Page 7 of Touched By Destiny
“And how would you know? The only experience you’ve had is with a few pretty humans you let take you to bed because the only thing you like about them is their bodies.”
“Sometimes having besties who know you too well is annoying.”
“You manage people, Richard. You’re an expert at it. Someday you’re going to lose your heart to someone, and it’s probably going to fuck you up.”
“Not if I can help it.”
“I know I’m the reason you refuse to get close to anyone,” Eric said, his gaze dropping to the mark he’d had on his hand since birth.
Richard’s eyes landed on his own tattooed hands. At eighteen, Richard had added a skull to confuse anyone looking for his destiny-touched brother. Without ever asking, Eric knew Richard would willingly sacrifice himself if someone managed toget past Gabriel and the other security measures. When Eric had become an adult, he’d added artwork to his right hand to help his own mark stand out less.
As a necromancer, Eric was fond of the macabre, so he’d stuck with the skull and floral theme, and his tattoo trailed up nearly to his elbow. Richard had followed suit, though he’d made it uniquely his by including a few dragonflies. They’d learned as children that in the Japanese culture of Maribeth’s mother, dragonflies symbolized strength, courage, and happiness. It was Eric and Richard’s mother who’d taught them everything she could about Japanese culture to honor Nariko. The brave woman had lost a hard-fought battle with cancer the same year Eric was born. Maribeth’s father, Alden, still hadn’t recovered from the loss of the human woman he loved.
While Maribeth had strayed toward actual dragons as her preferred symbol and had a stunning sleeve tattooed down her left arm and hand, Richard had announced as a kid that he was a dragonfly. It was just like Richard to be sure of himself, and Eric loved how his brother tackled challenges. But he’d be damned if he would ever allow his brother to court danger on his behalf.
That was one reason Eric never complained about the isolation of being destiny-touched or the strict safety measures his parents had built around him. Of course, safety also meant Gabriel, and Eric had been drawn to him like a lodestone for over a dozen years.
“You are a gift, Eric,” Richard stated quietly. “Not to just our family, but to the world. It’s our duty to ensure nothing ever happens to you. Think of everything we’ve learned about necros because of how long you’ve already survived.”
“I don’t think about it like that. I just do my best to use my gifts.”
“It’s why you’re you, baby,” Richard replied, flashing him a sassy smile. “You keep pushing yourself and discovering newstuff. And someday I expect you to report to me exactly how good it is to get fucked by an inspirit.”
Eric laughed. “I hope the weather cools off before I have to put on a thong again.”
“Let’s check the weather forecast and make some plans. We certainly don’t want to overlook a single detail as we try to discover if Gabriel is your soulmate.”
Torn between amusement and the love that always filled his heart when he was with his best friend and brother, Eric nodded. “Okay.”
Chapter 4
Gabriel wasn’t in a pleasant mood, and Clark Marwood’s bemused smile wasn’t helping matters. What Clark found comical was a mystery, and one Gabriel couldn’t be bothered to unravel.
“Ten hours,” Gabriel stated. “I hadtenhours to put together a safety plan for Eric’s date last night.”
“Dinner in a posh restaurant, and you know every employee,” Rhonda Donovan pointed out as she swept a few stray box braids from her shoulder. She’d once told Gabriel it took hours to create the hairstyle, and while he couldn’t imagine sitting still for so long, it was a stunning look on her.
“Rhonda, you’re exactly right,” Clark said. “I don’t see what the big deal is. Yes, I’d prefer you were adequately notified of changes to Eric’s schedule, and I’ve already spoken to my sons about that, but everything was fine.”
“Before yesterday, I didn’t even know anything about this Beaumont person,” Gabriel retorted.
“Richard met him here at the casino,” Clark replied. “My son is like you and doesn’t trust easily, but he’s willing to give these young men a chance so his brother can find happiness. As diligently as Richard pays attention to things, he wouldn’thave suggested Eric date him if he had any fears that Beaumont wouldn’t pass your security checks.”
“I’m sure Eric would love to find his soulmate,” Rhonda added, her dark gaze a mixture of glee and something else Gabriel couldn’t interpret. “I know it’s something I’m eager to have too.”
“Eric barely spoke to the guy,” Gabriel cried out with an exasperated wave of his arms as he paced across the thick carpet in Clark’s spacious office. “After the first course, Eric gave his entire attention to his plate. He went through two family-size helpings of mashed potatoes while this Beaumont person held a monologue across the table from him for hours.”
“Are you mad Eric had a date with what you consider inadequate notice or angry that they didn’t hit it off?” Rhonda asked.
“Richard says Beaumont has an interest in ghosts,” Clark supplied. “That’s why he thought they’d have a pleasant meal, then Eric could find out if they were soulmates before he invested his heart.”
Gabriel growled. Right there in his boss’s office. It ripped through the air, and Gabriel wondered what had happened to his vaunted self-control. Something had torn it away from him, and he refused to admit it was his insane jealousy at the thought of Eric climbing into bed with Beaumont to find out if they were destined to share their lives.
“Something wrong?” Clark asked innocently. It was such a sweetly asked question that Gabriel narrowed his gaze at the man. Clark wasn’t fanciful, and he didn’t do subtle well. Beyond the love and indulgence he frequently bestowed on his family, Clark was ruthless and cunning. At some point, Gabriel had stopped pacing, and it was frightening that he hadn’t even noted how his feet had come to a halt on the plush black-and-white rug Rosalind had selected for her soulmate’s office.
“What’s going on with you?” Gabriel asked suspiciously.
“Nothing at all, but you’re strangely combative this morning,” Clark replied, the same amusement in Rhonda’s gaze filling the necromancer’s blue eyes.