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"I called ahead and had the place opened up and stocked for us, so it should be prepped and ready for us." Archer tossed his duffle bag over his left shoulder and placed his right hand on the small of Kevin's back, urging him forward and into the cottage.
They entered into the kitchen, which flowed into a dining room and living area. It was a warm and comfortable layout. Kevin looked around, and Archer came up beside him and, without a word or comment, bent, placing a sweet kiss on his lips as if he had every right to do so.
"I'm going to secure the perimeter of both the cottage and the grounds so you make yourself comfortable, and I will be right back." He kissed him again and then, with a satisfied smile, abruptly left. Kevin stood there stunned and unsure of what just happened.
Was it a kiss of a friend, or was it a kiss of desire? It didn't feel like a friend besides how many friends who had just met started kissing. If he was feeling friendly, Archer would have patted him on the shoulder, not kissed him on the lips . . . twice.
Kevin touched his lips, still feeling a slight buzz from the connection. Archer's taste and aroma were amazing, and Kevin wanted Archer to kiss him again. He wanted a hungry, consuming kiss that made everything crystal clear. He ran his tongue tentatively across his lips, tasting him again, and wondered if there had been anyone who tasted as good as Archer.
Kevin decided to take it a day at a time or maybe an hour at a time and just enjoy the pleasure of having Archer in his life for now anyway. His thought processes were overwrought with trying to figure out where to go and what to do next, and now death threats and a love interest could put him into overload. It was better to step back and take a deep breath; overthinking was not the answer. Whatever was happening with Archer would either play out or not, and no amount of wanting would make it into something it was not.
As far as the death threat, that was a subject that definitely needed thought and study. Kevin took a bottle of water from the fridge and went into what looked like a sitting room just off the living room. It was a smaller room with just bookcases, a plush sofa, a chair, and an end table that looked to be an antique.
It was a soft, warm room painted in browns and yellows that gave him a sense of security. It was silly, but he was leaning into his feelings these days; going with his head had never worked out for him, so he was going with emotions. It couldn't work out any worse for him in the long run. Intellect had left him lost and alone, believing lies and following false trails, so it was time to start trusting his gut.
He heard Archer enter through the kitchen and soon joined him in the sitting room. He looked better every time Kevin saw him so tall and clever, with not a hint of hesitation in anything he said or did. Archer knew himself and trusted himself, and Kevin wanted a piece of that confidence. With a smile, he walked over and sat down beside him on the sofa.
"Everything is locked down and secured. We're pretty safe with the Coven grounds being constantly patrolled. Master DuCane does not take the safety of his members lightly. He maintains a very tight security. The prospect of anyone getting too close is not likely, but I prefer to be prepared." He put his arm around Kevin and brought him up a little closer. Kevin leaned into it, as before, eager to feel the safety and security that this man offered.
"I want to tell you why I moved to the woods. Why I left everything I had and everything I knew to begin again from scratch all alone." Kevin blurted and turned to look at Archer. "I simply disappeared. No one knows where I went, and I don't want them to ever know. They're no longer a part of my life, and I am no longer a part of theirs." Archer did not comment but gently squeezed his shoulder in a show of support. Kevin wasn't sure where to start with the whole sordid story, so he began at the beginning.
"I was engaged to a woman we dated for three years and got engaged a little over a year ago. I was upfront with her, and after getting serious, I told her that I was bi and that I'd had male relationships in the past as well as female, but nothing serious. She didn't appear to have a problem with it, and I thought that I loved her and thought that she loved me, so my life appeared to be on track." Kevin noticed the grip on his shoulder become tighter and had a distinct possessive feel to it.
"I spent my high school and college years building an internet marketing business, and two years ago, it began making money, serious money, and it looked like my time was well spent." He paused and recalled how happy he was when it seemed everything was finally coming together both his personal and professional life. All he could see was the business growing along with his hopes of a family of his own.
