Seeking Refuge

[Nox]

His shower was fast, though he could have remained in the hot steaming water, he didn't. He had food and company and Lily was starting to get antsy, he could feel it as if they were connected but they weren't. It was just the sound of the bouncer and her squirming.

Hayden leaned over the counter with his elbows and he stared off into space. He was lost in thought but when Nox stepped into his peripherial he turned and stood looking at Nox. He smiled "Half expected you to come out here in your towel alone."

Nox grinned though he knew Hayden would notice the lack of emotion in it. "If it were just you I might have. But there is company here." Ara was pushing her chair back and rushing towards him putting her arms around his legs.

"You're back." Nox picked the kid up with his mechanical arm and she never even flinched. She didn't know the difference but he felt the weight in his fingers, the texture of her tiny jeans as he lifted her to his hip. She ticked Lily's chin and the baby giggled. Biologically sisters. Nox wondered which of the sisters were full sisters and which were half, not that it mattered, but it would be good to know whether Ava or Isabel or another baby mule who had passed into the darkness of her captivity had been the mother to the girls. But it didn't matter -- not really.

"Ara, let Nox eat."

"Okay." Ara kissed Nox on the cheek and she was squirming down the side of his body and climbing back into her chair to finish her food.

Nox sat down across from Hayden in front of a plate. "they went to check on Emily's sister?"

Hayden nodded. "They did. They'll be back up, Jared is hungry too." Hayden looked down towards the stairs to see if they were coming and then turned back to Nox leaning in conspiratorially. "You good. This is the second kill of a human in about as many days Nox."

Nox shrugged. "Andersen was hunting family and so was Pirozzi. I don't know how I'm gonna look Alex in the eyes knowing both her father and brother are dead and I know what happened to them."

"You see her often?"

"Not really. guess it doesn't really matter. I have to work tonight"

Hayden chuckled. He knew that. Everyone could look up Nox's schedule Sky had full access to his calendar. "I know."

"And you'll still stay? Knowing I won't be home till late?"

"Liam and I will take turns watching Lily, give Liv a break. I think you should hire Marta to help out too. She's looking for money. And she handles Lily best when the girls aren't around. Liv needs a different job than caring for the kids."

"Second Chances could use an Executive Assistant. We could teach her along the way. I'm sure Ana would love to have some help. I'll ask her."

Hayden walked around the counter and pressed a soft kiss to his lips which left them both a little wanting. "We have a lot to talk about."

Nox laughed. "You mean you have a lot to get off your chest and you want me to make it go away."

Hayden rolled his eyes. "Fine, yes I need to get it off my chest. We'll talk..." Hayden drew out the word and let the sentence kinda linger for a while while he stared into Nox's eyes. "among other things."

Nox nodded. "You know I meant I'd own you a favor right?"

Hayden chuckled and leaned in to whipsered in Nox's ear. "You aren't a whore, and neither am I. We don't swap sex for trade, just favors. The sex is just icing on the cake." His voice was low and triggered a deep level of desire and feelings in Nox. Hayden nipped at his neck and then went to sit on the couch with Liam. They whispered amongst each other and Nox was wishing he could draw on the power and eavesdrops he knew it was about him.