He returned his attention to the wok. “Will’s was Arnau. He never really liked it, I think. It was sort of neat though, the three A’s, the A-Team, so to speak.” He reached over and turned off the stove. “Amiago and Arnau and Aidan.”
The dark and crazy days, Aidan thought, not wanting to give much thought to them at all.
It was too painful.
* * * *
They ate, fell into bed together, and made love again. Jeff was already asleep when Aidan heard Ryan’s call. He carefully climbed out of bed and pulled on his robe before appearing in Ryan’s living room.
“You have the world’s suckiest timing, dude.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your celebration.”
“Smartass.”
“I just wanted to let you know I’m back.”
“Technology’s a great wonder, you know? Text messages, IMs, even a flipping phone call.”
Ryan was already working on a glass of bourbon. He held it up, offering one to Aidan, who declined.
“Did you find out anything?” Aidan asked.
“No. Our powers are different there, not as strong, as you well know. We couldn’t track her. If she’s even there. I’ve put out some inquiries through reliable channels however, and hope that will soon bear fruit.”
“So now what?”
“You go on with your life. I’m taking care of things on my end. Concern yourself with Jeff and your job.”
“And Kal’s wedding.”
Ryan wistfully smiled. “And that.”
Chapter 14
Will was asleep in bed with Kal when the annoying mental tap awoke him. Fortunately he was dressed in pajamas. That part had taken a little getting used to, but since they were staying in Kal’s parents’ home, Will felt it only appropriate he abide by Kal’s wishes. Anything he could do to reduce her stress, he would.
He’d have her all to himself for most of eternity to sleep naked with her. He could suck it up.
He carefully untangled himself from Kal’s arms and swung his legs over the edge of the bed before appearing in Ryan’s Atlanta condo.
Ryan was alone, sipping a glass of bourbon. “I’m sorry to call you so late. I wanted to make sure she was asleep.”
Fear chilled Will’s heart. “Why?”
Ryan closed his eyes and shook his head, his voice weary. “No, nothing like that. She has enough on her plate to worry about as it is without concerning herself with our business.” He opened his eyes. “We need to have a talk, you and I.”
“About?”
“Recent events I need to catch you up on.” He waved Will into one of the chairs and told him about the latest with Bera, including her attempt to seduce Aidan.
Will frowned as he contemplated the information. “So what’s her game?”
“That’s the problem. I don’t know. Did she ever drop any hints to you during her attempts that might shed light on this situation?”
“No. Never. I just thought she was an opportunistic bitch.”
“It’s not like she can ever take control of The Firm.” Ryan thought for a moment. “Perhaps that is her erroneous supposition, however, considering her desire to have a line heir.”
“Like your dad would seriously ever let her be in charge.”
“We’d be ice skating in the Sahara first.”
Will snorted, amused. “So no idea where she is?”
“I have my suspicions. Even talked to her father and he hasn’t heard from her lately. There was nothing at her apartment to give us any leads. I have a team of Enforcers on it.”
“Tosko?”
Ryan nodded.
“He’s good.”
“Not as good as Aidan.” Ryan smiled. “Although I dare say you and Aidan have been much more effective over the ages as Protectors. Aidan certainly didn’t have the fortitude for the Enforcer way of life long term, even though in the beginning he was probably the best there ever was or will be.”
Will frowned. “Do me a favor?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s not talk about those days around Jeff and Kal. Okay?”
Ryan sent an eyebrow skyward. “Obviously. They don’t have any reason to know about those things regardless.”
“Do you need me to go off-Earth to track Bera?”
“I’m hoping it won’t come to that. Not when Kal needs you. I have enough bodies on the job for now, as it were, to keep Bera away from Columbus and Tampa. After… After everything’s settled down and you’re sure Kal’s stable enough to be away from you, perhaps we’ll form an expedition and cross. I’ve already been over once for a quick look but I couldn’t find her. That doesn’t mean anything.”
Will arched an eyebrow of his own. “You did what?”
“Why does that surprise you?”
“You doing field work? It’s been a while.”
