She refused to feel ridiculous, slighted, annoyed. She had known why he was resisting, known it was too soon. She hadn’t intended to force him into action. He had done that. She would have been content with what she had done on the couch. Knowing he was watching, getting aroused, had been enough for her, and this was his choice.

So she decided to take the upper hand, instead of waiting for him to embarrass her by reminding her he wouldn’t have sex with her. “I’m going to take a shower,” she said, peeling herself off the piano. She trailed her fingers across his cheek, through his hair, as she moved past him. “Thanks for playing. I really enjoyed it.”

He opened his mouth. Then shut it. Then opened it again. “No problem. My pleasure.”

The irony of that nonchalant statement made her laugh.

And Sara headed for the bathroom, stopping to scoop up her shirt on the way, feeling more relaxed than she had in a year.

Gabriel watched Sara head down the hall, her tank top swinging back and forth in her hand, her light laughter carrying as she gave him one last glance over her bare shoulder. The look was saucy, pleased. She had gotten what she wanted and didn’t seemed offended that he wouldn’t take it to the next step.

He wasn’t feeling at all pleased. He was sick with self-disgust, at his complete lack of control. The taste of her was lingering on his mouth, and he could still feel the warmth of her thighs as he gripped her, keeping her legs spread, her panties pushed to the side, as he had moved his tongue in and out of her receptive body. She had been wet, eager, easy to orgasm, and he had known when he’d seen her sit up on the couch and reach for her skirt that she was going to peel off her clothes and pleasure herself some more, and that he was going to take her himself instead.

It had been stupid. She was drunk, dancing with the green fairy, and had let down all of her inhibitions. She was going to regret touching herself in front of him the next day. He should have left it alone, just concentrated on the notes and not even watched. He should have stepped out of the room to give her privacy. He should have resisted the urge to touch her.