Sawyer #2
“Morning,” Sawyer said. He crossed over to the desk and leaned over for a kiss.
Eduard pulled him onto his lap and proceeded to check his tonsils. The other thing Eduard was good at? Kissing. So good at kissing.
When they finally parted, Sawyer was gasping for breath and ready to drop to his knees and make Eduard very untidy. But Eduard held him firm and cupped his hand around Sawyer’s cheek.
“Later,” he promised. “I have some paperwork I need you to sign.”
Sawyer groaned. “Do I have to?”
“Yep.” Eduard grinned and reached for a thick stack of legal-size documents sitting on the corner of his desk. “Let’s get it over with before you distract me further.”
After leading Sawyer to one of the leather club chairs at the side of the room, Eduard claimed the other chair and sat the paperwork on the table between them.
They spent the next few hours going over the contracts line by line.
Eduard had insisted from the beginning that if Sawyer wanted him to continue managing the finances then Sawyer must commit to understanding what he was doing and why.
Since Sawyer had recently gotten his master’s degree in business, he actually enjoyed most of the work.
He hadn’t imagined leaving school to immediately become the multi-millionaire CEO of his own business, but that was pretty much what happened.
Being the chosen one may not have come with a lot of power for him, but it came with a lot of responsibility.
“Okay, last one,” Eduard said.
He had one file folder left on the desk. This one was less thick than the others, but the way Eduard’s hand hovered over it nervously made Sawyer’s heart leap anxiously. “What is it?”
“Come here.”
“What?”
Eduard patted his lap. “Come here.”
Sawyer complied, even though he wasn’t sure he wanted to. “What’s wrong?”
Eduard smiled softly and wrapped his arms around Sawyer’s waist. “Nothing. Well, that’s not entirely true. You’re unhappy. And I can’t stand it.”
Sawyer swallowed around the sudden lump in his throat and pressed his forehead to Eduard’s. “I’ll be okay.”
“I know you will. Because you’re so strong, Sawyer. You’ve accepted our word and gone along with our plans. You’ve let us lock you away in this house with few complaints. You missed your graduation because Andvari didn’t feel it was safe for you to be on campus. You’ve sacrificed so much for us.”
“Hey,” Sawyer said sharply. He pulled away and stared into Eduard’s eyes.
“I’ve gained a hell of a lot more than I’ve sacrificed.
Don’t think for one second I regret this.
I don’t. I may not like being stuck in the house, but I have found four of the most amazing men on the planet to be stuck in the house with.
I think that balances things out. So don’t feel bad about that, okay? ”
Eduard kissed him softly before pulling away. “Well, I do. And so do the others. So…happy graduation, Sawyer. We’re all very proud of you.”
Eduard pressed the folder to Sawyer’s chest with a small smile.
Sawyer opened it slowly, his eyes drifting from the suddenly blurry documents inside the folder and up to Eduard’s beautiful eyes. He blinked away his tears and…
“Holy shit.”
Eduard chuckled.
“No seriously. Holy shit, Eduard. Is this… are you… Oh my goddess.”
“Draco said you’ve always wanted to go to New York.”
The topmost sheet of paper was an itinerary for a week-long visit to the Big Apple.
“But… I thought…”
“We’re going to be extra careful and Andvari has arranged additional vampire security. Word hasn’t gotten out yet that you are the chosen one so we’re going to take advantage of that fact. Your happiness is the most important thing to us.”
Sawyer couldn’t tear his eyes away from the sheet of paper between them. Everything he’d ever wanted to do. Shows he wanted to see. Restaurants he’d only heard about. Tourist traps he couldn’t wait to explore. Museums he’d always wanted to visit. Everything was there. “This is…too much. I can’t—”
“You can and you will. This is our gift to you. I want you to have everything you’ve ever dreamed of, Sawyer. That is what mates do for each other. You’ve made mine come true with your very presence. And I want to give that to you in return.”
Sawyer’s throat closed and his eyes got a little watery again. He was so incredibly lucky. “Are you’re sure it’s safe? I don’t want to put you guys in danger. I’d rather stay here than risk any of you.”
Eduard pulled him close again. “As you once told me, we aren’t going to live in fear forever. We have much to learn about your future, but we can’t stay locked up here as prisoners while we wait.”
“And Andvari… is okay with this?”
“Your vampire added several museums to the list of items you must see.”
Sawyer couldn’t stop his grin. “Really?”
“Really.”
Andvari had become obsessed with security since the last attack, so knowing he was totally on board with the trip had Sawyer smiling even wider. Andvari had been training as a warrior his entire life and had made their safety his top priority.
With Sawyer and Draco’s permission, he’d brought in several other vampire warriors to serve as guards to the property.
They were currently living in Draco and Sawyer’s houses down the hill.
They’d added one additional ward so far, stretching it wide enough that it encompassed both properties.
As the wards couldn’t be set to prohibit humans from crossing them, the workmen were kept under constant watch by both the vampires and his guardians.
Henry and Sawyer were being trained in self defense daily.
Andvari, Draco, and Eduard were working on aerial fighting techniques nightly.
It was why Draco and Andvari were still in bed.
They’d been up most of the night working together with Draco in his dragon form while Andvari experimented with different weapons while he was airborne and riding on Draco’s back.
They weren’t taking any chances after the raven incident, as Sawyer had taken to calling it. He couldn’t hear the sound of a crow’s caw any more without panicking and checking the air for approaching ravens.
