Jane rocked against him, intensifying the pleasure as she moved. Her pace was steady. A rhythmic swivel of her hips.
“Damn, you’re so beautiful,” he choked out.
She moaned, riding him with abandon as she tossed her head back. Her speed of her pace increased and he sensed her giving in to the pleasure. Letting go of her fear to take whatever she wanted. And did it ever feel good.
They were both searching for release with each other. Both desperate to grab hold of life again and never let it go. And while life was what he’d gained, it was Jane he had fought for. It was Jane he wanted.
Suddenly she clenched around him, the pleasure gripping him so tightly that he knew nothing else. Only her. All he felt now was the sensation of being inside her tight, wet heat. The pressure of her thighs squeezing against him as her own pleasure rocked through her.
His climax tore through him, hard and fast. Her breathless cries signaled her own release and she collapsed on top of him, her body shuddering.
They lay on the fur together, with Gabriel holding her tightly to him until they both fell asleep.
When he woke up it was early morning, the weakest rays of the sun streaming in through the window. They had made it through the night.
He leaned over to kiss Jane’s forehead before getting up to take a shower and get dressed. Then he checked his phone. Wi-Fi was back. There were at least a dozen messages from his client and a lawyer from Otto’s legal firm. The lawyer had gotten wind of the tragedy and was taking over the castle inheritance case. After reading through the messages, he realized he had no choice but to call his client.
He dialed Kyle’s number and took a seat on the edge of the bed. “Mr. Westen, are you available?”
“Yes I am, Mr. Ross,” Kyle murmured. “Got a call from a German lawyer a few hours ago. The story is starting to make it into American media. This is crazy. Are you hurt in any way?”
“I’m fine,” Gabriel said, keeping his voice low so he didn’t wake Jane. She looked so beautiful, her naked body covered in nothing but a bear skin. There was something incredibly erotic about the sight.
“Sorry to hear about the castle’s original lawyer,” Kyle said. “Gruesome business all around. Look, I appreciate the call, but I’m not liking the terms I’m seeing from this new lawyer. This fifty-percent deal isn’t going to work for me.”
“I know you want all the shares of the castle, but you and Jane Westen have an equal claim,” Gabriel said, trying to stay focused.
Jane stirred from her place on the bear rug and sat up with a yawn. “Good morning. What’s going on?”
“Talking to my client,” he said to her.
“Is that Jane?” Kyle asked. “Put her on. Let’s meet.”
Sighing, Gabriel put the call on speaker. “Jane, this is your cousin. Kyle, this is Jane.”
She got up, grabbed a cardigan from the floor, and put it on quickly. “Hello, Kyle. Great to meet you.”
“Great to meet you, too. Sorry about the circumstances. Are you safe and sound, Jane?”
“I’m safe,” she said, moving over to sit next to Gabriel.
“Good to hear. Now, I want you both to hear my plans for the castle,” Kyle said. “I can’t settle for fifty percent of the castle.”
“I hadn’t realized we were each being given half of the castle.” Jane said.
“Things move quickly when heirs start coming out of the woodwork,” Kyle said. “Anyway, the lawyers have all arranged it. Right down the middle. Half yours. Half mine.”
“I’m not forfeiting my half,” she said.
“Well, I am,” Kyle said.
“What? Hold on a second. Mr. Westen, what are you talking about?” Gabriel demanded.
“I don’t want the place. I’m not owning a property that’s had a double murder, okay? It’s creepy, which means it’s put me off,” Kyle said. “I’m willing to sell my share.”
“As your lawyer, I’m going to have to advise you to hold off and take your time with this,” Gabriel said.
“I don’t care. I don’t want the place. I’ll sell my half to you if you want it, Jane,” Kyle said.
“That’s generous, but I couldn’t afford it,” Jane said sadly.
“I’ll give you the rock bottom price,” Kyle said. “I just want this thing off my hands.”
“I’m sure I couldn’t afford even the lowest price,” she said.
“If you want the castle off your hands that badly, what do you say about selling it to Jane for a dollar?” Gabriel asked. It was insane, of course, but he had to find out how badly Kyle wanted to be rid of Wintergarten.
“Done. I’ll sign the paperwork and e-mail it to you. My half is Jane’s as soon as she signs and gives you a dollar bill, Mr. Ross. Give me five minutes,” Kyle said, and then hung up.
Her mouth fell open. “No way. Is that for real?”
“It’s for real. As long as you give me the dollar,” he said.
“Wait…” Her eyes were bright and shining. “The castle is going to be mine.”
“I don’t know how turning it into a hotel is going to work out considering… well, everything.”
“Are you kidding? People love infamy and ghosts and murder,” she said. “They’ll get a kick out of this place. Plus, I can give some of the proceeds to Otto and Timothy’s families.”
He wrapped his arm around her. “You’re an angel, Jane.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“That’s not all you want to say.”
“I’d like to help you run the place. As the castle’s lawyer,” he said.
“I can’t afford you,” she said.
“I’ll do it for free on one condition,” he said.
“Yes. I agree to your condition.”
“You haven’t even heard what it is,” he said.
“I can guess. But in case I’m wrong, why don’t you tell
