“That’s what happens when someone highly talented gets his hands on a training dummy.”
Gabriel laughed so hard he got tears in his eyes. “‘Training dummy’? Really? I wish I could stay in bed longer.” He groaned, but then Cloud jumped onto the bed with a loud meow, and before Gabriel even knew what happened, a thick arm cut through the air. The cat leaped off the bed like a cannonball, but Abaddon’s elbow knocked him onto the floor as well.
Gabriel stroked his aching hip. “I thought you were getting used to him,” he complained.
Abaddon, who still had his hands raised, as if fear had made his muscles too stiff to move, gave a raspy sigh. “He just does this without any warning!”
He shook his head as if the sudden encounter with a fluffy white cat had left him with emotional scarring, and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out for Gabriel, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, but he’s a cat, he’s not gonna warn you.” Gabriel crawled right back up into Abaddon’s arms. “Is Hell filled with cats or something that he freaks you out so much?”
Abaddon’s shoulders hunched as he watched Cloud lick imaginary dirt off his shoulder. “I don’t know. I just can’t be around little critters like him.”
Gabriel straddled his lap and kissed his cheek. “You’re safe with me, I will protect you from the evil lord of fluff.” As he wrapped his arms around Abaddon’s neck, it occurred to him that until a week ago, his life had been devoid of human touch, yet here he was, indulging in the warmth of a man who not only accepted but sought his company. The pleasure of being together grounded him in the moment and wouldn't let his mind fly too far off into ruminating about the sad nature of most of his existence.
“That’s very chivalrous of you. Here, let me give you a medal,” Abaddon chuckled before giving Gabriel’s nipple a gentle pinch.
“I almost wish Watson wasn’t dead, so I wasn’t as needed in the kitchen and could get another reward from you.” Gabriel pressed his face against Abaddon’s fragrant hair.
The angel hummed and threaded his fingers through Gabriel’s hair, pulling his head back. “That can be arranged later. And they might soon get a replacement for the cook anyway.”
Leaning into Abaddon’s strength always made Gabriel’s insides flutter. “It’s been very calm about the doctor and Watson being gone. I’m so relieved, because I worried that if the police got involved, they might decide it’s tied to me, since I spent so much time with them both. But I’ve heard the janitor say that the doctor left to see his family in Texas, and that someone even told him that Watson accompanied Rogers. Could we really get away with this?”
“Apparently,” Abaddon whispered, pulling Gabriel into his lap. “It’s God’s will. He will aid me in my purpose while you do your chores, avoiding suspicion.”
Gabriel groaned. “I’m working alongside Sister Beatrice today. I hate her so much. Father John at least pretends to be civil with me, but she’s devil incarnate. I bet she’s unhappy I’m an adult and she can’t spank me anymore.”
Abaddon’s face turned into stone, his eyes focusing on Gabriel’s forehead. He really did look like the Angel of Vengeance when he got like this, and while it was obvious he’d never hurt Gabriel, the severity of his gaze was almost inhuman.
“She is an evil woman. A hard life taught her nothing. But she won’t be bothering you much longer.”
Gabriel twirled a strand on Abaddon’s hair around his finger. “I was thinking… Maybe there could be an accident in the garden. Something I could arrange. We then wouldn’t have to worry about getting rid of her later.”
Abaddon frowned, and the gaze, which had seemed so distant moments ago, pointed its razor-sharp edge to Gabriel. “‘An accident’?”
Gabriel wouldn’t back down. “Why do I have to bear her company after what she did to me? I…” He cleared his throat, because even now, with what he knew about the past, he found it hard to say such a thing out loud. “I want to… hurt her.”
Abaddon watched him in near-perfect silence, but after his throat made a swallowing sound the third time, he gave a quick shake of his head. “No.”
Gabriel frowned. “Why not? I’m sure we could come up with a good plan.”
Abaddon exhaled through his nose and pushed Gabriel off him before rising from the bed. “That isn’t your role. The Lord entrusted the task to me. You are to remain untouched by this cruelty.”
Gabriel stiffened and crossed his arms on his chest. “Too fucking late for being ‘untouched’,” he grumbled with a growing scowl.
“You know I’d give anything to revert time. But it’s not in my power.” Abaddon’s hair was full of tangles, and he stood in front of the mirror, picking at the dark brown knots as if nothing happened. Gabriel’s eyes wandered past the mane, down his lover’s back, to his round buttocks and thick thighs, and it occurred to him that Abaddon might be showing off on purpose, to distract Gabriel as if he were a little boy, easily baited by candy.