Chapter 9 On the Sabbath, They Rested #2
“I’m not sure,” Drew admitted. “I do try and get back to Victoria to see her once a month or so, but it all depends on her work schedule and whether I can afford the bus ticket.” He didn’t mention he’d rather go without food for a few days in order to scrape together the money for the bus than disappoint his aunt.
“I’m due to see her soon, but I guess it depends on everything happening here. ”
“How so?”
He shrugged. “Kensington is giving up a lot of his time to train me, so it would feel a little rude to make him work around my social life.”
“I’m sure he won’t begrudge you a family visit,” Zach said.
“Maybe. I’ll have to wait and see what her new roster looks like anyway, so it could be a moot point. She picks up a lot of nights and weekend work—the shifts no one else really wants—because they pay so much better.” He glanced over at Zach. “Is there a reason you asked?”
Zach grinned. “I’m sure you’ve figured out I’m dying to meet her.”
Laughing, Drew nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty obvious.”
“Would you have a problem with me meeting her?”
He looked away, feeling a nervous flutter in his stomach. “How exactly would I introduce you?”
“How would you like to introduce me?” Zach countered.
Drew could feel himself blush. “I mean, I know we’ve been doing stuff together and we told my friends we’re dating, but that was mostly to shut Edward up, wasn’t it? I don’t want to lie to my aunt.”
Zach stopped mid-stride to give Drew a long look.
He then glanced around, nodded when he saw what he was looking for, then took Drew’s hand and towed him off the laneway and into a small grove of trees.
He led him far enough away that they were out of sight of anyone walking past, so they had some semblance of privacy, and then guided Drew to sit on a large rock.
Crouching down in front of him, Zach took both of his hands in his. “Sweetness, how do you see us?”
Drew shrugged and looked away, unable to meet Zach’s glorious whiskey-coloured eyes.
He heard Zach sigh. “Let me guess. You think I’m just having some fun with you until you figure out how to break my bonds to Oberon and then I’ll be off on my merry way without a backward glance?”
Drew winced. That . . . wasn’t far off the mark. “Um, maybe?”
A hand cupped Drew’s cheek and gently turned his face until he met Zach’s gaze. “I’m sorry if I’ve given you that impression, sweetness. I didn’t mean to confuse you.”
“No need to apologise,” Drew said, aiming for nonchalant and probably failing terribly. “Why would you stick around for a nobody like me?”
“You are not a nobody,” Zach told him sternly.
Drew couldn’t help it—he rolled his eyes. “God, yes I am, Zach! I’m just a broke uni student who accidentally summoned you. There’s nothing special about me, not really.”
“I beg to differ.”
He snorted. “Why, because I have magic? Magic is just another skill, like being able to sing or being really good at cooking. It doesn’t make me a better person, or smarter, or make us suddenly compatible.
What do we even have in common? You’re .
. . fuck, I don’t even know how old you are, and you’ve experienced things I can’t even begin to fathom.
We’ve been thrown together by a summoning spell, but when that’s gone and you’re not tethered to me anymore, what’s left, Zach?
What on earth is there about me that could make you wanna stick around?
” He realised his cheeks were wet, and he swiped away a tear.
Zach’s eyes closed, and he looked immeasurably sad.
“Oh, sweetness. I want to go back in time and find every single person who ever made you feel like you’re not good enough and rip them to shreds.
” His eyes snapped open with a fierce expression.
“I have a feeling I’ll need to start with that piece of shit, Edward.
” He leaned forward until their foreheads were touching and his breath ghosted over Drew’s face as he said, “You are not only sweet and kind but so damn smart, and you make me laugh so much. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve laughed so freely?
It is not your magic that makes me want you, Drew Phillips.
It’s everything about you that makes you, you.
Yes, I’m older than dirt, and I’ve seen some shit, but I reckon we’re still a better love story than Twilight. ”
That made Drew huff out a small laugh.
“I may be some crazy mix of angel and demon, but one of my powers is sadly not being able to see the future,” Zach continued.
“I want to be with you even after we break Oberon’s hold on me and the tethering spell as well.
Will we last the distance? I hope we will, but I don’t know for sure.
You might get sick of me. Who knows. But I’m willing to try if you are.
