“As long as you’re happy. It’s fine if you want to make it work, but if you’re sitting in that big penthouse of his six months from now, miserable, then I want you to come home. Deal?”
Chad nodded. “I’ll agree to that.”
His mother relaxed, her hands sliding down the wheel as she pressed back into the seat. “Good.”
***
Peter was at the airport to pick him up, standing heads and shoulders above everyone else in the arrivals area, looking razor sharp in a navy suit paired with a blood-red tie.
Chad’s knees actually felt weak at the sight of him.
“Hi, Peter,” he said, walking up to his alpha. Peter grinned and pulled him in for a kiss that had his toes curling. When he pulled away, the look on Peter’s face was smug and satisfied.
“Welcome home,” Peter said, putting his hand on Chad’s back and leading him to the car. Chad let himself be led, enjoying Peter’s solid presence at his side.
It felt like everything was going to be okay.
***
Peter slid into the back of the car after Chad, closing the door behind him and signaling for the driver to go.
Having Chad back in the city was like a weight off Peter’s shoulders, but he knew that he wouldn’t feel settled until he had Chad safe and sound under the covers of his bed and wrapped up in his arms.
“I missed you,” he said, leaning over Chad and pulling him under his arm. He nuzzled the side of Chad’s throat, breathing in his scent like he was trying to get high.
Chad arched into the touch, and Peter’s cock throbbed.
“So what’s going on with the…” Chad didn’t finish the question, but Peter knew what he was talking about.
“Mission to make Tank Security a company that could survive a Congressional hearing?” Peter prompted.
Chad nodded.
“Things are happening. I spun off about eighty percent of the mercenary division into a new company, and I’m in negotiations with Topgrunder for them to buy it. Once the deal goes through, the only contracts still belonging to Tank Security will be with the US government.”
“How do you feel about that?” Chad asked. Peter shrugged. Tank Security was his life’s work, and it wasn’t easy to let it go. Then again, he was making a killing on the sale, and if the deal went through in its current form, Peter would be one of Topgrunder’s biggest stockholders.
Not that he was telling Chad that.
“It’s for the best. The more we expand into domestic IT security, the more the mercenary division would have dragged us down. It would have been much harder though if I hadn’t already decided to leave the field.”
When Chad didn’t look convinced, Peter pulled him down and gave him a playful kiss on the top of his head. He had his arm curled around Chad’s neck, and Chad was bent down and pressed against his pecs. Peter bent his neck and spoke to his willing captive.
“I’m not sad about giving up that part of the company. Not if it means I get to keep you.”
He released his hold, and Chad sat up straight. There was a twinkle in his eye. “You’re okay?” he asked, just to confirm. Peter nodded.
“I’m great.”
Chad leaned against him, and Peter held him close.
It was going to be weird not having Aiden working for him anymore, and he’d miss going to the Tank Security training facility, but other than that Peter was fine.
That Merchant had decided to stay on as a security consultant for the IT department was hilarious, but Peter didn’t doubt that he’d find work for his morally-challenged friend.
“You know what?” Chad asked, eyes closed and head resting against Peter’s chest.
“What?” Peter reached up and threaded his hands through Chad’s hair. He massaged his scalp before rubbing his fingers along the shell of Chad’s ear.
