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“I’m out of my element here…and with you.”
    She didn’t think he moved, but knew she had his undivided attention.
    To her surprise, Gabriel moved in behind her, his footsteps nearly silent on the marble floor.
    But she felt him.
    Turning, she took a step back and met his gaze, holding her breath.
    Staring into her eyes with his dark, hooded ones, Gabriel smiled, a sad, tender smile that made it hard to breathe.
    “Desire and fear—a powerful combination. An arousing one. It’s also a highly unpredictable one.”
    Each word stroked her arousal, his deep, intimate voice as seductive as a caress.
    “You think you know me, but you don’t. Just because you can convince other women to give in to you, that doesn’t mean I will. Or can.”
    His smile widened, the smug satisfaction in it fueling her anger. “You only attack when you’re feeling vulnerable. You do want me, but you’re afraid. I understand that, Kelsey.”
    She feared he didn’t understand just how much she wanted him, or how much the strength of that need scared her. She was afraid he didn’t know just how important he’d become to her, or how much she feared losing that. “Please, Gabriel. You don’t understand! How can you be so calm about this?”
    Staring down at her with hooded eyes, he reached out to tuck her blowing hair behind her ear. “I understand more than you can imagine. I think you’re the one who doesn’t understand—me, yourself, or what you and I can be to each other. I wouldn’t be any good to you if I got upset every time I encountered an obstacle, and I sure as hell wouldn’t be as successful. Why don’t you go take a shower, or better yet, a hot bath, and we’ll sit here, have a drink, and talk?”
    She didn’t trust the gleam in his eyes. “Talk? Just talk?”
    “Just talk.” He held out his arms as if that would make him appear less threatening, but she didn’t think anything would do that. “Trust me. I want you to be more comfortable with me than you obviously are.”
    Kelsey sucked in a breath, frozen in place when he reached out a finger and traced the upper curve of her breast above the silky material.
    Other than the light stroke of his finger, he didn’t touch her, but she felt the effects of his light caress everywhere. “We have a lot to talk about, don’t you think? We can talk about why you’re so afraid of men, and you can ask me the kind of questions I know you’re dying to ask.”
    Her nipples beaded so tightly they ached, making even the slide of the material against them almost unbearable. “You’ll answer questions about your lifestyle?”
    “Of course.” Glancing up, he smiled, a smile filled with secrets. “I want you to be comfortable with me, Kelsey.”
    He dropped his hand to his side, his smile tender. “Why don’t we both get showered and changed into something more suitable. A tuxedo with sand in it isn’t very comfortable, and I’m sure you’ll feel better when you get cleaned up. I’ll order some wine.”
    With a smile, he turned away. “I’ll get you another outfit. I bought you quite a few and I’m dying to see you in all of them. I really do like dressing you. I like taking care of you, even if it’s only temporary.”
    Bending close, he brushed his lips over hers in a soft caress, and lifted his head to stare into her eyes. “I’ll just have to see what I can do to convince you to make it permanent.”

Chapter Four
     
    “These outfits are stupid. You can’t even call them clothes. Two skimpy pieces of material. Nick and Steve should be shot.”
    Gabriel hid a smile at her indignation, letting his gaze sweep over her. He wanted to laugh out loud at her look of confusion and desire in her eyes, a look he suspected had a lot to do with the way the material felt against her breasts and bottom, and the amount of skin it revealed. “I think they’re perfect.”
    Even though she glared at him, she couldn’t hide the hunger in her eyes and the emotion she