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***Alexei's POV***

"You know we love you. We support you. You're going through a lot." Sebastain tries playing his soft hand.

"Get on with it." I grit out. I am not in the fucking mood.

"What the fuck was that?" Mak gets in my face, yelling.

"THAT was NIC!" I inform all my friends.

Nic. The same Nic that hit on Gavin the morning of our engagement. The same Nic that saw me coming for my kitten and watched me kissing him in that coffee shop. The same Nic that still gave Gavin his phone number. Nic who still drew a heart. Nic who is younger. Nic who is a nurse. Nic who is taking care of Gavin's sick father. Nic who just had his hand on my fiancés arm. Nic who almost got my future husband's number!

"THAT WAS FUCKING NIC!" I heave out the revelation while my lungs feel like they will burst. I am so God damned angry. I want to go right back up there and snap that mother fucker's head right of his tight little body.

"The Nic? The reason Gavin must lift weights to carry around that planet on his hand?" Grey questions with a knowing glance.

"Oh, the planet he didn't bother to fucking wear?" I grind out. I am absolutely livid.

"Do you think he did it on purpose?" Martin questions me.

"Of course he did!" I slam my hand against the wall. My breathing is erratic. I think I am having a heart attack.

"I think you should sit down, Alexei." Mak softly encourages as he grabs my hand and leads me to a chair.

"Did he know that he was a nurse?" Mark asks me. What the fuck does that even mean?

"How would I know?" I ask with a fucking attitude.

"Well, if you think Gavin left his ring off on purpose, he would have had to know that Nic had a chance of stopping by. Otherwise, you are accusing your fiancé of something far more nefarious." Martin explains.

"What the hell are you talking about?" My blood pressure is so fucking high right now. I think I feel tingling in my arm.

"You said Gavin left the ring off on purpose." Sebastain accuses me.

"No, I most certainly did not. I don't know how he forgot his ring." I defend myself.

"Then what happened on purpose? We are missing something." Mak asks for clarification. I am in no head space to give all this conversation.

"NIC! HE GOT GAVIN'S NUMBER ON PURPOSE!" I growl out.

"How is that Gavin's fault?" Mak is in my face again.

"He was going to give it to him!" That's fucking how.

"Because he is worried about his father. He is fucking freaking out. He is so damned overwhelmed. He is horny. He is tired. He is probably hungry. Now he is angry and God fucking only knows where he is at!" Mak yells in my face making me shrink back.

"I'M HORNY TOO! I'm worried. I'm tired. I miss Gavin. I miss our time together. I'm." I can't fucking breathe. I put my head in my hands. My head is spinning. I see black dots.

"You're jealous." Martin finds the words I won't say and throws them at me.

"He hasn't touched me in weeks. I took care of him earlier this week. He didn't even ask." I finally admit. I am so fucking tired.

"Why?" Mark asks incredulously. I shake my head. I shrug my shoulders.

"Because we are always, always dealing with Joshua and Eloise Lincoln." I know I am being selfish. I am a selfish human. I miss my heart.

"You didn't think you could ask one of us to babysit the vegetable while you two took a timeout?" Grey asks making me bark out a laugh.

"That's rude." I chuckle.

"No, you offered to watch my upcoming child for sexy time. That is what the village is for. Or did you just want to be the martyr. Not going to leave any room for anyone else to have a go at it?" Mak accuses me.

"He wouldn't leave." I shake my head.

"Did you ask?" Sebastian questions me.

"No." I groan out.

"Then you assumed. Do I need to remind you of what that means? Ass. You. Me." Amelia pops in. I almost forgot she was here. I am a little embarrassed.

"I fucked up. Again." I groan. I run my hands through my hair. How can one human be so bad at loving another one? It has to be some kind of record.

"You got jealous. That is a pretty normal reaction." Grey offers me a very tiny lifeline.

"Well, that kid just grates me the wrong way. He is brazen." I point out. Nic just thinks what he did was okay. It was anything but okay. It was downright disrespectful.

"I don't want to ask this." Sebastain gives me apologetic eyes while he pretends like he isn't going to ask the question anyways.

"Shoot." I roll my eyes. What harm is one more shitty question to mark this shitty day?

"What exactly is it about Nic? Like is it him in particular?" Sebastian questions me.

"Yes, it is HIM in PARTICULAR. Look at HIM. He is fucking gorgeous. They're the same age. Now, he is a nurse. So, they have the same interests. He's taking care of Joshua when I can't. And they both like Oreos. I don't like fucking like Oreos. They're TRASH!" I growl out all the reasons why Gavin could easily choose Nic over me.

