KIT COULDN’T do it.
God knows, he’d tried, but he just couldn’t get past what happened in his office. Every time he stepped in there, his skin crawled and his heart beat faster, which made his head hurt.
People thought vampire-like teeth were sexy. People were idiots. He still had nightmares about those long, sharp fangs sinking into his neck. It felt like two large gauge needles piercing his skin.
It hurt, and there was nothing sexy about that. At all. And there was nothing sexy about feeling that… that… thing sucking his blood, either.
Kit’s shoulders slumped. Dammit. He had to stop thinking that way. Nox wasn’t a “thing”. He shouldn’t call any paranormal that, and Kage had been quick to point that out. It was insulting. And Kit knew all about how insulting language could hurt somebody.
He was a perfect example. He was a gay guy with a slightly fem, androgynous look who like to wear things that were not considered ‘boy’ clothes.
Although today was the exception to the rule because of, well… reasons.
So, he was trying to modify his language, because he knew firsthand how hating on somebody because of how they were born was simply ridiculous. But he also couldn’t get past what Nox had done to him in his office. And now Kit couldn’t stand to be in there.
Thus the “reason” why he was dressed in plain old jeans and a simple T-shirt on this bright, lovely day.
Good thing there were other empty rooms in the building. His original office might’ve had biggest window and all, but it was going to be a storage room now. Or something. What it was not going to be was Kit’s office.
It took most of the morning, and involved asking favors from his staff, but Kit got his office equipment moved to a different room. It did have a window, although it overlooked the parking lot. Meh. At least he had natural light.
Once he got everything situated how he wanted it, and plugged in again, he stood in the doorway surveying the room. Yep, it was definitely smaller. And the plain white walls offended him on a personal level. He liked color.
And speaking of color, he had the most perfect idea of what colors he wanted to do his new office in—seafoam green and apricot. In fact, outside of the office furniture, everything else had to go. He was going to start completely over.
He made arrangements for a charity to come pick up everything, then went shopping. Retail therapy was good for the soul.
SEVERAL HOURS later, he was back with all his goodies. Again, he had to ask this staff for help getting the things to his office. Which, in retrospect, he probably should’ve gone shopping then moved into the new room. But oh well.
He wasn’t sleeping all that great, so he could blame his lack of planning on that. Oh, and he’d also gotten paint. Which, again, he probably should’ve painted first too.
It wasn’t that large of a room, fortunately for him. He got the tarp down over the floor, threw his hair up into a messy bun, and got down to business.
Okay, so yeah, it didn’t take long for him to figure out that he really should’ve painted the walls first, but it was what it was. At least he had two of the four walls done. Progress!
Grabbing a bottle water, he collapsed into his office chair. Whoo wee, he was going to feel this tomorrow, especially in his arms. Maybe he should start going to the gym in his apartment complex.
He was still debating the pros and cons of that when his cell phone rang. Pulling it out of his jean’s pocket, he frowned at the number. It wasn’t one he recognized, although his phone said it was a valid number.
Shrugging, he answered it. “Hello?”
“May I speak to Kit Meadows, please?”
Whoa. That was one sexy voice right there. It gave him a nice little tingle. “This is Kit.”
“Hello, Kit. My name is Hudson Redmond. I’m Kage and Austin’s friend. I believe Austin spoke to you about… shall we say… protection due to an unfortunate situation that involved you?”
Whatever tingle Kit had going on, dried up like water in the desert. Suddenly it all came flooding back—his boyfriend’s betrayal, Nox’s attack, beings who looked like demons and used the shadows to travel, the werewolf, Austin struggling to breathe… all of it.
“Kit?”
Kit yanked himself back to the present. Now was not the time to take a side trip into that nightmare. “Yeah, yeah, sorry. I didn’t mean to…. I had a moment there.”
“Completely understandable. I’ve had several moments here lately too. Now, as I was saying, I’m friends with Kage and Austin. Actually, Kage is my best friend.”
Suddenly it hit Kit where he’d heard that name from. “Oh wow. Oh goodness. I remember Kage mentioning you now. You’re a… a… a….”
“Yes, indeed I am,” Hudson laughed softly.
