Page 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The next day after breakfast, Gabriel went straight to his art room, switched on the fluorescent light above, and began preparing his space.

He first sketched his subject on the canvas before squeezing different paint colors onto a palette. Then, after putting on his smock and picking out his brushes, he began painting.

Viktor was in his office, so it gave Gabriel ample time to enjoy the new art supplies Viktor had gifted him with. The smooth strokes of acrylic against canvas soothed him, and he was surrounded by a perfect sensory mix of wet paints, papers, and pencils.

Gabriel didn’t know how long he’d spent in there, creating. He’d had a light lunch and resumed painting again immediately after he was finished eating.

Sometime later, he rinsed his paintbrushes in a glass jar of water—watching dark swirls taint the clear liquid—and placed them, wooden handles pointing up, on the rack to dry.

He’d spent the majority of the day in his art room, and although the basement only had a small rectangular window at the top of the wall close to the ceiling, he could tell by the shifting of colors in the sky that it was nearing evening.

Gabriel stepped back to observe the canvas he’d been working on, still propped up on the easel. His eyes traced the black acrylic lines and shapes that made up a face, then turned his attention to the blue details in the center. Since the painting was dry, Gabriel grabbed the large cloth from the couch and used it to cover the canvas atop the easel.

The door opened behind him and Gabriel turned around to see that it was Viktor dressed in blue jeans, a white T-shirt that sat snug against his muscular chest, and a black jacket over the top. He glanced at the cloth draping the canvas, then looked at Gabriel. “What’s this?”

“Just something I was working on.” Gabriel walked to Viktor and stood before him. He looked up into his curious blue eyes, the color reminiscent of the shade of acrylic he had used to paint with.

Viktor lifted his hand, and although Gabriel would have flinched if he’d done it weeks ago, he stood still and let Viktor gently brush dark strands of hair away from his eyes. His hair had gotten a little longer, barely brushing above his collarbone, but the length didn’t bother him. He actually liked it this way.

“Go get ready,” Viktor said.

Gabriel’s eyebrows drew up. “Get ready? For what?”

“I’m taking you out.”

Gabriel felt himself perk up. He hadn’t gone anywhere in an entire month , and now Viktor was finally taking him out somewhere? He couldn’t hold back his grin. “Okay,” he said before hurrying past Viktor and making his way to the master bedroom so he could get changed.

Viktor stood by the front door and waited. All the while, he couldn’t wipe the sight of Gabriel’s smile from his mind. He had made the boy happy with the art room and their private dinner the night before, and this seemed to make him even more so. Now he was taking Gabriel out, and he couldn’t help but acknowledge that the boy was doing something to change him.

Gabriel had changed him. He’d made Viktor care deeply about someone again after the murder of his sister. He’d opened up a part of him that he’d closed off since Katya’s death. Viktor wanted to tell himself he was just tired of being cooped up in the house all the time as he worked, but deep down, he knew it was more than that. They were, as Viktor saw it, going on a second date, and this time it was going to be out of the house. Viktor couldn’t help but acknowledge that he desired to spend more time with Gabriel, especially after being in his office handling business for the entire day.

Viktor wanted to tell himself that this wasn’t anything serious, that Gabriel was his toy and he’d be nothing more, but the gnawing feeling inside him told him that wasn’t true. Gabriel was appealing to him. He was physically attractive, and they had sexual compatibility. He respected Gabriel’s inclination for creativity, a trait he felt fondly towards as it reminded him of his sister in a good way. But it was more than just looks and interests, there was also an emotional component to all of this. A type of obsession that strengthened the longer he had Gabriel in his life.

Could he love Gabriel? Could he open his heart even when he knew there was a risk he’d face heartbreak again if he were to lose another person that he loved? Viktor didn’t want to bear that same pain again. There was a part of him that wanted to hold off, to pull away from Gabriel before he got too close. But deep inside, he enjoyed the feeling of having someone important in his life again. He wanted to love again, even when he was afraid to lose Gabriel because of his work in the criminal underworld.

