Weeks passed, and the trial was put back on track. The police linked the saboteur's fingerprints on the devices with those found on fragments of the bomb that had destroyed our first lab months before. They had also found matching prints on several of the threatening letters sent to our new lab, though the letters were unsigned and there was still no name to put to the saboteur's description.
Life carried on as it always did. Gabriel and I made dinner in the evenings, and then we would sit together on the couch and talk or read or watch TV. It was simple and easy and comforting, the beginnings of a life together.
I opened the apartment door and literally ran into Peter. Friday night was always Girls' night, and our men usually went and smoked cigars and played poker, or whatever it was that groups of guys did together. Peter hastily steadied me on my feet with a smile, pressing a platonic kiss to my cheek. "I trust our wives are suitably intoxicated," he asked with a grin.
I laughed. "We may or may not have killed more than a few bottles of wine while we watched Magic Mike."
Kendall snorted as he cleaned off the dining room table. "That movie is complete crap. It's just eye candy for women."
I arched an eyebrow as I tugged off my heels, bracing one hand on Peter's shoulder for balance. "Yeah, because you guys love Baywatch for its incredible plot." I waved a stiletto pointedly at the five men rolling their eyes at me. "I don't know what you guys are complaining about, anyway. You should be thanking me for my pick. I essentially just got your significant others drunk and horny. They're pretty easy lays right now."
There was a heartbeat of silence as the males processed my words, and then a mass exodus that made me laugh. "Thanks for having us over, Gray. Next Friday, right? Bye." A parade of men hastily kissed my cheek as they passed on their way out of the apartment, and I grinned as I bolted the door behind them.
Strong arms wrapped around me from behind, and Gabriel pressed a kiss to my neck. He smelled like bourbon and cigars and the cologne he knew I loved. "So, are you an easy lay, too," he teased as I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck.
I grinned and kissed him, gently pushing him back to the couch. As he sat with a grin, I straddled him and began unbuttoning his shirt. "Oh, Mr. Gray. I'm tipsy, I'm turned on, and I'm just looking for some innocent young man to have my wicked way with."
His hands gripped my hips as I claimed his mouth for a deep, steamy kiss, and his brown eyes were dilated and smoldering when I eventually pulled back. "Lucky me."
I laughed and slid his open shirt over his shoulders, exposing a broad chest smattered with chest hair to my wandering hands. Even as I pressed a kiss to his collar bone, large hands were sliding beneath my skirt to fondle my thigh and the sensation of his powerful hands on me sent shivers up my spine.
Moving up from his chest, I ran my lips along his jaw until I could capture his mouth with my own. The course stubble covering Gabriel's jaw rubbed against my softer skin as he kissed me back, his hands tightening on my thighs as he deepened the kiss. Still gentle, it became hungry and possessive, sending little frissons of pleasure straight to my belly when he caught my bottom lip between his teeth and tugged gently before releasing it. His warm hands slipped from beneath my skirt to rest on my waist and he held me to him as his lips moved to my neck, eliciting a soft sigh from my as I arched my neck to give him better access.
A cold breeze suddenly touched my chest, startling me enough that I stiffened slightly and glanced down. Though his hands were still on my waist, he'd telekinetically unbuttoned my shirt. I shot Gabriel a sardonic smile as he leered at me, unabashed. "That's cheating."
"I prefer the term, 'expediting the process'," he countered, already pushing the shirt down my arms and nuzzling the valley between my breasts. I started laughing and felt him smile against my skin. "Shall we move this to the bedroom?"
Still grinning, I climbed off him and stood, holding out my hand to him, which he took without hesitation and let me tug him to his feet. His dark eyes were sparkling as I pulled him to the bedroom. Without warning, he yanked me back to him and I found myself pressed against his chest as he towered over me. He grinned at me as invisible hands began disrobing me, and I rolled my eyes in amusement as he showed off. My skirt and panties were soon discarded on the floor with my shirt, quickly followed by my bra like an X-rated trail of breadcrumbs.
