Gabriel's Hope

She wasn't an Immortal, but a blank check from a deity had to be valuable.

"For a single kiss?" she asked. She turned to face him and leaned against the door, hand on the knob.

"That simple." He was already approaching her and stopped just before his body met hers.

Deidre gazed at the expanse of his chest, all too aware of his strength and heat. Her blood was humming from waking in his bed. Suddenly, a blank check - even from Death - didn't seem like enough for what his one kiss might cost her.

"Deal?" he asked.

She wet her lips and nodded, unable to speak.

Gabriel cupped her face in his large hands and tilted it up. He gazed into her eyes for a long moment, the tenderness she recognized from their night together present. Deidre didn't expect to see it, not after how he'd treated her the past few days. His look melted her anger. She almost believed Katie's words about Gabriel always loving her.

Magic flared through her as their lips met. He was gentle, the man who made love to a woman he thought was dying. It was harder and harder to justify not yielding to his arrangement, if only for the pleasure of his body. She deepened the kiss, and he responded with his own hunger. His hands traveled down her arms and settled on her hips, drawing them against his. With a groan, Deidre leaned into him, tasting and feeling his arousal. She'd wanted a second night with him since the first, and the passion of his kiss reminded her of how incredible it was to be the center of his world.

Any resistance she felt was on fire. He withdrew, kissing her face while his hands slid up her shirt. They burned her sensitive skin.

"Wanna stay a little longer?" he whispered, nipping her neck then trailing kisses towards her collarbone.

"Yes," she sighed. "No. God, I don't know." She had to resist him. What she had left of her dignity depended upon it.

"Make up your mind," he said with a husky chuckle.

"Stop," she said miserably.

"One of us has sense," he said as he obeyed. Gabriel smoothed her cheeks.

Deidre wasn't able to ponder the meaning behind his statement.

"No boyfriends," he growled. "No one else touches you, Deidre."

And you? She wanted to ask. Instead, she was working hard to convince herself she really did want to walk away. She stood in the warm silence, senses intoxicated by their bond, his scent and body.

"If I find a cure, we'll revisit this conversation."

"I won't make it easy on you. You'll have to earn me," she whispered.