Month: January 2018

After Mrs. Ven left I called Darwynn, asked him to meet me in the Infirmary here to talk to Cavanough. He was doing better according to Jin and I wanted to know what he had found out. Ant was by the elevator when I went to go down. He smiled at me. “I saw Sage and Dee talking.”

“And?” I asked.

“They were talking about what she might expect when talking to my father.”

“Can you arrange that?”

He nodded. “Apparently Jin already did. She may not be a telepath or an empath but she is very sensitive to your needs.”

I smiled. “My perfect woman eh?”

Ant chuckled, “I would never let let you subject yourself to a lovely girl like that.”

“Lovely eh?” There was a lot more to that one word Ant had said. “Are you and Jin?”

Ant didn’t hesitate, “No.” But there was disappointment in his eyes.

“You tried?” I asked when the elevator doors opened up and we stepped in. I was finding that even the enclosed steel walls made me anxious. Maybe there was more to my elevator fear.

Ant laughed. “No. You are clausterphobic too?”

I looked at him and frowned, “That’s new though. I think.”

Ant rolled his eyes as I leaned back against the elevator wall. “It’s not new Nox. You are just aware of it.”

“I get off on being trapped, Ant.”

“Geez, Nox. I don’t need to know these things.” Ant said with a concerned look on his face. “There is a difference between wanting to be trapped and actually being trapped. Maybe it’s new, you did die Nox.”

“But I wasn’t trapped.” I said. “I wasn’t in a small space.”

“Sounds like you need to talk to Margo.”

I sighed. “I do. I’ve been doing better with weekly appointments. I think this has more to do with missing an appointment.”

“You missed your appointment?”

“I needed to take care of Dee. It was more important.”

Ant grinned madly at me. A huge smile split his face as he wrapped his arms around me, “I’m so proud of you.”

The doors dinged open and we stepped out into the infirmary lobby. My favorite desk clerk sat there and she smile. “Mr. Cavenough has been requesting you.”

“Has he now?” I asked. She gave me a nod and we headed down the hall.

“What did he have to say to James Wright?”

“IT says it was normal chatter. He told them about you being alive and James was like I know you idiot. Everything’s fine, keep him busy, the architects are almost done.”

“The Architects. That’s twice today. I need Darwynn, now. Go find him.” I said.

“So glad you think so little of me Nox.” Darwynn said behind me. “I told you I’d be here. I’m here.”

I turned ans smiled at my friend. “I’m sorry, but I don’t like this.”

Darwynn chuckled, “Always impatient, Nox. What did you need me to do? I assume that’s why you summoned me.”

“I’m sorry.” I sighed. “Yes. I need you to find out any information you can on the Architects. Hector Ven is part of them.”

“Your human client’s husband?” Ant asked.

“She’s married to were of the CCB. She mentioned Hector is part of some group called the Architects being headed up by Elena Sanders.”

“Charles’ wife, Darwynn asked?”

“That’s who Mrs. Ven thinks Hector is sleeping with. But now that Cavenough and Wright were talking about the Architects I’m even more worried about it. The name implies planning something I want to know what.”

Darwynn nodded. “On it. It might take a few days.”

“Whatever it takes Darwynn, I just need the information. I’ll be checking out Hector soon. And I need to find Rob.”

Darwynn clapped my shoulder and nodded. “On it boss.” And with as little ceremony as he came, Darwynn was walking the other way down the hall to do as I asked him. He hadn’t even questioned me.

I turned to Ant, “When did people start listening to me?”

Ant just wrapped his arm around me, “Nox, I think you missed a lot before you died.”

I gave him a wry look as he ushered me down the hall to Cavenough’s room. Now to figure out what he was up to and how he was going to keep me busy.

