The Touchstone, page 11
“Did you see that too?” Harry asked, exchanging a look with Sam over the top of the kid’s head.
Alejandro nodded. “I told Jonah you would. I didn’t exactly know how Sam fit in, but Jonah seemed pretty sure.”
“So it was all just a setup.” Sam sensed Harry was hiding his anger from Alex, though it bubbled just below the surface, easy to see for somebody who had known him as long as Sam had. He reached out and slipped his hand into Harry’s, squeezing tight.
“We’re going up, Alex. We’ll see you in the morning.”
Alejandro looked disappointed. “You don’t want to eat? Gabe will bring burgers. He always does after an assignment.”
Sam smiled tightly. “Thing is, Harry and I are not an assignment. We’ll take a pass. Good night.” He tugged, and Harry followed him up the stairs. “Which one is your room?” he asked.
“Hang a right. Second door.”
Sam pushed open the door Harry had indicated and stepped across the threshold. The room was immense and beautiful, packed with electronics and all kinds of magazines, books, and gadgets. “Looks like it’s been hell living here these past weeks,” Sam deadpanned.
Harry caught him around the waist and pulled him in. “Believe me, without you, none of this means a damned thing.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Sam’s lips. The tattoo over Sam’s heart blazed with life, making Sam gasp.
“I feel it,” Harry whispered, his fingers ghosting over Sam’s chest. “Just before I jumped off the roof, the wings on my back began to pulse. I felt… you.”
“You really think we’re connected?” Sam said.
“I know it,” Harry replied fiercely.
Sam didn’t resist as Harry pushed him backward toward the bed and tumbled them both down onto it. They kissed again, until Sam was aching and breathless and arching against Harry’s body. He moaned when Harry reached down to unzip his jeans and then slipped a hand inside to wrap cool fingers around him. Sam was so hard and ready it took barely more than a few firm strokes to bring him release.
He lay in a daze, looking up at the ceiling as Harry rolled onto his back and then laced their fingers together.
“Did you feel the emptiness?” Harry’s hushed words brought Sam back to himself. He turned his head to look into Harry’s eyes. “Every day it grew,” Harry continued softly. “Every day without you felt more futile, more helpless.”
“I felt it too,” Sam murmured. “Like a cold hollow in the pit of my stomach. I thought I was just missing you….” He trailed off as Harry pushed up his T-shirt and traced a gentle line over the black ink of Sam’s winged tattoo.
“You feel that?” Harry whispered.
Sam gasped as heat flared and the tattoo began to throb.
“It’s happening to me too,” Harry said. “We’re linked, Sammy. Always and forever.”
Chapter Fourteen
SAM WOKE the next morning knowing his life would never be the same again.
He rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow, careful not to disturb Harry’s deep, peaceful sleep. Sam smiled when he remembered all the reasons Harry had to be totally wiped out, only one of which involved rediscovering his ability to fly.
They had made up for lost time through the night, and every time they reached for each other and plunged headlong into passion, their matching tattoos had flared and pulsed with heat, making their intense union come alive in ways they had never experienced before.
Sam leaned over and brushed a gentle kiss against Harry’s forehead before quietly slipping out of bed and padding across the carpeted floor and into the bathroom. He stood under a hot shower for several minutes, easing the kinks out of his overworked muscles, and unable to quash the goofy smile that seemed to have taken up residence on his face.
When he was finished, he pulled on a pair of Harry’s sweatpants and one of his T-shirts, happy at the feeling of being surrounded by his partner, and he crept silently out of the room and made his way downstairs.
Gabriel was sitting at the breakfast table, and he didn’t bother to hide a smirk when he glanced up as Sam walked in. He opened his mouth, but Sam jumped in before he had the chance to voice the crude comment that was so clearly on the tip of his tongue.
“Trust me. You don’t want to go there, dude,” Sam warned.
The innocent expression on Gabriel’s face didn’t fool Sam for a minute.
“What? I was just going to say you look well rested.”
