Chapter Two
Dorian woke up in degrees, his head a foggy mess as sleep tried to drag him back under.
He didn’t have much left to do. Just a few more tasks on his list before he was done, and he could officially say the division was where he wanted it to be at this point in time.
He just needed to wake up, consume a vat of coffee, and finish things off.
Then, afterward, he’d need to figure out how to make things up to his mate.
He’d told Kian of his plan, and Kian was on board, but he knew it wasn’t ideal, and he hated not giving Kian the time and attention he deserved.
The reminder that finishing his to-do list meant he could spend more time with his mate roused him enough to sit up.
He looked around with a frown, and it took him a long moment to remember where he was.
He’d resented the need for a nap room when Kian first mentioned it, but he knew better now.
The nap room was entirely necessary and quite nice if Kian was in here with him.
Unfortunately, his mate was nowhere to be found.
Just as well. He couldn’t get distracted right now.
It took effort to convince himself to leave the comfortable bed, and his eyes were still mostly closed when he opened the door and stepped out of the nap room. He took a few steps forward, then stopped, confused. Why were his shoes sinking into the carpet? And why did he smell the sea?
Forcing his eyes open fully, he looked around, confusion only mounting as he took in his surroundings. “What the…”
“I warned you.” Kian’s voice spoke somewhere behind him, and when he spun around, he nearly swallowed his tongue.
His mate was wearing board shorts and a guayabera that was open in the front, two fruity drinks in his hands and a sunhat on his head.
He looked like he belonged on a postcard, and the way the shirt was open was entirely too distracting.
It took a long while before Dorian could pull his gaze away from that expanse of skin and pay attention to what Kian had said.
“Warned me… about what?”
“I told you after the last time you overdid it, if you tried that shit again, I’d kidnap you. You should have listened.”
Startled, Dorian looked around again. It didn’t look like they were in the fae realm, and he knew his mate didn’t like to return there unless he had to. Besides, there were other beachgoers of all races, and he was pretty sure the fae wouldn’t have open beaches like this one.
Kian snickered, handing him one of the drinks. “Relax. We’re at a resort in the coral realm, where we’ll be staying for the next week.”
Dorian’s mouth dropped open in shock. “A week? But… No, I need to–”
Kian’s eyes narrowed to slits, and he gave Dorian that look that said he wouldn’t back down.
His stubborn mate did not play around with his health.
If he decided Dorian was overdoing it, he took charge, whether Dorian wanted it or not.
Then again, it wasn’t often Dorian fought him.
He liked the way Kian took care of him. But…
“I was almost finished,” he muttered, a petulant whine in his tone.
That narrow-eyed expression relaxed, and Kian patted him on the chest affectionately. “I know. And I didn’t just leave it all for you to deal with later. Ozen and Taron are finishing the last of your to-do list for you. A gift for Yule, apparently.”
He made a face that Dorian couldn’t help but chuckle at.
Kian wasn’t a fan of celebrating the holidays.
He’d been alive too long to care much about such things anymore.
Dorian actually agreed with him about that one.
He didn’t need a specific time of the year to spoil his friends.
And with his mother’s passing, he had no family to celebrate with except for Kian.
If his mate didn’t want to do anything special for the holiday, Dorian wasn’t bothered.
Kian took Dorian’s laughter as agreement and spun him around, marching him down a wooden dock to an overwater bungalow a little separated from the rest of them.
Dorian was still protesting internally, he had work to do, but he didn’t want to upset his mate either.
Perhaps he could call Ozen to demand he return and make him be the bad guy for something like this. It was his company, after all.
He was momentarily distracted when they stepped into the bungalow.
It was luxurious, with a large bed scattered with flower petals, a plexiglass floor showing the water beneath them, and a gorgeous view of the ocean out the double doors to the terrace.
He could see a peek of the bathroom, which seemed to have an open air shower, and he couldn’t help but picture Kian under the spray, all wet and glistening, miles of porcelain skin just asking for him to touch.
He let out a shuddering breath, trying to rein in his libido. Just a little more work to do. If he could get access to a laptop, he could even do it here. Then he could–
Kian interrupted his train of thought, shoving his phone into Dorian’s face where a video call with Ozen was already waiting. Dorian blinked in surprise at his friend’s stern expression.
“You can’t work on your vacation. I won’t allow it.”
Startled, he jerked his head back. “Wha– How–”
Ozen shook his head. “You think I don’t know you well enough by now? So, no, before you ask, you can’t come back or work remotely. Kian has my full support for this. You’re taking your vacation and that’s final.”
He spluttered, completely taken aback by his friend’s obstinance, but Kian took the phone before he could argue, wiggling his fingers at Ozen before hanging up on him.
