Chapter 15

15

Gabriel's fingers dug into the door at Leah's back as his mouth moved over hers. When he'd let himself imagine kissing her, it was a slow seduction, a display of skill that leisurely built desire in shimmering waves.

In reality, he fell on her like a man half-starved.

Their mouths clashed, hungered. His body pulsed with need as Leah's lips parted and her tongue swept to his, gliding against him again, and again, until a desperate groan rumbled in his throat. He crowded her, stopping just before their bodies touched.

Hold back , he told himself, even as he dove for another taste, as addicted as a magic siphon. He may as well have been leeching power; his skin felt tight, fit to burst at the sensations carving through him.

Wood from the door dug under his fingernails as magic sought to escape, adding a slice of pain to the pleasure. Even that didn't stop him.

Her moan as he changed the angle of the kiss shot to his head, to his cock. He wanted to move against her, into her, trap her with his weight and taste her everywhere. Dizzy, he trembled against the barrage of need.

It was Leah who stopped, who gentled the storm. Her eyes were electric blue as she reached up, nipped his chin. The graze of teeth shot pleasure to his groin.

"Do you want to come in?" she panted against his skin, the words a spell of their own.

For one second, two, three, he was ready to forget the obstacles and just lose himself in her. With her.

But three seconds passed to four, then five. And he started thinking again.

"I can't." The words hurt his throat. "I can't." And for the first time in his life, he hated that he was a warlock. That he was a Goodnight with responsibilities. But he was.

She drew back, eyes big and questioning. And vulnerable.

He couldn't stand it.

"If I were not Gabriel Goodnight," he rasped, wishing he could tunnel a hand through her curls, knowing he was too close to the edge. "I would touch you. Taste you. Take you. Until we were both ruined for anyone else."

Her mouth, still damp from his kisses, parted. Her cheeks flushed.

He took in a shuddering breath. "But I am. And so, I cannot."

"Why?" The question was soft. Stupid.

"You know why."

The unsaid truth sat between them.

Leah got the stubborn pinch between her eyes. "Okay. Yes. I know why."

Internal alarms flicked on, blaring red, sirens wailing.

"I know that you're a—"

He acted quickly, dropping his head and pressing a firm kiss to her mouth to stop the words, to keep them from the air, the wind. Fear, and yes, it was fear, plucked at his heart. Someone could be listening. Could take her away.

She was not allowed to be hurt.

She kissed him back, a sumptuous meeting of mouths. He allowed himself one last taste, then another, mustering all his control so he could pull away. This time, he leaned his forehead against hers, closed his eyes. "Don't," he murmured. "Some words cannot be taken back."

They were quiet for a long moment, and then he gradually stepped away, until he no longer had the scent of coconut in his lungs.

She remained against the door, lips damp, eyes dark. Temptation in its purest form, an angel lured to sin.

Physically aching, he swallowed hard and dipped a shallow bow, reverting to his upbringing while his mind whirled. "Good night, Leah."

She said nothing and he forced himself to turn, to walk away. For the best. It was a mantra in his head, even as he tasted her on his lips. For the best.

"Gabe?"

His heart stopped along with his feet. He angled his head back.

She smiled at him, her bright, happy smile that did weird things to his chest. "If you weren't Gabriel Goodnight, I'd never have kissed you."

His mouth was dry. "Everyone always wants a Goodnight."

She shook her head. "But if you weren't Gabe , I wouldn't want to kiss you again."

Pleasure snaked through him. "You could do better," he said, softer than the night air.

"I know." Another beaming smile. "You're welcome."

She spun and opened her front door, disappearing through it before he'd processed her words.

And so, she missed the low laugh he couldn't stop, didn't see how he grinned foolishly up at the sky before turning on his heel and heading back home.

"Um, who was that ?"

At the sound of Peggy's voice, Leah froze in the act of peeking out the window. She hunched her shoulders and let the curtain fall back into place. "Nobody."

"Uh-huh. Well, you sure were getting friendly with nobody on the porch."

Leah sheepishly smiled as she looked at her roommate, who was chilling on the couch with Sylvie and Louie. Rosie and Delilah had already found their way to Leah, Rosie parking her butt on Leah's foot and Delilah sniffing her pant leg in suspicion, as if knowing exactly what her mistress had been getting up to outside.

"Okay," Leah allowed, bending to stroke Rosie's soft head and Delilah's wriggling body. " That was Gabriel. Goodnight."

"So much for disliking him." Amusement coated the words.

"I don't. Dislike him." Leah headed for the big stuffed armchair and plopped down, accepting Rosie's weight as the sprocker sprawled against her legs. "He can be annoying, but—"

"—so can you?"

"For example." Leah slumped, pressing jumpy fingers to her lap before giving in and tracing her lips. Her heart was still humming, practically a vibration at this point. "It probably wasn't a good idea." But she couldn't regret it.

Peggy snorted. "Screw that and tell me about the kiss."

"How did you even know we were there?"

"You must have pushed the doorbell when you leaned back against the door. I checked the camera and saw enough."

Laughter bubbled up. "Sorry."

