Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Rule Number 5- A feeder should maintain calm poise in stressful situations.

Something was wrong with Mr. Hawksley. During the first week working with him, he was kind and patient. The second week, he was professional, if a little curt at times. He was never unkind to Avery, just sometimes a little distant. Which, after what happened on his first day, Avery wasn’t surprised about. So when he arrived at work the following Monday and Mr. Hawksley was so frustrated that steam was practically coming from his ears, Avery was taken off guard. In all the prepared material Mrs. Sable had left him regarding his job, none of it covered what would put the incubus in such a foul mood.

Everyone on the floor seemed to notice, despite the soundproofing in Mr. Hawksley’s office. There was a layer of tension in the office, and through the glass separating his desk from the rest of the floor, Avery noticed dozens of apprehensive glances in the direction of Mr. Hawklsey’s office. When one of the secretaries from the pool stopped by to give Avery a report from finance, she practically bolted from the room the second Avery took the file. To Avery’s knowledge, arachne didn’t spook easily.

By the time lunch rolled around, Avery’s concern was too much to bear. He didn’t feel like it was a smart idea to ask Mr. Hawksley directly, but after stopping by for a meeting the week prior, Mr. Cunningham told Avery to call if he had any questions. At the moment, he had plenty.

Avery wasn’t familiar with every direct line in the building, so instead he called down to the switchboard. Mrs. Sable had introduced Avery to the friendly kraken who worked in the basement (with a company provided salt pool to soak in during work hours) and the kraken said Avery could use his expertise instead of memorizing numbers. He answered on the first ring, his voice chipper and perky.

“Spellbound Corps, how may I direct your call?”

“Hello, Alvin. It’s Avery, Mr. Hawksley’s assistant.” Technically, he could just tell Alvin where he wanted to be transferred, but it felt rude not to acknowledge the kraken.

“Oh! Hello, Avery. How are things going up there? I heard rumors that the boss is in a foul mood.”

So the rumors were so wide spread to reach Alvin? That didn’t seem good.

“Yes, that’s what I’m trying to handle. I don’t know him that well, though, so I was hoping you could connect me to Mr. Cunningham’s office?”

“Definitely. They’ve been best friends for years. Taron is the quickest insight into Mr. Hawklsey’s moods. Let me transfer you. And be careful, okay? You’re only human.”

A plastic smile pulled at Avery’s lips. “Thanks for worrying about me. I’ll be careful. Have a good day, Alvin.”

Alvin was only being kind, but the reminder that Avery was only human and seen as weak amongst Supes dug a little. Avery was perfectly capable of handling himself around Mr. Hawksley, thank you very much. He’d survived feeding him, didn’t he?

The phone rang twice after Alvin transferred him, and when Mr. Cunningham answered, he sounded harried.

“Cunningham,” he answered quickly.

“Hello, Mr. Cunningham. This is Avery, Mr. Hawksley’s assistant. I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time to ask a question.”

Mr. Cunningham hummed, sounding distracted as he replied, “For a moment, sure. But I’ve got a meeting in ten.”

“That’s fine. This shouldn’t take long,” Avery reassured him, rushing to ask his question and stop bothering the man. “I’m worried about Mr. Hawksley. He’s been… difficult this morning, which seems like a complete one-eighty from last week. I was wondering if you had any insight on how I can make his day better?”

“When was the last time he fed?”

Avery blinked. “Oh, um… I’m not sure.”

While he wasn’t actively avoiding Mr. Hawksley’s feeder, he tried his best not to interact with the man. He was worried the feeder would be able to see the jealousy on Avery’s face. He had actually been pleased that he hadn’t run into him today.

“If he’s hungry, he’s a real bear. Call his feeder. If that doesn’t work, you can call me back after my meeting and I’ll come check on him myself.”

Well, shoot. So much for not having to interact with the feeder. “Thank you, Mr. Cunningham. I really appreciate your help.”

“Please, call me Taron. Only people who want money call me Mr. Cunningham.”

Avery bit back a laugh. First world problems. “Taron, then. I can make my own money.”

Taron laughed, some of the tension in his voice fading away. “My meeting should be over in an hour. Let me know how it goes.”

“I will. Thanks again.”

After Taron hung up, Avery summoned the will to call the feeder, but as he picked up the phone on his desk, he realized he didn't have the number. He hadn’t thought he’d need it. And he doubted Alvin had it. That meant he’d have to talk to Mr. Hawksley about it. Which kind of defeated the purpose of calling Taron.

