Gabriel responded. His hand slid up to her elbow, and he drew her into him, until his warmth and scent enveloped her. Deidre wrapped her arms around his neck while his went securely around her body. She tucked her head into the crook of his neck, breathing him in. Her body ceased shaking, and her confusion faded, replaced by the hum of the bond between them.
"I asked the portals to bring me somewhere safe," she whispered.
"Maybe they weren't paying attention."
She lifted her head to look at him, unable to tell if he meant it as a joke and ready to bolt if not. His grip around her tightened at the tension in her body. Gabriel winked, the only indication she didn't need to run.
"Is this a decision or a moment?" he asked.
"I don't know."
"I'll make it easier. Do you want me to make love to you or hug you?"
Her face grew hot fast. Her blood was flying with desire. She wanted both, but she wasn't ready for what she suspected one meant. Ducking her head, she buried her face in the nape of his neck again.
"A moment," he said, amused. "You weren't so shy the other night."
"Oh, god," she said in embarrassment. "You weren't exactly forthcoming about who you are."
"What happened to Death letting you see the stars and moon instead of how dark the night is?"
"I must've sounded like a fool to you."
"No." His voice was low. "You made me want to see the world the way you do."
"That's why you stayed with me," she murmured.
"Yeah."
"You must have commitment issues. One night is okay. A lifetime?" she joked. "You flipped out when you realized you were shackled to me and tried not to kill me the next time we met."
"I'm not the one who swan-dived off a fucking building to get away from my mate."
She almost smiled. "I was scared."
"You weren't afraid of me when you went to bed with me. I'm the same person now as I was two days ago."
"A lot has changed. It's not normal to wake up and deal with all this," she said. "I feel like I'm missing something. Daniela knew me and there was a man on the beach when we landed. Said he'd waited a long time to tell me something."
"What was it?"
"Checkmate."
Gabriel laughed quietly.
"That means something to you, doesn't it?" she asked, puzzled.
He didn't answer.
"You won't tell me?"
"When you make a decision," he said.
It was her turn to be quiet. She closed her eyes, at ease in the arms of the man who scared her any other time.