Текст книги "Tatterdemalion "

Автор книги: Anah Crow

Соавторы: Dianne Fox
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clenched his head in his hands like it was about to fly apart.

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“Dane… I’m so sorry.” Lindsay had ruined everything. He curled up against the head of the bed,

wrapped up in a knot of blankets and sheets. “Are you all right? God, I’m sorry, I didn’t think it worked

like that. I swear I didn’t mean to. I wouldn’t. Are you all right? Please be all right…”

Dane got up from the bed and went to stand in front of the fireplace, hands on the mantel. He breathed

slowly and pushed away, still not looking at Lindsay. “I’m fine,” he said, his voice tight.

Lindsay didn’t have to see his face to know that he wasn’t. Dane’s body was taut with something—

outrage or distress, either was equally horrible—and every muscle was clearly outlined under his beautiful

skin. Lindsay didn’t know how to fix it, any of it. He ached to pet Dane’s wild hair and to soothe the

tension out of his broad back.

“I’m sorry,” Lindsay whispered again. He really had ruined everything and now Dane might hate him,

might send him away like his father had. And he deserved it.

“That’s why you practice.” Hands on his hips, Dane stood there, looking into the fire. He was still

breathing harder than normal, though whether it was from all the pleasure or the upset was impossible to

tell.

Lindsay ducked his head, pressing his cheek against his pulled-up knees, and closed his stinging eyes.

Dane was right. He hadn’t practiced when Taniel had tried to convince him to, and now he’d done

something awful. He couldn’t imagine how Dane must feel.

After an agonizingly long time, long enough for Lindsay to feel like he was frozen into a knot of

despair, the bed shifted as Dane sat beside him and then his big arm slid around Lindsay’s shoulders. “No

harm done,” Dane said quietly, pulling Lindsay against him. “You didn’t mean it.”

“I swear I didn’t,” Lindsay promised desperately. “I just wanted you to feel good. And it… It just

happened.”

“Well,” Dane said, murmuring against Lindsay’s hair, “you know it works now?” He wrapped his

other arm around Lindsay and held him close.

Lindsay pulled the blankets tighter and tentatively rested his cheek against Dane’s chest. “I didn’t

think it would work like that. I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t mean it.” Dane sighed heavily, then laughed a bit. “Good thing you weren’t angry.” He

pressed a kiss to Lindsay’s hair.

“I won’t do it again,” Lindsay promised. He tilted his head back to see Dane’s face. He needed to see,

to make sure Dane didn’t hate him.

Dane’s expression was gentle even though his face looked more feral again. “How about you ask first

from now on?” he suggested, stroking Lindsay’s hair back. Slowly, he leaned in.

Lindsay searched Dane’s face for any sign that Dane didn’t mean that, but there was none that he

could see. He nodded. “I promise,” he said softly, waiting for Dane’s kiss.

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The kiss was slow and sweet, and it felt like forgiveness. Dane gathered Lindsay up, blankets and all,

and pulled Lindsay into his lap, wrapping him up safely. “Tomorrow,” he murmured, “you practice.”

Lindsay nodded, ducking his head against Dane’s chest again. He should’ve known his magic would

slip out that way. That was how his parents had found out about him. It felt like nothing less than a miracle that Dane was holding Lindsay close instead of sending him away. It felt so strange to be forgiven,

something he’d never experienced before he’d met Dane. Before Dane had found him.

After a while, Lindsay wriggled out of the blankets enough that he could wrap his arms around

Dane’s neck. He’d hurt Dane, not the other way around, but he was the one being comforted. He wanted to

give that back. He knew which of them deserved the petting and apologies.

Dane kissed the curve of Lindsay’s neck and let Lindsay comfort him in return. He sighed as some of

his tension went out of him, and rubbed his cheek on Lindsay’s like a cat. Oh, that felt so good. Lindsay

returned the gesture and snuggled up close.

Dane kissed his temple and tumbled him over onto his back, kissing his mouth and pushing at the

blankets to get to his skin. He got between Lindsay’s thighs once they were out of the blankets, his kisses turning hot and needy.