We eventually moved to the couch in the living room. My butt was sore from sitting with Dee’s weight on the hard surface for so long. We didn’t accomplish anything other than some calming of emotions. I was fairly certain Dee was emoting at us the whole time, but one thing at a time. Sage was wrapped around me barely touching her, and she stayed in my lap. There had been no talking and no making out, nothing but the simple act of holding each other. Until Sage pulled out his phone and held it up above us. “Give Dev sad faces.” I could see out of the corner of my eyes that both of them were pouting, I rolled my eyes just as the camera flash went off.

Sage sighed, “Nox, you are such a party pooper.”

I shrugged and leaned back against him and he sighed with contentment, as he typed with one hand on his phone to send the picture. He showed me the caption since he knew I wouldn’t actually check my accounts that he’d made me. It simply said, ‘Missing you Dev, even in all the drama’.

It was a nice picture despite Dee’s puffy eyes. We all looked like we were missing him, even with me rolling my eyes.

Jin stepped into the living room, “Nox. Your next appointment is here.”

I sighed. “How long have they been waiting?”

She smiled. “The are in the elevator now.”

Dee hurried out of my lap and stood me up, “You can’t go to a meeting looking like that.” She pointed to the bedroom, “Go change. Quickly.”

I smirked at her and nodded, “Yes, mother.”

“You’d never talk to your mother like that.” Dee exclaimed.

I laughed. “You are right. If she told me to go change I’d tell her to fuck off.” I quipped as I headed to the room to change.

I glanced back to see a look of disbelief on her face and Sage adding, “He’s right, ya know. He didn’t have a mother growing up. And he doesn’t like her any.”

Dee sighed, “Maybe that’s what’s wrong with him.” She said as she sat down with Sage and curled into his arms. She was right, part of my problem was I had grown up without parents. But it wasn’t all that was wrong with my life.

But I couldn’t think about that now. I had a meeting with a human about her cheating on her husband and what she wanted to do with that information.

My the time the elevator reached the top floor I was sitting in my glass office wearing the same pair of jeans, a black button down underneath my suit jacket. I hated ties and I hated dressing up, this was as formal as I was going to get.

Jin showed my client in. Her dress was a pretty light blue and it went well against her tanned skin and blond hair. “Mrs. Ven, thank you for coming in.” I said polietly. I hated being this formal.

“Call me Sally.”

“Sally, I have some awkward news.”

She looked at me with a curious smile, “Is he cheating?”

“At present, I’m not certain.”

“Then why did you bring me in?” She asked and each word rose in heat and volume.

I took out the pictures Jin had printed before the meeting and placed in the same envelope I was removing them from now. “I was watching your place as you asked. At the time and specified hours you say he’s most likely cheating. But all I found was this.” I pushed the pictures towards her and moved to pull up the video on my computer. I saw a bunch of Sage’s information still sitting there and frowned as one of the reports caught my attention.

DNA tests.

I heard Sally Ven clear her throat and I brought my eyes to hers again ignoring what I had seen. “Mr. Sétanta.”

“Nox.” I interrupted.

“Nox,” she continued. “This isn’t cheating – this is Jimmy Wright. My pack leader. I thought you knew.”

“You aren’t wolf.” I said flatly. “You aren’t were of any kind.”

She grinned at me. “I’m not but Hector is.”

“You are telling me that you were making out with James Wright because he’s your husband’s pack leader?”

Sally sighed. “He keeps his men in line by keeping their women close.”

“Pack law.” I sighed. I didn’t agree, but I understood and I didn’t interfere. “So nothing wrong here except that you didn’t tell me Hector was CCB.”

“I didn’t believe that you were who you said you were. I thought you were some fake.”

I sighed. “So tell me why do you think Hector is cheating on you.”

“I don’t think, Nox. I know. Elena keeps prattling on about how she’s slept with all the architects.”

“The Architects?”I asked.

“Nothing of your concern Nox, it’s a name of a committee Elena was heading.”

“Hector is part of the architects?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes, and Elena is sleeping with my husband because of it.”

“So because this woman is telling you this, you think your husband is cheating. Who is Elena?” The name was familiar. I just had to figure out where I’d heard it from.

