4
Owen was not what Ianto had expected and he felt naked despite his three piece suit.
Jack softly excused himself, leaving the two men alone in the penthouse and Owen was quick to strike, demanding to know how much he was charging and how long he intended keeping up the game.
"Game?" Ianto asked with annoyance, rising to move away from the acrid man.
"He's damaged, but I guess you know that don't you" Owen snarled, "Just because you resemble his dead mate, that doesn't mean you can control him!"
"I'm not controlling him" Ianto said with confusion, "I doubt anyone can control that man!"
Owen snorted as he was forced to agree and he refilled his glass from the whiskey decanter as he watched this strangle creature pace the large window, peering at the street below.
"Got a problem with heights?"
"No. With people" Ianto muttered and Owen snorted.
"Well, I guess you do have something in common other than your obvious love of money."
Ianto swung to look at him again, sick of the references to Jack's wealth and was about to snarl a retort when Jack re-entered, slapping a file into Owen's hand.
"Owen, I read this and I don't like it" Jack flicked it at him, "I've made notations of the changes and want more time to consider my options here. I would rather not close it down, not at this time of year."
Ianto tried not to listen as Jack and Owen talked business, heading for the kitchen and the hopes of the sandwich but when he opened the refrigerator and found it full of food he lost his appetite.
Jack's money was everywhere and Owen's taunting was still echoing in his ears.
Then there was Tosh who had taken the time to stare at him as he waited at the airport for the plane to taxi to the private lounge, her gaze unsettling as she fiddled with some files. He was not used to this level of interest and had it not been for Jack's hand engulfing his own he might have run.
The way her eyes kept flicking down his leg was a tell and he felt a spike of anger that she had snooped into his past, even as a small voice whispered that it had been on Jack's instruction.
If he wanted to know anything, he could have just asked.
The hand squeezed and Ianto had let go his anger, wanting to enjoy the flight and the bed had been a lovely surprise. The wake up had been lovely too.
He had understood the need to travel at night, with fewer eyes to recognise the hermit as he moved through his city and now they were on the island Ianto felt a settling within Jack, stalking the huge penthouse while scenting the air and checking things were as he liked them.
Tomorrow he was going to scare the shit out of his company board, arriving unannounced at the New Year's Office Party in the afternoon.
Ianto was hoping this meant they had the morning to themselves, since being with this bear of a man he had felt his own inner bear crave hibernation more and with a start it finally dawned on Ianto that he was indeed watching a bear.
Goddess on a Dragon.
Jack was Teddykin?
It made sense.
The stories of his attack on the hapless drunk who had killed his mate had been sparse and he had thought it a simply money filled cover-up. But if Jack was Teddykin then it made more sense that no one spoke of the incident as the royal family were feared enough to respect their blanket ban on reporting on the bloodlines.
Ianto leaned back on the sofa as he wondered how deep Tosh's digging had gone.
Was his secret safe?
He considered calling home and then dismissed it, the fear of the possible hunt being turned towards this man he already saw as his holding him back. Those who sought Ianto would not recognise the danger as they came for him and Ianto didn't want the bloodshed that would add to that which he could not wash from his hands already.
Jack was talking and Ianto looked up to see him on the phone again, stomping from the room and he grimaced as he was left alone with the toad.
"So, tell me" Owen snarled behind him, "does he cut a check for each night you spend in his bed, or per condom he rolls off?"
Ianto spun and raised an eyebrow, caught off guard and still angered by his own thoughts, answering without filtering, "What makes you think he wears the fucking condom?"
Owen stalled and stared, then started to laugh.
For the first time Ianto realised the man had been playing and his retort had been taken with the same level of humour.
Ianto's fists relaxed and he told himself to relax.
Owen had no idea how dangerous this bear's den was he was stumbling around in.
The scent of Jack's Alpha needs were permeating the air and Ianto was feeling as if drugged by it.
As Owen scuttled over to the kitchen get a snack with soft chuffs of laughter Ianto wondered if he would have really swung for him or not.
Was he already ready to fight for this?
Deciding that it was still too fucking early for this, Ianto stomped to the bedroom and pulled off his suit with soft annoyance before he climbed into the nest.
He pulled the blankets up and stopped the noise of the world outside the windows.
This penthouse was too close to the ground. Too close to the people walking and living below.
There were too many fucking people.
Ianto drifted off uneasily, lulled by the soft growl of Jack's voice in the next room.