“Dane?”

“Not done with you yet.” Dane kissed him again, hard. He pulled back, his expression serious even

though his cheeks were flushed. “I still want you. Just me. Just you.”

“Just me and you,” Lindsay agreed breathlessly.

Dane let Lindsay open up for him, moving slowly and carefully. His breath was rough again already

and he brushed kisses over Lindsay’s mouth. “You don’t need any magic to make me feel good.” The

difference was night and day. Dane had been overwhelming and intense before, and that was still true, but

he was careful now, in control where he hadn’t been before. “You okay?”

Lindsay nuzzled Dane’s cheek. “I’m all right.”

“Good. Last thing I need is to hurt you.” Dane bit the curve of Lindsay’s neck, carefully this time.

“You didn’t.” Lindsay would be sore, and there would be marks on his chest and belly from Dane’s

bites, but Lindsay didn’t care. “You wouldn’t.”

“Never on purpose.” Dane pulled back to watch Lindsay’s face. His breath was coming rougher, and

his hair fell around them, making everything dim. “You’re so pretty like that.” Dane’s voice was a low

purr. He ducked his head and licked up the tender line of Lindsay’s throat, growling possessively. He bit

the softness under Lindsay’s jaw, growling again, pushing in hard.

Lindsay cried out, shivering, his hands clenching on Dane’s shoulders. “Please,” he whispered. There

was something so shockingly good about the possessiveness in Dane’s voice, in the way he growled and bit

and fucked Lindsay like that.

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Dane’s breath was hot against Lindsay’s ear as he gasped Lindsay’s name and came hard. Lindsay

whispered Dane’s name in answer, nuzzling Dane’s neck and cheek, licking and kissing the warm skin

there, basking in the heat of having been wanted so very much, but Dane wasn’t done with him yet.

He kissed Lindsay on the mouth, fiercely, as he pulled out. Then he did as he had done before, sliding

down Lindsay’s body to suck Lindsay’s cock into his mouth, pushing his fingers into Lindsay as he went.

There were no fangs in the way this time, either. His mouth was hot and hungry, his tongue exploring

Lindsay’s cock again.

“Dane?” Lindsay gasped. He scrambled to pull his magic back in, but there was none. There wasn’t

any illusion to strip away Dane’s self-control this time.

Dane pinned him to the bed with one big hand in the middle of Lindsay’s chest. It was like he

couldn’t get enough, sucking Lindsay off and fucking him with three fingers. Lindsay cried out, rocking

between Dane’s mouth and his fingers, his noises coming faster and more desperate with every passing

moment. He couldn’t hold on. Finally, his cries sharpened as he came, and Dane still didn’t stop. Dane took everything Lindsay had to give, swallowing him down and purring around his cock.

When Lindsay could think again, he wound his fingers in Dane’s hair and tugged lightly as he

whispered Dane’s name. Please let it be real, let it not be an accident with my magic again.

Dane lifted his head and let Lindsay’s cock slip out of his mouth. He pressed a kiss to Lindsay’s belly,

then met his gaze. Dane looked normal, but Lindsay wouldn’t have realized last time either, if he hadn’t

noticed that Dane wasn’t acting normally. He bit his lip. “Are you… I didn’t… It’s you, right? I didn’t mess up again?”

Dane slid his fingers out and crawled up over Lindsay’s body to kiss him on the mouth. “Me,” he

murmured, between tender, reassuring little kisses. “All me. Wanted to finish what I started earlier, because I could.”

Lindsay relaxed, wrapping himself around Dane as best he could and kissing him back sweetly.

“Good,” he whispered. “God, Dane, I don’t ever want to… I want it to be you.”

“I know.” Dane curled up with him and held him close, giving him the kisses he needed. “It was a

mistake, and I’m not hurt. You’ll learn.”

“I learn fast,” Lindsay promised. He was so glad Dane wasn’t angry at him. Dane had every right to

be, Lindsay knew, and he planned to do his best to deserve the forgiveness he’d received.

