Page 28 of A Simple Mistake (Deadly Mistakes #1)

TWENTY-EIGHT

Liam

Present

I really could stay like this all day and night—Gabriel on my lap, my arms protectively wrapped around him. And he’s not even trying to pretend to be doing it for me. I can feel the way the tension leaves his body as he relaxes and sinks into me. It’s enough to make me forget about everything else.

In this moment, only one thing in the whole world matters, and it’s him. Everything else that pushed me forward, that kept me moving doesn’t even matter. I want to touch him, taste him… but I know I have to respect his boundaries.

Gabriel lifts his head and his eyes catch mine, holding them, before mine flick down to his lips that part slightly. They’re hypnotizing and I want them so fucking badly.

I lean forward to take them for myself, but when I do, he hesitates, so I just smile, prepared to wait my entire lifetime for him. I can grow old and wither away and I’ll still wait for him. If reincarnation turns out to be a thing, I’ll wait for him in the next life too. Maybe I’ll be worthy of him then.

His hand reaches out, fingers sinking into my hair. His grip tightens around the strands as his beautiful brown eyes hold me captive. I’m not quite sure what his plan is, and if it’s simply ripping my hair out… I mean, if he’d prefer me bald then I’d let him pluck it all out.

There’s a conflicted look on his face as his fingers tighten.

“You were going to kiss me, weren’t you?” he asks, voice so soft it’s almost a whisper.

“I would love to, but I’m a good boy. I’ll be good.”

“What if I don’t want you to be?”

I grin at him. “Don’t tempt me, Gabriel. I’m a weak man when it comes to you.”

He watches me closely before he pulls me forward, his lips clashing against mine. There’s enough force that I’m actually not sure if he’s planning on taking me out instead of kissing me.

“I can’t do this,” he mumbles but his lips find mine again, telling me that he definitely can do this.

I draw him in close, softening the kiss as my lips press gently against his, wanting to savor every moment. I want to taste him, and even though he’s still considering the removal of my hair, I love every second of it. I love the way he rocks forward, his hips brushing against mine, and the way his lips move against mine.

“I shouldn’t,” he mutters, and it’s such a weak declaration when he’s pressing into me in the same breath.

“We all do things we shouldn’t,” I say. “But you’re free to go.”

“Would you really let me go?” he asks, his dark eyes watching mine.

“I would do anything for you,” I reply honestly. “I would love you from the shadows if you asked me to. I would let you love another if it was your choice as long as you know that I will always be here for you. I would do anything for you.”

I draw him in for another kiss, and his lips part enough that I can feel the brush of his tongue. As my tongue tangles with his, I slide a hand under his ass, lifting him up.

Gabriel parts from the kiss as his hands finally have mercy on my hair and slip around my neck. “Maybe we shouldn’t have sex after a man we’ve been hunting just left the very house we’re in after threatening you.”

“What do you mean? It was just a bit of foreplay,” I say.

“I like my foreplay with a lot less danger. We need to stay focused.”

“How could I possibly be focused on anything but you? The whole world can be left to burn if I have you safely by my side. We’d have plenty of time to figure out all that other nonsense,” I assure him. “But if you want to ruin my life by making me wait, I fully understand.”

“Ah yes. ‘Ruin your life.’ You seem a bit dramatic for a man willing to wait forever for me.”

I start lowering him to the floor as he gives me a look of surprise.

“Why are you putting me on the floor?”

“You said you’d rather lie on the floor than be in my arms, did you not?”

Gabriel tightens his hold on me. “I said no such thing.”

“Hmm… you said we need to be focused, and the only way I can focus on anything is if you’re not anywhere I can see you. I was probably going to stash you in the closet or behind the couch, but even then, I’m not sure I could focus. I would probably sit outside the closet door waiting for you.”

He gives me a look, as though I could possibly be the ridiculous one. “Lay me down somewhere comfortable.”

“Fine, fine,” I say as I carry him over to the plush cat bed he got for Lucy Fur—a bed she hasn’t once touched and even seems to look at in disgust.

“Liam!”

“If it’s good enough for Lucy Fur, it’s good enough for you,” I assure him.

Gabriel refuses to let go, like the bed itself is made of acid, much like Lucy Fur did the one time I made the grave error of trying to place her in it. “Liam?”

“Yes, my darling?”

“I want you to fuck me.”

“Oh? That’s really all you had to say.”

I can’t keep my grin at bay as I whisk him off to the bedroom. I lower him onto the bed, but he doesn’t let me pull away long enough to look down at him so I can observe my prize. His lips find mine again as my hands slide under his shirt, brushing over bare skin.

