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 followed Ariel around the back of the bar to the small space where they could be alone and talk. He grabbed the glass that Austin had been guarding along the way and drank it down in a single swallow.
"I'm sorry," Avriel said as they rounded the corner. He put his head down to let his eyes cooldown and return to their normal color. "You seemed so angry and distressed. I know. You can handle yourself, but he crossed the line. I couldn't not." His voice was soft and quiet. He acted the way he was programmed to act in all ways but one. He could have struck Alex just then. Struck him hard enough to take his life. He would have been well within his right to do so. He had the feeling that he may well have to yet, but not in such a public setting. He didn't want to if it could be avoided. Alex was definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he served his purpose. All People did.
He had used quite a bit of energy shielding himself from her when he reached out to Alex. She didn't need to know. He used less when he exerted the physical strength needed to break bone when he gripped Alex's wrist in further warning. He warned him both physically and mentally that was all that he could do in that setting. It was all he hoped he would ever have to do. With his temper cooled, Avriel turned his eyes to meet Ariel's.
Her eyes were soft and beautiful. Though his anger was swirling and burning inside him, he felt instantly calmed. She took both of his hands in hers and smiled softly up at him. She stepped close and gently kissed his cheek. She giggled when her lips met his beard. 'Tickles.' "He pissed you off," She quietly questioned as she rested her head on his chest. She didn't know why she did so, didn't understand why she felt she could, but she did. She was grateful for the defense. It felt good to know he valued her and didn't want others to try and get close to her.
For the longest moment, he didn't know what to do. He just held her hands and let her forehead rest against his chest. It was comforting and very tempting to him. Then he answered her, "He made me angry yes."
"He made me mad too." She let go of his hands and gently put her arms around his waist and hugged him. He let his hands drift to her back and pulled her close. He relaxed into the touch and forced his lungs to expand and contract. She turned her head on his chest and pressed her ear over his heart. He rested his chin on the top of her head and just held on.
"It scared me. I felt him come at me. Not like you do. You are warm and welcomed. He was cold and sharp, unwanted. I felt something like that the other night on my way home, only much stronger." She just started spilling everything to him. "There was an accident. I thought I saw someone walk away from the passenger side of the car. I mean get out of it and walk away. When they looked back at me their eyes were yellow, unlike anything I had ever seen." She started to tremble in his arms as the memory came back to her. If he wanted he could take the memory from her or view it as if he saw it, but he felt like that would be a strict violation of their relationship. "I blocked it out and went to the car to help the driver. The driver was dead, Avriel. Dead! Then I felt a cold darkness try to touch my mind. I threw up a wall then followed it back to its source. It was cold and dark, and it felt slimy. I rejected it and waited for the police. I didn't tell them about the man I saw. I know I saw him and I'm scared. I can't get the thought out of my head." She didn't mean to let so much out, but she felt vulnerable inside and so safe in his arms. She hadn't told anyone about the accident and she really needed to. She cried as he held her and rubbed her back gently.
"Can I see?" He asked quietly
"Yes." She opened her mind to him and he stepped into her memory.
He moved her to arm's length and looked deep into her eyes searching them for an answer or perhaps preparing to provide one. "Ariel. There is so much you need to know. You are alright. Do you feel safe at home?" His tone was soothing. He spoke soft and slow so not to alarm.
"No. I felt it again last night." Her fear and worry were pushing through. It wasn't normal for her to be so vulnerable and needy.
"I have extra rooms. You will be safe in my home. You'll come with me tonight after you are done with work." He didn't hesitate. There was no argument. That was what would happen.
"I am glad you told me about this." He kissed her forehead and pulled her in for another hug before he finally let her go. "I'll meet you at your car tonight after work." He liked hugging her and sharing physical space with her, but it was tempting, very tempting. She smelled nice, too nice.
"Do you know which one it is?" Ariel asked quietly.
"Yes." It was time for her to go back.
"Are you okay?" There were still tears in her eyes. They made his heart hurt. He wiped them away gently.
"Yes." She nodded and took his hand again. He smiled and gently squeezed her hand. He let it go just before they walked out of the room. She didn't question it.
Up on the mezzanine, Alex was furious. How dare Avriel get between him and his target like that. That black wall of energy could have only been his. He had no right to get in his way and block him from her mind. None what so ever. She wasn't Avriel's. She was free to choose the man she wanted to be with. He would have won her over if Avriel hadn't gotten in the way. Avriel was always in his way. She would have been his. His anger flared as he put energy into mending his broken bones. Alex couldn't believe that Avriel had broken his wrist. How strong was he? He invaded his mind too and it hurt. It hurt, even made his nose bleed.
Alex sat at Frank's bar and looked down at the fading bruises on his wrist.
"Looks Painful," Frank said softly as he approached Alex with a drink. It was Alex's favorite. Alex made eye contact with Frank and nodded before taking the glass and touching it to his lips. It was perfect and exactly what he needed. "It's not so bad. I won't even be able to feel it by the end of the night." He gave Frank another appreciative nod and tipped him well. "Why are girls so stupid?"
"They aren't."
"Well, I suppose not. But that one is broken. I mean look at me. I'm tall and handsome. My eyes are blue my skin kissed by the sun. It takes a lot to get this look, to look this damn good. I mean look at these arms, this chest." He flexed to accentuate his point.
"Nice," Frank said very noncommittally
"I'm a good guy. I'm very nice. I'm very good to my girls. There must be something wrong with that girl. I mean look at him." He looked down at Ariel's bar to find Avriel sitting in his customary spot at the end of the bar. "He's so drab. He is short. His eyes are just green. He has no muscle and he's pale. Why would she prefer him over me?"
"Because she doesn't know what she is missing," came a sweet sultry purr from behind him.
Cool fingers caressed his neck and traipsed down his shoulder to his wounded wrist. Large and seductive brown eyes looked up at him through thick luscious lashes as the woman bit at her painted red lips. She slowly licked them, left them partially open and moved her shoulders and hips slowly to reposition herself closer to him. "Did he hurt you?" She whispered in his ear as her fingers gently traced over Alex's bruised wrist. Frank rolled his eyes and set her drink down on the bar in front of her. "Thank you, Frank," she purred.
"You're welcome Miss Esther," Frank said adding the drink to her tab. He moved on down the bar leaving the two to commiserate.
