by Lexi Ander
Sūnder growled. Gabe shouldn’t fear anything. “It’s—”
Gabe held up his hand, forestalling anything Sūnder would have said, and looked at Paulo. “What are darkhunters?”
Paulo’s lips pursed in a grim line. “They are assassins who specialize in hunting males who are faeborn like the commander.”
“Everything is clear.” The guards returned. “We pulled the coverings over the windows. Even though we are on the third floor, anyone on the roof of the surrounding buildings could see in.”
To Sūnder’s ire, Gabe asked Paulo, “He can come in now?”
Paulo grinned. “He can, but one of us needs to enter as well. I promise we’ll stay out of the way and you’ll soon forget we’re here.”
Sūnder heard Gabe say, “Not likely,” under his breath before he waved Sūnder in. Paulo followed on his heels, immediately stepping to the side and closing the door.
“Again, my apologies, Gabriel.” Sūnder waited, becoming agitated when Gabe continued to keep his distance. If Sūnder had known the presence of the guards would trigger this change in Gabe, he would have found a way to come without his detail.
Gabe’s gaze softened and dropped to the grocery bag Sūnder held. “Please call me Gabe. What did you bring?”
Sūnder had completely forgotten what he carried and thrust the sack at Gabe, hoping it would help ease the tension. “You said we would have ice cream for dessert and experiment with toppings. I brought some the nice female at the store said would be ideal.
“Oh, I bet she helped you all right.” Gabe’s sarcasm was thick, and his scent held a pinch of jealousy.
Sūnder grinned more broadly. “My thought was to please you with a surprise,” he confessed, enthralled when the blush crept back into Gabe’s cheeks. Pride swept through him at the knowledge he’d elicited such a telling response from Gabe with only a few words.
Gabe spun on his heel and moved across to what appeared to be the kitchen, giving Sūnder a chance to look around. A low wall separated the kitchen from the living room; the dining area joining the two. The three doors on the far wall were all closed. The main living space was sparsely furnished, although a well-worn quilt hung over the back of the sofa and a wall of shelves contained books and multiple picture frames. The furniture held a hint of age, leading Sūnder to believe more than one generation of Gabe’s people had resided here.
There were plants everywhere.
Sūnder wasn’t braced for the sudden chatter as the plants reached out to him, not quite quivering with excitement. Outside of the areas of forest cared for by druids he’d never come across such awareness, and never had he sensed suspicion directed toward him. Especially not on Earth. Usually plants dozed in a half sleep unless called upon, but Gabe’s home was filled with silent sentinels ready to protect their guardian.
Interesting.
“You don’t have to stand way over there,” Gabe called from the kitchen, pulling Sūnder’s attention away from Gabe’s indoor garden. “I promise I won’t bite.”
Sūnder grinned. What if I want you to? He said nothing, instead crossing the room to the kitchen. The delectable aroma was stronger there, and Sūnder’s mouth watered. He waited for Gabe to ask about Paulo’s use of the title of prince, and was surprised when Gabe said nothing, just arranged the items Sūnder had bought on the counter. Perhaps he shouldn’t be amazed; Gabe hadn’t given preferential treatment to A’yrē, or fawned over him. Did status really not matter to Gabe?
“I know that most Panthrÿns primarily eat meat, with a few choice vegetables. I bought nasū root from the store, and looked up how to prepare it.” Gabe pointed to a bowl and Sūnder glanced in to see the bright red nasū cut up and garnished with what smelled like mint. “I hope I did it right. I don’t know how well it will go with Italian—”
“It’s perfect,” Sūnder said to appease Gabe’s nervousness. When Gabe turned to look at him, Sūnder stepped in close. He’d been patient, waiting so many days to see Gabe. Every time Sūnder thought of Gabe his magick had strained against him. Now that his future mate stood in front of him Sūnder needed to touch, yet he stayed his hand. “You keep heaping honor upon me. Did you know nasū root was my favorite?”
Gabe stared up at him as if he hadn’t seen Sūnder in a season or more. “I wanted to make sure I didn’t accidentally poison you with any of the ingredients. Your biography gave a list of things you enjoyed eating, but the store only carried nasū.”
Sūnder held his breath as Gabe hesitantly stroked Sūnder’s ribs, the heat of Gabe’s hand through the thin material making Sūnder want to shed his clothes so Gabe could stroke him anywhere, skin to skin. “Gabe,” he panted, “would you allow me to kiss you?”
