Gabriel moved from his seat to hers. Bracing his hands on either side of her on the sill, he bent at the waist and lowered his head until his lips brushed her ear. “I’m verra sorry, lass,” he whispered, “but I canna seem to keep my mouth off o’ you.”
    Paige’s eyes drifted shut at the erotic Highland whisper. “Oh,” she said, her voice cracking, as his lips moved to her jaw, “that’s okay.”
    With a soft, deep chuckle, Gabriel continued to make her shiver with kisses along her throat and her chin, and then he settled his mouth over hers. “Open,” he said.
    Paige slowly parted her lips, and Gabriel’s moved erotically over hers, easing his tongue against each corner of her mouth, and then tasting her lips as if he truly could feel them. Her skin tingled and warmed, and she squirmed in the window seat as a pleasurable fire burned in her stomach.
    His mouth moved back to her ear. “I want to see more o’ you,” he whispered, his voice deep, accented. Then his head pulled back, just a fraction, and his eyes met hers.
    Paige’s heart raced as she lifted her fingers first to her clan pin necklace, which she slipped off and over her head. She set it on the cushion beside her. Then, to the buttons on her night shirt, but she kept her gaze riveted on Gabriel’s. Slowly, she released each one until the silky black top fell open. She didn’t care that she’d blushed a furious shade of red. All she wanted was Gabriel’s eyes and ghostly lips against her skin. When she leaned back against the window seat cushion, the slinky material slid ever so slowly over her breasts, and she simply stared, and breathed.
    Gabriel’s mouth lowered to hers, and he let one strong hand slowly drag over her jaw, down the column of her throat, and over her collarbone. Easing to the floor on his knees, his hand shook as he traced the swell of her breast with one finger, and her skin burned with need. He drew back and stared, his eyes dark with passion, and his mouth followed the path of his finger, slowly and erotically. Paige gasped a slight sigh, her breath coming fast. “Gabriel,” she whispered.
    His sensual lips, barely there but causing enough current to make her skin tingle, moved back up her throat and to her lips. He kissed her slowly there and long.
    “Christ, woman,” he said hoarsely in her ear. “Christ, you’re so beautiful.”
    Together they sat for several moments, neither saying a word, simply breathing. Paige’s hands moved to her shirt and buttoned the front. She looked at Gabriel.
    “You’re amazing,” she whispered, and smiled.
    His eyes remained darkly passion-fi lled.
    After a few more moments, Gabriel inclined his head, a devilish look in his eyes. “You’re lookin’ weary, lass. I’ll sit wi’ you on the sofa, if you wish.”
    Paige stifled a yawn. “I do wish. Thank you.” She grasped her necklace and placed it back on, tucking it down into her night shirt.
    Together, they moved to the sofa.