The Christmas Treasure Read Online Free PDF

Senora, my family is of the finest lineage."  
    Lorilla shook her head, intimidated by his cold words. "I didn't mean that," she whispered, wanting to tear her gaze away from his stormy eyes, but unable to. "I thought you would be--old," she finished with a shrug.  
    To her surprise, he laughed, although his face hardly changed.  
    "Ah," he said. "Old. You were afraid I would be too old?" He deliberately let his gaze drift down her length, then back up to her eyes. "Have no fears, Senora. My intentions have already been made clear to you. I can assure that you will not find my abilities lacking."  
    Lorilla nodded drowsily. Despite his compelling presence, despite the knowledge that he could do anything he wanted with her and she would be powerless to stop him, her eyelids drooped. She had been on the road for five months, and this day had been a very long one. She was exhausted. She yawned. "I'm sorry. I'm so tired."  
    Gabriel drew away and looked down at her. "I see. Apparently you are neither  intimidated nor aroused by me. I think I understand. I too am tired. Perhaps we should rest. Morning will come soon enough."  
    He pulled the covers over himself and her, then turned toward her. "Turn over," he whispered, urging her with a hand on her shoulder.  
    Mystified, Lorilla turned her back to him. He put an arm around her waist from the back and pulled her into the curve of his body, towel and all.  
    Lorilla's sleep-drugged mind was aware of what he had done. Her exhausted body absorbed the heat of his and she shifted, to find the most comfortable position. Behind her, a sleepy growl and a sudden hardening of his muscles indicated that Gabriel had felt her move. His fingers curled against her abdomen, just under the curve of her breast, and his low voice rumbled in her ears.  
    "Try to lie still, Chiquita . For my sake and your own."  
    She fell asleep, wrapped in his embrace.  
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    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Lorilla awoke slowly, awareness growing as she emerged from a dreamless sleep. The first thing she noticed was the firm arms enveloping her and sensuous warm breath against her nape.  
    Gabriel. Her husband.  
    She lay, eyes closed, savoring the strange, wonderful feelings. How had her body already become acquainted with his? It already felt right to lie against him, to be held by him. Without moving her head, she let her gaze drift to the window. It was still dark outside. Not nearly time to rise. Taking a long breath, she pressed herself just a bit more into the protective curve of Gabriel's body and let her eyes drift shut again.  
    She was married. A smile touched her lips even as a whisper of apprehension slid down her spine. She understood, in some deep primal way, that she still had much to learn about marriage. But just being here, having survived five months on the trail, made her feel triumphant. Whatever lay in store for her, it could hardly be worse than what she had left behind. The priest said Gabriel was a good man. A tiny voice in her head reminded her that Ray's neighbors called Ray a good man also.  
    Sighing, she tucked a hand under her head and prepared to go back to sleep. Just as she was about to drift off, Gabriel stirred behind her, and Lorilla felt his entire body go tense and hard against her. At the same time, his hand spread wide on her belly and gentle pressure urged her to turn onto her back.  
    With her heart in her throat, she turned. As she did, Gabriel propped himself up on one elbow and gazed down at her.  
    "Is it morning already?" she whispered, awed by the intensity in his gaze, acutely aware of his thigh along the length of hers.  
    "It's very early. There's plenty of time before the household stirs," he replied, his gaze roaming over her hair, her face, her shoulders. A smile softened the sharp planes of his face and his eyes seemed softer in the dim light of pre-dawn.  
    "Plenty of time?" She bit her lip.  
    He moved his hand and Lorilla gasped, but