Gabe licked his lips. “Finally. Yes, kiss me, Sūnder.”
He didn’t wait for another invitation. Sūnder took Gabe’s mouth slowly, gently, but it seemed Gabe wanted more, the fingers digging into Sūnder’s arms prompting him to wrap them around Gabe. Needing a better angle for the kiss, Sūnder lifted Gabe and set him on the counter. Blood thrummed in his ears when Gabe wrapped his arms and legs around Sūnder and moaned. He probed deeper, needing more, but when Gabe pulled away he reluctantly let him go. Arousal hung heavy between them. Sūnder purred contentedly.
Gabe licked his lips as if chasing Sūnder’s flavor. “Wow. I think I could kiss you for days.” Glancing over Sūnder’s shoulder, Gabe stiffened, his gaze dropping.
Moving so Gabriel and Paulo couldn’t see each other, Sūnder whispered, “Please don’t feel self-conscious. What transpires between us won’t leave this room. The knights are beings of honor; they would never judge or embarrass us.”
Gabe raised his head and caressed Sūnder’s cheek. “I’m not used to having an audience. Although I recently came out of a long-term relationship, we were very private.” The sorrow in Gabe’s gaze deepened.
The threat of this former mate coming back to claim Gabe made Sūnder’s heart race. He gripped Gabe harder, carefully schooling his expression when all he wanted to do was snarl and take Gabe away. Nothing good came from a coerced claim.
“Will they return?” Sūnder forced himself to ask.
“No. Pierce left on a luxury ship bound for… actually, I don’t know where. That’s kind of fucked up. I let him go and didn’t even bother to find out where he went.” Sūnder stepped away when Gabriel pushed.
“He was a fool to leave you in the first place,” Sūnder replied.
Hopping off the counter, Gabe moved past him to a rack that held a loaf of bread, taking out a knife and cutting board. “As painful as Pierce’s leaving might have been, it was necessary. We weren’t what the other needed.” When Gabe glanced over his shoulder, the forced smile hurt to see, until Gabe’s expression warmed the longer he stared at Sūnder. “Besides, if he were still here I wouldn’t have met you. I’m too selfish to be sorry about that.”
Sūnder almost released a sigh of relief because he didn’t have to woo an encumbered heart. Such courtships took much longer, and Sūnder was not a patient male. He moved the conversation away from the one who’d once shared Gabe’s bed. “I scent several layers of your family in this place.”
Gabe’s shoulders tensed as he finished slicing the bread and cleaned the counter of crumbs, and he once again put his back to Sūnder, looking across the counter into the living room. Bitterness and pain tinged Gabe’s scent. Somehow, Sūnder had touched on another sore spot, one seemingly much deeper than that left by Gabe’s former mate.
Sūnder did the only thing he could think of and held Gabriel from behind, enveloping him and nuzzling his dark hair. Gabe’s stiffness screamed of old agony and unhealed wounds. “I’m sorry. It seems my social skills are lacking tonight. Everything I’ve said has upset you.”
Several long heartbeats later, Gabe relaxed back into his embrace. “It’s not your fault. This place once belonged to my parents, and my mother’s parents before them.”
“I’m sorry for their passing.”
Sūnder pressed a kiss onto the top of Gabe’s head.
“My parents didn’t die; they left me when I was sixteen. No goodbye, no explanation, just a short note. They each took passage on ships going in opposite directions and left me alone.”
His heart hurting for Gabe, Sūnder tightened his arms around him. Even though it had been heartbreaking to be so close to his father and A’yrē, at least Sūnder hadn’t been purposely discarded.
“I don’t even know why I’m telling you this,” Gabe grumbled. “I’ve only ever discussed my parents with Ronan. Anyway, it’s in the past and doesn’t matter. Ronan and his parents took me in and I finished school, went to college, and acquired my degree to become a nurse.” It sounded as if Gabe was trying to convince himself more than anyone else. Contrary to what Gabe claimed, his parents’ abandonment had obviously hurt him deeply. The profound sorrow in Gabe’s voice and scent were a testament to the scars he still carried from their selfish act. What kind of vile people left their cub alone and unguarded? Sūnder wanted to find them and… Staring into Gabe’s open expression, Sūnder knew he wouldn’t do anything that would cause Gabe more pain.