Sam snorted his disbelief, and Gabriel’s raucous laugh, coupled with an artfully raised eyebrow, was almost as suggestive as anything he had planned to say.
Sam helped himself to a cup of coffee and took a grateful sip before plunking down in the chair opposite Gabriel. The table was covered with every kind of breakfast food, and Sam sighed contentedly as he piled a plate with fruit and pastries, realizing he was ravenously hungry after the night’s activities.
“I can’t imagine you and Harry spent much time talking last night,” Gabriel said slyly. “But do you think you’ll stay?”
Sam shrugged. “Not sure. We have a lot to think about.”
“I really wish you’d consider it,” Gabriel said. “Things would be a lot happier around here with you two in the house. I know my brother would love it. He really digs Harry.”
“I hear you, Gabe,” Sam said. “But we have to do what’s best for Harry.”
Gabriel nodded his agreement. “And now we have to do what’s best for Harry and for you. You’re a part of this. Whether you want to be or not.”
Sam took another sip of coffee, watching Gabriel over the top of his cup. His expression remained impassive, and Sam decided there was no ulterior motive there, just an honest wish to see him and Harry stay. He put his cup down onto the table.
“You and Alejandro are here by choice. All I’m saying is that I want the same for Harry. And for me.”
“But you can’t separate the two,” Gabriel pointed out reasonably. “It’s one choice that has to fit both of you.”
“That’s the way it’s always been, Gabe. Nothing that’s happened has changed that.”
Sam turned at the sound of Harry’s voice and smiled at the sleepy-eyed look on his face. He raised his head as Harry stepped up behind him and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Good morning,” Harry murmured into his ear. He kept an arm slung about Sam’s neck as he reached around to grab a strawberry off his plate.
“Every decision we’ve made since we were kids we’ve made together,” Harry said. “That won’t change.”
“I hope you guys really like each other,” Gabriel said. “Because you’re stuck with each other now. At least as long as Harry wants to keep flying.”
“Or until he finds another human power supply. There are plenty of pretty boys out there.”
“And good morning to you, Maia,” Harry said, turning as Maia walked into the room. He squeezed Sam’s shoulder and then slid onto the chair next to him.
“Here to spread more love and joy?” Gabriel said sarcastically.
“The truth hurts,” Maia retorted. She poured herself a coffee and sat beside Gabriel. “At least you have some use now, Boy Wonder. I suppose that’s something.”
Sam realized that unless he put a stop to this, he’d forever be in Maia’s crosshairs. He’d shared with Harry what Gabriel had told him about her brother, and they’d agreed that the wall she built around herself was understandable. But her constant put-downs were wearing on Sam’s nerves and putting Harry on edge, ruining his joy at being here. Sam pushed his plate away and stood up.
“You know something, Maia, I’ve just about had it with you using me as your personal punching bag. I know I’m not special or gifted like all of you, but I don’t deserve that crap. Let me make this real easy. I’m not one of your team, and I’m definitely not one of your friends, so there’s absolutely no reason for us to talk to each other outside of Jonah’s business.” He walked around the table and stopped right beside her, and Maia had to tip her head to maintain eye contact. “I’ll stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get through the next couple of days without a major blowout.”
Maia’s eyes blazed and she opened her mouth, but then her expression changed subtly and she deliberately turned her head away without speaking.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Sam said.
At that moment Alejandro came clattering noisily down the stairs. He skidded to a halt beside his brother and looked around warily. “What’d I miss?”
“Sammy and Maia were just setting a few ground rules,” Gabriel replied.
Alejandro looked dubious. “Are you guys staying, then?”
Harry smiled. “When we decide, you’ll be the first to know.”
It was obvious from the dejected expression on Alejandro’s face that Harry’s answer was less than comforting. “Will you still be able to help me with my workout?”
Harry winced and threw a pleading look at Sam.
“We’re gonna stick around for a few days at least,” Sam said reassuringly. “Harry still has lots of training to do. And we need to figure out how things work between us and how I fit in.”
