Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 215(@200wpm)___ 172(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“A couple of weeks?” Clive slumped into the chair in front of Xavier’s desk. “So he’ll be gone another week then?”
Xavier nodded. “I take it he didn’t inform you of his plans?”
“No, he did not,” Clive bit out. “I understand he’s supposed to be just a bodyguard I hired and that now that the danger is over, I have no need of him.” Clive gave Xavier a pointed look. “But I do. Need him. He told me about your company rules, and I don’t give a flying fuck about them. We got…close.”
“I’m aware.”
Clive studied him, nodding. “Bain told me you just know things. So know this. I’m in love with that man. That basilisk or preternatural, or whatever you call yourselves. Crazy in love with him, and I thought he felt the same. But he just walked out on me without a word.”
Xavier’s mouth twisted in a faint smirk. “He was obviously not having one of his brightest moments.”
“You don’t care?”
Xavier tilted his head. “That you formed a bond with one of my employees? No. But Clive, Bain is also my best friend, and his happiness is more important to me than this company.” He stood and came around to lean against his desk, crossing his legs at the ankles and his arms over his chest. He wore black slacks and a long-sleeved black shirt, everything about him dark.
He should have intimidated Clive and would have in the past, but not now. Clive had changed. For the better.
“Mr. Manning—”
“Clive. Call me Clive. If you’re his best friend, we’re going to be getting to know each other outside of all this.” He waved his hands around. “And I mean it. I’m not letting Bain just walk out of my life. I think that he’s laboring under a misinterpretation. That he actually believes I’m afraid of him.”
“Because of what happened with the Cambion demons.”
It wasn’t a question, but Clive still nodded. “He told you? What did he say?”
“Bain only informed me of what happened. Surprisingly, he said nothing about you other than to call and make sure Alaric was staying with you until the situation was completely resolved. He didn’t share his feelings with me.” Xavier kept studying him for several long moments before he sighed. “Clive, Bain did share some of his feelings with me before and would not be too happy with me for telling you this, but he does care for you. Deeply. I can only imagine what his foolish thoughts have been to send him running like this, but here is something else he wouldn’t want me sharing. You could be his mate.”
“He told me that. He said he wanted me, me, to be that. If he cares so damn deeply, why run?”
“Because Bain has been mostly alone his whole life. He’s never let himself care for anyone, so he’s probably running scared himself. But you’re not only mates, you’re actual soulmates. Two souls destined to be together for all eternity.”
“Like…wait, you mean I’m the only one for him?”
“One and only.”
“And he knows this?”
Xavier slowly nodded.
Scowling, Clive jumped to his feet and began to pace. He did it a few times before he growled and threw up his hands. “Then his running away is just stupid. And I’m not going to let him do it.” He stopped pacing and narrowed his eyes at Xavier. “I would like his address.”
“I guess I don’t have to say that’s not something I would normally do.”
“I don’t care. And you shouldn’t either. Not if you care for him.”
“I do.”
“Then give me his address so I can park my big, round ass outside his door and wait for him to come home.” He approached Xavier, still having to lift his face though the sorcerer was half sitting on the desk. “He’s your best friend, so understand something. My plan is to make him happy. Happier than he’s ever been in his life. I love him. More than I even knew it was possible to love anyone. I want him, and if he’ll have me…and he’d better…I will do everything to make him see that he can’t scare me. I want him just as he is. Hell, I find his other form beautiful.”
“It is,” Xavier murmured, the corner of his mouth twitching. “You’ll do, Clive Manning. You’ll do perfectly.”
“So you’ll tell me where he lives?”
“Oh, I’ll do better than that.” Xavier stood and walked around to his desk. He waved a hand over a drawer and pulled out a key. “There will be no need to wait outside.”
Chapter Nineteen
Bain
Bain grabbed his bags and took the stairs up to his apartment, moving slowly because he was exhausted. Vacation or not, he’d barely rested, and his body was now complaining. But it didn’t compare to the pain in his heart. No matter how much he’d tried to sleep, he just kept seeing the expression on Clive’s face as he’d looked at the remains of that demon. Then again, that fear when he’d gazed at Bain. Bain held the power to mesmerize with his eyes. To kill. And yet Clive seemed to have a similar power over Bain. One look and Bain’s heart just stopped.