“Well, my most powerful archdemon is back on the job. Now that I have a second powerful back up at my disposal, I felt secure leaving this plane for a while.”
“Second back up?”
Ryan smiled. “Good night, Will.”
Will returned to Columbus. Who the home was his other back up? Unless Hades had fathered another line heir Ryan had neglected to tell him about. Couldn’t be Aidan, he didn’t have a soul mate, wasn’t powerful enough to do it without one. That’s why he’d always got stuck with the job in the past and Aidan never had to worry about it.
Well, it doesn’t matter. He climbed into bed with Kal and went back to sleep.
* * * *
The next day, Jeff and Aidan made it in to work. Aidan drove them in his car, and the entire way he forced himself not to grope Jeff.
He had a feeling Jeff wouldn’t have minded, not from the way he trailed his fingers up and down Aidan’s thigh. The sensations, even through his shorts, made Aidan’s cock stand up and harden like iron.
Working with him would be the best kind of torture.
As Aidan expected, Kal wasn’t in the office. Gery and Purs had to leave for a normal job. Will stopped in, checked on things, handled some paperwork, and disappeared again. By lunch, Aidan was fighting the urge to spirit Jeff home to make love to him. It was like his very presence called out to Aidan, stole every ounce of his concentration.
A little after noon, Aidan walked down to Jeff’s office. He closed and locked the door behind him.
Jeff turned from his computer. “What’s up?”
“Me,” Aidan growled. He strode over and pinned Jeff in his chair, kissed him.
Jeff eagerly kissed him back. When Aidan reached between Jeff’s legs he felt his erection through his slacks.
“Me too,” Jeff gasped.
Aidan pulled Jeff out of his chair and backed him against his desk. A feverish hunger, desperate need overwhelmed him. He had to have him—now. Aidan kissed Jeff as he fumbled at his slacks and finally pushed them and his briefs down, then dropped his own shorts. Without breaking contact with Jeff’s lips, Aidan ground his hips against Jeff’s, their stiff cocks rubbing against each other.
He cupped the back of Jeff’s head with one hand and wrapped his other hand around both their shafts as they rubbed back and forth. Jeff’s arms encircled him, his fingers digging into Aidan’s back and intensifying his need. They found a rhythm and as the room filled with the sound of their ragged breath, Jeff’s eyes closed and he dropped his head to Aidan’s shoulder.
“I’m so close,” Jeff whispered.
Aidan squeezed a little tighter, his own climax rapidly approaching as their hips bucked against each other.
As his grip on Aidan’s body stiffened, Jeff came, his hot juices slicking them both and adding a sudden lubrication to Aidan’s movements. Aidan clamped his free hand firmly around the back of Jeff’s neck and he pressed his lips against his throat.
“You’re all mine,” he growled as he nipped Jeff, then moaned as he came.
Jeff shivered and hooked one leg around the back of Aidan’s. He almost instantly hardened in Aidan’s h
and again. Aidan never softened, and he continued thrusting, holding Jeff’s cock hostage against his own.
Jeff clung to him, simply along for the ride. He moaned against Aidan’s shoulder.
Aidan slowed his strokes, moved his hand further down their shafts. “Put your hand down there, buddy,” he whispered.
Jeff did, gasping when Aidan thrust into his grip. “Look what you did to me,” Aidan murmured. “If I make you my soul mate, can you handle me chasing you around like this all the time? You fucking make me so goddamned horny I can’t see straight.”
“Yeah!” Jeff breathlessly replied. “All the time. Do it, please!”
Aidan chuckled as he picked up the pace. He hadn’t felt this horny in…ever, to be honest. He felt like he could spend all day in bed with Jeff.
“Not yet. We’ve got plenty of time for that.” He increased the pressure on their cocks as he thrust, their stiff shafts rubbing and slipping against each other. “Let’s enjoy this for now.”
Aidan’s second release built deep within him, climbing. “You gonna come again for me?”
Jeff overlapped two of his fingers with Aidan’s and squeezed. “Yeah!” A moment later he did, crying out and too far gone to try to hide the sound.