“If it’s pack business, shouldn’t you be telling James Wright or his second Charles?”

Sally sighed. “Elena is Charles’ wife.”

That was why I knew her name. She had kept on going as I had my lapse of memory recalled, “And if I tell James, Charles will just kill Hector. I just want proof so that I can show Hector I know.”

“Why didn’t you just tell him?” I asked confused.

“He’ll just deny it.”

“Maybe he will, but maybe he won’t. You are already making it with James, maybe he has a logical explanation for making it with Elena. Elena has power.”

She sighed. “Please, Nox, just get the proof. I know my husband.”

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am. I will try.”

She stood up and left my office and all I had was more questions about it. But she wasn’t going to be able to answer any of them.

I hadn’t expected Sage in my office. I hadn’t expected him to go down to his knees in apology or to publicly display his desires. Or to fulfill my wants so openly. It’s not like my office wasn’t completely see through. Everything was a surprise.

I went back with Sage to the house after pulling my pants up and putting my t-shirt back on. Sage was grinning at me as we walked and I tugged it over my head. “What?” I asked.

“I’ve always liked the fact that you aren’t shy about your body. Even your scars you don’t hide. Now you have a perfect body and that strangely beautiful tattoo. It’s always changing and it creeps me out a little. But you still aren’t shy about it.” He wrapped his arm around my waist, “I know you hide your back, but it’s not because you are ashamed or shy. I get it. You didn’t want to see the look in someone’s eyes. Kinda like the look I get when I tell them my parents died in a car crash.”

I nodded. “Our beginnings weren’t that great. But we made it here.”

Sage chuckled. “Wherever here is.”

Inside the house was quiet as expected the kids were in school, Jin was standing in the doorway and released a heavy sigh. “I thought I would have to interrupt your last meeting.” She said polietly ignoring Sage’s blush. “You are going to be late for your appointment with Dr. Silverman.”

I sighed. “Okay. Let me get my hoodie.”

Sage shook his head but it stopped when we passed through the kitchen. “Dee?”

I looked where his gaze fell and saw our fourth sitting in the corner of the cabinets crying. Sage and I were both kneeling beside her, Sage asked, “What’s wrong?”

There was cooking utensiles everywhere, she’d been baking. “What did Nick say?” I asked probably with too much heat in my voice as Dee winced at the anger.

“He said I was hurting all of you. Like the demon was. I didn’t mean it.” She begged as she got on her knees and pleaded for her forgiveness.

I hugged her tight against me and Sage pulled in behind her, holding her hostage between the two of us. I asked, “Do you want to go talk with Margo with me?” I asked Dee.

Her eyes looked up at me. Red rimmed and tear stained but furious that I would make such a suggestion. “It doesn’t mean you are crazy to talk to a shrink. It helps.”

Dee and Sage both rolled their eyes. “We get enough therapy from you.” Dee said.

I sighed and stood up pulling out of her grasp. “Fine. I have an appointment to keep.”

Dee started crying again but I kept walking. “Please, don’t walk away Nox.” Dee begged.

“You act like I’m the one who needs help around here. Like I’m the crazy one because therapy works for me. I’m crazy because I talk about my shit bothering me. I’m crazy because I try to make you talk about it. See where it’s gotten us… No where. Nick tells you you hurt us, you apparently believe him. Otherwise you wouldn’t be so upset about it. But the minute I suggest you getting help for your problems. I’m crazy. I’m done Dee.” I turned back again. “I’m just can’t do it anymore. I can’t keep trying when you won’t help yourself.”

She didn’t get off her knees she crawled to me. Sage was bowing his head submissively and I realized my power was bleeding everywhere. I reined it in but Sage kept his head bowed. “Why are you still being like that Sage?” I asked. I was fucking up all my relationships one by one. Every fucking one…

“I’m ashamed.” He whispered.

“Of what?”

