Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 66(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
“Yes, of course. Come,” Xavier said as he stood in a fluid, graceful movement.
Noel stood as well, anticipation flowing from that knot in his gut to warm his limbs.
Finally.
Finally, it was time to see the object of his long obsession again.
Chapter Three
Daniel
Daniel stepped out of his office and came to an abrupt halt, shock reverberating through him as the man he’d been trying to find for five long years came striding toward him with Xavier.
Aaron.
Fuck, he looked good.
Daniel’s gaze ate up the tall, muscular form clad in a fitted black suit, his sandy, light brown hair, and his striking face. That face could never be considered conventionally handsome. It was too brutal, his eyes too narrow, his nose too long—but to Daniel, he was gorgeous. He’d been drawn to Aaron the moment he’d seen him and should have known then that the human meant more to him than a mere hookup. Even now, he couldn’t take his gaze away, and it took all his willpower not to let the snarl of conflicting emotions overwhelm him.
“Daniel,” Xavier said smoothly as he gestured at Aaron. “I’d like you to meet Noel Banner, who works for Arcane Intelligence.”
“Noel?” Daniel sputtered. “Your name is Noel?”
“Hi, Daniel.” He took a step closer, his hawk-like features softening, his eyes widened with what looked a lot like regret. “It’s good to see you again.”
Xavier didn’t seem surprised that they knew each other, just watched them calmly.
All this time, he’d wasted countless hours searching for a fucking lie. It was like being punched in the chest. A knot formed there, one built of a mix of fury and the raw pain that sprang from being lied to. “You son of a bitch,” Daniel growled as the anger and utter heartbreak felt like it dug deeper behind his ribs. Something in there just…cracked.
Blue eyes widened even more in apology. “Daniel, I didn’t have a choice. Let’s talk privately, and I can explain.”
“I have no interest in your explanation. You just fucking disappeared without a word or a goodbye.” He bit off the rest of what wanted to come pouring out of his mouth because it wasn’t only Xavier watching this reunion. Half the office had paused, faces turned their way. He looked at his employer. “I do not want to work with him.”
Xavier kept his voice low, his expression stern but with a hint of concern in his wrinkled brows. “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I believe the two of you together can find who is behind these thefts.”
“Are you in IT?” Daniel asked Noel, though he knew he wasn’t because Xavier had already told him that. Plus he knew from their past that this man worked in the field.
Noel shook his head. “No.”
“Then I don’t see how you can help me.”
“My people filled me in thoroughly before I came here, but Daniel…” He paused and took another step closer. “We really do need to talk. I suggest we go somewhere private so I can explain what happened.”
Something occurred to Daniel then. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall next to him. “Tell me something. What do you see when you look at me?”
Noel didn’t hesitate to answer. “I see a beautiful banshee.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You were always able to see my eyes and my fingers then?”
Noel nodded.
“Well, that’s another lie.” So Noel was one of the humans who could see through their glamours. That would explain Daniel’s strong reaction to Aa— Noel in the past. Also why Arcane Intelligence had sent Noel as their representative.
Could Daniel’s suspicions have been right? Could Noel be his soulmate?
This lying, disappearing poor excuse for a human who had broken his heart?
“I didn’t mean to lie.” Noel ran one hand over his hair and sighed. “Again, I would really have us talk somewhere more private.”
An alert rang on the computer in Daniel’s office, so he waved off Noel. “Maybe later. One of my tracers just landed.” He turned away from them and went into his office, but when he went to close the door, Noel had followed him, determination tightening his lips.
“Look,” Noel said as he firmly shut the office door. “I’m here for another week. This time. My plan is to settle here. I’d like for us to have that talk, because… You’re the reason I picked Seattle for retirement.”
“You’re retiring? Kind of young for that, aren’t you?”
Noel took a step closer. “I’m forty-five, so yes, and my agency isn’t too thrilled with my decision, but I have my reasons. I’d like to start seeing you. I always regretted the way I had to play things when we were together. Always regretted how I left.”
“Well, sucks to be you,” Daniel muttered as he took a few steps away from Noel. The man’s presence was just too powerful, and Daniel was feeling overwhelmed by emotion.