find any evidence to link him to anything. But they managed to arrest him on lesser charges. Did he…ever—”
Hurt me? Ben immediately shook his head. “Never. He made sure everyone kept their distance and told me to tell him if anyone ever bothered me or made me feel uncomfortable.”
Gabriel remained still. Staring. His mind obviously racing. The tension in his shoulders eased as he resumed his massage. “I’m glad you had someone watching over you.”
He carefully observed every tiny twitch of Gabriel’s muscles and shift in expression. It seemed as if he wanted to ask more, but he chose to remain silent, dropping the subject. “Now I get to ask you a question.”
Gabriel’s lips twitched and the dimple appeared. “Ask me anything.”
“You were in the service for a long time.” He paused for a moment, waiting for Gabriel’s confirmation. “Why did you leave?”
And there was that frown again. He hadn’t wanted to bring up a bad memory, but his curiosity always got the better of him.
“It got tough after a while.”
“What part?” The movement of his hands slowed, needing to ask but not really sure he wanted to know the answer.
That damn frown made another appearance. Gabriel’s lips thinned as he looked away and scowled. He blew out a deep breath and returned his gaze to Ben’s. “I knew I was doing a job, but it wears at you. The last mission…was especially tough. And I couldn’t shake what happened.” His scowl deepened. He shook his head as if trying to dispel a memory. “All the death and violence adds up. I lost a lot of friends. And I missed my family.” Gabriel swallowed heavily. “It’s a good thing I came back when I did. I got to spend time with my grandfather and Mom before they died.”
Gabriel stared off to the side, absently kneading Ben’s foot. His gaze was distant, almost lost, as if his mind had been transported back to a memory. Ben wondered why that last mission had stuck with Gabriel more than the others. But there were things Gabriel couldn’t reveal about his time in service.
Ben pulled his foot out of Gabriel’s hold, instantly drawing his attention. Gabriel’s focus was sharp, but he couldn’t disguise the worry screaming from his gaze. Ben wanted that smiling, teasing man with the manipulative dimple to return. “I want you,” he signed.
Three small words. That was all it took.
He fisted his hands at his side when those magical fingers slid up his legs, resisting the urge to touch Gabriel as he neared. Closing his eyes, his head fell back against the cool porcelain. Every warm kiss pressed to his neck and swipe of tongue had him on edge. His eyes sprung open as the water drained from the tub, chilling his skin.
Gabriel gripped his chin and pulled his face. Those brown eyes were intense and filled with heat and need…so much need. “If you don’t put your fucking hands on me, I’m going to lose my shit.”
Ben slung his arms around Gabriel’s neck and wrapped his legs around his waist. He gripped the wet hair at the back of Gabriel’s neck and pulled him close, slamming their mouths together, kissing him deeply as Gabriel rose from the tub, taking Ben with him.
Goose bumps sprouted across his skin when the cool air hit him, sending a shiver rippling through his system. A second later, Gabriel had him wrapped in a towel and sitting on the counter while he rubbed a second towel in Ben’s hair. He reached down and cupped Gabriel’s growing hard-on, teasing, tugging, and squeezing him just the way he knew Gabriel liked. His pulse spiked when he sensed Gabriel’s control slip. He liked the reckless side that took what he wanted, over and over again.
And tonight—especially tonight—he sensed Gabriel needed to lose himself just as much as Ben craved it. He leaned in and swirled his tongue around Gabriel’s nipple, first one, then the other, trapping each between his teeth in a teasing nibble before he moved on. He tightened his fist, pumping Gabriel as he pressed an open-mouthed kiss to the side of his neck, coaxing the greedy side of Gabriel to peek through.
The pulse thumping under his lips matched his own racing heartbeat.
He licked up Gabriel’s neck, savoring the groan vibrating against his tongue. Knowing he could weaken a man as powerful as Gabriel spiked his confidence and challenged him to be selfish. And right now, he wanted Gabriel—inside him, hovering over him, and enveloping him