Page 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Having Viktor’s warm, wet lips on his was bliss.

With his eyes closed and his body relaxed, Gabriel melted into the kiss, not wanting it to end, and when they separated, he almost whined in complaint. Instead, he licked his lips and watched as Viktor cut off the water, opened the clear glass door, and then stepped out of the shower, droplets running down the length of his muscular back and over his ass.

Viktor really was a gorgeous man. He was hard and rugged, years older and experienced. His tenderness after they’d had sex struck Gabriel the most, and it gave him an image of what they’d be like as lovers. Maybe they already were.

Gabriel’s chest fluttered, and he felt warm and fuzzy all over as he remembered the past few days. Viktor had treated him so well, and Gabriel knew he wasn’t just imagining things. Viktor had made an effort to understand and accept him, and he even cared about him. He really was starting to believe that Viktor loved him, and Gabriel was starting to open himself up to the possibility that he’d been wrong all this time. He was deserving of love. He was lovable, despite what his father and past hookups made him believe.

Following Viktor out of the shower, Gabriel took a towel from the rack and wrapped it around himself. Viktor did the same, and they walked into the connecting bedroom, where Gabriel dried his body and walked to the drawer to pick out his clothing.

A sudden tingling sensation in the crook of his neck made him gasp, then giggle when he realized it was Viktor’s lips brushing against his skin. He glanced over his shoulder to see Viktor behind him, a closed-mouth smile on his lips.

As Gabriel looked at him, he admired the facial hair growing on Viktor’s strong jaw and chin. Giving in to the urge, he leaned forward to capture his lips in a brief kiss. Pulling away, Gabriel smiled and looked forward before taking out a clean pair of underwear and putting them on.

He dressed in a long-sleeved top and a pair of cozy sweatpants, and glanced at Viktor who now wore a T-shirt and pants. Gabriel then dried his hair with the towel and hung it in the bathroom before returning to the bedroom.

Viktor was sitting on the end of the bed, his feet planted on the floor, and he was watching him. “Come here,” he said in a low voice.

Blushing, Gabriel went to him, and when he was close enough, Viktor pulled him onto his lap and wrapped an arm around his waist as he held him close. Gabriel was sore and tired, but being in Viktor’s arms was soothing, and he relaxed against him with a smile.

They stayed that way for a while, quiet in each other’s company.

Gabriel looked up at him and cupped his cheek, feeling the prickly hair on Viktor’s face rub against his palm. His facial hair covered both sides of his jaw, chin, and upper lip. He had gotten used to seeing Viktor with stubble only, but now that he was growing it out, Gabriel loved the way it looked on him.

“It suits you,” he said.

“You like it?”

Gabriel nodded.

“Then I won’t shave it off for you.”

Gabriel laughed and maneuvered his body so he was now straddling Viktor and facing him. He draped his arms around his shoulders and watched him for a moment.

“Viktor . . .” Gabriel said.

“Hm?”

“You know... I used to be afraid of you, and now I... I really like you. It’s strange how life works sometimes, isn’t it?”

Viktor watched him intently, and his hand wandered up to gently play with his hair. Gabriel leaned into it, smiling as the caress of fingers soothed him even more.

When Gabriel had slept with guys in the past, he’d always dreaded the inevitable moment they’d quickly lose interest in him and would want to move on to the next person, never once considering the possibility of something more developing between them.

But now it was different. He didn’t feel dread when he was with Viktor. Viktor wasn’t like his previous hookups, he’d never be like that. Gabriel was falling for him, and he didn’t want to catch himself.

“Would it sound bad if I said I’m glad that you kidnapped me?” Gabriel asked.

“You’re a funny boy, Gabriel. But I don’t regret taking you and making you mine.”

And to think Viktor was initially planning to kill him. Gabriel shook the thought away as quickly as it came. He instead let his emotions and desires control his actions, and he closed his eyes and crashed his lips on Viktor’s, sighing as he kissed him back deeply.

At the dining table, Gabriel sat with Viktor and ate. Sasha hadn’t joined them, and every now and again their gazes lingered on each other.

After dinner, their night followed the same routine as it had many times before, with them relaxing on the sofa, the TV on and all the lights except for one switched off. Gabriel lay with his head on Viktor’s lap and closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of his strong muscular body and focusing on the way Viktor held him, his thumb caressing his waist.

As sleepiness crept up on him, Gabriel sat up and yawned. “I’m going to bed.”

Viktor nodded, and Gabriel kissed his cheek before he got up and left the living room, making his way down the hall and to the master bedroom, where he removed his shirt and pants and got under the covers in nothing but his underwear.

It wasn’t long before Viktor joined him in bed, and Gabriel snuggled up to him, resting his head on his warm, broad chest. He felt safe in Viktor’s arms and knew no one could hurt him here.

The events that took place hours prior played in Gabriel’s mind, and he was still very much satisfied and sheepish from the outcome of their mind-blowing sex. There was no doubt in Gabriel’s mind that soon enough he’d crave more of it.

But now, all he wanted was to sleep, and so he let himself drift into warm darkness.

Gabriel fluttered open his eyes. It was morning, and Viktor was in bed, sleeping on his back beside him.

Lying on his side, Gabriel watched him for a while. He then snuggled into Viktor, feeling as his arm loosely wrapped around him. Yawning, he rested his head on Viktor’s warm chest and closed his eyes.

After a while, Viktor started stirring, and Gabriel looked up at him and saw that Viktor had opened his eyes.

“Morning,” Gabriel said.

Viktor pulled him on top of him and gazed up at him. “Good morning, Gabriel,” he said, his voice still rough from waking.

Gabriel smiled and remained lying on top of Viktor as he wrapped both arms around him, preventing him from moving. At this angle, Gabriel could clearly feel Viktor’s morning wood, and he teasingly rolled his hips and rubbed against it.

Viktor lowered his hand and squeezed Gabriel’s ass cheek.

“H-hey!” Gabriel said as he squirmed in Viktor’s hold.

Viktor smirked at him and Gabriel bit his lower lip as Viktor’s thumb began caressing the spot where his opening was through his underwear.

“Viktor,” Gabriel whined, but he didn’t stop grinding against him, feeling Viktor’s cock through the sweatpants beginning to harden more.

Viktor slapped his ass, and Gabriel gasped, feeling a sudden shock in his cock. “Fuck!”

When Viktor started chuckling, Gabriel stared at him. He’d liked it when Viktor spanked his ass, and he saw no point in acting like he didn’t. Heat flushed his cheeks, and he chewed on his lower lip as his cock stirred in his underwear.

Gabriel leaned in and kissed Viktor on the lips. He then sat up, peeled off his underwear, and took out Viktor’s cock before straddling him.