Devlin nodded. “I make a nice salary at the organization. My family doesn’t need millions.”
Justin looked over at Gabriel, and he felt like they had matching looks of worry at that point. While what Devlin said was amazing and wonderful, it made their lives a hell of a lot more complicated.
“So, the person who wants you dead could be from your own industry. Not just the energy and natural resources industry,” Justin said.
“I don’t understand.”
“It could be someone in the private sector working on an improved solar cell, but who wants to make a profit off it. This person could be afraid of you getting your work done first,” Gabriel explained.
Devlin’s mouth opened and closed several times. “I-I never thought of that. I regularly spoke with others in my field, bounced ideas off them. I always saw us on the same team. I never thought any of them would actually try to hurt me.”
“I’m sorry,” Justin said. He could only guess that it was one of the so-called perks of being a mercenary. They just all believed everyone was trying to kill them, but that meant no friends, no sharing of information and resources. At least, not until Gabriel. And after that success, he wasn’t interested in making friends with any other mercenaries. He had all that he could ever want.
“We need a few things from you,” Gabriel started. His firm tone seemed to pull Devlin from his dark thoughts and get him focused again. “All the threats you received as well as a list of anyone you might have talked to about your work.”
Devlin nodded. “The list of people shouldn’t be too hard. But the threats…I destroyed most of them. At least the early ones. When they started showing up at my house, I took pictures of them. They should still be saved on the cloud.”
“We need them. Also a list of anyone you might know of who is working on the same thing as you.”
Devlin stiffened, his hands fisting on the top of the table. “I don’t like pointing fingers at my colleagues. They’re good people. I know it.”
“But one of them might not be,” Justin replied.
“They’ll never know we looked into them, I promise,” Gabriel added. “We’ll be discreet. Just think of this as a way to protect Jake.”
“Anything else?”
“We need you to finish your research if possible. You said you were close.”
Devlin looked at them in surprise. “I…I think I’m very close. There-there was some data from an experiment that came back that I never got the chance to analyze. I think it will hold the final proof that I need.”
“How long would it take you to analyze and get the final information released to the world? A day or two?”
Devlin continued to look stunned. “I-I honestly don’t know. It depends what’s in the data. Maybe a few days. But if the results are not what I was looking for, then longer. Why? I don’t understand. Why do you want me to finish? This work has caused me nothing but misery.”
“But it can also save your life. If the information is out there and free for the entire world, why would this person need to kill you?”
“True,” he breathed. He relaxed a little in his seat, staring at some point on the table.
“We’ll protect you while you work. Keep Jake happy and occupied. There’s plenty to do around here. I’m assuming he likes outdoor things—hiking, fishing,” Justin said, not trying to hide his hopeful tone.
“He’s never really been one for outdoor stuff, actually,” Devlin said. “He likes books and video games, but he did enjoy the camping and hikes that we went on in Montana. I think…if the dogs were with him and one of you…he would give it a try.”
“Devlin, why don’t you get some sleep?” Gabriel suggested. “It’s late and we’ve had an incredibly long day. Tomorrow, we can focus on getting you set up with a work area and finding some safe activities for Jake.”
The scientist continued to sit there staring at the table for a few more seconds before he finally nodded, clearly overwhelmed with everything they had discussed. He scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed deeply. “Yes, you’re right. Sleep would help. Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Devlin dropped his hand and glared at Justin. “I’m serious. Thank you. You and Gabriel don’t have to do this. I went to the police for weeks about the threats and they did nothing. It was only when Adam was dead that they finally got off their asses and then it was to accuse me of murdering my husband. The people who are supposed to be helping me have done nothing!” When he finished, his hands were shaking fists and tears filled his eyes. It was clear that he had reached the end of his strength. Rage and exhaustion fueled him.
“You’re not alone. Not anymore.”
As suddenly as Devlin flared to life, he faded again. He gave a small nod before slowly pushing to his feet. “Good night.”