Aidan’s heart tumbled as he added his climax. He closed his eyes and felt the powerful sensations rolling through him. Damn, it was so good with Jeff, even just like this. Never before had he ever felt this way about anyone. Not just the emotions, but the physical sensations, too.
They stood there, not moving, catching their breath. As reality settled over Aidan he had time to realize maybe this wasn’t the best of locations to engage in this activity. He kissed Jeff’s damp forehead. “You okay?” he hesitantly asked.
Jeff laughed. “Oh my God, I’m so beyond okay you have no idea. I needed that in the worst way.” He met Aidan’s gaze. “Do you know how much I love you?”
Fuck the show, fuck work, fuck everyone. Aidan wanted to be alone with Jeff. “You don’t know what you do to me, sugar.”
Jeff gently squeezed their now soft cocks. “Uh, yeah, sort of do.”
Aidan kissed him and spirited them both to the bathroom to clean up. Aidan was tempted to drop to his knees and blow Jeff, see if he could coax a third out of him, but Jeff’s eyes twinkled. “I reeeally want to do that, Aid, but man, I’ve got to finish that magazine layout to get it to the printers.”
Aidan laughed. “It’s like you read my mind.”
“Wasn’t hard.” His fingers brushed against the front of Aidan’s shorts, which immediately grew full again. “Unlike you.”
“You’re gonna get yourself well-fucked tonight, you keep that up.”
Jeff grinned. “You make it too easy.”
* * * *
The days wore on. Kal spent most of her time in Columbus. Ryan spent more time in Tampa, helping Jeff with the technical aspects of the show. Will “commuted” to appear in the show, then returned to Columbus to be with Kal. The fact that they shot in the middle of the night made that trick easier. Kal’s parents were already in bed asleep when he left, and he always returned before they awoke.
Kal had settled into a melancholy frame of mind. The constant sadness in her eyes and heart nearly crushed Will’s soul. He did all he could to be there for her and be supportive.
They spent every night at her parents’ house. Between that and Kal’s ever-present grief, nothing more romantic than a good night peck on the lips usually happened between them. Will didn’t mind, knowing what Kal needed was his unwavering support and love.
And if he could go twenty-five years without sex after losing Abby, he could certainly live through a few weeks of celibacy with the woman he loved at his side. Despite his growing need, he was content to hold her in his arms after all his years alone.
One night they didn’t have a show to film. Kal went to bed early anyway, exhausted from the day she and her mother had spent meeting with the caterer and other vendors to finalize wedding plans. Will couldn’t sleep, didn’t want to go to Tampa, and instead walked downstairs.
He was a little surprised to find Kal’s father watching TV.
He looked up as Will walked in. “Come on in and sit down, son.” Reverend Martin’s pain was nearly constant now. His weight had dropped as it became more difficult for him to eat, and it showed in the gaunt lines in his hollowed-out face. Will hoped the man could make it until their wedding. From the rheumy, moist look in the Reverend’s eyes, Will suspected he’d had an extra strong dose of his pain meds that evening.
Will cautiously sat in one of the chairs. “How are you feeling tonight, sir?”
The Reverend nodded. “Not too bad.” He smiled. “Just a few more weeks and I can keep my promise.” He studied Will as his gaze narrowed, pointed. “How are you holding up?”
Will gave what he hoped was a noncommittal shrug. “Kal is still pure, if that’s your point, sir.” Will knew damn well that was his point, and was too mentally exhausted to spend the evening verbally jousting. “And I plan for her to stay that way until after I’ve made her my wife.” Well, it was the truth even if Will meant it differently than the Reverend would take it. Her soul was still pure although she was now his soul mate and bonded to him.
The Reverend smiled, then laughed. “I have to admit, you have a very strong backbone, don’t you? You aren’t the least bit afraid to stand up to me. Not many men would have that kind of fortitude.”
“I’m not many men. I’m just myself.”
Reverend Martin slowly nodded. “I’m still not quite sure what you are exactly, Will Hellenboek. My daughter, however, is devoted to you. I sense you’re just as devoted to her, so I suppose it’s not my place to interfere. Even if I suspect you’re more than what you appear.”
