never been very pleasant to Julia, and she had always disliked them.

She had no idea that Officer Roberts, who had investigated Simon’s attack on her a month previous, had been Gabriel’s first.

“It was not the greatest of experiences,” he said quietly. “In fact, I would say it was scarring. I didn’t love her. There was some attraction, of course, but no true affection. We went to Selinsgrove High School together. She sat next to me in History one year.” He shrugged. “We flirted and messed around after school and eventually…

“Jamie was a virgin but lied and said she wasn’t. I wasn’t atten-

tive to her at all. I was selfish and stupid.” He cursed. “She said it didn’t hurt much, but there was blood afterward. I felt like an animal and I’ve always regretted it.” Gabriel cringed, and Julia felt the guilt radiating from him. His description made her almost ill, but it also explained a great deal.

“That’s horrible. I’m so sorry.” She squeezed his hand. “Is that

why you were so worried last night?”

He nodded.

“She misled you.”

“That’s no excuse for my behavior, before or afterward.” He cleared his throat. “She assumed we were in a relationship, but I wasn’t

interested. That made it worse, of course. I graduated from being

merely an animal to being an animal and an asshole. When I saw her at Thanksgiving, I hadn’t spoken to her in years. I asked her to forgive me. She was remarkably gracious.

“I’ve always felt guilty for treating her badly. I’ve stayed away from virgins ever since.” He swallowed noisily. “Until last night.

11

Sylvain Reynard

“First times are supposed to be sweet, but seldom are. While you

were worrying about pleasing me, I was worrying about pleasing you.

Perhaps I was too careful, too protective, but I couldn’t have borne it if I’d hurt you.”

Julia put her breakfast aside and stroked his face. “You were

very gentle and very generous. I’ve never known such joy, and that’s because you loved me with more than just your body. Thank you.”

As if to prove her point, he kissed her deeply. Julia hummed as

his hands tangled through her hair, and she wrapped her arms about his neck. He slid his hands between them to the front of her robe, parting it hesitantly. He lifted his head, his eyes questioning.

She nodded.

He began whispering kisses against her neck and drew his mouth

up to tug at her earlobe. “How do you feel?”

“Great,” she whispered as his lips skimmed down to her throat.

He moved so he could see her face while one of his hands trav-

eled to rest atop her lower abdomen. “Are you sore?”

“A little.”

“Then we should wait.”

“No!”

He laughed, his lips curling up into his signature seductive smile.

“Did you mean what you said last night about making love out here?”

She shivered at the way his voice inflamed her but returned his

smile, winding her fingers in his hair, tugging him closer. He opened her robe and began to explore her curves with both hands before

dropping his mouth to kiss her breasts.

“You were shy with me this morning.” He pressed a reverent kiss

over her heart “What changed?”

Julia brushed against the hint of a dimple in his chin. “I will

probably always be a little shy about being naked. But I want you. I want you to look into my eyes and tell me you love me as you move

inside me. I will remember that as long as I live.”

“I’ll keep reminding you,” he breathed.

He divested her of her robe and positioned her on her back.

“Are you cold?”

“Not when you’re holding me,” she whispered, smiling. “Wouldn’t

you rather have me on top? I’d like to try it.”

12

Gabriel’s Rapture

He threw off his robe and boxer shorts quickly and covered her

body with his own, placing a hand on either side of her face. “Someone might see you out here, darling. And I can’t have that. No one gets to see this beautiful body except me.

“Although the neighbors and passersby might be able to hear

you…for the next hour or so…” He chuckled as she inhaled sharply,

a tremor of pleasure coursing all the way down to her toes.

He kissed her, pushing her hair away from her face. “My goal

is to see how many times I can please you before I can’t hold back anymore.”

She grinned. “I like the sound of that.”

“So do I. So let me hear you.”

The blue sky blushed to see such passionate lovemaking, while

the Florentine sun smiled down, warming the lovers despite the

gentle breeze. Beside them, Julia’s coffee and milk grew stone cold and sullen at being ignored. P

After a brief nap, Julia borrowed Gabriel’s MacBook to send an

email to her father. She had two important messages in her inbox.

