Chapter Two
Jules put down his pencil instinctively when the bell above the door dinged. He sucked in a breath when Henri entered the shop. He had a pile of books and a pad of paper stacked high in his arms. They nearly covered him to the chin.
And Jules held that same breath when Hacen walked in behind him. Jules’ lungs ached as he held his breath. He wanted to run to Hacen. The needed for him burned in his chest.
It also fucking pissed him off.
Hacen’s long black coat flowed around him. He looked like an avenging dark angel, with his olive-colored skin and his long black hair. The scar that dissected his eyebrow pulled tight as he scowled. He stopped near a coffee table that Garridan had made last week even as Henri came all the way up to the counter.
Henri placed his load of books in front of Jules. “My apologies if I’m interrupting your work day, Jules. I just wanted to bring these to you. No strings attached. Although I’d still like to take you to dinner. As friends. If you’re willing.” He was oblivious to the silent communication going on between Hacen and Jules, or what that connection did to the beating of Jules' heart.
His blood pumped faster the longer Hacen’s dark scowl lay on him. Jules’ cock plumped behind the zipper of his red slacks. He was never more grateful for the height of the counter. He slid off his stool and took a step back.
He needed Garridan’s quiet strength and his gentle guidance.
“Garridan!” Jules knew better than to yell at the dragon shifter. No way would he have done that under normal circumstances. Garridan saw it as disrespectful and in some ways it probably was, especially when it interrupted Garridan’s work.
Garridan growled even before he came up from the back. The rumble turned into a chuckle when Garridan took in the situation as he stepped through the door.
Jules didn’t find anything funny about it.
“So, dinner, Jules?” Henri pressed him for an answer as if he had a better place to be. If he did, Jules would gladly go with him. Anywhere but standing in the same room with Hacen glowering at him.
“Answer the turtle shifter, Jules,” Garridan demanded.
“Turtle shifter?”
Garridan smiled even as he moved across the room to stand next to Jules. “Henri.”
Jules couldn’t bring himself to look anywhere, but at Hacen, whose eyes turned from blue to red over the course of the conversation. “As friends?”
“Yes. Just friends. I promise not to flirt.”
Hacen growled, curling his lips up to show his fangs. His fingernails grew pointed at the ends, resembling claws. “Tell him no, Jules.”
That singular demand broke Jules out of his stupor. He narrowed his eyes and moved away, his spine straightening. “You have no say in my life, Hacen.”
“Yes, I do if some bookworm asshole is asking you out on a date.”
Realization dawned. The annoyance Jules had felt all morning turned into anger in an instant. “You heard him ask me out, didn’t you? It’s the only reason you came in here. That is a dick move if ever there was one considering you’ve been stalking me for months. And where is your mate? You left him in the bushes across the street or something.” Jules crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.
Henri turned, his eyebrows raised. Instead of fearing Hacen as he probably should have, he smirked. “Two mates? Am I hearing correctly?”
Jules curled his lips, unable to keep his mouth shut. He’d never in his life been so prone to anger, but something about Hacen set him off big time. “Nope. I don’t have any mates at all, do I Hacen? Should we tell him why?”
“Because you refused us the second you got with this clan of shifters.”
“Ha!” Jules turned his gaze to Henri, who watched the exchange between Jules and Hacen as if he were watching a tennis match. “Sage is making his mac and cheese for dinner tonight, Henri. It’s a favorite of the family and Mama would love to have you. Later we can talk about the books you brought me, which I’m very appreciative of, by the way.” Jules held out his hand, taking Henri’s. “I’m very sorry for the drama. Really.”
“No worries. And I accept. And I’ll also say goodbye. It seems you’re busy at the moment.” Henri shook his hand and quickly let him go. He waved as he walked passed Hacen to the front door.
Hacen folded his arms over his chest, probably so he wouldn’t strangle Henri. Jules could see he wanted to by the way his eyes followed Henri out the door.
When he turned back around and met Jules gaze, a tense silence stretched between them. Hacen stood with his legs apart as if he were getting ready for a gunfight. His scowl softened to a dull roar and affection entered his gaze. It was the gentleness or rather, more the remembrance of his gentle touch that calmed some of Jules’ fire. “We need to talk.”