“I like that about you, remember?” Dane pushed Lindsay’s hair away from his face and gave him a

sharp, feral smile.

Lindsay smiled back, relieved and happy. Pleasing Dane—with anything—was such a good feeling.

“You ready to go to sleep yet?” Dane grabbed some of the blankets and shook them out to cover

Lindsay up.

“As long as you’re staying,” Lindsay murmured, rolling to curl up beside Dane.

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“I’m not leaving you yet,” Dane said quietly, tucking Lindsay in against him. He kissed Lindsay’s

hair and cradled Lindsay in his arms.

Not yet. Lindsay hated the way Dane said that, but he knew it was true. Once they were back at

Cyrus’s house, he’d have to get used to sleeping alone again. Being alone again. For now, though, he had

this, and he wanted to enjoy it for as long as it lasted.

Dane watched Lindsay sleep. The light of the moon was more than enough for him to see by; it

limned Lindsay’s delicate features with a thin line of silver. Lindsay would hardly recognize himself the way Dane saw him now. The moon’s pen traced the lines of Lindsay’s face that were growing stronger by

the day, bringing out the picture of the grown man he would be when his body recovered from years of

neglect and abuse.

The moon crept higher and Dane still wasn’t tired. Lindsay was a bit restless and Dane didn’t blame

him. It had been that kind of day. At least Lindsay smiled when he wriggled closer, no more frowning and

scowling. Dane kissed his temple and huffed softly in his hair. So sweet. The wind rattled around the

window and Lindsay murmured.

“It’s nothing,” Dane said to him in a low voice. Lindsay didn’t wake. Even sleeping, he believed Dane

and settled again.

Dane wanted it to be nothing. He closed his eyes and forced the world away. Lindsay’s breath

skimmed his chest like a little hand petting him to sleep.

The wind whined in the chimney and Dane heard delicate feathers of ash scattering across the

hearthstones. Damn it. He kissed Lindsay and then worked away slowly, tucking his pillow where he’d been and letting Lindsay snuggle it instead.

Sleeping, Lindsay pouted. Sad little bunny. “I won’t go far,” Dane promised. The wind rattled the

flue. “I will be right there,” he hissed through his teeth. He finished tucking Lindsay in securely and finally made his reluctant escape. The cold wasn’t going to bother him, but Cyrus would have something to say if

he were to hang around naked, so he pulled on his robe.

The windows were surprisingly well sealed, for all that the wind had been tugging at them. At the

north-facing window, Dane flicked the brass catches back and felt the weights in the frame dropping as the

pane rose slowly. When it was open enough for him to slither through, he slipped out to perch on the wide

ledge and pulled the pane back down until his fingers were nearly caught against the sill.

“I’m here,” he said grumpily, as though Cyrus didn’t know. He set his back to one side of the deep

well in which the window was set and his feet against the other, leaning against the glass while the wind

pulled at his hair and robe. It was snowing, but the flakes fell against something that was nothing Dane

could see, and none reached him.

“You weren’t sleeping,” said Cyrus. “So don’t be such a bear.”

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Dane sneezed as his own hair tickled his nose. Cyrus was feeling playful. “Am I to have no privacy,

still?”

“As much as you need.” The wind feathered through his hair. “You never needed much.”

“Things change,” Dane said.

“Not so much. I speak. You ignore most of it.”

“Only the parts that don’t matter.” Dane looked out past the place where the snow stopped. From

here, a layer of snow blanketed the garden that had been, when Dane had been on the ground, green and

new. There was no knowing anything for certain in Ezqel’s house, nor about Ezqel.

“I think you keeping your hands off the boy matters.” Even from thousands of miles away, Cyrus

could sound snippy.

“It mattered more to him that I touch him,” Dane pointed out. “And to me.”

“And you see no danger in that?” The wind snapped at Dane’s cheek with an icy finger. “In either of

those things?”

“It wouldn’t stop me if I did.” Dane shook his head. “I never cared much for the rules, Cyrus, and

you’ll have to live with me having my own opinion again. It’s not going to kill you.”

