Gabriel closed the room’s door and, with deliberate movements, removed his suit coat. It was thrown over the edge of the bed.

“Take off your gloves, Celia.”

For a brief second, she considered disobeying him. Perhaps he ordered other women around, women like that silly Tessa, but she would not be bullied. Her chin tilted higher.

Gabriel’s scarred eyebrow rose slightly, daring her to attempt defiance.

With a shrug, Celia abruptly stripped the gloves away. She threw them so they landed on top of his coat.

Without a word, Gabriel caught one of the two chairs with the toe of his boot and dragged it away from the table. Sitting down, he watched her silently for a long moment, then said, “Remove your travel jacket.”

Celia grit her teeth. Would he have her disrobe completely before him? While he sat like a king on a wooden throne and commanded her?

“You’ve no need for it here, pet.”

That was true. Beneath the emerald green, short-waisted jacket was a lovely gown of a paler shade of green, its trim matching the jacket.

Gabriel leaned forward, resting his forearms on the top of his thighs. Peering at her from beneath a sweep of dark eyelashes, he said, “You will do as I say, Celia. Even if you are angry with me.”

She nearly stomped her foot in her fury. “No, I will not.”

“You are racking up quite a list of infractions.” His smile was dangerous, sending a responding heat trickling through Celia’s veins. She shivered although she was becoming quite warm from his gaze. “Not including those incurred before our marriage.”

He might have been the Devil himself in that moment. Staring at him from across the room, Celia made note of the silky darkness of his hair. The fiery light in his eyes. The way his lips curved upward in a smirk constructed of both sinful pleasures and punishments.

“I will find great enjoyment in collecting your penance.” His voice was a low husky promise.

Before Celia could respond, a knock came at the door.

“Who is it?” Gabriel called out, keeping Celia pinned to the spot with the fierceness of his gaze.

“Tessa, milord. With your supper.”

Celia snorted in disgust, whirling away so she now faced the window. Pulling the curtain back slightly, she could see out into the dark night and the courtyard below illuminated by lamplight.

But what held her attention was the wavy reflection in the glass of the room behind her. She watched as Gabriel rose from the chair and unlocked the door. Tessa entered with a small cart holding two covered platters, a bottle of wine, and two goblets.

Tessa looked from Celia to Gabriel, head cocked as though aware of the tension between the couple. In the window’s reflection, Celia saw the young woman lean against Gabriel and whisper in his ear.

Celia’s lips tightened. Brazen tart.

Gabriel took a step back with a barely imperceptible shake of his head. “This is all we require tonight, Tessa. You may come back in the morning and retrieve the cart.”