The Fugitive

Gabriel stared down at his little she-wolf curled up under the black silk bedsheets, her dark brown hair tousled and falling down her back. After she passed out, he tucked her in and couldn't help but watch her. His eyes roamed her body both in awe at how beautiful she was and assessing her scars while she slept. He couldn't understand why anyone would do such horrific and cruel things to their mate. From his understanding of the bond between werewolf partners, Esme's mate would feel everything she felt unless he blocked it out. 

Either way, it was sickening to think about. 

Gabriel raised his hand and stroked Esme's cheek as he gazed upon her adoringly; he couldn't imagine ever hurting her. But then again, he never imagined killing his first love. He looked away from Esme, his gaze hardening from the pang of betrayal he still felt from her. 

All these years, she had been the reason Gabriel never looked past the physical comforts of the women he lay with, but as he looked back at Esme, he knew that wasn't the case. Somehow, she crept up on him and started chiselling away at the ice surrounding his heart. He couldn't say for sure it was love, but it was more than a simple fling. 

Gabriel found it very peculiar, though, how he ended up so enamoured by such a little creature. But one thing he was sure of, for now, he would do what he could for her. Gabriel knew Esme could take care of herself, she was a rogue and not any rogue but an ex-Hellhound of all things, but she needed help. If he wanted her to stay in Chester, then her ex needed to go. He just had to find out more about him than that fucking image of their first meeting that popped into her head.

Gabriel sighed; he'd tried to peek inside of her head while she slept when everyone had their guard down. Nope, not Esme. Even now, she had this protective wall around her; it was a sure sign that she didn't sleep much. Yet, right now, she was sleeping peacefully. 

He smirked; he was the reason for that. He kissed her on the head and pulled her in closer to his chest, enjoying her warmth and her delicious scent. It reminded him of times when he travelled the unpolluted roads of the world, where the air was fresh, and there was no electricity. The vampire put his nose to her hair and inhaled deeply, relaxing into her; her scent was distinctly like the grass and trees after a downpour of rain, fresh and crisp.

"Ngh," Esme murmured something incoherent in her sleep, and Gabriel heard her restful heart begin to drum loudly and her body tense. Was she having a nightmare?

"Esme.." He frowned.

Esme slowly stirred, her lids fluttered open, and she became increasingly aware of her naked self under some black silk bedsheets, her body pressed against a hard chest. She inhaled sharply, her heart beating rapidly in her chest, and she tensed up.

No, no, no!

Esme clenched her eyes shut, wishing it to be another nightmare, but this felt all too real. She wasn't really in Ethan's arms, right?

"Esme, what's wrong? Are you having a nightmare?" Gabriel's voice drifted over her ears, and her lids snapped open again; she looked up and released her breath. His clear blue eyes calmed her pounding heart, and she found herself melting into his arms and resting her head on his chest again. 

"How long have I been asleep?" Esme questioned instead and looked across the bedroom floor to the windows, the sky was still dark, and the roads below were empty except for a few taxi's driving by and people drunkenly staggering home. 

"Hmm, about two hours," Gabriel murmured, his hand pushed aside the hair clinging on her face.

"What have you been doing?" She peered up at him with a questioning gaze. 

Gabriel smiled and kissed her head. "Watching you, of course." He watched her as her cheeks went pink under his gaze, and she hid into his chest.

"Don't you sleep or have anything better to do?" Esme asked, nearly groaning from the embarrassment she felt. How could he say something like that so.. openly and innocently? If it was someone else, she'd call them a perverted weirdo. Who watched girls sleep? Stalkers, that's who. But Gabriel didn't give off creepy vibes, no he was so confident in himself that it was endearing even as he said something that would creep her out. 

"Vampires don't need much sleep, and time is different to me now," He shrugged casually, but she could hear a pang of sadness in his words. "I can't leave you to wake up by yourself. I'm not a monster, you know, and you might have only slept for ten minutes. How are you feeling anyway?"

Esme sighed into his comforting arms and smiled. She felt butterflies in her stomach and was a little shy about their time in the bath and on his bed. He certainly knew what he was doing to make her climax so many times and pass out for two hours; she knew from that alone he had to be a sex god in the sheets. 

She felt.. good, relaxed like there was nothing to worry about. Though she knew that wasn't the truth, her slightly tingly body pushed away all her fears and stresses. "Much better. Thank you for.." She bit her lip from trying not to smile so much.

Gabriel rolled over her, so he hovered above her, a wolfish grin on his face as he arched an eyebrow. "For.." He drawled, but when she didn't answer, he kissed her on the lips lightly and whispered against them. "No need to thank me just yet. I'm not finished with you."

Esme's eyes widened, then became hooded, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "What do you plan on doing with me then, my king?" She purred and groaned as he answered her by lightly biting her lower lip and meeting her tongue. 

"Hmmm, we are going to fuck until you can't handle me anymore."