“And I will not tolerate disobedience. Do you understand?”

“Kisses mean nothing,” she flung back at him, ignoring his subtle threat. “Should I kiss you, Mister Rose, and prove their worthlessness?”

Gabriel’s eyebrow rose. “I’m not sure, Lady Celia. Should you?”

The cynical dismissal seemed to infuriate her. With a huff, she replied, “Yes. I think I will. If only to prove I am right. It means nothing.”

True, he goaded her, but gentleman or not, he would not deny Celia the opportunity of proving her point. After all, he was simply a man. And wicked enough to anticipate the thrill of her mouth touching his.

He smiled at her and nodded his head.

“Then, by all means, Lady Celia. Do your worst.”

Gabriel nearly held his breath when she leaned in closer. They now faced one another in the library’s dimness. The crackling of the fire and their soft breathing were the only sounds in the room. Celia hesitated as if reconsidering her brashness, then suddenly, her mouth was on his.

It was a tentative brush of a kiss. Barely even a kiss at all, if the truth was known. And yet, it was as though the air around them was sucked into a vortex of flames. Gabriel’s heart thundered with awareness. With heat. With overwhelming want and need—all completely foreign.

And over far too quickly.

Celia eased back until space once again existed between their bodies. Her eyes were wide, confusion flitting in the dark depths. She appeared so lost that Gabriel suspected she’d experienced the same jolt of electricity.

Then she said in a less than triumphant voice, “There, Mister Rose. Do you see? Meaningless.”

Gabriel’s eyes narrowed. “You are not trying hard enough, Lady Celia.” His voice dropped to a silky purr as he deliberately licked his lips, tasting the lingering sweetness of her mouth. “Pretend I am one of your many suitors you’ve stolen away with for a quiet moment. Pretend we are behind closed doors with others standing just outside. Or that we’ve hidden behind the tallest hedge of a maze garden. Maybe the corner of a terrace at twilight. Pretend for a moment and kiss me in the same manner you have so many others.”

A flare of comprehension spread across Celia’s features. “You’ve been watching me.”

Ah, if she only knew how often he watched her.

“A good deal of my position with Ravenswood requires observation from the shadows. It just so happens you frequently appear in those same shadows. And I know you do not kiss the men huddled with you in those dim corners in the same manner you just kissed me.”

“How dare you spy on me. I shall have you tossed from this house,” Celia vowed in a shaky voice. “Banned from all events and polite society.”

“I’ve never cared much for polite society.” Gabriel reached up, brushing away a dark curl that had fallen into her eyes. “But I am curious how you will accomplish your mission. What reasons shall you give for my banishment?”