Page 19 of Sir Avery's Wish
The statement caught Eli off guard. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, noting the pesto stain on his shirt.Great. Just great.
“Zane told me you’re working here now,” Mr. Lockwood continued, his voice lower, gentler than Eli remembered. “I’m glad you found a position so quickly, and more importantly, somewhere safe to stay.”
Eli ducked his head, not sure how to respond to the unexpected kindness. “Yeah, um, Master Zane has been really helpful. And Ryan, too.”
Mr. Lockwood’s eyebrow arched a bit as if surprised by his use of Zane’s title, but he didn’t make a comment. Instead, he took a small step forward yet maintained a respectful distance.
“I was worried about you.” Mr. Lockwood’s voice was low enough that only Eli could hear. “When you disappeared from the hotel, I feared something bad might have happened.”
Heat crept up Eli’s neck. The concern in Mr. Lockwood’s voice seemed genuine, making his stomach flutter in a way that was both alarming and pleasant.
“I’m okay,” Eli said, although he was anything but. “Just trying to figure some stuff out.”
“I see.” Mr. Lockwood dragged his long, graceful fingers through his neatly styled salt and pepper hair. Why he was drooling over his ex-boss’ fingers was beyond him. “I’m likely the last person you wish to confide in,” Mr. Lockwood continued. “But if you ever need help with anything, please reach out.” He cleared his throat. “I also have your belongings. They were boxed up and put in a storage closet. If you like, I can drop them off at Zane’s house.” Mr. Lockwood smiled, the lines around his eyes somehow making him more handsome. “He and I are good friends.”
The offer made his stomach swoop. His meager belongings, which connected him to his life in LA before everything went sideways, hadn’t been lost forever. Mr. Lockwood hadn’t thrown away his journal or family photo along with the rest of the forgotten debris from his brief employment.
“You kept my stuff?” To his mortification, the words came out almost childlike.
Something shifted in Mr. Lockwood’s expression, a softness that made Eli’s pulse quicken. “Of course I did. I hoped you’d come back for them.”
The simple statement carried more weight than it should have. Eli found himself studying the older man’s face, searching for some hidden meaning in those pale blue eyes. Had Mr. Lockwood really expected him to return? Or was this simply the polite thing successful businessmen said when they fired runaway employees?
“That would be...” Eli swallowed hard, his mouth full of dust. “That would be really nice, actually. Thank you.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Mr. Lockwood’s mouth. “I’ll coordinate with Zane about a convenient time.”
The sound of footsteps echoed from the dining room, reminding Eli that they were standing in a public hallway where anyone could overhear. He glanced back toward his abandoned dinner, the pasta probably getting cold by now. Not that he cared anymore.
“I should let you get back to your evening, Mr. Lockwood,” Eli said, though part of him didn’t want the unexpected conversation to end. There was something about Mr. Lockwood’s presence that felt steadying, which was ridiculous, considering how terrified he’d been of the man yesterday.
“Of course.” Mr. Lockwood’s gaze lingered on Eli’s face for a moment longer than necessary. “But please call me Avery.”
The suggestion sent a thrill through Eli that he didn’t understand. The formal distance of ‘Mr. Lockwood’ had felt safer somehow, like a barrier between them. ‘Avery’ felt intimate, personal in a way that made his chest tighten.
“Okay,” Eli managed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Avery.”
“Good.” Avery’s smile widened slightly, transforming his angular features in a way that made Eli’s breath catch. “I’ll speak with Zane tomorrow about bringing your things by.”
Eli nodded, not trusting his voice to remain steady. There was something about the way Avery looked at him—not like he was a screw-up or a burden, but like he mattered.
“Until we see each other again?”
Eli let out a long breath. “Yeah. Again.”
Was he projecting something that wasn’t there, or was there a promise of more in Avery’s words?
Chapter Six
Eli had been working at Club Sensation for a week and was blown away by literally every change in his life. Sure, the dishwashing could be tedious at times, but it allowed him a chance to think. He turned on the sanitizing machine, then grabbed the next load of dirty plates and bowls that one of the busboys had just dropped off.
While he sorted the plates from the cutlery and the glasses, he replayed all the cool scenes and demos Ryan and Ty had taken him to over the past few nights.
The energy at the club was similar to what he’d experienced back in LA at Kiss of Leather. The demonstrations weren’t only about technique, they were about connection, trust, the careful dance between power and surrender that he’d only read about. Watching the rope work demonstration two nights ago had left him mesmerized, the way the rigger's hands moved with such precision while his partner melted into the restraints with obvious bliss.
Eli loaded a rack of glasses into the machine, steam rising as the hot water hit the surface. The heat reminded him of that first night when Ryan had found him at the shelter, how the warmth of their offer had felt like a lifeline thrown to a drowning man. Living with Master Zane, Ryan, and Ty had been an adjustment—the house rules, the protocols, the way they moved around each other with such obvious care and structure.
However, nobody pressed him for details about his past, for which he was extremely grateful. Maybe at some point he’d want to unburden himself, but for now, the memory of that night was still too raw.
