The First Mate

Chapter 16: Rage, Greed and Lust

I was almost thankful for the chaos that was my home at the current time.
I floated Jez into the den in the loungeroom, smiling tightly at Dr. Jones who rose from the sofa, a bag in hand.
"I just want her checked over," I said to him, turning to see Dane coming down the stairs with a pair of clothing.
He stopped a foot away from me, his eyes weary I was angry, especially when Theo came in with Gabriel and the others.
I stepped to him, taking the clothes and kissed him. "Later."
He gave a tight smile, kissing me back and nodded. "Damien is waking up."
I pulled on the sweatpants and singlet, taking the small bag Elsa had found in Jezette's shop front with my name on it.
I opened it, thankful to her to see the herbs I needed.
"Give me five minutes." I headed for the Punishment Room.
Which was now my alter room thanks to it's incredibly forty inch thick steel walls that encased it, since it originally was designed as a panic room.
I halted at the door, turning to look over my shoulder.
Gabriel followed, looking around casually as he did, stopping just behind me and looked down at me with a curious brow raise.
"You can't come in here."
His hand reached around me, opening the heavy door with ease, the flood of magic washing over me like a summer breeze.
He took a deep inhale before he gave a rumbled answer. "Immortality is a madness of its own, darling." He pecked my cheek, making me scowl and blush from the excitement of his touch as he brushed past me, stepping into my altar room and waiting with his hand on the door for me to stop in.
"Don't do that." I grumbled, entering and going to my workbench that replaced the bed.
The couches still huddled the corner, but the rack of sex toys was now replaced with books of witchcraft, herbs and crystals, along with my own personal journal.
The wall that once held a large X suspension rake was now filled with a large shelf of herbs, ingredients and tools for potions making and spell casting.
Gabriel's fingers travelled the top shelf, just low enough for me to reach the back, meaning he had to lean forward slightly to see the labelled bottles.
"You found fairydust?" He asked, his voice pitched with surprise as he pulled out a small vial filled with opalescent powder.
I shrugged, going around the table with my back to the wall so I could see him as I worked. "Some."
He made a noise of consideration as he looked at the vial, no bigger than his pinkie finger, which bore a large ruby ring of impressive design.
"Must have been a tiny thing." He mused.
I raised my eyes from my mortar and pestle. "What do you mean?"
He placed it back on the shelf, shrugging as he continued to look over my things. "Usually a fairy produces much more than that when harvested."
I paled, the stone grinding tool hitting the bench harshly.
He turned, a brow risen.
"I didn't harvest them." I snarled, unable to stop the anger at the thought of....
I picked the grinder up and continued to pummel. "I'm not that kind of Witch."
I felt the question rise in him.
I sighed. "I asked for permission to take some."
I felt the incredulous look he gave me as he turned slowly, his eyes assessing me for a moment.
"How?" He gave a noise of amused surprise, taking a few feet towards me, leaning down with a somewhat warning stare. "Fairies are vicious and deadly."
I scowled. "So are Vampires."
His brow rose and his mouth twisted down, shrugging his shoulders in agreeance. "Touché."
He tapped my nose, retreating back to my shelf before I could slap him.
Or kiss him.
Shuddup.
I went back to finishing the potion while Gabriel moved about quietly, occasionally pulling something off a shelf to look at it and asked me small questions about how I acquired them.
Only a few ingredients I refused to answer, mostly, exactly how I got things like bloodhounds tooth, ogre bile and nymph pheromones.
The fairy dust was honestly the easier to answer.
After shutting him down about the plant Grave Walker, I corked the finished potion.
"Is it because your mates are unaware you got them yourself?" He asked absently, looking at the shelf of ingredients from the centre of the room.
"Don't know what you're talking about." I said, pocketing the vial and two extra.
I moved to my shelf, putting away the used supplies and grabbed a few extra things incase.
I reached for the top shelf, arching into the cabinets to reach the small bag at the back.
It slipped my fingers and I gave a small growl in frustration.
Gabriels breath was suddenly hot on my shoulder, causing me to shudder as my hand braced against the shelf, acutely aware of his body pressed against mine as he reached up and easily grabbed the bag that ran from me.
He pressed it into my hand that was outstretched still, my body frozen from him closeness.
He gave a deep throated chuckled, the noise rumbling his chest against my back. His fingertips slid down my arm, caressing the skin to my shoulder.
My lips parted in a silent moan as his hand moved to the back of my neck, his thumb pressing under my jaw to expose the bare side of my neck.
He moved my hair with his nose, trailing his cold skin against my burning one.
"Uh...." I breathed, a strangled noise trying to form words.
His nose ran the length of my jaw to my ear, his lips brushing the skin as he inhaled my scent.
"Still as divine as ever." He purred.
I blushed, not expecting the compliment.
He smirked at the sight, his nose moving down the side of my neck to place a soft but firm skin against my skin.
I couldn't stop my gasp of pleasure, my body pressing back into him and my neck tilting further, giving him permission and access.
His hand tightened on my neck, his other moving to pull my hand down finally, spinning me slightly so I was face to face with him.
His hand cupping my neck, his mouth kissing across my throat, pressing my wind pipe to choke off my breath in small gasps of pleasure he smirked at as he held my wrist by my side.
"Gabriel," I breathed, lost to a moment of his touch, but my voice tipped with restraint.
I wanted him.
Oh Goddess did I want him.
But, I had other things.
I had...
Gods, how is his mouth so skilled? I want it everywhere.
I growled at Annie.
"Gabriel, please." My voice came out a moan as his tongue flashed across my skin, his lips cold but his saliva as hot as fire.
He growled against me at the sound of his name, my beg, of the feeling of my pressing against him in desire.
He kissed my neck and jaw a few more times, more gently and controlled, before he pulled away, standing straight, pinning me slightly.
He stared down at me, his thumb stroking my jaw with soft touch.
He gave a confident, cocky smirk as his thumb travelled over my panting lips.
My lust was washed by annoyance at him, he was playing on the bond pull to make me give in.
The more I gave into desires, to him, the stronger the bond would become until we mated.
I scowled. "You're a jerk."
He shrugged, not releasing me. "You'll call me worse."
It took me a second to register what he said.
I slipped from his grip, seeing the surprise on his face as I was already halfway across the room.
"I'm sure I will. Just not in bed." I called over my shoulder, my stomach tightening at my own words.
He followed behind me, hands in his pockets and chuckling, knowing I was lying, but he enjoyed the chase.