“This is really stupid, doing this right now,” he mumbles, but he sure doesn’t let me go. I break from his lips as I push his shirt up and off him. My lips find his neck, working their way down as my eyes flick up to find him staring at me, watching me closely.

He’s finally mine. All mine. I’d started to wonder if I was ever going to be able to make him mine and mine alone.

My lips wander down Gabriel’s stomach, and I love the way he shivers when my fingers dip beneath the waistband of his pants. I kiss and suck his skin, pleased that it’s all mine as I slide the button on his pants free.

Slowly, I draw the fabric off his hips as my fingers trail down his ass, freeing it from underwear and slacks. He’s so beautiful and precious and perfect.

Once I’ve worked them over his feet, I drop them onto the ground before pushing his bare left leg up. I kiss his inner thigh as my right hand travels over his cock before trailing over his balls to reach his ass.

“Why am I the only one naked? Every time I reach for you, you get farther and farther away,” he complains.

“Because it’s like Christmas morning. I want to selfishly unwrap my package first,” I say as I kiss his thigh again.

“You’re going to pick what you want over what I want?” he asks teasingly.

I hesitate as I realize how greedy I’m being. I lower my body down so I can feel his cock pressed against my waist while I press my lips against his, eager to please. “Of course not. I apologize. What would you like?”

Gabriel catches the edge of my shirt. “This off.”

“Anything else?”

“Your pants and underwear off.”

“Should I keep my socks on?”

He laughs. “If that’s what you want.”

“My feet do get a bit cold.”

I love the way he grins. “I feel like I’m playing with a viper… a viper who clearly wants to wear his socks.”

“Is that a euphemism for my dick?” I ask. “I promise it won’t bite.”

“No, that’s me saying that I really shouldn’t be playing with you at all because you’re a very dangerous thing to play with.”

“Everyone is a bit dangerous. Look at Michaels! He’s dangerously boring. And Penny? She’s dangerously optimistic.”

“Forget I said dangerous. I should have known that ridiculous is the only description that fits you.”

“I will be anything for you,” I say as he undoes the button of my pants. He pushes them down off my hips but leaves my underwear in place. It’s like he wants to torture me a little longer, especially when his fingers trace over the outline of my cock. His finger glides up my length, the thin fabric the only thing between us, yet it seems like it’s still far too much.

I reach past him to the bedside table where I grab a condom and lube, and as I draw back, he sits up and climbs onto my lap. My lips find his as I pop open the lube and try to squeeze some onto my hand while unable to see what I’m doing because I can’t spare a second to look away from him. When my wet fingers trail between his ass cheeks, he rocks his hips forward. His cock brushes against my stomach as I rub my finger over his hole.

“You’re all mine.”

“You’re a bit possessive,” he says.

“Do you not like it?” I ask.

“I never said that.”

“You know I would never hurt you. I’d never pressure you to do something you don’t want to do.”

“I know… and it’s why I’ve allowed you to pull me in this deep. I feel like I’m drowning in life… in indecision… and everything about you should cause me to sink, but instead, you’re the only thing keeping my head above water.”

“I’ll never let you drown,” I assure him.

“Never is a long time.”

“And not nearly long enough,” I say. Gabriel kisses me and I don’t know if it’s to stop me from talking because he looks a bit uncertain… but also excited. It’s like a part of him is still convinced that he should be wary of me, but it’s being overpowered by everything else.

“You are bad for me, but I can’t turn away from you,” he murmurs. “How can you be so bad and so perfect at the same time?”

“You don’t have to give me everything, no matter how much I want it. I just don’t want you to push me away.”

“I think it’s too late for that,” he says. “I tried so hard… I’ve been in love with you for a long time… probably before you even had feelings for me. And I really tried hard to back away from those feelings, but I can’t… I couldn’t. No matter how much I know I shouldn’t feel this way… it’s too late now.”

Gabriel kisses me again as his words sink in.

“You’re so delightful and perfect.”

“I’m really not,” he says, but he’s grinning.

My finger traces back over his hole before I press a finger against him, pushing it past the tight muscle.

A murmur of something passes his lips as his fingers dip down beneath my underwear. He draws my cock out and presses it against his while my finger sinks deeper inside him.

For so long, I’ve dreamed of this. I’ve ached for this.

And now… finally he’s mine.

I press a second finger against him, pushing deep inside while his hand runs down our cocks. He’s so perfect. So special. So lovely.

Gabriel tears open the condom and presses it against my tip before rolling it down my length. He rubs my cock with lube as my fingers move inside of him, and when I press just right, it makes him arch into me.

He lies back, urging me down on top of him as I pull my fingers free from his body. I rid myself of my underwear and lean over him as his legs wrap around me, pulling me in. He’s so fucking perfect.

