Challenging Gabriel (Knight Security 2) (20 page)

“It’s far too late for that, Gabriel.”

He sank back on his calves, his head dropping down, feeling too heavy to be supported by his neck at the onslaught of pain such as he’d never know before. It pierced and then exploded in his chest. He was sure it was his heart breaking. Poets claimed that was where love was felt; scientists said emotions were controlled by the brain. The poets had the right of it, if the searing pain in Gabriel’s body was any indication. His skin felt flayed and raw, his chest tight with crippling pain, every part of him aching, crying out with loss.

Crying out for Angel.

“I’ve always loved you, Gabriel.”

Tears blurred his vision as he looked up at her, hardly daring to hope he’d heard her correctly. Afraid of daring to hope at all.

“I loved you eight years ago.” Angel’s voice was a whisper. “All the years since. When we met again in your office three days ago. Now.” She lifted a tentative hand and touched the top of his head, fingers threading through the dark silkiness of his hair. “I’ve always loved you, Gabriel. I have no doubt I always will.”

“But…”

She smiled through her tears. “You’re larger than life. Bigger and stronger, better than anyone else I’ve ever known. That superhero.”

“It’s just another word for an arrogant asshole,” he acknowledged disgustedly.

“Whatever.” She smiled through her tears. “I’m not sure any mortal woman will ever be enough for you.”

“You’re an angel, remember?”

Her laugh was choked. “The superhero and the angel?”

“Make a great title for a book.”

Angel sobered, staring down at him intently. “This is real life, Gabriel. And this habit you have of keeping things to yourself, keeping things from me, has to stop if we are to stand any chance of—” Of what? She had no idea what Gabriel had been saying, asking, a few minutes ago.

That he loved her, she had no doubt. It was there in the pained darkness of his eyes and those tears tracking down his cheeks. But he’d said nothing about them having a future together.

“Of what?” Gabriel looked at her searchingly, noting the uncertainty of her gaze.

She sighed. “What do you want from me? Another few months of intense lovemaking before you disappear again?”

“Fuck, no.” He grasped her hands in both of his. “I want to marry you, spend the rest of my life with you, make more babies with you. I’m on my knees already, so…” His hands tightened about hers as he moved up onto one knee. “Will you marry me, Angel? I promise to love you to the end of my days, to always, always share everything with you in future. All that I am, all that I’ll ever be. The bad as well as the good.”

Angel stared at him for several long seconds before sliding down onto her knees in front of him. “Of course I’ll marry you, Gabriel. I promise to love you to the end of my days, to always share everything with you in future. All that I am, all that I’ll ever be.”

As Gabriel’s lips claimed hers in a searing kiss, she knew they had been through too much not to keep that vow to each other. They had lost each other once, come close to doing so a second time, and they would never allow anything to ever part them again

Epilogue

One month later

He was here. She knew it to the depths of her soul. Could feel him, her senses awash with the spice of his aftershave, the male musk that was purely Gabriel and never failed to harden her nipples and cause the juices to flow between her thighs.

“Hello, my love.” Strong arms curved about her waist as Gabriel’s body pressed in behind her, his face nuzzling the mark of possession he never failed to leave on her shoulder. “Did you find the right gown?”

She turned in his arms, her face raised to his as they shared a deep and searing kiss. “I did.” As soon as her divorce from Clive became final, the two of them were going to be married, and this morning, she had gone out to shop for her wedding gown. A dove-gray silk that matched the color of her eyes and flowed lovingly against her curves and down to her ankles. “Any news from Caleb?” It was the same question she had asked every day since Caleb had started looking for Lena.
 

“Not yet.” Gabriel’s arms tightened about her. “But no matter how long it takes, believe me, Caleb will find her.”

She knew that, had come to know her future brother-in-law very well these past few weeks. Caleb was completely focused on whatever he set his mind to, and right now that was bringing Lena home.

“Lily came by and took Daniel to the park to feed the ducks with her and Amelia while the two of us go and look at the house together,” Gabriel murmured enticingly.

She and Daniel had moved into Gabriel’s apartment with him immediately once they returned to London. It hadn’t taken them long to decide a house would be better for the three of them, and any more children they had in future. They were currently looking for a house closer to Jonas and Lily, Daniel totally enamored with having aunts, uncles, a cousin, as well as his daddy.

With the fortitude of the very young, Daniel had taken the news of Gabriel being his daddy in stride, perhaps helped by the fact that the man he had thought was his father had taken Lena away and then locked him alone in a room for days on end.

There had been some repercussions from that ordeal. Daniel occasionally had nightmares during the first week or two after his release, but hugs and words of reassurance from Gabriel and Angel would quickly settle him. Luckily, there had been no nightmares this past week, and Angel hoped it would remain that way.

She knew that right now Gabriel was intending to distract her from thinking about Caleb’s search for Lena. She would never stop worrying about them, waiting for the day Caleb was able to bring the other woman home. But Gabriel was right. All the worrying in the world wasn’t going to make that happen any sooner.

Her lips curved into a sensuous smile. “Does that mean we have an hour or so to ourselves before we have to meet the estate agent?”

Gabriel grinned. “Care to join me in our bedroom, Mrs. Knight-to-be?”

A thrill ran through her at the thought of being Gabriel’s wife.

Loved and cherished by this strong man for the rest of her life. As she would love and cherish him in return. Both of them so very aware of how it felt to be without the other, and how close they had come to losing each other a second time.

Gabriel’s arms tightened about her, as if he was aware of what she was thinking. They were so attuned to each other now, he probably was. “I love you, my Angel.”

Hearing those words from Gabriel’s lips never failed to move her. “I love you too.”

“Always.”

“Always.”

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About The Author

Carole Mortimer is the author of over 215 novels, contemporary and Regency romance. She is a USA Today Bestselling Author. Recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. Received the 2014 Pioneer for Romance Romantic Times Award. Entertainment Weekly Top 10 Author. She was also recognized by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012 for her ‘outstanding service to literature’.
 

She is happily married to Peter. They have 6 sons, and live on the beautiful Isle of Man. She also loves to hear from Readers!

Other books by Carole Mortimer

Knight Security Series:

Resisting Alexandre (Knight Security 0.5)

Defying Asher (Knight Security 1)

Challenging Gabriel (Knight Security 2)

Capturing Caleb (Knight Security 3) Coming soon

More to come in this series.

ALPHA series:

Christmas Alpha (Alpha 1)
 

Dark Alpha (Alpha 2)

Shadow Alpha (Alpha 3)

Midnight Alpha (Alpha 4)

Renegade Alpha (Alpha 5)

Warrior Alpha (Alpha 6)

Rogue Alpha (Alpha 7)

Savage Alpha (Alpha 8)

Series now complete.

Regency Unlaced Series:

The Duke’s Mistress (Regency Unlaced 1)

Claimed by the Marquis (Regency Unlaced 2)

Taken by the Earl (Regency Unlaced 3)

Pursued by the Marquis (Regency Unlaced 4)

Desired by a Lord (Regency Unlaced 5)

Captured by a Gentleman (Regency Unlaced 6)

Pleasured by a Duke (Regency Unlaced 7)

More to come in this series.