There was a long pause that made Dane’s chest hollow with dread as he wondered what truth he’d hit

upon. Then again, maybe Cyrus was sulking, or talking to someone else. He was just starting to feel ill and cold when Cyrus sighed.

“You are well, then?” Cyrus sounded subdued, or maybe resigned.

“I think so. Better, at the least.” He’d been a little better before Ezqel healed him, he knew that much.

He’d already felt more whole. Lindsay had as much magic in his little frowns and rare smiles as most

enchantments, all but the strongest of them.

“It is good to know.”

“You weren’t listening to find out if I did it or not?” Dane asked dryly.

“I heard it happen to you,” Cyrus said softly. “But I wasn’t listening.” The wind touched his cheek,

gently this time.

“I think it’s over,” Dane allowed. He hadn’t been fully his other self yet, but he’d been human

enough, even if not totally of his own accord that last time.

“And the boy?”

“He’s not a boy.” Dane couldn’t help his growl. Lindsay was young and new and tender, but not a

boy. “He’s grown.”

The wind sighed in Dane’s ear, but Dane wasn’t budging on the matter. “Figure of speech,” Cyrus

said, at last. “If he’s not a boy, what am I?”

“A withered old stick with no sense of humor?” Dane offered, and got his hair pulled for it. He

startled himself when he had to stifle laughter. The human in him was more easily amused than the beast.

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“What are you, then?” Cyrus snapped.

“A moth-eaten old fur coat.” Dane let his head fall back against the stone. “A tattered thing with a

little use left in it. To keep him warm enough until he can find something warmer and newer that suits

him.”

“You’re so sure of that?”

“No matter what you think of me, I’m not that much of a fool.” Dane didn’t expect Cyrus to think

better of him than that, but he wished it from time to time. Cyrus had little enough reason to change his thinking, and Dane knew it. The way he’d nearly gotten Lindsay killed in Cholula was reason enough and

that was only one of many foolish things Dane had done. Lindsay would grow up and move on, if Dane

didn’t get him killed first.

“You’ve let him into your bed,” Cyrus said, and Dane could hear him rolling his eyes. “And you want

me to think you’re not a fool?” The wind laughed in Dane’s ear.

“Not so much of a fool that I think he’ll keep me,” Dane rumbled. “Don’t worry, Cyrus. You’ll have

me all to yourself again before you know it.”

“I won’t have you at all if you don’t come back in one piece,” Cyrus said, changing the subject as the

wind changed quarters.

“That’s why I went through all this,” Dane said irritably. Now that he’d thought about Lindsay

outgrowing him, he was in an ill-temper, and doubly so because he was upset about it at all. “So I wouldn’t die so easily. Or did you forget that part?”

That guardians were outgrown was life, Dane reminded himself, forcing down his irritation. It wasn’t

as though Lindsay would suffer anything terrible and be gone. He would grow and change until he had

outgrown Dane and their relationship was altered forever. If Dane had any say about it, it would be one day at a time, so slowly that Lindsay would hardly notice until it occurred to him to be at most a little

melancholy over it and no more than that. It was what Dane wanted more than anything, when the human

in him could be counseled by the unselfish, steadfast beast.

“I haven’t forgotten,” Cyrus said, breaking into Dane’s argument with himself. “But I have taken

steps to see you back here safely nonetheless. Vivian has drawn Moore’s attention away from us.”

“Is the girl there?” Dane’s mind snapped into the present as his hackles rose and his teeth pricked his

lip. There, now he was more himself.

“Vivian has seen nothing of her. Moore has made no move and had no communication that suggests

the girl has been in contact with her. We think the girl must be after the dog, who has not been seen either, or in disgrace.”

Dane tamped down his irrational surge of disappointment at that. “We’ll be safe to come in by

LaGuardia?” Getting Lindsay home in one piece was far more important than killing Jonas.