Instead of worrying about the dangers of the past few weeks, Sawyer threw his arms around Eduard’s neck and tried to pour every ounce of his thanks into the accompanying kiss. He only pulled away so he could pepper kisses all over Eduard’s face, whispering “Thank you” between each one.
He planned on showing his thanks even more, but a quiet throat clearing from the door had him pulling away reluctantly.
Cecil had his eyes averted but his not so subtle smirk showed he’d seen plenty.
He’d not made it a secret that he was delighted his charge had finally found his mate.
Apparently, Cecil had been in Eduard’s employ for a whole lot longer than Sawyer had been alive.
“Yes, Cecil?” Eduard asked.
“Sirs, the security guards at Sawyer’s house have a certified delivery waiting for him. As it requires his signature, they would like to know if they should send the driver here?”
Eduard frowned then turned to Sawyer. “Are you expecting a delivery?”
Sawyer couldn’t think of anything he’d ordered and started to shake his head. “Oh wait! My diploma!”
Eduard returned his smile. “Have them send him up, Cecil.”
Cecil nodded.
“It took almost a month when I finished undergrad!” Sawyer bounced off of Eduard’s lap and did a little happy dance.
He’d worked incredibly hard for his degree and really wanted that piece of paper to hang on his wall to prove he’d done it.
“I better go get a shirt or something. No need to show off all this glorious flesh to anyone else.”
“My sentiments exactly,” Eduard purred.
Sawyer laughed as he ran back to the master bedroom.
Draco was still snoring away beneath the covers, and Henry had curled up with him and was soundly sleeping as well.
He snagged a shirt from the closet then ran back downstairs while pulling it over his head.
Pearl met him at the bottom of the steps, obviously sensing his excitement.
Cecil waited by the door, smiling at them both.
“I got it, Cecil. Hey, can Viv do one of those finger food lunches that I like today? Eduard and I can have it in the office since everybody else is sleeping.”
“Of course, sir.”
Cecil gave a slight bow and went to the kitchen. Pearl bounced beside him, eager to get a dose of fresh air. Sawyer went ahead and opened the door, knowing she’d stick close when she heard the delivery guy approaching.
Of course, they didn’t have to wait long. The familiar converted white Jeep trudged up the driveway and parked at the top of the hill. Sawyer waved at the driver, excited to get his diploma in his hands and for the chance to say hi to his mailman.
Mr. Bledsoe had been delivering his mail since Sawyer was a kid, and Sawyer always left him Christmas presents in his mailbox during the holidays like his foster parents had.
He wanted to ask about Mrs. Bledsoe, too.
She’d been one of Sawyer’s elementary school teachers and he hadn’t seen her in a while.
It was always nice to catch up when they had a second to talk.
“Hello, Sawyer,” Mr. Bledsoe said with a smile. “I haven’t seen you around lately.”
“No, sir. I’ve been really busy finishing school.”
Pearl let out a low growl beside him, her hackles rising as she stared at the approaching man.
“Pearl!” Sawyer snagged her collar, right before she moved, holding her back. “I’m so sorry. She normally doesn’t…”
Mr. Bledsoe had a gun in his hand and it was pointed straight at him. Sawyer let Pearl go, instinctively raising his hands. She leapt forward as a shot rang out.
“Pearl!” Sawyer screamed again. She’d hit Mr. Bledsoe straight in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Before he could do anything else, Eduard appeared in front of him, along with two of the guards who’d been stationed around back.
“Get Sawyer inside,” Eduard demanded.
“Pearl, heel,” Sawyer yelled.
She growled but backed away from Mr. Bledsoe slowly, even as Eduard and one of the guards kept between Sawyer and the mailman.
“What… where am I?” Mr. Bledsoe blinked, clearly confused. “What happened?”
Eduard knelt beside him slowly, slipping the gun away and to the guard at his side. “I think you are a little over-heated. I’m going to call an ambulance for you, okay?”
“I… how did I get here?”
Eduard glanced over his shoulder at Sawyer, gesturing him toward the house.
Pearl stayed beside him as he went inside.
Andvari pulled open the door, dressed in nothing more than his sleep shorts with his sword drawn and ready.
He pulled Sawyer inside before slamming it behind him. “What happened? I heard a gunshot.”
Sawyer couldn’t even think. “The mailman tried to kill me.”
Andvari growled.
“Sawyer!” Draco and Henry stumbled down the stairs next, both of them half asleep but clearly concerned. “What’s going on?”
Andvari pulled Sawyer against him even as Cecil bustled by. “I’ve called an ambulance, sir.”
“Sawyer, go with Draco and Henry. I’m going to go outside and wait with Eduard.”
“Andi, he didn’t know,” Sawyer explained. “He… he didn’t know what he was doing. He doesn’t know how he got here. I… I’ve known him forever.”
Andvari nodded, his expression grim. “I won’t hurt him.”
Draco pulled Sawyer against him and then checked him over.
“I’m fine. Just… Pearl saved me. She knew something was wrong.”
Henry pressed against his back, hugging him between them. “You’re fine,” he whispered.
Sawyer trembled, the shock of the moment catching up with him. He couldn’t stop thinking about the fear and confusion in Mr. Bledsoe’s face as he realized where he was. It was another clue as to who was trying to kill him and time to go back to the books to try and figure it out.