Page 49 of Honorable Convictions
Pierson shrugged and picked up his wine. “Imagine the guy that couldn’t bring a single peer to the mat in training being the same person who’d influence the way Juris Knights relate to the rest of the Order of the Fallen Knights.”
Studying Pierson, Mitchell wondered why they had to always revisit the blasted eight weeks they’d spent as newly resurrected recruits. “Training was a long time ago, and Juris Knights don’t need physical abilities.”
“I was trying to point out that at no other point in my life have I been able to coordinate shit with my peers. From the start, I was the oddball out.”
“Blondie, you let that blowjob matter too much,” Mitchell said quietly.
“Probably, but you weren’t the only one I was unable to connect with. I didn’t even manage to get along with my roommate.”
“You separated yourself because of me, which meant everyone else failed to understand why you refused to do group things.”
“No, it wasn’t only you. Wade didn’t like me. I think it started with my rez sickness. Then once the thing with Trista happened, he thought I was weak or something because I reacted so strongly. I suppose taken out of context, it’d be difficult to understand why someone resurrected to deal with the ugliness of life would be so upset over a blowjob.”
“Except that no one else gave it a second thought,” Mitchell informed him, growing irritated about Wade’s attitude—not that it mattered any longer, but a part of him wanted to punch the asshole in the face.
“There was no way to make friends,” Pierson remarked in a soft voice. “We couldn’t be in a room together without bickering, and Wade rarely spoke to me after training started.”
“I wish we’d been able to talk like this before. We could’ve told Wade to go fuck himself and forged ahead.”
“It’s hard to forget that right from the start I fucked things up.”
“No, it’s damn near impossible for you to forget anything, but you don’t have to keep going back there. It hurts you, and you deserve better than to be constantly chastised for what you perceive as mistakes. We all make them; you just have a bad habit of beating yourself up continuously for every supposed error.”
Pierson let out a ghost of a laugh. “Figures you’re the one person who understands how my brain works.”
“Lucky you,” Mitchell teased, not willing to delve any deeper into a conversation about feelings. Pierson wasn’t ready, and Mitchell had no problem waiting for him. “Now finish your dinner, so you can stretch out on the couch and watch your love movie while I work.”
“I suppose you’ll expect me to give you another shoulder rub.”
“Absolutely.”
“I should’ve known it’d be a mistake to offer one, but I’d like to point out that it was a week ago.”
“Your efforts have improved, and I happen to like your hands on me.”
“Fine, but I want more than your hands on me later.”
Mitchell grinned at his other half. “Like I’d ever pass up that invitation.” It might not yet be the relationship he’d envisioned, but there was light at the end of the tunnel. Not long from now, he’d have Pierson in his life permanently, and he couldn’t wait to move him into his condo in Vegas, even if he did have to wait out the rest of his DC assignment. Every night with Pierson was one well spent, making Mitchell a man of few complaints.
Chapter 25
It was odd to walk through the doors of the Vegas headquarters after four months away, especially since Pierson now shared a bed with a fellow Juris Knight. As he headed for the offices of the VKs and RKs, he tried to imagine the look of shock anyone who learned of his relationship with Mitchell would wear. They might never know if things didn’t work out, but Pierson was still taking it with the utmost caution and trying not to plan a future one way or another.
If he grew scared, Pierson allowed it. His heart and soul were on the line as were Mitchell’s. With stakes so high, it was foolish to Pierson not to be frightened despite the bond picked by Fate. Perhaps it was the downside of being a Juris Knight that had made him so cynical about relationships. Separation agreements had their place, but it was difficult to help someone cut their mate out of their lives.
As Pierson took his seat in the conference room, he nearly panicked at the thought of permanent dissolution. Shoving it aside immediately, Pierson’s trembling hands left damp impressions on the reports he’d prepared for the four men chatting amicably and grabbing chairs around the table. Passing each fallen knight the information he’d compiled and the ideas he’d formed alongside Mitchell, it struck him as wrong that he was alone in presenting it, but how could he explain the other Juris Knight’s presence in his life?
Guilt flared, and he vowed to give Mitchell credit at some point for his invaluable assistance. Needing to focus on his purpose, Pierson took his bosses through the requirements that would satisfy the Juris Knights who wished to complete their cases in a timely manner. It would be up to someone to spread the information from office to office, and Pierson wasn’t bold enough to suggest himself, but he dearly wanted to continue to build connections and put his old life of isolation firmly behind him.
“This is fantastic work, Pierson,” RK Conley said.
“Thank you,” he answered with a silent apology for Mitchell.
“We can send out the requirements immediately, but I do think your idea of in-depth explanations to different offices and supervisors is a necessary step,” RK Drystan remarked. “I’d like you to start filling your schedule with those appointments. We’ll put your contact information out with the report.”
Pierson was relieved that his supervisors were pleased with his work and wanted him to remain in his current role—especially now that he had no other tasks. “Of course, I’m happy to continue to function as a liaison.”
“Good, I think you’re well-suited to it. Your experience with the law enables you to fully answer questions about why certain things were included or not,” VK Roman remarked. “And we’ve heard from the offices that were involved in building the requirements about your remarkable energy and how impressed they were with you.”
