“Look, Nikolas, I
know you’re hurting, and I’m sorry, dear boy, but to take it out on everyone
who’s trying to help you is not the answer.”
Nikolas gave
Dominique a long, measuring look and then sighed. “I owe you my life on more
than one occasion, Dominique, but for this one thing. I. Do. Not. Want
company.” His voice was hard as flint. Until he was back on track, someone
would hit close to home by targeting anyone close to him. Could it get any
worse?
“You just want to mope and
feel sorry for yourself, is that it?” His ex-Master said. He straightened and
shook his head. “I don’t know why, boy, but when it comes to you I’m not sure
whether to trust my own instincts. But I do know this one thing. You are not
the man I knew.”
Nikolas fumed
within, but he remained calm and cool as he turned back to face Ashton. “And
you! I wish to be left alone. Doesn’t anyone get this? It would be best if you
left. And do not bother coming again. I’m not much for this idle conversation
right now.”
“Your attitude
stinks, but that is just the same old you.” Hands held high, Ashton
surrendered. “My work is done here. I’ll just leave you to attend to my friend.
In lieu of fighting with you or listening to you spew lengthy lectures that you
know I’m not going to listen to anyway, I’ll just be leaving.” Ashton shrugged
his shoulders with a mischievous smirk plastered on his face. “I’ll call you, Kyler.”
He winked down at his friend, walking out with fingers crossed. “Damn I sure
hope I’m not making the biggest mistake of my life.”
“Hey what…but… U
can’t just leave me here! Kyle sputtered.
It ripped into Nikolas’s
gut to hear Ashton saying this to him. He had considered Ashton his most
trusted ally in his team, a confidant. Trust was something that didn’t come
easy. It was earned, not given freely.
“Excuuuse me!” the
shorter man huffed. “Big guy! Yeah, you. Hurt man down here. Some undivided
attention would be nice.”
Nikolas looked
down at the young man and felt the nice brick wall he’d built around his heart
long ago beginning to crack. The guy was actually pouting. His lower lip pushed
out and everything. Jesus, even his eyes were sad.
Nikolas felt a
surge of sensation, both physical and emotional, and was completely lost to
this man in a space of a single heartbeat. Nikolas groaned and closed his eyes,
and when he opened them again, he hoped the alluring man would be gone, but he
was still rooted to the same chair he’d sat him in.
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