Chapter 25
ALEX
A iden shot up out of bed and began to pace.
“Sex I can offer, but a relationship, I don’t know. Can’t we just enjoy what it is? It’s fun and exciting now but think about it. We live in different countries. I mean, realistically?—”
“All right, you made your point, counselor,” Jared snapped and got up off the bed. “I’m sorry I asked. No, wait, I’m glad I asked. Thanks for an incredible night, but I think it’s best that we forget it ever happened.”
Jared stalked to his closet, yanked out clothes and headed to the bathroom again, slamming the door.
I jumped at the sound. I gripped Aiden’s arm before he could slip away.
“Was this really just about sex for you?”
Aiden refused to make eye contact.
Or answer the question.
Maybe Jared was right. It was an incredible night, but maybe it was best to stop things before they went too far.
Too late.
“You better go before he comes back out,” I snapped and let go of his arm.
Aiden threw on his shorts and left the room.
I waited a few minutes and did the same.
Back in my bedroom, I got changed and wandered to the bridge deck.
I should be feeling all kinds of regret this morning, especially after what just happened.
But I didn’t.
If Jared and Aiden had told me they were all in, I would have said yes, let’s do this. I don’t care how complicated it might be, I want this. Not just that, but after feeling alone for so long, I needed this.
Aiden’s pullback had me questioning my feelings. And I didn’t like second-guessing myself.
Dylan and Rafe were having breakfast, but I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone.
My scowl must have spoken for me because both men wished me ‘good morning’ but that was that.
Until Kiernan appeared.
“Where’s Jared and Aiden? I thought you three were inseparable lately,” Kiernan commented.
“We’re working together. That’s all!” I snapped.
“Sorry, boss.”
Kiernan looked at Dylan and Rafe and then grabbed a croissant from the platter of pastries in the middle of the table.
“What’s on the schedule?” Kiernan asked, slathering his pastry with butter and strawberry preserves.
I reached for the pot of tea in the center of the table. “Jared’s got filming from noon to nine. You can come with if you’re interested. I assume Aiden is staying on board.”
“Cool. Where are we shooting?”
“James Bond Island.”
“No fecking way!”
“Yes, fecking way,” I repeated.
Jana appeared and, after we ordered our breakfast, I pulled out my mobile and perused my work emails.
Two cups of tea and a veggie omelet later, I excused myself and headed back to my room.
I looked over the photos the insurance adjuster had taken of Jared’s place. The back patio door was open, the point of entry. I wasn’t sure how they got over the fence though. I didn’t see any pictures of the perimeter, so I requested those.
A half hour later, my phone rang.
“Sheffield speaking.”
“Alex, it’s Gabe.”
Gabe Ryan was the owner of GR Fortress, the company that looked after Jared’s home monitoring system.
“I analyzed the data, and I discovered something disturbing. It wasn’t a break-in.
Well, it was, and it wasn’t. Whoever did this, they entered the access code at 9:08.
The video shows them entering the house, vandalizing the property, then at 9:39, they leave by the back door and smash the glass, triggering the alarm. ”
“They wanted us to know they’d been there? They wanted the police called?”
“It’s bold for sure. It sounds like they’re trying to send a message.”
“They can get to Jared anytime they want. And we can call the police, but they’ll be useless.”
“I’d agree with that assessment. It’s not your typical smash and grab. Whoever did this, they’d been to Jared’s place before. Maybe they noticed you or Jared entering the code? Does the housekeeper go in when he’s away to check on things?”
“He has a housekeeper that comes in once a week, but he’s been with him for years. And there are colleagues, his production crew, and actors that visit. Plus, the security team. I’ll need to make a list. What about the cameras? Could you identify who it was?”
“Like I said, I picked up one person moving through the house. From the height and weight, I’d say it’s a man, but they were covered head to toe in black gear, including a face mask. Nothing identifiable.”
“What about the driveway?”
“The person entered through the gate on foot. They likely parked on the street since it’s a gated neighborhood. I’ve already put a call in to the community association. This person had to have parked nearby. I’ve changed all the codes for now, and only you and I have access to it.”
“Good. Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“I’m putting you in touch with a PI that’s working for us. I’ll share the list of Jared’s cleaning staff and anyone who’s been to his home recently. If you and the PI can cross-reference them with a man named Delaney Seuter.”
“The guy named in Jared’s lawsuit?”
“You’ve heard about that?”
“It’s all over the news this morning. You think he’s the one behind this?”
“He’s got a good motive.”
“Connect me to the PI, and I’ll get back to you.”
After the call, I sent a group message to the PI and Gabe.
I couldn’t avoid Aiden any longer. I knocked on his door, but he didn’t answer. Venturing outside, I walked up to the bridge deck. He wasn’t there either.
I continued up to the sun deck and found him, with his laptop open and reading glasses on. But he wasn’t typing away, he was staring off into space, a frown marring his handsome face.
“Do you have a moment?” I asked and sat down opposite him.
Aiden nodded and took off his glasses. “I’m sorry about earlier. I’m total shite when it comes to this stuff. This is part of the reason I avoid relationships.”
“You’re not the only one who’s scared, Aiden.
