A Haunted Love - 9. Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Hideki froze, the feel of Kazuma’s warmth surrounding him overwhelmed his senses. Kazuma started to move away. Hideki brought his arms up, holding on to Kazuma to keep him in place. He took in a deep breath, filled up with Kazuma’s scent…gods, he’d missed him.

“Don’t leave me again,” Hideki said, his voice muffled in Kazuma’s shoulder.

“Hyde.”

“I can’t—,” Hideki broke off. “You can’t leave me.”

Kazuma sighed against his neck, his breath sending thrills through him. Hideki clung to Kazuma.

“I’m here,” Kazuma whispered in his ear.

Hideki closed his eyes.

Kazuma pulled back and kissed him, and a joyful moan escaped. He felt starved for Kazuma’s taste, pressing closer, his arms locking around Kazuma’s neck, they kissed with ravenous delight. They held each other as though they didn’t have enough time in the world.

“I missed you,” Hideki said a while later.

Kazuma smiled at the soft confession.

“I want you to come back.” Hideki met Kazuma’s dark gaze, hopeful.

His fingers bunched the front of Kazuma’s shirt, when Kazuma winced.

“Hyde,” Kazuma started.

“Don’t say no,” Hideki said.

He was afraid Kazuma would reject his attempts to get him back to the estate. If only his father had handled Kazuma’s past better. This wouldn’t be so hard.

“I—

“I want the same thing, Hyde,” Kazuma cut in before he could continue. “I want to sleep next to you, wake up to you, but we have to be realistic.”

Hideki forced his fingers to release Kazuma’s shirt. Smoothing the soft fabric, he swallowed down his disappointment.

“I—,” Hideki choked on his words.

Was this how Haru felt with him? This desperate need to have Kazuma’s attention, have him close, hold him…it hurt to think Kazuma didn’t want to be with him.

Kazuma kissed him, pulling him out of his thoughts.

“I hate being away from you,” Kazuma said, when he ended their kiss. “There is nothing I want more than to stay with you, but I want to do it without obligation. I want us to be on equal grounds.”

“We are,” Hideki protested.

“We are not.”

Holding Kazuma’s gaze, Hideki tried not to panic. There was love in Kazuma’s eyes, amid the shadows of doubt.

“We need to find out who is trying to kidnap you. I joined the investigating team working your case.” Kazuma stroked Hideki’s chin with his thumb. “I can’t be in charge of your safety, Hyde. I’m going to entrust you to Rui.”

“He’s like a robot,” Hideki burst out in frustration. “He doesn’t understand me.”

Kazuma chuckled.

“You’re not giving him a chance. He’s very good at his job.”

“Will I get to see you?” Hideki asked.

Kazuma nodded.

“I have to make peace with your father first.”

Hideki sighed.

“You’re breaking your own rule.”

“What rule?”

“You told me never to walk away from you.” Hideki held Kazuma’s gaze. “Now you’re walking away from me.”

“I’m not walking away from you.”

“You even told Rui about the coin you gave me.” Hideki reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the silver chain. “I pressed it the other day…”

Kazuma stared at the coin on Hideki’s palm. He took the coin and put it in Hideki’s pocket.

“Keep it on you.”

“Sir,” Rui interrupted them from the terrace doors.

Hideki tensed and started to step away from Kazuma.

“Give us a moment,” Kazuma said, meeting Rui’s keen gaze.

“Riku-san is waiting.”

“I understand, one minute,” Kazuma insisted.

Rui stepped back into the house, closing the terrace doors but he didn’t walk away.

No doubt keeping his charge in sight, Kazuma sighed.

“Are you coming back with me?” Hideki asked again.

Hideki sighed when he didn’t respond.

“My father is stubborn, but I will convince him to let you come back.”

“Don’t,” Kazuma said. “I want to stay on the investigation team.”

“Kazu,” Hideki started.

“I want to come back on equal grounds.”

“That again,” Hideki said. “Don’t you want to be with me?”