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“Moore uncovered your actions in Cholula, but our contacts on the West Coast—at Vivian’s urging—

convinced her people that the two of you had gone up that way, especially since the trail ran cold in Ezqel’s forest. Right now, they are tracking Brenna’s people instead.”

Brenna. Dane remembered her, and not fondly. The temperamental electromancer made his skin itch,

and not just from her ozone and static aura. She was a trollish bitch, and thought as ill of him as he did of her. But he could forgive her a great deal if she kept Moore busy.

“So, they think we haven’t made it back here?” Dane hadn’t thought to worry about that on the hunt,

that some message about his presence would get through to Moore. He’d been too busy killing, too busy in

the present. It was his own fault for stopping partway to being fully himself. He’d forgotten how little his animal-self could understand when he was between his true forms.

“No one believes you’d do any business with Ezqel you did not have to do,” Cyrus pointed out. His

laughter tickled the hairs in Dane’s ears, making Dane shake his head. “The word is that you and Jonas are

equally unwelcome there, once Ezqel paid his debt by telling you where to find the guul.”

Moore was chasing Brenna up the West Coast, the girl was still off somewhere after the dog, and the

world was still certain that Dane was fool enough to refuse the aid that would heal him. It suited Dane just fine. He would get Lindsay back to New York, back to the safety of Vivian and Cyrus, and then deal with

Jonas.

Kristan. Dane chuckled softly. There was bait that no dog could refuse. Sweet meat. She’d forgive him for taking Lindsay as a lover instead of her, he was sure, especially if he could offer her a way to

please everyone.

“You’re amused by the efforts of others to save your moth-eaten hide?” Cyrus was most certainly not

amused.

“Just thinking ahead,” Dane said, feeling contented. “I can do that, you know.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Cyrus said. “Come home and show me.” The wind tugged at Dane,

drawing him in as though Cyrus planned to pick him up and bring him home on the back of the North

Wind.

Dane was ready to go right then, too. Suddenly, he was swept through with a need to return so intense

that he wanted to spread his wings and throw himself into the wind. But the new ways had their benefits.

“I’ll be there soon,” he promised. “Both of us will be.”

“I’m waiting for you.” The wind wrapped around him, tangled in his hair, and he breathed it in. Then,

in the next moment, it was gone. Dane was ready to go home.

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Chapter Thirteen

Kloten was crowded and chaotic, like most airports. Staggered announcements came over the

loudspeaker in German, echoed in English and other languages Lindsay couldn’t keep track of. On the

flight in, the rough, guttural instructions had only served to make Lindsay more nervous, more miserable,

but not this time. He was ready. Healthy, finally, and steady, even with his backpack heavy on his

shoulders. New York, Cyrus’s house, was home for Dane. Lindsay hoped that, after everything he’d done

to learn and to fix himself, it could become home for him too.

Dane, for once, drew only admiring glances. He was human looking, tall and graceful and stern. As

always, no matter where they were, Dane seemed to understand the language well enough. Lindsay let him

take the lead. He wasn’t as noticeable as Dane, and people tended to not realize he was there, even when no magic was involved. They made it through the line to get their boarding passes, checking their bags, and

then to the terminal.

“Do you want anything to eat?” Lindsay asked quietly, remembering that the food on the plane from

New York had been horrible, even though they’d been in first class. He didn’t expect it to be much better

on the way back. He told himself that he was just thinking of Dane’s sensitive senses and trying to spare

Dane another lousy experience, and that he wasn’t trying to squeeze another tiny moment or two of

intimacy out of the time they had left.

“We should both eat.” Dane squeezed Lindsay’s small hand in his big one. “You can’t live on air.

Pick where you want to eat, and we’ll have a meal.”

“I couldn’t talk Ezqel into letting me trade up for that, either,” Lindsay murmured, flashing Dane a

smile. He looked around at the fast food kiosks and more traditional restaurants along the hall to the

terminal. “There, maybe?” He pointed to a restaurant with neon in the windows and dim lights inside. The

illusion of privacy was appealing.

“Whatever you want.” Dane steered them that way and held the door for Lindsay. “As long as you

eat.”