I had my heart torn to pieces over a man who didn’t even realize I was in love with him.
And then with his passing,” I shook my head.
“After that, I didn’t ever want to feel again.
But I can tell you right now, I’m willing to take that risk because it’s you and Jared.
Let’s be honest, all of this synergy between us has been building for months.
I know it, he knows it, you know it. There’s a reason for it. Don’t we deserve to be happy?”
“Some of my concerns are valid. You live in the US with Jared?—”
I shook my head. “You’re jumping too far ahead, sweetheart.
One day at a time. Fuck’s sake, we can’t even be public with this yet, so there’s no pressure on that front.
It’s just us for now. The only thing we want— I want, I shouldn’t speak for Jared—is to be exclusive.
I don’t want anyone else but the two of you.
If you don’t feel the same way, you need to be honest.”
“I don’t want anyone else either.”
The relief I felt was palpable. “And lots of people make long distance work. None of us have conventional lives—okay, maybe you more than Jared and me—but still, why should our relationship be any different?”
Aiden leaned forward and kissed me, his lips lingering. “I want us, I do. I just don’t know how to control what’s going on. It’s intense and overwhelming and so much more than fucking. And the fucking is pretty bloody epic.”
“It is.” I smiled and returned his kiss.
“I’ve never felt this way, not even with Lukas,” he whispered.
I returned his kiss, deepening it, as my heart picked up pace, everything in my body coming alive. “That’s all I needed to know.”
“I second that.”
I turned to find Jared stalking towards us.
He sat down beside me and took our hands. I raised his hand and kissed his knuckles, watching a dark flush stain his cheeks.
“Shit, I forgot that people can see us up here,” Jared whispered.
“From where? There’s no other boats or ships around us.”
“I mean up there,” Jared pointed over his shoulder to the wheelhouse, one level up.
I turned around and looked up to find George and Rafe staring down at us.
Well, George appeared to be working, but Rafe was fanning himself and pointing at us, mouthing ‘so hot.’
Christ. My face burned as red as Jared’s.
Aiden gave Rafe the middle finger. Rafe made a rather rude returning gesture with his fist then turned to talk to his husband. George leaned over and gave his husband a mauling kiss, effectively shutting him up.
That should keep them occupied for a while.
“I think we should tell everyone on board. It’s our friends, they’ll be happy for us and respect our privacy. Dylan knows. Rafe and George know. The rest already suspect anyway,” Jared reasoned.
“I agree. Aiden?”
He leaned over and kissed me again, then Jared. “I’m in. And after all the annoying PDA I’ve been subjected to by Rowan, Rafe, Dylan, and their respective partners, I think payback is due.”
“So we’re doing this? We’re a throuple?”
Jared’s smile lit up his whole face. I couldn’t ever deny him anything.
“Yes.”
Seeing Jared happy made my heart skip a beat.
Aiden nodded and reached for his glasses. “Yes, luv, as long as you don’t get us matching t-shirts.”
“I love that idea!”
“Me and my big fucking mouth,” Aiden grumbled.
I clapped my hands together. “Now that our personal lives are in order, let’s get back to business.
I spoke to Jared’s home security rep. The person who ransacked the house had the passcode.
I’m having them check to see if any of your house staff or visitors are linked to Seuter. He probably bribed one of them.”
“Sometimes I don’t know if this lawsuit is worth the hassle.”
“It is.” Aiden leaned forward. “We’re going to win and he’s going to pay.”
“Money doesn’t change anything, though, does it?” Jared sighed.
Aiden took his hand. “It doesn’t give you the justice you deserve, but the public attention from the lawsuit will put him under scrutiny, which is a good thing. And you can donate the settlement funds to a worthy cause if you desire.”
I nodded. “Aiden’s right. The public attention will either push Seuter into backing off completely, which would be the best-case scenario, or make him desperate, which could be dangerous. At this point, I really don’t know what he’s going to do.”
“Well, I could sit here all day and worry about all the ‘what ifs,’ or I can get back to work. I know which one I prefer.” Jared stood up. “Are you coming with us?”
Aiden shook his head. “I’m staying put. I have additional interview calls to make.”
“Okay. We won’t be back until nine or so.”
Aiden stood up and took Jared in his arms. “We’ll have a late supper; I’ll arrange it with chef.”
“Looking forward to it already,” Jared replied and gave Aiden a kiss.
Then Aiden motioned for me to join them.
Several kisses later, Jared and I finally managed to tear ourselves away from our third.
We headed down the stairs to find almost everyone on board waiting on the lower deck.
George and Charlie were loading up the tender for our journey to James Bond Island, while Rafe, Dylan, and Kiernan were chatting. Rafe looked over and smiled at me. I returned it, unable to do anything else.
Then I realized that I was holding Jared’s hand and not in a ‘I’m taking charge of my client’ way. But I didn’t have the heart to pull my hand back. Not when Jared was looking at me with such heated intensity.
The closer Jared and I got to the tender, the more nervous I became. Which was unlike me. People paid me to be calm in times of crisis. Then I remembered that these were people we knew and trusted.
“You guys ready?” Charlie asked.
“We are,” Jared nodded and squeezed my hand. “We so are.”