Justin silently watched him shuffle in the direction of the guest bedrooms. Pete, who had been lying on the floor at the entrance to the dining room, followed him, obviously with plans to sleep at the foot of Devlin’s bed. There was no denying that he preferred to have the dogs sleeping in the bedroom with him and Gabriel, but this made the most sense. The boys would keep their guests safe and warn them of any problems.
A hand landed on his forearm, and he looked over to see Gabriel’s all-too-perceptive eyes caressing his face. “Go take a shower.”
Justin forced a smile that he really didn’t feel. “Are you saying that I stink?”
“Go take a shower in our shower and then get into our bed,” Gabriel said, and like magic, tension Justin hadn’t even been aware of started to roll off his shoulders. Yes, their shower and their bed. That sounded so damn good. And if he was lucky, Gabriel had more plans for when he joined him.
Chapter 10
Justin rubbed his towel on his head, getting the heaviest of the drops from his hair before hanging it on the rack to dry. He’d spent longer in the shower than he’d planned, but he felt like he’d shed so much worry and tension from his shoulders under the pulsing hot water. It was good to be home, even if there were strange people in his personal space. He and Gabriel were doing a good thing to help two innocent people who had already suffered so much.
There were plenty of plans that still needed to be made, research to be completed, but out of everything, Justin found himself a strange mix of excited and nervous about Jake. He’d never really had much experience with kids, and his own childhood had been far from ideal.
But Jake had a sweet mix of innocence, playfulness, and curiosity. He wondered what it would be like to take him hiking through the woods with the dogs bounding after them or fishing on the lake at the edge of their property. They could even go over to Jess’s nearby farm to see her horses and help with whatever she happened to be harvesting at the time. All could be new experiences for the little boy, and definitely a good distraction from what he’d already been through.
Pausing in front of the long mirror, Justin shoved his hands through his wet hair, slicking it back.
“You look like you feel better?”
He turned to find Gabriel standing in the doorway in a pair of soft sleep pants. His black hair was also wet and slicked back. But where Justin looked squeaky-clean and a little rumpled, there was something polished about Gabriel. That was just Gabriel. Justin had learned over the past year that things had to be going terribly wrong for Gabriel to look anything but pulled together. He’d seen it once when he’d rescued Gabriel from a basement in Germany. That time, he’d been half-naked, half-frozen, and only half-alive. Justin prayed he’d never see Gabriel looking that way again.
“You showered?”
“And settled the animals. And set the alarms for the night,” Gabriel replied with a smirk.
“Well, if I was taking so long in the shower, you should have joined me.”
Gabriel’s smirk turned into a wicked grin. “Oh, I have plans for you tonight. I thought I’d give you ample chance to relax under the spray without my hands helping.”
Justin strolled across the bathroom and came to stop just a few inches away from Gabriel. “Maybe I like your helping hands.”
The temptation was there to grab Gabriel and pin him to the wall, to rut against him until they were both moaning and panting. Part of him wanted to feel Gabriel fighting him. Justin had just a little height on him and about twenty pounds of muscle. But where Justin was physically stronger, Gabriel was faster and sneaky as fucking hell, making him more than an equal match.
But what tempted him more than a struggle for power was simply handing himself over, handing over all his control, and letting Gabriel have his wicked way with him. He knew that Gabriel had likely been cooking up the most delicious response to the quick and dirty sex they’d had at the cabin. And Justin wanted everything Gabriel could dish out.
“There would have been no stopping my helpful hands if I’d joined you, and I want you in the bed, hard and wanting me.”
“I always want you. Even if I’ve already come in the shower. I always want you,” Justin whispered. He leaned close and brushed his lips against Gabriel’s sharp cheekbone. He dragged them slowly down his cheek to his jaw, loving the soft skin that turned into a rough scrape as he reached the short whiskers.
“Good. Then take off your briefs and get on the bed,” Gabriel said, his voice hardening with the order.