The first was from Rachel.

Jules!

How are you? Is my brother behaving himself? Have you slept

with him yet? Yes, it is COMPLETELY inappropriate for me to

ask that question, but come on, if you were dating anyone else

you would have told me already.

I’m not going to volunteer any advice. I’m trying not to think too much about it. Just let me know you’re happy and he’s treating

you properly.

Aaron sends his best.

Love you,

Rachel.

PS. Scott has a new girlfriend. He’s been secretive about her

so I’m not sure how long they’ve been dating. I keep bugging

him to introduce me but he won’t.

Maybe she’s a professor.

13

Sylvain Reynard

Julia snickered, glad that Gabriel was showering and not read-

ing over her shoulder. He’d be annoyed at his sister for posing such personal questions. She took a few moments to phrase her response

before typing her reply.

Hi Rachel,

The hotel is beautiful. Gabriel has been very sweet and gave

me your mother’s diamond earrings. Did you know about that?

I feel guilty about it, so please let me know if this upsets you.

As to your other question, Yes. Gabriel treats me well, and I

am VERY happy.

Say hi to Aaron for me. Looking forward to Christmas.

Love, Julia. XO

PS. I hope Scott’s girlfriend is a professor. Gabriel will never let him hear the end of it.

Julia’s second email was from Paul. It could be said that he pined for her, but also he was grateful to have maintained their friendship.

He would rather keep his longings to himself than to lose her entirely.

And he had to admit that since she’d begun seeing her boyfriend

Owen, her very skin glowed.

(Not that he would have mentioned it.)

Hey Julia,

Sorry I didn’t get the chance to say good-bye before you went

home. I hope you have a good Christmas. I have a gift for you.

Would you give me your address in Pennsylvania so I can

send it?

I’m back at the farm trying to find time to work on my

dissertation in between large family gatherings and getting up

early to help my dad. Let’s just say my daily routine involves a

lot of manure…

Can I bring you something from Vermont?

A Holstein of your very own?

Merry Christmas,

Paul.

P.S. Did you hear that Christa Peterson’s dissertation proposal

was accepted by Emerson?

I guess Advent really is the season of miracles.

14

Gabriel’s Rapture

Julia stared at the computer screen, reading and re-reading Paul’s postscript. She wasn’t sure what to make of it. It was possible, she thought, that Gabriel accepted Christa’s proposal because she threatened him.

Julia didn’t want to bring up such an unpleasant topic during

their vacation, but the news troubled her. She typed a short reply to Paul, giving him her address, then she emailed her father, telling him that Gabriel was treating her like a princess. She closed the

laptop and sighed.

“That doesn’t sound like a happy Julianne.” Gabriel’s voice sound-

ed behind her.

“I think I’m going to ignore my email for the rest of our trip.”

“Good idea.”

She turned to find him standing in front of her, wet from the

shower, hair tousled, a white towel wound around his hips.

“You’re beautiful,” she blurted before thinking.

He chuckled and pulled her to her feet so he could embrace her.

“Do you have a thing for men in towels, Miss Mitchell?”

“Maybe for one particular man.”

“Are you feeling all right?” He raised his eyebrows expectantly,

his expression hungry.

“I’m a little uncomfortable. But it was worth it.”

His eyes narrowed. “You need to tell me if I’m hurting you,

Julianne. Don’t hide things from me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Gabriel, it doesn’t hurt; it’s merely uncom-

fortable. I didn’t notice it during because there were other things on my mind — several other things. You were very distracting.”

He smiled and kissed her neck loudly. “You need to let me start

distracting you in the shower. I’m tired of showering alone.”

“I’d like that. How are you feeling?”

He pretended to ponder her question. “Let’s see — loud, hot sex

with my beloved inside and outside…Yes, I’d say I’m great.”

He hugged her close, and the cotton of her robe absorbed some