Az hunkered down in front of Beel while he waited.
“I appreciate your affection for Gabe, friend, but don’t discourage him,” he softly warned the lesser demon.
Beel ribbitted and croaked a bit in response.
“Yes, I very well understand the difficulties, but I have learned that nothing is impossible. There are things beyond your understanding; perhaps there are things beyond even my understanding as of late. Regardless, I will stay with Gabe, and you will support his… affection for me,” Az declared.
Beel croaked.
“I appreciate that you feel protective of him. I would suffer millenia in the pits before I would let him come to harm, and I would certainly never cause that harm myself. Do not worry on that account,” Az countered.
Beel didn’t look convinced, but Az heard Gabe opening the door, so he stood up and turned around.
Gabe looked… delicious. He was in black jeans that hugged every curve of his muscular, stocky body, and he had on a fitted black t-shirt, which he was currently pulling at self-consciously.
“Are you sure this isn’t too tight?” Gabe asked.
“Mmmm. I would much prefer you in no shirt at all, showing off that sexy chest along with those beautiful arms. It makes me want to take you into the bedroom and not leave at all,” Az purred.
Gabe blushed but stopped pulling at his shirt, and then he got a good look at Az.
“Wow, you look… holy hell,” Gabe muttered.
Az had on black leather pants and a shirt that was mostly see through. He knew he looked sexy, but he appreciated more than anything that Gabe looked at him that way. A week ago, Gabe would have merely yawned at his outfit, or more likely not noticed it at all. They had come a long way in a week, however. Always being in someone’s pocket like the two of them had been had forged a closeness and intimacy that probably took most couples months.
Az decided not to think too closely on the fact that he had just thought of them as a couple. Instead, he waited a beat to see if Gabe would, in fact, drag him into the bedroom; he looked about ready to. He took a step, stopped short, and blushed again.
So Az walked over and took his hand, dragging him toward the door and their awaiting adventure.
This was going to be such a wonderful time!
Chapter17
Gabriel
This was going to be such a disaster.
Gabe thought again about grabbing Az, pressing their bodies together, and kissing him. He thought about leading him back up the stairs and going straight into the bedroom.
Unfortunately, that’s about as far as he got in his imaginings before he started feeling awkward. He wasn’t sure what to do after that. Ok, so heknewwhat to do. He’d had sex. Of course he knew what to do.
But he didn’t know what Az wanted to do, and for some strange reason, thelust demonwasn’t getting all… lusty, or whatever.
Gabe wasn’t used to taking the lead; he admitted that to himself. He wasn’t sure why that was the case. Maybe years of not feeling sexual had taken away his sexual imagination. Maybe he really was “not normal,” like Greg had suggested so long ago. Really, what guy couldn’t initiate sexual contact with someone who was clearly interested in him?
They reached the sidewalk at the street and Az stopped him, pulling his face up so they were eye-to-eye.
“Whatever you’re thinking—stop. You look amazing and sexy as hell, but no one will bother you or look at you, unless you want them to,” he added with a wink. “There is no pressure. You do not need to do anything. You shouldn’t feel like you need to do anything.”
Gabe went to lower his eyes, but Az pulled his head up again, looked into his eyes, and then continued, “However, if youwantto do anything, you should do it. Anything you do, I will like. I like you. I care about you. I like your touch. I like your body. I am a lust demon; you will not shock me or surprise me, and any touch of any type from you is not just welcome—it would be the highlight of my existence.”
Gabe searched Az’s eyes, and he saw nothing but warmth and gentle affection. It made him feel all warm and bubbly inside, and he put his hand on Az’s, softly smiling.
“Ok,” he simply said.
Az searched his eyes for another moment, and Gabe let out a breath, consciously relaxing. Az seemed satisfied, because he nodded, turned, and walked toward a sleek black car at the curb, pulling Gabe with him.
“What’s this?” Gabe asked.
