common whore because of this club.” Gabrielle snapped back. She’d had quite enough of others telling her what she could and couldn’t do, who she could see and who she could not.
Annoyed with their lack of understanding, she turned from them and slipped her chemise over her head. Flimsy as the cover may have been, Gabrielle felt stronger with it. She needed more than a single night to erase the years of distance between the three of them, no matter how she may have wished to do so with a single kiss.
Taking a deep breath, Gabrielle added, “He never embraced this…place and all it offered.”
“No,” André added. He took an aborted step forward but must have sensed Gabrielle needed space, for he stopped. His gaze looked from Eric to her, and she saw him visibly struggling with her choice.
“He never embraced it for you ,” André continued. “I still believe his leaving the Club wasn’t because he suddenly found the pious morals of the clergy, but to cover up an impending dismissal.”
He stopped, as if unwilling to say more. Then he nodded, and for a heartbeat Gabrielle didn’t know if it was to reveal more about Theodore, or to sequester her in their rooms. As foolish as that sounded, given what happened two years ago, she wouldn’t have been surprised if they had locked her in here.
But then she noticed the resigned look on André’s face, how he squared his shoulders as if to brace himself for a rather unpleasant duty.
“However,” André grudgingly said, “if you’re determined to warn him then write your note and we shall see it delivered.”
“Thank you,” Gabrielle murmured. Unbearably touched, she caressed touched André’s face. “But I ask to see the general’s daughter’s before I go. A brief visit, nothing more.”
“Gabrielle.” Eric slipped his arm around her waist from behind. He held her tight to him, and she could feel his cock press against her backside. A shudder of need rocked her, moisture pooling between her thighs. He knew what he did to her; he had to, but didn’t push her.
“You don’t owe them,” Eric continued, though he now stroked the underside of her breasts. “You give them more credit than they deserve.”
“Eric.” She turned in his arms, blood heated as André bracketed her. Gabrielle swallowed but refused to give in to temptation. This wasn’t the time.
“When you met them they were protective. They want me as part of their family, and have never once expressed anything but welcome and kindness to me directly.” She smiled up at him, reached behind her to touch André as well. “They kept you at a distance because they were jealous for their father.”
“Leave them a note as well,” André offered. He kissed the side of her throat, hands settling on her hips. “Why must you see them?”
“Because I want them to know, truly know,” Gabrielle insisted, “how grateful I’ve been for them.”
She wanted to say more, confess to André and Eric how the Fortier sisters had helped her survive. True, she should leave with a note, without a word to them, but couldn’t. She owed more to them than her own brother, and Gabrielle would not leave Paris until she settled things between her and the sisters.
“Alright,” Eric agreed. “Yes, alright. But I’ll be directly outside.”
Chapter Seven
Mouth dry, Gabrielle swallowed as she stood before the door. It wasn’t grand or ornate, but the entire street was well situated and maintained. She’d been here before, more times than she could count, and had never felt such dread.
Not even that first time, after Theodore had told her what he’d done, all but instructing her to visit the Fortier’s and befriend them.
With a slight toss of her head, Gabrielle took a deep breath, savored the rich aromas of the Parisian street, and let the knocker fall against the door. She refused to cower to Theodore no matter how her brother treated her, and wouldn’t let fear over discovery paralyze her
Annoyed with their lack of understanding, she turned from them and slipped her chemise over her head. Flimsy as the cover may have been, Gabrielle felt stronger with it. She needed more than a single night to erase the years of distance between the three of them, no matter how she may have wished to do so with a single kiss.
Taking a deep breath, Gabrielle added, “He never embraced this…place and all it offered.”
“No,” André added. He took an aborted step forward but must have sensed Gabrielle needed space, for he stopped. His gaze looked from Eric to her, and she saw him visibly struggling with her choice.
“He never embraced it for you ,” André continued. “I still believe his leaving the Club wasn’t because he suddenly found the pious morals of the clergy, but to cover up an impending dismissal.”
He stopped, as if unwilling to say more. Then he nodded, and for a heartbeat Gabrielle didn’t know if it was to reveal more about Theodore, or to sequester her in their rooms. As foolish as that sounded, given what happened two years ago, she wouldn’t have been surprised if they had locked her in here.
But then she noticed the resigned look on André’s face, how he squared his shoulders as if to brace himself for a rather unpleasant duty.
“However,” André grudgingly said, “if you’re determined to warn him then write your note and we shall see it delivered.”
“Thank you,” Gabrielle murmured. Unbearably touched, she caressed touched André’s face. “But I ask to see the general’s daughter’s before I go. A brief visit, nothing more.”
“Gabrielle.” Eric slipped his arm around her waist from behind. He held her tight to him, and she could feel his cock press against her backside. A shudder of need rocked her, moisture pooling between her thighs. He knew what he did to her; he had to, but didn’t push her.
“You don’t owe them,” Eric continued, though he now stroked the underside of her breasts. “You give them more credit than they deserve.”
“Eric.” She turned in his arms, blood heated as André bracketed her. Gabrielle swallowed but refused to give in to temptation. This wasn’t the time.
“When you met them they were protective. They want me as part of their family, and have never once expressed anything but welcome and kindness to me directly.” She smiled up at him, reached behind her to touch André as well. “They kept you at a distance because they were jealous for their father.”
“Leave them a note as well,” André offered. He kissed the side of her throat, hands settling on her hips. “Why must you see them?”
“Because I want them to know, truly know,” Gabrielle insisted, “how grateful I’ve been for them.”
She wanted to say more, confess to André and Eric how the Fortier sisters had helped her survive. True, she should leave with a note, without a word to them, but couldn’t. She owed more to them than her own brother, and Gabrielle would not leave Paris until she settled things between her and the sisters.
“Alright,” Eric agreed. “Yes, alright. But I’ll be directly outside.”
Chapter Seven
Mouth dry, Gabrielle swallowed as she stood before the door. It wasn’t grand or ornate, but the entire street was well situated and maintained. She’d been here before, more times than she could count, and had never felt such dread.
Not even that first time, after Theodore had told her what he’d done, all but instructing her to visit the Fortier’s and befriend them.
With a slight toss of her head, Gabrielle took a deep breath, savored the rich aromas of the Parisian street, and let the knocker fall against the door. She refused to cower to Theodore no matter how her brother treated her, and wouldn’t let fear over discovery paralyze her
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