Reynaud's Redemption, стр. 16
Silenced, Joe staggered backward. Reynaud advanced, throwing four consecutive jabs, hitting both sides of the man’s face. He held his hands higher to balance himself then kicked Joe in the gut. Joe collapsed to the floor, grunting painfully. He rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself unsteadily to his hands and knees, breathing hard. Blood flowed from Joe’s mouth and nose, pooling in front of him. Reynaud stepped forward again, but Joe held his hand up to stop him.
“Hold up,” he pleaded. “Wait a minute, man. We don’t gotta do this,” he panted out.
“You’re right, we don’t. All you have to do is leave and never come back,” Reynaud told him, then he turned to Cameron. Concern, fear and relief all played across his love’s handsome features. Reynaud offered him a comforting smile. “Go call the police, Cameron.”
Cameron hesitated, but Reynaud gestured toward the door with a nod, urging him on.
“I’m fine, baby. Go ahead.”
Finally, Cameron nodded, but before he could move, a wild expression appeared in his eyes and his jaw dropped. Reynaud caught a gleam in his peripheral vision and spun on reflex. He reached out, catching Joe’s wrist in motion before he could strike, knocking the knife from his hand. Reynaud slammed his elbow back as hard as he could into Joe’s chest. Gripping the guy’s upper arm, Reynaud threw Joe over his shoulder, where he landed hard on his back with a loud yelp.
“Go,” Reynaud screamed.
Cameron jumped to his feet and disappeared through the door. Reynaud grabbed Joe by the arm, returning him to his stomach. He continued twisting the limb. When he heard the bone snap, Joe howled in pain, and Reynaud leaned down to whisper near his opponent’s ear.
“I’m going to give you over to the authorities because it is the right thing to do, but be warned. Cameron is with me now. You will never hurt him again. I will protect him and love him for as long as he will allow me to. If the police happen to release you and you have the gall to return, I will kill you. Make no mistake about it. Is that clear?”
Joe’s agonized cries garbled his words. Reynaud pushed his injured extremity into his back forcing another shout of pain from him.
“I didn’t catch that, Joe.”
“Yes, dammit! I said yes. I understand.”
“Good, now let’s go.”
Reynaud yanked Joe to his feet and shoved him toward the door. It wasn’t long before the loud sirens of the police cars could be heard. When Reynaud and Joe appeared in the main room of the restaurant, Cameron was there with two officers. One walked over, taking custody of Joe, while the other remained with Cameron. Reynaud sat in a nearby chair to wait. When the policeman finished questioning Cameron, the officer then made his way to Reynaud. An hour later and finally alone, he and Cameron stood before each other in the dining room.
“I’m so sorry this happened,” Cameron said, averting his eyes.
Reynaud turned Cameron’s chin so he could see his face. “I’m not. This confrontation was destiny. I am truly free now.”
“You saved my life. How can I ever repay you?”
Reynaud pulled Cameron into his embrace. “You don’t have to.”
Cameron slipped his arms around Reynaud’s waist. Reynaud rested his head on top of Cameron’s silky blond strands, and Cameron sighed against his shoulder.
“I love you, Reynaud.”
He knew Cameron did indeed love him. Though he never said the words aloud, his behavior spoke them clearly. Hearing them, however, melted Reynaud’s heart. Suddenly Reynaud’s body grew warm as though he stood in the midday heat. A tingly sensation infused him from the inside out. His cock was suddenly hard, bobbing against Cameron’s body. The feeling soared through him, electrifying his senses, heightening his awareness, awakening his soul. He took in a breath then exhaled. Full restoration of his magic had occurred. Elation saturated his being. Reynaud smiled and held Cameron closer.
“And I love you.”
Chapter Five
Reynaud reached inside the trunk of the SUV and gripped another box. He and Cameron had been unloading material for the last half hour. They had been crisscrossing each other, moving quickly and hardly speaking. He was glad they were almost done.
“I can’t believe it’s been a year already,” he said with a chuckle.
He carried the box into the restaurant. Cameron appeared beside him as he entered the kitchen.
“Do you mean for us or the restaurant?”
Reynaud thought he’d heard an uncharacteristic edge in Cameron’s voice. After stacking the carton on top of another near the dishwasher, he turned a raised brow to his partner. “What is that supposed to mean?”
Cameron lowered his own box to the nearby prep table behind them. “Nothing, really. I was just wondering how long we were going to pretend that nothing is bothering you.”
“Baby, we’ve had this conversation. There’s nothing—”
“Please don’t patronize me, Rey. I may be one hundred plus years younger than you, but I am not stupid.”
Reynaud noticed the change in his lover’s voice when he’d cut him off. Cameron’s frustration was almost palpable.
“It’s been about six months since you got your magic back and you’ve been…different ever since. Although you’re with me, it’s like you’re not.”
Cameron’s words pierced his heart. The last thing Reynaud wanted to do was hurt him or push him away. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to tell Cameron what bothered him. Just going over