Free Empowered [Sexual Magic 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Jennifer August Page B

flirtatious. “Because you have an amazing body. Very in shape and fit. Curvy yet toned.”
    A blush worked its way hotly up her neck and into her cheeks. She buried her face behind the menu.
    He chuckled. “Oh, now you get shy?”
    “Shut up,” she muttered softly.
    “Hm, that sounds like a punishable comment, don’t you think?”
    Heat skipped through her again, and she lowered the menu, eyeing him speculatively. “It could be. If you wished it.”
    Gabriel held her eyes for moment before looking away. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
    She reached for his hand. “I know that. I should have been more careful with an inexperienced whip handler in the room. I was just so caught up in the moment.”
    He nodded. “I know. That’s what drew my attention.” He swallowed hard and looked away. “The sounds of ecstasy you were making made me forget all the safety stuff Noah had told me.”
    Madelyn thought about that awful moment and knew that as painful as it had been for her, Gabriel’s mental anguish was worse. “I wanted to feel your leather on me, Gabriel.”
    His gaze swung back to her. She lifted her palm. “Not like that, of course. But I knew when you started swinging the whip that I wanted to be under it eventually.” She was telling him the truth. Something about Gabriel was intoxicating and called to her on a primal level she felt helpless to resist.
    She’d needed to feel his leather upon her skin almost as much as she needed air.
    The realization stunned her.
    Slowly, she slid her hand away and noted how she trembled. “It was an accident, that’s all. Noah fixed everything. I’m perfectly fine.”
    Gabriel nodded. “I suppose it was, but if we’re to continue this association of ours, then we must set some guidelines to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”
    “Do you wish to continue?”
    She held her breath, almost afraid of his answer. What if he said no? What if he walked away?
    Madelyn’s pulse climbed, and blood pounded frantically in her ears.
    “I do. Very much so.”
    His low-timbred voice slid over her skin like a physical touch. Her heartbeat settled down and soft heat pooled between her legs.
    “I do, too,” she whispered.
    He smiled. “Good.”
    “Ready to order?”
    The bright, pert voice shattered the building intimacy, and Madelyn bit her tongue on an automatic curse aimed at the young waitress.
    “We’re waiting for one more,” Gabriel said smoothly. “But we could start with some drinks. Madelyn?”
    “Chocolate martini,” she said, falling back on her favorite. Logical thought seemed beyond her at the moment. Whatever spell Gabriel was weaving, he was doing a damn good job.
    Giddy happiness bubbled through her.
    “Seven and seven,” Gabriel said.
    “You bet,” the girl chirped and turned away, ponytail bobbing wildly.
    “So, tell me, Maddie, how’d you get involved with the Council?” Gabriel grinned and waggled his brow in mock lechery. “Someone knock on your door one day and recruit you?”
    His use of her nickname sounded right and for a second, she couldn’t figure out what he’d said. Then it hit her and another wash of embarrassment covered her.
    “Whoa, that’s an interesting look,” he said. “Surely it’s not that bad?”
    She tapped her nail on the plastic-coated menu, eyes skipping over the offerings without comprehending anything. “Uh, well, it kind of did happen like that.”
    She peeked at him. His mouth hung open, and his eyes were wide with surprise.
    “You’re kidding?”
    Madelyn laid the menu down and clasped her hands over it and cleared her throat, attempting to appear as nonchalant as Noah often did. “ Non , I am not. Within the Council are a special set of people called Scrys, or sometimes Scryers. Though their brand of magic is different than Enrichers, they are still endowed. They are able to pinpoint people who have our, uh, talents. They inform the Council, which in turn investigates each person before making a formal