“Exactly what you said. I’m that. I think you are crazy because you keep making us talk, keep trying to fix things or at least know what’s wrong so we can fix them. You tell me I’m being manipulated and I know I am. It’s who I am. Real People I’m not good with.”

Dee was still clinging to my legs like a lost puppy. I sighed and knelt down beside her and pulled her against me. “If you won’t talk to Margo let Cari find you someone to talk to Dee.”

She mumbled something against my chest but I couldn’t make it out, I had to pull her away from me, “What?” I asked.

She looked up at me with her hazel green eyes still red rimmed and tear filled. “Nick mentioned a Tony. He helped Il Cane.”

I nodded. “Yeah. I can ask Tony to come talk to you. I don’t know what he’ll do or say, his power over Cari is a lot more about love than advice.”

She wrapped her arms around me. “Don’t go.”

I sighed and sat down on the cold tile of the kitchen floor and looked back at Jin. “Can you tell Margo I won’t make it. Ask her if we can reschedule this weeks appointment?”

Jin nodded and there was a bit of a concerned look in her eyes. “Anything I need to be aware of Nox?”

I shook my head. “No, but I really need to see her.”

“Of course. I’ll make it as soon as possible.”

“Thanks.” I said and I pulled my girl closer to me. Sage came over and wrapped his arms around both of us.

He mumbled in my ear, “I can’t believe you stayed.”

“This is more important. I just wish Dev was here.” The mention of Dev’s name set Dee off into raking sobs. And that was how we spend the rest of our morning.

Dee was fuming. She could believe the asuda city of that man. He didn’t even love her. Nox was so hung up on dev he didn’t see anything else. Dee don’t make out it to her room or their room either. She hadn’t made it pay the kitchen. There was a plate of mostly eaten cookies. She smiled. The boys had polished off her last creation. At least they lobbed me, she thought to her self.

Dee prepared for another batch. Flour, eggs, butter, chocolate chips. The was busy measuring ingredients when a man walked into her kitchen with a half smile. Her was cute but not one of her lovers. His hair was a mess and he say down at the bar. “I’m nick.” He said. He didn’t even pause for her tho saggy anything, “I didn’t have a dad like you. Mine threw me and my brothers on the street when he found out what we could do. Tristan and Jake could handle their gift. I couldn’t. I did everything I could to dull the emotions I was feeling.”

Dee interrupted him, “Did Nox send you?”

Nick nodded. “He did. But really it was Cari who sent me.”

“Because Nox said so.” Dee bit out.

“No. Because she feels you. You drive her crazy. I feel you. And says you feel the way the demon did when out was trying to take over nox.”

“The demon is dead.”

Nick nodded. “Exactly.”

“He was hurting kids.”

Nick just let her talk. “You are saying I’m hurting people.”

“You are hurting the ones you love the most. You feed on them. I see them floating all around you like they are your life line. Nox’s energy is chaotic, Sages blue electricity humming around you protecting it from him, and Dev’s on at the core powering the base of your shields. I think you siphoned off their emotions. You may have fed Morpheus, but you feed yourself more. Once you could put that shield up again, you just kept doing what you always did.”

“I do not!”

Nick reached across the counter and and touched her. He wasn’t a dream walker or a telepath, but he was an empath, he saw connections. Cords and lines drawn between people. There was no hiding anything from him in terms of relationships. He saw all. He showed her what he could, how she felt. What was around her, he couldn’t share his vision but he could share her feeling. Dee didn’t need more than that she jerked away. “You lie.”

Nick frowned. “I wish I did.”

“I don’t do that.” There were tears in her eyes. Actual pain in her heart. Nick could feel it. His own heart ached for her. She hadn’t known. He believed that now. “Help me,” she begged as she reached around and grabbed Nick’s arm.

“I can’t. I don’t know how. I can shield away the things, but I don’t feed. I never have. A vampire can help. Maybe Cari can. Ant maybe.”

Dee growled. “Neither of them.”

Nick shrugged. “There are other vampires. Tony, he calmed Il Cane.”