Socked footsteps padded toward him, and Gabriel appeared with a big smile on his face. Viktor stared. He was so used to seeing the gruff, cold faces of the hardened men he worked with, and seeing Gabriel’s smile was enough to clear his conflicted thoughts and feelings. It gave him a sense of contentment.

“I’m ready,” Gabriel said as he stood before him. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt, faded jeans, and white sneakers. Pink lightly dusted his cheeks, and his dark hair waved and flicked out the ends. His excitement was cute, Viktor had to admit.

Nodding, Viktor turned and opened the front door, letting Gabriel go first before he followed him out, shutting and locking the door behind himself. One of Viktor’s men, who was their driver and bodyguard for the night, waited for them with the silver sedan parked out the front a few steps away from the porch.

Walking to the vehicle, Viktor opened the door to the back seat and looked at Gabriel, who stood still for a second before he got in. Viktor then slid in beside him and shut the door. Gabriel sat on the other side of the car, leaving the middle seat empty. In his spot by the door, Viktor occasionally glanced at Gabriel, who was quietly gazing out the window on his side as the car moved.

An hour later, they arrived in the city and the guard parked the sedan. Once they were all out of the car, Viktor walked with Gabriel by his side down a path lit with warm yellow fairy lights and stalls on either side of them selling food. Different aromas surrounded them, and the cool breeze blew against his skin, and he watched as it fluttered Gabriel’s hair.

The sun was close to setting, and after deciding to have burgers with fried chips on the side, they sat at an outdoor table and ate, watching as the sun dipped over the horizon, and listening as the dark water rippled nearby.

“I didn’t even know this place existed,” Gabriel said, holding his burger in both hands as he glanced around at his surroundings. “And I literally grew up in New York.”

“It’s a big city,” Viktor said. “Do you like it here?”

“Yeah,” Gabriel said with a smile. “And this burger is so good. I didn’t know what I was missing.” He took another bite of it and chewed.

Viktor smiled before he took a bite of his own. After swallowing, he said, “They have really good ice cream here too.”

Gabriel’s eyes seemed to light up, and a big smile spread across his lips. Viktor couldn’t look away, but then again, he didn’t want to.

“Should we have some after this?” Viktor asked.

“Yes please. I love ice cream.”

When they finished eating their dinner, Viktor led Gabriel to an open stand nearby with glittering lights dancing around the red and white striped awning.

Gabriel gazed into the clear glass displaying all the different flavors inside, and Viktor couldn’t stop watching him. He observed his profile, his straight nose and high cheekbones, and grew intrigued by Gabriel’s excitement for something as simple as ice cream. He was almost like a kid, and considering the age gap between them, he almost was one in Viktor’s eyes. The more he stared at Gabriel, the more his curiosity rose.

Heaviness filled his chest. He felt content, warm, and as though he was in very good company when he was with Gabriel. He didn’t want anyone to hurt this boy, or to take him from him. At first, Viktor had viewed Gabriel as a possession, a toy. Now, he saw him as an individual, a person he could keep as a lover, who he could protect, could love.

The only person he had truly loved and cared about was his little sister. When they were children, their single mother had offloaded them to their grandparents, but some years later they passed from old age, and Viktor and Katya had only each other. Sasha had always been a good friend of his, and Viktor cared about him too, in the way someone did for their brother.

Gabriel was different. He was someone Viktor had never had before, and he was beginning to form an attachment to the boy. He’d gotten used to Gabriel living with him, eating with him, and sleeping with him, and now that Viktor had taken him out, he saw the loyalty, excitement, and innocence inside him, and it only made him more attached.

Maybe this could work. Maybe it was worth the risk to have Gabriel in his life, to actually allow himself to fall for him. He may have lost his little sister, but he’d do everything to protect Gabriel and ensure no one could take him away from him.

