Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

Ozen didn’t think it was possible for his new feeder to be worse than the last, but apparently, he was wrong. Calvin hadn’t even needed to feed him yet, thanks to Avery’s assistance three days ago, but he was already on Ozen’s last nerve.

“But why?”

“I told you I’m busy. I’m not here for your entertainment,” Ozen snapped. Maybe Ozen should consider going to those incubi clubs to feed. There was no contract involved and a little more risk, but his interactions with feeders would be short and to the point.

“Why are you punishing me? You haven’t even touched me yet!” Calvin complained.

Ozen had explained the first day that he’d fed before Calvin’s arrival and wouldn’t need him for a few days. Granted, he was getting hungry now, but the idea of feeding from Calvin was almost abhorrent. There was only one person he wanted to feed from, and it was the one person he couldn’t have.

Like he was summoned from Ozen’s wayward thoughts, a gentle knock at Ozen’s office door preceded Avery’s arrival. He was the picture of professionalism, taking up the reins of Collette’s duties with grace and efficiency. He couldn’t ask for a better assistant, aside from Collette herself. There was a strong possibility that the only reason he considered Collette better was because Ozen had zero interest in feeding from her. Meanwhile, Avery was a distraction he didn’t want but needed all the same.

“Mr. Hawklsey, the documents you were waiting for have arrived. And I moved your meeting with the Crescent Coven to next week. Apparently, there’s a ritual happening this week and they’ve gotten overwhelmed with preparations.”

See? There wasn’t a better assistant than Avery. Which made it so much harder when Avery stepped up to his desk to hand him the documents and his scent teased at Ozen’s senses. Ozen had no response when Calvin came close, but Avery merely had to look in his direction and he was salivating like an idiot.

Giving himself a firm shake internally, he banished the overwhelming need from his system, gesturing to the inbox on his desk. He got it specifically so he wouldn’t accidentally touch Avery. It made everything worse if he did.

“Thank you, Avery. Have you been settling in alright?”

Avery bobbed his head, bouncing on his toes on the other side of Ozen’s desk. Ozen noticed early on that Avery almost never stopped moving. If he didn’t have a task to do, he’d seek one out. Taron said the secretaries already loved him, despite a few having issues with humans. Apparently, Avery didn’t count.

“Yes, sir. I’m doing fine. Can I get you anything else?”

The urge to make up some reason to keep Avery close sat on the edge of Ozen’s tongue. He bit down on it to keep himself from saying anything he’d regret, answering Avery with a quick shake of his head.

“Alright. I’ll be at my desk if you need me.”

After the door shut quietly behind Avery, Calvin’s scoff drew Ozen’s attention. He was sitting on the sofa, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared in the direction of Avery’s desk.

“What now?”

Calvin’s scowl grew and Ozen regretted acknowledging him immediately. In his experience, acknowledging a fussy feeder would only bring drama he wasn’t interested in dealing with.

“Your assistant is the worst. I’m glad he’s only a temp.”

That surprised him enough to ask, “Why?” like a complete fool.

Calvin seized the attention he was giving him, spinning around and gesturing with his arms as he ranted. “He’s a pretentious asshole! He doesn’t even acknowledge my existence! He’s always falling over himself to make you happy, but he can’t even be bothered to bring me a drink? It’s a stupid elevator ride! It’s not that far!”

Ozen resisted the urge to roll his eyes, but only just. “Avery is not here for you. His job is to assist me. If he was away from his desk every time you whined for something, he wouldn’t be able to do his job effectively. You are perfectly capable of getting your own beverages.”

Petulant feeders were worse than needy ones. Ozen knew he’d pay for pointing out the flaws in Calvin’s logic, but he wasn’t going to listen to the brat disparage Avery. Avery was accommodating, and when he brought in snacks and drinks, there was always a cup for Calvin. But Avery wasn’t going to go out of his way to fulfill Calvin’s every whim. Calvin wasn’t satisfied with the coffee from the break room. He wanted something special from the shop on the first floor and demanded more than once for Avery to bring it to him. That wasn’t his job, and Ozen wouldn’t allow it even if Avery offered. He was needed here doing his work more than he needed to serve Calvin.

“I’m your feeder,” Calvin pointed out with a pout. “Shouldn’t I be treated better than a ghost?”

No. Ghosts were quite useful, especially in testing spells. There was no risk of death involved, which helped during some of the more volatile experiments. Ozen knew better than to say that out loud though.

“You are well paid and offered plenty of luxuries to fulfill your role. My assistant isn’t one of them. I’m not interested in discussing this further. I have work to do.”

