The next morning the hosting ministry team gathered for an early breakfast in the hotel lobby before Gabriel and Elias left for the next town. Elias had woken up wrapped in Gabriel’s arms, the preacher’s thick body still curled protectively around him from their long, quiet night of cuddling. They’d showered together again at dawn — Gabriel’s rough hands washing every trace of Travis’s scent off Elias’s skin with slow, possessive strokes, whispering, “You’re mine, my love. No one else gets to leave their mark on you.” No sex, just closeness. Elias still smelled like Gabriel now — cocoa butter, Gucci Guilty, and that deeper masculine warmth that always clung to the preacher.
Elias stepped into the breakfast area looking sharp as ever: crisp black Loro Piana button-down tucked into slim gray Tom Ford trousers, black Balenciaga Chelsea boots, and the black leather Burberry trench draped over one arm. His wavy hair was pushed back, tortoise frames on, and he carried that quiet confidence that made heads turn. Gabriel was already at the buffet table in his usual charismatic mode — white dress shirt sleeves rolled up, showing those strong forearms, smiling and shaking hands with the team.
Patricia was already seated at the long table with her coffee, eyes sharp. She watched Elias walk in, then watched Gabriel’s gaze immediately soften and find him across the room. The way Gabriel’s foot had nudged Elias under the table the night before hadn’t escaped her. The way Elias had smelled like Gabriel for weeks hadn’t escaped her. And now Elias smelled like Gabriel again — stronger, fresher — even though he’d spent time alone with Travis last night.
She waited until Elias sat down across from her, then leaned in with that sweet-but-pointed smile. “Morning, Elias. You look well-rested. Funny… you smell exactly like Gabriel this morning. Again.” Her eyes flicked to the preacher, who was walking over with two plates of food. “It’s almost like you two share more than just a room these days.”
Elias’s cheeks warmed, but he kept his voice even and graceful. “We’re close on the road. That’s all.” He didn’t elaborate. He didn’t need to.
Gabriel set a plate in front of Elias — eggs, fruit, a croissant, exactly how he liked it — and slid into the seat beside him, one hand resting casually on the back of Elias’s chair. “Morning, Patricia. Everything okay?” His tone was warm, charismatic, unflappable, but his thumb brushed lightly along Elias’s shoulder blade under the table — a quiet, protective claim only Elias could feel.
Patricia took a slow sip of coffee, eyes moving between them. “Just noticing things. The way you two look at each other during worship. The way you always seem to know where the other is in a room. And the scent thing… it’s consistent.” She smiled again, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m happy for you both if there’s something there. Just… be careful. The district has eyes everywhere, and some people might not understand.”
Gabriel’s smile never faltered. He kept his voice smooth and confident, the preacher in full control. “We appreciate the concern, Patricia. The Lord’s been good to us on this journey. We’re focused on the work — the music, the message, the harvest. Anything personal stays personal.” Under the table, his hand found Elias’s knee and gave it a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
Elias stayed quiet, but the annoyance from the night before was still there. He picked at his food, letting Gabriel handle the conversation, but his foot pressed back against Gabriel’s under the table — a silent “I’m still yours.”
The rest of breakfast moved on, but Patricia’s gaze kept drifting back to them — the way Gabriel leaned in to murmur something low in Elias’s ear, the way Elias’s shoulders relaxed the second Gabriel touched him, the way they both seemed to breathe easier when they were close. She didn’t say anything else, but the suspicion was thicker now, like she was filing away every little detail for later.
After breakfast, as the team loaded into vans, Patricia pulled Gabriel aside for a moment while Elias waited by the GLS. “You know I care about you, Gabriel. If there’s something real happening… I just hope you’re being smart. The organization has rules about appearances.”
Gabriel’s smile stayed easy, but his eyes were steel. “I’m always smart about the people I care about, Patricia. Always.”
He walked back to Elias, slid into the passenger seat of the GLS, and the second the door closed he reached over and rested his hand on Elias’s thigh. “She’s watching us closer now, my love. But I’ve got us. I always will.”
Elias exhaled, starting the engine. “I know. I just… I hate feeling like we’re hiding something beautiful.”
Gabriel squeezed his thigh, voice low and protective. “We’re not hiding. We’re protecting. And tonight, when we’re alone in the next hotel room… I’ll remind you exactly how serious you are to me. No more questions. No more doubts. Just you and me, deep and slow, until you feel claimed again.”
To get in touch with the author, send them an email.