Oh, fuck. A bossy Gabriel just made him harder. His breathing ticked up and Gabriel’s nostrils flared a little, as if he could smell the desire pouring off Justin. He had to turn sideways to get past Gabriel, his hardening cock brushing against his lover’s hip as he crossed into the bedroom. To his credit, Gabriel didn’t move a damn muscle as he edged past him.
He walked into the bedroom, where he was a little surprised to find that all the lights had been turned on. When they got ready for bed, Gabriel usually left only one small lamp burning on either his or Justin’s nightstand. He paused and started to reach for the light switch, but Gabriel’s voice lashed out like a whip crack.
“Leave it.”
Justin glanced at him, one eyebrow raised in question, before he continued to the bed. He paused long enough to shove down his dark-gray boxer briefs and step out of them before climbing into the middle. He looked up to see Gabriel walk into the room, striding across the front of the bed.
“Stay on your knees and don’t move.”
Justin followed his instructions, still not quite sure what Gabriel’s plans were. But he could feel those dark eyes on him, touching every part of his body in a hot caress that had him growing harder. He’d never felt quite so exposed before, naked under the bright lights of their room. His heart picked up its pace. He watched wordlessly as Gabriel walked over to the white cushioned chair in one corner rather than climbing onto the mattress with him.
Dropping into the chair, Gabriel slouched low and spread his legs so that Justin could clearly see the hard-on tenting his loose cotton pants.
“I thought since you seemed as turned-on as I was at the prospect of being discovered,” Gabriel drawled, referencing their little adventure in Montana, “I’d let you be the exhibitionist that you are. Stroke yourself. You’re not nearly hard enough for me.”
Justin’s mouth dropped open in shock. This was new. And it made him even fucking harder without touching his damn cock. But he did exactly as he was told. He wrapped his dick, running his hand slowly up his length. He paused at the head, smearing the pre-cum that was already leaking from the tip before running it back down to the root. With Gabriel’s dark eyes pinned on his every movement, Justin was suddenly more aware of the silky hot flesh in his hand, the thick vein running up his length. He moaned, slowly increasing the speed and tightening his grip. Pleasure rippled through him.
The man in the chair placed his elbow on the arm and rested his head against his left fist as if he were settling in for a show. It was on the tip of his tongue to warn Gabriel that he wasn’t going to last long like this. Never had he thought of himself as an exhibitionist, but having Gabriel’s laser focus on him while he was alone in the bed had all his nerves prickling and excited. Gabriel licked his lips and Justin moaned again, swearing he could feel that soft, wet appendage swiping across the head of his cock.
Gabriel shoved one hand down into his pants, stroking himself, but Justin couldn’t see anything because he didn’t pull himself free of the garment. He wanted to tell Gabriel to get rid of the fucking pants, but he swallowed back the words. This was Gabriel’s show. He was in charge.
“Fondle your balls with your other hand,” Gabriel commanded. His voice had become lower, grittier.
Justin reached down with his left hand, cupping himself. He pulled slightly, a wonderful mix of pleasure and pain that had him panting even harder. His legs trembled and his ass ached to be filled by this man’s thick cock. Oh God, he wanted to be pounded into the fucking mattress. He loved topping Gabriel, loved being the one in control, but tonight his lover was turning him inside out.
“Don’t come,” Gabriel barked. “Not done with you yet. Not even close.”
“Do you like this? Do you like what you see?” Justin panted. He tightened his hand on his balls and slowed his fist on his cock. He was getting too close, and he didn’t want this to be over yet.
“I love watching you,” Gabriel growled. “You’re exquisite. Your entire body is flushed a lovely red. All those muscles straining, etched as if in stone. And they’re all mine. You’re mine to command. Release your balls and pinch your nipples.”
A noise escaped the back of Justin’s throat as he did exactly as instructed. He pinched and rolled one little nub, sending bolts of pleasure through his body. He’d stopped stroking his cock and simply squeezed his hand around the base to keep from exploding. Tension grew and sharp need screamed along nerve endings.
“I want in that ass,” Gabriel growled.
