Page 40 of Trigger Discipline
Blake’s head thunked against the glass. Not people. Person.
Gabriel Lennox was gay. He was gay and attracted to Blake, and in no way, shape, or form should that matter right now, but for some reason, it was all Blake could think about.
Blake had never considered men before. Not in a romantic sense anyway. He’d certainly noticed a handsome man, or one with a good body. That perhaps he wanted more now wasn’t an abhorrent thought. He was hardly some blushing virgin. Blake had been with women before, but it had always felt shallow. Impermanent. A fleeting touch that they both enjoyed but knew it wouldn’t last.
And then there was Gabriel in the bathroom earlier. He hadn’t done anything, but he hadn’t had to. His eyes were enough. They watched him like he was the only thing in the world, hanging off his every movement. Not a touch, and all the blood rushed from his head into his dick. Just because some guy was looking at him.
Breaking news: Guy has sexual awakening, gets vaporized by aliens.
It had to be the intensity of the situation, the terror and uncertainty. And maybe in light of that, it wasn’t so wrong to let himself think about it. To close his eyes and think about the stubble on Gabriel’s cheeks or the way his lips pursed when he was trying to fight a smile, but never could keep it from his eyes. His broad shoulders and strong hands—the ones that had easily caught him, protected him. Blake could still feel the tips of his fingers brushing against his skin from where he’d shielded him from the FUD.
You’re my type.
His husky words had been ringing in Blake’s ears since he’d first said them, like the chorus of a catchy song, and hedidn’t know what to do with it. Didn’t know why it felt so important when there wassomuch else going on.
“You should be asleep.”
Blake startled, turning to see Gabriel standing behind him. He was shrouded in shadow, the light from a birthday candle glowing like a halo behind him.
“I’m fine.”
Gabriel’s boots squeaked as he sidled up next to him. “Wasn’t it you who told me we should be honest with each other?”
He huffed. “Maybe honesty is too exhausting.”
“What do you want instead?”
Blake looked over at Gabriel. In the dark, he traced the lines of his face. The ones that had grown so familiar over the last couple of days, he could find them with ease. His straight, striking nose. Heavy brows. The lilt of his lips. Even the smudge of dirt under his ear he’d missed with his quick bath.
“Tell me about the cabin,” Blake whispered, closing his eyes. “The one with the tacos.”
Gabriel huffed, but Blake could hear his smile. “It would be small. Cozy. Built into the mountain, so the big bay windows look out to a big meadow. In springtime, there would be wildflowers. Tons of them. Like a painting.”
Blake sighed softly, letting the spots of color dance behind his lids. “What else?”
“There’d be a lake, too. At the bottom of the mountain. On clear days, the sun would sparkle off the surface like diamonds. And there would be fish. Lots of them. We could go fishing,” he exhaled softly. “We’ll tell Tommy it’s catch and release.”
Blake opened his eyes to find Gabriel close. Sitting on the bookshelf like he was, their eyes were even. With one of his big hands, Gabriel reached out to gently trace Blake’s cheek. It was a hesitant touch. A question.Can I?
Should you?
Gabriel did. His touch lost any hesitation as his finger began mapping out the lines on Blake’s face. From the bridge of his nose across his eyebrows, like a blind man reading braille, he used his hands to see what his eyes couldn’t.
“What else?” Blake sounded breathless.
“Books and movies,” Gabriel answered, his eyes never leaving Blake’s. “All your favorites. We’d watch them together, and you could tell me all about them. Even the behind the scenes trivia.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
Gabriel swallowed. “I would love it.”
Oh, how he wanted that. He longed for it. It felt so possible when Gabriel was touching him, the warmth from his skin like the sun sparkling on the lake. Like a physical thing, it pricked the back of his eyes and sat heavy in his chest.
Blake’s breath hitched when Gabriel tilted his face up. His hand was so big, he could cup his entire face, thumb stroking across his lips. It felt so good. Blake’s stomach swooped. He couldn’t help but feel he was at the top of a rollercoaster peering over the edge of a massive drop.
Gabriel leaned in. His breath ghosted over Blake’s lips, and that was the only nudge he needed. Suddenly he was falling, lashes fluttering shut as he tipped his head.
The station rattled with a massive explosion. Gabriel moved faster than Blake could think, dragging him off the shelf and onto the floor, where he shielded him with his body. Face pressed to Gabriel’s shoulder, he couldn’t see anything, but he could feel another series of explosions. Smaller this time.