“Uh, yeah.” Gabriel stared at her, unable to read her expression.

Seconds ticked by in absolute silence. Finally, Erin giggled. “Oh, Gabriel.” She laughed uncontrollably. “You should see your face.”

“What’s so damned funny about my face?”

“The fact that you’re terrified the poor deflowered virgin is expecting a proposal of marriage.”

Red skated along his cheeks. “I’m not scared of you.”

“You’re scared witless.” Erin got up and came around to his side of the table. She kissed him sweetly. “It’s adorable.”

“You think my attempt at chivalry is laughable?” Gabriel caught her around the waist and pulled her, protesting, into his lap. Impossibly, he was as rigid as steel. Did she realize he was only this way with her? “Erin—”

“I have you, Gabriel. That’s all I want.” She let him draw her to him, felt the sweet slide into oblivion when he kissed her and carried her back into the bedroom. Felt the liquid pull of paradise when he moved inside her.

He made love with her, felt himself explode within her warm, satin embrace. Felt his heart break when his confession was met by a scorching kiss, rather than words. Felt the painful tug of unrequited love when he cradled her into him.

Breakfast forgotten, they spent the early-morning hours in bed, learning each other. How Gabriel writhed in agony when she tickled his sides. The wide streak of adventure in the wary Erin. And they learned about themselves. Erin hadn’t known the dimensions of lovemaking, the art of bringing your partner laughter as well as ecstasy. Gabriel hadn’t realized his capacity for generosity, driven to see pleasure overtake her before he followed her over the edge.

Too soon, the phone shrilled for attention. Gabriel fumbled for the receiver. “Moss.”

“Get your ass down here.” Peter pounded the desktop, and his coffee and stale croissant bounced under the reverberations. “It’s nearly nine o’clock. We’ve got another paper to put together. Advertisers have been ringing Kelly’s phone off the hook. Stroke of brilliance, Gabe. Sheer brilliance. So get down here and steer the ship.”

“You’re the managing editor,” Gabriel protested, exhausted and unwilling to leave the sleepy body wrapped so close to his. He stroked the long, slender limbs, marveling at their perfection. “Manage.”

“You’re the damned fool who decided we should become a daily.” In a rare show of discretion, Peter lowered his voice to a muted roar. “Let Erin get some rest and come downstairs. Better yet, bring her with you. That young wolf of hers has been prowling around since morning.”

Gabriel stiffened. “He’s downstairs?”

“Yep. I’ve gotten Gennie to entertain him, but he keeps coming in here, demanding I produce the professor.”

Gabriel had stopped on a single phrase. “You left my sister with Sebastian Cain?”

Gleefully, Peter corrected him. “No. You left Sebastian Cain alone down here and he discovered your sister.”