Alejandro’s face brightened, and Sam didn’t miss the grateful look Gabriel sent his way.
“Okay, little brother. Quit bugging them and eat your breakfast,” Gabriel ordered. He pointed to the chair Sam had vacated, and Alejandro sat down. “And not just all that sugary crap,” he added.
Harry reached out and shoved Alejandro’s shoulder. “I’ll find you later. We’ll hit the gym like always.”
Alejandro’s blinding smile went some small way to helping Sam accept that he had more or less committed himself and Harry to staying at the Bunker for the foreseeable future.
HARRY GAVE him a quick tour of the house, pointing out the fully equipped gym, the doors behind which each member of the team lived, a huge library, and a beautiful walled garden out back. Sam had to admit, it was a pretty impressive place.
“A person could get used to all this luxury,” he said.
Harry smiled. “Do you want to talk to Jonah yet?”
Sam wrinkled his nose, but he knew they couldn’t escape the inevitable. “Might as well get it over with,” he sighed.
They returned to the ground floor and Harry knocked on one of the doors off the huge living room, and a moment later, Jonah’s voice invited them in.
Sam followed Harry into a surprisingly intimate office to find Jonah sitting behind a desk with papers spread out in front of him. He raised his head and beckoned when Harry and Sam walked in.
“So, have you come to any conclusions yet? Do you think you know how you two are linked? Are you ready to start exploring—”
“Jesus, Jonah. Slow your roll,” Harry said. “We barely had the chance to say hello to each other. We certainly haven’t had time to figure out what the hell is happening to us. Give us a minute, all right?”
Jonah looked slightly abashed. “I guess I got a little carried away. I’ve never seen anything like your connection before.”
“And you find it interesting.”
There was no way Jonah could miss the emphasis, and he had the grace to drop his scrutinizing gaze, though his introspection lasted barely a fraction of a second. “I stand by what I said. I fully believed that given the right circumstances, Harry’s powers would reassert themselves—”
“And it didn’t matter that the right circumstances were potentially lethal to Harry?” Sam’s anger, which was simmering just below the surface, flared quickly.
Jonah’s head shot up. “I won’t apologize for doing what had to be done. You’re part of this now. It’s something you’ll learn soon enough.”
Sam leaned forward and placed his hands flat on Jonah’s desk before looking him directly in the eyes. “Let me make this clear. If you ever screw with Harry’s life again, you and I will have a serious falling out. I won’t think twice about bringing this whole place down. Even if I go down with it.”
Jonah’s voice was cool when he answered, “Message received. Loud and clear.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now that the theatrics are over, may I presume you’ve chosen to stay and work through these challenges? You might find you learn something interesting.”
Sam threw up his hands. “You’ll have our answer this evening.” He winked at Harry. “For right now, we’re taking the day off. So if you had any plans for Harry, cancel them.”
Jonah frowned. “Caleb Reed is still out there somewhere. It isn’t safe.”
Sam shrugged. “You’re just going to have to trust we know how to take care of ourselves. After all, we’ve been doing it for years.”
He ignored the startled look on Jonah’s face and turned toward Harry. “How soon can you be ready?”
Harry’s grin almost split his face. “Thirty minutes. Tops.”
Sam nodded and then turned back to face Jonah. “We’ll be out all day. Don’t even think about sending one of the others to spy on us.”
Jonah inclined his head, but he didn’t say anything. Sam wondered whether it was because his mouth was shut so tightly, his thin lips had all but disappeared.
“Okay. See you later, then,” Sam said breezily. “Have a nice day.”
He reached out and grabbed Harry’s hand, then pulled him out of the room before closing the door with a satisfying thud. Sam turned his head when Harry began laughing quietly.
“He’ll be in a pissy mood the rest of the day. I pity the rest of the team.”
“They can handle it,” Sam said confidently. “So, what’s first?”
Harry caught Sam around the waist and pulled him in sharply. “I need a shower. You want to join me?”
Sam repeated an old, private joke. “I’m already clean.”
