Free Heart Ache (Bound by a Touch Novels #1) by Morgan Kearns Page A

and Niko jumped at him.
    “ No! ” He took a breath. “Leave it open,” he tacked on quietly. “Please.”
    Good hell! He was going to lose his freakin’ mind!
    Vincent let go of the door and walked over to sit in one of the chairs in front of the desk. “I’d like to speak with you, and I think it would be better—”
    “ Shh!” Niko rushed toward the door and flattened himself against the wall. Voices in her office caused every muscle in his body to tighten. His surprise had arrived.
    “ I’m Gabby Ryan.” A shuffling sound. “Oh, they’re beautiful.”
    “ No, the tip has been taken care of,” the deliveryman told her and the outside door closed.
    His heart rate increased to an almost violent rate as excitement and anticipation consumed him. He watched as Vincent gathered the shadows, concealing himself. He assumed his friend had slipped through the gap in the door to gain a ring-side seat to the scene unfolding in her office.
    Through the crack in the door, Niko could see the vase where she’d set it on the desk. Her fingers plucked the card from amongst the petals. He heard a wistful sigh and he smiled. At any moment she would rush through the door and into his arms. He took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart and started toward his desk.
    “ Jayson,” she squealed.
    He stopped midstep. What the hell?
    “ Thank you so much. They’re beautiful.”
    Nikolai stretched his senses to be able to hear the human’s answer. There was only a split second of “Huh? What?” before he responded, “I’m glad you love them. Did they get the card right?”
    “ You are my everything,” she said reverently.
    “ My everything.” Niko prowled from one end of the office to the other. His hands fisted. His teeth ground together.
    “ Wow, he’s good.” Vincent’s voice appeared before he released his hold on the shadows and became corporeal.
    Niko whipped around and narrowed his eyes. “Those are my flowers.”
    He felt his eyes flash from black to silver as his rage took over. He couldn’t stop his reactions though. He ran a hand through his hair and tugged before slamming his fists into his thighs. “How dare that stupid man take credit for my flowers.”
    “ He is playing the game, my friend. Speaking of which, I—” Vincent stopped just as Gabby headed toward them.
    She knocked her knuckles lightly on the jamb. “Niko, it’s 5:45 and—”
    Niko cut her off with a waved dismissal. His hand shook and he shoved it into his pocket.
    “ Go. It’s fine. I’ll see you later.” His tone was just shy of irate and he hated himself for striking out at her. He wasn’t angry at her, but she certainly played a part in his current mood.
    He’d expected for her to know the flowers were from him. He’d anticipated the look of love on her face as she raced into his office and launched herself into his waiting arms, covering his face with kisses of gratitude.
    He clamped his teeth together so tightly his jaw hurt. Jayson had a big set, no doubt about that. To actually claim flowers he didn’t send … Niko shook his head.
    “ I can stay—”
    “ Go.” He was about to get violent.
    “ If you’re sure.” Her voice cracked a bit.
    “ Goodnight Gabrielle.”
    Her eyes betrayed the hurt of his dismissal but he couldn’t bring himself to apologize. He couldn’t even look at her. He went around his desk and sat, opening a file. He could feel her eyes searching his body language for what had set him off. He was afraid he’d yell at her if he opened his mouth. Or worse, he’d take her in his arms and never let her go.
    He didn’t want to become his father. He didn’t want to run the risk of his son hating him. But sometimes he wondered if he’d have another choice.
    She huffed a heartbreaking sigh and muttered, “Goodnight, Vincent,” on her way out.
    Seconds later the outer door closed lightly and the pounding of his heart slowed—
    Thump-thump.
    Thump … thump.
    Thump…
    — Until it