by Ovidia Pike
“Picking you flowers,” he said, brow furrowed, a frown on his face. I laughed.
“Well, what’s wrong?”
“These ones don’t look as good as the ones over there.”
“They look the same, Gabriel.”
“Are you sure? I want the good ones.”
“Come here,” I said, unable to help myself. He approached me and I gestured for him to bend down, then kissed his lips.
“These are the good ones,” I said softly. He grinned and straightened up, going back to the flowers.
“I want you to tell me where you come from,” he said with his back turned.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that I don’t know enough about you. I don’t know who your parents are or what you were like as a little girl.”
“I haven’t changed much,” I told him.
“So you were always a pain in the ass?”
I laughed.
“Definitely,” I said. “Always.”
“What about your parents?”
“I lived with my grandparents growing up. My parents took off as soon as I was born. They were young—only sixteen or seventeen. I never saw them again.”
“Any siblings?”
“I had a brother. He died in an accident when I was fourteen.”
“I’m sorry,” he said with a sympathetic look on his face.
“It’s been fifteen years. It doesn’t really hurt anymore.”
“How did you end up working at the park?”
“I was always one of those weird nature kids, you know? I had a bug collection and everything. I used to go out and fill my pockets with tiny snakes or toads. Grandma hated it so much.”
“That’s cute,” he said with a grin as he picked the biggest, brightest sunflower he could find.
“I kept doing it no matter what. It drove her crazy. I brought home cats, too. And dogs. We had four big dogs at one point.”
“Did you hike a lot?”
“I did,” I said. “All by myself. My grandparents lived out on this ranch in the woods. I grew up in that forest. I could still probably make my way through it with a blindfold on.”
“How did you end up trained in arms?”
“That was my grandpa,” I said. “He didn’t give either one of us a choice. He was pretty paranoid—a veteran. I think he thought we’d be invaded at any time. He wanted us to be ready.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“I did. He used to go hunting but I wouldn’t do that. I just wanted to be outside in the woods and shoot at cans.”
“None of this is surprising me.”
“That’s because you think you know everything,” I teased.
“I know what I need to know. I know how to make you smile and I know how to make you cum,” he said, gathering the flowers he’d picked and bringing them to me with a pleased look on his face. I took them and brought them to my nose, then gestured for him to sit down. He did and I lay down, placing my head in his lap, looking up at him while he stroked my hair back from my forehead.
“This is nice, Gabriel.”
“Do you love me now?” he asked.
“Maybe,” I replied. He took my fingers and kissed them.
“Soon,” he promised. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
“I’m a little tipsy,” I admitted with a small hiccup.
“I love it,” he said, tracing my features with his fingertips. “I love you.”
I lifted my face to kiss him, lingering for a moment against his smile.
Chapter 17: Gabriel
“Are you sure about this, sir?” Jackson asked as I stood in the doorway of their hut, watching them pack.
“I’m the only doctor,” Alicia said. “That’s why we stayed in the first place. You need me.”
“We have Sam for now. We’ll bring you back when we really need you—after Harley’s dead and we have wounded to take care of. For now, I want you gone.”
“You need me,” Jackson said. “I’ll stay.”
“I do need you,” I confessed. “But your family needs you more. Harley obviously has access to people in the city—if they go after Alicia, you need to be there. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to come back.”
“I’m supposed to be at your side in every fight, Gabriel.”
“I know you are. I know you want to be here. But your family is the priority. Always. I understand that. I respect that.”
“Thank you,” he said, reaching forward to shake my hand. Alicia came up beside him and gave me a shy look.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered again. “I really am.”
“It’s okay,” I said to her, shaking her hand as well. “You three get out of here. I’ll call you back when this is over.”
Jackson gave me a nod and I left, watching as they started down the path to the access road. I went back to my hut then to find Sophie in one of my t-shirts, sitting at the table and sipping a cup of coffee.
“How’d it go?” she asked as I looked over her, her long, gorgeous legs and full, soft thighs.
“They both argued, but now they’re gone.”
“Good,” Sophie said in satisfaction. “I’m glad you made them leave. I was worried about the baby.”
“So was I,” I said, going to the table, sitting down across from her.
“So what else are we doing today?”
“I had Arthur let everyone know that I’m calling a town meeting.”
“For when?” she asked with her eyebrows raised. “And for what?”
“In about an hour. The people deserve to know what’s coming in case they want to get out. I’m not making anyone stay here who doesn’t want to fight with me.”
“That may be most of them, Gabriel,” she pointed out.
“I know. I’m hoping that’s not the case.”
“Are you still throwing this party?”
“Yep,” I said. “I’ve been having Arthur do things to set it up. Jackson did some before he left, too. All there’s left to do is decorate.”
“Oh, we’re decorating?”
“Yep,” I said. She beamed at me across from the table and I got up, went around and knelt down in front of her to kiss the tip of her nose.