"I'm just glad I checked first instead of just answering it."

"Oh, God." Leah covered her face with her hands as her shoulders shook. She breathed out, dropped her hands, still grinning. "Yeah, that would've been awkward."

Sylvie stretched in Peggy's lap, needling her nails into her thin sleep pants. Her roommate winced and shifted the cat. "C'mon, you haven't had a decent date in ages. Spill. What made you take the plunge?"

She hadn't, Leah thought, still processing that it had been Gabriel who'd made the first move, Gabriel who'd backed her into that door and bracketed her body, never lifting his hands to touch her. As if he teetered on an edge.

It went down as the hottest kiss of her life.

But all she said was, "Let's just say they don't give out names like ‘Goodnight' for nothing."

"Tongue?"

"Pegs."

"You get what vicariously means, right?"

"I get that if you're that hard up, it means you need to go out on the hunt."

"You going to come with, or are you and Goodnight now a thing?"

The balloon popped, reality leaking in. Leah's smile faded. "I don't think so. He stopped."

"And I thank him for it, since old Mrs. Malloy across the street would've given us an earful about public lewdness."

Leah winced. She'd forgotten her nosy neighbor. "Oh, God. Well, tomorrow's problem." She waved it away. "No, I mean, he didn't want to come in."

Peggy held up a hand, prompting Sylvie to butt her head against it. "He said no to sex?"

"I didn't say sex, but it was implied, and yeah, he said he couldn't."

"He couldn't?" Peggy's expression took on a pained slant. "You mean...medically?"

" No ," Leah choked. Delilah huffed at the lack of attention and trotted over to Peggy. "Can confirm, no problems in that area."

"Damn shame if he had. So, is he looking to just be friends?"

"Maybe?" Although she had to choose her words, Leah admitted it was nice being able to talk about Gabriel and know Peggy wasn't going to go shrieking into the night. Leah having feelings for the Warlock of Contempt? The horror. "He's...only here temporarily. Proving something to his family's company."

"Sounds Shakespearean. Where is this company?"

"New Orleans."

"Okay, makes a little more sense. Folks go wild down there, I think it's the heat and the mysticism. Voodoo and witches." She rolled her eyes and Leah tried not to give anything away. "So, you're thinking he doesn't want to get attached?"

Leah imagined what Gabriel would say to that, amused even as part of her flinched. "Goodnights don't get attached."

"Sounds pompous."

"Oh, he is. And rude, blunt, dictatorial, stubborn..."

"Sounds hot."

"You don't know the half of it." But she sighed, slumping, picking at her jeans. "He pretends not to care, but I think he might care too much. And he hates that because...well, he'd rather be alone than have to care or be cared about. Or at least I think that's what it is." It echoed within her, a self-truth she didn't want to acknowledge. Because deep down she knew she kept people close until they threatened to make her care too much. And—"I—I like him," she admitted, disturbed. "More than I should."

"Why?"

"He makes me feel...not in control. Like life won't be the same when he's gone."

"He might not go."

He would. No amount of charm and vivaciousness in the world could keep him. "He will," she confirmed, hollow. "Maybe it's better to know."

"All right." Peggy clapped her hands, sat forward, eyes direct. "Say he will. What happens if you both acknowledge that but indulge in a little fun first?"

The idea taunted her, a slide of silk across exposed skin. The side of her that hated to be vulnerable shied away, but the other part, the part that craved Gabriel— Gabe —couldn't stand the idea of not seeing this through. A few weeks of passion before saying goodbye. An affair with guidelines built in.

She shouldn't even be entertaining the idea. Everyone would lose their shit. But then, it was nobody's business but theirs. Her risk to take. On every level.

Could she be brave enough, was the question.

"Ugh." Leah pulled on her own hair, frustrated with herself. "We got any ice cream left?"

"Whose house do you think this is?"

"Right."

Before Leah hefted herself up, Peggy asked, "How was the kiss?"

"Hormones go kaboom."

"That's what I thought."

The next couple of weeks were busy and Gabriel was grateful for it. Offering more hours to the shelter to cover Leah's need for extra time to arrange the gala, he managed it so they rarely spent more than an hour together—and always with company.

Not that the kiss was forgotten. He woke from dreams of soft skin, hot friction, hard and aching, and nothing he did could dredge her from his system. She was in there, in his blood, his need for her increasing despite spending less time with her.

Through the shelter grapevine, he'd heard that arrangements for the dinner had progressed well. She and Emmaline had hooked sponsors, had sent out invites to Chicago's best and brightest, and had secured an exquisite ballroom for their just shy of five hundred guests. He'd also been doing the rounds, dropping the Goodnight name when needed and using his limited magic to speed up the booking process. In this, he'd accepted the cost gladly. The shelter needed the money and he was only there for a short time; it needed to happen soon. And soon it was—next week.

In lieu of Leah's company, he'd been tugged along for a few "men's nights out" with Mitch and Frankie. He surprised himself by enjoying the time. He liked learning about Mitch's extensive knowledge of Native American history, Frankie's obsession with every Motown hit and the stories behind the label. He liked them , and he looked forward to their "hang outs" more and more.

