Love's Interruption Read online

  And yet he didn’t strike me as stupid. Maybe a bit clueless, but he was only a few hundred years old and practically a pup to me. But that made him a bit of a puzzle to me, and I liked puzzles and maybe to fuck with his ego if it wasn’t only deserved confidence. I’d already gotten some insights from Verge and a few others that Jeston was a playboy that never called the next day or took people’s feelings seriously.

  Which was always the type of person I found fun to bully.

  “I’m serious on my question,” I assured him when he didn’t reply. I used my gift to force the pieces of glass to swirl around each other the way I wanted. “You interested?”

  “Um, yeah, you’re seriously hot, but I don’t know your name and like what are you into?”

  I glanced over at him and swallowed down my need to snap and instead gave him the chance to clarify. “You only top, big guy?”

  He frowned. “No, but I prefer it. Not what I meant. The last time someone was so upfront without even learning my name, I found myself handcuffed in a human’s apartment and had to break out after he crashed, hoping there wasn’t an issue later.”

  “Ah, yes, I like playing that way but not the first time.” I bit back a smile. I could practically see the large warrior annoyed to figure that one out. “I mean a totally normal encounter of you bending me over the table and plowing me before you head back to the warrior dorms.”

  “Um, yeah, that’s hot.”

  “I know.” I finished what I was doing and set it in the kiln to slowly come to normal temperature so it didn’t break or crack. I made sure nothing was out of place or dangerous before moving over to the table near the temporary setup with the kilns. My bag was over there, and I found lube before I yanked off my shirt.

  “Shit, you really weren’t kidding,” he hissed, storming over to me when I undid my pants. He yanked off his jacket and then his clothes in a flash as I stretched myself. He moved behind and took the lube. “Let me help.”

  “I like a helpful man,” I teased him, moaning when two of his larger, slicked up fingers took the spot of mine. Then he went further and used his other slicked up hand to stroke my cock, moving my body as he wanted.

  “You make seriously sexy noises,” he praised as he kissed along my neck. “I still don’t know your name.”

  “I think it’s fun.”

  He chuckled as he added another finger. “Okay, I like to play, but I like when a hottie screams my name. I’m Jeston.”

  “Harder, Jeston,” I said, not bothering with any of the other normal niceties. We were a bit past that part already. Instead, I humped my hips faster than he could move at his age, and I felt how excited it got him. I finished hard, slumping over the table and fully stretched for him.

  “That was hot. Seriously hot.”

  “Shove your dick in me, and I’m sure you’ll come up with something else to say.”

  He did, careful at first, as he wasn’t small, but moving that fast on his fingers had really stretched me. He moaned once he was seated most of the way and wrapped his arms around me, his hand rubbing my dick as he moved. “Heaven. You feel like heaven.”

  “I’m so far from an angel it’s almost funny you said that,” I chuckled, moaning when he thrust harder and deeper. “Shit, fuck me silly. I’ve needed this.”

  “Me too,” he muttered, licking my neck under my ear and then nibbling where I wanted without even having to ask. His breath was hot on the tender skin after he was biting it, and I shivered. “You like that?”

  “Let’s see how hard you can fuck before I start fluffing your ego.”

  He growled and slammed into me again and again, using his arms to also pull me towards him at the right time so my ass was on fire from how vigorously we were slapping together. I begged for more, giving him a crumb so I wasn’t an asshole when he’d complimented me. Truth be told, it was maybe some of the best sex of my life as he paid attention on what to do and when.

  I buried my face in my arms and bellowed his name as I finished, him following me right over, snarling against my skin as he pumped his release deep in me. When we finished, he was panting against my skin as I tried to relearn to breathe. Holy shit! I couldn’t remember coming that hard from one quick fuck, and it wasn’t the dry spell that made me forget but the vampire.

  Damn, now I really would move out to Nowhere, Wyoming.

  “You okay? I know you said to go as hard as I could, but I really—I lost my head. Wow, it’s—that was amazing and no way just from my dry spell.”