“What do we do for the next hour?” she asked. I rubbed my hand over my mouth, then slid my hands over her thighs, reached under her t-shirt to find that she wasn’t wearing panties underneath. My fingers found her pussy and I started to stroke it slowly, feeling her start to grow wet and hungry. We spent the next hour with my face buried between her legs, making her cum in my mouth over and over. It was a good way to relax before the town meeting, and I was disappointed when the time came to get up and leave. She was breathless by the time we were finished, her whole body trembling in the chair. Her eyes were closed and I kissed her lids, watched them flutter open, filled with desire. I started to stand but she grabbed me by the collar and brought my face down for a long kiss.
“Let’s try to bond again tonight,” she whispered against my lips. “Please?”
“Not yet,” I said regrettably. “I want you healed. I don’t want you to be in pain.”
“I won’t be,” she affirmed and pouted. “I’m already feeling better.”
“But not up to me fucking you for hours on end.”
“Hours,” she breathed.
“At least,” I said. “Might take us a couple of days.”
“I hope so,” she said, and the earnestness in her voice was so sexy I almost felt like cancelling the meeting and taking her to bed.
“Time to go,” I said, taking her hand so that she could stand. She disappeared into the bedroom to get dressed and came back out, scrutinizing me up and down.
“Are you ready for this?”
“Not really,” I said.
“You nervous?”
“Very.”
“It’s okay. I’ll be there,” she said, squeezing my hand reassuringly. “I’ll make sure nobody throws a shoe at you from the crowd.”
&nbs
p; “I might deserve it,” I said.
“Oh, you definitely deserve it. But I don’t want anything to happen to your face.”
“Is it because I’m handsome?”
“Eh, kinda, I guess,” she said with a shrug and a playful smile. I reached forward to tickle her and she giggled and danced away from me.
“Let’s go,” she said, grabbing my hand, leaving the hut and heading toward the main road where the community center was located. People were already pouring in, and some of them gave me hostile, frightened looks as I slipped through the crowd and up to the stage that had been built in my father’s time. The crowd went dead silent as I climbed up and stood in front of them, looking over their faces.
“Uh...hi,” I said. “I hope you’re all having a good day.”
Silence. I glanced over at Sophie to see amusement in her eyes. She gestured for me to keep going and I cleared my throat.
“I have some announcements to make that I think should be delivered by me personally.”
I paused, feeling awkward and uncomfortable with all eyes on me.
“Um...there’s... you guys remember Harley, right?”
“Where is she?” someone asked, a man in the back of the crowd.
“Harley has decided that she wants me dead. She’s going to attack the village.”
“Attack the village?” someone called out. “What does that mean?”
“It means a war is coming. We’re outnumbered by far—she has zombies, she has people working in and out of this village to help her get her way. And she’s powerful.”
There was a murmur of panic throughout the crowd—soft, urgent voices.
“You can get out if you want. Go to the city—”
“We’ve lived here our whole lives,” one older woman protested. “Where are we supposed to go?”
I opened my mouth to respond but no words came out.
“I—”
“Do you even have a plan?”
“I do. This is what we’ve been doing extra training for. It’s why I’ve brought in help. But we need all hands in on this.”
“I thought she only wanted you dead?”
“She wants anyone who fights for me dead.”
“Who’s going to fight for you?” a man asked.
“Nobody. I don’t expect that. You can go. If you stay, if you fight—it’s for the village. It’s for our way of life. She will destroy this place if you all leave.”
“So you got us into this?” the same man asked in an irritated, sharp voice.
“I did. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry for...a lot of things. I’ve been a terrible leader. I don’t deserve your respect or your protection. I know that.”
There was silence from the crowd.
“I...um... I am doing my best to make it right. I am. I’m going to keep you as safe as I can. I’ll be at every training session possible. I want to be a part of this community.”
There was a loud laugh from the back of the crowd and I turned my eyes to see a slim woman with her arms crossed over her chest.
“People like you don’t change.”
“But he has,” Sophie said before I had a chance to speak up. “He really has. Give him a chance.”
The woman scoffed and Sophie looked at me.
“He’s different,” she said. “He’s a good man. Better than I thought.”
“This place is a nightmare because of him.”
“I know,” I said. “I know I can’t really make it better, but...I’m going to do my best. I promise all of you that.”
There was a murmur, but no real response from the crowd. I exchanged another glance with Sophie, who gave me a reassuring nod.
“Anyway... I just...wanted to tell you all that. I thought it was important. Also, there’s going to be a party.”
“A party.”
“Yes,” I said. “In a week. The whole village. This place needs a morale boost before...”
“Before we all die because of you?”
“Right,” I said lamely.
“A party won’t buy you respect,” the woman at the back of the crowd insisted.
“I know that. I just want to liven this place up.”
“I guess,” someone grumbled, and people started talking to each other, ignoring me as I left the stage with Sophie.
