~Elvira~
The fire in the hearth crackled, casting orange light over Gabriel’s skin as he stood there watching me as his chest rose and fell with uneven breaths.
The air was thick with the scent of pine and rain, making me feel lightheaded.
I could feel the silk of the red gown clinging to my shaved skin, a reminder of why I was here.
He moved slowly and deliberately toward me.
When he finally stood in front of me, the heat coming off his bare chest felt like a furnace.
He reached out, hesitating for a second before his fingers tangled deep in the hair at the back of my head.
He tilted my head back, forcing me to look into his dark eyes.
"You look beautiful in red, Elvira," he said quietly, his thumb moving gently along my jawline.
"But you look even better when you admit how m