Still grinning down at me, he backed me the rest of the way to the bed before suddenly hoisting me off my feet (I was positive he must have used telekinesis for that) and tossed me backwards onto the bed. I was laughing when he climbed on top of me and pulled my leg up around his waist, burying his head in my cleavage.
His hand, however, seemed less interested in making me laugh; it had found its way to the back of my thigh again. My giggle ended abruptly on a gasp when his hand slid between my legs and one tantalizing finger ran slowly up my folds and I shivered in anticipation.
By now, Gabriel had moved from my throat to my bare breasts. As one long finger slowly circled that little bud of nerves between my legs, his mouth was focused on my nipple, nipping at the sensitive flesh. I ran my hands through his thick hair, reveling in the sensations. He began kissing his way down my stomach, taking his time on the way down to nip and lick along all those sensitive places that he knew I loved.
He kissed the inside of both my thighs before slowly working his way between my legs. I was already wet for him, but Gabriel was an over-achiever at heart and wouldn't let things progress without teasing me a little first. His tongue licked at the whisper-thin skin where my leg met my groin, and I shivered in need. He continued teasing me until I thought I would burst into flames, and when he finally took one long, slow lick between my folds, I nearly came off the bed.
One long finger slipped inside me then, my insides practically dripping with need for him, and I bucked helplessly as he expertly rubbed at my g-spot. My toes curled as he patiently pressed me closer and closer to that wonderful ledge, bringing me to the brink again and again only to stop at the last second, until finally I whimpered his name in need. Only then did he begin licking and rubbing in earnest, and I shattered with a cry.
Grinning, he slid back up me as I panted and flipped me onto my stomach. He licked and nibbled his way down my spine until he reached the small of my back, then straightened and hoisted my hips up until I was on my hands and knees, completely exposed to him. He cupped between my legs, enjoying seeing me utterly at his mercy and dripping with need for him.
He slid into me slowly, both of us savoring the sensation like fine wine. The feeling of being stretched and filled by this man, the most powerful man in the world, was something I hoped I never quite got used to. He took me slow and easy – there was no rush tonight as he gripped my hips for leverage.
Eventually, though, I decided that I'd had enough of him holding the proverbial reins. Using a move I'd learned in a self-defense class, I hooked my leg around him and swung us until he was on his back, then straddled him. His surprised laugh ended on a moan when I took him into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the head of his penis. After all, what was good for the goose, and all that.
As he had done to me, I teased him, bringing him again and again to the point of completion without letting him fall over that incredible cliff. It wasn't until he growled my name in frustration that I finally grinned and straddled him, slowly lowering myself onto him until we were merged completely.
Intending to make this last, I swirled my hips instead of riding him, shivering at the delicious feel of him moving against my womb. His eyes, so recently light and full of laughter, were dark now with need and love as he took my hand and began pressing kisses along the inside of my wrist, inhaling the scent of my perfume. Touched at the unexpected display of tenderness, I leaned down and kissed him gently.
What had started as playful sex slowly morphed into lovemaking, and I could see my own devotion echoed in his eyes as he cupped my cheek with his palm, our bodies pressed together everywhere. As I came circled again towards that blissful cliff, I buried my face in his neck, coming to completion when he wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. My body clenched around him like a vice, and his arms tensed around me just as tightly as he finally reached his own peak.
0o0o0o0o0
A few hours and a ton of beard burn later, I was pulled from a deep sleep by the sudden lack of warmth when Gabriel abruptly removed his arm from my waist and sat up in bed. Curious, I rolled over and put a questioning hand on his back. "Someone's in the apartment," he said lowly. "Stay here."
"I'll call the police," I said softly, already climbing out of bed and throwing a robe around my naked form as I reached for my cell phone. "Oh, crap, my phones in the other room." Gabriel glanced at me as he pulled on his discarded pants, but our attention was diverted when footsteps stopped softly outside the bedroom door.
The handle began to turn silently, the intruder trying not to wake us, and Gabriel somehow managed to vanish into the shadows behind the door. Stuck between the window and the bed, I squeaked quietly in alarm and dropped to the floor, silently cursing the storage boxes that prevented me from hiding under the bed.