Harry’s throaty chuckle was filled with promise. “Let me see what we can do about that.”
SAM EYED the unmade bed with a twinge of longing as he walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a large, soft towel. He’d left Harry happily basking under the multiple warm sprays of the huge shower stall, though he’d been sorely tempted to just stand there, wrapped tightly in Harry’s arms. Now he had to resist the urge to climb back under the cool cotton sheets that smelled of fresh lemons and Harry and snuggle down into the nest of blankets.
He dressed quickly, after first raiding a chest of drawers for clean underwear. He’d been startled to find the closet in the corner of the room filled with clothes, knowing Harry had brought nothing with him but a small duffel with only one or two outfits.
When he was dressed, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and hit the key that would connect him to the diner. It was unexpectedly comforting to hear Ray’s voice.
“Hi, Ray. It’s Sam.”
“Sam? Are you boys okay?”
Sam nodded, though he knew Ray couldn’t see him. “We’re good. I’m with Harry. I was just calling to tell you I’m going to need a couple of days off.”
There was a slight pause before Ray spoke again. “You’re sure you’re okay? That man was here again yesterday.”
Sam’s stomach did a slow roll. “Did he give you a hard time?”
Ray’s answering laugh was rich and loud. “Ain’t many people give me a hard time, boy,” he boomed. “But he was asking about you. What kind of mess are you boys in?”
Sam glanced up when Harry walked out of the bathroom, dripping water onto the carpet as he crossed the room to the closet. Despite being absolutely spent, Sam felt his dick twitch appreciatively. He had to turn his back in order to keep his mind focused on his phone call.
“That’s why I need a few days, Ray. I want to sort things out before I come back to work. I don’t want to bring my mess to you and Arlene.”
There was another pause while Ray appeared to consider Sam’s words. “Okay, son. You come back when you’re ready. We’ll hold your spot open for you. But listen up good. If you and Harry need help, you let me know right away, you hear?”
“Yes, sir,” Sam said, grateful for Ray’s understanding and support. “Thanks, Ray. Tell Arlene hello from me and Harry.”
“You call, now,” Ray ordered. “Anything you need, you call me. You got that?”
“Yes, sir,” Sam repeated. “See you soon.”
He cut the connection before Ray could exact any more promises or ask any further questions. When he turned, Harry was pulling a dark blue sweater over a crisp white shirt.
“Where’d you get the fancy threads?” Sam asked.
Harry zipped his jeans and looked up. “Jonah took me shopping first day I arrived. And every time I tried something on I liked, he made the store clerk find my size in every color and he bought it all.” He pulled open the closet door and waved at the impressive array. “It’s nuts! I could wear something different twice a day for a month and still not get through half this stuff.”
Sam walked over to the closet and pulled out a jacket. “Good thing we’re the same size,” he said. “I didn’t bring anything with me, and it isn’t safe to go back to the apartment with Caleb Reed’s men watching the place. I’ll have to borrow some of these.”
“Help yourself,” Harry said.
Sam made a face. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do about money—”
“I’ve got it covered,” Harry cut in. He walked over to the bedside table and pulled out a drawer. Sam followed him, and he whistled loudly as he looked over Harry’s shoulder. The drawer was filled with cash, all kinds of bills spilling out of a number of envelopes.
“Where the hell did this come from, Harry?” Sam asked.
Harry shrugged. “Jonah gave it to me. He said it’s like a paycheck for putting in the training time. But I’ve hardly set foot out of the house, so I haven’t spent any of it. I was saving it for when I got home.” He reached in and scooped out a handful of notes. “Here. Take some.”
He pressed some of the cash into Sam’s hand and shoved the rest into his pocket. Sam looked down, quickly figuring he was holding at least one hundred dollars and that Harry had roughly the same amount riding his hip. He’d never in his life seen that much money all at the same time. Though Ray paid him cash at the end of each day and added in his share of the tips, eight hours at minimum wage didn’t come anywhere near this amount.
