Page 39 of Dragon Boss (Paranormal Delights 2)

"Hey," Eldon said softly as if Arden would break if he raised his voice a single octave. "I think you drank most of the bar." He nodded toward the empty bottles on the counter. "Let's get you to bed."

Arden shook his head. "I still have work to do."

"Youalwayshave work to do," Eldon pointed out. "But you can't keep going forever. You haven't been eating or sleeping and I can tell it's taking a toll on you. The argument with Bash?" He shook his head. "The old you would never do that."

Arden gazed away from Eldon and instead stared into the half-empty glass in his hand. He didn't want to think about Bash. The man had gotten on his nerves sure, but that was no excuse to grab him the way he did. He would have to apologize when they saw each other next, and wipe the slate between them. It was no excuse, but that dark look in Bash's eyes and the way he growled had awoken the primal side of Arden. He'd wanted to slam him down and make the man submit. If Eldon hadn't come to pull him away, he would have done it. He would have taken Bash without a second thought and loved every single second of it.

"I don't want to talk about that," Arden said quietly. "It's...been a long..."Day? Week? Year? Existence?Arden sighed. He'd been alive for so long. "Why are you awake? You should be sleeping."

Eldon moved closer. "I couldn't. I tried." He held out a hand. "Come on, let's get you upstairs."

Arden glanced around the bar. "I need to clean up."

"I'll handle it," Eldon said more pointedly. "Now, you can come with me or I can get mean."

Arden blinked at the vampire. There wasn't a hint of a joke in his voice. He wasn't used to Eldon being anything other than sweet and encouraging.This round of hosts are full of surprises.There wasn't a single one of them that was what he originally thought they were. Except for perhaps Micha.

"Fine," Arden gave in because he really didn't want to be awake anymore. "I could use a rest."

Arden examined Eldon's outstretched hand and, reluctantly, he took it. The vampire's delicate fingers wrapped around his own and the coolness of his skin was refreshing against Arden's heat. He gave Eldon's hand a squeeze, needing that connection more than ever tonight.

When people needed help or support, they always looked to Arden. He was the backbone of Paranormal Guilty Delights and back home it was the same with his family. Arden wasn't used to having support for himself. To have someone who would back him up and protect him. They only saw him as the big, bad boss and nothing more. But he had moments of fragility too.

Great goddamn pity party. Suck it up!

Arden chastised himself the entire walk up the stairs, but he didn't let go of Eldon's hand. It was like an anchor against the battering rains and swirling winds of his life. The only thing keeping him from floating away forever.

From turning back into the disaster that he once was.

"What's the code?" Eldon asked as they arrived at his door.

"Let me do it," he said as he turned to the keypad and then glanced over at Eldon. "You don't need to know it."

The vampire sighed and glanced away. "Still don't trust me, huh?"

"It's not that. I just..." Arden sighed and typed in the number quickly. "This place is my sanctuary. I don't share it with anyone."

"Except Spooky," Eldon pointed out.

Arden growled and glared at the vampire. "Why do all of you bring up Spooky so much? It's as if you think he gets special privileges when really he's a pain in my ass and sneaks in here no matter how many times I tell him to stay out!"

Eldon looked at him and grinned. "And you let him. Or else you would have changed the password by now."

"Fuck off," Arden mumbled as he pulled away from Eldon and marched through the door.

"Is that so wrong?" Eldon asked. "Wait, hold on!" He caught up with Arden quickly and took his hand again. "You're barely upright. I'll get you in bed."

"I don't need help," Arden grumbled.

"Yes, you do," Eldon said pointedly. "I don't understand why you're getting upset with me just because I pointed out the truth."

"Spooky is my employee. I'm not supposed to be around him like that," Arden said vaguely so he wouldn't have to admit out loud that he loved sleeping with the man.

"Yes, but he wasn't your employee at first. I can see how some lines were blurred." Eldon flipped on the light in Arden's bedroom and turned to him. "Okay, get in bed."

Arden frowned. "Make sure you-"

"Clean the bar, restock it, do the inventory, put in the purchase orders." Eldon smiled. "Yes, I know. Come on."

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