Read Online A Christmas Spirit by Cindy Miles - Free Book Online Page B

nerve endings tingled, and she knew it was from Gabriel’s spirited energy. Yet in her imagination, she could easily picture and sense his strong lips grazing hers; his tongue brushing against her own; and his mouth moving in slow, erotic kisses over her jaw, her ear, and down her throat. Even his uneven breathing sounded real.
    It made her shiver.
    It made her groan . . .
    “Christ, Paige,” Gabriel said, in nearly a growl. “You’re drivin’ me daft, lass.” He pulled back and searched her eyes. “I’ve ne’er wanted so badly to have a woman as badly as I want you.” He shut his eyes, then looked at her. “We’ve got to figure out something else to occupy our time, lass,” he said, although the grin on his face looked strained. “I fear I shall lose control and make a daft fool o’ myself otherwise.”
    Paige shuddered at his words, and to be honest, she thought she just might self-combust and make a fool of her own self. She connected with Gabriel so deeply; it was almost as if he truly could touch her. She barely trusted her voice, so she cleared her throat and nodded. “Okay.” Taking a deep breath, she asked, “What do you suggest?”
    Gabriel’s green eyes turned dark, smoky. One brow lifted, and two dimples pitted his cheeks.
    Paige felt her skin grow hot.
    Gabriel laughed. “Right, lass. Do you feel up to a midwinter’s walk through the wood? I can only go as far as the Gorloch property line, but there’s another fine path that Craigmire’s wife takes. Afterward, we’ve got to get some food in that growling belly,” he said, pointing at her stomach. “Mayhap then we could watch a movie?”
    Paige stared in disbelief. “You watch movies?”
    Gabriel shrugged and grinned. “Aye, loads of them. Especially the American movies. Die Hard is one of my favorites. Craigmire has quite a collection of fine DVDs.”
    Paige looked at him, then burst out laughing.
    A sexy smile stretched across Gabriel’s even sexier face. “What’s so funny, lass?”
    Paige shook her head and glanced at the roaring fire in the hearth. “Only I would stumble across the man of my dreams, only to find he’s a spirit of nearly nine hundred years and he watches modern American movies.”
    “Is that what I am?” he asked quietly, then lowered his head to catch her gaze. “The man o’ your dreams?”
    Paige bravely met his stare. She’d not admit anything else. “Absolutely.”
    An indescribable expression—perhaps one of amazement— crossed Gabriel’s face, and then he smiled. It was stunning. “That is by far the verra best Yuletide wish come true, indeed. Come, then. Let’s get you bundled up for our midwinter’s walk before it gets too dark.”
    Minutes later, Paige was encased in the thick wool of Craigmire’s coat, two pairs of woolen socks, Craigmire’s Wellies, a scarf, and her thick knitted hat pulled over her ears.
    “Ready?” she said, taking the last of the steps down to the great hall.
    Gabriel smiled and shook his head. “You look like a wee fairy drowning in a sea o’ wool.” He drew close. “You look a mite more fetchin’ in that woolly than Craigmire does, I’ll warrant,” he said. “Too bad Mrs. Craigmire took her wee coat. ’Twould have fit you perfectly.”
    Paige glanced at him. He laughed.
    “To the wood?” he said.
    With a chuckle, Paige opened the door and stepped out into the frozen Highland air. “Always.”
    As they followed the same path they’d taken earlier to pick out a tree, they walked in comfortable silence. Paige’s boots crunching through the powdery snow broke the wintry quiet of Gorloch. It struck her how she made the only noise, and that in another time, Gabriel’s big booted feet would have joined hers in the crunching.
    Slowly and as covertly as possible, Paige slipped a glance at the tall Highlander walking next to her. Just as easily as if he were alive and well, he moved with a heavy sort of grace that she didn’t really expect. That long plaid