  I couldn’t even bully him for his pillow talk when I’d been thinking the same thing. “I’m good. That was wonderful.”

  “I’m still hard,” he offered after a few moments.

  “Tempting, believe me that it is and I’m not blowing smoke at you, but I need to be able to sit and have a lot to do,” I muttered, pushing up so we stood. He was gentle as he pulled out of me, which I always appreciated, as some guys stopped paying attention after they got their sex.

  “Where’s the bathroom? In the house? Can I get you something?” he asked, glancing around when I looked over my shoulder.

  Interesting. So he might have one night stands or nothing serious, but he wasn’t a douche to his partners. That tracked with what I’d heard since he tended to have FIBs but never got serious. Maybe it was just humans he had one night stands with?

  “I’ll use the bathroom inside,” I assured him. “This is just the temporary setup.” I leaned in and kissed his chest. “Thanks though, I’ve got it. Be careful walking back.” I strutted towards the door and slid on my boots when I got there so I could just duck in Nero’s back door and the bathroom right there off the mud room.

  “Now I want a real kiss,” he mumbled, sounding like he was pouting. But he assumed I couldn’t hear so it was sort of amusing.

  And so was he. There was definitely more to Jeston Koch than was on the surface.

  I cleaned up and headed back to Nero’s expansive garages, noting Jeston was gone but near as if wanting to check I was really okay or wanting to see if I’d invite him to stay after quickly dismissing him. Was the stud getting a taste of his own medicine? I’d heard from a few people that he called “dibs” on attractive males as well. Or that was what Verge had told me London, Councilwoman Aberdeen’s son, had said to Verge.

  I’d heard worse.

  I focused back on work and crashed sometime after two, hating that I had to get up and be the adult. I hated being the adult. I did it because people relied on me, needed me, outright survived because of me, but still I hated it.

  “When was the last time you ate, and why are you sleeping in here?” a deep voice asked me, sounding half panicked.

  “Hello Liam,” I muttered as I rubbed sleep from my eyes. “Verge brought me lunch when he realized I was helping Nero and I was working late.” I rolled to my feet and stretched, feeling his eyes on me. “Like it’s a shock I slept near the kilns. How often do I do that in—”

  “Too often, which is why we put a private studio in your last place,” he muttered. “Why didn’t they set you up with a room or—is this house not ready yet?”

  “The guts of everything are messed up. I have no idea what’s going on.”

  “This is why you shouldn’t have come early without me,” he grumbled, shaking his head. “Jordan, we need you. We love you, so please take care of yourself.”

  He was only a few centuries old, so it was hard not to laugh and remind him that there wasn’t always plush beds and even running water for showers. Instead, I nodded and took his worry and lecture, touched he cared at least. I grabbed my bags, and he led me to his car so we could drive to the camp where everyone else was staying overnight.

  Oh, whoops. I had figured Nero and Alastair were staying in their new houses with their mates even if it might mean blow up beds or blanket piles, as the fireplaces would still work. Maybe they weren’t done yet? I didn’t think either of them would mate men who were spoiled, no, probably more they spoiled their mates
and didn’t want them to have anything but fluffy and soft.

  “Hey, I didn’t see you at dinner,” Verge greeted when we pulled up to the main building and got out. “Where did you stay?” He frowned. “Sorry, didn’t catch your name. I thought maybe you went back with the last trailer.”

  “You were here?” Nero growled. “Why didn’t you tell us, Jordan?”

  I let out a yawn and stretched again. “I slept on the floor of your garage since I was working on Alastair’s mating gift until late.” I glanced at Verge who was glancing between us as if worrying he’d messed up. “I didn’t tell you on purpose because I wanted to see how things really were before everyone puts on pretty smiles for me. Thank you for all you did yesterday and bringing me food.”

  “He decided to come first with the trailers,” Liam said as he extended his hand to Nero. “Liam Boyer, Jordan’s business manager.”

