“I’m sorry,” Gabriel said again.
“It is not your fault, Gabriel.” Michael gave him a small smile. “I have been told—frequently, this month—that I worry too much. I suppose that I do, in truth, but I feel that I am entitled to do so in this case. Our bond is so young and our relationship so new—in angelkind’s terms of time—I was very frightened. I do not want you to suffer a relapse.”
“Raph explained it to me,” Gabriel twined their fingers and gently squeezed Michael’s hand. “I understand better now. Anyway,” he went on, “if I did die, I’d just ask God to bring me back. He could do it, after all.”
“And what if He said no, Gabriel?” Michael shook his head. “It is not a risk I am willing to take. Not with you.” on.”
“Then I’ll be extra careful from now.”
Michael nodded. “All right.”
“Raph said I could take a walk,” Gabriel began, “would you come with me? I’d like it an awful lot if you did.”
“Then I would be glad to.” Michael smiled and stood up. Gabriel got to his feet with a grunt and then he stretched, raising his arms above his head and standing on his toes.
“Ooh, that feels fine,” Gabriel said as his muscles stretched and a crick in his neck popped. “Bloody damn awesome.”
“Language,” Michael scolded.
Gabriel laughed and lowered his arms, taking Michael’s hand in his own again. “I missed that. The scolding.”
Michael looked at him, confused. “You are very strange. One would think that scolding would be more annoying than not.”
“Nah. It’s adorable.” Gabriel started walking, staying very close to Michael. “I take it that Ish and the boys didn’t want to come here?”
“They did not, you are correct.” Michael let go of Gabriel’s hand and slid his arm around Gabriel’s waist. Gabriel smiled and slipped his own arm around Michael’s shoulders. “Ishtahar still does not feel she deserves to return, and the boys said that if she does not, then they most certainly do not.”
“Well, one day they will. And it’ll be a great day.”
“As you say.”
They walked along a gently curving boulevard, lined with marble columns. Some of the columns were covered with vines bearing bright orange flowers, hummingbirds and bees hovering around the plants in delight. The sun was warm, and Gabriel felt very good.
“I hope I get the all clear from Raph soon.”
“Why is that?” Michael asked.
Gabriel leaned into him as they walked. “’Cause much as I love it here, I’d much rather be alone with you on our island.”
Michael’s embrace tightened a little. “As you say. I confess that I would prefer that as well.”
“So, soon as he says I’m back to one hundred percent, we’ll go home?” Gabriel asked, aware how plaintive he sounded.
“Yes.” Michael leaned up to kiss Gabriel’s cheek chastely. “I would like that very much.”
“Love you, solnyshko,” Gabriel said. “I love you also, da bao.”
Chapter Seventeen
RAPHAEL had finally given Gabriel the all clear, and it was with a great deal of relief that Gabriel and Michael had gone to the island of Belle Coeur. In the Southern Hemisphere it was summer, and the golden sunshine was a welcome change from the cold of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. While the temperatures had been moderate in Eden, there were too many memories in the first city on Earth, too many ghosts lingering in the marble buildings and the cobbled boulevards. That, coupled with Gabriel’s desire to be alone with his lover, had made him eager to leave.
Now, Gabriel was walking down to the beach, a blanket draped over one shoulder. He wore only a pair of swim trunks, not because he wanted to, but out of respect for Michael’s sense of decorum and modesty. Michael was still not convinced that someone with a pair of binoculars couldn’t see Gabriel if he was naked on the beach, no matter how many times Gabriel had told him that the island itself was invisible to human, angel, and demon eyes, let alone his naked body.
Today, however, had dawned far too glorious for Gabriel to want to argue about anything, certainly not something as trivial as swim trunks. As Michael went to take care of the most urgent of his paperwork in the study in the main house, Gabriel had headed outside.
He found a spot with shade from a large palm tree and laid down a ground sheet, using his power to secure it to the sand. Then he spread out the blanket, and with a happy sigh, dropped down onto it, sprawling on his back. Unfurling his wings to their full stretch, Gabriel closed his eyes and wriggled happily, rubbing his wings in the hot sand. The grit of the sand felt like tiny loofahs on his spans and feathers, and the heat from the sun made it feel as if he were rubbing his wings in piping hot, wing-length sponges.
