Chapter Nine
Ajax: I wish you would come with me to these things. You’re always invited. Salem and his pretty boys are interesting enough, but I’m not truly a guest at these parties. I’m on duty. It’s boring.
Lucas: To be fair, you’d still be on duty if I was there.
Ajax: True, but I could quietly swap locations and find a dark corner for us.
Lucas: I’ll be there in ten.
Lucas: My legs feel like jelly and my hands are shaking so hard I can barely type.
Ajax: You need to stop trying to overdo it at the gym. I know you need to rebuild your full strength, but it won’t happen overnight.
Lucas: I want to pin you against the wall and fuck you hard—the way you deserve. That won’t happen until I’m back to one hundred percent.
Ajax: Mhmm. Interested. But it’s not worth it to me if it comes at the price of your health. I love you. I need you to take things slow.
Lucas: Your desires are my top priority. I love you too. If you want me to slow down, I will. We have all the time in the world, right?
Ajax: Right.
Lucas: Plus, I’m wasting too much energy. Half dead or not, I’ll be inside you tonight. But I realize I won’t be at my best. You deserve top-tier service.
Ajax: Don’t worry. I’ll still get it. You can just relax while I take control.
Lucas: I can’t wait.
Ajax: I love you.
Lucas: I love you too.
Ajax: I hope your passport is up to date. We’re expected in Serveno in a little less than a month.
Lucas: Oh. All right. Just tell me what to pack.
Ajax: The royal tailor will be here on Wednesday. Noir will ensure your mother and you have the proper attire to mingle with royalty.
Mom: Did you hear we’re going to a royal ball?!! I’m so excited! Lazarus says someone is coming to take my measurements and discuss colors. I feel just like a princess.
Lucas: That’s great. You’ll outshine everyone.
Mom: Flatterer.
Lucas: Just being honest.
Mom: I love you. You have no idea how proud I am of you every day.
Lucas: I love you too.
Lucas: I’ll be waiting with bells on for this tailor.
Ajax: You’ll be the sexiest man in Serveno. Everyone will be jealous of me.
Lucas was absolutely certain no one would even notice him in Serveno.
At least, he hoped that was true. Logically, Lucas understood he dated the general of Noir’s royal guard.
A soldier that had risen in the ranks so fast and young, he impressed an entire kingdom and landed the lofty position as Noir’s personal guard.
Lucas had always been fully aware he lived with an actual prince.
It was just easy as hell to forget those things since they lived in America and Noir was just a normal person at home.
For the most part. Kind of. He was the typical ridiculously wealthy person who could and would slaughter a person in a heartbeat and immediately get back to his breakfast. All of that aside, Lucas hadn’t once considered what it truly meant to live as part of the royal family.
He never thought he would meet a king. Lucas definitely never saw himself on the arm of someone as powerful as Ajax.
Butterflies stirred in Lucas’ stomach. He really got to fuck that anytime he wanted.
It was sad how much Lucas wanted to hunt down Ajax and throw him over his shoulder caveman style.
Lucas just couldn’t seem to get enough. Ajax was a sickness.
Lucas desperately wanted to feel this forever.
Lucas lifted his booted foot and set it on the chair.
As he tied the black leather combat-style boot, the bedroom door opened.
A very pissed-off-looking Ajax strolled into the room.
His rage-filled gaze skimmed the room. First, his stare locked in the leather bag, waiting for Lucas on the bed. Then his total fury focused on Lucas.
“I’d hoped Portland had been taking the mickey out when he called, asking for the time and place of your arrival. What in the fuck are you doing? You’re mine. This shite is done.”
While the growl in Ajax’s tone was sexy as hell, Lucas had worried about this. He was finally well enough to get back to work, and he needed to do just that. Noir did everything for Lucas’ mom and him. Lucas needed to be useful. He couldn’t be a charity case.
“Noir asked this of me. Even if I was positive I could say no, I can’t.
Knowing Noir’s taste and expectations, the clothes from that tailor alone probably cost every bit of a million dollars.
That’s just a tiny blip of what he’s done for Mom and me.
It’s just a quick trip to meet Portland.
I’ve done it countless times with zero issues.
It’ll likely take less than half an hour. ”
“You’re not going. Noir can send your little flirty friend, Kash. He’ll do anything for a pound.”
Lucas cocked his head to one side. A thought occurred to him. “Does Serveno use UK currency? It seems that’s something I should know before our trip.”
“Yes. Don’t change the subject. I forbid you from doing this. I almost lost you once. That’s not something I can do twice.”
Lucas dropped his foot to the floor. He closed the distance between them, snagging Ajax’s waist and hauling his other half against him. “Sexy, please stop. This is Portland we’re talking about. While he can be vicious when crossed, it’s me. I’m perfectly safe.”
Ajax’s eyes burned with something Lucas couldn’t explain. He was truly scared and hurt that Lucas would do this to him. “Please don’t go.”
Lucas’ chest ached. He knew Ajax would never lower himself to begging, but he had done so for Lucas. This mattered to him.
He took a deep breath and slowly released it. “I’ve already told Noir I’ll do the run. You know I can’t take it back.”
Ajax pulled out of Lucas’ hold, looking like a man ready to tear down everything he knew and possessed.
“I fucking can. He’s not pulling you back into this bullshit.
I love Noir like a son, but he’s not doing this to me.
This is too much to demand of anyone.” Ajax snatched up the leather satchel and stormed from the room.
Lucas pinched the spot between his eyes and blew out a sigh. This was way too much drama over a simple drop. Lucas could see Ajax reacting like this if Lucas had been sent to collect on a debt, or to make a point about missed payments not being tolerated. But this drop was a cakewalk.
With an aggravated huff, Lucas went after Ajax.