  “You’re more than that. He’s my mom mostly and takes care of me and everyone.” I gave him a curious look. “Aren’t you like a president of something?”

  “I’m vice president of your company,” he drawled. “I know you hate being the adult, but I need you to make decisions. I promise I’ve talked enough with Alastair so it shouldn’t be too painful.”

  “See, you’re my mom,” I chuckled. “He ushers me around like a duckling and tells me what to do.”

  “Sounds like fun,” Nero muttered, looking amused as he shook hands with Liam. Verge went next, and then he waved for me to follow them. “Let’s get you fed and then your temporary rooms since we’re focused on the guts of the warriors’ dorm so they stop sleeping all over each other. Then Alastair’s, and you and yours will be staying there until you get your own place. It’s a bit of a mess.”

  “All the best plans and pieces are,” I agreed, not being a brat and hating when people rolled out the red carpet for me. I appreciated when people acknowledged my talent or liked my work, but just because I was famous or my pieces sold for a lot did not make me better than others.

  They led me to the cafeteria, and I noted the flower I’d made was still there, wondering how he hadn’t figured out it was for him when the coloring was exactly his eyes. Liam saw the flower and glanced at me in question, knowing my work fairly well. I shook my head for him to let it go.

  “Hey, hi, I didn’t know you were coming here today,” Jeston greeted when I reached for a tray. I blinked up at him, forcing myself to frown, which he did too.

  “You know him?” Liam asked me.

  “Yes, this is… He’s the warrior who works the night shift and brought people to unload the trailers.”

  “Jeston,” he said, sounding equal parts hurt and pissed at me. He extended his hand to Liam. “Jeston Koch.”

  “Liam Boyer, Jordan’s business manager and mother most days.”

  “Jordan?” He gave me a shocked look. “You’re Jordan Gilliam? I thought you were one of the apprentices or something to get things started.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Well, you know what they say about assuming things. I always go first as the boss to make sure anything is safe before I bring my people in.”

  Liam sighed. “I’m shocked you even let any of the drivers come with. Then again, they’re human so you probably just did it to give validity to the place so some humans could attest to it being aboveboard and a real exclusive subdivision instead of some rumors it’s a cult.”

  “That doesn’t sound like me,” I argued.

  “It sounds exactly like you,” Alastair muttered from behind me. “And thank you. You do give the whole project validity.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at him, nodding in greeting to Zibon. “Yes, well, I thought it only polite when I won’t give you everything you came for in Boston. I’m not sure I’m for that yet. I will however see everything and hear the whole presentation. So far I am impressed. And I have a ton of ‘guts’ for your warrior dorms and new houses.”

  “Let’s get food and talk business,” Nero offered, looking relieved when I nodded. I understood because no matter how good the idea, it needed help being validated for the cover, and they’d been in the dark, working everything from behind the scenes, whereas I was in the public eye this round of cover. Me and others I knew. If it worked out, I could get the whole thing a huge spin no one would try to poke through.

  “Jeston, hey, can you cover a few hours in ops this afternoon?” a warrior asked, staring at a tablet. “I’m helping Sam track his studies, and while I’m there we’re working with Matteo on trying to outline what we do differently with the pre-trans and figuring how to translate that into surviving stats for the councils.”

  “Yeah, no worries,” Jeston told him. “I just need to catch a nap before my shift tonight.”

  “How flexible and accommodating of you,” I praised, glancing between him and the man.

  The other warrior glanced up at me. “Jeston’s a floater. He’s always filling in one place or another.”

  “Oh, so really he lacks drive and focus,” I muttered, not liking that since I was the exact opposite.

  “Not everyone can be the computer genius or trainer everyone loves,” Jeston growled. “We’ve got construction all over the place, huge precast parts brought in to make up the buildings. But even I know it takes the fillers to make it work. You need those rebar connectors to make the building stable. That is not a negative to be willing to support people.”

  I dipped my head. “You’re right. I apologize. You come off as a carefree spirit, and most times I find those without care aren’t paying attention, as life is full of worry.”

