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My eyes burn, threatening tears, so I lean into him on my tiptoes, wrapping my arms around his middle and skimming my nose along his. I don’t want him to see the tears in my eyes.
Gabriel sighs softly and tips my head back, sealing his lips over mine. I close my eyes, melting into him, losing myself in the warmth and firmness of his mouth against mine. I grip the back of his shirt, clinging to him as if it’s the last time we’ll touch, because it very well could be. That thought sends me into a tailspin, and I put all of my anger and fear and lust into the kiss, pushing my tongue into his mouth and grazing his as his fingers slide into my hair and tangle there.
I allow myself to get lost in him for far too long before I pull away, pressing my hands firmly against his chest to push back. Shaking my head, I open my eyes and meet his gaze. “No. You’re not going to distract me from this, Gabriel.”
He frowns, pulling one hand out of my hair and lacing his fingers through mine before I can move away. “Calla—”
“What do you think is going to happen if you go to her?” I demand, fear clawing into my chest like razor-sharp talons. Knowing what she did to him, all the manipulation, going so far as to make him immortal so she could control him forever… It makes me want to scream. That, and use the white ash dagger Atlas gave me to end this whole thing. I’m not naive enough to think I would be successful in a fight against her, though I did manage to stab her… The idea of driving that dagger into her chest sparks something vicious in me that I don’t particularly like. I’m torn between wanting to stand back while the guys take her on and learn how to fight her myself.
Gabriel tucks a stray bit of hair behind my ear with his free hand. “I don’t know, but I do know what will happen if I don’t, and I can’t let that come to pass.”
“I…” I bite the inside of my cheek, staring hard at where his fingers are wrapped around mine. “I don’t want to lose you.” My voice cracks, and I squeeze my eyes shut. This wretched feeling of helplessness is threatening to overtake me, and I fucking hate it.
He gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “You won’t, angel. I swear it.”
I shake my head again, not trusting myself to speak. I need to keep it together right now. If I let myself start to cry, I’m not sure I’ll be able to stop.
With a heavy sigh, I pull away from Gabriel and drop onto the end of his bed, glaring at the duffle bag as he resumes packing it.
“You should be catching up on schoolwork,” he says in a soft tone, and yeah, I guess he’s right. Finals are in less than a month. I have assignments to finish and exams to study for, but I can’t help but feel as though all of that is pretty minuscule compared to what’s going on here. Gabriel knows how much school means to me, and I can appreciate he’s trying to be supportive and leave on a light note, but I’m so torn between sadness and anger at our situation that I continue to sit there silently. School doesn’t seem so important right at this moment.
Before long, he zips the duffle bag shut, tossing it onto the floor and sitting next to me. “I know you’re scared,” he murmurs, running his hand up my thigh, warming my skin. “This isn’t easy for me either, but unfortunately, it’s our only option right now. There are too many variables in play, and we need to have a better idea of what’s going on with the hunters before we rid ourselves of that monster. And we need Selene to think she’s getting what she wants so she doesn’t come after you again.” He angles himself toward me, cupping my cheek with his other hand, and guides my gaze to his. “And to protect you, I will do whatever it takes.”
I pull in a slow breath, willing my chin to stop trembling. “You shouldn’t have to dothis.”
He smiles. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m not the same man I was when Selene sired me. She’ll think I’m there solely because she threatened you, but I’ll also be figuring up what she’s up to with the hunters.” His thumb glides across my cheek, and he lowers his voice. “Selene and I may share a sire bond, but it pales in comparison to the connection I have with you. And the blood oath has nothing to do with it.”
Leaning into him, I press my forehead to his, closing my eyes as I listen to the sound of our breathing for a minute. My breath hitches when Gabriel presses closer, gripping my hips and lifting me onto his lap. His lips trail along my jaw, peppering kisses along my skin as I drape my arms over his shoulders. My pulse jumps when the hardness between his legs presses into the heat between mine, making me throb. I turn my face so his mouth collides with mine at the same moment I grind slowly against him. He makes a sound that I think is a delicious mix between a growl and a groan, and lifts his hips, teasing me as his lips devour mine. Gabriel kisses me as if he’s trying to commit the feel of our bodies moving together to memory. To be fair, he probably is.