Gabriel’s eyes drop down to my cock as I pull his hips up and settle between his legs. “It’s been a bit…” he mutters. “I tried to find someone to make me forget you, but it didn’t take long before I just gave up.”

“I’ll be gentle.”

“You don’t have to be,” he says. “You seem to think I’m quite breakable, but I’m not.”

“I never want to be the one to cause you pain.”

“You’re causing me pain right now by making me wait. I’m going to be old by the time you’re done staring at me.”

“It’s a lot to take in.”

Gabriel laughs as he shakes his head. “Will you fuck me already?”

“You sure do know how to get your way, don’t you, darling?”

“What’s with the ‘darling’?”

“Alright. Don’t you, my love ? Is that better?”

“Just fuck me already, darling ,” he says, making me laugh.

The head of my cock presses against his hole. As I slowly push in, I can feel his tight ring accepting me while a soft moan passes his lips. I slide my hand up his dick as I push myself inside him before pulling back just a little and thrusting in deeper. His hand digs into my arm as I drive myself into him, his body wrapping tightly around me while my hand strokes his cock.

This is nothing like my dreams. He’s even more beautiful than I ever imagined as he tilts his head back and moans again.

He pulls me in for a kiss as I thrust into him, his lips and tongue enrapturing.

“Fuck… Liam, feels good,” Gabriel murmurs against me as he tucks his head against my neck.

I groan, overwhelmed by sensation. I want to tell him how happy I am that he’s mine, but I’m also smart enough to know that it’d be best to not come across too overbearing before we’re even a couple.

Instead, I kiss him and fuck him and hold him until he’s writhing from pleasure. “There… fuck,” he moans, and I can feel him tighten around my cock.

“You’re so beautiful,” I say as I kiss him again. His breath is coming quicker, and I can tell I’m reaching my own edge with each thrust into him. My hand slides down his cock, squeezing the base slightly before drawing up and rubbing the head. His fingers dig into the sheets as he moans. My hand quickens on his cock, bringing him closer to orgasm as I thrust into him.

Bliss ripples through me as my balls tighten, and he squeezes down on me when he comes. My hips rock into him as I moan, coming deep inside of him. And as the pleasure drifts from my body, I find that I don’t want to pull out of him. I just want to hold him against me and never let go.

“You’re going to have to let go at some point or it’s going to be really awkward doing our daily activities,” Gabriel says.

“Can you read minds?”

“Weirdly, you’re the most cryptic person I’ve ever met, but sometimes, I feel like I can read your mind.”

I pull out of him and take the condom off before tossing it in the trash without getting out of bed. And even though he judged me, Gabriel also doesn’t seem to want to let me go as he slides up onto my body and settles in.

“We can’t stay in bed. We have to keep going,” he mumbles while keeping me pinned down on my back with his body on top.

“Definitely. I’m getting up as we speak,” I say as I cup an ass cheek in one hand and lock the other behind his back while he closes his eyes. “Are we dating?”

“I don’t know.”

“Nooooo, Gabriel, you’re killing me.”

“Yeah? Well, you tortured me with your godawful secret for a year; it’s my turn to torture you.”

“Please don’t torture me for another year,” I say.

“You act like I wasn’t the one super tortured dealing with a secret like… like that .”

“I know nothing about that which you speaketh of.”

“Of course not,” he mutters as my fingers dip down between his ass cheeks and he murmurs in pleasure. “We need to get up, take a shower, and get our asses back out there.”

“Yep, yep. Or we could just pretend we don’t know anything. We’ll move to London and get married.”

“Where are we getting the money for all of this?”

“I’m very rich, Gabriel. I will buy you anything you want. This measly house is just so I can blend in. When you look rich, people pay more attention to you. I want to look boring and uninteresting. So uninteresting.”

“Oh yeah, I forgot you bought a diner just on a whim.”

“Right? Who the fuck knows what’s happening in that diner right now. The employees could have stolen everything and run off, and I don’t even care.”

“You… are something, alright…”

“Something wonderful, hopefully?”

“Just something,” Gabriel says stubbornly. He’s so magically adorable. “I swear I could say the shittiest thing about you, and you’d still be delighted.”

“Ooh, I very much would. Let me hear it. Give me your best.”

“Okay… I will! You are… narcissistic and… evil.”

“Made me shiver. More. Say more.”

“I’m trying but it’s hard when you just love everything I say.”

I squeeze him tightly to me, beaming the entire time. Honestly, nothing could be more delightful than my sweet Gabriel trying to be sassy. He could be mean and sassy, and I’d still be thrilled that he’s paying attention to me.

“I swear I could just go… piss in your shoes right now and you’d still be happy.”

“I’d even wear them without wash?—”

Gabriel clamps his hand over my mouth. “You are prohibited from saying what you were going to say.”