I want to date you and get to know you better and see where this goes.
So I’m asking you . . . Is that something you want as well? ”
Another tear slipped down Drew’s cheek and he sniffled a little but nodded, their foreheads rubbing together. “Yes, I want that more than anything.”
“I’m glad we’ve got that settled,” Zach said.
Drew tried to meet Zach’s eyes but ended up going cross-eyed instead. He laughed and pulled back, but ducked in again, this time to press his lips to Zach’s. “Thank you for being so patient with me.”
“It’s my pleasure,” Zach assured him.
“I wish I had more experience with relationships so I wouldn’t keep fucking up.”
Fire flashed in Zach’s eyes and he growled, deep and low in his chest. For an actual angel, he pulled off “demon” remarkably well.
“I’m glad no one else has gotten to touch you but me,” Zach gritted out.
“Just the thought of someone else laying their hands on you . . .” He trailed off, and the fire dimmed then died out.
He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. “Sweetness, you are mine. I know that’s archaic and wrong on so many fucking levels, but I don’t even want to think about you with someone else.
I’m glad you don’t have any experience because that means I’m your first in everything.
I’m the one who gets to show you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams. I’m the one who gets to experience everything with you.
I’m the only one who gets to put their hands on you. ”
Drew chuckled and hugged Zach to him because he was being rather sweet, but he did give him a couple of condescending pats on the head as well because he was also being a possessive bastard.
“Calm down, you big idiot, before those flames turn into glowing red flags. I’ve not been with anyone else, so there’s no point getting your panties in a twist over shit that hasn’t happened.
Besides, it wasn’t the sex stuff I was talking about.
It’s all the other stuff that goes with a relationship. ”
Zach managed to look contrite, which was a feat in itself. “Sorry,” he mumbled.
“It’s okay, but you’ll have to reign that shit in if you ever want to get back into Heaven, you know. I don’t think they like their angels being all fiery-eyed and growly.”
“I told you, I’ve changed too much to ever go back. They’d never accept me after what I’ve had to do.”
Zach looked sad again, and Drew silently cursed himself for bringing it up.
He’d meant it as a joke, but clearly, it was way too soon for jokes.
Drew cast his mind about for a way to cheer Zach up and felt a delicious thrill go through him as the perfect idea occurred to him.
He motioned for Zach to get up off his knees, and then stood himself.
He pushed Zach down until he was sitting on the rock where Drew had been, and then he sank to his knees.
“What are you doing, sweetness?” Zach asked, curious.
Drew gestured around them. “We seem to have found a quiet little corner of the island that’s free of tourists.
Since we won’t make the next ferry back, we have at least an hour to kill.
I thought now might be the perfect time to get some more relationship experience.
” He waggled his eyebrows in a manner he hoped looked suggestive and not just deranged.
Zach smirked as he caught on to what Drew was implying and he popped the button open on his jeans. “Why, Mr Phillips, I never thought you’d have a kink for public indecency.”
“I figure I gotta try everything at least once,” Drew shot back. He pulled the zipper down and leaned in close to add in a whisper, “But I have to say, I won’t be the one with his dick out in public.”
Zach grinned. “No, but you will be doing some very indecent things to me.”
“True. Now, hurry up and get these jeans out of my way.”
The trouble with skin-tight jeans, Drew learned, was that they were remarkably difficult to get out of in a hurry.
They were too tight for Zach to simply roll them down his thighs, and when he pushed them down around his ankles, the rock he was sitting on was too pointy for his angelic ass.
Eventually, he shucked the jeans entirely—after first having to undo his laces and take off his boots—and then he folded the jeans and placed them on the rock as a cushion of sorts.
It was an entire production.
“Are you just about done?” Drew asked archly.
Zach waved at his exposed junk in a regal manner.
“All yours.” It was unfair, Drew thought, just how sexy Zach looked at that moment.
Anyone else who was sitting on a rock in just a T-shirt and socks would look ridiculous, but Zach looked like sex personified.
Maybe it was the fact he was already hard in anticipation, and a drop of precum was already beading at the tip of his cock?
Nonetheless, he was sexy as sin, and Drew wasn’t going to waste another minute. He needed to taste him.