It was quite possibly the most wonderful sensation in the world—after sex, of course. Gabriel reveled in it, wallowing in the hot sand upon his wings, alternating between scratching his feathers on the sand and burying them beneath it. He raised his arms above his head and closed his eyes, his toes curling with the pleasure of a light, hot scrubbing on his wings.
Flying was as pleasurable as this, he thought, and swimming too, but there was something to be said for the ecstasy of having his wings scrubbed and rubbed and scratched in such a way. He felt like a large cat, the urge to purr making him laugh at himself as he tensed and relaxed the muscles in his back, grunting happily as cricks in his neck and spine popped and relaxed. Oh, it was glorious, this, and Gabriel was quite prepared to spend the entire day in such a way.
A gentle breeze blew off the sea, carrying with it the scent of brine, and Gabriel hummed, thinking that a swim in the crystal-clear blue water after his sand bath would be wonderful. The simple things in life, he reflected, reminded him just how lucky he was to be alive.
The scar from Raphael’s stitching and the injury itself was itchy, and it took everything in him not to scratch it. Gabriel knew the newly healed skin would be easy to break if he put his mind to giving some serious scratching to the area, so he forced himself not to think about it. Instead, he focused on the feeling of sand on his wings, sun on his toes, and shade on his face.
After three or four hours, Gabriel sat up, sand flying in all directions from his wings as he gave them a shake. The sea looked cool and inviting, and Gabriel was unable to resist its siren call. Besides, sea water was good for aches and pains, he reasoned, so it should help that damn itch in his side.
Cursing Azazel, spears, surgery, stitches, and all things that caused itches that shouldn’t be scratched, Gabriel got up and bounced down to the water. He ran into the waves, giving voice to a loud, exuberant whoop of pure joy and dived into the water and surfaced several feet away. He ran his hands through his hair, chuckling with delight as a pod of dolphins swam close and sea birds dived and soared overhead. The dolphins rubbed their cool skin against his body, and Gabriel grabbed the nearest fin and let the creature carry him along at ever- increasing speed through the water.
And then, as he felt himself grow a little weary from his exertions, Gabriel unfurled his wings again and stretched them out, the feathers floating upon the surface of the sea. He lay on his back and felt the comforting caress of many dolphin bodies beneath him as they carried him slowly around the protected cove in which they swam. Finally, they helped him toward the shallows and he walked out of the water, thanking them for swimming with him and thanking the birds for flying with them as they all swam together.
If there was bliss on this Earth more so than this, then Gabriel was certain he didn’t know what it was.
The sun was high in the sky now, and Gabriel squinted at it, gauging the time as being two hours after lunch. He pulled a knife and some fresh fruit to him with his power and ate, sitting on the blanket beneath the palm tree once more, watching the sea. His mind was full of happy non- thoughts as he ate, and, finally sated, he set aside the skins, pits and the knife, pulled a bottle of chilled water to him from the fridge in the kitchen of the house
and drank deeply.
Then he flopped down onto his back again and proceeded to rub his wings up and down on the hot sand once more. Closing his eyes, Gabriel let his mind drift.
A polite cough made him start, and Gabriel pushed himself to his elbows, opening his eyes. As his gaze fell on Michael, Gabriel’s mouth dropped open. It was entirely possible he was drooling, but Gabriel wasn’t about to check. He was too busy staring at his lover.
Michael knelt on the blanket, a light blush coloring his cheeks. He was naked, his hands clasped loosely together in his lap. His arms were tanned a darker shade of olive to the rest of his body, and his cock was half-hard. The muscles in his body were taut, and the small amount of dark hair on his pectorals and the trail that led from his navel to his cock drew Gabriel’s gaze.
Gabriel shifted, his swim trunks now uncomfortably tight. “Hey.”
Michael moved a little, spreading his legs, his cock twitching. Gabriel’s fingers twitched as well as he forced himself not to grab Michael and rub himself all over him.
“Hello.” Michael smiled shyly. “Are you enjoying your day?”
“Oh aye. I’m enjoying this view even more, though.”