I just laugh, honestly knowing his reaction is why I said such a thing.

“Okay… I really am going to get up. I’m going to shower, and then we’re… going to do something to stop this.”

“We’re going to stake out Tobias,” I decide.

“Okay.”

I grudgingly sit up, but when Gabriel lets me pick him up and carry him off to the bathroom, I decide that maybe there’s nothing grudging about this.

“You can put me down.”

“The floor is lava,” I announce as I hold him while I turn the shower on. Only when the water’s hot do I gently set him inside. I grab a washcloth and squeeze some soap onto it before I start washing him, thrilled by this new activity. Honestly, I couldn’t have picked a more fun one.

“I can wash myself.”

“But why would you when I’m here? Is the washcloth soft enough?”

“Are you going to make it softer if I say no?”

“I could shave Lucy Fur and make you a washcloth from her fur.”

“Do not touch the floof.”

“Fine, fine,” I agree as I wash him until he’s perfectly clean before deciding that I should wash him again for good measure. Gabriel doesn’t seem to care. He just leans against me and makes a blissful murmur every so often.

“I could probably stand here all day, but we really do need to get out,” he says as he finally pulls back from me.

I growl, displeased by this idea. “You’re still dirty.”

“Yeah? I thought maybe you’d enjoy knowing that your touches are still on me. And maybe next time your come will be inside me,” he says, and with that, he grabs a towel and slips out.

“Fucking hell, Gabriel. You can’t do that to me,” I cry.

He just laughs and enjoys his torture.

I quickly get out of the shower and rush back to my room while halfheartedly drying off so I can find him some clothes of mine to stuff him into. He ignores me and grabs what he wants, and I couldn’t care less because he looks magical in anything and everything… and definitely nothing.

Pleased as can be, I usher him toward the front door, deciding that today might be the best day ever.

“You look far too happy for someone who has been threatened by a killer so recently,” he says.

“Don’t judge me, Gabriel. I don’t judge you for your awful taste in cats.”

“Yeah? Weirdly, I feel like most people would judge me for my taste in men over my taste in cats.”

Then I watch as he scoops up his cat, stuffs her in a collar, and heads for the door.

“What are you doing with that thing?”

“You think she’s safe in a house that was broken into?”

“No one wants her. If they took her, they’d bring her back,” I assure him.

Gabriel raises an eyebrow that tells me I should just smile and be happy. So I smile and usher him and the cat out to the car.

He buckles his seat belt, sets his cat on his lap, and gives me a look.

That just makes me smile even more as I pull out my phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Inspired by your beautiful idea involving the cat GPS tracker, I put a tracker in the binding of the album Tobias took, so I know just where our lovely killer is,” I say as I flash him the phone. “I should have brought some popcorn.”

“That’s… such a good idea.”

“Thank you. Thank you,” I reply.

Following the GPS tracker, we drive to the location and find that he’s off being lazy at his father’s, and my joy of the afternoon is immediately diminished by the realization that he’s going to play it safe for far too long.

“I want to figure out if he’s going somewhere before we move on,” I say. “I’m pretty confident he’s going to make sure something happens while he’s in his father’s protective embrace, but what and when is the question. Do they have confirmation the hand they received belonged to Jeffers?”

“You think it could be someone else’s?” Gabriel asks. “If it’s not hers… no one else is missing that we know of.”

“Right. But I think you’re correct… I think that there’s another person.”

“You think the person could be Jeffers?” he asks skeptically.

“I think it could be anyone but you,” I decide. “The whole world is suspicious.”

“Of course it is. I’m shooting a message off to the team to contact us the second they have something. While we wait… you implied you do what you do because… of a reason? Maybe? You said the first time you killed someone was when you were sixteen.”

“First time for a planned kill. I killed someone when I was fifteen,” I admit. “That time was a little less planned.”

“And… is that the reason you began killing?”

I watch Gabriel for a moment, honestly not really wanting to get into it, but I guess I owe him this much. He is willing to overlook a few… tiny things. “You want a reason to feel okay about what I do, and I can’t guarantee that if I hadn’t gone through trauma when I was younger that I’d be any different.”

“I haven’t run from you yet… you don’t have to be worried that your trauma might not be the excuse I need or something. I… I’m dealing, okay? I just… I was hoping to know more about it, but if you’re unable to tell me, I understand.”

“It’s okay. I can talk about it. I… clearly didn’t try to block it out of my memory. I got quite obsessed with it. I’ll preface by saying that my parents were rather well off. My father owned a chain of restaurants, and my mother owned one of those little shops where people sold local goods, so they were both quite busy, but they were good parents. They were there for me when I needed them to be, and when they couldn’t be, they bought me anything I wanted.”