enough he barely fit in the conference chair. He had a shaved head and goatee and unlike most of the men
in the room, he looked to be in his early forties. He epitomized the term ‘bad boy’. Ashby was immediately
reminded of his friend Mojo back in Arkadia.
“I don’t know how you have managed to keep them from killing you, Roman,” Gabriel said.
“It’s my bubbly personality, sir,” Roman said straight-faced. Ashby giggled.
“Baptista, pick either Lauri, Montana or Kurt to replace you, I am reassigning you to act as Ashby’s
protector.” Gabriel emphasized the correct names. Ashby scowled.
“I don’t need a babysitter, Gabriel, I’m a grown man,” he protested. Gabriel raised a dark elegant
eyebrow and smiled.
“I know you are a grown man, mon ange.” His voice was low and seductive. Ashby’s mind went blank.
Gabriel turned back around and kept talking.
“The rest of you let the others know that Ashby is of the utmost importance,” he said, leveling a look at
the rest of the men that had them gulping and inclining their heads.
“You know you being sexy and scrambling my brains won’t always work,” Ashby muttered.
“Then I will have to find other, more inventive ways to scramble your pretty brain.” Gabriel turned and
smiled widely at Ashby.
It was one the few true smiles Ashby had seen on the man since they had mated. He knew that his knees
would give out any moment. Stupid knees!
“Angel, I have a few more meetings this morning and afternoon, are you comfortable in acquainting
yourself with the club?” Gabriel asked, running his hand over Ashby’s blond curls.
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” He turned to where the twins sat.
“Can you guys show me around?” he asked. Two sets of eyes went wide with surprise before twin shit-
eating grins stared back at him. He had the strangest feeling he had made a pact with the devil.
“Anyone but those two,” Roman started and Gabriel held up a hand. Roman quieted.
“David and Daniel are the closest in age to Ashby and will probably be the best to show him around.
Baptista of course will accompany them.” He looked to Baptista who nodded.
“Sure,” Ashby said and then got an evil idea. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his
prince’s neck before plastering himself against the hard planes of his mate’s body, allowing his prince to
feel his growing desire press against him. He placed a chaste kiss on his lips and stared up at his mate.
“Have fun in your meetings.” He stepped back and motioned for the twins to follow. The twins took one
look at their dazed leader and edged around the other side of the table, as if to be on the safe side before
taking off behind Ashby. Baptista followed behind the three small chatting men.
“Sir?” Roman started.
Gabriel shocked the entire room by breaking out into chuckles which led to full-blown laughter. His
angel thought nothing to speak his mind, argue with him and then tease him in retaliation, and God help
him he was falling in love with the man for it.
Chapter 5
“Oh my God! Did you see his face?” David exclaimed.
“I wasn’t looking at his face, I was looking at the growing bulge behind his slacks zipper,” Daniel said,
giggling.
“Hey! No eyeing my mate’s private of privates,” Ashby said, grinning.
“Does he know you have his balls?” Daniel asked. Ashby shrugged.
“He’ll figure it out,” he said matter-of-factly. The three looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“He smiled,” David said softly. Daniel did an arm pump.
“We’ve never seen him smile before. It’s about time he was happy,” Daniel said, agreeing with his twin.
“You’ve never seen him smile? How long have you known him?” Ashby asked. Daniel held up his
fingers as if he were counting.
“He turned us in 1882…” Daniel began.
“1881, it was 1881 because that was the same year that Billy the Kid was shot and the Earp boys got in
that gunfight.” David argued. Daniel looked as if counting and then nodded.
“Yup, you’re right. 1881, so we’ve been with him for about one hundred and thirty-two years,” Daniel
said proudly. Ashby gaped at him.
“He never smiled, not even once?” he asked. Baptista shook his head.
“He turned me in 1199 after the death of Richard the Lionheart. I saw him almost smile when he killed
an enemy once. It was more like he was baring his teeth, though,” Baptista added.
“No smiling in the past eight hundred and fourteen years?” Ashby whispered, his heart aching for his