When I moan into his mouth, something in him sparks to life, and he flips me onto my back, guiding me up the bed before crawling over me. I open my eyes just in time to watch him drag his gaze over me as if I’m a sought-after piece of art. There is something deeper than lust and arousal in his liquid silver gaze, and while it scares the shit out of me, I find myself reaching for him, needing him closer.
“Kiss me,” I demand in a breathy voice, grabbing the back of his neck and bringing his lips to mine. They meld together, moving slowly as we explore each other. Reaching for the front of his pants, I fumble with the buttons, not able to see what I’m doing. Gabriel chuckles against my lips and pulls away. His knees press into the mattress on either side of me as he rises and undoes his pants. I reach for him again, but he catches my hands and kisses the back of each.
“I’m going to take my time with you tonight,” he says in a deep voice.
My cheeks heat, and I stare at him as he tugs his shirt over his head, tossing it off the side of the bed before he lowers himself back to my lips, kissing me reverently. He slides a hand under my shirt, lifting it as he goes to reveal my bare chest. I didn’t put on a bra after my post-training shower, and based on the way Gabriel’s lips curl into a grin against mine, that was a good call.
I gasp into his mouth when he cups my breast, using his finger and thumb to pinch and roll the nipple into a stiff peak. Heat pools in my belly as he continues to work my nipple, kissing me deeper and switching breasts a few moments later, delivering the same ministrations. My head swims with pleasure and lust and… I wantmore. I lift my hips to press the bulge in his pants against my core and nip his bottom lip, hoping he’ll get the idea.
Gabriel slips his hand away from my breast and moves it down my stomach, making my skin tingle and heat the closer he gets to my navel. His lips leave mine, trailing a path of soft, sweet kisses along my jaw. He kisses my temple, my forehead, each of my cheeks, and finally, the tip of my nose, all while his fingers inch closer to the throbbing between my legs. It’s almost painful by the time he slides under the elastic waistband of my sweatpants.
“I’m curious,” he murmurs, skimming his fingers along my pubic bone, making me shiver. “Are you generally opposed to panties?”
A laugh slips through my lips.
“Because we bought you the nicest, most expensive ones. A whole drawer full of them,” he continues.
“Hmm,” I say, my chest flushed with warmth as he peers down at me. “And they are very nice. But sometimes bare is better.” I flick my tongue along my bottom lip, dropping my gaze to his slightly swollen lips. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
Gabriel’s mouth curls into a grin. “Most definitely.” He makes quick work of dragging my sweatpants down my thighs, sliding back to the end of the bed as he tugs them off all the way, letting them drop to the floor. He runs his hands up my legs, from my ankles to my thighs, and I chew my bottom lip as he slowly spreads them open for him, his silver gaze never leaving mine. The softness in his eyes shifts to something darker—hunger.
My heart beats faster in response, and I grip the sheets on either side of me as he crawls closer, licking his lips and dropping his gaze to my center. My entire body heats and tingles where his fingers brush, featherlight and teasing.
He takes his time, kissing the inside of each of my thighs before skimming his fingers back toward my breasts, this time lifting my shirt higher. I pull it the rest of the way off, my nipples still stiff from Gabriel’s previous attention to them. He cups them in his hands, massaging gently as my eyes flutter shut and my back arches. I push into him, moaning at his skilled touch. My heart rate kicks up when his breath tickles my entrance, and my eyes fly open as his tongue flicks along my slit. Barely there, but enough to make my clit pulse with desire. My hips jerk, and he moves his hands from my breasts, gripping my hips and holding them against the mattress as his tongue laps at my folds.
I press my lips together, my chest rising and falling faster when he shifts one hand lower, circling his thumb around my clit while his tongue dips inside me, torturously slow.
“Oh,” I breathe, sucking in a shallow breath as he plunges his tongue into my pussy. His fingers press into my hips, and I bite my lip, finding myself hoping he leaves a mark on my skin. I try to lift my hips again, but he holds me down, and the pressure of his fingers biting into my skin paired with the pressure and tension of him working his tongue in and out of me has me panting in record time.