Dee shook her head. “No. No vampires they are death.”

Nick stood up. “I can’t help you. That’s for you to deal with. I’m sure Nox can help you.” Nick didn’t wait for a good-bye or even said it himself. He just left through the door leading out of the kitchen and back into the main lobby area. He hadn’t helped. But maybe Dee thought, maybe she could learn to stop hurting them…

Sage had watched Nox walk away from them. Dee stormed off in the other direction and he was torn between them. He’d brought Dev and Dee into their life. He’d pulled away from Nox. Jealousy was only a minor point on the reason and Sage knew it deep down. Dee needed him, Nox didn’t. It wasn’t that Nox wasn’t needy. Nox was pulled to take care of him even though they had started out the other way around. But Sage had given up that card and Nox went into protective mode. Sage loved that about him. Loved that he was willing to be more than what he was so Sage could be happy.

But Sage knew he wanted to take care of someone. He was traditional. He was a man and that’s how he was raised. To take care of his family. Nox didn’t need that – he needed emotional help. He needed to be strong, but he needed to give up complete control at times to just be there. It had scared him. It still scared him that someone could be so polar in everything.

But Sage looked at Dee as she walked away from him. Nox only wanted what was best for them all. Was Dee really causing that many problems? Sage almost wanted to call Dev but he didn’t really want to know that bad.

By the time he’d made up his mind Nox had someone in his office. One of Cari Giovanni’s lacky’s. He was always around the vampire, hanging on her like a love sick puppy. Sage waited outside of Nox’s office until the man left. Sage offered him a smile as he walked out and hesitated only a minute before he was inside the office closing the door.

Nox was grinning but reading the screen in front of him. “You smelled me?”

Nox flicked his eyes up in a quick motion and it tousled the fringe covering his forehead into his eyes. Today’s blue was inspired by Dev’s eye color. And oddly Sage found it more appealing than when Nox did the darker color of his eyes. It didn’t get quite so lost in the dark color of Nox’s natural color. Sage’s mouth watered and he was very glad Dev wasn’t around. Nox’s grin grew wider, “And I smell how much you want me too.”

Sage could feel the heat rising in his neck and cheeks. “I don’t think that will ever change, even if I’m pissed at you.”

“Are you pissed at me?” Nox asked. His voice sounding defeated and lost. How could one guy go from chipper and happy to down right depressed in such a flip of a moment.

Sage thought Nox was just as manipulative as everyone else in this house. “I hate when you do that?”

Nox’s eyes flicked up again to meet his, “Hate when I do what?”

“When you switch emotions to manipulate me.”

His frown deepened and he leaned back in his office chair and stared at me. I could see the gears turning. “I don’t do it to manipulate you Sage. I’ll try to keep the mask tighter around you.” He sat forward again and pulled his chair up against the desk essentially saying he was done. But Sage wasn’t done.

He marched around the desk and grabbed the chair and spun Nox to look at him. “I’m tired of the theatrics Nox. You claim everyone is manipulating me. You do it too.”

Nox’s eyes went wide, in shock or horror Sage wasn’t sure. There was no smirk. Just Nox’s chocolate brown eyes staring back at me underneath those long lashes. Dev called him a pretty boy. Nox was not a boy but he was certainly a pretty boy. He was as much a player as the day Sage had met him. Except now he only played with the three of them.

Nox’s eyes dropped and he nodded. “How would you have me behave Sage?”

Fuck, “You aren’t going into submissive mode. Nox. You can stop being such an ass.”

“You knew I was an ass when you met me.” He said with agony. Sage hated to hear the dejected tone. But he continued, “Tell me what I’m doing wrong and I’ll stop.”

Sage sighed. “That. Nox. This is what you do wrong. You go from happy to pissed off to depressed in the span of seconds. Stop.”

He sighed. “Sage I can’t. Do you want me to be myself or do you want me to pretend that I’m happy? You can’t have both.”

“I don’t want you to pretend Nox.” Sage whined.

