Adrian dropped his hand, disheartened. How could he expect Gabriel to forgive him for what he’d done? Whatever suffering Adrian had been through in the last few years was nothing compared to the terrors Gabriel had undoubtedlyencountered.
But then, the awkward tension between them shifted. Gabriel’s lips trembled, and he let loose with a singular, frightened sob. The blanket tumbled to the stoop, and as it fell, Gabriel latched his arms around Adrian’s neck and pushed against hischest.
“Adrian.” Gabriel’s voice was muffled by Adrian’s shirt, but Adrian heard it as clear as if Gabriel had spoken directly into his ear. “Adrian, I’msorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry about anything.” Adrian’s arms tightened around Gabriel. He cupped the back of Gabriel’s head and held him close. To his surprise, Gabriel’s hair was soft, pleasant to the touch. “You didn’t doanything.”
“I left you.” Gabriel drew a shuddering breath. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I didn’t. It wasn’t supposed to… to beforever.”
“No. No, don’t say that. You shouldn’t be sorry.” Adrian squeezed his eyes shut, racked with guilt. It was one thing to know that he’d caused Gabriel to run away, but to know that Gabriel was so scarred by the event that he blamed himself? It was a blow Adrian couldn’t stomach. “Don’t ever be sorry. All we ever wanted was for you to come home, and now you’re here. You’re back. You don’t ever have to be sorry. You came backtous.”
The shuddering breath Gabriel sucked in heightened, then turned into a low keen. He pushed his face so tightly against Adrian’s chest that it hurt. All the while, Adrian stroked his hair and held himclose.
“Did you see Mom?” Adrian asked against the ridge of Gabriel’s ear. “She called me to come home. Where is she? She didn’t hurt you,didshe?”
“No.” The word was broken and forced, but Adrian heard it regardless. “She’s inside. She fell asleep on the c-couch.”
Asleep was safe. Adrian shifted his position so he was sitting. Gabriel stuck to him like glue. For a little while longer, they simply held each other. Gabriel’s sobbing faded into nothing, and he settled on Adrian’s lap like he was a small child seeking comfort. While he settled, Adrian stroked Gabriel’s hair, doing his best to channel the same calming aura that Sterling had exuded during aftercare. But it wasn’t until soft footsteps approached, then came to a stop beside them that Gabriel settled down completely. Adrian didn’t have to turn his head to know Sterling was there—his presence wasunmistakable.
“Adrian?” Gabriel whispered, so meek and frightened that Adrian couldn’t help but hold him a little more tightly. Sterling wasn’t close enough to intrude upon their space, but there was no doubt Gabriel had been through evils—he had every right to be afraid of astranger.
“It’s okay. That’s Sterling. He’s with me.” Adrian looked over his shoulder at Sterling, and as he did, his heart warmed. Sterling stood facing away from them, his hands folded neatly behind his back. He stood close enough that Adrian was fairly sure he could hear their conversation, but not so close as to be imposing. To an outsider, he would have looked like a bodyguard. In a way, Adrian supposedhewas.
“He’s not… going tohurtus?”
Adrian snorted. “No.He’s…well.”
WhatwasSterling to him? Telling Gabriel that he’d met with Sterling that night to be his sex slave for the next month was out of the question, but there was no doubt that anyone who cared to could smell their scents on eachother.
“He’s kind of my boyfriend. Kind of.” Adrian glanced away from Sterling to meet Gabriel’s eyes, but Gabriel was too busy hiding his face against Adrian’s chest to notice. “He’s nice. He’s not going tohurtyou.”
Sterling wouldn’t hurt a fly. If Gabriel had to look out for anyone, it was Adrian—but Adrian didn’t tell him that. Instead, he stroked Gabriel’s hair and kept himself as calm and composed as he could. Gabriel needed support right now, and Adrian refused to deny him what heneeded.
“Your boyfriend?” Gabriel drew back from Adrian, startled. “You… and him…really?”
“Really.” Not really, but it was the closest comparison Adrian could draw without oversharing. “He’s okay. And if you ever feel threatened? All you need to do is tell me, and I’ll kickhisass.”
Gabriel sucked in his bottom lip, but he couldn’t hold back his smiles. Light shone in his dead eyes, brilliant for just a second before he dropped his chin and looked away. “Helooksnice.”
“Heisnice.” Adrian kissed Gabriel’s forehead, then tugged him back into a hug. “And you know what? Everything is going to be nice from here on out. You don’t have to worry anymore. I’ve got you.” Adrian sucked in a breath and rested his forehead against Gabriel’s. After all this time, Gabrielwashome.
Gabrielwashome.
“…And I’m not letting you goagain.”
10
Sterling
Boyfriend.
The word resonated in Sterling’s mind and stuck like a fly to a spiderweb. It twisted and dangled and fought to free itself, but it was no use. Instead, his brain wrapped it up, spinning it over and over until it was so tightly wound that there was no way it would everescape.
And then, his brain drankitin.
Boyfriend.
Heisnice.
