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He had to have revenge and show Paul as the loser he knew him to be. Lance had laughed at him last night when he saw Paul with that man. Joshua didn't know him, but Lance did, and he was impressed that Paul could snag such a prize. It was a fluke, and Joshua planned to show him and the world that it was a fluke. Paul was going to suffer for humiliating him.
It was nearly ten when he received a call from Lance, who apparently had spent the evening rethinking their relationship. "You clearly are not over your ex, so I would prefer we put this on hold until such time that you can give us, you and me, your full and undivided attention." The words were sharp and clear. He miscalculated last night and let too much show, but Paul had infuriated him so much that he just couldn't hold in his anger.
"It was hard for me to see him doing so well after what he put me through. I'm over it, darling." Joshua gave it his best, but Lance was adamant.
"It's better that we separate now before either of us gets hurt. You can remain at the Ritz-Carlton until you secure another place, and I'll have your things put into storage." Lance persisted, and although Joshua tried several different approaches, he was not listening and wanted space. "Let us end this here. Goodbye Joshua." Lance hung up while Joshua was still attempting to explain.
Joshua tossed his phone across the room and let out a scream. Everything had worked out so perfectly until Paul and his rich, handsome new man destroyed everything. Lance was upset because Paul was with Sloan Dobre, and that's why Lance broke up with him. It had nothing to do with Joshua and everything to do with Paul. He continued to pace the room and weave a tale that his self-centered point of view would accept.
Paul couldn't believe the fact that he was falling for this man, a man he picked up at a club last night, and now his mind was filling with thoughts of tomorrow and what he might be doing the rest of the weekend. He wanted this man. He wanted him to stay forever, and that was making him feel that perhaps he was obsessing.
The sex last night and the sex this morning were amazing. He'd never been touched and stimulated so deeply and thoroughly. No other man would ever be right or enough for him now that he had someone like Sloan. It was foolish to believe that there was anything long-term happening, but still, his heart ached to own this man to know that he would touch no other and love no other.
It must be the abandonment of Joshua that was making him so clingy since it had never been a factor in any of his other relationships. “Do you think that I’m clingy?” Paul blurted the question while they sat having a nice brunch at Paul’s small breakfast bar. Sloan had ordered the meal and had it delivered from one of the downtown restaurants that Paul had never been to and could not afford.
Sloan stopped and laid his fork down on his plate before capturing Paul with his dark, steely gaze. "I think that you are the loveliest man I have encountered in the whole of my life, and I count myself lucky for having met you. I have no issue with you being clingy, and it wouldn't bother me if you were because, honestly, I find that every minute spent with you is a gift."
"That was beautiful." Paul was lost in the sincerity of his words and the way he was looking at him. This was like the world's best daydream come to life. He leaned across the table and took Sloan's hand, threading their fingers together.
"I know you, don't I?" He had to verbalize what he was feeling and thinking. Since last night, so many things had started to pop into his head, and he recognized certain things about Sloan. "We've met before?" He pressed, and Sloan remained silent for a few minutes, just watching him with a look he could not describe.
"I didn't know you before last night, and we have never met, but with that said, I feel there is something between us. It's a familiarity that has come naturally and easy." He tightened his grip on Paul's hand, and his eyes seemed to flash. "I see things in you, Paul, things that draw me to you and make me believe I've known you for ages when it's only been a few hours."
"That's exactly how I feel, too," Paul exclaimed and leaned closer. "I think I know things about you that I don't remember asking."
"Like what?" Sloan wore a sly grin, which Paul found very attractive, but then he found everything about Sloan very attractive.
"You work for a bank, a large bank, and you are more than just an employee. You're a part of something bigger. I see a community or brotherhood, but it's more than that, too." Paul laughed and shook his head. "I'm insane, I know."
"You're not insane," Sloan stated. "I work for Agincourt Bank, or rather, I work directly for the owner of Agincourt Bank. I live in a company-owned complex, and most of those who work for Agincourt live in this complex in Belmont, west of Charlotte. You were right on both counts." Sloan got up and pulled Paul to his feet.
"This is a company-owned apartment too. That's the only reason I could afford something this nice." Paul interjected, and Sloan pulled him closer.
"Look at me, Paul." He said, "What do you see? What did you see when we first met?" Paul felt his mind spinning just a bit with the way Sloan was holding and touching him. The man's hands were magical.
"I saw someone who looked stunning and nearly passed out when you started talking to me. I also saw you as someone that I liked. Not one word had passed between us, and yet I knew that I liked you." Paul looked up at him and saw his dark eyes taking everything in. His entire face took on a fierceness that hardened the angles and darkened the shadows, all except his eyes, which continued to flash with energy, awareness, and maybe warning. "I saw excitement, and I wanted some."
"I saw innocence when I looked at you." Sloan began. "I saw a man who gathered the nerve to walk in but wasn't certain he had the nerve to stay. The Sin Lounge has a reputation, but you stayed, and you walked up to the bar, ordered a beer, and waited for me to approach. I wanted you then, and that desire continues to grow with each minute we spend together."
"God, I love the things you say and the way you touch me. Joshua never touched me unless he had to, and even then, it was always brief and rough. I don't know why I stayed with him as long as I did." Paul pressed his cheek to Sloan's chest, something he had been doing a lot lately, but he didn't seem to mind, and it relaxed Paul. "I'm glad he left. I thought it would take me a long time to get over him, but I find that I rarely think of him now." He then looked up at Sloan once again.
"You never have to think of him again, my love." Sloan tilted Paul's face up to his and kissed him thoroughly, making Paul feel adored. When he pulled back, he again looked down into Paul's eyes as if studying him. "Come home with me. I want to show you my place and the rest of the complex as well."
“I’d love to see your place.” Paul quickly accepted the offer. He had never been inside any of the homes in Belmont, but he heard they were all grand.
"Grab your jacket; it's a little chilly out." Sloan slowly released him, and Paul got his jacket from the closet and joined him by the door. "I'll introduce you to my younger brother. He works security at the complex."
“Wow, really?” Paul was a little shocked.
"Yes, of course. Rian is my only blood relative, and I want you to meet him." Sloan guided him out to his car and buckled him in such care and attention he was not used to but was loving it all the same. Paul was feeling like he was in a whirlwind; things just kept happening, and all of it seemed to be pushing him toward something.
CHAPTER FIVE
Sloan desperately wanted to get Paul out into Coven territory, which would help kick-start his awareness. He was building an understanding, and facts were percolating, but he had yet to experience the fully bonded awakening. That would happen before sunrise, and Sloan wanted to make sure he was at hand when it occurred.
Paul would have a lot of questions, but with a bonded awareness, there was no doubt. The things that became clear were also accepted as truth; it was just a case of being overwhelmed. Sloan would need to be there to ease his transition and help him find his footing in his new life. It was a process, but from what Sloan had witnessed with others, it could also be quite lovely and endearing.
It was obvious that Paul was starting to open up and see and recognize things. Although it had been less than eight hours since he started the bond, Paul was showing signs of awakening. It was exciting to watch, and Sloan was looking forward to explaining his world to his adored and welcoming him into the Coven.