He contemplated leaving it be, everyone was allowed to have a bad day, but Taron said Mr. Hawksley’s mood might be because he was hungry. If that was the case, it felt cruel to ignore the issue. Drawing in a deep breath, Avery pushed to his feet and crossed to Mr. Hawksley’s door, knocking quietly.

“Enter,” Mr. Hawksley snapped.

When Avery poked his head in, he almost flinched. Mr. Hawksley looked… feral. He had a dark scowl pulling at his lips and his red eyes almost glowed. He said he was hungry when Avery accidentally stepped in to feed him his first day, but he didn’t look nearly this bad.

“Mr. Hawksley? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Avery didn’t believe him, even if Mr. Hawksley had managed to get the reply out without gritting his teeth. Avery edged closer, growing more concerned the closer he got. It almost looked like Mr. Hawksley was in pain. His grip on his pen was so tight, his knuckles were white, and his lip twitched like he was fighting a scowl. This wasn’t the cool, collected CEO Avery had met during his first week. Something was definitely wrong.

“I can call your feeder for you, if you’re too busy. I–”

The snarl that left Mr. Hawksley’s throat wasn’t human in the slightest. The hair on the back of Avery’s neck stood on end, and for a moment, he worried for his safety. But the longer he stood in front of Mr. Hawksley, the more he noticed how poorly he was doing. The whites around his eyes, the heavy breathing. He was close to panic.

“Mr. Hawksley?”

“He won’t pick up. He hasn’t for over a week. I can’t–” He grimaced, curling in on himself. “It doesn’t matter. I’m fine.”

No, he really wasn’t. And if his feeder hadn’t answered his phone in a week, that meant Mr. Hawksley hadn’t fed for at least that long, maybe longer. Avery last saw the feeder Wednesday during his first week. That was almost two weeks ago. How long could incubi go without feeding?

“Is there someone else I can call? A backup maybe?” Avery stepped closer, rounding the desk to at least offer some comfort.

“No!” Mr. Hawksley pushed his chair away, the panic doubled, and Avery froze where he stood. “I can handle this myself. Y-You need to leave, Avery. I–” He doubled over again, practically bent in half in his chair. Avery couldn’t leave him now, not when he was starving like this. He searched his mind for someone to call, some way to help, but only one idea came to mind.

“Use me.”

Mr. Hawksley’s head jerked up, his eyes wide and his breathing shallow. “What?”

“Use me. I’ve fed you before. I don’t mind doing it again. You’re starving, Mr. Hawksley. We can’t wait around to find your feeder. It’s hurting you.”

The noise that came from Mr. Hawksley’s throat almost sounded like a whimper. He looked tempted, he even loosened his grip on his middle, but then he shook his head sharply.

“No. I can’t. We have a contract. Exclusivity is part of it.”

“Your contract is void if he can’t be trusted to show up to feed you,” Avery argued. “Please. Let me help you.”

He didn’t have time to blink before he was shoved against the wall, Mr. Hawksley pinning him there with his knee between Avery’s thighs. A heavy wave of lust slammed into him so intense that he almost came instantly. He moaned loudly, his head hitting the wall as he threw it back in pleasure.

He’d thought it’d be a lot like before. Mr. Hawksley would touch him and the feeding would happen slowly. But Mr. Hawksley was too far gone to go slow. He had Avery’s pants undone and his erection out in less than a breath, his grip rough as he stroked him. Avery could only hold on to Mr. Hawksley’s arms, his moans the only sound in the office. When he forced his chin down, he took in Mr. Hawksley’s face. His eyes were so red, they almost looked like blood. The long fangs weren’t present in Avery’s day-to-day interactions with his boss, and they made him shiver to look at. But it was the desperation that tugged at Avery’s heart.

“I need–” Mr. Hawksley grimaced. “I need you to come.”

“T-Touch me. M-My hole.” If he’d had time to be embarrassed, he’d be blushing furiously, admitting to something like that. But it was too fast, too intense. Mr. Hawksley shoved his free hand down the back of Avery’s pants, his fingers already slippery, though Avery had never seen him grab lube. A quick pulse of magic made him gasp, and then Mr. Hawksley’s finger shoved inside, going straight for that spot that made him see stars. That’s all it took to send Avery over the edge, his voice hoarse from his cries of pleasure.

Avery’s eyes shut of their own volition, the pleasure too much to bear. He heard Mr. Hawksley groan, felt him lean against Avery’s front, but he was so blown away, he couldn’t do much more than try and catch his breath.