Kazuma kissed Hideki then, not caring that Rui was watching them: a demanding, wanton kiss designed to obliterate Hideki’s doubt. Hideki clung to his shoulders, moaning a protest when Kazuma ended their kiss.

“Don’t ever have doubts,” Kazuma said, his voice a whisper. “I want you, Hideki.”

“Then why?”

“I want to keep you safe too,” Kazuma said. “When I come back, both of us will be sure it’s what we want.”

“I’m sure,” Hideki said. “I even settled things with Haru.”

Kazuma couldn’t help the smile. A small part of him was still jealous of Haru. He was glad to know Hideki had made a stand with the brat.

“Good,” Kazuma said and frowned when Rui knocked on the window. “You have to go.”

“No, I don’t,” Hideki said, wrapping his arms around Kazuma’s waist. “Can’t I stay with you. We can escape to your place.”

“It’s dangerous for you,” Kazuma closed his eyes, fighting the urge to give in.

Having Hideki in his arms was so tempting.

Rui opened the terrace doors.

“Riku-san insists on your presence, Sir,” Rui said.

Hideki growled into Kazuma’s chest and stepped back.

“See, he’s no fun,” Hideki complained. “Kazu.”

Kazuma smiled. “I’m here.”

“Answer my calls,” Hideki said.

Kazuma watched Hideki turn and enter the house, a small smile teasing his lips.

***

Hideki caught glimpses of Kazuma, never quite seeing him, only his profile. He half listened to the discussion his father was having with the host of the party, Kenichi.

“Hideki,” Riku touched his shoulder, drawing his attention back. “Who are you looking for?”

“No one,” Hideki said, clearing his throat.

“Kenichi-san wants his people to meet your sales team tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Hideki said, he’d need to ask his father what product Kenichi wanted.

“You look distracted,” Riku said, once they were alone again.

“Have you changed your mind about Kazuma?”

“Here?” Riku asked, looking around the busy room.

“It’s important to me,” Hideki said, “more important than business.”

“Hideki.”

“I don’t complain when you drag me to these parties. I don’t fight you when you insist on locking me down at home. Or refuse me to meet my mother.”

“Instead, you choose to fight over a bodyguard.”

“I’ve told you he’s important to me.”

“More than Haru and Jin?” Riku asked, holding his gaze.

Hideki hesitated, thinking about his fight with Haru. Knowing Kazuma had forced him to take a stand with Haru.

“Yes, more important than them.”

Hideki looked away, and finally saw Kazuma standing by the doors watching them. Riku followed his gaze.

“I’m not saying no because I don’t like him,” Riku said. “Kazuma is quite competent.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I would have listened had Kazuma decided to argue my judgment and given me assurances,” Riku said.

Hideki dragged his gaze away from Kazuma to look at his father.

“What?”

“Your bodyguard needs confidence,” Riku said, still watching Kazuma. “It doesn’t matter how many times you tell me he’s good. If he doesn’t believe it, I can’t trust him.”

“Father,” Hideki said in surprise.

Riku smiled at him.

“You’re also the most important to me, Hideki.”

Hideki chuckled and looked at Kazuma.

“Will you let him visit at least?”

Riku studied him for a moment, and then nodded.

“Sure, I don’t see why not.”

“Thanks,” Hideki said.

Riku started to walk away and then paused.

“Kenichi-san wants the outdoor jackets you modeled for his shopping malls. Can you manage to remember that?”

Hideki grinned. “I’ll text my team right now.”

“Good idea,” Riku winked.

The party ended at around eleven o’clock. Hideki didn’t get a chance to talk to Kazuma as Rui hurried him into the waiting vehicles fast. Scowling at his bodyguard, Hideki sat in the back seat holding his cell phone. It was late. Kazuma was probably headed home too.

Hideki sighed, disappointed.

Then his phone beeped a message. Checking his Line account, Hideki smiled when he saw Kazuma’s message.

‘Make sure you go straight to bed. You looked tired.’

