One day at a time.
“I think I’m addicted to you too, Caro,” he whispered after releasing her from his intoxicating bite. It always left her feeling warm and fuzzy rather than in pain and woozy. It was some sort of forbidden magic that she luxuriated in each time he drank from her.
“And to the pleasure?” she asked, referring to his comments from upstairs. Are you addicted to me or to pleasure?
“I’ve lived with pleasure for thousands of years, angel. This uncontrollable yearning started when I met you.” He took the spoon from her—the one she hadn’t stopped using to stir for the last several minutes—and brought it to his lips for a taste. “Gorgeous.”
She shivered at the intensity in his voice. “Is it rich?”
“Very.” He dipped the utensil back into the dish and brought it up to her mouth. “Open.”
She did and moaned at the decadent flavor. “You’re turning me into a human.”
“No, I’m encouraging your inner female to come out to play.” He kissed her temple and turned to pick up their plates. “Now let’s eat so we can enjoy each other as dessert afterward.”
17
Let’s Create a Team
Eleven days.
Gabriel was on the verge of misting to Osiris’s estate to find and murder Ezekiel when the Ichorian strolled through the doors of the bar with a smirk.
“I thought you might be here, mate,” he greeted with a clap to Gabriel’s shoulder. Ezekiel nodded at Becky—formerly known as the redheaded bartender. “I’ll take one of whatever he’s having.”
“A scotch,” she purred.
Gabriel had spent nearly the last two weeks tasting the various flavors and had found his favorite to be the brand she picked from the top shelf for Ezekiel’s glass.
The assassin slid onto the stool beside him. “You two seem rather friendly.”
“I had some time to kill,” Gabriel replied flatly.
“So you took my advice and fucked the bartender? Nice.”
He did, and they would not be discussing it. “I presume you went back to care for Skye and that’s why you left me alone for the last week?” That was the only excuse he could fathom for the Ichorian pulling the disappearing act. Skye’s screech still buzzed in his ears. Gabriel had never heard anything like it.
“Yes.” Ezekiel accepted the drink from Becky and smiled. “Thanks, love. Can you give us a few minutes to chat privately?”
Her hazel eyes locked on Gabriel, and he nodded his agreement. Just because she’d seen him naked—several times—didn’t mean she had the right to know his business. She must have seen the resolve in his gaze because she huffed and slunk off to the other side of the bar.
“Your bedside manner could use some serious help,” Ezekiel remarked casually.
Gabriel ignored him. “What happened to Skye?”
“She had a vision—a violent one.”
“Regarding Caro’s child?” He assumed Ezekiel knew by now about the baby, especially after Skye’s comments pertaining to the energy inside Caro.
“Regarding us all.” The assassin took a long sip of his drink, finishing nearly all of it before setting it down. “Skye has perfected the art of reiterating her visions to Osiris in a rather cryptic manner. He believes she witnessed the downfall of his enemies, which would be the unknown entity and Sethios. As such, he’s quite pleased at present. What he doesn’t know is that you and I will be responsible for that downfall.”
Gabriel swirled the contents of his glass. “I hope you have more details than that.” Because no way would he ever betray his mother.
“Oh, I have more than details. I have a full-fledged plan. And you, my Seraphim friend, are going to help whether you approve or not.” He finished his drink and stood. “Let’s go. There’s someone I need you to meet.”
Golden flecks swirled vivaciously through the Ichorian’s black irises, glinting with promise and excitement. Whatever he had in mind clearly energized him.
“Tell me the plan.”
