No one human other than a gorgon's mate had ever gotten this close to one, not safely at least. It was fortunate despite the unfortunate circumstances of that blindness.

Those snakes were so very happy to wind around Jack's hand loosely; around fingers and around his wrist. Bump against palm and fingers. Whatever they could to seek out that attention and those touches, far easier to show their eagerness and pleasure at the fact they were being touched at all. All the while Gabriel was still able to sleep so soundly, an arm tightened around Jack but that was all.