“You heard him. Now go change. I left you a few things on the bathroom counter. And because I also know you well enough–” he reached into Dorian’s pocket, surprising a gasp out of him, and pulled out his phone and wallet– “I’m keeping these.
You can have them back when the vacation is over.
For the next week, you’re officially off grid. ”
And because his mate was thorough, he whispered a spell, and Dorian’s things were whisked away by magic, and he knew there was no way to get them back without Kian’s say so.
“Was that really necessary?” he croaked, still reeling.
“Yes. Now, go get changed.”
Kian spun him and shoved him toward the bathroom, refusing to let up until Dorian was in the bathroom and the door swung shut behind him.
He was still holding the icy drink in one hand, and when he saw his face in the reflection of the mirror, he grimaced.
He wasn’t sure if he should laugh or cry.
He looked shellshocked, his mouth hanging open, but it was the bags under his eyes and the paleness of his skin that really drove home the point.
His friends and his mate could see how worn out he was, because it was written all over his face.
He hadn’t slept well, hadn’t been feeding properly, and the only exercise he’d gotten in the past two weeks was the walk to the elevators, since he was too tired to even take the stairs.
Maybe they had a point. He needed a break.
With a resigned sigh, he set the glass down on the counter, giving his attention to the clothes Kian had left for him. Similar to Kian’s own outfit, there was a guayabera with intricate flowers embroidered on the front, board shorts, and–
His stomach flipped. Surely he hadn’t meant this for now. It had to be for later. He couldn’t mean to–
“All of it, Dorian!” Kian shouted from the other room. He’d probably heard Dorian’s strangled squeak of surprise and knew exactly what he’d found.
Excitement and embarrassment warred in his stomach as he slowly stripped off the suit he’d worn to work that morning and pulled the clothes Kian had set out for him on while staring at the plug. Was his mate really expecting him to wear that while they were out? Or were they staying in?
The door opened, and Kian casually strolled in, raising an eyebrow at the still untouched plug on the counter. “I said all of it, Dorian.”
“I-I heard you,” he stammered, a flush burning his cheeks. “Are we staying in tonight, or–”
“Nope. We’re going to lounge on the beach for a while, then we’ve got dinner reservations. Bend over. I’ll help.”
Dorian was starting to think this was a punishment of some kind. Kian didn’t normally include him in his pranks, but he did come up with creative punishments if people disobeyed him.
“Have I done something to upset you?” he couldn’t help but ask, even as he bent over as Kian requested.
There was a bottle of lube next to the plug, and Kian snatched it up, coating his fingers without an ounce of hesitation.
He grinned, that sly delectable grin that Dorian knew meant good things were coming his way.
“Oh believe me, gorgeous, this isn’t a punishment. Not by a longshot.”
He didn’t wait for Dorian’s reply before pushing a finger inside him, making Dorian moan as he went straight for his prostate. Pleasure overtook his mind, blocking out all higher thinking, and he gave in entirely, spreading his legs a little more and leaning his forehead on his arms on the counter.
“That’s it, gorgeous. Just relax. Let me take care of you,” Kian purred.
He allowed himself to just bask in his mate’s touch, his cock thickening quickly as Kian touched him exactly how he knew Dorian liked.
He forgot entirely about the plug for a few moments, too distracted, but when Kian’s fingers left him and the silicone touched his rim, he tightened automatically, his cock twitching between his legs.
Kian’s chuckle was devious and sent a shiver up Dorian’s spine. “Relax. That’s it. Just like that.”
Dorian panted as Kian pushed the plug inside, slowly, until the flared base rested against his ass.
It wasn’t overly large, just the right size to press against his prostate if he squirmed, but Dorian had never indulged in games like this in public.
At least, not until he met Kian. There was that time at the car dealership…
Kian pressed a kiss to the small of his back, patting his hip gently to get him to stand again. The movement sent little shocks of pleasure through Dorian as the plug moved, and he whimpered when Kian readjusted his board shorts and pressed against his back, that wicked grin on his face.
“I’ve got a lot of plans for this week. By the end of it, you’ll be so relaxed and sated, you won’t want to go back to work.”
“I believe you,” Dorian replied breathlessly, melting a little at the way Kian’s smile brightened and a little of the love they shared overtook his face before the mischief came back.
“Let’s get going, then. I reserved a few loungers for us on the beach.” He glanced at the drink Dorian had forgotten, jerking his chin at it. “You should drink that. You’re going to need it.”
That was entirely likely, as Kian wasn’t willing to consider staying in the bungalow and just walking made Dorian want to squirm.
He grabbed the icy drink, taking a large swallow, and let Kian lead him out of the bathroom.
There were sandals for him by the door, and as the alcohol settled in his system, always quick because of his physiology, Dorian decided to just enjoy himself.
Kian had obviously put a lot of thought into this, and it would be rude to dismiss that.