  “And Jordan absolutely appreciates his support staff and everyone who makes the gears work,” Liam added.

  “You should join us for breakfast and see for yourself,” I offered before turning back to the trays. “Now how does this work? I haven’t eaten in like forever. It’s why I stopped working.”

  “Jordan, you have to stop working even if you eat,” Liam sighed.

  “Not when so many are in danger and need places to stay or warriors are piled on each other. I’ll take a vacation when it’s all done.”

  “Yeah right,” Liam drawled. “You have never taken a vacation.”

  “Technically this is one,” I reminded him, letting it go when I saw he was ready to pull out his hair. Yeah, fine, traveling for a project like this was not a vacation.

  We loaded up food, and I was intrigued when Jeston joined us. I wondered if it was because no one from the camp was represented or he just got the chance because I invited him. Just as we were sitting down in the far corner, a vampire about my height followed by a warrior came hurrying over.

  “I apologize for being late,” he said as he looked around before taking a seat.

  I let out a sigh, hating when there was a hiccup, and then I swallowed a groan when Liam jotted down who it was for me to see. “Why is a councilman here? I haven’t talked to my council yet and—”

  “I’m not here as one,” he interjected, nodding to the warrior. “I’m here as his mate, and this camp is full of his friends. I bought a huge chunk of land adjacent and buying more so they don’t start pulling up coal by us and we can get more people somewhere safe instead of stuck in their covens. I have a lot in my human cover I can bring to the table to add legitimacy like you have.”

  “Plus all the death threats we leaked to the media,” the warrior added.

  “He’s clean,” Alastair promised. “Young, a bit of a pain at times, and overly self-righteous other times, but clean and on the same side we are.”

  “Thank you?” Ashton grumbled, which seemed to amuse more than myself.

  “So what did you bring for ‘guts,’ as all you said was you wanted to expand?” Alastair led in.

  “There is an array of countertops, light fixtures, tables, sinks, tiles—bathroom, kitchen, and pool—outdoor benches, and samples from what we currently sell. We can also do any glass for windows, showers, mirrors, and more depending if we feel this is the right place fo
r Jordan’s network,” Liam said.

  “Of vampire artists,” I clarified when they both looked shock Liam knew what they did. He was too young for the deeper secrets. “I know a vamp that does gorgeous wood and resin tables and more. I’m also willing to do dining ware if people don’t mind it’s what new employees trained are doing and won’t be my crystal lines quality.”

  “We currently have three hundred and twenty vampire employees, but with the expansion we’re talking about, we estimate needing over two thousand. Jordan wants to offer to the families of any of the warriors here, as not all are from wealthy families.”

  “I also need spots for three warriors,” I interjected as I chomped on some bacon. “One of my best apprentices, Alexis, has three brothers stuck in the East Coast camp. They are not the bad ones, believe me. I know them, and they’ve been stuck. I can get them out with some dancing and bullshit, but I want to know they have a spot here.”

  “They would,” Ashton promised. “We need more given this will become the main training hub for North America and maybe more. We’ve made sure other warrior families heard it from us directly about our survival numbers. No matter what, a parent wants their child to survive, and that puts a lot of other bullshit to the side.”

  “What are you asking for all of this?” Nero muttered as he looked over Liam’s projections and handouts.

  “To work with your design teams in some of the residences and our PR people to take shots of the finished sinks installed instead of just sitting there,” Liam said. “Or the pools with our tiles. Anything that will help sell and launch these new lines.”

  Alastair sat back with a grin. “And you’ll list they came from the subdivision, which helps the cover of it being a super swank and exclusive, private neighborhood. You always were smart, Jordan.”

  “Thanks, but that was all Liam,” I clarified. “The only reason I had a human agent for the moment was it was time for him to cycle his next cover and move behind the scenes. We’ve got enough set up with galleries and whatnot where it’s not an agent needed but more him blocking me from every idiot demanding I have a show at their place. You have construction contacts, Nero, and that would benefit us so more can work.”