And of course, there was Chuck and his stubborn refusal to be trained to keep Gabriel busy. He'd somewhat mastered sit, though four times out of ten, he'd roll onto his back instead. Gabriel couldn't figure out why that charmed him.

Now he stood and watched Chuck nose about the yard and lift his leg. He'd called Chuck's name thirty seconds ago, and while the Labrador was on his way over, he'd taken the scenic route.

"Gabriel."

The unexpected voice had dread sinking claws into his heart. Society mask on, Gabriel took a discreet, steadying breath before angling his head toward his uncle's PA. "Will."

Short in stature, studious by nature, Will was a bespectacled brunet, always in a suit tailored to his skinny frame. He'd begun working with August a decade ago, fresh from school, and had unswerving loyalty to both him and the company. Gabriel had never minded him. Now he itched under the skin at Will's mere presence.

At least Leah wasn't at the shelter.

"Good to see you." Will cast him an easy smile. "It hasn't been the same without you around."

Gabriel noticed Will hadn't said he was missed. "Is everything well at the company?"

"Very much so. All special projects are proceeding as your uncle wishes and Marketing are already pulling plans together for the hundredth anniversary of Goodnight's founding for next year."

A stab of pain caught Gabriel unaware. He murmured something noncommittal and turned his attention to the dog.

Chuck's head had come up, a predator scenting new prey. With a joyful bark, he rushed toward the newcomer.

Will froze him in place with one hastily thrown-up hand. "Holy Goddess!"

Gabriel resisted the small laugh that tried to escape. He nudged Will over, breaking the holding spell. "Chuck," he ordered. " No. "

Chuck's legs pinwheeled as he tried to change direction toward his original target and rammed straight into Gabriel. It took several seconds to sort out limbs and paws, another few to convince Chuck not to try again.

Will was watching them both, wide-eyed, when Chuck finally sat with a small whine. "You speak dog now?"

"More like I'm teaching him to speak human." Gabriel set a calming hand on the vibrating dog, soothed.

"Are you...taking him to be your familiar?"

"No." He didn't feel the instant connection that witches and familiars felt on sight. Not that he needed the big dumb dog tearing up the family manor, shredding the four-hundred-year-old couch, knocking over lamps that had been there his whole life.

"So, you just spend time with him?" Will's voice was curious, startled.

Gabriel withdrew his hand, feeling too seen. "Part of the job."

Will, still eyeing Chuck as though he were a grizzly bear, nodded. "And how are you finding interacting with humans?"

Gabriel curled his toes in his shoes and wished for the armor of his three-piece suit. "Fine."

"Your uncle indicated you've been enjoying their company more."

There was no accusation in the tone, but Gabriel stood straighter. "As expected, I have made an effort to socialize with humans, yes."

"And how is that?"

"Fine."

Will finally slid him a look. "Many fine s."

"This is an aggravating situation for me."

"Being around humans."

"Being watched," Gabriel corrected. "Judged. I have stuck to the terms of the contract and dislike these added amendments."

"I understand." Will's hair moved faintly in the breeze and he shuddered, waving a hand and creating a warm cloud of air around them.

Gabriel envied the amount of magic Will had used in the last five minutes. He appreciated magic more now, had learned to cope without relying on it, but Goddess, he missed it.

"It's an intrusion," Will continued, not missing a beat, "but I'll barely be here. I'll be as discreet as possible. Only a few questions."

Gabriel's pulse skipped. "Questions?"

"To prove you've been making an effort. I find it ridiculous but..." Will shrugged. "Don't worry, I'm not canvassing everyone. A select few only. Emmaline Bluewater, Tia Hightower. The third from the bar." A notepad poofed into Will's hand and he flipped a page, reading off it. "Leah Turner."

The only outward show of Gabriel's dismay was the tremble in the hands he linked behind him. "There is no need to talk to Leah."

"I think her the most important. A human witness to prove you've gone above and beyond." Will cocked his head. "Curious that a human who knows nothing of our world should own a third of the bar." He obviously didn't consider that anyone would have told Leah; not surprising for someone who adhered so strictly to rules and order in his own life.

Chuck responded to the tension riding Gabriel by pawing at his leg. He received an absent stroke as Gabriel weighed every word. "Family money. She likes her projects."

"Hmm." Will seemed to lose interest, asking a few more questions about Gabriel's experiences the last few weeks.

When they were done, he considered Gabriel. "The board should applaud you for these efforts. Existing with only scraps of magic, forced to work in a job you're overqualified for, wearing a mask. Knowing the people around you couldn't handle the real you or our world. I bet you can't wait to leave them all behind."

The words hit hard, unexpectedly so. Gabriel managed to murmur something noncommittal, unsure why the truth should so surprise him. Will was right, after all. As much as he liked Mitch, Frankie, Leah, none of them could exist in his real world. They didn't know the real him. And in the end, he would say goodbye. Return to being alone. Just as he liked it.

As Will cheerfully said he'd be in touch and left, Gabriel lowered himself to the ground and sat there in the yard for a moment longer, Chuck's head resting loyally on his knee.