Page 15 of The Lost Beloved

"I'm so glad you're back." He erupted and started a flurry of kisses to Gage's neck and jaw. "I about had a heart attack when those birds started burning the countryside." Gage chuckled and squeezed him tight, lifting him off his feet.

"That startled me too, but Master Hadden had it all well in hand." He kissed him then hard and possessive loving the sensation of those perfect plump lips against his. "They were dragons not birds and that dragon fire purified the countrysideit sent that evil back to the underworld where it belongs." He clarified.

“No more infected shifters?” Harley asked.

"Luring them to the clearing took care of the bulk of those things. There might still be a few wandering the forest, but we will find them, and they will be eliminated. Master Hadden and the Dragon King are going to make sure none remain."

“Dragon King? Wow that sounds so unreal but who am I to scoff. Considering the events of the last couple days I’m ready to believe just about anything.” Harley continued to hold him tight like he was afraid if he let go Gage would disappear.

"I love you, Gage, and when I thought the flames got you, I was devastated in a way I'd never felt before. You are in my heart and a part of me now. If that makes you uncomfortable, I'm sorry, but I want you to know I'm going to be impossible to get rid of." Harley was rambling, and Gage recognized the depth of his fear and tried to comfort him.

"I love you too, sweetheart, and I will never seek to be rid of you. Finding you was the best thing to ever happen to me. You're my beloved, and as you know, it is a lifetime bond and commitment that I accept and look forward to. It's you and me, Harley, from here on out. You ready for this adventure?" Gage tucked him under his arm, and Harley wrapped his arms around Gage's waist.

“I’m ready for you and everything that entails.” Gage loved this man a little bit more every day.

“Let’s go home.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Gage was given one of the SUV’s and sent home with his beloved. Dumas was also allowed to head home but chose to stay and assist with surveillance. They made a stop near where Harley had camped and hiked in to check if any of his belongings were there. The tent was shredded which gave Gage a spike of anger and fear for his beloved’s safety. “I’m so glad we found you baby.” He stated.

“So am I.” Harley responded emphatically. He found his backpack which was torn up but his phone and wallet were still in one piece and his car keys were there, so he considered it a win.

"Don't worry about your car, I'll have someone pick it up." He wanted to keep Harley with him.

"Thanks." He checked his phone and found that he had service. "I have a lot of missed calls and text messages from Ashton, but I really don't feel like reading them."

“Then don’t.” Gage held out his hand and Harley gave him the phone with a smile.

They were soon on their way, and when they were on the highway, Harley made a request. "Do you mind stopping at my apartment so I can pick up some personal things?"

"Not at all you can grab all your stuff if you want I'll help you." Gage was eager to have him move in.

"Yeah, we could probably do that. I don't have a lot of stuff. I work from home, so I have the computer equipment I need. I have a lot of books, but they're in totes." Harley ran through what he'd have to do, and Gage focused on the statement that he works from home.

"What do you do, Harley? I never asked you about your job."

"I do graphic design and marketing, and I also have a website where I buy and sell books, limited and first editions. It's small time right now, but it brings in a little bit." Harley was tempering his excitement, but it was obvious he liked his book business.

"That sounds interesting. I look forward to seeing some of your work." Gage would be supportive no matter what his beloved did as long as it made him happy. "The book business sounds like something you could grow." Harley's excited smile was all he needed. "I have a large apartment at the Center. You can use one of the spare rooms as your office, and there is plenty of closet space for your inventory."

Harley took Gage’s hand and held it tightly. “I am so lucky.” He said. “On Friday I thought my life was taking a serious downturn I was sad and lost and angry and then this monster chases me into the arms of the most handsome man in town.”

"Most handsome," Gage repeated playfully.

“The handsomest.”

Harley felt his excitement rising with each passing mile. They would get his things from the apartment, and he would move in with Gage Novak. He was moving into the Hadden Center, a beautiful building in the financial district, a posh section of town.

He was exhilarated by the changes coming into his life. Ashton had broken his heart, and he thought he would never get over the pain of betrayal, but the weekend he had and the love of a good man had muted that pain significantly. When Gage pulled up out front of his apartment building, he noticed Ashton's truck in the side parking lot. Gage recognized his tension instantly.

“What’s wrong?” He asked.

"That's Ashton's truck, but he shouldn't be here. They were going to New York for their honeymoon and leaving right after the reception. Maybe they used Ally's car, but they said they'd be out of the apartment by now." Harley wasn't sure what to expect.

“Let’s pack your things. Whatever they’re doing is no concern of yours.” Gage made things so clear and so easy. Emotions could cloud and confuse the simplest of tasks.

“Yeah, lets get this done and get out of here.” He said and they headed up to Harley’s apartment. He was surprised to see that none of Ashton’s things had been packed or moved. It was as if he still lived there but he said he’d be out by today. It took a couple trips, but Gage was amazingly strong, and they had his stuff packed and in the SUV in record time.

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