by Lynn Hagen
But one touch, one smile from Ari had made Gavril think that maybe he was worth being loved, that he wasn’t a created mistake or simply broken.
Ari made Gavril feel whole.
Gavril opened his eyes and dropped his swords.
Hadad sneered at him. “Your love for humans has made you weak.”
Gavril shook his head as he pulled Ari into his arms. “My love has made me stronger than you’ll ever be.”
Ari smiled up at him, and the pride in his mate’s eyes made Gavril grin like a moron. He would do whatever Ari asked just as long as his mate kept looking at him that way.
No one had ever been proud of Gavril before, and the feeling made his chest expand.
Power the likes of which Gavril had never felt before crackled and sizzled through the alley. He looked around, shoving Ari behind him as, one by one, the Ultionem members appeared.
Ari had a death grip on Gavril’s arm. “Who are they?”
“Hadad’s worst nightmare,” Gavril said.
It was Christian who stepped forward to stand in front of Hadad. “For your crimes against Gavril, for interfering in a mating, and being an all-around pain in our asses, Hadad, you’re sentenced to eternity in the underworld. But you won’t be reliving your worst nightmares over and over again.” The vampire smirked. “You’ll be reliving Gavril’s.”
“No!” Hadad tried to turn and run, but there was nowhere for him to go. Not when Zeus blocked his way. The gray wolf alpha seized Hadad by his shoulder and shoved him toward Panahasi.
“It would be my honor to escort you to your cell,” the demon leader said.
“And we’ll be on the lookout for your followers,” Rakeym added. “If we find them, they’ll be joining you.”
The Ultionem disappeared, but Panahasi remained behind, his hand around Hadad’s throat. He looked at Gavril. “I’ve never worked so hard to bring two people together. Don’t make me come back.”
And with that, he created a black, swirling vortex. He shoved Hadad through then smiled at them. “The first step is a doozy.”
Gavril curled Ari into his arms. “I think we can finally relax now.”
Gavril would be looking out for any of Hadad’s followers, though he doubted any would come after him once they’d learned Hadad’s fate.
“Since things are slow at the clinic,” Ari said as he blushed, “why don’t we go home for a little celebration?”
Gavril bounced his brows as he grinned. “And what did you have in mind?”
Ari chuckled. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out, Harry Crouch.”
* * * *
They had figured out what to do. After taking Rocky for a walk and tiring him out so that he slept on his bed in the bedroom, Gavril and Ari lay stretched out in front of the fire in the living room.
And they were naked.
“Have I told you how much I love you?” Gavril asked.
Ari pursed his lips and gave Gavril a look that said he had to think long and hard about it. “You may have mentioned it, but you might have to refresh my memory.”
“Or I could just show you what you mean to me.”
Ari was all for that plan. He turned to his side and slid his hand down Gavril’s hard chest. “Show me.”
Hunger lit Gavril’s nebula eyes as he moved to settle between Ari’s legs. He couldn’t believe how much he loved Gavril. It was more than he’d ever loved anyone else. Ari cupped Gavril’s face, touched that his mate hadn’t hidden his scars. His angel was comfortable around him, and Ari would never in a million years make Gavril feel ashamed of them. They were a roadmap of where he’d been and how far he’d come.
Ari hooked his legs around Gavril’s waist and drew his mate down for a kiss as Gavril inched his cock inside Ari’s ass.
“I love being inside you,” Gavril whispered against Ari’s lips. “It’s like coming home.”
Tears stung Ari’s eyes. “Stop getting all sappy with me when we’re having sex.”
“Making love,” Gavril corrected as he bottomed out. Gavril’s fingers tightened on Ari’s nipples, squeezing them, rolling them between his fingers. The pleasure of his mate’s hands racked Ari’s body, making him tremble with need as Gavril’s tongue snaked out, licking a path from one side of Ari’s neck to the other.
Ari gasped, his head arching back as Gavril’s rasping tongue stroked over Ari’s heated flesh. His mate pulled his cock back then slammed forward, making Ari cry out.
He clutched at Gavril, needing more, wanting his mate to go deeper. The sensations crashed through him, sending Ari’s need higher and higher. He wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take. Gavril was pounding into his ass and sucking at his skin. The dual sensations were driving him mad.
“Make me come,” Ari begged. “Please, Gavril.”
Gavril pulled out and flipped Ari to his hands and knees then drove back in, pistoning into Ari’s ass so hard and fast that Ari’s brain rattled.
His buildup came fast, his orgasm shaking Ari to his core. Then Gavril bit into Ari’s neck, sending him higher. When Gavril removed his fangs, he threw his head back and shouted his release.
Ari. Was. Done. All he wanted to do was curl into Gavril’s arms and sleep the rest of the day away.
No sooner had they cuddled than their doorbell rang. Gavril used his powers to dress them before he got up and answered the door. On the other side stood Aiden and Rudy.
Rudy held up a basket. “We come bearing gifts.” He smiled. “Hot chocolate and popcorn. We thought maybe you guys wanted to watch a movie.”
This was the worst timing ever as Ari yawned, but he wouldn’t turn them away.
Gavril looked them over. “Just as long as you don’t have a cattle prod with you.”
Aiden gave a hearty laugh. “Not this time. In fact, I’ve decided that, come summer, I’m gonna teach you how to properly work a grill. You’ll need to know with all the barbecues you’ll be throwing for us.”
“And I’ve decided,” Gavril said, “to take away your anxieties. You’ll need them gone if you’re gonna be making multiple store runs this summer.”
Ari got up from the carpet, smiling like an idiot as Gavril brushed his hand over Aiden’s head. He finally had a man who loved him unconditionally. It had just taken meeting an angel to accomplish that, but Ari wouldn’t trade Gavril for the world.
He hadn’t told Gavril about Tessa. That was her secret to keep. If she wanted him to know, she’d tell Gavril herself.
Ari invited them into the kitchen, where they made homemade hot chocolate and ended up by the fireplace, everyone getting cozy as Aiden and Gavril argued over what movie to watch.
This very scene was the reason Ari had settled down in Maple Grove. He had friends and a mate he loved dearly.
And a cute puppy who sucked up all the love and attention a dog could want and deserved.
THE END
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