by P. C. Benson
I looked at Gabrielle’s hand on my arm and realized that we were alone. “Can you show me your room so I can move all of my stuff out of the old one? Are you sure you have space, as I also wanted to get my stuff from my house.” She looked away and crossed her arms.
“Are you certain?”
Her face tightened. “What’s the point in pretending? It was all a lie. There’s no use in keeping up the ruse. Mrs. Wilson and Roger deserve to move on. I’ll work on the finances and set them up and then sell the house.” She looked away, but I caught the shine in her eyes. I pulled her to me and felt her shoulders shake.
“Gabby! I didn’t think I would see you again.” My father walked in, then paused. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Gabrielle untangled herself from my embrace, went to dad, and hugged him. “I’m glad to see you again, Mr. St Clair.”
“Oh, dear. I am so happy to have you back home. I heard for good this time?”
She nodded with a watery smile.
“I am so sorry to hear about your ordeal.” He gave her another hug and led her to the couch. “However, I have to say, I am glad to have you back. It was cruel what happened to your sister, but everything happens for a reason, and these trials are only given to us because we are strong enough to handle them. You, my dear, are the strongest person I know. You will get past this. Remember, you have us that care about you deeply and will be here for you, no matter what.”
Tears were streaming down Gabby’s cheeks. “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”
“Now, I hear that you have some concerns about Daemon? We are half-human, after all, so you will need to excuse our initial human reactions until we learn to accept him and trust him, but I promise you that we will try our best to honor your request and treat him civilly and as a guest. Of course, I can only speak for the people that reside here. The Regent will be another matter.”
“I understand. That’s all I can ask for. I also think it’s time for me to meet the Regent,” Gabby said with steel in her eyes.
“As you wish. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do, and, as always, don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything. This is your home now.” He reached out, squeezed her hand, and got up.
He stopped in front of me and we embraced. “I’m glad that you all are back.”
“Me too, Father.”
I watched his retreating back.
“So, are you going to show me your room?”
“Hmm, can’t wait to get me to the room, huh?” I wiggled my brows at her.
She snorted. “Let’s go.”
My hand rested on the doorknob as an uncharacteristic nervousness washed over me. What the hell, why am I nervous? I didn’t recall many instances in my long life when I had been nervous. I had always been certain of my path. With Gabrielle, I had been bloody uncertain with a lot of things. I glanced at her from under my lashes and pushed the door open.
The room reflected me and my past. It wasn’t much, but it was me. I hesitantly glanced at Gabrielle. Was that shock or awe? Did she like it or not?
With my feet spread apart, I crossed my arms and smirked with false nonchalance. “So?” I wanted to ask if she wanted to change things around since it was going to be her room too, but I didn’t want to sound like a bumbling idiot.
“This is your room?” she asked with a tone of disbelief.
I gritted my teeth since I couldn’t decipher her thoughts.
She walked farther in, and I looked around to check if anything was out of place. The seating area was pristine. Magazines were stacked neatly on the side table, the soft light was on, the wood counter was clean and polished, and the wood table had fresh flowers. She walked to the room next door and poked her head in. She looked back in question. I encouraged her to go in.
“Wow.” She breathed.
I exhaled a breath of relief. “You like it? We can move the furniture around to your liking or make more room.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, I can see that it wouldn’t be a problem.”
My brows drew together, then I glanced sideways, waiting for her to elaborate.
She chuckled again. “You totally have no idea, do you?”
I shook my head.
“This massive space you call your room is very minimalistic. So I will definitely have lots of room for my stuff.”
“You don’t like it?” I asked carefully.
“Oh no, don’t get me wrong. I love it! It’s so you. It’s just insane!” She moved to the wall of books.
I stayed put with my hands in my pockets, my brow furrowed, still uncertain if she meant it as a compliment or not.
She laughed again as she perused the titles of my books.
“What?” I snapped.
“Nothing. Like I said, so you! Even your books.” She then moved to the weapons wall.
I clenched my jaw, frustration threatening to get the best of me.
She looked back. “I can feel you,” she teased.
“Tell me already, if you like it or not,” I snapped.
She bellowed a full laugh, which annoyed me even more.
“You’re super cute when you’re frustrated.” She pulled my face to hers and kissed the frustration out of me. “I love it because it’s you. The room represents you. I like getting to know you better.”
“Fantastic.” I smiled. “Although, what do you have against my books?”
“I hate non-fiction.”
“What?” Her statement affronted me.
“Actually, this is one space I see we might have an issue.”
I looked at my wall of books and saw what she meant. Her room had the same wall of books but on a smaller scale. “There is plenty of room in the bedroom.”
She pursed her lips together and moved past my weapons: swords, daggers, bows, katanas, guns, and pistols that I had collected through my lifetime, in glass wall-mounted case, and in drawers. The opposite wall was plastered with maps. She raised her brow.
I shook my head. “I’ll tell you the story one day.”
The other side had a sitting area by the fireplace. She walked past that, then out of the door.
“Can we go into the main bedroom now?”
I gestured for her to proceed.