Dampening the anger that rose in Gabe’s defense, for it had no place in their relationship, Sūnder kissed the side of Gabe’s neck. “Thank you for gifting me with your pain. I won’t betray your trust.”
“No, it’s not… I’m not…” Gabe turned in Sūnder’s arms, scowling and pushing at Sūnder to once again put distance between them. “You don’t understand what I’m trying to say. I’m not good boyfriend material. There’s something in me that’s broken. I hold people at a distance. That’s why Pierce left. I’m terrified of people leaving me, so I don’t let anyone get close.”
“Anyone but Ronan,” Sūnder clarified.
“Yes.” Gabe’s dark eyes were wide and luminous, the sorrow lifting a little at Ronan’s name.
“Because you trust him.” Sūnder made a note: Gabe’s friend was important, and perhaps he should approach Ronan about coming with them… once Gabe realized his place was with Sūnder.
“Yes, but even he will leave me soon.” A new pain, quickly squashed, flashed through Gabe’s eyes. Sūnder vowed to make sure that didn’t happen. His Gabe didn’t need any more scars on his heart.
“And this Pierce, he left.” Good riddance, if anyone asked Sūnder. Any male able to look into Gabe’s eyes and not adore all that was reflected there, who wasn’t enamored with the way Gabe laughed with his whole body, or who could resist rolling in Gabe’s scent was more the fool.
“Because I pushed him away.” Gabe frowned, and Sūnder quickly kissed the lines on Gabe’s brow.
“Because he wasn’t the mate you needed,” Sūnder said with conviction. If this Pierce couldn’t see what was essential to Gabe then he was no mate at all.
“No, because I knew he’d leave me, eventually,” Gabe said as if Sūnder should have already guessed the answer.
“You’re not pushing me away.” He let a rumbling purr escape just for a moment so Gabe would know how pleased he was.
“You’re going to be angry with me, but I refuse to lie to you. You’re safe because I know you’re leaving after the Festival.” Gabe grimaced. “I don’t have to worry because I already know.”
Sūnder blinked. That wasn’t the answer he’d expected. He stared down at Gabe, thinking over what he’d said. “I’m safe for you to show affection to because you think I’m leaving after the Festival?”
Gabe gave a humorless laugh. “Fucked up, isn’t it? But that’s the only reason I can come up with.”
“I don’t understand.”
The timer of the stove beeped. Gabe pushed past him to grab a couple of potholders and turn off the timer. “I don’t do things like this, Sūnder. I don’t invite someone I barely know into my home, make them a meal, or let them kiss me.” The pan Gabe pulled out of the oven bubbled along the sides, melted cheese covering the top. With great care, Gabe set it on a cooling rack.
“I follow a process. I meet someone, become friends, and then we discuss the merits of becoming more. This, here, what we’re doing tonight, I’ve never done before. I look at you, and damn if I don’t want to lick you all over then beg you to fuck me. That isn’t me, and the only reason I can come up with is that you’re safe… because you’ll leave soon.” He threw the potholders on the counter with an angry huff. “So, there, I told you. You can stay or go, it’s your choice. At least you know where I stand.”
Sūnder suppressed a smile. He’d spend every minute of every day convincing Gabe he was indeed safe, but not in the way Gabe believed.
“You’re worried I would be upset if you used me? For sex?” Sūnder asked, allowing his voice to drop to a low rumble as he prowled closer. Pleasure curled in his gut when Gabe’s nostrils flared in response. “Do you want me?”
“Yes. No… yes, I mean… I don’t want to use you. I just thought we could have— give mutual pleasure, enjoy one another’s company while we had the time. And hell yes, I want you. I have since the moment I first laid eyes on you.”
The pleased thrum vibrating from Sūnder’s chest grew louder. “Then feed me, my Gabriel, and afterward I shall see about making you beg.”
“Sweet mercy.” Gabe gulped audibly. “Have a seat at the table, and I’ll bring everything out.”
Before stepping away, Sūnder caressed Gabe from ass to calf with his tail. Despite what Gabe thought, Sūnder accepted the unspoken challenge in Gabe’s eyes. If all he had to work with was Gabe’s lust, then Sūnder would insert himself so far under Gabe’s skin that Gabe couldn’t imagine being without him. He would take his time and seduce Gabe, allow Gabe to come to know him, be his friend, and by the end, Gabe would present his heart to Sūnder. He would prove himself worthy of not only Gabe’s trust but his love. When he left this rock, Gabe would be with him, and possibly Ronan. He would cherish Gabe for all his days and never give him reason to regret being his mate. Gabe would no longer have to worry about being abandoned and alone.