"I think we have entered the twilight zone." Mak waves his hand in front of his face.

"I second that." Martin scrubs his hand down his face, groaning while looking up at the ceiling.

"ARE YOU FUCKING MENTAL?" Amelia slaps me right across the back of my head. I wince.

"Dude, I was with you until the end. You lost me. Sent." Kip slaps his hands together and sends one sailing into a nosedive.

"What now?" I throw my hands in the air. "I'm allowed to be insecure."

"No. Not really." Mario paces in front of me. He stops, looking my way before turning and starting again.

"Why? What rule states I must be so secure that I am not worried about my cherub running off with somebody else?" I ask. Because I fucking worry. I worry a lot.

"If love could be measured in a single syllable that would be YOU." Grey points to me while my eyebrows pull together.

"I don't get it." I admit. Sorry, way over my head.

"You. Gavin worships you. He loves you. His breath is in you. His heart beats for you. His every step is towards you. This is absurd Alexei. Gavin fucking exists for YOU." Grey points out. That thought makes me feel like my breath may start to come easier.

"Well, he hasn't touched me." I whine. Fuck. I need him.

"Let's go." Martin snaps and we all just jump up to follow. We know who the fucking Alpha is.

"Where?" I ask. I don't even know where to begin searching for Gavin.

I have fucked this day up so damn bad.

"He ran." Mak reminds me.

"I saw." I ground out.

"So, where would he run to?" Amelia asks as we walk out of the hospital. I look left and right, not knowing where to start.

"Somewhere he is familiar with." I respond. That much I know.

"The house is close by." Mark shrugs his shoulders.

"He would expect me to show up there." I shake my head. Gavin is smarter than that.

"He was angry. What does he do when he is angry?" Grey asks.

"Any time his emotions are running rampant he runs. Or fights. That's all I have." I really have no clue.

"Shot in the dark. Go left." Mak points so we start towards the left.

We walk/jog for a while. I look around to find any trace of where he may be but, I don't get a single inclination. I am as lost as he is. This city is big. I don't think he could run far. Although, that one time.

"He runs fast." I remind everyone.

"Oh, yeah. When Mak was gone." Mario snaps his fingers, looking at me knowingly.

"Am I ever going to live that down?" Mak asks as we search the city for my runaway groom.

"No!" We yell.

"Just checking." Mak shrugs.

"Hey, isn't the park around the corner?" Mark asks suddenly.

"Which one?" I ask. It's New York. There are lots of parks.

"Central. A walk to remember." Mark reminds us.

"Fuck, go." I shout as I take off.

"The Bridge." Seb yells from behind me.

As I walk up to the Gapstow Bridge, I remember the last time we were here. Gavin had a bad day. He has had many of them. This bridge brought him so much peace. The waters that flowed beneath offered a sense of stillness when everything around him seemed so overwhelming. It's hard to believe we are in that place once again. I wish to stop finding ourselves on this side of the overwhelmed.

"Gavin?" I question as I spot my love crumpled on the ground at the base of the bridge.

I pick him up, scanning him for injuries. Seeing none, I look and notice he is sleeping.

"He's exhausted." I press Gavin to my chest while I situate him around my body.

"Fuck. Take him home. Call us later." Martin orders.

I don't need to be told twice. I wrap my arms around him and start the walk walking home. I can't believe he ran all the way to the park. We need to talk about where he mustered up those skills.

I hope the nurse doesn't need us for the rest of the evening. We need a break. Three days of this on top of all the weeks before has been too much. I just want to apologize and try to recoup from all this shit. I pray Joshua waits until tomorrow to wake up. He can stay checked out for a little longer, shouldn't hurt anything.

It takes a while to get to the house. I have plenty of time to think. I have plenty of time to formulate words to apologize to the man of my life. Gavin doesn't stir, knocked out cold from all his exercise. I get him into the bed, removing his clothes that are splattered with blood. Having noticed his knuckles need attention, I take off to the bathroom to get the first aid kit.

"Alexei?" His hoarse tone reaches my ears.

"I'm here, Gavin. One minute." I call out from the bathroom.

I gather the necessary supplies along with a rag for his face. He has obviously been crying. I need to wipe him down.

"I'm sorry." Gavin states as he scoots next to me in the bathroom.

"I was coming to you." I shake my head as I turn to him.

"I want to talk." Gavin announces. He stares at me expectantly.

"So do I." I agree. I lift him up, setting him on the counter.

"Want to tell me what you did here?" I ask as I start to clean his wounds.

"I was angry." Gavin offers.

"So, you beat the shit out of what?" I ask. I wipe antibacterial soap across his skinned flesh.