Alejandro nodded. “I told Jonah you would. I didn’t exactly know how Sam fit in, but Jonah seemed pretty sure.”
“So it was all just a setup.” Sam sensed Harry was hiding his anger from Alex, though it bubbled just below the surface, easy to see for somebody who had known him as long as Sam had. He reached out and slipped his hand into Harry’s, squeezing tight.
“We’re going up, Alex. We’ll see you in the morning.”
Alejandro looked disappointed. “You don’t want to eat? Gabe will bring burgers. He always does after an assignment.”
Sam smiled tightly. “Thing is, Harry and I are not an assignment. We’ll take a pass. Good night.” He tugged, and Harry followed him up the stairs. “Which one is your room?” he asked.
“Hang a right. Second door.”
Sam pushed open the door Harry had indicated and stepped across the threshold. The room was immense and beautiful, packed with electronics and all kinds of magazines, books, and gadgets. “Looks like it’s been hell living here these past weeks,” Sam deadpanned.
Harry caught him around the waist and pulled him in. “Believe me, without you, none of this means a damned thing.” He leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Sam’s lips. The tattoo over Sam’s heart blazed with life, making Sam gasp.
“I feel it,” Harry whispered, his fingers ghosting over Sam’s chest. “Just before I jumped off the roof, the wings on my back began to pulse. I felt… you.”
“You really think we’re connected?” Sam said.
“I know it,” Harry replied fiercely.
Sam didn’t resist as Harry pushed him backward toward the bed and tumbled them both down onto it. They kissed again, until Sam was aching and breathless and arching against Harry’s body. He moaned when Harry reached down to unzip his jeans and then slipped a hand inside to wrap cool fingers around him. Sam was so hard and ready it took barely more than a few firm strokes to bring him release.
He lay in a daze, looking up at the ceiling as Harry rolled onto his back and then laced their fingers together.
“Did you feel the emptiness?” Harry’s hushed words brought Sam back to himself. He turned his head to look into Harry’s eyes. “Every day it grew,” Harry continued softly. “Every day without you felt more futile, more helpless.”
“I felt it too,” Sam murmured. “Like a cold hollow in the pit of my stomach. I thought I was just missing you….” He trailed off as Harry pushed up his T-shirt and traced a gentle line over the black ink of Sam’s winged tattoo.
“You feel that?” Harry whispered.
Sam gasped as heat flared and the tattoo began to throb.
“It’s happening to me too,” Harry said. “We’re linked, Sammy. Always and forever.”
Chapter Fourteen
SAM WOKE the next morning knowing his life would never be the same again.
He rolled onto his side and propped himself up on his elbow, careful not to disturb Harry’s deep, peaceful sleep. Sam smiled when he remembered all the reasons Harry had to be totally wiped out, only one of which involved rediscovering his ability to fly.
They had made up for lost time through the night, and every time they reached for each other and plunged headlong into passion, their matching tattoos had flared and pulsed with heat, making their intense union come alive in ways they had never experienced before.
Sam leaned over and brushed a gentle kiss against Harry’s forehead before quietly slipping out of bed and padding across the carpeted floor and into the bathroom. He stood under a hot shower for several minutes, easing the kinks out of his overworked muscles, and unable to quash the goofy smile that seemed to have taken up residence on his face.
When he was finished, he pulled on a pair of Harry’s sweatpants and one of his T-shirts, happy at the feeling of being surrounded by his partner, and he crept silently out of the room and made his way downstairs.
Gabriel was sitting at the breakfast table, and he didn’t bother to hide a smirk when he glanced up as Sam walked in. He opened his mouth, but Sam jumped in before he had the chance to voice the crude comment that was so clearly on the tip of his tongue.
“Trust me. You don’t want to go there, dude,” Sam warned.
The innocent expression on Gabriel’s face didn’t fool Sam for a minute.
“What? I was just going to say you look well rested.”
Sam snorted his disbelief, and Gabriel’s raucous laugh, coupled with an artfully raised eyebrow, was almost as suggestive as anything he had planned to say.