I had a king sleigh bed in the middle of the room, and a sitting area on the right, next to the balcony. “It’s nothing exciting, as you mentioned, it’s minimalist.” I shrugged.
She walked to the side table and picked up a picture of herself—one I took of her sitting on the patio, gazing out over the garden. She didn’t know I had taken it and looked at me in question. My face burned, and I shrugged.
She looked at the books on the side table and shook her head. “This room looks like a hotel. Aside from the side table, there’s nothing personal in it. You are definitely a soldier.” She looked in the closet and snorted. “I thought so; your clothes are color-coordinated and folded neatly. Nothing is out of place.” She walked out and plopped onto the bed. She kicked off her shoes, tucked her legs in, rested her chin on her hands, and eyed me.
“What?” I asked carefully.
“I dunno. Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
I raised my brow. “You’ve lost me.”
“Are you sure you are ready for me to move in? It’s a big step. We don’t really know each other that well. I’ll take over this space and make it half my own. You like structure, while I’m messy. This cleanliness makes me nervous.”
I laughed at her ridiculousness.
“Oh, you think I’m joking?” She got up and started jumping on the bed, crumpling the sheets before she proceeded to toss my books on the floor.
“How do you feel about the mess, Alec?” She raised an eyebrow.
I eyed the bed and the books on the floor, which I would normally be prompted to pick up and straighten, but seeing her sitting in the middle of the chaos meant that it didn’t bother me as it would have. I smirked and then shrugged. “It doesn’t bother me.”
“Are you sure? Can you picture clothes and books scattered all over your space? I’m not a messy person, but I am not a clean freak like you.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. That’s it! I narrowed my eyes and stalked her.
“Alec, what are you doing?” She got up and scooted to the head of the bed. With my quick reflexes, I caught her ankle and dragged her to the foot of the bed, as she shrieked in laughter. “Let go!” She struggled to get away, but I successfully pinned both arms on top of her head, my full weight on her so she could barely move. “Alec. Don’t you dare!” I grabbed both hands and pinned them above her head, then tickled her mercilessly. She laughed and squirmed and bucked unsuccessfully. “Do you give up?” I tickled her some more.
“Yes! Yes! I give up! Stop, please!”
I rolled to my side, chuckling. The rise and fall of her chest stirred my desires. I brushed the hair off her face. “I don’t care about the mess. I love that you’re here. I want this room to have life. As I said, I didn’t start living until I met you. I’m looking forward to sharing this room with you.”
She sobered up and cupped my face. Fuck! When she gave me that look, it crumbled away my resolve. I leaned down and kissed her, even if we shouldn’t start on something we couldn’t finish, especially now. Damn, who would have thought that I wouldn’t have any self-control?
I was rock hard in no time. Maybe sharing a room wasn’t such a great idea after all.
She tugged my shirt off. My desire overpowered the little voice in my head… No fucking self-control. Her soft skin was impossible to resist. I explored every inch of her, relieving her of her shirt, and I lightly traced her skin on her shoulders and dragged her bra strap down. I must taste her. If she feels this fucking good, then tasting her will be even better. My mouth traveled down her neck, then down her chest. I quickly discarded her bra and grabbed a handful of her breast. Her moans went straight to my cock, which made me want to hear it even more.
I sensed that my hands were driving her crazy, so I added my tongue to her other breast. She started writhing underneath me, and more moans escaped between her heavy breaths. My balls were fucking painful. I wanted to plunge my cock in between her legs. My hips thrusted forward, which felt fucking good—at this rate—I would find release. That would be bloody embarrassing, but it had been too damn long. I bet she was fucking dripping and ready for me. I pulled her pants, along with her panties, down and dipped my finger between her folds. Fuck me, she was soaking wet. I couldn’t help the moan that escaped my lips. I kept rubbing. I wanted to taste her. I placed a finger in my mouth. “You taste so fucking good.” The blush on her face was so fucking sexy. I eyed her body and thought I might come just from watching her wanton self on my bed. I could sense her energy, and so far, there was no intense build-up. She was learning to control. I rubbed her again, and this time, I dipped a finger inside of her. She sucked in a breath and clenched my finger. Fuck me! How would that feel if it was my cock? I started pumping and rubbing.
“Fuck, Alec! Yes!”
Is it too much if I add my mouth? I leaned forward and flicked my tongue. She bucked, combined with a surge of energy. Okay, too much. I got up and just kissed her without touching any other part of her. She grabbed me and flipped us so she was on top. She pulled my jeans down and made her way down with kisses. She kissed my inner thigh, teasing me, and I curled my fist in restraint. I wanted to fuck her brains out. When she licked the tip of my cock, I thrust forward. I wouldn’t take long. She slowly placed the head in her mouth and sucked. “Fuck, Gabby! That feels so fucking good.” She added her hand on my balls, and I dropped my head on the bed, savoring the feeling. I was ready. Too soon. “Come here, baby.”
I laid her on the bed and spread her legs as I teased my head at her entrance. “Do you think we can?” I asked.
She shrugged.
I rubbed my cock on her entrance and slowly teased my way in, feeling another fucking surge of energy. Fuck!