"A tree. That's not the point." Gavin looks at me with frustration. I continue working on his knuckles, waiting for whatever he needs to say.

"You talk, I will listen." I promise.

"I want to know what went on back there. I am still angry. I think I have a right to know. I'm sorry I ran away. But I don't think I did anything wrong." Gavin grounds out towards me. I can tell he is still very upset with me. He has every right to be.

"Did you recognize the nurse who was taking your number?" I ask gently.

"Nicolas. No." Gavin denies.

"Nic." I clarify. "Barista, Nic." I add in so he may wrap his head around it.

"Oh." Gavin blows out a breath.

"He was really excited to help you. I noticed." I wrap bandages around his knuckles before kissing them.

"I didn't have my ring." Gavin starts plundering the counter. I put the ring in his hand.

"It was on the sink." I explain.

"Were you jealous?" Gavin asks with a small voice.

"Yes. Very much so." I answer honestly.

"Why?" Gavin asks. He grabs my face and pulls me to stand between his legs.

"I get insecure. I love you so fucking much but, I don't know why you love me." I shrug. I don't think there is ever a real reason for jealousy. It's just something that latches on.

"Because I do." Gavin responds. It doesn't help. I sigh.

"I know you tell me; you show me. I know. I can't explain it. I see him and I get this feeling that he could easily take my place." I am not even embarrassed about it. I just feel that way. I don't know how to change it.

"I guess that is the difference between us, Alexei." Gavin shrugs. He stares at me, as if he can see through me.

"What's that?" I ask.

"You think that about him. I look at you and I know there is no one that could ever take your place. I can't explain it. I try to show it. I try to tell you. I just get this feeling that you are the only person in this world that could ever complete me." Gavin pushes his fingers into my hair and pulls me close to his face. He groans.

"You're infuriating. I look at you and my body lights on fire. My heart throws itself on the ground begging you to come get it. My hands itch to touch you. My mouth waters for you. My dick aches to have your touch. Everything inside of me responds with just a thought of you. Not Nic. Not anybody else. You." Gavin explains.

My heart pierces. It feels like he has stabbed me with hot knives. My breath feels like it left. I search for it. I don't know how he feels for me exactly how I feel for him.

"That's how I feel about you." I admit.

"Then, why are you worried about some kid who couldn't even give me Oreos?" Gavin asks with a smirk.

"Who sent you?" I ask with a groan.

"What?" Gavin giggles out. I love his laugh.

"You were obviously sent here to destroy me. Who sent you?" I ask again.

"God." Gavin whispers.

Thank you, God.

"I'm sorry. I am really sorry." I state. I don't what else I can say.

"I miss you. I would like it very much if, since we are home, you would reacquaint me with your body." Gavin asks.

"I don't deserve that." I shake my head.

"I do." Gavin pulls my lips to his.

He does.

Gavin pulls my shirt over my head. I allow it. He places his hands on my chest and leans forward. The first kiss to my heart makes my knees wobble. I feel as though all my strength leaves. I hold on to the counter, so I don't fall.

"I love you, Daddy. I will never love anyone the way I love you. I would never even try. Take me to our bed." Gavin demands as he slips his ring into place on his hand.

"I love you, my heart. I wish I was better at showing it." I pick him up, cradling him in my arms.

"You have all night." My kitten encourages me.

I walk us to our bed, placing him gently on top of the covers. I take my time pulling our clothes off, hoping he will stop me. I do not deserve to touch him after the way I have treated him. I deserve to get no sex for three months.

"Stop that." Gavin chastises me.

"What?" I ask with a chuckle.

"I already know you're hoping I will change my mind. We are doing this. Make love to me. Now." Gavin lays back on the bed, crooking his finger at me. My cock receives his instruction and rises to the occasion.

"Spread your legs." I order him as I slide across the bed on my stomach.

"Yes, Sir." Gavin puts his hand in my hair and guides my head to his cock. I smile around it.

"Suck it, Daddy. Nice and Slow." Gavin instructs.

I place my lips over the crown and suck the tip, swirling my tongue around the ring. I pull it between my teeth and my mouth waters. Fuck. I definitely don't deserve this.

I tilt my head back and forth until I have his cock dragging in and out of my mouth, just like he told me to. Gavin pushes his hands down, pressing his hips up into my face. I start choking.

"Choke on it, Daddy." Gavin groans while I gag. "Good boy." Gavin les me up while tears spring to my eyes.

"This is the game you want to play?" I ask with a grin.

"You won't do anything about it." Gavin shrugs.

"Playroom. Now." I snap my fingers and slide off the bed.