Ajax must have used one hell of an angry long stride.
Lucas had only seen Ajax walk like that once when someone didn’t show up for their shift.
The guy was gone. Luckily, he caught sight of him as he stepped inside Noir’s private sitting room.
The guard outside the door held the leather bag, looking bored.
Lucas flashed him a smile as he moved toward the door. He wasn’t entirely sure he would be allowed inside. Ajax’s yelled voice reached him before Lucas even made it to the doorway.
“How fucking dare you put Lucas in the position of running again?”
Lucas peeked inside the room, hoping like hell his mom wasn’t in there. She would have questions he couldn’t answer. Thankfully, it was only Noir and Ajax inside.
Noir’s response froze Lucas’ feet to the floor before he stepped fully into view. “Your part is done, Ajax. The boy fell into line, agreeing to stay and regaining his strength. You no longer have to pretend to be the lovesick fool.”
Lucas’ entire body seized for half a second before the pain hit him so hard, the blow rocked him on his feet. His pulse pounded in his ears. Each breath he took gave him less oxygen than the last. Hyperventilating loomed. Then the rage hit. He should have known. He fucking should have known.
Lucas took the bag from the guard and stormed off.
He already had his wallet, phone, and keys.
Lucas could just walk away now. That was exactly what he did.
On his deathbed, Lucas had possessed a clearer mind than he had since he kissed Ajax.
He had known when he was on his final breath that Noir never cared about him.
Lucas had been fully aware that he was nothing to any of these people.
If he had died, they wouldn’t have batted a fucking eye.
They wouldn’t have even thought about him again.
Lucas was in his car and on his way in under a minute.
He would do this one drop and hope it was enough for the prince to keep helping his mom.
Lucas didn’t care about many things in this world.
He had let love blind him. The pains in his chest might very well kill him.
He wasn’t sure he wasn’t actually having a heart attack.
Lucas had never felt this much pain, and he had been stabbed repeatedly.
Noir wanted this job done so goddamn badly that he had fucked with Lucas’ head and heart in a way Lucas couldn’t handle.
Lucas called the first name that came to mind. His call was answered on the first ring.
“Hello?”
“I want out.”
Thankfully, no questions were asked. Lucas might have driven into a tree if there had been a single inquiry. “I’ll text you a meeting spot. Come to me. I’ll keep you safe.”
A weight lifted from Lucas’ chest. The lessened pressure didn’t help much, but he stayed conscious. He was scared as hell of what he might do when the shock went away. He might kill someone. No matter what happened, Lucas knew one damn thing. They had finally broken him. He was done.
It took way too long for Ajax to deal with Noir.
Thankfully, Noir knew him well enough to know when Ajax wouldn’t back down.
Hell would freeze before he let this nonsense get Lucas killed.
Ajax didn’t ask for much for himself, but Lucas was his whole heart.
Serveno would have to put him to death for desertion.
He used to think there wasn’t a single damn thing he would choose over his prince.
Now he knew for a fact Lucas came first, even if it cost Ajax everything, including his life.
When Ajax left the sitting room, Hektor still stood at his post, except there was no bag. Ajax was confused as hell. He had settled with Noir, saying he would deliver the goods to Portland. He blinked at Hektor’s empty hands.
“I gave you a package to hold.”
Hektor looked bored, except for his eyes. His eyes were cold. “Yeah. After hearing you’re only faking love to keep him here, Lucas took the bag and left.”
The absolute horror that struck Ajax nearly buckled his knees. Somehow, his mouth continued working while his heart raced and his mind reeled. “You just gave it to him.” He didn’t even know what he said.
Hektor shrugged. “He was ordered to deliver it to Portland. Why would I not give it to him?”
Ajax knew Hektor heard everything that went on in Noir’s life.
He was equally aware Hektor had heard every word of Ajax’s argument with Noir.
Hektor also knew damn well Ajax wasn’t faking a single fucking thing.
At least, he thought Hektor knew that. If Hektor questioned his feelings, he couldn’t imagine Lucas' thoughts.
Ajax walked away. He had to talk to Lucas.
Ajax had to explain. Yes, Noir had ordered him to do whatever it took to keep Lucas here, but Ajax hadn’t needed that command.
In fact, Noir’s demand had played straight into Ajax’s hands.
Ajax had known he wanted to keep Lucas before that very first kiss.
Noir’s plan did nothing but stop Ajax from having to ask permission to make Lucas’ presence permanent.
Goddamn it. Lucas was out there somewhere thinking nothing about them was real.
Fuck everything. Lucas wasn’t known for being reasonable.
He could disappear. He might do anything—like never look back.
Ajax had to talk to him before he did anything they would both regret.
He rubbed his chest. It felt a hell of a lot like his heart was breaking.
If the shoe was on the other foot, Ajax would never touch Lucas again.
He was so totally fucked. Lucas and he were completely alike.
Ajax pulled his phone from the inside pocket of his dress jacket.
He checked his messages, hoping against hope Lucas had said anything at all.
There was nothing. Ajax called Lucas as he headed for their room, praying Lucas had left a note, even though he knew in his heart Lucas would never do that.
He listened to the phone ring while searching every inch of their bedroom for a note.
Their room. It had taken three months of Lucas sharing Ajax’s bed for everything to become theirs.
Ajax couldn’t see things any other way. He called four times with no answer.
He decided to text, hoping Lucas would at least read what he had to say.
Halfway through pouring his heart out, Ajax deleted the paragraph.
Lucas deserved to look Ajax in the eyes and see the truth.
A text wasn’t good enough. He opened the app to track Lucas’ phone.
When Ajax saw the address, he sat. Thankfully, the couch had been there to save him from hitting the floor. Ajax knew that address. Lucas was done.