Page 34 of A Dragon's Miracle (Fires of Fate)
Finn
During the lastweek of the year and the start of January, I did everything I could to make Ryan feel that he was safe with me, as Zed had advised. We spent most of our time together, trying to cook for each other, going for walks in the mountains, flying across the island... we even made time to rewatch those movies Ryan had gifted me.
I couldn't quite get that evening out of my head. How had Ryan thought I might forget him? He wasn't going anywhere, was he? At times, I wasn't so sure what was going on in his head, and that worried me.
But still, I tried not to pressure him into talking. I simply hoped that he'd come to me if it was important.
Which isn't to say my patience wasn't tested--and I wasn't the most patient of people. But I told myself I'd waited two and a half years for Ryan to break up with his boyfriend, I could wait a few more weeks for him to really get over the break up.
My resolve was only tested one afternoon when Ryan was napping in my bed after we’d spent most of the day exploring each other’s bodies. Most of his bruises were faded now, and I couldn’t wait for them all to be gone. Soon, I told myself, lying next to him and regarding his sleeping form. He seemed more tired than usual lately and after sex he was always out like a light. Usually I let him doze while I went through the notes of a song I was working on in my head.
When Ryan's phone rang, I reached over the side of the bed and answered it before the noise could wake him.
“Hello?”
“Is Ryan there?” I didn't recognize the deep voice on the other end of the line, but I immediately disliked it.
“No, he's out on an errand. Can I relay a message?”
“Tell him to call me the moment he's back if he wants our deal to hold up.”
“And you are...?”
“Oh, he knows who I am.”
Frowning, I held the phone away from my ear to look at the caller ID.Jin. My mood turned sour the moment I read the name. I'd heard it before. “You're his ex.”
“His ex?” The man on the other end of the line laughed. “I assure you, I'm very current.”
“No, you're not. Ryan's with me now.”
“Is he?” Jin's tone of voice sounded almost mocking. “I wouldn't be so sure about that if I was you.”
I narrowed my eyes even though the man on the other end of the line couldn't see me. “He's not coming back to you and if you ever lay your hands on him again I will end you.” I didn't often let the beast in me take control, but that moment, it was front and center. I only had to think of the bruises I'd seen on Ryan's body to be filled with a kind of rage I was hardly familiar with.
But still, Jin didn't seem fazed. “Did you know that your boyfriend has a deal with me?” he asked.
“Whatever deal it is, it's off.”
“Maybe you should ask his opinion on that.”
“Well maybe you should fuck yourself.”
Jin laughed.
I ended the call and nearly threw the phone away before I remembered that it wasn't mine. What a horrible guy.
Next to me, Ryan stirred. “Who was that?” he asked sleepily. He was obviously not ready to get up yet.
I pulled him against my chest and almost all the rage I’d felt a moment ago vanished in a puff of smoke. Ryan was with me now, and that was all that mattered. “Nothing you need to worry about.” I placed a kiss on top of his head. “Go back to sleep.”
He did, and I kept holding him tight. Whatever this Jin-dude thought, he was never going to take Ryan away from me again.
