Page 29 of Touched By Destiny

The air conditioner kicked on and drowned out the sound of their harsh breathing as Gabriel jacked them closer to completion. They didn’t make it to the bed. Gabriel coaxed Eric closer to the wall behind him with a few tiny steps until the painted surface was against his back.

Gabriel jerked them faster, and Eric focused solely on the dick pressed tightly to his. His soulmate was well hung and thick. He growled low in his throat as his ass clenched. In a perfect world, Eric would stretch himself across the mattress and demand Gabriel fuck him.

Sparks flew along his spine, and he tore his lips free. Their souls filled his mind again—glowing white and sterling silver. They reached for one another and touched. The connection was no stronger than before. Neither Eric nor Gabriel had done anything to move their relationship forward, so they stepped no closer to being fully bound.

Yet it was an undeniable connection, and Eric yearned to have it complete. For one blissful moment, their souls were visibly united. It was poignant, and with it came a massive rush of euphoric splendor. Two soulmates celebrating life by giving in to the passion destiny offered.

With a soft thunk, Eric’s head hit the wall, and his seed spurted over Gabriel’s fingers. Gabriel grunted a few seconds later as he climaxed. Eric closed his eyes and held on to the fistfuls of Gabriel’s shirt he’d grabbed at some point in their sensual tussle.

A wave of contentment swept through him. It didn’t last. Their bodies weren’t even cool before Eric realized he had to get out of there. The last thing he wanted was another tense, painful conversation with Gabriel.

With the musky scent of Gabriel filling his senses and his knees shaky, Eric forced himself to let him go. He wiggled, and Gabriel’s hands fell away, releasing him. Refusing to look at him or allow himself a second of regret, Eric ignored the increasingly sticky state of himself and yanked his pants up.

“Eric—”

“No,” Eric interjected sharply, refusing to listen to Gabriel as he headed for the bathroom door with his dignity still intact. “I don’t want to talk. We were both horny, and we had sex. That’s it. That’s all it was. No discussion is necessary.”

Eric barreled into the bathroom, wet a rag for Gabriel that he threw in his general direction, and hastily shut himself inside. Although he’d planned to coax Gabriel into sharing another orgasm with him, he hadn’t realized how much he’d feel afterward.

Promising himself he’d get the fuck out of the room and tell Richard he was going home once he returned to the club, Eric grabbed a washcloth to clean himself up. In the safety of his house, he could give in to his tears and wish for far more thanhe might ever have with Gabriel. Without glancing in the mirror to see the growing misery in his eyes, Eric ran the water and cleared his mind.

Before he could weep with frustration or relive the ecstasy he’d just shared with Gabriel, he had to face the inspirit in the other room. And he didn’t want Gabriel to know how he longed for him. Nor would he allow Gabriel to say anything to tarnish their night. It could not be more than great sex, and Eric needed no one to reinforce that point—especially not the man who held his heart.

Chapter 14

Several minutes later, a glance in the mirror revealed a man with cheeks still flushed from great sex. Eric barely recognized himself thanks to Richard and Maribeth’s handiwork, but the new guise wasn’t boosting his confidence. Nothing could. Not when his soulmate was sitting in the next room gathering his arguments to convince Eric they’d made another mistake. He was dawdling, and it would solve nothing.

Walk fast.

That was Eric’s sole defense. He yanked the door open and wasn’t surprised to find Gabriel seated on the edge of the bed. Although his jacket remained tossed on the chair, he’d rebuttoned his shirt and sat there with a frown on his handsome face.

Eric didn’t give a shit about security or anything else but getting home. If Gabriel wanted to relax in the hotel room while wading through regret, Eric would march back to the club by himself. Lifting his chin defiantly, Eric dismissed Gabriel and strode toward the door.

“Eric, we need to talk,” Gabriel said.

“No, we don’t.”

As Eric tried to pass Gabriel, the inspirit reached an arm out presumably to stop him. Eric slapped it aside and intended to run, but Gabriel’s husky voice stopped him in his tracks.

“Please,” Gabriel whispered. “Please talk to me. I want to apologize.”

Angry at himself for being curious, Eric halted and clenched his jaw. “I don’t want an apology for what we just did. We’re both consenting adults. We had sex. It’s over now, and I’d like to get the fuck out of here.”

Gabriel bowed his head. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”

“I know, but the last thing I want is to listen to you telling me how much you regret it again. I’m leaving. You can either stay here or follow me, but I’m not staying.”

“I don’t think I can let you go.”

Bristling at the thought of Gabriel trying to force him to stay so he could mourn their decision to have sex, Eric’s fingers curled into fists. “You can play the bodyguard, but there are plenty of inspirits and other security in this hotel. I’ll be damned if I’m going to stand here and listen to your remorseful ramblings. I’m not putting my life in danger. And if you don’t fucking like it, you can get up and follow me. That’s your job.”

To Eric’s surprise, Gabriel lifted his head, and their eyes met. His vibrant green gaze was cloudy with unshed tears.

“That’s not what I meant,” Gabriel said. “I’ve spent the last month telling myself I was doing the right thing. My reasoning was sound. I’m not good for you, and I thought the connection between our souls would fade away. But nothing changed. Tonight, they touched again. It was the same as before. The same…so strong. I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure how to handle any of this.”

The misery on Gabriel’s face, and the fear in his voice, sliced through Eric’s fury. Which left more room for hurt. Andit didn’t help to learn that Gabriel had been counting on their soulbinding vanishing.

“I’m sorry things didn’t work out the way you wanted and you’re stuck with me,” said Eric.

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