“Gabriel,” she whispered, hanging at his mouth, aching to feel it come crashing down on her lips, crushing them, devouring him, easing the ache, the hunger that pulsed through her young, untried body...

“Gabriel!”

Sara’s joyful cry broke them apart just in the nick of time. Gabriel cleared his throat, turned to his sister and hugged her.

“It’s good to have you home,” Sara said against his chest.

“It’s good to be home.” He was struggling to sound normal. His mind was still on Michelle’s soft mouth and his hunger to break it open under his lips, back her into a wall and devour her.

“Have you eaten? I just made soup,” Sara added.

“No. I’m starved.” He made an attempt not to look at Michelle when he said that. He even smiled.

“I could eat, too,” Michelle said, trying to break the tension.

“Let’s go in.” Sara took his arm. “Where did you come from?”

“Dallas, this time,” he said. “I’ve been in the States for a couple of days, but I had business there before I could get home.” He hesitated. “I got tickets to the ballet in San Antonio when I came through there this morning.” He glanced at Michelle. “Want to go see The Nutcracker with me?” he added with a grin.

“Oh, I’d love to,” she said fervently. “What do we wear?”

“A very dressy evening outfit,” Sara said. “I bought you one once, and you never even wore it.”

Michelle grinned. “Well, I haven’t been anywhere I’d need to wear it,” she replied, not guessing what it told Gabriel, whose eyes twinkled brightly.

Michelle flushed and then grinned at him. “No, I’m not dating anybody at college,” she said. She shrugged. “I’m too busy studying.”

“Is that so?” Gabriel laughed, and was relieved.

“When are you leaving?” Sara asked.

“At six, and you’d better start dressing as well, because we’re all three going,” Gabriel added, and he exchanged a speaking look with Sara.

“All of us? Oh. Oh! That’s nice!” Michelle worked at sounding enthusiastic.

Sara just winked at her. “I’d better go through my closet.”

Gabriel looked down at Michelle with the Christmas tree bright and beautiful behind her. “I wouldn’t dare take you out alone, ma belle,” he said under his breath. “You know it. And you know why.”

Her eyes searched his hungrily. She knew. She’d felt it, when he held her beside the truck. She knew that he wanted her.

She’d had no idea what wanting really was, until Gabriel had come into her life. Now she was aware of a hunger that came around when he was close, that grew and surged in her when he looked at her, when he spoke to her, when he touched her...