“Anything to keep me from having to eat the stuff they served on the plane last time.” Lindsay held

up two fingers to the maitre d’ and the man led them to a table, where Dane finally let go of Lindsay’s hand so he could pull out a chair for Lindsay.

Tatterdemalion

Lindsay soaked up the closeness as he skimmed the laminated menu. Thank goodness for the ubiquity

of English in international airports. He found something that seemed edible and spent the rest of his time

watching Dane.

Dane put the menu aside. “What’re you looking at?”

Lindsay rolled his eyes. “Same thing everyone else in the airport is looking at.”

Dane frowned more, but didn’t say anything. He just tapped Lindsay’s menu. “Know what you’re

eating?”

“Chicken Oscar. Would you prefer it if I pretended that I haven’t noticed the change? You look

different, but I still like it. I’m just…getting used to it.”

“You don’t have to pretend anything.” Dane seemed disgruntled, regardless. He wasn’t comfortable

and it showed, which wasn’t normal for him.

“Is it… What’s wrong?” Lindsay frowned. He hadn’t meant to upset Dane.

“Nothing’s wrong. I look normal. It is what it is.” Dane leaned back and gestured for the waiter to

return.

Lindsay kept frowning. There were four chairs at the table, but he and Dane were seated opposite each

other. It was too far away, Lindsay decided, so he got up and shifted over to sit in one of the chairs closer to Dane. “You are so full of shit,” he muttered, as the waiter walked up to their table.

Dane blinked at Lindsay before giving the waiter his attention. He ordered for them both and turned

back to Lindsay. “What?”

“You’ve gotten grumpy every time I’ve looked at you since Ezqel did his thing,” Lindsay said quietly.

He’d noticed, every time. How could he not? “So you can’t really expect me to believe you when you say

nothing’s wrong. I’ll get used to the change, but…if you don’t like it, why don’t you shift back to the way you were before?”

“I will when I don’t have to be around other people,” Dane said flatly. “It’s better to look human than

not. Drawing attention isn’t good for you, anyway.”

“You got by before.” Lindsay reached out, finding Dane’s big hand and rubbing his cold little fingers

over it.

“Until you came along, I ‘got by’ by way of not being in the company of people.” Dane turned his

hand palm up for Lindsay’s touch. “For a long time. Still not fond of it.”

“We’re almost back to New York, and then you can go back to not being in the company of people.”

That, Lindsay imagined, was probably the answer to his question of whether Dane would still want him

around when they got home.

“Enough of that.” Dane put his arm around Lindsay and pulled him close, snorting irritably like a

disgruntled bear.

Oh. Lindsay relaxed, rubbing his cheek against Dane’s.

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Dane butted his nose against Lindsay’s temple and his ear, purring softly. His cheek against Lindsay’s

was uncharacteristically smooth, but as warm as ever. Lindsay could hear Dane’s purrs—he could feel

them—and they made him smile.

“You need to eat,” Dane murmured. “You’re too small, little bunny.” He ran a finger over Lindsay’s

ribs.

Lindsay turned his head to see the waiter heading their way with a basket of baguettes. “I’ll eat,” he

murmured, wriggling to sit down in the chair again without tumbling over.

Dane reached over to pet him. He always managed to make it feel perfectly normal. “Good. Cyrus

might forgive me if you come back with a few pounds on you.”

“Is he really going to be angry with you?” Lindsay asked, once the waiter walked away again. He

reached out to tear off a small piece of the bread and picked at it.

“Yes.” Dane took a drink of his water. “He already is. It’s nothing new. When you get old like us,

things build up.” He didn’t look terribly upset, but he wasn’t happy either.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”

“Eat your bread.” Dane picked a piece up and held it out for Lindsay to eat. “You are not the trouble here. What’s between Cyrus and me isn’t your problem.”

Lindsay ate the bite of bread and sighed. “I just don’t want…”

“Don’t want what?” Dane offered up another piece, but he was obviously waiting for Lindsay’s reply.