Gabriel glanced up at him and they made eye contact, their gazes lingering on each other for a moment. Gabriel blinked twice, then a closed-mouth smile appeared on his face again. “I know what flavor I want. Strawberry.”

Viktor nodded, finding it harder to contain his desire for Gabriel. He watched him for a second longer before turning to the young woman working behind the counter. “One strawberry and one vanilla.”

Smiling, the woman nodded, soon handing over two cones. Viktor gave Gabriel his, then paid for them both before taking his own cone.

They started walking again, his bodyguard in tow a few steps behind them, giving them privacy, ann Now and again he glanced at Gabriel, who stayed by his side the entire time as they strolled by the water. The lights illuminated the surrounding area in hues of blue, yellow, and red. Families with children and other couples walked by. It was a calm and cool night, and it was clear from Gabriel’s expression—his smile and eyes—that he was happy.

Gabriel’s pink tongue flicked out as he licked the light pink ice cream before swiping his tongue over his full lips that had become puffy from the cold. Viktor enjoyed his own scoop as sparkling lights from nearby restaurants and shops danced in the distance, but his attention remained entirely on Gabriel as though he was entranced by him. Gabriel was the only person who truly mattered here, the only one he was interested in. Everything else was just a backdrop for him.

“Should we head back?” Viktor asked. By now they’d finished their ice creams and had strolled long enough. Gabriel nodded, so Viktor took his hand into his own as they walked back in the direction of the sedan. When they got to the car, Viktor opened the door to the back seat, and Gabriel got in first before he joined him and shut the door. Once his bodyguard was in the driver’s seat, the engine started and the car peeled out from its parking spot.

For the first few minutes into the drive, there was only silence other than for the purr of the engine and the wheels rolling on the road. Viktor watched the front of the vehicle for a while before he felt something pressing against his side. He glanced down to see Gabriel’s smaller, lithe body snuggled up to him.

Gabriel rested his head against Viktor’s shoulder and gazed up at him. His dark curls flicked out adorably, his pupils looked bigger from the low light, and his full pink lips still appeared slightly swollen from the cold. He then leaned in and kissed Viktor on the cheek before relaxing against him again.

Wrapping an arm around Gabriel’s waist, Viktor held him and gazed down at him, still feeling the effects of the warm kiss. It wasn’t grand or intense, but for some reason he couldn’t quell the fluttering feeling in his chest. He enjoyed watching Gabriel, so he decided to do that for as long as he wanted, to his heart’s content, for the duration of the ride back home.

By the time the car rolled to a stop at the front of his house, Gabriel was sleeping beside him. Viktor slowly pulled away and got out of the vehicle before leaning in and picking Gabriel up in his arms. As he walked up the porch steps, Gabriel snuggled into his chest, grasping his jacket in one hand as Viktor carried him inside.

The house was silent and dark. Shutting and locking the door behind him with one hand, Viktor walked through the foyer and flicked on the hallway light, before stepping into his bedroom where he gently laid Gabriel down on the mattress. The bedroom was dark, their only source of light coming from the hallway and streaming in through the open door.

With lidded eyes, Gabriel looked up at him and whispered, “Viktor...”

Viktor sat on the side of the bed beside Gabriel and rested his hand on the other side of his body as he gazed down at him.

“Tonight was amazing,” Gabriel said with a small, sleepy smile. “I mean it, Viktor. Thank you.”

Something sparked deep inside Viktor, like a light in the darkness, and he leaned down to capture Gabriel’s lips with his own.

Gabriel immediately wrapped his arms around him and kissed back.

After a few moments of bliss, Viktor pulled his lips away and sat up, making Gabriel whine.

“Go to sleep,” Viktor murmured.

Gabriel nodded, licked his lips, then grabbed the bottom of his shirt. Viktor helped him take it off and did the same with his jeans, shoes, and socks. Once Gabriel was in nothing but his underwear, he slipped under the covers, turned on his side, and closed his eyes.

For a short while, Viktor stayed sitting on the edge of the bed beside Gabriel, watching as he slept.