I must’ve taken longer than I thought because he’d already showered and dressed by the time I’d finished. He sat cross-legged on the couch idly plucking at an acoustic guitar. Soft, upbeat chords filled the air as his fingers danced effortlessly over the strings. I recognized the peaceful melodies as old folk tunes, even though they had angelic origins.
Zeke looked up as I entered, his expression untroubled despite the mottled bruises purpling his neck and arms. He didn’t seem angry or resentful. If anything, there was a sort of contented ease about him, like he had finally found his center.
“Go shower,” he said, wrinkling his nose. “I’ll get dinner started.”
I wanted to apologize again, but the words stuck in my throat. The fact he moved past what I’d done so easily was yet another echo of Ruth I saw in him. Like her, he had a boundless capacity for forgiveness and optimism, no matter the circumstances.
Instead of speaking, I just nodded silently and headed for the bathroom. As I undressed and stepped under the hot spray, the gentle melodies continued to drift in from the living room. Music had healing properties for me, a way to attain a sense of tranquility no matter how tumultuous things became.
Clearly, Zeke had discovered that for himself as well. In his own quiet way, he had provided me a pathway back from the darkness before I descended again. My jaw tightened as a fresh pang of self-recrimination washed over me.
I needed to get my shit together because Zeke wasn’t the only one who needed training. He’d given me a lesson in humility and grace, things I’d neglected in my long decades of withdrawal. The problem was timing. After seventy years, falling for someone at the start of a mission was a disaster in the making. The fact it was Ares’s son made it worse.
As I washed away the grime and sweat from our aborted sparring session, I tried to let go of my anger and insecurities. I realized I couldn’t have Zeke. Not now or ever. But we could be friends. Perhaps then I could finally begin to heal the scars Lael had left behind.
Stepping out of the bathroom refreshed, I noticed Zeke had stopped playing. In place of strumming his guitar, I heard the symphony of pots, pans, knives, and chopping. I followed the sounds to the kitchen, where Zeke wore a black apron and a happy, contented expression. He greeted me with a sincere smile.
“We’re having pasta tonight. I think I need some carbs after all that exercise.”
There was no malice or reproach, which made me feel worse. He should have called me out but instead offered forgiveness. “What can I do?”
“Can you butter bread, shake on garlic salt, and sprinkle cheese?” He gestured toward the ingredients on the counter.
I nodded. “Believe it or not, I’m not helpless in the kitchen. I’ve fed myself for centuries.”
“That would be a yes.” He winked. “The broiler is on. After you prepare the garlic bread, put it in and set a timer for five minutes.”
He was as much a general in his area as any who’d taken to the field. Soldiers followed able commanders to the ends of the earth. On this battlefield, Zeke was the leader, and I gladly obeyed his orders.
There would be time enough later to make amends. For now, I would simply accept the gift of Zeke’s company and friendship.
This was why Michael and Gabriel had sent me on this mission. Not just to protect Zeke but for him to heal me. The only question was if I could keep my emotions in check. For the first time in decades, I’d found someone I could give my heart to again.
Zeke
The fork with a bite of eggs hovered close to my mouth as I stared at the image floating up from the tiny computer crystal. Our sensor array had collected data on every energy anomaly inside the coverage area, plotted a constellation of different colored dots to represent different signatures, and gave me seventeen possible locations for the source.
Seventeen. That was a lot of places to check out. I reminded myself the array hadn’t even had twenty-four hours to work. Hopefully, as we collected more data a more conclusive list of targets would emerge.
I heard Orion shuffling through the house. His bathroom was on the other side of the kitchen, and while thankfully I couldn’t discern much, the sound of the water running was easily heard.
Shoving the now remembered bit of food into my mouth, I looked up just as Orion entered the kitchen. I should’ve stuck to eating and studying the readings because the sensory input made my brain freeze.
Orion made my pulse rush in normal time, but seeing him in nothing but a tight, white T-shirt and boxers fried my synapses. The thin fabric hugged the contours of his muscular frame, leaving little to the imagination. My gaze raked shamelessly overthe swell of his biceps, the ridges of his abdominal muscles, the powerful thighs . . . Fuck. I wasn’t going to be able to unsee his bulge.
He ran his hand through his adorable bed hair and stared at me like I shouldn’t be there. Had he expected the kitchen to be empty? Is that why he appeared dressed like my wet dream come to life?
Clamping down on all the inappropriate thoughts I had for my partner, I tore my eyes away before he noticed my ogling. I cleared my throat.
“Morning, Ori.” My casual greeting had a hint too much nervous energy. “There’s fresh coffee if you want some.”
Orion shot me a lazy smile that did funny things to my insides. “You’re up early.”
Definitely didn’t expect me to be here when he got up. “It’s eight o’clock. I hate mornings, but when I’m on a case, I can’t sleep late. Best time to find stuff is before people are fully awake.”
“Hmm.” He nodded as he searched the cabinets for a mug.
“Last one on the left,” I said, knowing his frustration all too well.