With a huff, Calvin launched to his feet and stormed out, slamming Ozen’s door so hard, the framed picture next to it crashed to the floor. Ozen sighed heavily, rubbing his fingers against his temples. For a moment, when someone knocked cautiously at his door, he worried it was Calvin coming back to apologize and pout some more. He was grateful when Avery stuck his head in, frowning at the broken frame before turning to face Ozen.

“Is everything alright?”

He closed his eyes, blocking out Avery’s hypnotic gaze and the seductive sway of his hips when he came fully into the room. He was sure Avery didn’t do the action consciously, which made it that much more difficult to watch. If he thought for a moment that Avery was interested in being his feeder, he’d jump at the chance. But Avery was professional as always and gave him no indication that he wanted a repeat of before. Besides, he’d already signed a contract with Calvin.

Instead of answering the question, Ozen instead asked, “Has Taron chosen the restaurant for our lunch this afternoon?”

“Yes, sir. Yoshida’s at noon.”

Every time Avery called him sir, a shiver shot up Ozen’s spine. He contemplated for the hundredth time asking Avery to stop, but he couldn’t deny himself the small thrill of such a simple word. Avery didn’t mean it like Ozen wanted, but it didn’t hurt anyone to let him pretend.

“Thank you. I’ll be joining him directly after my meeting. Feel free to take a long lunch. You’ve more than earned it.”

A bright smile lit up Avery’s face, making Ozen’s conviction falter for a moment. There was something wrong with him. There had to be. There was no other explanation over why he was so obsessed with this one human. The feeding hadn’t even lasted that long, no more than ten minutes. It didn’t make any sense.

“I appreciate that, Mr. Hawksley. I brought my lunch today, but I’ve got some personal things I can get done from my desk.”

Always so pragmatic, his new assistant. Ozen was curious about what he had to do, but he pushed the curiosity aside, gathering his phone and wallet before standing to head to his meeting. Avery rushed ahead of him, grabbing his coat from the rack and holding it out for him. The weather had just begun to turn, so he didn't need the layers most days, but today was dreary and he appreciated Avery’s thoughtfulness.

“Oh, it started drizzling earlier. Do you need an umbrella?”

Ozen shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. My driver will have one. Enjoy your lunch, Avery.”

“You too, Mr. Hawksley!” he called after him, a friendly smile on his face.

Only once Ozen arrived at the restaurant did he realize he probably should’ve fed before he left. Regular food did its job, but the nagging to feed his magic would distract him from his work if he left it too long. He pulled out his phone while following the host to his table, sending a quick text to Calvin to meet him in his office after lunch. He wasn’t Avery, but Ozen needed to eat. He couldn’t let it go on as long as he had before.

Taron was late but appropriately apologetic, dropping into his seat in a rush. “Sorry, sorry. My meeting with the research team went long. They’re trying to avoid bringing a thunderbird in for consultation because of all the regulations with them. I told them that’s stupid. We can’t help the thunderbirds unless we’re working with one to understand their magic better.”

“Talk to Maverick. He’s not afraid of a little red tape. And I believe he’s friends with a thunderbird. He mentioned something at the charity event last month.”

After that conversation, they steered away from work. It was important for the both of them to have time where they weren’t focused on work or they’d end up workaholics. Ozen was worse than Taron was, because Taron at least took vacations, but these twice weekly lunches were a step in the right direction.

They were just finishing up when Taron asked about Avery again. “Have you talked to your assistant about your obsession with him?”

“I don’t have an obsession,” Ozen snapped.

“Touchy, touchy,” he teased. “Oh, hey, look. Avery chose the same restaurant as us.”

Ozen’s head whipped around too fast to hide the fact that he might, maybe, have an obsession. He scanned the restaurant hopefully before realizing Taron was screwing with him to prove his point.

“I truly dislike you.”

He snorted, his eyes dancing with mischief. “No you don’t. You’re just grumpy because the object of your obsession isn’t here.”

“For that trick, you get to pay for lunch,” Ozen growled, tossing his napkin onto the table more roughly than he’d intended. It was smart to feed after this. He had the tendency to get grouchy when the nagging hunger got too insistent. And maybe if he fed from Calvin, the obsession with Avery would fade.

“Oh come on, don’t be that way,” Taron cajoled, handing the waiter his card as he passed. “I’m just trying to help. You haven’t even looked at your new feeder, but whenever Avery is in the room, you can’t look away. There’s nothing saying you can’t ask–”

“There is!” Ozen argued. “He’s my assistant! I had extremely low expectations on Collette’s replacement, but Avery has gone above and beyond to take care of my needs, sometimes before I realize I need something. I can’t risk losing him, at least not before Collette returns. Besides, I have a feeder already, so please, drop the subject.”

Taron put his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll let it go. For now.”

Ozen’s frustrated groan only made Taron laugh.