“Yes,” Justin moaned. He was more than happy to let Gabriel take over his body, finally push him over the precipice into oblivion.
“Get the lube.”
Justin released himself and spun around. He quickly crawled to his nightstand, digging through the top drawer until he finally located the half-empty bottle there. He turned back to find Gabriel still sitting in the chair. He’d expected Gabriel to be closer, naked and crawling in to take what was his. A wicked grin stretched across Gabriel’s lips and Justin nearly shuddered.
“Kneel in the center of the bed, facing the headboard. I want to watch you prep yourself for me.” Justin knew his mouth fell open in shock. He had not expected this from his lover, and he was ready to come simply from the image flickering through his brain. Gabriel’s smile grew as he pulled his sleep pants lower so Justin could finally see the hard cock in Gabriel’s fist. “Show me how badly you want me inside you.”
He was going to fucking die.
Following Gabriel’s instructions, he turned to face the headboard and poured some lube on the fingers of his right hand. He balanced on his left forearm and reached back, sliding one thick finger inside of his body. The burn was there, but there was also relief. He worked the lube inside and then added a second finger, hissing softly as the pain returned. But he was so damn aware of Gabriel behind him, watching his every movement. He couldn’t see him, but he could hear hints of his harsh breathing over the pounding of his heart in his ears.
A warm hand caressed one ass cheek and Justin couldn’t stop his moan. Finally…to be touched. He wanted to feel Gabriel’s hands all over him, his body buried deep inside of his. He wanted the press of skin and sweat.
“So beautiful,” Gabriel whispered roughly.
“Please, G Love,” Justin panted. He didn’t give a shit that he was begging. His cock was leaking on the comforter and his entire body was so tense with a desperate need for release, he could barely draw air into his lungs. “I…I can’t anymore.”
Reaching around him, Gabriel picked up the bottle of lube. “I know, baby. I’ll get you there.”
Justin sighed with relief as
he removed his fingers. He had to wait only a moment later to feel the mattress sink under Gabriel’s weight and then the press of the head of his cock against his entrance. Gabriel thrust inside so damn slowly, stretching him so wonderfully. He wanted to push backward, taking all of his lover quickly, but he remained unmoving, letting Gabriel have all the control.
When he was fully seated, Gabriel leaned forward and lightly kissed his shoulder. “You feel so good. And you are so turned-on right now. I can feel your whole body shaking. I don’t even need to move to make you come. I can send you over just like this.”
“G!” Justin cried out, his voice breaking. No one had ever strung him out so completely. But then, there had never been anyone he’d allowed to get close to him like Gabriel. The man with his cock stretching him so perfectly had learned to play him like a fucking concert pianist, and it was beautiful.
“But I won’t.”
It was his only warning.
Gabriel pulled out of him and Justin barely had time to gasp before Gabriel slammed into him. The air was knocked out of his lungs, but Justin didn’t need to breathe. He just needed to feel. Gabriel pressed one hand onto his shoulder, shoving him down into the bed while keeping his ass in the air. Justin didn’t fight it. He simply gave his entire body over to Gabriel, wallowing in the joy that was washing over him in wave after powerful wave.
And then Gabriel shifted, nailing his prostate so fucking perfectly. He cried out, instantly losing his grip on the orgasm that had been building. He came hard, his balls emptying without him needing to touch his damn cock. The world flashed white and he couldn’t breathe. He was vaguely aware of hoarse, desperate pleading pouring from his lips, but he didn’t even know what he was saying. There was only pleasure so intense it was almost painful.
As the orgasm started to fade at last, he heard Gabriel shout, his body jerking, as he came. Warm semen flooded his ass and Justin groaned again, his body shuddering and jerking as if it wanted to come again.
Justin collapsed on the comforter, not caring that he was now lying in a puddle of his own cum. His entire body felt raw and sensitive. He was drained physically and emotionally. Gabriel followed him down, still buried deep inside of him, wrapping his arms tightly around his chest. He gathered Justin close, kissing slowly up his shoulder to his neck.
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