Sam helped himself to a cup of coffee and took a grateful sip before plunking down in the chair opposite Gabriel. The table was covered with every kind of breakfast food, and Sam sighed contentedly as he piled a plate with fruit and pastries, realizing he was ravenously hungry after the night’s activities.
“I can’t imagine you and Harry spent much time talking last night,” Gabriel said slyly. “But do you think you’ll stay?”
Sam shrugged. “Not sure. We have a lot to think about.”
“I really wish you’d consider it,” Gabriel said. “Things would be a lot happier around here with you two in the house. I know my brother would love it. He really digs Harry.”
“I hear you, Gabe,” Sam said. “But we have to do what’s best for Harry.”
Gabriel nodded his agreement. “And now we have to do what’s best for Harry and for you. You’re a part of this. Whether you want to be or not.”
Sam took another sip of coffee, watching Gabriel over the top of his cup. His expression remained impassive, and Sam decided there was no ulterior motive there, just an honest wish to see him and Harry stay. He put his cup down onto the table.
“You and Alejandro are here by choice. All I’m saying is that I want the same for Harry. And for me.”
“But you can’t separate the two,” Gabriel pointed out reasonably. “It’s one choice that has to fit both of you.”
“That’s the way it’s always been, Gabe. Nothing that’s happened has changed that.”
Sam turned at the sound of Harry’s voice and smiled at the sleepy-eyed look on his face. He raised his head as Harry stepped up behind him and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Good morning,” Harry murmured into his ear. He kept an arm slung about Sam’s neck as he reached around to grab a strawberry off his plate.
“Every decision we’ve made since we were kids we’ve made together,” Harry said. “That won’t change.”
“I hope you guys really like each other,” Gabriel said. “Because you’re stuck with each other now. At least as long as Harry wants to keep flying.”
“Or until he finds another human power supply. There are plenty of pretty boys out there.”
“And good morning to you, Maia,” Harry said, turning as Maia walked into the room. He squeezed Sam’s shoulder and then slid onto the chair next to him.
“Here to spread more love and joy?” Gabriel said sarcastically.
“The truth hurts,” Maia retorted. She poured herself a coffee and sat beside Gabriel. “At least you have some use now, Boy Wonder. I suppose that’s something.”
Sam realized that unless he put a stop to this, he’d forever be in Maia’s crosshairs. He’d shared with Harry what Gabriel had told him about her brother, and they’d agreed that the wall she built around herself was understandable. But her constant put-downs were wearing on Sam’s nerves and putting Harry on edge, ruining his joy at being here. Sam pushed his plate away and stood up.
“You know something, Maia, I’ve just about had it with you using me as your personal punching bag. I know I’m not special or gifted like all of you, but I don’t deserve that crap. Let me make this real easy. I’m not one of your team, and I’m definitely not one of your friends, so there’s absolutely no reason for us to talk to each other outside of Jonah’s business.” He walked around the table and stopped right beside her, and Maia had to tip her head to maintain eye contact. “I’ll stay out of your way, and you stay out of mine, and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get through the next couple of days without a major blowout.”
Maia’s eyes blazed and she opened her mouth, but then her expression changed subtly and she deliberately turned her head away without speaking.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Sam said.
At that moment Alejandro came clattering noisily down the stairs. He skidded to a halt beside his brother and looked around warily. “What’d I miss?”
“Sammy and Maia were just setting a few ground rules,” Gabriel replied.
Alejandro looked dubious. “Are you guys staying, then?”
Harry smiled. “When we decide, you’ll be the first to know.”
It was obvious from the dejected expression on Alejandro’s face that Harry’s answer was less than comforting. “Will you still be able to help me with my workout?”
Harry winced and threw a pleading look at Sam.
“We’re gonna stick around for a few days at least,” Sam said reassuringly. “Harry still has lots of training to do. And we need to figure out how things work between us and how I fit in.”
Alejandro’s face brightened, and Sam didn’t miss the grateful look Gabriel sent his way.