“Which view is that, Gabriel?”
Gabriel waved a hand at Michael. “You. Fuck, you’re so fucking hot.”
Michael’s blush darkened. “Language, Gabriel. In any case, I do not feel warm.”
Gabriel bit his lip so as not to laugh. “I mean, you’re really, really handsome.”
“Oh.” Michael ducked his head. “You are very kind.”
“And I’m very horny, and I’m getting naked right now”—Gabriel shoved his swim trunks down and kicked his legs to get them off—“because fucking hell, I need to have me some of that. That being you,” he added hastily as Michael opened his mouth, his confused expression alerting Gabriel to the fact he was about to ask what Gabriel meant.
The confusion evaporated, and Michael’s shy smile widened. “It has been some time,” he said. “I confess, I was too scared to try anything sooner. In truth, I was not sure that such overtures would be welcome yet.”
Gabriel crooked a finger. “More than welcome. C’mere, solnyshko.”
“As you say.” Michael crawled up the blanket to Gabriel, and Gabriel lay back, wrapped his arms around his lover, and kissed him.
Michael kissed back with great enthusiasm, and Gabriel groaned, wriggling a little to get his hard cock where he wanted it—pressing against Michael’s. As hardness rubbed against hardness, both Archangels moaned, and Gabriel’s hips jerked reflexively as Michael slid his fingers around to clutch at a wing joint.
“Michael,” Gabriel gasped, working a hand between them to wrap around both their cocks and stroke. “Fuck yes, Michael!”
Michael whimpered, thrusting into Gabriel’s hand, writhing into him, every move and touch and sound only fueling the fire of lust in Gabriel’s brain and body. Gabriel knew it wasn’t going to take long for him to come; to judge from Michael’s reactions to him, he didn’t think it would take long for Michael, either. It had been a few months since they had last had sex, and Gabriel had missed it.
It wasn’t just the pleasure of rubbing against one’s sexy, muscled lover, cock against cock, body against body, mouths pressed together, not in a kiss, just panting and gasping with need and desire. It was the intimacy, the closeness, the connection of the physical side of their love that Gabriel had missed. The bond between him and Michael flared, and their Graces reacted to that burst of energy as they rutted together like wild, hungry animals in heat.
Michael gave voice to a low cry, clutching at Gabriel, biting down on his lower lip hard enough to draw blood. Before Gabriel could say or do anything, he felt the hot slickness of come on his hand and that was enough to send him over the edge into orgasm as well.
They lay together, pressed as close as they could get, and Gabriel released their cocks and lifted his hand to his mouth, licking it clean.
“Mm, Michael-come, my favorite,” he purred.
“Gabriel, must you?” Michael asked, burying his face in the crook of Gabriel’s neck.
Gabriel laughed. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
“It is all right.” Michael nuzzled Gabriel’s neck.
He was still hard, Gabriel thought, still hard and still wanting. He could feel Michael’s cock was hard as well, and Gabriel rolled on to his side, his mouth finding Michael’s in a hungry kiss. As they kissed, Gabriel slid his hand down to Michael’s thigh, lifting his lover’s leg up to his waist. Moving just enough to get his cock where he wanted it, Gabriel moved his hand to Michael’s ass, and, kneading one firm butt cheek, he slicked his cock with his power and slowly pressed into Michael’s body.
Michael moaned into the kiss, rocking into the penetration and kissing Gabriel artlessly, raising his hands to Gabriel’s wings and rubbing. Gabriel groaned as well, feeling the grit of sand being rubbed by talented hands on his wings as Michael ground down on his cock. Rocking up into tight heat, Gabriel squeezed Michael’s ass once more then slid his hand up Michael’s back to Michael’s wings.
“G-Gabriel,” Michael panted into the kiss, his voice rough with desire and love. “D-don’t stop... please. Don’t ever stop.”
Gabriel’s heart gave a little lurch at that plea, and he jerked his hips up harder, making Michael cry out, digging his nails into Gabriel’s wingspans. As Michael’s head fell back, his eyes half-lidded and his mouth open as he panted and moaned, Gabriel murmured, “Not going to, love of my life. You’re stuck with me.” And then he bit down on Michael’s neck, hard.
