Page 20 of Gargoyle Reaper

As Ezekiel kneeled on the plush rug next to the tub, Archer turned to find he was being watched intently by the gorgeous Slayer. Archer’s stomach tightened—the usual annoyance at being scrutinized replaced by a flutter of something else, something wild and reckless.

"Sorry," Ezekiel said, handing him the juice. He tucked a stubborn hank of unruly hair behind Archer’s ear. The touch was brief but sparked a trail of fire on Archer’s skin. He held the juice in one hand and allowed the other to drift over his burgeoning erection.

“No worries.” Archer’s words came out strangled, his vocal cords not quite on board with playing it cool. “You don’t have to hold back.”

“Good to know,” Ezekiel remarked, his eyes crinkling with amusement. He moved back, settling on his haunches, yet the warmth between them remained.

Archer noted that Ezekiel had slipped out of his clothes and was now wearing a gold satin bathrobe. He’d be lying tohimself if he didn’t admit how badly he ached to see the goods. However, the one thing Ezekiel was spot on about was the need to decompress from what they’d endured that day. Plus, he still had many questions. And from what Ezekiel said earlier, there were still more secrets to be revealed.

Archer sipped the juice, savoring the tart sweetness as it slid down his throat. He set the glass aside and leaned back, letting the warm water lap at his chest. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so relaxed, despite the surreal circumstances.

“So,” he said, trying to keep his voice casual. “You mentioned there were some things you needed to tell me.”

Ezekiel nodded, his expression growing serious. “Yes, and I hope you'll hear me out before reacting.”

Archer raised an eyebrow. “That doesn't sound ominous at all.”

Ezekiel laid a hand on Archer’s arm. “It's nothing bad. It relates to some of the unique aspects of our biology.”

Archer straightened a bit. His previous state of relaxation was slowly diminishing. “Unique aspects? Like the whole healing light thing?”

“That's part of it, yes.” Ezekiel took a deep breath. “Archer, as Nephilim, you have abilities beyond normal humans, but also beyond what a gargoyle possesses. But there's something else you need to know about male Nephilim specifically.” He paused, seeming to gather his courage. “You can bear children.”

Archer gave a quick shake of his head, his stomach plummeting. “This is a joke. C’mon Ezekiel. I’m a doctor. I guaran-fucking-tee you, no human male is capable of becoming pregnant.” He let out a derisive snort. “I’ve experienced many amazing and unexpected revelations today. But I’m not buying intothat. You can forget it.”

Ezekiel appeared stricken. While it hurt to see Ezekiel upset, he didn’t believe him - couldn’t believe him. Why Ezekielwas making up such a goofy story was beyond him, but he wasn’t going to encourage the delusion.

He sighed. What had he been thinking? He’d been on the verge of falling into Ezekiel’s arms, ready to join the Shadow Slayer cause and save the world. He rolled his eyes, mostly at himself.

God, I’m a fool.

The water had cooled, and so had his desire. What he truly needed was about twelve hours of sleep and some time alone to process his thoughts. And being around the delectable Ezekiel, who had the nerve to smell so fucking delicious, wasn’t helping him keep a clear head.

Archer rose from the tub, no longer worried about being naked in front of Ezekiel. He needed to get away from him, needed some space from everything. All the unbelievable things that had happened to him that day were about to make his brain explode. Piling anything else on top of that would tip him over the edge.

“Let me help you, dearest.” Ezekiel steadied him by his elbow.

Archer drew away from him, stepping out of the tab and yanking a towel from the rail. “I’m okay,” he snapped.

Ezekiel's face fell at Archer’s harsh tone, but he stepped back. “I understand this is a lot to take in,” he said softly. “I didn't mean to overwhelm you. But you had to know before we…” He rubbed his forehead. “It wouldn’t be fair to you if I didn’t say anything.”

Archer wrapped the towel around his waist, avoiding Ezekiel’s gaze. “Look, I appreciate you helping me today, making sure I was safe and all that. But I need some time alone to process everything.”

“Of course," Ezekiel replied, though Archer could hear the disappointment in his voice. “I’ll take one of the other rooms. Ileft a snack tray on the nightstand and laid out a robe for you on the bed. If you need me, I’ll be in the last room down the hall.”

As Ezekiel turned to leave, a pang of guilt hit Archer. Despite his frustration and disbelief, Ezekiel was a good man. He was thoughtful and kind, and his only thought all day had been to help. An undeniable pull still existed between them, even if he wasn't ready to fully acknowledge their connection.

“Ezekiel,” he called out softly. The Slayer paused in the doorway, looking back with hopeful eyes. Archer sighed. “I'm sorry for snapping. I need time to consider everything. I hope you can understand.”

A sad smile graced Ezekiel’s lips. “I’m trying. We might be fated, but I’m realizing we come from such different worlds. I can’t simply expect you to accept everything without a second thought. I promise I’ll work on being less insistent. I’ve been lonely for many centuries and was so excited to meet you finally. But that doesn’t give me the right to push you before you’re ready. I apologize for that.”

Archer rubbed the back of his neck, still unable to meet Ezekiel’s eyes. “Thanks for that.”

Ezekiel was almost out of the room before he paused and looked over his shoulder. “Let me leave you with one more thing. Before today, would you have ever believed that a wound could be healed with a stream of light pouring from your hands?”

Archer turned away, unable to answer. By the time he was ready to respond, Ezekiel had left. His shoulders dropped, and he tossed the towel on the floor. He made his way into the bedroom, half expecting to see Ezekiel there, sitting on the bed, waiting.

Instead, he was alone, the way he’d asked to be.

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