Jules might not have a gun to duel with, and wouldn’t use it even if he did, but he had something far more lethal. Jules came around the counter and hopped up on it right next to the books Henri brought. He tried his best to sound as indifferent as he possibly could. “So talk.”
“In private. I’m not talking to you in front of a shifter.”
“Whatever you have to say to me can be said in front of my family.” Garridan was the only father figure Jules had ever had, and he wouldn’t push him away just because Hacen had a stick up his ass about shifters. Also, there was something about Garridan’s presence that made him braver than usual and he planned to take advantage of it while it lasted.
“No, Jules. Come here, and we’ll talk outside.”
Jules sighed. “Just because you come in here looking all…” Jules looked Hacen up and down twice. His sexiness was a damn curse upon humanity as a whole and Jules in particular. It should be illegal. The sheriff should arrest him and send him to Saint Lakes’ jail. “…like you do, doesn’t mean I’ll do whatever you say like a drooling, lovesick robot.”
A smiled turned up the corners of Hacen’s lips. “What if I say please?” Oh, that was so not fair. What a sexy asshole.
“What if I say fuck off, vampire?”
Hacen growled and flashed his teeth.
Jules hopped from the counter, running to Garridan so fast it didn’t register what he had done until he was gripping the back of Garridan’s shirt.
“Shit.” Hacen mumbled the curse under his breath, but Jules heard it. The tone had Jules peeking around Garridan. Hacen met his gaze immediately. “I’d never hurt you, Jules. You have to know that.”
“I don’t know you.”
“If you come over here, we can talk and get to know each other better.” The way Hacen said it implied Jules should have thought of that, and it made him stupid that he didn’t.
“I’m working. I don’t have time.” The words caught in his throat at the end as panic squeezed his lungs for the second time that day. He legs gave out, and he slid to the floor, his hand slipping from Garridan’s shirt. He drew his knees up to his chest and buried his face in them.
Whatever bravado Jules had possessed, faded. Every ounce of progress he had made over the last year disappeared just as it always did with every bout of panic.
Garridan knelt beside him. “Just breathe through it.”
Jules nodded without moving. The air around them shifted, which was the only indication that Garridan stood. “Keep telling him to breathe. Provide comfort, vampire. No arguing.” Garridan’s work boots pounded against the floor. “I’ll be in the back if he needs me.”
“He doesn’t need you. He needs Tommy and me.” Hacen sounded close and the next thing Jules knew, the scent of lavender washed over him as Hacen lifted him in his arms.
“He needs his family just as much. Don’t forget that.”
Hacen walked them across the room to the corner. Garridan had put a rocking chair there for Sage, who liked to sit and read sometimes. Hacen sat down and immediately began to rock. The arm of the chair pressed against the backs of Jules’ legs. Hacen’s black leather coat cooled his cheek.
“I’m here. I’m here now.”
Jules didn’t even realize he was crying until he rubbed his nose and felt the wetness there. He sniffled. “Just leave. You and Tommy need to leave me alone.”
“That will never happen.”
“Just pretend I don’t exist, like you did before.”
Hacen sucked in a breath and held him tighter. “I’ve never pretended that. I’ve waited so long to hold you like this. You don’t know how much I’ve wanted you.”
“You’re right. I don’t know.” Jules wanted to move away from him but didn’t because it turned out Hacen was the quickest way to cool the fires of panic. “You left me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Yes, you did.” Jules fisted Hacen’s coat. He lifted his head and got inches from his face. He gritted his teeth, speaking through them. “He beat me every day, and you left me there to rot.”
Jules let go of Hacen and tried to stand, but Hacen’s hold was firm. He pressed his forehead against Hacen’s chest and let the tears fall in earnest. “I hate you.” Even as he said the words, he snaked his arms around Hacen’s waist and moved into him, wanting the comfort.
“I know, honey. I know.” Hacen rubbed Jules’ back.
He couldn’t speak past the sobs, so he didn’t try.
“I’m here now. I’m here. Right here for you. I won’t ever leave you again.”
Jules wanted to believe him, but words meant nothing. Actions spoke louder, and Hacen’s past actions spoke volumes.