“I don’t want you to stop letting me be near you.” Lindsay didn’t want to cause trouble, he didn’t

want Cyrus to be angry, and he didn’t want to lose the little piece of comfort and happiness he’d found with Dane.

“That won’t happen,” Dane said simply. “Cyrus and I have been angry at each other about things

since long before the last time I looked this way.” Dane put his fingers under Lindsay’s chin, making

Lindsay look at him. “Cyrus gave you to me. He can’t take you back. There are rules about these things,

older than any of us. What’s between you and me is something else. What I did to keep Jonas from having

you, I didn’t do for Cyrus.”

Dane had died to keep Jonas from having him. Lindsay met Dane’s eyes, stunned by the admission.

“Oh,” he whispered, hope creeping in. Cyrus couldn’t take him away from Dane. There were rules.

“Good.”

“Eat now,” Dane said gently. He picked up the bread he’d dropped on Lindsay’s plate and offered it

up again. “Everything’s going to be all right.”

Lindsay nodded, taking the bite from Dane’s fingers and picking up one for himself. He’d shredded

the piece of bread without realizing, but at least now it was in bite-sized pieces.

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After a moment, Dane leaned over and pressed a kiss to Lindsay’s temple. It was a small gesture, but

surprisingly intimate. Lindsay couldn’t help smiling. Dane didn’t say anything else, but he petted Lindsay’s thigh under the table, a smile touching the corners of his mouth.

When their meals arrived, Lindsay ate carefully and slowly, and he sank back to curl up in his chair,

watching the restaurant staff bustle about.

“Am I going to have to carry you onto the plane?” Dane teased. He’d cleaned his plate and, without

asking, tugged Lindsay’s over to finish the last of what was there. It took a lot to fuel his body.

“Airports are exhausting,” Lindsay murmured. “But I can wait until I’m on the plane to sleep.”

“Taniel put you through your paces this morning,” Dane reminded him, gesturing for the waiter to

bring their check. “That’ll wear you out, too.” Dane paid in cash, then stood and offered Lindsay his hand.

“Come on. Ten hours in a tin can awaits.”

Lindsay slipped his hand into Dane’s and uncurled himself from the way he’d been sitting in his chair,

sorting out his limbs and standing up. “You make it sound so appealing.”

“It’s ten hours in a tin can with me.” Dane gave Lindsay a genuinely charming smile. He was very

beautiful when he was human.

“You’re right, that is appealing.”

Dane drew the usual uncertain glances when they got on the plane. His darker skin and unusual

features and his size, no matter how pretty he was, made people nervous at times. Still, on this flight, the flight attendants seemed determined to flirt with him from the start. He ignored all of it and only wrinkled his nose with displeasure at the attention. Lindsay found himself tempted to growl on Dane’s behalf.

Lindsay let Dane sit near the window, and flipped up the arms of their seats so Dane could sit partly

sideways and straighten his legs without them being in the aisle. After the first offering of drinks and

snacks, he leaned over to curl up against Dane’s side. The flight attendants may have assumed that Lindsay

was too young to be anything but Dane’s teenaged son or charge, but Lindsay didn’t care. He knew better, and that was what mattered.

Dane slid his arm around Lindsay’s shoulders and pulled Lindsay close, so that Lindsay was snuggled

up against his chest. Maybe it comforted him as much as Lindsay. He sighed heavily, relaxing, and

something in his rib cage popped into place with a dull noise that translated clearly enough to Lindsay’s

ear. “You should sleep.”

Dane was right, but Lindsay wasn’t ready to sleep yet. He wriggled until he could sit up and kiss Dane

on the mouth.

“Going to make all the flight attendants jealous of me?” Dane teased, nipping at Lindsay’s lips.

“Of me, maybe.” Lindsay snorted, butting his nose against Dane’s chin. “I think you’re

overestimating my attractiveness to the general public.”

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Anah Crow and Dianne Fox

“I’m not overestimating your capacity to make them think you’re the most beautiful thing they’ve

ever seen.” Dane slid his hand down to grope Lindsay’s ass.