And he was here now, snoring softly while Gabriel watched his tattooed chest rise and fall. In moments like this, it was difficult to fathom that the man sleeping in Gabriel’s bed was the same person who at night discussed murder of the four remaining cult members over dinner and cake. But the seal of Abaddon on his wrist made his identity clear.
Father John and Sister Beatrice were on site, and always available, Mrs. Benson lived in a property not far from St. John’s, but Officer Martinez was often on the move and his visits were irregular, which indicated that he was based somewhere farther away. In the past, Gabriel had been thankful over not having to interact with the person who’d sexually violated him during the ritual, and who’d remained a creep since, but the bastard’s unpredictable schedule might prove challenging.
There was also the question of the boy who was supposed to have been the final victim of the cycle of torture Gabriel had been subjected to. Six children had been separated for the ritual, and four were then taken away one by one. The last time Gabriel had seen Harry was when Sister Beatrice had come to fetch him. Once he’d returned from the hospital after the fake psychotic episode, Harry had been nowhere to be found. And why would the cultist monsters have spared him, and not the child who remained ignorant of the true purpose of their isolation? Harry should be somewhere out there, and Gabriel had been urging Abaddon to look into the whereabouts of this boy, but the issue hadn’t moved forward much.
After years of inaction, of being gaslighted and made ignorant about the world on purpose, Gabriel’s need to act was close to making him burst. He just needed a trigger. An opportunity. At least the research, watching people, making note of their schedules, made him feel as though they were moving forward with their plans, but impatience was getting the best of him, and every day, the rat poison at the back of the kitchen seemed more and more like the perfect addition to Father John’s dinner.
But there were so many things to distract him.
Gabriel kissed one of the strange tattoos on Abaddon’s forearm, wondering what it would be like if the eyes pictured over intertwining rings were real, had eyelids and lashes, and if he’d want to kiss them then. He would. He’d kiss every unnatural eyelid and look into pupils staring at him from Abaddon’s back because every part of his angel was perfect.
Abaddon stirred with a surprisingly human groan, and his toned body shifted under the covers, soon forming a slope Gabriel itched to kiss along.
Dark eyes that always watched him with so much tenderness and passion opened, and Abaddon rolled over, a lazy smile gracing his lips. “Creeping on me?”
Gabriel laughed and pressed his face against Abaddon's arm. “Only a little. Sometimes I’m angry I have to sleep at all because I’d rather have more awake time with you.”
Abaddon sighed but, after a moment’s pause, dove in and gave Gabriel a sweet close-mouthed kiss that sent a tingle of electricity to Gabriel’s balls. “Don’t you have the afternoon off? Maybe I can show you my little project later?”
Gabriel perked up and turned to his side to see his man’s face better. “It’s ready? I was starting to think the place doesn’t exist,” he teased.
Abaddon snorted in a way that made him sound like a piglet. He swept away his messy hair and raised his arm, prompting Gabriel to rest on his chest. “Oh, it definitely exists, but I was worried it might cause asthma even in those who never had any symptoms.”
Gabriel climbed on top of him to find his lover as hard as he was. “I can’t wait to see it. I’ll make you the banana cream pie today.”
Abaddon’s lips fell open and he gave an exaggerated moan. “Oh yeah, you know how to get a guy going!”
“That’s why you chose me. For the pies.” Gabriel kissed Abaddon’s inked neck, enjoying the scratch of stubble against his lips. “I’ve been helping Robin more with the regular cooking too, so who knows, maybe I’ll be making pot pies next.”
“My sweet boy, advancing in the world,” Abaddon whispered with a wide grin, and his hand went straight to Gabriel’s ribs, tickling him.
Gabriel laughed, and they tumbled in bed for a moment, until Gabriel managed to get a hold of Abaddon’s hands and pressed them down into the sheets. “I’ve definitely developed new skills in the past week.” How had it only been a week? He felt as if he’d known Abaddon for a lifetime.
Abaddon’s teeth pulled over his lip as his gaze focused on the lower half of Gabriel's face. Was he also remembering how greedily Gabriel had sucked him off last night? How he’d moaned, swallowing his cum?