“Good, because you’re going to get it. Now go dance your heart out, Kitten.” Logan kissed her and Harper’s heart felt like it would burst.
She slid off his lap and kissed his forehead. She loved this man, so much.
“And you’ll pick me up after.”
“Yes, I can’t wait,” Logan grabbed her waist, brought her in the circle of his legs and kissed her as if he didn’t ever want to let her go.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO - XANDER
Xanderhunchedoverthemicroscope, ignoring his cellphone buzzing beside him on the counter. The quiet of the tech lab soothed him. He studied the newest tweak to the bendable glass. Damn, he loved his team. They were so close in a shorter time than expected.
He checked the text message from Ares. He sighed. His brother asked him to go to his office and bring home the most updated drawings of the building they had. Of course, Ares wanted the physical copies.
Xander had avoided the executive floor for as long as he could and because he had made it a habit to float, checking in with each department, making himself available to staff, nobody thought it was odd. Or at least nobody mentioned it.
In the elevator’s privacy, he closed his eyes. Today he had said goodbye to their bodyguards, offering generous severance pay for anyone who chose not to go to Stone Security. Shaking hands with his trusted employees spewed unexpected emotion, but the Threat Assessment and Personal Security Division had been a cornerstone of what they did from day one at Axis Management. He wished Harper was here with him. Though he wonders if he would have gone through with the assets sale if things were normal with her. He missed her so much that it physically hurt.
He wasn’t eating. He was barely sleeping. He caught the promos forCanada’s Best Dancerand watched the first episode, feeling absurdly proud of her.
For years, being her protector and provider had given him a clear purpose and as she bravely healed from her past. And as he was those things to her, he gained his own confidence, battling his anxiety. For her, he wanted to do better.
Without her, his world reeled. He went through the motions during the day and sought refuge in the tech lab at night, but it felt robotic. He lost his drive.
He paused by a vase of flowers at the reception desk, wondering who had replaced them. He never noticed before she left how many minute details Harper took care of, like the flowers on each floor, the delivery of his preferred bottled water, and he missed his daily calendar briefings from her. They were going to need a new assistant if they wanted to stay in business.
Xander frowned at the open office door. Maybe Ares was in a rush and he forgot to lock up.
“Marrock.” Logan leaned against the wall that went to Harper’s sanctuary. Xander’s eyes roamed over him. He looked a lot healthier than he did the last time he saw him. Now his muscles bulged as he crossed his arms over his chest, his leather jacket rippling.
“Xander.”
“What are you doing here?”
“We have unfinished business,” Logan said. “You saved my ass.”“Don’t mention it,” Xander said.
Logan shook his head slowly. “Not how we operate. I’ll forever be grateful that you showed up with impeccable timing. I thought I would return the favour.”
“How so?” Xander asked.
He frowned, trying to parcel out the cadence in Logan’s tone. He wasn’t his usual arrogant, confident self. There was a whisper of worry? Or hopefulness? Xander’s eyes landed on Harper’s desk and he startled.
“I’ve heard you haven’t been doing so well these past couple of weeks. It seems like you might be missing someone.”
“I am. But there’s nothing to be done about it. We’ve been over this,” Xander ran his hand over the spotless desk
“And I’m here to tell you, you’re wrong, Xander. You’re not too much for her. You’re not too old for her. That girl has handled you and your business for years. She can handle the dominant. Sheneedsthe kind of dominating you do. You give her structure and boundaries. I give her the thrills, together we are her safe place to let go.”
“Did she come and do this?” Xander said.
“Took her two hours to organize and sort everything. She also updated the calendar and the staffing schedule, pulling Gabe off rotation.”
“Yeah, I owe him a phone call,” Xander said.
“For years, you’ve demanded her real self. That she breaks out of that shell she had buried herself in, that she be the best she could for you, Xander. Don’t you owe her the same?”
“How would it work out?” Xander asked. Damn, he hated the catch in his voice. His palms grew sweaty.
“We’ll figure it out. We’ve cared for her together, in different ways, these past couple of years and that one night we had together. It just felt right. I never thought I would want to share my collared submissive, but here we are.”