Sitting in the chair facing the kitchen, Sūnder leaned back and spread his legs. As he watched Gabe move about, Sūnder hid nothing of what he felt. He allowed his expression to fill with the want that had been roiling through his veins since he first set eyes on Gabe. When Gabe turned to face Sūnder with the bowl of nasū, he stopped in his tracks. His eyes grew wide and his breathing quickened as Sūnder ran his hand over the material that did nothing to disguise his straining erection. Holding Gabe’s hungry gaze, Sūnder boldly adjusted himself. When Gabe visibly shivered, Sūnder rumbled with delight.
Swearing under his breath, Gabe continued across the floor and set down the bowl, sitting next to Sūnder at the four-person table instead of across the way. With unsteady hands, Gabe plated the food, the scent of his desire thick in the air between them. Sūnder ate the delicious dinner slowly. He’d never tasted anything as delectable as this lasagna, and he hummed with pleasure, all the while watching Gabe’s every move—ready to pounce.
When Sūnder ran his tail up Gabe’s calf, Gabe jumped, unable to cover his squeak of surprise. Gabe’s hands trembled as he forked food into his mouth. The alluring pheromones wafting from him had Sūnder imagining the many ways he could rub Gabe’s scent on him.
Plates blessedly empty, Sūnder pushed the bowl of nasū root toward Gabe. “When you looked up my preferences, did you discover how to serve nasū?”
The pupils of Gabe’s eyes ate up the gleaming dark brown iris until they were almost completely black. “Let’s see if I get this right.”
Sūnder waited as Gabe picked up a slice and leaned forward, holding the piece before Sūnder’s mouth. “Sūnder Alārd, Son of Princess Válora, will you accept this small offering from my hand so that we may be called… friends.”
“And lovers,” Sūnder added before he closed his mouth around the slice, licking Gabe’s fingers before pulling away.
“Lovers,” Gabe whispered before he picked up another piece of the root and offered it to
Sūnder.
Grasping Gabe’s wrist, he took the nasū from Gabe’s hand and then gave a gentle tug. Sūnder pushed his chair away from the table, urging Gabe to straddle his lap. He pressed the bite against Gabe’s lips. “Gabriel St. Baptista, beloved friend of Ronan, will you accept this small offering from my hand so that one day we may be more than friends and lovers?”
Gabe stared for a moment, and Sūnder waited with a patience he couldn’t believe he had. Something that looked like hope flashed across Gabe’s face, there and gone so quickly Sūnder thought the expression a figment of his imagination until Gabe opened his mouth. Relieved, Sūnder slid the slice onto Gabe’s tongue and held his breath until Gabe chewed.
“What do you want from me?” Gabe whispered.
“Only you,” Sūnder promised before taking Gabe’s mouth, reveling in the press of lips, the sweet taste of nasū on Gabe’s tongue. He ate Gabe’s moans with relish, like they were the most decadent dessert. Too much clothing separated them. Gabe’s need was palpable, and Sūnder determined to sate it.
Sliding his hands down Gabe’s back and under his ass, Sūnder gripped and held Gabe against him as he rose from his chair. Gabe’s legs wrapped around his waist.
“Which one?” he asked as he strode across the room.
“The middle one.” Gabe sucked hard on the column of Sūnder’s neck and electricity shot down Sūnder’s spine, feeding his arousal until it blazed like a bonfire. The spot was one of Sūnder’s most sensitive erogenous points, and as Gabe gnawed his skin, desperation zipped through Sūnder. He barely refrained from slamming Gabe against the wall, the need for relief almost overwhelming his sense of propriety.
Using his heel, Sūnder kicked the door closed, too impatient to find a light switch first. Moonlight from the skylight above was more than enough for Sūnder to see by. Gabe rolled his hips, pressing his groin into Sūnder’s stomach. In a flurry of impatience, Sūnder undressed them both with minimal tearing of cloth before depositing Gabe on the puny bed.
With great care, he explored and mapped Gabe’s body with his tongue, stroked Gabe with his tail, discovering what made Gabe’s breath stutter, delving into places that caused his future mate to writhe and beg. And beg he did.