Page 15 of Jinn

Something in his tone had Ajax staring a little harder at him. Finn was better. Ajax couldn’t help but make the comparison. He was real. And kind. And not someone who’d get blinded by fame. Ajax truly liked him. Liked who he was.

Finn started to say something, then paused and looked up at the sky. “It’s going to rain.” Before he even finished hissentence, the heavens opened up on their heads, soaking them both instantly.

Laughing, Ajax darted back up the stairs to the porch, but it wasn’t fast enough. Water dripped down his face and had plastered his clothes to his body. He slicked back his hair, turning to Finn only to suddenly lose his train of thought.

Finn was staring at his mouth, his eyes narrowed but blazing with something so hot, it felt like the moisture on his body would turn to steam. A drop of rain dangled on the tip of his nose, and without thinking about it, Ajax reached up to slowly wipe it away. Finn’s gaze lifted to his, and the heat there made Ajax shiver.

Neither said a word, but they didn’t need to because Ajax could see that Finn returned the curiosity and need that had been building in Ajax. This jinn wanted him. Fire lit in his belly, and he took a shaky breath. He opened his mouth, not sure what he was going to say, but the front door opened, and Matt poked his head out.

“Ajax?”

“I’m coming,” he murmured, still staring at Finn and resenting the presence of his band so much right then.

Because there was a promise etched in Finn’s expression. A promise of something big, something…primal. And Ajax wanted to explore that more than he wanted anything else.

Chapter Nine

Finn

The members of Ajax’s band only stayed a few hours, and Finn had watched when they’d picked up the fuming ex as they left. He’d gotten a real kick out of seeing Alan simmering outside the gate, so pissed he was actually ignoring the flashes going off.

That moment Finn had experienced with Ajax during the rain kept going through his head, but they both backed off it as if they each needed time to process it. Another week passed, and he found that he was enjoying the shared meals and time with Ajax in the evenings. Food still wasn’t good, but Finn didn’t care. This time together felt like something special as they got to know each other. Then, Ajax had become intrigued watching Finn play on his Steam Deck, so he’d had one delivered, and they’d started playing some games together at night. Finn had introduced Ajax to survival craft games, and watching the rock star scrambling to stay alive amused the hell out of him. Ajax took it so seriously.

There were more photographers gathering outside the gate, and camera flashes went off like crazy every time Finn got close. He was sure his image was being splashed out there as people speculated on who he was and why he was holed up in thissupposed private getaway with the lead singer of Back to Chaos. This was actually normal in his line of work and had happened before, but his role as a bodyguard was usually easier to spot. Here, in this rental so far from Ajax’s home, the situation was bound to bring about questions. He’d talked to Xavier about it, but his employer had just replied that it sometimes came with the territory, and nothing was being said they needed to worry about.

His second weekend away from Ajax went quite like the first, with him jonesing to get back, but when he returned that Monday, something was different about Ajax. He wasn’t playing music, and instead he was quiet, agitated.

Finn let him be for a couple of days, assuming maybe this was a part of his creative process, but the way Ajax stared at him whenever they were in a room together said that this had something to do with him.

But then he caught Ajax in that nook he favored, pacing. Not lounging or curled up as usual, not playing his guitar or keyboard. Pacing and running his hands through his hair.

Sensing Ajax needed privacy, Finn turned away and went into the kitchen to grab a bottled water from the refrigerator. He took it with him into the main living area and stood by one of the front windows. He couldn’t see the gate from there, but he could feel the energy of the small crowd gathered there.

It amazed him that so many thought they could just butt into someone’s private life like that. Finn would never wish for fame like this. He liked his privacy too damned much.

But this is what Ajax had wanted. Maybe not the intrusive fans, but he’d wanted to succeed in his world. And fame came with that kind of success.

Ajax hurried into the room, spotted Finn, and froze, his features tightening. Yep, something was definitely wrong.

Finn watched him a moment. “Hey, how about we put you in some kind of disguise and get out of the house for a while? Take in some new scenery. You’ve seemed pretty agitated the last couple of days.”

“That’s not my problem.”

“Is it your work? Hit a block?”

“No. Yes, kind of.” He ran his hands through his hair, those green eyes pinned on Finn. “Does your company have rules when it comes to clients?”

Finn narrowed his eyes. “Yes.” He drew the word out.

“Well, I’m about to break them.” He strode to Finn until he was so close Finn could feel the warmth from his body. “I’m interested in you, Finn. Attracted to you. And normally, I don’t feel that sort of thing until I’ve gotten to know someone better. But with you, it happened pretty fast, and honestly, it’s driving me a little crazy.”

“Why?”

“Because I just know that we’ll be fire. I want to feel that fire.”

Oh, Finn was more than interested, but he was also wary. He knew that if he let himself, he’d come to really care for Ajax, and whether he liked to admit it or not, his early years had left him with a fragile heart.

And a deep fear of being abandoned again.

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