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"D-don't touch those!"
Arden frowned. "Your feathers?"
He nodded. "Yes," he said softly. "They're sensitive. Always have been."
Arden filed that information away for later. Instead, he scooped up water and doused Micha's wings with it instead of touching him. Micha moved forward once more and laid on him, his face going into the crook of Arden's neck as he breathed a sigh of relief.
Micha's soft sniffling signaled he was still crying, but Arden didn't chastise him. Instead, his heart sped up and he hugged Micha so tightly he thought he'd break him. Micha's sobbing grew and Arden simply held him harder and rocked back and forth as he ignored the water that sloshed over the sides and splashed onto the floor.
"Arden," Micha whispered. "I-I don't...I can't..."
"Hush, little one," Arden growled. "You can cry as much as you want right now. But down there? Never. No one deserves your tears except me."
Micha's hand curled around the back of his neck. "I have to tell you," he said as he hyperventilated. He pulled back, tears ran down his cheeks and he sucked in a sharp breath. "I have to. I have to."
Arden reached out and brushed tears from his cheeks. "Micha."
"I have to!" he choked out. "You don't understand."
"Enough, birdie," Arden growled. "The only thing I need to understand is that you need a good rest. Whatever you have to tell me can wait until tomorrow. And do not argue with me."
Micha shut his pouty mouth and nodded. The angel didn't fight him anymore. Instead, he settled onto Arden's lap and let the man wash him. Arden took his time cleaning the filth and despair from Micha's body until he heard the world's softest snore.
Arden couldn't help the smile that graced his lips. Finally, Micha was asleep. Now wasn't the time to ask him what had happened or what triggered his episode. Tomorrow they could talk if he was better.
His mind flashed back to the man who had upset Micha so much and he held the angel more tightly. No one could hurt what was his. And these men? They werehis.
The host barwas in one of those rare moments of silence that Arden enjoyed. The customers wouldn't arrive for another three hours, the hosts were upstairs getting ready, and the rest of his workers were focused on the task ahead.
Arden picked up his mug of coffee and took a deep sip. The warm liquid splashed down his throat and he nearly choked as Micha came into view. Arden still had him on suspension and away from the crowd, but Micha insisted he help get things ready for the night, even when Arden told him it wasn't necessary.
Eventually, he had given up and let Micha help out. And normally, that would be fine, if he wasn't wearing the skimpiest little black shorts that Arden had ever seen. They hugged his thighs, showing off creamy flesh. A crop top that was tied together at the back covered a bit more of the rest of him, but his stomach stayed out. Exposed.
No way he could tie that crop top on by himself. Who helped him?
"Is Micha next on your little fuck list?" Gamble asked as he carried a case of beer and sat it on the counter.
Arden's eyes narrowed. "Gamble."
Lines crinkled around Gamble's olive green eyes. "What?"
"You're begging to be spanked next time," Arden pointed out, his voice lowered so no one else could overhear their conversation. "And what did I tell you about keeping that stuff quiet down here?"
Arden constantly had to remind Gamble of the need for discretion. They worked in a bar full of supernatural creatures, most of whom had enhanced hearing. Every word not spoken in hushed tones and behind closed doors was that much more susceptible to being overheard and misunderstood.
Misunderstood. No, what they heard would be the truth. The boss fucks his employees. Damn. When had he sunk to such depths?
"Yes, sir," Gamble said as he backed off and quieted down, but the smile stayed on his lips. "I'll behave."
Arden groaned as Gamble walked off, but once he was out of sight, the man chuckled. Gamble and Spooky had been spending time with him more often lately. They always left at different times but when they were together, they were unhinged in his bed. And when they weren't there, Micha was. He hadn't touched the angel, but instead, he let Micha curl around his body and slept beside him every day.
It had started to feel as if Arden had so much more at PGD than he ever dreamed he would have. Porter and his guys were family. But he never expected to have anything close to what they did. And yet here he was, falling for hosts, fucking them, holding them, sleeping beside them. The old him would have balked, but his dragon approved.
Being by yourself for decades was devastatingly lonely.
The smile stayed on Arden's lips as he looked through the inventory and checked off what was in stock. He loved his job, the world that he'd created, and the lives that he'd saved. For once, his life was on track. His brother had backed off and Arden was finally able to breathe.
"Boss," Bash called, his deep voice bordering on a growl. When Arden glanced up, he jerked a thumb at the man beside him. "Someone here to see you," he said as he glanced at the man. "Cop."