Chapter 18: Sophie
I woke up earlier than Gabriel, who was curled up nearly into a ball, his head resting on my bare stomach. I stroked his thick hair, running my fingers through it, smiling at him when his eyes opened.
“Hey,” he said, kissing just below my naval.
“Good morning,” I said as he lowered his face, nuzzling between my legs so that I would part for him. He tasted me until I came as he did every morning, then got out of bed.
“Stay here,” he said.
“Why?”
“I’ve never made you breakfast in bed. Get comfortable.”
“Don’t tell me that or I’ll never leave,” I said, laying my head on the pillow.
“You have to leave. We have the party today. We have to set up.”
“Right,” I said.
“The girls found out and they won’t stop talking about it. They’ve blown up hundreds of balloons.”
“Are they going to be at training today?” I asked him as he went into the kitchen, lifting myself up to rest against the pillows.
“No. I’m having them pack to leave tomorrow morning. Chelsey has taught Lily everything she learned from Gerend.”
“Where are you sending them?”
“As far away as possible. Arthur said they could stay with his sister—she’s a bear shifter, too.”
“But Arthur will be here?”
“Yep,” he said as the toast popped up. He plated it and set the plate on a tray with a glass of orange juice and a cup of coffee, along with butter and a bunch of grapes. He carried it over and put it in my lap with a bow.
“I’m going to shower,” he said, kissing the top of my head. I watched him go and ate happily, then brought the tray to the kitchen and joined him in the shower before we got ready to go. I caught him staring at me while I got dressed and shot him a look.
“Are you being a pervert?”
“I was just thinking about how lucky I am.”
I smiled at him, chewing on my lip.
“You think because you’re sweet now that I’m all yours.”
“I think you’re all mine because you’ve been begging for me to fuck you all week.”
I blushed.
“I have not,” I said in a lofty voice, looking away from him.
“And last night when you tried to get me to bond? And the night before?”
“It’s not fair that you won’t,” I complained.
“You’re still healing. Those bruises aren’t gone yet. It’s only been a little over a week.”
“They don’t even hurt anymore,” I protested. He came to me and kissed me softly.
“Soon,” he promised against my lips. “It’s hard for me, too.”
“So you say. I’m starting to think you don’t even like me.”
He laughed and leaned in to kiss my cheek.
“I love you,” he assured me. “Let’s go.”
I followed him out of the hut and he took my hand, walking alongside me. There were people out all over the village—the weather was cool and sunny, and everything felt warm as Gabriel and I brushed hips. I was surprised that several people waved at us or greeted us while we walked, and the smile on Gabriel’s face as he said good morning back to them. It had been days since I’d seen his trademark scowl. Instead, he was soft and relaxed, and his eyes lit up every time they met mine.
“What are you staring at?” he asked in amusement.
“My natural mate,” I said.
“Finally, you admit it.”
“You grew on me.”
“I know,” he said, squeezing my hand. We walked toward Main street to
see more people milling about, and I waved at Arthur as we approached the community building.
“Hey, hey,” he said. “You two are late.”
“It’s still early,” Gabriel protested.
“Uh, no...it’s not. It’s two in the afternoon,” Arthur said in amusement.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, flushing as we went inside. I paused in the doorway, looking around to see the big room filled with balloons, a massive speaker in the corner.
“Where the hell did you get that?”
“I know where to go for the good stuff,” Arthur told him, ruffling Gabriel’s hair. Gabriel frowned as he looked at the speaker.
“What?” I asked him. “Looks loud.”
“It is loud, baby boy,” Arthur said. “We’re going to have a blast.”
“If you say so,” Gabriel said, sounding like he wasn’t convinced. His face lit up, lifting into a smile when the girls came rushing into the community center, both of them throwing themselves at him to wrap their arms around his waist.
“Happy birthday,” Gabriel said, hugging them both. “Are you excited?”
“Yeah!” Chelsey exclaimed.
“So excited,” Jane gushed.
“I’m glad,” he said, kissing them both on the head. “Are you done packing?”
“We don’t want to go,” they said, almost at the same time.
“You have to. I’m not letting you stay here.”
“When can we come back?” Chelsey asked.
“When it’s all over.”
“I know how to fight!” she said. Gabriel shook his head.
“Absolutely not. You’re leaving.”
“Fine,” she said indignantly, but he tickled her and she giggled, turning her eyes to me.
“Are you getting married?” she asked.
“Maybe,” I told her, and Gabriel flashed me a bright smile.
“I hope so,” he said to them.
“Don’t do it before we get back,” Jane warned.
“I promise, we won’t.”
“Good,” she said in a satisfied voice, and the two of them ran off then as Arthur turned on some music.
“Are you going to dance with me tonight?” Gabriel asked.
“I don’t know how to dance.”
“I can lead,” he offered. “Don’t worry.”
“Maybe...”
He leaned in, kissed me on the head.