Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
“I’m not enjoying picturing you kissing someone else.” He stepped closer and placed his hand on Finn’s chest. “I know I said we have fun while I’m here, but how would you feel if we took it a step farther? I know there will be issues with us living in different states, but I—” He paused and slid both arms up around Finn’s neck. “I feel something more than casual. How would you feel about something more…exclusive?”
“Ajax, I won’t be kissing anyone else while I’m with you. I have no desire to.”
That flitting hint of melancholy flashed on Finn’s face, so brief Ajax almost missed it. “What is it, Finn? Every now and then, you get this look on your face that really worries me.”
Finn framed his face with his hands. “It’s nothing. I do want to be exclusive with you. For as long as you’ll have me. We’ll figure out the logistics. I can collect a lot of frequent flier miles.”
Ajax stared at Finn for a long time. Something was still wrong. Finn seemed sincere, though. He did seem like he wanted more with Ajax. Hell, Ajax wanted to offer him the job of his permanent bodyguard, but he knew it was too early to ask. Not when something was still holding Finn back.
And now he actually had someone trying to kill him.
He burrowed into Finn, who wrapped those meaty, safe arms around him tight. Despite the fear, this felt right. Finn felt right. He wanted this man in his life, wanted him to be a part of all of it. The feelings coursing through him were stronger than anything he’d ever felt with anyone else. Those relationships felt like pencil on paper—easily erased. Like he’d been just going through the motions of what he thought he should have felt. This was real. The passion raw. The affection deep.
But would someone who lived hundreds of years want to spend a handful of them with him? He leaned back. “How long do jinns live?”
Finn was quiet, the silence stretching out as he gazed at Ajax’s face. When he finally answered, his words seemed to be formed reluctantly. “As I told you, I’m three hundred and forty years old, and I will live hundreds of more years. Maybe. I don’t actually know how long.”
“Oh,” Ajax said softly. He didn’t know what to say to that. He couldn’t imagine growing old and watching Finn stay just like this. Couldn’t imagine asking him to watch that happen to Ajax. It would. He would grow old and feeble while Finn wouldn’t.
No wonder he’d never been in a relationship. Not with a human for sure.
Ajax stepped out of his arms and cleared his throat as if that could erase his tangled thoughts. “Do you think we’ll be able to figure out who hired this guy to hurt me?”
“Ajax, he came here to kill you. We have to figure out who did this. The people at my job are good. They’ll figure this out. But you think on it, too. Like that fan you told me about. The one with the demos. Could he be angry enough to do something like this?”
“That’s the thing. Sure, maybe he’s angry that I keep ignoring him. Though killing me wouldn’t do a thing to help him get the recognition he’s looking for.” He sighed and slumped onto the couch. “It could be anyone. There’s a whole world out there that listens to our music. It could be an obsessed fan. People kill for so many reasons.” He looked up at Finn. “I’m actually pretty scared.”
Finn sat next to him and put his arm around him. “I won’t let anyone close to you again.”
Chapter Seventeen
Ajax
A week passed without any more attempts on Ajax’s life. He spent his days working on his music and his nights with Finn. During the day, Finn and Dax patrolled outside, keeping close eyes on the fans. The crowd had thinned, some obviously giving up on ever catching a glimpse of Ajax.
Ajax needed to get out of this house. He’d been totally honest about being a natural homebody, especially when he was working, but a buzzing restlessness had him in a block. “Smoke Moves” was coming along, but the more time he spent with Finn, the more some of the lyrics changed. He just needed to get out. Clear his mind of work for a little while so he could come back to it fresh.
With that thought in mind, he sought out Finn, finding him in the kitchen making sandwiches for him and Dax.
“I’d like to go out somewhere tonight,” he announced as he leaned against the counter next to Finn. “Maybe get some food, or maybe a club? Do you know of a place I could possibly blend?”
Finn used a knife to spread mayonnaise on a slice of bread. “I do know of a club. It’s run by another incubus, so a lot of preternaturals go there. They know what it’s like to not want to attract notice, so they’d leave you alone. But there’s no way you’d truly blend in.”