Michael yelled, a wordless noise of pleasure, tilting his head a little to allow Gabriel better access to his neck. Gabriel bit down harder, and as he tasted blood on his tongue, his orgasm crashed through him in a wave. A moment later, he felt warmth on his belly, and he realized that Michael had come as well.
Gabriel pulled back from Michael’s neck, licking the blood from his lips, and slowly slipped out of Michael’s body. He gentled their caresses of Michael’s wings, and he smiled at his lover.
“I love you, Michael.”
Michael’s smile was like the sun coming up. “I love you as well, Gabriel.”
Gabriel rested his forehead against Michael’s. “You know, yeah, that we’re on a public beach?”
Michael instantly turned crimson and reached for something to cover them with. Gabriel burst out laughing.
“Oh, Mishka. You’re so adorable. No one can see us.”
“As you say. I am not convinced, however.”
Gabriel laughed some more. “I love you, you silly sausage.”
“Silly?” Michael sounded offended. “I am not silly.”
“Sure you are. Everyone is. It’s totally normal. If you weren’t silly from time to time, you wouldn’t be you. You wouldn’t be Michael, the Archangel I love. ’Cause I do. I love you more than salt.”
“More than... pardon?” Michael looked at Gabriel, his brow furrowed.
“Okay, see, there’s salt in everything. Salt in the air, in the sea, in sand, in blood, sweat. Salt’s purity, too, rock salt repels minor demons, yeah? So, that’s a lot of salt. I can’t quantify how much salt. So, I love you more than the amount of salt in existence.”
Michael shook his head fondly and kissed Gabriel’s cheek. “I do not quite understand this analogy, but I understand the sentiment. Thank you, da bao.”
“You’re very welcome. Did you want to go back up to the house?” Gabriel asked.
Michael nodded. “If you are not opposed.”
“Nope.” Gabriel didn’t bother to move. He just teleported them straight to the bedroom instead. “It’s damn awesome being me,” he said, stretching on the bed.
“Language. And yes, I am glad you are you. I am even more glad that you are healed.” Michael ran gentle fingers over the fresh scars on Gabriel’s side. “Do they trouble you?”
“Nah, not really. They itch a bit, but ’s normal. I went swimming and that
felt bloody good. And the whole rubbing my wings in the sand, that was amazing. You should try it. It feels incredible.”
“Perhaps.” Michael smiled at Gabriel again. “So, Raziel made a suggestion which I support.”
“Oh aye?”
“Yes. He suggested we have our formal meeting every two years instead of every thousand. He felt that we would be better served by this as humanity and existence change more rapidly than they did before the industrial revolution.”
“Aye, makes sense,” Gabriel approved. “I’ll go along with it.”
“I am glad. He also suggested that we spend more time together as a Brotherhood, just enjoying each other’s company. Not working together, for there are many times that will happen in the future, as it has done in the past. Simply being together. Dinners, drinks, things of that nature.”
“Aye, I’ll go along with that too.” Gabriel nodded. “All good ideas and plans. Let’s do it.”
Michael nodded, and his eyes went distant. Gabriel could feel his lover communicating with Raziel, and he waited patiently for their telepathic conversation to finish. Finally, Michael’s eyes cleared and he smiled.
“Forgive me. I did not realize how long that would take.”
“Nothing to forgive. What did he say?”
“He was pleased. The whole Brotherhood agreed unanimously. So he will work out a schedule and send them out for formal meeting times and locations in the next few days.”
“Okay.” Gabriel stretched then pulled Michael into his arms and kissed him soundly. “We’ve got just over a decade left on this century. I’ve decided we’re going to have a quiet one, and it’s going to be full of you and me having loads and loads of hot Archangel sex.”
“Must you phrase it in such a manner?” Michael asked plaintively as he blushed.
“Aye, I must. You blush like a red, red rose, and it’s adorable.” Gabriel kissed the tip of Michael’s nose.
Michael wrinkled his nose, unfurling his wings and twining them loosely with Gabriel’s, pushing against Gabriel’s wings with his spans. “You are odd, sometimes,” he said. “But I would not have you any other way.”
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