Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 93412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 374(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Gabriel snorted, and started playing with a hole in his black sweater. “I’m a mess, that’s what I am. You’d have to be an angel to put up with me.” Despite the self-deprecating words, he nudged Abaddon with his foot.
“No! What are you saying? You’re the sweetest guy I’ve ever met,” Abaddon said as tenderness rose in his chest like lava about to erupt. He was forced to pull away when the server returned with their food.
Gabriel was flustered, as if he hadn’t been an accessory to two homicides today. “I’m gonna be sweet after I have all this! So how did you know you were vegetarian? Did you look at the menu and decide on a whim? Sorry if it’s intrusive to ask, I’m just trying to get a handle on it.”
Abaddon froze, his mind locked in the small space of current events, with no windows to look back or ahead. “I—Angels aren’t supposed to hurt any innocent living being,” he muttered in the end and picked up his mushroom and cheese burger.
“Watch out!” Gabriel’s eyes went wide, and he rose from his seat, extending himself over the table in a mad dash.
Just as Abaddon glanced down at his burger, several slices of mushroom slid out of the bun and into Gabriel’s hand instead of landing on Abaddon’s pants.
“You saved me from a speeding car. Would you say we’re even now?” Gabriel whispered, but then Abaddon leaned forward and opened his mouth as if waiting for a wafer during mass. His heart sped up when Gabriel’s pale skin bloomed in the sweetest flush, but the boy must have understood what was expected of him and placed the mushroom slices on Abaddon’s tongue.
This moment shouldn’t have been hot. But it was, and Abaddon found himself spreading his thighs as his cock twitched.
“Someone will see,” Gabriel mumbled, getting back to his seat, and unable to meet Abaddon’s eyes.
“So? It’s not the end of the world. Who knows, maybe this way someone will find out there’s another handsome gay man nearby? Would you forget about me if the right guy came along?” Abaddon asked with a smirk, though his heart burned at the idea of the boy neglecting him in favor of another man.
That gave him a slight pause.
Was he… jealous? Of a mortal he’d met earlier today?
Gabriel poured a generous amount of syrup over his pancakes and cut himself a piece with a little smirk. “You don’t forget your first. I’ve never been kissed before you.”
“Shut up!” Abaddon swallowed almost too fast, and his gaze wandered to the plump lips, which he now wanted to devour with even more energy than before. “You can’t tell me no one tried to get one from you.”
“Like who?” Gabriel laughed and stuffed his cheeks full of pancakes, looking like the cutest hamster. “I had a crush on this builder one summer. My brain became completely frazzled. I kept coming and asking if he wanted some refreshments. I’m embarrassed just talking about it. Let’s just say he wasn’t interested.”
“There aren’t many guys of appropriate age at the orphanage, but here? I bet there’s more than enough in the area. You’re not allowed a cell phone?” Abaddon asked, before stuffing his face with the burger.
Gabriel shook his head, and added coffee to the sweet mix in his mouth. Abaddon couldn’t explain it, but it made him happy to see Gabriel eating with such enthusiasm. As if sugar could in some way negate their troubles.
“No. I asked Father John about it, but he said there was no reception at the orphanage anyway, and that he didn’t want my brain corrupted. Like a phone could do that.” Gabriel rolled his eyes, clearly unaware of the darker side of smartphones.
“Bastard,” Abaddon hissed and took another angry bite from his burger. “I’m gonna shear off all that he hides behind and expose his ugly insides!”
Gabriel gave him a dreamy smile. “You will. They will all get what they deserve.”
“And I’ll give you what you deserve,” Abaddon said softly, enamored by this display of righteous anger.
Gabriel snorted and licked syrup off his fingers. “A phone? Wait. It’s not like you ever had a phone either, right? Or do you know how to use one?”
Abaddon shrugged. He knew the concept of a smartphone and how to use it, but didn’t remember ever holding one. Either way, that wasn’t the point of his declaration. “I meant… I want to help you gain confidence as a man.”
Gabriel winced. “I don’t want to think about any men that might come after you. Let me savor this, okay? Aaand I left you a piece of pancake. See? I can give you a first too.” He pushed forward the plate, but after a moment’s hesitation, stabbed the remaining morsel with his fork and leaned over the table to feed Abaddon.