I look forward to seeing you in the autumn and viewing your own work and hopefully to collaborate on a project as we artists must do, just as we must continue taking our next breath. Be well, my dearest.

Your most loving uncle,

Frederic

Chapter 1

Gabrielle

25th August

Donadea, Northern Ireland

My heart dropped as I froze against Ivan. He sensed me stiffening and held on to me a little tighter. Unable to move away or do anything much more than just stare at him, I memorized every feature of his face, the gorgeous green eyes; the mole on his upper left cheek, the natural part of his hair and the way it fell along the side of his face, the color of his lips and the shape of his jaw. All parts of him I was just beginning to know by heart.

All of him beautiful to me, to the point I almost couldn’t look away.

His burning gaze held me anyway, just as much as his arms were doing. Ivan held on to me because he expected me to run away and freak out. He was only reacting to what he’d come to expect from me based on his experience. I’d been trying to run from him nearly every time we’d been in the same space together since our very first meeting. His powers of deduction didn’t have to work overtime to figure me out. He also had no trouble trying to convince me to stay with him longer. Ivan Everley was a master of persuasion.

I want you submissive when we fuck, Gabrielle.

I shivered at the thought… and the implications of what he meant by those very direct and potent words. Imagery flickered through my brain and threatened to short it out. This man had a powerfully mysterious hold over me that I’d never experienced before, and I needed to exercise extreme caution. My rational mind knew this, of course, but I also knew I was in danger of tossing said extreme caution to the proverbial wind.

The confidence with which he made his request inferred this thing we’d started would be continuing indefinitely. As much as it sounded wonderful to be with Ivan for longer than just a weekend of uninhibited sex and sensual pleasure, my rational side told me I was a fool if I thought I could pull this off with him. There was no way I’d make it out unscathed. He would twist me up into all sorts of knots. Add in the fact I didn’t deserve any kind of relationship with him… or with anyone really. My sins still hung heavy on my heart, and the self-flagellation was something I couldn’t let go of just yet. Someday, maybe, I might be able to forgive myself for what I’d done four years ago.

I want so badly to have that… with you, Gabrielle.

When he’d said that second part to me, there was a definite yearning in his voice. I’d heard it clearly. I’d also sensed a loneliness in him. I think I picked up on it because feeling lonely was my favorite flavor these days. Could Ivan and I fill those lonesome feelings for each other? Was it right for me to give in to the desire I felt with him? Or was I fooling myself?