Love Begets Love

“NOOO!!!!”

Charles was awakened with Jeremy’s shouts.

“Jeremy! Jeremy, please wake up…Baby!” Charles started to wake Jeremy who was thrashing in his sleep

“No!” Jeremy shouted once more before opening his eyes.

“W- what is it? Y- you’re scaring me…” Charles gently hugged at his lover who is all sweaty with tears freely falling from Jeremy’s eyes.

“Ch- Charles?....” Jeremy suddenly became aware of his surroundings.

“Yeah baby, it’s me… You’re safe… I’m right here baby… I’m right here…”

Jeremy looked at his surroundings intently. And when he was sure that it was only him and Charles in the room, he immediately hugged Charles tightly.

“I- I thought it was real…. I- it felt so real…” Jeremy said in between sobs.

“What was it, baby?” Charles asked full of concern. He was rubbing Jeremy’s back. He hated to see him like this.

“G- Gael… I dreamed that he followed me in our room… when I went up alone after the party… That he… that he….” Jeremy was not able to continue and again broke into sobs.

Charles expression tightened. Even in his dreams… Jeremy is being hunted by what Gael tried to do to him. He wanted to look for the man at the moment and kill him. The only reason why he is still in control of his anger is because he does not want to startle Jeremy.

“It’s okay, baby… Everything is okay… It’s just a dream…I will never let him anywhere near you… I swear…” Charles whispered with conviction. Jeremy is still shaking. Charles can feel it. He decided to lift his lover and cradle him to let Jeremy feel secured. Jeremy did not protest when Charles decided to carry him in the couch then draped a blanket on both their forms.

Charles hugged Jeremy tightly and allowed him to sleep while he cradled him.

After a while, Charles was relieved to know that Jeremy is already sleeping peacefully in his arms.

He was supposed to leave for business the following day, but Charles knew that he could not do that now. In no way will he leave his beloved in his condition right now.

Charles stayed awake the whole time, occasionally kissing Jeremy’s forehead and hugging him close. He have his family, safe and secured. And he will not let anybody harm his family. They momentarily forgot about Gael. But now he knew that Gael could strike anytime. Gael hates Rufus so much, and his easy target would be Jeremy. In no way will Gael let things pass easily, Charles knew it. He knew how Jeremy meant to Rufus and Gael would use him to hurt his grandfather.

“I would never let him anywhere near you… I swear… I will do everything to protect you from him, baby…” Charles whispered and kissed Jeremy’s forehead once more before finally drifting to sleep.

The following morning, Charles wasted no time to confront Rufus secretly. He purposely did not tell Jeremy where he was going, but told Cleo to watch over him while he’s gone.

“G- good morning, Rufus.”

“Charles…” Rufus is reading his newspaper in the study.

“I just want to know if you were able to change locks in this house.”

Rufus was not expecting his question first thing in the morning. “No... why?”

“I… I want it done immediately… No matter what the cost… We have to take precautions…”

“Hold on a second… what is with you today?”

“Jeremy had a dream last night… a very bad one…He said that Gael assaulted him…He woke up crying and thrashing…”

Rufus’ expression darkened. “Where is he?! H-how is he?” He asked with concern.

“He’s in our room… he is still asleep. I asked Cleo to watch over him…It was just a dream… and I am thankful for that… but I can’t take any chances! Gael for certain still has keys in your house… and even how heavily guarded, he still has a chance to get in! Rufus, I swear I will kill him if I see him anywhere near Jeremy or my son!”

“That will not happen, Charles…”

“I know, Rufus… I know…But we have to be safe than sorry.”

“Okay… I will see to it that all locks will be changed.”

“Thank you, Rufus. I cancelled my trip. No offense to you. I know you will protect him with all your might, but I just can’t leave him after what happened last night. ” Charles said and started to leave.

“Charles….” Rufus called prompting Charles to turn around again.

“Thank you… You really care a lot about my grandson.”

“I do…. He and our son mean the world to me. And I will do everything in my power to keep them safe.” Charles answered affirmatively.

“For that I thank you… I am now secured that Jeremy is in good hands. I was a fool to ever think of giving him to Anthony Castle. I thought he will treat him gently. But I realize now that I am terribly wrong. A lot of men wanted Jeremy because of his beauty. A lot of men only lusted after him. If I succeeded in forcing him to marry Anthony Castle, he would most likely hurt my grandson in ways unimaginable… and I would no longer be able to prevent it… because under the law… Jeremy would belong to his husband. I’m glad you chose to steal him away…I’m glad you fought for him…” Charles never expected these words to come from Rufus.

“I… I don’t know what to say… I just love him so much and I am willing to fight for him…” Charles replied softly.

“I would never have forgiven myself if his marriage with Anthony Castle did push through… I hope you would find it in your heart to forgive me. I should not have come between the two of you.”

“I understand your feelings Rufus. And I forgive you… Everything is in the past now. Let’s keep it buried there. We have to start anew.” Charles smiled softly.

“Thank you… Just keep my grandson and my great grandson safe.”

“You don’t have to tell me that, Rufus.”

Cleo watched his ward intently. Jeremy is sleeping peacefully on the bed after Charles transferred him on it. Charles asked Cleo to look after him and after Charles telling him about Jeremy’s dream, Cleo could not help but worry for his ward. Jeremy has been through a whole lot and sometimes he just can’t help but blame himself. In times like this, he felt that he let Jeremy’s father down. That he is a failure in his job. He vowed to keep Jeremy safe, and Jeremy almost got raped.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he did not hear Charles enter.

“Cleo…”

“Charles…” Cleo stood up from the couch upon seeing Charles.

“ Is he still asleep?” Charles asked as he went near Jeremy. “Did he not wake while I’m out?”

“No…” Cleo whispered. They both don’t want to wake Jeremy.

“Thank you, Cleo… you can leave now. I cancelled my trip. I just can’t go somewhere when my mind is here with him.”

“I understand, Charles.”

xxxxxxxxx

“Who is there?!” Gael started to panic when he heard somebody entered the room. He has been inside the room for hours. He could no longer recall. What happened last night was so fast. He was about to enter the mansion, when two men grabbed and blindfolded him and knocked him out. When he woke up, he was tied to a chair, blindfolded.

“Who are you?! Answer me dammit!”

“Who do you think I am, Gael?” The man approached him.

“I don’t know! Let me go already!”

“Poor Gael… after everything you did for Rufus… This is how he repay you? Banished… with nothing… you are a miser now… You know that?”

“Who are you and what do you want?!”

“So stupid of you to even attempt to get inside the mansion. I know what you are after… but you lack the brains you know…”

“Just tell me what you want!”

“ You should know by now that I am not a friend of Rufus’. And for that you should be thankful. I saved you from walking into a trap. You haven’t thought of what Rufus might have done if he caught you.”

“If you are not his friend… then what do you want from me?!”

“I need you… for my plans. Rufus owes me a lot…and I could use a little help from you… we could be very good friends.”

“Who are you?!”

“You already know me, Gael. You know me pretty well….” The man then removed his blindfold.

“A- Anthony Castle?”

TBC