I put my hand over my mouth to stifle the sounds of my breathing as I heard booted feet move into the room. Almost as soon as the intruder was inside, the door slammed shut and a shadowy figure was thrown against the wall and pinned there by some unseen force, his feet dangling uselessly above the ground. Gabriel materialized out of the shadows to stand before him, his hand outstretched to hold the captive man telekinetically in the air.
Unsure what to do – the man was pinned on the wall I was hiding beside and could see me perfectly – I stood and watched as Gabriel slowly stalked towards his cornered prey, an unfamiliar gun casually dangling from his other hand. "You're not just a robber, are you? Robbers don't carry military grade silencers." His dark head was tilted and I could practically see the gears turning in his mind as he stared at the pinned man: if the man hadn't come for our possessions, then he was here for us, and it would take much more than a gun to kill Gabriel. We seemed to reach the same conclusion simultaneously, and Gabriel's outstretched hand turned until it looked like he was Force Choking the intruder, who coughed and gagged as an invisible hand closed on his windpipe. "You're here for Hero? Why?" The hand loosened enough that the man could speak.
"I wasn't paid to ask questions," he snarled. "My orders were to kill her, that's it."
Someone had put a hit out on me? They'd actually hired an assassin to kill me? Perversely, I was torn between being terrified and being absolutely thrilled that I warranted a hit man.
"Who hired you," Gabriel snarled.
"I don't know. My employer handles the clients and tells me the target. That's it." The man's eyes narrowed at Gabriel. "Are you going to kill me or what? Let's not drag this out."
Gabriel glanced at me, and all I could do was look frightened. It was definitely not my finest moment, but I was a little out of my league here. Finally, Gabriel looked back at the man. "I would really, really enjoy killing you, but it would upset Hero, and I really don't like seeing her cry. So here is what will happen next: you will return to your employer and tell him that Dr. Ramsey is under my protection, which makes her off limits to anyone unwilling to make an enemy of Sylar."
The man's mask of boredom slipped slightly and his eyes widened. "You're Sylar?"
Gabriel's lips parted, but it was more a menacing display of teeth than a smile, and he clicked his tongue sarcastically. "I guess that wasn't in her file, but I trust you'll add it, because if anything happens to her, you will see exactly how savage and ruthless I will become. She is the only person for whom I will become Sylar again."
Gabriel released the man, who instantly landed on his feet like a cat. The man glanced at the silencer in Gabriel's hand, and Gabriel shot him a dry look that clearly said, "you can't be serious." Shrugging, the other man moved to the living room and Gabriel escorted him out, his eyes watchful.
As soon as they left the room, I more or less collapsed on the bed. My heart was pounding a sharp staccato in my chest, blood rushed in my ears, and the bitter taste of adrenalin coated my tongue. Absurdly, it occurred to me that if I were in Victorian England, this would be an ideal time to swoon.
"Hero?"
Between the blood rushing in my ears and my head between my knees, I could barely hear him. "I seem...to be...hyper...ventil...ating..." I gasped out.
"Well...just stop it right now," he said firmly, clearly unsure what to do. I shot him an incredulous look as he hovered bedside me.
Gradually, I forced myself to calm down, and my breathing slowly evened out until at last I could sit up. "They hired someone to kill me. To actually end my life."
Assured that I wasn't panicking anymore, he sat on the bed and pulled me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me. "There's no need to fear them, Hero. They won't lay a finger on you now that they know I'm here."
I rested my forehead against his, eyes closed. "Did you mean it? That whole thing about becoming Sylar for me?"
"Every word." He raised his head and tucked some hair behind my ear, meeting my gaze seriously. "I love you and there's nothing I wouldn't do for you, even if it means reopening that chapter of my life."
I smiled and kissed him gently. "That is somehow the sweetest and most disturbing thing I've ever heard. I love you, too, you bizarrely twisted man."
He pressed an affectionate kiss to my nose before releasing me.