ALPHA/OMEGA

Book One

FOUR

He woke to chirping birds, the voices of people in the streets below, and the gentle snoring of one completely asleep friar. Not only was Carl the least morning person he knew, an odd quirk in a holy man, but Carl's head was pillowed on his arm, cutting off much of the blood supply.

He tried to gently slip the arm free, but Carl groaned. "What?" Carl muttered.

"Good morning," he said right in the redhead's ear.

"Gah." Carl started, jerking away. He quickly rolled over, his startled eyes meeting his bedmate's gaze.

"You are truly not a morning person, are you?" He watched as a very clear series of thoughts passed across Carl's face. 'What's Van Helsing doing in my bed? Good lord we're both naked! Did last night really happen? Last night DID really happen! And now let's see how he reacts.'

Carl's expression softened. "Good morning, Gabriel."

He sucked in a breath. Unable to resist, he leaned over and kissed Carl. "I like that," he said quietly.

"What? Me jumping away from you of a morning?"

He chuckled. "You calling me Gabriel. Never seemed fair that I got to call you Carl, but you always called me Van Helsing."

Carl smirked. "I never minded. I - I was afraid to call you Gabriel."

"Why?"

Carl shrugged. "I thought that if I did, you might figure it out."

Gabriel smiled. "Figure out that you wanted me?" Carl nodded. "I've been resisting seducing you for years! You should have given me a hint sooner," he scolded.

"Hmf. You're just as good at hiding it as I was," Carl protested.

Gabriel pulled him close. "We have a great deal to make up for."

"I agree, but can we do it after we wash up?" Carl waved his hand in front of his face. "We're endangering both our lives with morning breath." At Gabriel's outraged expression, Carl said, "Sorry! Sorry. But it is both of us. Please, if I don't stick my head in a basin of water soon, I'll never wake up."

Releasing him, Gabriel watched as Carl stood unsteadily, dropping the sheets, and with utter ease in his nudity, crossed the room and literally stuck his head in the washbasin. He laughed as the friar shook his head, spraying droplets. "Are you always like this in the morning?" He'd never noticed, or at least, he'd tried not to watch Carl too much. Had he known the friar walked around naked in the mornings -- well, they might have some to an understanding much more quickly.

"Only the mornings after getting buggered senseless," Carl replied tartly. But he blushed almost immediately after. With deliberate nonchalance, he snagged his pants and pulled them on.

Gabriel frowned. Only a moment ago, Carl was perfectly comfortable. "Carl? What's the matter?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all. Are you hungry? I could go down and see if a tray can be sent up." Carl bustled about, washing his teeth, throwing gear together.

Swiftly, Gabriel rose and crossed the room. Grabbing Carl's arms, he said, "You do know last night was not just sex, don't you?" Carl didn't meet his eyes. "Carl?" Struck by a sudden horrible thought, Gabriel whispered, "Was it just sex to you?"

Carl's eyes immediately shot up. "No! Never!"

Relieved, Gabriel relaxed, slipping his arms around the other man and pulling him close. "Well, it wasn't for me either." He tightened his hold on Carl, dipping his head to breath softly into Carl's ear. "You didn't want me to be out here alone. And now, thank God, I'm not." With that he began nibbling on Carl's ear.

Carl sighed. "What do we do now?"

Gabriel grinned. "Skip breakfast." He began pulling Carl back to the bed.

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Later, Carl said, "Will we be able to keep this from Cardinal Jinette?"

"I don't see why not. Just don't tell him."

"He'll figure it out."

Gabriel rolled onto his side to look at Carl. "And if he does?"

Carl frowned. "We could be excommunicated."

Gabriel thought about it. For all that he'd become a hunter, Carl was still a man of faith. "What do you think about us? I mean, is being together worth the risk? I think it is. I think--" He hesitated. It wasn't normal for him to make emotional declarations, but he knew now was the time to reassure Carl. "I think that God might finally be making it all up to me."

Carl's broad smile lit up the room. "Well, when you put it that way, I must be an instrument of God's love, right? How can I deny my Lord's plan for me?" He pulled Gabriel to him, feasting on his lips.