Gabriel's Inferno (Gabriel's Inferno, #1)

by Sylvain Reynard

She was not merely attractive; she was beautiful, like an angel or a muse. And she wasn’t merely beautiful; she was sensual and hypnotic, but also innocent. Her pretty eyes reflected a depth of feeling and radiant purity that he had never noticed before.

You’re only a magnet for mishap, Miss Mitchell, while I am a magnet for sin.”

Sin seems to find me even when I’m not looking for it. And I’m not very good at resisting temptation.”

Gabriel kissed Julia as if he knew her, as if she belonged to him. His kiss was passionate and full of emotion, as if every fiber of his being had melted and spread itself on his lips only to be given to her. Her heart skidded in her chest at the thought. She had never dared to hope for such a first kiss. Somehow, as the pressure of his lips lessened, she felt like bursting into tears, knowing that she’d never be kissed like that again. He’d ruined her for anyone else. Forever.

back. “For the rest of my life, I’ll dream of hearing your voice breathe my name.”

Oh my, Gabriel. Oh my, Gabriel. Oh my, Gabriel. Oh…my…Gabriel.

“Facilis descensus Averni,” he whispered, his ominous and preternatural words striking her very soul. “‘The descent to Hell is easy.’”

In that one act, that one gallant and chivalrous act, Paul had made his way into her heart. Not all the way, but to the Vestibule, so to speak. If his movement represented the contents of his soul, then Julia believed that he would not mind that she was a virgin, and that upon knowing, his acceptance would cover her gently.

“It’s beautiful but sad.” “I’ve always had a terrible weakness for beautiful but sad things.” He looked at her carefully before turning away.

“Ti amo, Dante. Eccomi Beatrice. I love you, Dante. Here I am, Beatrice.”

Love hath so long possess’d me for his own And made his lordship so familiar That he, who at first irk’d me, is now grown Unto my heart as its best secrets are. And thus, when he in such sore wise doth mar My life that all its strength seems gone from it. Mine inmost being then feels thoroughly quit Of anguish, and all evil keeps afar. Love also gathers to such power in me That my sighs speak, each one a grievous thing. Always soliciting My Gabriel’s salutation piteously. Whenever he beholds me, it is so, Who is more sweet than any words can show.

if you truly believe that kindness is never wasted, you have to hold tightly to that belief even when the kindness is thrown back in your face.

Sometimes people, when left alone, can hear their own hatefulness for themselves. Sometimes goodness is enough to expose evil for what it really is.

She was silent as she felt the energy between them shift, like a serpent circling back on itself, swallowing itself whole, anger and passion feeding off one another. “Tell me that you want me, or get out.”

If I am the darkness, then you are the stars. In fact, I’m quite taken by la luce della tua umilitate.”

But I want to know you, just you, as you are. I want you to be yourself, and yes, Julianne, I know you’re more than just a dream. Your reality is far more beautiful and alluring than any dream. I’d choose you over the dream any time.”

‘Apparuit iam beatitudo vestra.’

That is, ‘Now your blessedness appears.’

“Being without you, Julianne, is like enduring an endless night without stars.”

If I have a soul, it’s yours,

“This is what happens every time I’m near you. When you touch me. I’m the one who’s overcome by you, Gabriel. Don’t you know that?”

You don’t have to take your clothes off in order to capture my attention. You have it. Completely. You don’t have to have sex with me in order for me to make you feel wanted.”

“You strip me bare. You see through everything. You are the only one who has ever known everything and still wanted me. Only you, my beloved.”

“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him.”