by Faith Gibson
“I do want you here. Can I get you a glass?” She took the bottle of offered wine and inspected the label, wondering if it was a brand Deacon had stashed in his wine room.
“I’d prefer a beer, if you have it.”
“One beer, coming up.” Sabrina put the wine on the counter and grabbed a bottle of ale out of the refrigerator, handing it over to the colorful young man. Trevor followed her outside and sat down next to her, popping the cap.
“Ahh, that’s good,” he said after taking a long pull. “I love what Deacon’s done with his yard. He’s very domesticated with all the flowers. I love the hummingbirds, too.” Several swooped around the feeders, diving in and out before chasing each other off. “I’m sort of surprised they show up. Most critters won’t come around the Gargoyles. Except for Tamian. He’s like the animal whisperer or something. We’re neighbors, if you didn’t know. Not like next door or anything, but next acre? Next property?” Trevor pointed to the trees, and said, “About one hundred acres that way. You can either walk through the woods, or Deacon could fly you.”
“Fly me?”
“Oh, yes. It’s exhilarating. You have to try it sometime.”
“I haven’t seen Deacon fly. I’ve only seen his wings a couple times. And here I thought riding on his bike was going to be an experience. Anyway, tell me about yourself.” Sabrina lifted her glass and took a sip, watching Trevor over the rim.
“Let’s see. I think you met my brother, Travis. I’m his clone. He had a heart condition when he was born, and I was created in case he needed a spare one. You already know I work in the morgue, and I’m studying to become a doctor so I can take over for Dante one day. I figure it’ll take me about ten years since I’m in no hurry, but now that I’m mated to a Goyle, time really isn’t the same as it was before. That still blows my mind. That whole living hundreds of years thing. Anyway, our start was rough. Has Deacon told you about Alistair?”
“Some of it. We really haven’t talked about much,” Sabrina admitted, blushing.
“No, I get that. The bond is intense. It was one reason our start was so rough. I had this need to be around Jasper, but there was so much of his past getting in the way.” Trevor went on to tell Sabrina how both Craig and Theron, two of Jasper’s exes, came into their lives, and how Trevor hadn’t known about Gargoyles until Dante explained it to him while he was on the outs with Jasper. The story had Sabrina enraptured if not mortified. She thought having a stalker was bad, but her experience was nothing compared to what Trevor had been through. Trevor spent the next half hour talking about Alistair and what he’d put the other mates through, and how the Goyles had flown to Greece and battled the male who’d made their lives hell.
“Everyone thought with Alistair out of the picture our lives would find some sense of normalcy, but now that Drago’s here in New Atlanta, we’re still looking over our shoulders. October can’t get here soon enough.”
“Why’s that?”
“Jasper and I are getting married. Then we’re going on our honeymoon, and I’m ready to get away from all this for a while. Don’t get me wrong. I love the Clan, and I’d do anything for any one of them, but things have been intense for a while. I’m looking to get away and relax without surprises popping up at every corner. I know the others feel the same way. With Kaya about ready to push out Sebastian, we just want our little part of the world to be a safe place. What about you? You and Deacon gonna add little Goyles to the mix anytime soon?”
Sabrina smiled at Trevor’s bluntness. Instead of being annoying, it was refreshing. “No. I’m not going to say never, but I doubt it will be anytime soon, if ever. Things are already moving too quickly. I mean, yes, I have seen Deacon in Jonathan’s room for a while now, but we only actually met this week. We were supposed to go on our first date last night, and now we’re mated. If anyone had told me I’d be in a committed relationship and moving into his home after less than a week, I’d have sent them to see a colleague of mine who’s a psychiatrist. Hell, I still think it’s crazy, but I couldn’t deny the pull to be with him.”
“Believe me, I understand. Not to make you feel bad, but I do think yours is the fastest mating out of all the rest. Most everyone had some type of ordeal to get through to be together, though. I’m not saying that to make you feel bad or worse or... I think you should count yourself lucky you got to where you are so quickly. It means you didn’t go through all the crap the rest of us did. As bad as my story is, some of the others are worse. You’ll get to hear them Sunday when we go to the manor for family day.”
