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"No, things were bad for a while before he decided to abruptly end it." He paused and took another sip of his wine. "I should have left sooner, but I was trying to do it gently so as not to disrupt the workplace. But in the end, he just took everything. I was too stupid to have protected myself. I believed every story he told about keeping it in his name for now and not wanting to confuse things. It was an expensive education, and it cost me three years of my life."

“I’m sorry he hurt you, Axel, but I am not sorry you ended up at Hadden Corp. Your training, your practical experience, and work ethic will serve us well." He felt a quiver move up his spine when he witnessed a sweet smile touch Axel’s lips, and there was a glint in his eyes. He'd pleased his beloved, and Kieran was feeling a satisfaction that went bone-deep.

“Thank you, Mr. Lagarde.”

“Please call me Kieran.”

“Yes, sir.” Kieran was certain that it would take time before Axel would use his first name, but he intended to push it until it became natural to him. He wanted his beloved to use his name to call him by his name.

“The Ardant Group has been doing well this past year, built primarily on its real estate holdings.” Kieran knew that it was Axel who ran that department. “Gio Ardant talks, but Axel Stone does the work. You were the business, and unless he found a replacement who was equally qualified, he will be feeling your absence.”

“He has a new boyfriend, Sean, someone he's been seeing for a few months, apparently. He said Sean was a business major and would be taking over my position in every sense of the word. I don’t know Sean or his capabilities, but I hope that he turns out to be a fucking disaster.” Axel finished with a malicious smile, and his eyes were flashing; his beloved had backbone. Kieran decided then that indeed Sean would be a fucking disaster; he would make sure of it.

They fell silent for a few minutes as they finished dessert, and then Axel looked over at him with a pensive expression. He was working himself up to asking a question, and Kieran was excited by the possibilities. He stayed quiet and waited.

"Are you in a relationship?" He asked and quickly picked up his wine, took a sip, and then glanced away nervously.

“No, I’m not in a relationship.”

"Oh." He said, and seemed both surprised and happy. Kieran smiled.

"Work has consumed me for many years, but lately I've been thinking it might be good to bring more balance to my life." He teased and reached across the table, covering Axel's hand with his own. Axel's eyebrows shot up, but he schooled his features quickly.

“Balance is good.” He offered.

Suddenly, a shadow was cast across their table, and Kieran looked up to see the smug face of Gio Ardant staring down at Axel. Gio had a man with him who Kieran assumed was Sean; he stood behind him, visibly uncomfortable.

“Hello, Axel. This is a wonderful restaurant, but I’m surprised to see you here.” His tone was oily, smooth, and grating. His eyes traveled over Axel in a possessive manner that made Kieran want to rip his eyes out and feed them to him.

“I’ve never been here before. You only brought your side pieces here; you never brought me here. I was just your driver, remember." Axel spoke just as smoothly as Gio, and Kieran was so proud. He then leaned forward so he could make eye contact with Sean. "There were many side pieces; you weren't the only one, Sean, so prepare yourself. Life gets very harsh in Gio's inner circle; you may not survive." Gio looked stunned, and it was beautiful. Sean, looking slightly shaken, excused himself and started walking toward the exit.

Gio was red-faced, and the anger started to roll off him. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” He made a grab for Axel's shirt collar, and Kieran seized his wrist in an iron grip and stood towering over the much shorter man. Then, without a word, he grasped him by the back of the neck and walked him out of the restaurant. Axel remained seated and just stared at the two retreating figures.

Once outside, Kieran pushed him away toward the valet. Gio stumbled but did not fall. Kieran flashed his vampire; it was there and gone, but it startled him, and that was Kieran's intent. "Stay away from Axel Stone. Don't make me tell you twice." With that, he turned his back on him and walked back inside.

Axel stood when he entered; his brow was pinched with concern, and his hands had a small tremor. Kieran was swamped with the need to comfort him and did not resist the urge. He put his arm around his shoulders and dropped several bills onto the table.

“He’s gone, and if he ever tries to bother you again, let me know, and I will make him stop." He was being a little high-handed, but this was his beloved, and this was their future. No one was going to be allowed to interfere, least of all a useless braggart like Gio Ardant. He guided Axel out to the car he had waiting and, once inside, took him back into an embrace.

“I’m sorry that happened. I’m sorry for bringing my personal shit into the workplace.” Axel leaned into him, seemingly unaware that he was doing so. Kieran felt his body against his, and the reaction was immediate; it was a mixture of heat and want that crawled over him and exploded in his brain. His control was on the edge and could very easily pull Axel onto his lap and take him right there in the back seat. The visions filling his head were delicious.

"It wasn't in the workplace, Axel, and you did nothing wrong." He said, and dipped his head closer to Axel’s hair and took a deep inhale of his intoxicating scent.

“I embarrassed you in public.”

"I'm not embarrassed, and you shouldn't be either."

“I hate him.” The words were angry and sharp. “I wish I could have punched him in his fucking face.”

“If I’d known that was your desire, I would have held him and let you do it.” He felt and heard the soft chuckle, and everything in that car changed. The air was lighter, and the sadness and anger thinned until it was gone. Axel’s laughter was another point of impossible pleasure that Kieran had not expected.

"You're a lot nicer than I expected. Not too many people would volunteer to hold my ex-boyfriend while I punched him in his ugly, fat face." Axel was loosening up, and Kieran was loving it.

"Anything for you, sweetheart." Kieran laughed. Things were moving in the right direction. He wanted this man, and he wanted him now. The need to mark and claim was playing havoc with his control, and honestly, he didn't care. All he cared about was making this hapless little human his forever.

CHAPTER FOUR

Axel realized he was lying against Mr. Lagarde, or rather Kieran, when the car came to a stop in the underground garage of the Lumiere building. He tried to straighten up, but Kieran had his arm around him, and he did not release him but rather pulled him closer for a few seconds before letting him go.