Page 14 of Gargoyle Defender

Ronen’s voice was as orgasmic now as it was the night before. Nausea or no nausea, he wanted to see him again. After all, he felt like shit all the time anyway. Why not at least get something good out of it?

“Is that the only reason you called?” After spending most of his life with his head buried in computers, he had zero game.

A low chuckle sounded on the line before Ronen replied. “Well, no. If it’s convenient, I want to take you up on your offer. Would dinner tonight work?”

For a moment, one that passed so quickly he almost didn’t notice, his head stopped throbbing. He almost blurted out his triumph, but the drumming returned as if mocking him. Of course, Ronen wouldn’t have understood why he was raving about a headache, so there was that. But Ronen made him want to unload all his troubles, to share everything that worried him.

Doesn’t sound too romantic, though.

“Hey,” Ronen’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “If you’ve changed your mind, I…I understand.”

Tanner shot up to a sitting position. “No!” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to yell. I haven’t been getting a lot of sleep, and I…” Should shut up. Definitely shut up. “But I’d love to get dinner. I’m off work the next couple of days, so I wouldn’t have to rush off.”

Thankfully. It was the only reason he wasn’t coming completely unglued. He had time before making any final decisions about leaving his job.

“Wonderful. I can pick you up if that’s all right. Or, if you’re not comfortable with that, we can meet somewhere.”

Tanner almost said they could meet somewhere but paused. Ever since he began working at Nexus Solutions, he hadn’t felt safe. The realization startled him. He hadn’t connected those dots at all. The incident the night before hadn’t exactly helped his outlook, either.

“Actually, if it’s not too much of a hassle, would you mind picking me up? I can meet you in the guest parking lot so you don’t have to go all the way across campus to my dorm.”

“It’s not a hassle at all. Just tell me where and when.”

Tanner let out a long breath. This was the first time he’d felt human in weeks. He drew his eyebrows together. That was an odd thought. He shook it off, so he didn’t leave Ronen hanging.

“Cool. I’m still a little freaked out after what happened last night. I thought about calling the police, but at this point, it seems pretty useless. What would I say? No description, no idea where the guy went.”

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Ronen said it with an assuredness that surprised him. How could Ronen possibly make such a promise? But his headache was coming back with a vengeance, and he was so tired, he could barely think straight.

After explaining which lot Ronen should use on campus and deciding on when to meet, they said their goodbyes. Tanner checked the time on his cell. It was a little after eight, so he’d have several hours to sleep before getting ready to meet Ronen. His roommate had a full class schedule and a chess club meeting later, so he wouldn’t have to worry about being disturbed.

As he lay back on his pillow, the shape perfect, his toes free, and a vision of Ronen in his mind, he finally drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Five

Ronen couldn’t tear his eyes from Tanner's face. The dim restaurant lighting cast shadows across his angular features, highlighting the dark circles beneath his mate’s eyes. So far, the conversation had been light, both of them holding back more than they revealed. Perhaps Tanner could tell Ronen was keeping secrets, but he didn’t think so.

His mate was clearly in distress, and leaving Tanner at the end of their date might be more than Ronen could handle. How could he abandon him to whatever sinister forces might be at play?

Tanner lifted his gaze, spotting Ronen staring. He set down his fork, his meal barely touched.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” Tanner chuckled shakily. “I thought I was starving, but I guess I wasn’t that hungry after all.” He glanced away, chewing his bottom lip. “Um, that’s not completely true.”

Ronen set down his fork as well, pushing his plate aside. “You can talk to me, Tanner. I want to help you if I can.”

Tanner leaned forward, but his shoulders were hunched. “Yeah, so that’s what has me confused. Not that I’m not grateful, but you showed up out of nowhere and just happened to be there right as someone pushed me in front of a bus.” His mouth quirked in a smile. “And wow. Those are some skills you have. I have no idea how anyone can move that fast.” He met Ronen’s eyes. “I like you, but I need the truth. Were you there by accident, or were you watching me?”

This was it. The moment when Ronen could try and reach his mate, despite his orders to keep their bond a secret. Tanner desperately needed help, and Ronen couldn’t bear to see him suffering.

Ronen locked gazes with him. “I was watching you.”

Tanner’s eyes widened a bit. He was still closed in on himself, and he glanced around the restaurant as if checking whether anyone was listening. The seafood eatery wasn’t crowded, and their table was tucked away in the lounge. No other diners were in the back section, and only a couple of patrons were perched on stools at the bar, chatting and laughing, lost in their own worlds.

“It’s okay, Tanner,” Ronen said. “You can speak freely. If danger was lurking nearby, I would know.”

Tanner shook his head, chuckling again. “See, that’s just it. How would you know such a thing, unless you were in on it too?”