I backed off immediately and lay next to her. I should have stopped, but I couldn’t. I was at the point of no return. I grabbed her neck and kissed her. My hands made their way down her breasts, then inched their way between her legs. I slowly rubbed and dipped one finger, then another. She reached for my cock and started pumping. Fuck, if she continued doing that, I would finish off. My fingers thrust in and out of her as my thumb found her clit. She moved up and down as her breathing got shallow. She was close. I slowed down so I could match her. She rubbed harder and faster, and when I was ready, I sped up on her again. “Yes! Keep doing that.”
“Fuck, baby.” I thrust into her hand faster, as I found the release I had imagined since I laid eyes on her. I extracted some of the energy threatening to escape from her until she tightened on my finger, cried out my name, and convulsed in a puddle of her release.
I kissed her hard, happy that we’d been able to progress in our relationship, then pulled her up on the bed, under the sheets, and we fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Gabby
I had slept in, so when I entered the room, everyone was already almost done with breakfast. My eyes flicked briefly to Alec, who sat next to Mr. St Clair. I blushed and immediately looked at Vik and Tatia. A smirk played on Vik’s face as I sat next to Ti. Bastard knew what he was doing to me. I purposely didn’t look at him as I said good morning to everyone around the table.
“Good morning, Gabrielle,” Alec purred from his seat. He fucking purred. Who does that?
Vik and Ti exchanged glances, then eyed us both with wicked smiles.
“So, Gabby, how do you like Alec’s room?” Ti asked.
My face burned, so I hid behind a glass of orange juice, and shrugged, looking at my plate of omelet.
Vik sniggered.
“That good, huh?” Ti teased.
Everyone chuckled.
The heat on my face traveled to my ears.
Alec shook his head and said, “Are you ready to start her training today?”
I looked up in interest and listened to Vik and Alec discussing my usual training. I wanted to protest and tell them that I had progressed, but as soon as I caught Alec’s eyes, I started blushing again.
“You two remind me of Miriam and me when we first got together.” Mr. St Clair chuckled as he wiped his mouth with his napkin and pushed his seat to get up. He kissed my head on his way out.
Vik and Ti soon followed after. “Gabby, we will see you in the training room.”
I played with the food on my plate until I felt Alec’s breath on my ear. “Why can’t you look at me, Gabrielle?” Heat flooded me, and soon after, electricity surged in my skin, something I hadn’t felt in a while. “Hmm, I bet I could make you come from that electricity surging from your skin.” My breath hitched as he moved my hair to the side and kissed my neck. An unrestrained energy burst out of me and the table rattled. Alec stepped back abruptly, and my heart sank. Not again. “Hmm, perhaps you need to expel all this energy through training, and we shall continue this tonight?” I nodded with renewed hope.
“Last night was wonderful. I promise we will move forward, not backward from there.” He lightly kissed my lips.
“That would be awesome,” I whispered.
“Start training, and I will try to catch up with you after lunch. I have work to do with my father and the Regent.”
I kissed him one more time and then searched for Daemon. I found him and Celeste on the balcony. “How are you doing, Daemon?”
He shrugged. “Same. No change.”
“I’m training today. Do you want to join us?”
He eyed Celeste, who encouraged him. “That would be a great idea. I have work with the Regent, and keeping yourself occupied is best.”
“Sounds like I’m joining you,” Daemon said to me.
As we walked to the training room, Daemon looked around contemplatively.
“What is it?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to explain. A part of me is in disbelief that I’m here and have f
ree reign of the first Nephilim’s house, and the other part keeps thinking that I had seen all of these things before. There are moments when I know what I will find around the corner. It’s bugging me out.”
“Perhaps Elija’s memories are resurfacing. You did live here after all. Maybe being in a familiar environment is jogging your memory.”
“You think so? Did I really live here?”
“Yes, with Celeste. I don’t want to tell you who you were, but if I can clarify anything for you, I would be happy to do so.”
“Did you see all of my past?” We stopped in front of the door.
“Not other lives, just this current one, but yes. I did get to see all of Elija and Daemon’s past.”
He nodded with no bitterness, but with acceptance, and some relief that I knew his past. I smiled at him and pushed the door open.
Vik and Ti were not in the deathtrap like I expected. I heard some grunts and metal clashing, so I gestured for Daemon to follow me until we found them in the middle of crossing swords.
“Yield.” Ti grunted as she had two swords crossed close to Vik’s neck.
“Never—” Vik bit out as he leaned back and pushed her with his own sword.
“You know that move would never work if I were going for the kill. Admit it, I won.” Ti walked towards the weapons wall.
“Sounds like I win, since you’re giving up!” Vik challenged.
Ti grabbed some short sticks and chucked them at Vik. He easily dodged the first one with his sword, but the second one grazed his shoulder.
“Looks like I win since you’re hit,” Ti said.
Vik narrowed his eyes and stalked toward her.
This didn’t look good. “Hey, guys, we’re ready to train,” I called out.
They both looked at Damon and me, then looked at each other.
“Saved by the bell,” Ti mocked.
Vik raised an eyebrow, and before he could retaliate, I said, “So, Vik, where are we starting today?”