Rose Is Back With Thorns

chapter twenty five

"Ouch!" He winced, pulling his face away from the dainty, silky hands that were busy at work, nursing his bruises. "Do you have to press so hard?" He spat irritatedly because he'd repeatedly reminded her to go easy.

Unlike the dark glares he'd received earlier, this time she spoke. "I would, if you deserve it," she dabbed the cotton soaked in an antiseptic on a red bruise on the corner of his mouth. "But then I'm thinking that you don't."

The scowl on his face deepened just as her finger caressed a potential black eye. He could tell she was applying some oily thing by rubbing small circles just under his eyes. Whether from the much needed cooling effect of the oil on his hot eye or the soothing softness of her caress, he felt good. Beyond good. "That's better." He hadn't meant for it to sound breathless but it had and his eyelids closed slowly, his entire body relishing the innocent ministrations.

He was handsome. He'd always been. So much her eyes scorched in flames at the sight of him. His sculpted features seduced her unknowingly because Leon would never stoop to her level. The dangerous dances her heart engaged in at his mere presence enough to knock a young, vibrant woman out. She couldn't keep up. How could she when her blood pounded so hard in her ears when he spoke her name, rendering her breathless. Senseless. Now touching him, she had to admit she was taking her sweet time administering first aid to his beautiful face after his barbaric confrontation with Morgan. She relished in their skin contact, his heat under hers. Just staring at him with his eyes shut made her head swoon and if she wasn't careful the handsome rogue would certainly, effortlessly  cause her knees to buckle.

One man couldn't make a sensible, strong woman this drunken in an assortment of incomprehensible feelings for an entire decade. He had to be dangerous. Utterly destructive of a sane woman. Destructive of her. Just being in the same room with Leonard Mayor was enough to send Gabrielle's heart skittering and coherency ruined. Quickly before she completely drowned in the waters of his sensuous aura, she retrieved her hand from his face.

His eyes fluttered open.

What she read there; darkness and need, was the cue for her to run, escape before the darkness engulfed her wholly, disabling her body. "I..." she swallowed hard. "It's done." She scurried into the bathroom and returned the kit before running out again like a woman caught on fire.

She had just made it past him, hurriedly walking to the door when a tight grasp imprisoned her wrist. Struggling against the grip was a bad and foolish idea. It only led to her being slumped against the solid wall of his body's length. Because Gabrielle just never learned, she made to pull away, but a muscular arm meandered around her waist. She was now locked in place, chest to chest with Leon.

A dream come true.

He wasn't thinking straight. What in blazes was he thinking seducing Gabrielle. Geek! But to hell with it, she felt amazing in his arms. Her body complemented his snugly like they were meant to be synchronous dance partners. He was wrong. So darn wrong to think her rigid and prudent. The woman knew passion only she hadn't explored its full potential.

Leon had known her long enough to guarantee she hadn't engaged men, at least not explicitly. She was a wallflower and in constant company of his sister, Rose. He had even began to entertain thoughts of the two as nuns in some convent but had discarded the notion when he discovered the women's wine indulging habits. They could successfully drain an entire winery by themselves.

And while of the two, his sister was more exploratory, he now could see her best friend wasn't far from befitting the same demeanour. The raw hunger in her eyes and how complacent she felt about her body, spoke volumes. She was drop dead gorgeous and she knew it. He knew it, had known since that first time he'd bumped into her in their city house in oversized clothes and old glasses, carrying a mountainous tray of junk. And with her full backside, flat stomach and trim waist, Leon couldn't help but realise where exactly all that food went to. He was now a dead man for admitting his attraction to the short woman, the raging hardness in his jeans evidently pulsating against her stomach.

She was red. God, so beautiful when she blushed. He groaned involuntarily and sunk his lips on her neck. He trailed kisses there reveling in how breathless and restless she was becoming. Knowing that she was so responsive under his touch made him desire the unthinkable. He was one second from throwing her on his bed and ravishing her until morning.

"We're leaving son_ oh,"

The guilty duo jumped at the sound of Archibald's surprised tone. How could they forget that Leon was to get first aid and instantly join his father in the search for Rose.

Leon's embarrassed eyes met his father's that held a glint of amusement and curiosity. "Uh, yes." Like a confused boy experiencing his very first crush, Leon planted a hasty, clumsy kiss on Gabrielle's cheek and half walking, half running, he was out of the room.

***

Morgan released a shaky breath, his boots eating away the carpet of his parents' living room while pacing.

"You're making me dizzy, son." His mother complained for the umpteenth time.

The son whipped his head towards her. She sat next to a sleepy, irate Debra who looked like she wanted to strangle him. "Look," he began, plopping in an armchair. His elbows sat on his thighs. "I just want to know where father is. I know you know that mother. None of father's doings escape you and_"

"Don't be foolish. You are always jumping into conclusion where that maid is concerned. I told you that your father went on a business trip. Stop this nonsense that that ruthless, unscrupulous fool fed you and return home to Becca." Her face was a mask of sorrow at the mention of Rebecca. "Oh that poor child, must you always disregard her interest and emotions?"

Morgan was about to talk but his groggy sister beat him to it. "Becca is in no way part of this mom. Mr Mayor is no fool and Morgan knows that. If dad did take Rose, we're in trouble." She sighed deeply. "So where's dad?"

Maureen shook her head briskly, jolting from the couch. "Don't be ungrateful children! What would your father want with that girl? Huh?" She pointed her son. "You, what is it with that woman that you must abandon your wife and child to go chasing after her?"

"Mom_"

The mother gestured silence with her hand, interrupting the son. "Go home to Becca."

Morgan stood up, his gaze on Maureen. "Don't think the tension between father and Mr Mayor went unnoticed. If father abducted her, I won't forgive him...and you neither for covering up for him." He stormed out.

A distraught Maureen sunk on the couch and buried her face in her palms. Perceptible tremors emanated from her shoulders closely followed by soft sobs.

Maureen Sylvester laughed, she gossiped, threw tantrums and taunted. She just never cried. Debra had seen her in moments that would have warranted her tears, moments a woman couldn't withhold her waterworks. Such had been handled with utmost strength and bravery. Yet, something about her husband being accused of kidnapping Rose Mayor had brought Debra's mother down to tears. Debra was still deciding what to do to comfort her, as their family had never been one for explicit display of affection, when the older woman blabbering filled her ears.

"He'll never... never love me. Despite everything we've been through together, it would always be that dead woman."

"Mom_"

"He just wanted me for my father's connections, never me. I was the perfect bridge to success. Yet it is she, even in death that he prefers." She continued through tears.

Debra scooted closer to embrace her mother but the woman was already on her feet. "Don't. I'm no weak woman dear daughter. Not even ghosts can defeat Maureen Sylvester." With that she sauntered towards the grand stairways, the train of her white night gown trailing behind her.

***
A/N
A little reminder to vote, the writer needs the motivation.:-)