“Okay, little brother. Quit bugging them and eat your breakfast,” Gabriel ordered. He pointed to the chair Sam had vacated, and Alejandro sat down. “And not just all that sugary crap,” he added.
Harry reached out and shoved Alejandro’s shoulder. “I’ll find you later. We’ll hit the gym like always.”
Alejandro’s blinding smile went some small way to helping Sam accept that he had more or less committed himself and Harry to staying at the Bunker for the foreseeable future.
HARRY GAVE him a quick tour of the house, pointing out the fully equipped gym, the doors behind which each member of the team lived, a huge library, and a beautiful walled garden out back. Sam had to admit, it was a pretty impressive place.
“A person could get used to all this luxury,” he said.
Harry smiled. “Do you want to talk to Jonah yet?”
Sam wrinkled his nose, but he knew they couldn’t escape the inevitable. “Might as well get it over with,” he sighed.
They returned to the ground floor and Harry knocked on one of the doors off the huge living room, and a moment later, Jonah’s voice invited them in.
Sam followed Harry into a surprisingly intimate office to find Jonah sitting behind a desk with papers spread out in front of him. He raised his head and beckoned when Harry and Sam walked in.
“So, have you come to any conclusions yet? Do you think you know how you two are linked? Are you ready to start exploring—”
“Jesus, Jonah. Slow your roll,” Harry said. “We barely had the chance to say hello to each other. We certainly haven’t had time to figure out what the hell is happening to us. Give us a minute, all right?”
Jonah looked slightly abashed. “I guess I got a little carried away. I’ve never seen anything like your connection before.”
“And you find it interesting.”
There was no way Jonah could miss the emphasis, and he had the grace to drop his scrutinizing gaze, though his introspection lasted barely a fraction of a second. “I stand by what I said. I fully believed that given the right circumstances, Harry’s powers would reassert themselves—”
“And it didn’t matter that the right circumstances were potentially lethal to Harry?” Sam’s anger, which was simmering just below the surface, flared quickly.
Jonah’s head shot up. “I won’t apologize for doing what had to be done. You’re part of this now. It’s something you’ll learn soon enough.”
Sam leaned forward and placed his hands flat on Jonah’s desk before looking him directly in the eyes. “Let me make this clear. If you ever screw with Harry’s life again, you and I will have a serious falling out. I won’t think twice about bringing this whole place down. Even if I go down with it.”
Jonah’s voice was cool when he answered, “Message received. Loud and clear.” He leaned back in his chair. “Now that the theatrics are over, may I presume you’ve chosen to stay and work through these challenges? You might find you learn something interesting.”
Sam threw up his hands. “You’ll have our answer this evening.” He winked at Harry. “For right now, we’re taking the day off. So if you had any plans for Harry, cancel them.”
Jonah frowned. “Caleb Reed is still out there somewhere. It isn’t safe.”
Sam shrugged. “You’re just going to have to trust we know how to take care of ourselves. After all, we’ve been doing it for years.”
He ignored the startled look on Jonah’s face and turned toward Harry. “How soon can you be ready?”
Harry’s grin almost split his face. “Thirty minutes. Tops.”
Sam nodded and then turned back to face Jonah. “We’ll be out all day. Don’t even think about sending one of the others to spy on us.”
Jonah inclined his head, but he didn’t say anything. Sam wondered whether it was because his mouth was shut so tightly, his thin lips had all but disappeared.
“Okay. See you later, then,” Sam said breezily. “Have a nice day.”
He reached out and grabbed Harry’s hand, then pulled him out of the room before closing the door with a satisfying thud. Sam turned his head when Harry began laughing quietly.
“He’ll be in a pissy mood the rest of the day. I pity the rest of the team.”
“They can handle it,” Sam said confidently. “So, what’s first?”
Harry caught Sam around the waist and pulled him in sharply. “I need a shower. You want to join me?”
Sam repeated an old, private joke. “I’m already clean.”