“I would say I’m looking forward to it, but if what happened to them is worse, I’m not so sure I want them to tell me. Yes, I’m curious, but I don’t want any of them to relive that pain.”
“You’re a peach, and I’m glad you’re one of us.” Their phones pinged at nearly the same time. “Ah, the boys must have saved the day. I’ll see myself out so you can get ready to welcome Deacon home.” Trevor stood then took Sabrina’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Until Sunday, My Lady.”
Sabrina grinned at Trevor’s antics as she opened her text.
Deacon: On my way. Wait for me on the back patio
Sabrina replied simply: Okay
She leaned back in the chair with her wine, crossing her legs. Why would he want her to wait out there? She had just taken a sip when something large floated down, landing in the yard. When she realized what it was, Sabrina dropped her glass, wine splashing her ankle. Thankfully, the glass didn’t break. She jumped to her feet and ran into the yard where her Gargoyle was waiting, wings spread wide, looking like something out of a fantasy. Yeah, her fantasy.
DRAGO THREW THE glass against the wall, crystal shards spraying in all directions as the whiskey stained the paint. He ignored Hagen’s footsteps. “I don’t care about the kid. Find the godsdamned doctor!” he shouted at Trexon before disconnecting. Hagen didn’t look at Drago as he began cleaning up the glass. “Leave it. I made the mess; I’ll clean it up,” Drago said, surprising himself. Usually he was all for delegating tasks to those he felt were lesser, but with Hagen, he genuinely appreciated the human. The more time he spent with his assistant, the more he liked him. Drago imagined their relationship to be what he would have had with Audrey, minus the sex.
“Why don’t you fix yourself another drink and tell me what happened while I clean this up?” Hagen continued picking up the glass.
“Somehow, the Stone Society found out where the boy was. Craven assured me no one could find him, but they did. Now, Craven is gone, and I want him returned to me.”
“Craven or the boy?”
“Craven. He has my money, but I don’t have the serum. Since we decided to abort the Reborn program, the child is no longer necessary.”
“And if he talks?”
“It doesn’t matter. With two of the Reborn already missing, it’s more than likely the Stone Society already knows Craven is the one helping me. And that is another reason I need him found. If they get their hands on him before I do, not only will I have to find another doctor capable and willing to help with the Unholy, but all the money I paid him will be for nothing.”
“What can I do?” Hagen asked as he dumped the glass into the garbage can.
“Get into Craven’s accounts and figure out where he’s going.” And when he was found, Drago would make him wish he’d never run.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
SABRINA ROLLED HER eyes when Deacon asked her for the tenth time if she was sure about leaving her furniture. They were packing up the rest of the things she wanted to take with her, and when he realized how little it was, he frowned.
“But this is your stuff, Pretty Lady.”
“Stuff being the operative word, Handsome Male.” Deacon huffed out a laugh at her endearment. “What? Would you rather I call you baby? Stud-muffin? Wait, what’s your middle name?”
“I don’t have one. I had a hard enough time choosing a first and last name when I recreated myself.”
&nbs
p; “What do you mean?” Sabrina leaned against the arm of the sofa, giving Deacon her undivided attention.
“As I told you, Gargoyles sometimes need to move around and create new identities because we never age. I kept my birth name until I moved to the States, and then I chose a more modern name.”
“What is your birth name?”
“Oba Abara.” Deacon sat down on the sofa and pulled Sabrina onto his lap.
“Oba... I like it. What does it mean?”
“King. My father wanted to name me Prince, but my mother forbade it. I thanked her for that almost every day of my young life.” Deacon grinned, leaning in for a kiss.
Sabrina wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Seeing Deacon with his shirt off and wings spread out behind him had lit a fire in her the night before. They hadn’t made it inside before she divested him of his jeans and gave him a blowjob in the backyard. Deacon then carried her inside to the kitchen counter where he made her come on his fingers with his mouth torturing her clit. After that, he made love to her on the sofa, then took her hard against the wall. She rode him as he sat on the stairs, and they made love again when they finally made it to the bed. She’d woken him up around three a.m. with another blowjob, and he woke her at nine by taking her from behind while spooning.
