“And I suppose that’s part of your ‘earthly comforts?’” I snap.
“Hell yes.”
I gasp, and he just grins and reaches back for it. He looks me right in the eye and takes a swig from the bottle as my jaw drops once again.
“Gabriel—”
“Want some?”
I bristle. “I’m eighteen.”
His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t budge. “And?”
“And I can’t drink! Nor do I want to! And furthermore, Canaan is a dry town!” I snap.
He grins. “Gonna arrest me?”
“No, but I’m going to report you.”
He sighs. “Delilah?”
“What,” I grumble.
“I really think you need to relax.”
I swallow, and my face reddens. “I’m perfectly relaxed.”
“No, you’re like a little rabid drug-sniffing narc dog right now.”
“Excuse me?” I hiss.
He grins. “Come on, just take a dip. It’s extremely relaxing.”
I bark a laugh, and Gabriel grins.
“What?”
“What?” I frown. “I—” I blush. “You really think it’s appropriate for a preacher to take naked hot tub dips in a baptism tub with his parishioners?”
His wicked smile grows wider. “No, Delilah, I don’t. You’re right.”
“Thank you.”
“Only certain of his parishioners.”
My face burns hotly, and he uncrosses his arms. He starts to walk towards me, and my heart thumps heavily in my chest. Part of me screams to turn and run back to the truck. Another part of me wants to scream. But the biggest part of me stays rooted to the spot. It’s the wicked, corrupted part of me that he’s put his claws into that has me standing right there, panting and shivering as he prowls closer to me.
Gabriel stops right in front of me, looking down into my eyes with his piercing blue ones almost glowing in the dim light of the backstage area.
“Let’s drop the bullshit, shall we?” he growls.
I gasp at his language, but he just grins.
“You don’t think very highly of me, do you?”
“I—” I swallow. “It is not for me to judge, Gabriel. Only God—”
“Delilah,” he growls. “Tell me what you think of me.”