Page 12

"Who in the fuck does he think he is!" He swept his arm across his desk, emptying everything onto the floor. He dismissed the secretary and stood up, walking over to the window and looking out across the city to the Hadden Center, a towering building, an architectural beauty, and smashed his fist into the wall.

They were losing money daily, and if he didn't find a way to fix this, he would be out of business before the end of the month. Axel needed to come back and clean up his mess. He had no right to sabotage the business just because he was let go. He’d been let go for good reason, and now Axel was trying to ruin him.

That afternoon, he was called into a meeting and informed that the company would be shutting down its real estate division for restructuring in an attempt to survive. "You fired him without backup, without any sort of plan for moving forward without him. It was hateful and emotional. Information like that gets around fast in our industry.” A friend told him.

“You’re bleeding clients so fast that by the end of the week you won't have any real estate business remaining, and it was always your real estate portfolio that was keeping you solvent. Find someone, hire someone with a track record, and let them work; it's all you have left."

After meeting with his friend, he sat in his car and seethed; all he could see was Axel's cocky expression at the Dewberry, acting like he thought he was somebody. He's nobody; he's just a fucking grunt there to do the busy work and to shut up.

Gio pulled out his phone, ready to send Axel another text, when he noticed the location finder was still active on Axel’s phone. Axel was in the lowlands probably doing a site visit, and he was probably alone. Axel always worked alone. He then put in a call to a couple of friends who owed him a favor.

"Meet me at the corner of Fremont and Larson in the lowlands. Bring your gloves."

***

They took the SUV with Kieran driving and headed to the lowlands. Kieran wanted to inspect a vacant commercial building near the location of the leather bar and also a small apartment complex that had been condemned. The paperwork on both was misleading, and city hall had no answers. It would take the rest of the day and would give another opportunity for him to work closely with Axel.

The talk at breakfast was vaguer than he'd intended, but he feared upsetting Axel or worse, scaring him off. His behavior since the talk had been quieter and more observant; he was trying to make sense of everything, but he was also showing a need for proximity.

Whether he was aware of it or not, Axel was reaching for him, touching him, and moving close. The bond was drawing him in and opening his heart to Kieran. He was probably moving too fast, but he wasn't one to wait for something he wanted, and he wanted Axel. Never had he experienced a longing as deep as he had with this little human. He squeezed Axel's hand, and he reciprocated. This was so good; all he wanted was to pull him into his life and love him the way he deserved.

Gio was an irritant that he planned to deal with soon. His message that morning was childish but egotistical; narcissists like Gio usually did not maintain a firm grip on their sanity when threatened and therefore could pop off at any moment. He would not allow him to hurt Axel again, and he plainly did not want that man forever on the edges of their life together. Gio needed to be dealt with for Axel to truly have peace.

“What are you thinking about? I can feel your worry.” Kieran asked as casually as he could. His vampire was roiling to go find Gio and finish the problem. He would take care of his beloved and then he would take care of Gio. He breathed in the sweet, calming scent of Axel. It filled the car and wrapped around him, comforting him and soothing his anger.

“I’m afraid Gio is going to do something that ruins all of this for me.” He ran his fingers through his hair roughly. Kieran reached over and placed his hand on Axel’s knee. “He’s messed up my life, my opportunities, my dignity so many times before. He is capable of anything. He can be so cruel, and I don't want him messing this up." He turned and looked at Kieran.

"He has no power over me, sweetheart, and now he has no power over you." Kieran kissed him softly, trying to pull the sadness away. He didn't like seeing his beloved sad; he wanted him happy and laughing like last night. "He doesn't matter."

"He'll tell lies, and he'll do whatever he has to in order to make you lose faith in me. He's done it before. I don't want to lose this. I’m not completely sure what this is, but I know in my bones that it's what I want. I want to stay with you, Kieran. I know I'm saying too much and sounding unhinged, and you probably want to run away, but please don't." Axel was laying himself bare, and Kieran loved him for it.

He could have been coy and tried games or clung to insecurities, but he stated his fears and his wants clearly and to the point. Kieran pulled over to the side of the road and parked. Then he turned in his seat and pulled Axel over onto his lap, wrapping his arms around him and pressing his lips to the side of Axel’s head.

"We are bonded, sweetheart; there is nothing anyone could say or do that would ever make me turn my back on you. You could lie, cheat, steal, murder; I don't care. Nothing would ever drive me away. I will forever love and support you in this life and no one else, only you, sweetheart. Axel trembled and turned his face into Kieran's chest. "Your ex has no real power; all he has is bluster. He cannot hurt you, and if he tries, I will make him stop." With his index finger, he lifted Axel’s chin so as to look into his eyes.

“I want to stay with you too, Axel. We belong together; I can feel it in my bones.” He repeated Axel's statement. "My people bond for life, so there is no walking away for either of us." He bent and kissed him tenderly, toying with his mouth and teasing the soft flesh.

"This is fucking wild." He looked at Kieran with eyes that smiled, and Kieran's heart shattered into pieces. He loved this man, and he would love him for a lifetime. "You say many strange things, but I think it will make sense soon."

"Soon." He kissed him again, and he settled Axel back into his seat, and they continued on their way. Kieran was growing more confident by the minute that his beloved was feeling the bond and drawing nearer in body and mind. He would understand soon, as he had predicted, and would be brought fully into Kieran's life.

He had never in his life, which was several centuries long, desired someone so much that he thought he'd die without them, but he felt that for Axel. Every word, gesture, smile, and scent sealed his cold heart around this man, this little human. He took his hand because why not; there was no need to deny himself.

***

Axel’s head was still swirling with the comments made that morning and the declaration made a few minutes ago. Did Kieran see him as a real prospect, as someone with whom he could build a real relationship? The thoughts were still a scramble, but his heart was at ease; his heart was feeling the love. That was a big word, but Kieran had inadvertently used it once already. It might have been nothing, just a figure of speech, but Axel was holding onto it either way.

They pulled into a vacant lot next to the warehouse and parked. "This is a smart purchase, but it's going to take a lot of light and lift to get rid of the pervasive dark cloud that seems to hang over this area." Axel made the very astute observation.

“Master Hadden’s plan is to bring this area back to life and dispel the dark cloud as you call it. There's a lot of money to be made here, but scaring away the darkness is the Master's true plan." Kieran reached out his hand, and Axel took it readily, with no hesitation, no awkwardness.

Axel did not have any problem discussing the metaphysical; his mind was open and accepting, no smirks or head shakes, just honest discussion. He was his perfect Fated match. They headed inside first, and as he opened the large steel door for Axel, he asked him. "Do you believe in Fate, Axel?”

“Yes, Fate is what brought me to the Hadden Center for an unlikely interview. Cole told me it was a long shot but that it would give me practice and confidence. I get there for this long shot interview and am hired within the hour by a man who then very graciously fucks my brains out and leaves me absolutely obsessed, and I think the man likes me." Axel chuckled, and Kieran pulled him in for a tight side hug.

"He likes you, sweetheart. He likes you a lot." He was amazed by Axel and the love that rooted last night was growing fast, filling him with a raging possessiveness. "We'll talk more over dinner. I have some secrets to share, and I have something to ask you." He led Axel through the main floor of the warehouse, and Axel pulled out his tablet for notes.

“You’re just going to leave it there no hints.” Axel teased.