Chapter 17

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Rule Number 8 - A contract between a feeder and a client should not be affected by outside influence. The terms should be set between the feeder and the client alone.

Avery did one last check of next week’s schedule, making sure there would be time on Monday for another session. He didn’t want Ozen going hungry because he was too busy. After he was done, he gathered his things and shut down his computer. They’d taken longer than fifteen minutes, but Ozen didn’t seem upset about it, and Avery certainly wasn’t going to complain. It took a lot of effort not to replay the session in his head on repeat as he waited for the elevator, but he didn’t want to walk around with an erection on display. He held his jacket in front of his lap and thought about work instead. Next week would be his last week as Ozen’s assistant. He hoped the transition to him temping in different departments in the company would be smooth and painless.

Since it was the end of the day right before a weekend, the office was mostly empty by the time Avery left. The elevator wasn’t crowded for once, and he didn’t have to squish himself into it to get where he needed to go. He preferred the gold elevator when he could take it, since it was rarely crowded, but it only went from the top floor to the main floor. It didn’t stop along the way.

The legal floor was quiet and the reception desk empty when Avery approached. He’d never been on this floor before, and he wasn’t sure where Maverick’s office was until a gruff voice called out from the hallway on the right.

“Over here.”

Avery followed the sound to the office on the end, which was a corner office with a great view of the city and lots of natural light. It even had a doorway to the roof of the building next to it, which surprised Avery. Then he remembered what kind of shifter Maverick was. He probably flew to his destinations a lot. It would be tedious to have to go all the way downstairs and find a big enough space to shift every day.

“Mr. Van Buren? Mr. Hawksley asked me to bring this to you on my way out. Can I come in?”

After years of working with supernaturals, Avery knew better than to enter an office without express permission, even if Maverick called out to him. Shifters especially were territorial.

“Come in,” Maverick growled.

Avery crept into Maverick’s office, finally finding the dragon shifter in one corner next to a bookshelf, his face practically buried in a book. He wasn’t shrouded in smoke anymore, so that was a positive, and he barely paid any attention to Avery. Putting the file on his desk, Avery debated on if leaving quietly was polite so as not to interrupt him, or rude by not at least saying goodbye. He decided on the former, since Maverick hadn’t even looked in his direction yet, but before he could leave Maverick stopped him.

“Why did you change the contract?”

Avery froze, turning slowly to face the stoic dragon shifter. Maverick was finally looking his way, his unnaturally green eyes unblinking as he stared at Avery. Still incredibly intimidating. Fun. Avery spit out his answer in hopes of escaping sooner.

“It felt wrong to take advantage of him like that, like Ozen was being punished for needing to feed. If I was going to be working with him, I wanted things on more equal ground. He needed a few failsafes so he wouldn’t have a repeat incident.”

“Ozen?” Maverick quirked an eyebrow.

Avery’s face flushed. He only ever called his boss by his first name during a session. It was a slip of the tongue, and Avery felt like the dragon shifter was the last person he wanted to slip in front of.

“Ah, um… Sorry. I–”

“You like him,” Maverick commented. He’d said the same thing to Ozen earlier. It lacked any judgment, sounding more curious instead. Avery lifted a shoulder uneasily.

“I think he’s a good person. He works hard to make marginalized supernaturals feel equal in a world that wasn’t built for them. And he’s kind. He doesn't deserve to be taken advantage of.”

Something like approval flashed across Maverick’s face. It was gone in an instant but he dipped his chin to acknowledge Avery before turning back to his book. Since they already spoke, Avery felt awkward not saying goodbye, so he quickly mumbled, “Have a nice weekend,” before scurrying out the door.

He couldn’t be certain, but he might’ve heard Maverick reply with a simple, “You too.”