When he told her to get a shower while he cooked breakfast, she convinced him conserving water was the responsible thing to do. Considering how long they spent getting each other off, she had no doubt they used more water than if they had showered separately. Afterward, they cooked breakfast together and ate it on the patio.
“There’s so much I don’t know about you,” Sabrina said against Deacon’s mouth.
He pulled back to look into her eyes. “Are you having doubts? I know this was quick, but—”
Sabrina cut him off with a kiss. “No. No doubts. I was merely stating a fact. Like I don’t know your birthday. Or your favorite music when you’re alone. Whether you like nuts on your ice cream sundae. Your favorite movie. I know we have all the time in the world to learn about one another, but you have to admit, this was probably the fastest mating in the history of matings.”
“My birthday is June first. I listen to all types of music depending on my mood, but more often than not, I prefer jazz. I like extra walnuts on a double chocolate sundae, but no cherries. My favorite movie changes all the time, because there are so many good ones. As far as the fastest mating, my parents have us beat by a long shot. I knew you were my mate the first time I saw you in Jonathan’s room, and that was months ago. My parents met on a Saturday and were mated the next day. They only waited because my father was mourning his father’s passing. My parents met while my father was tending to his parents’ estate, and my mother refused to complete the bond that day stating it would be disrespectful.”
“If you knew I was your mate, why did you wait?”
Deacon hugged her tighter and ducked his head into the space between her neck and shoulder. “I didn’t think I was good enough for you.”
“Thankfully, you got your head out of your spectacular ass.”
Deacon jerked his head back, grinning. “You think my ass is spectacular?”
“Meh.” Sabrina smirked and tapped his nose. “Let’s get the rest of this stuff packed up so we can get home. I have a surprise for you.”
“I like surprises.”
“See? Something else I learned about you.”
They packed what she wanted to keep and put it in the truck. That morning in bed between bouts of love making, Sabrina asked what Deacon thought about her keeping her house in case Jerrick wanted to come back to New Atlanta at some point. He thought it was a wonderful idea. If Jerrick decided he didn’t want to come back, they could sell it then. Deacon admitted he had paid the mortgage off, but he did it when he was balls-deep and she couldn’t think straight. Sabrina brought the topic back up during breakfast, and it was then Deacon admitted how much money he had. Sabrina had nearly choked on the bagel she was swallowing at the time. When he made sure she didn’t actually need the Heimlich, he told her if she ever wanted to quit her job and stay home, he wouldn’t be opposed.
Sabrina held his hand, smiling, but she told him truthfully, “I appreciate that, but I like my job. What I do is important to me, as is the hospital. I want the chief of staff position if it’s offered to me.”
“Then you should take it. I only want you to be happy, Pretty Lady.”
Deacon made Sabrina happy, and she told him as much. She had to admit she was thankful for the mate bond. Without it, she might not have given him a chance because of her past. When they arrived home, Deacon unloaded the few boxes, putting them in one of the spare bedrooms for Sabrina to go through later. While he was doing that, she went to their closet and pulled out the helmet and boots she had hidden. She changed clothes into something appropriate for riding, slid her feet into the boots, and found Deacon in the kitchen drinking a glass of water.
She slid the helmet on her head without fastening the strap, since she didn’t know how, and said, “Ta-da. Surprise.”
Deacon’s eyes darkened, and after putting the glass in the sink, he strode the short distance to her. “Oh, Pretty Lady. That is sexy.”
“I have a jacket, too, but it’s too hot for it now,” she said with her hands splayed on his chest.
Fingering the strap, Deacon said, “Not if we go for a midnight ride.”
“Well, it’s only two. What should we do until then?”
Deacon removed the helmet, setting it on the island, and picked her up, tossing her over his shoulder. Sabrina laughed, smacking his ass as he carried her up the stairs. “Spectacular,” she mumbled.
