After Joseph had left, John and I got comfortable on the couch in his office. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I leaned against him with my legs resting on top of the cushions of the couch.
“He seems different now,” I said out loud about Joseph.
John was stroking my hair as I leaned against him. I could hear his heart beating against the side of his chest, as he exhaled deeply.
“He understands,” John said.
I looked up at him. “Understands?”
“We talked,” he admitted. “I told him I love you.” My mouth went dry suddenly. He told Joseph, he loves me? Telling Joseph was like a big deal. My heart was racing, beating so fast I thought it would pop out of my chest. Both excited and afraid of his admission.
“You did?” I waited as my lips quivered. His fingers stroked my hair caressing my face so loving it made me tremble.
“And that’s not all I told him. He knows you know who we are.”
Wait, what? I pulled away and sat up, gazing over at him.
My abrupt reaction startled John when I sat up. There was a magical wonder in his green eyes as he stared over. It wasn’t a look of surprise, and nothing that would seem he was concern, just consumed. Again, it was his eyes that revealed the truth about his feelings. The golden specks expanded in the center of his pupils whenever he looked or felt my touch. He didn’t care Joseph knew because he loved me, his eyes revealed. Why am I more concerned than he is?
“Are you sure that’s safe?” I asked.
John immediately reacted to my concern and came close. “I trust him. Joseph would never hurt you. Besides, he knows nothing about what you can do.”
“Then why not tell him that if you trust him?” I asked.
He seemed surprised by my question. He didn’t answer right away. It seemed to be a question he was struggling with it himself.
“I’m allowed some secrets, Miss Belle,” he said back. “But to answer your question, I wouldn’t want to put that kind of pressure on him.”
I didn’t understand, and he could see that.
“Joseph is devoted to me, yes, but he’s also loyal to a strict code. I can’t honestly say he would undermine it to keep you safe. He might to protect me, but I can’t fully trust him with that, yet, because of his devotion to the order.”
I guess that made sense. John knew him better than I did.
“How did he take it? You and I being together?” I asked. I wasn’t afraid. I trusted John because he was honest with me.
“He took it well. You saw him. That’s Joseph. You have to remember this is nothing new in our line of work, there are no surprises for us anymore. Joseph has seen a lot more than I have. He’s been around. He’s come to understand that I care a lot about you. Besides, he knows this is my first real relationship,” John said.
That left me a little speechless. And John noticed that as he took my hand into his. “For real?” I asked.
John chuckled. “You doubt me, Miss Belle?”
“No,” I whispered. “But …”
“But, what?” John asked. His eyes were sparkling once again, they were glowing and appearing more emerald as they often did when we touched.
When I reached to touch his cheek, his eyes sparkle, and the gold return. He held my hand onto his face, and the color began to expand, it was amazing how bright they became. I was hypnotized by their magical dance. Did he know what his eyes did?
“You think because I’m so well put together that I would have girls falling off my arms?” he very simply put it.
I huffed loudly and then pursued my lips. “Well, yeah.”
John laughed. “I might.”
I pulled away, but John didn’t let go. Instead, he pulled me back. I dropped on him.
“I’ve never been interested in anyone as much as I’m interested in you, Claudia. It’s only when I came across you that things changed. I’ve changed. Like I said, you awakened something in me. And I can’t put it away. I don’t want to.” He leaned closer.
“And Joseph knows this?” I asked.
“He does. He knows I love you. One thing you have to know about my guardian, Miss Belle, is that he is devoted to me, and he’ll do anything I tell him.” He grinned confidently. “And right now, he knows I want you and to spend every moment I have with you. He’ll do anything to make that happen.”
My face was burning, and I knew he could see that. This time the glow was a shade of red.
“Is that why he was taking notes—mental notes, I mean, during our little lunch? Does he normally do that?”
John laughed realizing what I was talking about. “He does. It’s his job to know what I like, what I need before I ask for it. He remembers names, knows things, so if I forget he can remind me. He watches my back.” That was devotion.
“Wow. That’s a lot of work it seems.”
John nodded. “It’s his job. I honestly don’t know how he does it. He’s not the only one that is trained in this manner. They all do it and have to be quick and responsive. There’s no room for failure, believe me.”
“They?” I asked.
“The guardians.”
“And what happens if they do? I mean, fail?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve never seen it. The guardians are matched quite well with their counterparts.”
“Does your boss have one? A Guardian?” Why did that manner, I guess I was a slight curious?
He grinned. “You ask so many questions.”
I felt my cheeks redden as I fidgeted with the collar of his shirt. “I want to know everything about you, John Slater. Where you came from, what it’s like where you lived, what you did before. And yes, even those around you. I’m just curious.”
I came closer, climbing on his lap, and felt his heart jump when I did. He exhaled and pulled me down to him, so he was sitting between my legs. I wrapped my arms around him and stroked his honey-brown locks.
He looked slightly weakened by this move of mine. John took a deep breath, trying to regain control of his thoughts and his sensations. I felt wicked watching him struggle, and cruel doing this, but I wanted to be close to him.
John laughed softly, a victim of my caress. “Fair enough. Yes, even Dr. Nicholson has a guardian, but he’s more of a bodyguard at this point … security detail.” He looked intoxicated by my touch, and tame in my arms.
“And he does all that Joseph does? I mean, like, the preparation, the mental notes?” I asked.
“Yes, and far more. Dr. Nicholson is quite a demanding individual. His title demands more preparations, more work … I can’t and don’t want to imagine poor Joseph in a position like that. But they’re bred for this sort of thing.”
“So, what does Joseph get in return?” I asked. John wrinkled his nose, his eyes were dancing in the gold hue again. “He must get something in return for all he does?” I urged. “Because it sounds like a lot from what you’ve described.” The glow in his eyes dimmed a slight when he blinked them back.
“Ah, a friendship and partnership for a lifetime,” he answered.
That’s it? It didn’t sound like much to someone normal, but it seemed like a lot in their line of work.
“So, he gets a family?” I said.
John’s eyes seemed to reflect a sudden realization he had neglected to see before. “Yes …” he slowly answered. “I guess you’re right. He does. And, in a way, so do I.”
John glanced down at his watch and took a breath.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“I guess it’s my turn to head to the restroom. I better go now. What time did Michael say we should be expecting your uncle?”
“I’m not sure. I can call him and ask him?”
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” he said, quickly kissing my head, I climbed off his lap and dropped alongside him as he rose from the couch. An action I could tell he didn’t want me to do.
He turned to smile at me and walked out of the office.