Will knew Laura Martin was asleep upstairs, so it was just the two of them downstairs. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “I’ve seen things in my life you would never believe, sir.”
“Ah, the dance around the issue game.” Reverend Martin’s eyes twinkled. “I enjoy that as much as the next man.”
“What do you want me to tell you?”
“What’s out there? Really out there? I’m curious.”
“What does your faith tell you?”
“You know, you and I haven’t had many discussions on that topic, have we?”
“Is it relevant to the fact that I love Kal with all my heart and soul, and that I would die to protect her?”
“Not really. You still didn’t answer my question.”
Will smiled. “I’m an archdemon, one of the Protectors. Think Men in Black without the aliens. That’s what we do. Contrary to popular belief, we’re actually the good guys.”
Reverend Martin’s eyes widened, then he laughed again. When he finally quit laughing he waved his hand at Will. “Dang it, you are a smart aleck, aren’t you? Great sense of humor. No wonder Kal loves you.” He settled back into his chair with an amused snort. “Archdemons. That’s a good one. Next thing you’ll be telling me is Hell is in Cincinnati.”
“Not quite. Atlanta.”
Reverend Martin grinned. “You should write books. You’re good. They could make a movie.” He held out his hands, marking off an invisible movie marquee sign. “Good Will the Ghost Hunter.” He laughed again. “That would be a real hoot.”
“Yes,” Will agreed with a playful smile. “It sure would be a hoot.”
* * * *
A few nights later, Kal and her mom sat at the kitchen table as they addressed more wedding invitations. Kal didn’t know most of the people her mom had invited.
Laura looked across the table at her daughter and smiled. Not a normal smile, but the kind that Kal knew imparted motherly amusement sometimes best left unspoken.
Kal was tired of it. “What, Mom?”
“He’s a very handsome man.”
Kal blushed. While she was pretty comfortable with her sex life with Will, she dang sure didn’t want to talk about it with her mother.
Especially when her mom assumed she wasn’t having sex yet. “Yes, he is.”
Laura put down her pen. “Did I ever tell you about the day you were conceived?”
Horror struck, Kal nearly gagged. “Um, Mom, no offense, but too much information!”
“No, dear. I wasn’t going to get that detailed.” Laura clasped her hands on the table in front of her and apparently searched for the words. “Your father and I tried for a while to have children. A few years. Eventually I came to peace with the fact that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.” She wistfully smiled. “I spent so many nights praying to God to bless us with a baby. I didn’t care, boy or girl, whatever He saw fit to give to us.
“I remember that day, plain as yesterday. I was sitting here in this kitchen, trying to decide what to make for a church bake sale. I’d promised I’d give them a cake and wanted to make something other than a sour cream pound cake. It’s what I always made.”
Kal knew her mom had a point and wished she’d hurry the heck up and get to it.
Laura Martin continued. “You’re going to think I’m crazy. I know your father still thinks I am. I was going through my cookbook and I felt a presence. I looked up and…there was this angel standing there. As clear as you are.”
Kal arched an eyebrow. “Angel?”
“I told you you’d think I’m crazy. He was so sad, so sweet. The funny thing is I even remember his cologne. It was like he was a real person, standing right there.” She pointed to the corner. “Not like some vision. He spoke in this very soft voice, looked like he’d been crying. He had the most beautiful green eyes.”
“Did he have wings?”
“This is my story, young lady.”
Kal snorted, now totally paying attention. “Okay. Sorry.”
Laura nodded. “And no, he didn’t have wings. At first I thought he’d broken into the house until I realized he wasn’t human. I don’t know how I knew. He told me… well, what to do. Told me I would have a beautiful baby girl.”
Laura smiled, her mental eye on that day in the past. “He even told me to name her Kalyani, said it was Sanskrit for ‘beautiful.’ I looked it up later, he was right.” She focused her gaze on Kal. “He told me to raise her right, in our faith, and that she would grow up to marry someone very special. He disappeared and I went to get your father. Nine months almost to that very day, you were born. And here you are, and you are marrying someone very special.”
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