Page 89 of Grim Tidings

I bury my face in his shoulder, my hands gripping his sides. I think about the way he kissed me in the lighthouse—how his teeth felt bared against my skin—and let out a small, breathy sound.

“Yeah,” he says, and his voice sounds rougher. “That’s better.”

We settle into the quiet, Gabriel shifting me incrementally until I’m snug beneath his body. It’s oddly comfortable, being held like this. But my thoughts are spinning a mile a minute, a relentless chase around an endless track.

“How do you think he found me?” I whisper.

“I don’t know. Did he follow your magic?”

I shake my head. “Ferrymen can’t sense power. They can barely wield it. If he’s here, it’s because he was sent.”

Gabriel hums. “I assume this is what Rafe came to warn me about.”

Panic claws its way up my chest. “Do you think Gideon is here? That he’s come for me?” I’ve said I’m fine with whatever consequences are heading my way, but now that I’m faced with them, I’m—I’m afraid. “What if he’s sending Ferrymen out to—”

“Darcy.” Gabriel squeezes the back of my neck again. “Relax. I’m gonna keep you close, all right? Nothing is going to happen.”

“But—”

“I’m not going to let anything happen.”

I’m grateful he’s holding me up against this wall. His presence in front of me feels like a shield. Especially when I see someone else slip down the hall. Someone with a Jack Skellington mask.

“Gabriel,” I whisper.

“I know,” he says. His body is tense against mine. “Just relax. He’ll move on.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“Then we’ll handle it.”

I grip the front of his T-shirt, my hands in fists. “What if—”

“For fuck’s sake,” Gabriel mutters, and then he kisses me.

It starts patient, distracted, his mouth barely brushing mine as he rearranges me underneath him so more of me is covered by more of him. He lets my body slide down against his until I have one foot on the floor, the other still tucked at his side, his big shoulders curved over me as our mouths meet again and again. I keep my palms against his chest, my arms tucked into my sides, hiding as much of myself as possible.

But then the footsteps wander closer, and Gabriel becomes determined.

Possessive.

Focused.

He works his mouth against mine like it’s the only outlet for his aggression. It quickly goes from performative to persuasive, Gabriel reassuring me with every slant of his mouth against mine. I’ve got you. He squeezes my ass. I’ ll keep you safe. I arch my back, and he gently collars my throat with his hand, his fingers spread wide, his thumb running up and down the side of my neck. No one is going to touch you but me.

He holds me firmly, but carefully, handling me like a fine piece of china. Like even if I do break, he’d put me back together into something different, better, more beautiful.

Someone clears their throat behind us, and Gabriel goes rigid.

“Fuck off,” he snaps, turning to look over his shoulder.

I tuck my face to the space between his collarbones, pressing a wet, sucking kiss to his neck. My panic is manifesting into trying to make this the performance of a lifetime. Gabriel grinds out a rough sound and holds the back of my head, his fingers fisting in my hair. It tugs a little bit, and a shiver rockets down my spine.

“Didn’t you hear me, asshole? Get lost.”

I drag my teeth up the side of Gabriel’s throat, then trace the delicate lines of ink that spread down over his shoulder with my tongue. Brad could light half of this hallway on fire right now and I doubt I’d even notice. It’s just me and Gabriel and the low sounds he keeps making, his fingertips pressing marks into my hips.

There’s a murmured apology, and then footsteps retreating.