DEACON THANKED THE fates about once an hour for bringing Sabrina into his life. His mate was perfect. Her outer beauty was outshone by the light from within. When he first met her, he thought her to be abrasive, but he learned that was her defense mechanism. He had given her the option of quitting her job, but she’d declined. What she did mattered, and he couldn’t be prouder.
Their day together had been one of the best Deacon could remember. On the way to pack up her old house, they had stopped by Dante’s to check on Remy and Rain. The child was doing well considering what he had been through. It helped that Connor, although younger, took Rain under his wing and offered his friendship. Frey had brought Amelia to play with them, adding another friend to the mix. Remy was only supposed to be in New Atlanta temporarily, but Deacon had a feeling the male might make the move east after getting the California prison set up. Remy had only been in California a few months after moving there from France. He had been lost after losing his mate and son, but now that he had Rain back in his life, Remy had something he hadn’t felt in a while – hope. After Rain told his father what happened in Australia, Remy asked Julian to do some digging into his mate’s death. Deacon and the others were ready if and when Remy confronted his mate’s brother.
After making love several times the night before, Deacon told Sabrina about rescuing the child. He didn’t omit having to fight the other Gargoyles. He never wanted to lie to her or keep things from her. He wanted her to always be prepared for whatever might happen. Sabrina shared that Trevor came by to keep her company while Deacon and Jasper had been doing their Gargoyle duties. Deacon appreciated Trevor for taking the time to visit Sabrina and bring her into the mate fold. Sophia and the others had done the same for Trevor when he first mated with Jasper. The mates were as loyal and fierce of each other as they were with their Gargoyles. Sabrina was strong, but according to her, she’d never had a solid group of friends she spent any time with. Deacon knew that was a thing of the past. He couldn’t wait to see her flourish with the help of the others.
Deacon never would have taken Sabrina for the adventurous type, so seeing her with a helmet and boots had definitely been a surprise. She looked cute standing in the kitchen with the strap hanging down. When he told her it was sexy, it hadn’t been the helmet he was referring to. It had been the f
act that she’d taken it upon herself to go shopping for something that would make him happy. In all the years he’d been riding, he had never had a female on his bike. It was one of many firsts he looked forward to sharing with his mate.
Deacon had never been the type to experiment with a female. He had sex to sate a need, but his mate brought out the beast. Literally. When they shed their clothes, Sabrina didn’t hold back. Deacon hadn’t been with anyone who put his needs first. It wasn’t that she tried to dominate their lovemaking, but she didn’t allow him to do all the pleasuring. When they reached the bedroom, they didn’t waste time when removing their clothes. The need to be one was too great to slowly strip. Deacon took her hard and fast, and after that, they explored each other’s body. Soft caresses were mixed with teasing strokes. Chaste kisses turned into licks and nips down her neck to her breasts. He loved Sabrina’s breasts. Her nipples were sensitive, and each time he put his mouth to them, she arched her back, begging for more.
He gave her more.
She gave him everything.
Sabrina was a generous lover. By the moans and sexy words she unleashed, as well as the wetness between her legs, Deacon didn’t have to use his Gargoyle senses to determine whether or not she was enjoying herself. The heat in her eyes as she wrapped her lips around his cock let him know she liked sucking him. When he warned her he was close to coming, she didn’t shy away from doubling her efforts to make him come down her throat. The taste of his release on her tongue when she kissed him afterward made Deacon want to tie her to the bed and never let her go. When he told her as much, she asked if he had any rope, and he nearly came again from her tempting words.
Sated for the time being, they showered together, and after, they cooked together, moving around the kitchen as if they’d done it hundreds of times before. As was becoming habit, they dined on the patio, enjoying the peacefulness of Deacon’s property. Their property. They talked about Sabrina’s siblings, and Deacon didn’t miss the longing in her voice to see Jasmine and Terrence. He suggested visiting Jerrick in New Orleans and asking the others to join them there. He wanted Sabrina to be happy in all aspects of her life, and after talking to her, he knew that was the one thing missing, whether she admitted it or not.
