Gabriel's Promise (Gabriel's Inferno #4)(8)

He touched Clare’s head lightly, so as not to wake her. “Daddy loves you.”

Then he turned to his sleeping wife and pressed a kiss to her hair. He took a moment to survey his surroundings, especially the large reproduction of Henry Holiday’s painting of Dante and Beatrice that hung on the wall opposite the bed. Once again, he stared at Beatrice’s face, noticing the shocking resemblance between his own brown-eyed angel and Dante’s beloved.

Then his gaze moved to the large black-and-white photographs he’d taken of himself and Julia since they’d been together. There were others, of course. Stacks of photos lined his office, documenting Julianne’s beautiful form throughout pregnancy. And there were a hundred digital photos of Clare saved on his computer that had been taken in the hospital.

But for now, at least, he looked with fondness at the old picture of Julianne’s graceful neck and his hands holding up her long brown hair. And then the photo of her sitting on the edge of the bathtub, her beautiful back and the side of one of her breasts exposed.

Longing stirred within him. Longing for the connection of their bodies, something that hadn’t been possible the past few weeks. Love had taught him patience, for he would not be so selfish as to press his wants on her now. But Professor Emerson was not a patient man. Nor was he naturally inclined to be celibate.

The more he thought of his wife and her lush and beautiful body, the more his longing grew.

He rubbed at his eyes. A few more days. I was celibate for months before Julianne and I were married. Surely I can survive a few more days.

Groaning, he crossed to his side of the bed near the window. He was used to sleeping naked, but that was no longer appropriate. With the scowl of the oppressed, he pulled off his T-shirt and threw it, leaving him clad only in pajama bottoms. Then he pulled back the covers.

He sprang back with a curse.

There, resting on his pillow, was a large, plastic flamingo. It was staring at him with a crazed smile on its face.

He swore.

A giggle sounded from the other side of the bed.

Gabriel switched on the lamp and glared at his wife. “Et tu, Brute?”

“What?” Julia rolled over to face him, feigning drowsiness. But she couldn’t maintain a straight face.

Gabriel grimaced. He picked up the accursed lawn ornament with two fingers and regarded it distastefully.

Julia laughed. “Oh, come on. That was funny.”

He wrinkled his nose and placed the flamingo on the floor. Then he pushed the creature aside with his foot. “I hope you cleaned it after you pulled it out of the dirt.”

“Maybe.” She gave him a saucy wink.

He examined his pillowcase, his hands going to his waist. “We’re going to have to strip the bed.”

She flopped back against the mattress. “It’s late. I washed the flamingo before putting it on your pillow, I swear.”

Gabriel gave her a dubious look.

She patted the sheets on his side. “Look, nice and clean. Come to bed. It’s been a long day.”

He gazed from his pillow to her tired but hopeful face and cast his eyes heavenward. He shook his head. “Fine. But I’m stripping the bed tomorrow morning. And I’m bleaching everything.”

Gabriel removed something from the drawer in his nightstand and hid it in his hand. He left the light on and crawled under the covers. “Rachel must have put you up to it.”

“No, it was my idea.” Julia yawned.

He pulled her toward him and kissed her temple.

“I love to hear you laugh,” he confessed. “And to see you smile.”

Julia snuggled against him. “I’m sorry for the tears earlier. I’m just tired and overwhelmed.”

“I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine.”

“There’s no reason for you to be tired and overwhelmed. You have me.”

She rested her head against his bare shoulder. “Good, because I need you. And Clare needs you, too.”

Gabriel hid his face in her hair. “Every day is a gift. I vow not to waste them.”

“Me, too.”

He felt for her right hand. “I wanted to give you something at the hospital, but we didn’t have a lot of privacy. Then I wanted to give it to you when we got home, but the timing wasn’t right.”

Julia lifted her head. “What is it?”

He placed a small robin’s-egg-blue box in her hand.

She sat up immediately. She undid the white ribbon bow that was wound around the box and opened the lid. A smaller velvet box was nestled inside.

Gabriel took the smaller box and opened it, presenting it to her.

Inside the box was a ring, which featured a large oval ruby flanked by two round diamonds. The setting was platinum and reminiscent of Julianne’s engagement ring.

He removed the ring and grasped her right hand, slipping it on her fourth finger. “This is a gift to commemorate the great gift that you’ve given me. The ruby represents you, the heart of our family, and the diamonds represent me and Clare. Together, we form a family.”

He leaned down to press his lips against the base of her finger.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. She gazed at him in wonder. “I don’t know what to say.”

Gabriel’s eyebrows moved together. “Do you like it?”