Nox chuckled. “Now who’s manipulating who? I will try to watch my mood swings around you.” His voice fell the last half of the sentence as he stared back at me. “Anything else?” he asked.

Sage stared at him for a long time looking at the defeat in his eyes. How did they get here? Had Dee really pulled them apart? Adam too? Or was it all on Nox? Nox was always gone, always working. A voice in Sage’s head said, and where were you? You are part of this relationship too. The dream he’d had sprang to mind. The visions of helping people, of being bigger than life itself. Sage sank to his knees and crawled between Nox’s legs and rested his head on Nox’s leg. “I’m sorry.”

Sage curled against the bottom of the chair for a long time before Nox’s hand fell to Sage’s back and started rubbing small circles against his shirt. The long fingers of his boyfriend were running through Sage’s mop of hair comforting him. Sage looked up at Nox, sitting on his heels. “You and I need to work on things too.”

Nox nodded. “Yeah, we do.” Nox licked his lips, “I like this view.”

Sage could feel the blood rushing to his cock and creeping up his neck. Sage looked around the office. There was glass everywhere. Floor to ceiling panes of glass, the only thing blocking any view was the desk, the chair and his own body. Sage bit his bottom lip much like Nox would when he was being shy or extra flirty. The heat in Nox’s eyes was all too telling, he had the same thoughts.

Sage drew his hands up Nox’s jeans and watched Nox’s expression as he unbutton his jeans and pulled down the zipper. Sage wondered what Nox smelled now. He knew that he could be caught and it sent a thrill through him. Sage wasn’t an exhibitionist, but with Nox everything always changed. Sage pulled out his boyfriend cock from his jeans and boxers and was surprised at how aroused he was.

Sage licked the base of Nox’s cock before he sucked the tip and Nox groaned. His hands went behind his head. Nox liked to touch, Sage didn’t know why he tortured himself by doing that. Sage released Nox’s cock with a soft pop and whispered, “Touch me.”

Nox’s voice caught as he tried to speak. “No.” He started again, this time the desire in his voice was unmistakable, “If I touch you, I’ll make you stop.”

“Why?” Sage sat back on his heels.

Nox grinned at him, “I’d rather you be doing other things than sucking my cock.”

Sage blushed as he whispered, “Like what?”

“Fucking me for starters.” he said without any hesitation in his voice.

“You want me to …. here?” Sage asked shyly.

Nox grinned, “Yes, but only if you want to.”

There was no question about want to, Sage had wanted more than to suck his cock. Sage stood up, it wasn’t as graceful as Nox would have but Nox never complained Sage nodded and wiggled his fingers for Nox to stand up. They were standing behind the desk and Nox was too dressed for Sage’s liking. He pulled the hem of Nox’s shirt over his head and once his lips were free of the neck Sage kissed the soft kissable lips. Nox moan and had stopped disrobing. Sage whispered, “You can take it off as he turned Nox around and jammed his hands inside of Nox’s jeans and shoved them down.

Sage loved being behind Nox. Before it was all about the trust, now, his perfect back was so sensitive Sage loved playing his tongue along the lines of it. His lips brushing against it. Sage wrapped his hand around Nox’s long length and stroked with each caressed of his lips against his back.

Nox was putty he bent over as Sage pressed inside him one hand on his cock, the other stroking his chest and his hip to pull against him so he could bury himself deep inside his lover. It didn’t take long for Nox to climax. He had let himself go, let himself come first which made Sage spill inside of him. He fell against Nox and sighed with contentment. “Why is it always about the sex?” Sage joked.

Nox laughed. “It’s what we do best, love.” Nox stood up and turned around in my embrace and looked at me. “Sage. I love you. I don’t want to fight.”

“I don’t either.” Sage said. “I don’t think we know how to do anything else.”

Nox grinned, “We fuck pretty well.”

Sage blushed and hit Nox’s shoulder, “Get dressed. I want to take you to lunch.”