Bonedust

waiting for an answer, he looped his arm around Gabriel’s waist and pulled him close and they just sat there for a few minutes, silence looping between them.
    “You should turn those,” Gabriel murmured, pointing to the flames rising up around the steaks.
    Urban cursed under his breath and finished cooking them, keeping an eye on the flames. Once they were done, he pulled out the package of paper plates from the bag and served their dinner with a side of chips. Pandora sat at his side, drool beading and dropping to the ground as she watched them eat. Urban kept her plate on the log so it could cool.
    The first bite was heaven in his mouth—tangy and full of juices, the flavor exploding over his tongue. “Oh my Goddess,” he moaned after chewing and swallowing. Gabriel had cut his into strips and was eying it. Urban grinned. “You’d better be finished by the time I am, else I’m eating yours.” The man laughed and took a bite and Urban was pleased to see the satisfaction on his face. “Good, huh? I’m a great cook. Maybe I’ll open a steakhouse.”
    “I can see it now—a steakhouse slash strip club,” Gabriel grinned, teasing.
    “Admit it. Watching me dance while eating a perfectly cooked steak? You’d come before you could even touch yourself.” Urban smirked.
    “Cocky.”
    “True.”
    They finished their meal. Pandora, tired of waiting for her dinner, snatched the bag of chips. Urban chased her around the camp site, but the dog danced gleefully out of reach until he gave up. “Fine! I’m eating your steak!” he yowled as the hound settled down to munch on the chips spilling from the bag.
    He got two bites in before Pan was back at his side, looking doleful and guilty. Urban tossed her the steak, unable to take her puppy-dog eyes. By the time they’d finished and cleaned up, packing up what they no longer needed, the fire was the only light they had. It flickered and glowed, dancing seductively.
    “It’s getting cold,” Gabriel said, rubbing his arms through his jacket sleeves.
    “Good thing we’ve got a fire, huh?” Urban stretched out on the ground beside the pit, arms locked behind him. The grass tickled his palms. He glanced up at the other man and watched him for a moment. Gabriel seemed uneasy, glancing into the forest around them every few moments and then back at the fire. “You wanna lie down?”
    “I won’t be able to sleep either way.”
    “I wasn’t planning on letting you sleep.” Urban grinned, then hauled himself to his feet. He unzipped the pink sleeping bag part of the way, folding the flap down.
    Gabriel smiled and nodded slowly. He kicked off his shoes, leaving them on the log before slipping into the sleeping bag. He lay down on his side, arm propping his head up, and Urban burrowed in behind him. His arm coiled around the man’s torso, burying his nose in Gabriel’s hair. He pulled him close, relishing the heat radiating between them. “You do smell good.”
    Gabriel twisted in his arms, turning to face him, his hand cupping Urban’s face. “You’re beautiful too, you know. I didn’t tell you that before…but you are.” He smiled, leaning in for a kiss. Urban trailed fingers through Gabriel’s hair, his tongue riding the line of the other man’s lips.
    Gabriel pulled away. “I don’t know how to have a relationship or anything. I’ve…never known anyone but Jeremie, and believe me…” He gave a small shiver. “That wasn’t something I enjoyed, ever.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be. I’m free now. I just need to make sure I stay free.”
    Urban pulled him close, kissing him gently. “I’ll make sure you stay free. We’ll get Jeremie, Gabe. Maybe not tonight but we’ll get him and—” Whatever he was going to say died on his lips as the laugh-hack caw of a crow rang out through the forest, cutting the crickets off mid-chirp.
    Gabriel stiffened, hands clenching in Urban’s shirt. “No…”
    “Gabe—” But the man was already pulling away, scrambling out of the sleeping bag like someone had lit it on fire. His breathing was sharp as he fumbled with his shoes. Urban reached out and clamped a hand down on Gabriel’s shoulder, spinning him around to face him. “Gabriel, it’s alright. It’s just a crow. There are hundreds of crows in the middle of the forest.”
    “No. It’s an omen. Crows don’t just randomly appear. It’s following us! It’s not a real crow, Urban. Vampires, they shape shift; they’re wily and cruel