Page 27 of Touched By Destiny
“I’m not sure this outfit is legal,” Eric muttered.
Richard cackled. “Trust me, you’ll be dangerous as fuck in it. Hurry and get dressed so we can do hair and makeup.”
“Fine.”
“You have five more minutes to freak out in there,” Richard said. “The rest of your meltdown will have to happen while I’m working on your face.”
“Okay.”
Eric didn’t bother arguing with his brother that he needed more time. Whether he took five minutes or twenty, Richard wouldn’t chastise him. His brother was the best. And clearly thought Eric wouldn’t look like an idiot in the scraps of clothing he’d picked out for him.
With a heavy exhale that fluttered the curls resting on his forehead, Eric pulled off his shorts and T-shirt. He switched from boxers into a wisp of material that served as his underwear.Then he shimmied into the tightest pair of pants he’d ever worn. They had a slight sheen and a ghostly skull stamped on the right leg. As for the other side, it was nearly criminal.
Half of it was nothing but stretchy lacing that settled comfortably over the muscles of his thigh. Eric gave himself no time to consider balking and carefully tugged the shirt over his head. Like the pants, it was tight and revealing. A mixture of fine mesh, lace, and supple matte cloth, the top ended in a ragged, uneven hem. Despite how little it covered, Eric stared in the mirror and was happy with his reflection. He felt sexy. Empowered.
Whipping open the door, Eric stalked out in his bare feet, and Richard shrieked.
“Yes,” his brother screamed. “I knew it was perfect for you. You look gorgeous, baby.”
“And most importantly, he loves it,” Maribeth crowed, high-fiving a glowing Richard.
“Sit, sit, sit,” Richard insisted, patting the upholstered chair he’d pulled from Eric’s desk.
“I don’t want you to hold back because you think I won’t like it,” Eric said as he sat. “I want to blow his fucking mind.”
“Oh, a challenge,” Richard sang, grabbing a small tub of moisturizer and dabbing it on Eric’s skin. “What if we did something daring?”
“We could straighten his curls. Make him look totally different,” Maribeth suggested. “And I have some of those wax things to put color in. It’ll wash right out, so no commitment. How about pink?”
“Blue,” Richard replied. “It’ll bring out his eyes.”
Maribeth clapped. “I’ll go grab it from my room.”
“Are you okay with losing the curls for a night?” Richard asked. “Because I’m not sure I am. I love your hair.”
Eric smiled. “They’ll be back as soon as my hair gets wet. And I’ve never done that before. I’m into trying new things these days.”
“Okay, then let me go in with the blow dryer first, then we’ll switch to the straightener if we can’t get it perfect,” Richard said. “I’m going to need products. Be right back.”
His brother rushed out, and Eric sighed. Was he out of his mind for thinking a little makeup and a different hairstyle would do anything to move Gabriel? Eric closed his eyes and promised himself if Gabriel turned him down, he’d be okay. And that if Gabriel did venture into a hotel room with him, Eric wouldn’t expect anything more than sex. This night was solely for desire. It wasn’t about two soulmates. All Eric wanted was to get off and hopefully please Gabriel too.
His heart still stung from Gabriel’s rejection, and Eric’s decision to go out was probably foolish. But he wanted to feel that rush again. To be held in Gabriel’s grasp or sucked into his mouth as he came. And if Eric pretended in those heated moments they had forever, he’d keep it to himself.
Chapter 13
There were stages to hell. Gabriel made that unwelcome discovery as he slouched against a wall in the club and never took his eyes off Eric. He barely resembled the man Gabriel had dined with earlier that night. His incredible body was showcased beautifully in an outfit revealing more than it concealed. All that uncovered skin reminded Gabriel of those erotic moments when he’d stripped Eric and made him come.
Although Gabriel preferred Eric’s soft curls, the way his straightened hair was brushed away from his face brought more attention to his bright blue eyes, which were highlighted with liner and shadow. Gabriel knew nothing about cosmetics, but whatever they’d done to Eric’s face, it had made him go from delicate to dangerous. And that lush mouth was painted several shades darker than normal—Eric looked well-kissed, and Gabriel longed to taste him again.
As if the clothes and makeup weren’t enough to torture the stupid man who’d rejected Eric, the necromancer moved sensuously to the beat of the loud music. Gabriel wanted to rush forward and crush Eric against him. To strip him naked, to fuck and suck him until they were both sated.
Since that was out of the question, Gabriel gave up any pretense of being nice to anyone. Morosely, he stood at the edge of the room with his dick hard and his mood sour. He ached with need. And he couldn’t stop thinking about the last time he’d had the duty of guarding Eric at the club. His damn brain had latched onto those moments when their souls had touched, and Gabriel couldn’t stop the endless loop tormenting him.
He wanted to cry and scream with fury at his own idiocy. A month had passed since that night, and he was barely holding on to his sanity. Nothing had changed. Despite the ugly distance between them now, Gabriel remained stubbornly immortal. His toes hadn’t reverted to bone, no matter how often he checked. Although he’d believed once that someday they’d be free to pursue new soulmates, he now knew he’d been wrong.
But what the fuck could he do about it? He was the hired bodyguard who’d made unforgivable mistakes in the first fifteen years of his life. While he cared deeply for the Marwoods—especially Eric—Gabriel also insisted on keeping distance between himself and others. He was undeserving of their love and friendship.
No matter how he assessed the situation, Gabriel couldn’t convince himself it was fair to leave Samael Wolfebrier in his past. If he let his guard down, he feared he’d trust the wrong person again. Gabriel could do stupid things again. People could be hurt. And the last thing Gabriel wanted was for Eric to be in danger.