Avriel Kaplan: Well dressed, well groomed, beautifully handsome, quiet and brooding and exactly the kind of man Ariel Declan doesn't need to know. But, that is not for her to decide.
Alexander Kirk: wickedly handsome, well known and well liked, egot...
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Avriel walked Ariel to the back door. He kept his hand on the small of her back and waited for her to talk. He didn't think that she was going to. She was shaken, perhaps more than she should have been. He could only imagine. She had closed her mind to him, put up actual walls and barriers that he didn't want to try to breech. All he could do was listen if she chose to talk. "Will it lock?"
"Oh!" Ariel jumped, startled by the sound of his voice. He had been there all along, she was in a daze. Part of her knew that, but she hadn't registered him there, not completely. He was a little embarrassed. "Av-huh?" She turned to look at the beautiful man standing beside her his hand soft on her back. She saw a touch of hurt in his eyes. She wanted to wash it away. She smiled and watched his eyes for as long as she dared. He tilted his head slightly towards the door.
"The door?" She asked, her brows raised with the question. He nodded. "Yes, it will lock if we go out. I can't go out there."
"Are you okay?" Avriel leaned down and looked into her frightened eyes.
"Um," She moved her hair behind her ear and looked at his shoes, quietly shook her head and looked up into his eyes. "That was weird. Very weird. He touched me. I don't like being touched by strangers. He touched me, and it felt weird. Creepy. It was just my arm. But, it was creepy." She looked at Avriel. He was looking at her like he was hanging on her every word.
"Did it hurt?" Concern filled his voice with emotion.
"Yes. I think I might have a bruise." She pulled up her sleeve, so they could both inspect her arm. Sure enough, a set of small purple bruises had started to form where Sean's fingers had dug into her. She heard a very low growl. It was almost inhuman and sent small shivers down her spine. Instinctively, she stepped towards Avriel. She felt and anger more powerful than she had ever felt. One moment it was there, the next breath it was simply gone replaced by calm soothing patience. Cautiously she looked around for its source. There had to be a source. She couldn't be certain, but it seemed that growl, that flash of anger and the calm had all come from Avriel. She felt safe and secure with him close to her.
Avriel was touching her. His hand was warm on her wrist as he held it gently, turning it this way and that, watching the bruise forming. His anger glared hot again. How dare that idiot mar her skin. Suddenly he wanted blood. That kind of anger was unusual for him, the power and intensity of it shocked him. He fought it off and shut it down, so not to infect her with it. "Ice?"
"It will be fine." She smiled. "Thank you for being here for me. I really appreciate it."
His precocious smile and nod were more than enough of a 'you're welcome' for her. She smiled back a bit more openly than she did with other people.
They both heard someone approaching them. Avriel recognized the sound of his step. Ariel recognized the clean smell of his cologne and the feeling of his presence. How long had she been away from the bar? The DJ was on the second of the three-song set.
"You alright Ari? Should I ban him?" She quickly rolled down her sleeve to cover the injury and hoped Kevin hadn't seen it. Banning people was bad for business and that would earn Sean a permanent ban from the club.
"Kevin! Um, I don't think we should do that. It was just alcohol induced bad judgment. It scared me a little sure, but I will be fine," she lied so gracefully.
"You sure?" The worry in his clear dark brown eyes was moving. She felt loved and cared for, surrounded by warm safe feelings coming from the men standing on either side of her.
"Yeah. I am." She nodded. She was mostly okay and getting better by the moment.
"Okay. Come here please." She stepped into his open arms and was engulfed by him. He was over six-feet tall and healthily thick to her short five-foot-three thinly built frame. He held her tenderly and she involuntarily tucked into the security of his strength and the power of their friendship. He was far more than just her boss. He was her friend and mentor. There was nothing but love and respect between them. She pulled away and smiled.
"Thanks. Kev."
"I worry about you," Kevin gently said.
"You don't have to."
"I know. I can't help it." Kevin's smile was warm and kind, soft and tender. Ariel meant a lot more to him than he would ever tell her. Then again, he didn't have to she knew.
Avriel stood silently, awkwardly watching the door and angrily looking for the idiot that hurt Ariel. God help that soul if he found him alone on the streets. He waited patiently for Kevin and Ariel to conclude their conversation. He wasn't listening to what was said between them. That was theirs to keep and he wasn't interested in it. He focused his attention across the club and up to the balcony where Scott remained standing, watching him.
He just watched Scott think. He had done what he needed to do to protect her, not so much from Scott but from Alex and Esther. They seemed a threat to her and that made him very uncomfortable. Then that Sean fellow threatened her in a very physical way and it put his heart to racing and blood flowing through his veins and an anger hot and sweet flowing through his soul. Kevin called his name and pulled his thoughts back to Ariel and their situation.
"Avriel." Kevin smiled happily and extended his hand to Avriel who graciously clasped it while a genuine smile leaped to his eyes. He pulled Kevin into a brief embrace after taking his hand like they had been best buds forever and a day.
"Brother." Avriel continued to smile.
"It's been a minute," Kevin said as he pulled away from Avriel still holding his hand. They let the grip slip to their fingertips before letting go completely. Signifying the strength of their bond with a few simple words and a gesture of mutual respect and love.
"The day has been long," Avriel said while Kevin laughed and shook his head. Avriel chuckled. It was the sweetest sound Ariel had ever heard.
"Thanks for watching over Ari. I know she is safe with you around. Take care of my girl, okay. But," he held up a single finger between him and Avriel, "don't break anything."
Avriel feigned offense. "Will do." He nodded. His eyes shifted from Kevin to Ariel and back. "You got her now? I need to go." That had to have been the most words Ariel had ever heard Avriel string together. He smiled at her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I must go." Before he knew what he was doing, he leaned in and gently kissed her cheek then slipped away, shocked at himself.
Ariel looked at Kevin wide-eyed and shocked. Her hand slowly moved to her face, her fingers gently touching the tingling spot Avriel's lips left on her cheek.
Kevin just shrugged and chuckled softly. "I don't know."
"I should get back to work." The blush of embarrassment crept across her cheeks and ears as she walked away.
Alex understood the look he threw his way when Avriel escorted Ariel from the bar. It was not a casual look that Avriel gave. He meant business, a whole lot of business. He made it very clear to those watching that she was to be his, so far as one of them was concerned, Ariel was Avriel's. Alex wondered if that stood if she didn't return his interest. Because she was clearly interested in him and not Avriel. She just didn't know it yet. What were the "rules" when the guy wanted the girl, but the girl wanted another guy? Was he supposed to tell her no because of Avriel? Ha Him, Alex tell a girl no. That was laughable.