Harry’s throaty chuckle was filled with promise. “Let me see what we can do about that.”
SAM EYED the unmade bed with a twinge of longing as he walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a large, soft towel. He’d left Harry happily basking under the multiple warm sprays of the huge shower stall, though he’d been sorely tempted to just stand there, wrapped tightly in Harry’s arms. Now he had to resist the urge to climb back under the cool cotton sheets that smelled of fresh lemons and Harry and snuggle down into the nest of blankets.
He dressed quickly, after first raiding a chest of drawers for clean underwear. He’d been startled to find the closet in the corner of the room filled with clothes, knowing Harry had brought nothing with him but a small duffel with only one or two outfits.
When he was dressed, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and hit the key that would connect him to the diner. It was unexpectedly comforting to hear Ray’s voice.
“Hi, Ray. It’s Sam.”
“Sam? Are you boys okay?”
Sam nodded, though he knew Ray couldn’t see him. “We’re good. I’m with Harry. I was just calling to tell you I’m going to need a couple of days off.”
There was a slight pause before Ray spoke again. “You’re sure you’re okay? That man was here again yesterday.”
Sam’s stomach did a slow roll. “Did he give you a hard time?”
Ray’s answering laugh was rich and loud. “Ain’t many people give me a hard time, boy,” he boomed. “But he was asking about you. What kind of mess are you boys in?”
Sam glanced up when Harry walked out of the bathroom, dripping water onto the carpet as he crossed the room to the closet. Despite being absolutely spent, Sam felt his dick twitch appreciatively. He had to turn his back in order to keep his mind focused on his phone call.
“That’s why I need a few days, Ray. I want to sort things out before I come back to work. I don’t want to bring my mess to you and Arlene.”
There was another pause while Ray appeared to consider Sam’s words. “Okay, son. You come back when you’re ready. We’ll hold your spot open for you. But listen up good. If you and Harry need help, you let me know right away, you hear?”
“Yes, sir,” Sam said, grateful for Ray’s understanding and support. “Thanks, Ray. Tell Arlene hello from me and Harry.”
“You call, now,” Ray ordered. “Anything you need, you call me. You got that?”
“Yes, sir,” Sam repeated. “See you soon.”
He cut the connection before Ray could exact any more promises or ask any further questions. When he turned, Harry was pulling a dark blue sweater over a crisp white shirt.
“Where’d you get the fancy threads?” Sam asked.
Harry zipped his jeans and looked up. “Jonah took me shopping first day I arrived. And every time I tried something on I liked, he made the store clerk find my size in every color and he bought it all.” He pulled open the closet door and waved at the impressive array. “It’s nuts! I could wear something different twice a day for a month and still not get through half this stuff.”
Sam walked over to the closet and pulled out a jacket. “Good thing we’re the same size,” he said. “I didn’t bring anything with me, and it isn’t safe to go back to the apartment with Caleb Reed’s men watching the place. I’ll have to borrow some of these.”
“Help yourself,” Harry said.
Sam made a face. “I don’t know what we’re gonna do about money—”
“I’ve got it covered,” Harry cut in. He walked over to the bedside table and pulled out a drawer. Sam followed him, and he whistled loudly as he looked over Harry’s shoulder. The drawer was filled with cash, all kinds of bills spilling out of a number of envelopes.
“Where the hell did this come from, Harry?” Sam asked.
Harry shrugged. “Jonah gave it to me. He said it’s like a paycheck for putting in the training time. But I’ve hardly set foot out of the house, so I haven’t spent any of it. I was saving it for when I got home.” He reached in and scooped out a handful of notes. “Here. Take some.”
He pressed some of the cash into Sam’s hand and shoved the rest into his pocket. Sam looked down, quickly figuring he was holding at least one hundred dollars and that Harry had roughly the same amount riding his hip. He’d never in his life seen that much money all at the same time. Though Ray paid him cash at the end of each day and added in his share of the tips, eight hours at minimum wage didn’t come anywhere near this amount.