"I proposed to Emily, thinking this would be my future, a job I loved and a life with the woman I cared for. I was so stupid and so blind I never saw it coming. Never in a million years would I have expected what happened next." He paused again since he hadn't realized how difficult this would be. He hadn't shared this with anyone. He was sure his family and Emily had said plenty, but no one had heard a word from him.
"I have one brother; he's older than me by four years, and his name is Ted. Ted became a CPA and worked for several different Accounting Firms in Indianapolis. He never seemed happy, no matter where he worked. Eventually, when I got large enough, I hired Ted to lead my accounting team." Kevin coughed and ran an agitated hand through his hair. The memories were so painful.
"I also offered him a twenty-five-present stake in the business in lieu of benefits for the first year. I wanted to share what I saw as a success." Kevin fell silent for a while, letting the feelings of betrayal wash over him and leave. Archer did not speak; his presence remained solid and steady and was exactly what Kevin needed.
"One day three months ago, it was a Friday afternoon; Ted and Emily came to me. I was in my office going over a presentation that was to be delivered the following week. I had a talented staff who produced excellent work and did it timely. I was impressed with the proposed presentation and completely absorbed in the work when Emily began to speak." There was another pause, and then he continued.
"Ted stood behind her with his hand on her waist and his eyes staring into mine so full of hate I couldn't understand it. The feeling was horribly surreal. He was a man I'd known my entire life, and she was a woman I was preparing to marry, and suddenly, they were people I did not know, people I had never known." Another squeeze and Kevin leaned into Archer's embrace for a moment before continuing and was prepared to get it all out.
"Emily told me that she and Ted had been having a relationship for over a year, and their plan was to take over the business. They said there was no room for me in their plans. She made several remarks regarding my sexual orientation, things she had never said before. It was awful. I didn't say anything for a moment, hoping that it was just a very bad joke, and then it set in that they were telling me the truth, so I started to laugh." He took a deep, ragged breath and a sip of his water.
"They said so many terrible things it felt like my head was spinning. She told me they'd been working together for the past year, stealing the company a little at a time right under my nose. They were so cocky and cruel that they took the client accounts and bled off money from all areas, and I never suspected a thing. I trusted them both, especially Ted. How could he turn on me so heartlessly, so vicious?" Kevin couldn't help the emotion that rushed to the surface, and he bent over with the pain that shot through him.
Archer took him in his arms and held him, soothing him with soft words of understanding and support. It was not something he thought the man was capable of, but here he was in the arms of a sharp shooting surveillance specialist and being comforted in a lovely, heartwarming fashion.
"They took everything from me, and I didn't even know it was happening. My parents were also complicit, although they didn't surprise me as much as Ted. They always saw my success as undeserving, so it wouldn't bother them to take it from me. My family wasn't close by any means, but I never thought they were capable of this." He straightened up and took another deep breath, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Archer kept his arm around him, which he appreciated.
"Emily called security, and they gave me fifteen minutes to pack my things and get out, and I had no recourse. They screwed me over so perfectly and completely. I packed, got into my car, and started driving. I found myself in Michigan, and I just kept going north. I knew where I was going. This property was something no one knew about. I bought it on a whim when I thought I might want a cabin up north someday."
"I'm sorry that happened to you, but I'm glad you came north." Archer finally commented.
“It was all that I had left.”
“Where did you learn construction? Your cabin is well thought out and professionally built.” Archer was so calm and reassuring his voice touched Kevin lightly but with a kindness that he desperately needed.
"I worked construction through high school and college to pay the bills and get my business off the ground. It's therapeutic for me. I find it calming, and it helped me focus on something other than my life disappearing."
“Have they ever tried to contact you?
"No, they don't know I have land here in Michigan; otherwise, they would have tried to take that too. I ditched my phone and closed all online accounts; there is no way for them to reach me." Kevin knew he was sounding a little bitchy, but he felt justified in being bitchy.
“How do they hope to maintain a business that was built on your artistry and expertise? People will notice.” Archer was so kind.
