“Marjorie likes you, and we’ve already established that Finnegan adores you,” I said calmly. That she was adorably annoyed was sexy as hell to me. Being worried about her reputation amongst my staff showed she had some integrity. Gabrielle was nothing like the women I’d been with in the past, and the more time we spent together, the more this fact was finally sinking through my thick skull. It was probably the reason I’d been so desperate to bring her back here. Alone. I wanted her dependent upon me with no other options than to give in to what I believed would be good between us. My subconscious knew it the night we met. Too bad my inner Mr. Hyde appeared when she showed up on my doorstep. I fucked up that night… about as badly as one can, but here was a second chance to make it up to her.

I grinned at her fuming expression, loving the feistiness and the flash of defiance. It only made me crave the pleasure to be had in taming her. The sex was so fucking outstanding with her, but it wasn’t just the sex that I needed. With Gabrielle I needed more than what she could do for me sexually. And that was the difference. More. I just wanted more from her without even knowing exactly what more exactly meant yet.

I couldn’t remember ever wanting more… from anyone.

“I don’t even want to imagine what Mr. Finnegan and Marjorie are thinking about me. How am I going to work here at Donadea and be taken with any level of credibility after what they’ve both witnessed us doing knowing we’re having sex all the—”

I slammed my lips down on hers to stop the tirade. It worked, and in a few seconds, I had my submissive sexy kitten moaning softly against my tongue. Kitten was the perfect descriptor for her, too. Hissing with baby cat claws out one minute, and the next purring in my lap as she was petted. I knew I couldn’t get enough of her, and I definitely didn’t want our time together to end.

But really, it wouldn’t be ending at all if I had my way.

I had a pretty good idea about something else that was going on with me, too.

Like and love are definitely not the same.

I liked to believe I’d experienced both in the course of my life. I did know the difference between the two.

I did, didn’t I?

GABRIELLE

“My friends as promised.” Ivan dropped his arms over the fence, brought two fingers up to his lips and delivered a sharp whistle. I figured out who his “friends” were when two white horses lifted their heads from grazing and started making their way toward us immediately. “The one on the left is Silver, and that’s Pearl on the right. There’s one more friend to meet, but I don’t see him with the others. Maybe he’ll show up in a minute.”