Hideki smiled and answered: ‘Don’t refuse to answer my calls.’

‘You haven’t called me yet.’

Hideki grinned.

‘Did you eat?’

Kazuma replied: ‘Yes, though it wasn’t as good as Aoki’s.’

‘Come for breakfast in the morning.’

‘Should I?’

‘Don’t refuse.’

Hideki waited for Kazuma’s reply, worried Kazuma would refuse, and then his phone buzzed.

‘I’ll be there at eight.’

Hideki smiled wide, and for the rest of the ride home, he stared at the message on his phone.

***

Hideki woke up too early. He showered and dressed, then went to the library to work, his gaze on the clock, nervous. It was only six-thirty in the morning. He hoped Kazuma would make it to breakfast. He had missed seeing Kazuma at the breakfast table. Hideki tried to concentrate on answering emails, but gave up and turned his chair to watch the sunrise instead.

The library had an excellent view of the property. At around seven-thirty, he sat up when he saw a black Renegade Securities jeep drive up to the front of the house. Kazuma got out of the passenger seat, back to his usual jeans, white t-shirt and brown leather jacket. He’d neglected to shave again. Hideki felt his heart skip when Kazuma glanced up to the library windows. He stood there for a few minutes before he started for the front door. Hideki got up and ran out of the library, reaching the stairs just as Kazuma entered the house.

Their gazes held for a moment, then Kazuma continued down the hall to Riku’s study and Hideki exhaled. He came down the stairs slowly and sat down on the last step, waiting.

***

Kazuma stood before Riku’s desk, nervous energy coursing through his veins. Seeing Hideki had relieved it somewhat, but still he couldn’t stop being nervous.

“You wanted to talk to me,” Riku said, his tone hard, his gaze unfriendly.

Kazuma bowed his head.

“I’m sorry for not telling you the truth about my last assignment.”

He raised his head when Riku didn’t comment.

“I should have disclosed the circumstances of Josephine’s death. There was no excuse—

“Have a seat, Kazuma-san,” Riku interrupted his apology. “Don’t make an old man look up at you.”

Kazuma stopped and chose the leather armchair closest to him.

“Sir—

“Before you launch into an apology, let’s get something straight. Do you believe you are capable of protecting my son?”

Kazuma held Riku’s gaze. “Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me that the day you left?”

Kazuma looked down at his lap then, the shame that haunted him over Josephine’s death rising.

“You blame yourself,” Riku said then, making him look up again. “Josephine, you blame yourself for her death.”

Kazuma took in a deep breath and nodded.

“I should never have let her go for the party.”

Riku sighed.

“I doubt you could have stopped her. Phillip told me that you did your best to find her when she disappeared. You’re the one who found the warehouse when the authorities couldn’t. You just didn’t make it in time.”

Kazuma forced the image of Josephine’s dead body in a box out of his thoughts.

“Why did you want to see me today?” Riku asked.

“I want your permission to visit Hideki. I am working on the investigation team,” Kazuma said. “I can help Rui with support and—

“Fine,” Riku said with a small smile.

Kazuma breathed out in relief.

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Maybe you’ll lift his spirits,” Riku said. “Hideki has been moping around since you left. Yesterday, he could barely concentrate on important business matters. Perhaps that will change now?”

Kazuma grinned.

“I hope so.”

“Find out who wants to take my son from me, Kazuma-san. I’ll be grateful for that too.”

Kazuma left Riku’s office at five minutes past eight.

He walked down the corridor and paused when he found Hideki pacing at the stairs.

Hideki stopped when he saw him, his striking brown gaze searching. Kazuma smiled. Hideki let out a relieved sigh then.

“You’re late,” Hideki said, glancing at his watch. “Breakfast is at eight.”

Kazuma chuckled and closed the distance between them. Hideki wrapped his arms around him, and in the next moment, Kazuma felt contentment fill him as they kissed in sweet celebration.

***

Happy New Year!

Sui