Page 26 of Touched By Destiny
“Gabriel, you don’t have a drink yet,” Rosalind chastised with a smile. “Let’s head into the dining room. David has outdone himself with tonight’s menu.”
The quiet inspirit blushed as he ducked his head and rushed into the kitchen with barely a sound. Gabriel followed him to grab a beer and refused to glance in Eric’s direction. It was cowardly, but Gabriel was running out of methods to handle the tangled situation.
With his drink in hand, Gabriel followed the happily chatting Marwoods into the dining room, trying not to feel like an interloper. They’d treated him like family from the first dayClark and Rosalind had inexplicably bailed him out and handed him everything. Suddenly he’d had a job with purpose and Samael’s estate to ensure he never went without, and he had built genuine confidence in himself.
Then their youngest son had gone on his first date, and Gabriel had slowly unraveled. Almost five years later, Gabriel had finally admitted to himself how deep he’d fallen for Eric. It hadn’t been a pleasant realization since he wasn’t good enough for him, and today he continued to deny his soul its mate. It was ripping Gabriel apart one piece at a time.
Gabriel grabbed a chair and wasn’t sure if he wanted to sigh with relief or cry at the friendship he’d lost when Eric chose a seat on the other side of the table. Being torn between two opposing emotions was a feeling he was growing far too accustomed to lately.
“Don’t you think so, Gabriel?” Rosalind’s voice cut through the haze in Gabriel’s mind, and he was embarrassed that once again he’d spaced out. It had been happening with increasing frequency ever since that sexy-but-frightening night at the hotel with Eric.
“I’m sorry, I was lost in thought, I missed what we were talking about,” Gabriel said, his cheeks pinkening.
Rosalind’s smile dimmed, and her blue gaze was fraught with concern. “I was just telling Alden about Eric’s driving lessons and how wonderful I think it is that he’s trying something new.”
“Yes,” Gabriel replied. “Eric had his first lesson this week, and the instructor seemed pleased.”
“I drove in a parking lot,” Eric remarked. “It wasn’t that difficult.”
“Gabriel has always been Eric’s biggest supporter,” Clark bragged.
Alden glanced at Gabriel. “Yes, I understand from the inspirits at the casinos that Gabriel is devoted to ensuring Eric has everything he wants.”
Gabriel barely masked his frown as his mind raced. Had someone told Alden about the night he’d been with Eric? He waited with bated breath for Alden to reveal everything to Clark and Rosalind, but Alden’s attention returned to his meal, and Gabriel was left wondering if his guilt had forced him to perceive things that didn’t exist.
“Speaking of what Eric wants, we’re planning another night at the club next weekend,” Richard said.
“Why am I just learning about this?” Maribeth asked.
“Because you weren’t upstairs with us when we decided it would be fun,” Richard replied.
Maribeth pursed her lips. “And you know why I wasn’t upstairs, but I’m totally in for a night out.”
“Me too,” Eric commented. He turned to Gabriel with his chin lifted and challenge blazing in his eyes. “I plan to have an even more exciting night than I did last time. Is a week enough notice for you to arrange security, Gabriel?”
Gabriel’s shoulders slumped, and he shook his head. It made sense Eric wanted to move on. Gabriel should’ve expected it. He was the one who’d rejected Eric, and now he’d be forced to watch him march off with someone new. Although he wanted to beg Eric not to allow another man to touch him, Gabriel had no right to plead for anything. His soul ached, and his heart hurt. He’d lost the stupid thing to the beautiful necromancer staring at him defiantly.
“A week is fine,” Gabriel mumbled, dropping his attention to his plate. Maybe if he sat there quietly enough, everyone would forget he was there. He wasn’t up to conversation or eating. His appetite had fled, and he wanted to go home to be alone. Preoccupied with the maelstrom of histroubling thoughts and emotions, Gabriel no longer understood what was right or wrong. If shoving Eric away was the best thing to do, why the fuck was it so painful?
???
Scratching his head, Eric stared at the outfit Richard had refused to show him until now. There was far less material on the hangers than he would’ve expected, and Richard wasn’t one to cover his assets. His brother’s closet was filled with plenty of sexy clothes, but Eric preferred the understated.
His mouth twisted. Ahead of him was a daunting challenge. Somehow, Eric had to convince Gabriel to forget they were soulmates. They were barely friends any longer. Thanks to Eric’s discomfort when hiding his emotions, normal conversations with Gabriel were impossible. They’d become nothing more than bodyguard and destiny-touched necromancer.
It was awkward—at least for Eric. Gabriel’s thoughts were impossible to decipher. And he’d become withdrawn from the entire family. Both of Eric’s parents were worried, but it wasn’t as if he could explain anything. Gabriel wanted no one to know, and he ensured ample distance remained between them.
Eric hated it. Beyond his heartbreak, there was also guilt. Gabriel was their family, and he was isolating himself because of Eric. The Marwoods were buzzing with excitement about Alden agreeing to more meals with them, and Maribeth was overjoyed her father was making time for her. But under that delight was the growing concern for Gabriel.
With each passing day, Gabriel grew more remote. Eric’s desire to entice him into repeating the spicy-but-shattering night in the hotel was probably stupid. But he couldn’t help hisneed to be close to him, even if it was just sex. With Gabriel so aloof, the difficulty of Eric’s quest to seduce him had increased.
So, Eric had to set aside his misgivings and put on the outfit Richard had chosen. Showing off the body his magic kept toned was a necessary weapon in the battle to win Gabriel. It was reckless, and Eric was setting himself up for more hurt, but he wanted his soulmate. Thankfully, Eric had an eternity to somehow convince Gabriel to give them a chance. He’d need it. But tonight wasn’t about trying to capture Gabriel’s heart.
Gabriel wasn’t ready for that, and Eric didn’t want to be rejected again. And there was the possibility Gabriel couldn’t even be convinced to indulge in desire. But without risk, there was no reward. It was a cliché, but it was also Eric’s mantra for the night.
A knock on the door made Eric jump, and he nearly shrieked.
“You’re freaking out, aren’t you?” Richard asked.